|
Minutes of a Meeting of the Public Works and Planning Committee
held at the Town Hall, Milford Haven on Monday, 7th April, 2008 at 7.00 p.m.
PRESENT
The Mayor (Councillor A. H. Miles)
The Deputy Mayor (Councillor J. W. J. Roberts RD)
Councillors:D. R. EdwardsM. H. George QGM W. R. HardingMrs. A. Hughes K. R. C. JohnsonA. W. Nicholas
Councillors A. E. Byrne and T. H. Sinclair were also in attendance.
402.APOLOGIES:
Apologies for absence were received from the Chairman, Councillor M. C. Hawkins.
03.APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN:
In the absence of the Chairman it was RESOLVED THAT the Vice-Chairman, Councillor A. W. Nicholas, should take the Chair for the evening’s meeting.
404.MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THE 10TH MARCH, 2008:
RESOLVED THAT the Minutes of the Meeting of the Public Works and Planning Committeeheld on Monday, 10th March, 2008, be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.
405.CEMETERY:
(a)Report:
RESOLVED THAT the Cemetery Report, as presented by the Clerk for the month of March, 2008, be accepted.
(b)Report on the Meeting of the Cemetery Working Party held on the 7th April, 2008:
The Chairman of the Cemetery Working Party, Councillor W. R. Harding, advised that provision had been made in this year’s precept requirements for the replacement of the two 21” Honda Lawnmowers and two 35 cc Brushcutters for use by the Cemetery Staff.
The Chairman said that the Members of the Cemetery Working Party had held a meeting that evening to discuss two quotations for the grass cutting machinery. The Members had selected the quotation which was £243.24 higher than the other as the Supplier was located close to the Cemetery and had a proven after care service.
The Members of the Public Works and Planning Committee agreed that two 21” Honda Lawnmowers and two 35 cc Brushcutters should be purchased from MPH Hire Group at the Thornton Industrial Estate, Milford Haven, in the sum of £2,013.24 plus VAT. The Chairman advised that this figure included a part exchange sum of £600 for the Lawnmowers and £170 for the Brushcutters currently used by the Cemetery Staff.
The Chairman asked if this machinery could be purchased before ratification by Full Council as he was concerned that the part exchange sum offered for the Council’s present equipment could be reduced if there was a delay.
RESOLVED THAT:
(i)the Public Works and Planning Committee supports the Cemetery Working Party’s recommendation to purchase the grass cutting machinery;
(ii)the Mayor be authorised to confirm purchase of the machinery prior to this recommendation being considered at the meeting of the Full Council on 28th April, 2008.
406.PLANS:
(a)Letter from Councillor A. E. Byrne re Planning and Enforcement Procedures:
Councillor A. E. Byrne explained that he had written to the Public Works and Planning Committee as he was concerned that over the last couple of years it has been apparent that, even though conditions have been placed on some planning applications, on several occasions these conditions have not been carried out.
Councillor A.E. Byrne stated that when this omission has been reported to planning officers, they have been unable or unwilling to do anything about it.
Members agreed to support Councillor Byrne’s concerns.
RESOLVED THAT the Milford Haven Town Council writes to the Pembrokeshire County Council requesting that Authority to mandate its Environmental and Overview Scrutiny Committee to look into the way that it implements and monitors its planning and enforcement procedures.
(b)General:
RESOLVED THAT the recommendations of the Chairman of the Public Works and Planning Committee in respect of the planning applications detailed on Pages 1 and 2 of the attached report (see Appendix B) be approved.
(c)Application No. 07/1567/PA – Erection of a Wind Turbine with Access Track, Transformer Housing and Crane Pad at Venn Dairy Land to North of B4325, Milford Haven:
RESOLVED THAT:-
(i)the Milford Haven Town Council recommends approval of this application;
(ii)the Milford Haven Town Council also asks what contribution the existing wind turbine has made both to the National Grid and to the partnership with the residents of the Mount Estate.
(d)Application No. 07/1573/PA – Conversion of Garage to Beauty Salon, Beach House, 1 Beach Hill, Milford Haven:
RESOLVED THAT:-
(i)the Milford Haven Town Council recommends approval of this application, subject to the condition that there is free and unobstructed access for emergency vehicles and pedestrians;
(ii)the Milford Haven Town Council also points out that there is a high volume of commercial premises currently available in Milford Haven.
(e)Application No. 07/1590/PA – Variation of Conditions to allow additional time for submission of reserved matters and commencement of development at Castle Pill off Vicary Crescent, Milford Haven:
RESOLVED THAT the Milford Haven Town Council recommends approval of this application.
(f)Withdrawal of Planning Application:
The Chairman advised that Planning Application No. 06/0854/PA – Erection of One Dwelling on land at Castle Pill Road, Steynton, Milford Haven, had been withdrawn.
Councillor Mrs. A. Hughes did not take part in the discussion or voting on any of the above planning observations.
407.APPLICATIONS FOR NEW PREMISES LICENCES:
RESOLVED THAT the recommendation of the Chairman of the Public Works and Planning
Committee in respect of the application for new premises licences detailed on Page 1 of the attached report (see Appendix C) be approved.
408.REMOVAL OF RAILINGS AT THE FISHERMEN’S TRIBUTE ON THE RATH:
Councillor M. H. George QGM advised that he, the Mayor, Councillor A.H. Miles, Councillor A. W. Eden and Councillor T. H. Sinclair had met with Mr. Hackett that morning.
Councillor M. H. George QGM said that at that meeting discussions had taken place as to whether the railings were used by the public, and Mr. Hackett had advised that only one wreath and one bunch of flowers have been placed on the Tribute since September 2007.
Councillor T. H. Sinclair had suggested to Mr. Hackett that, in order to appraise the public demand for the railings, the railings could be left in place until September this year so that the number of floral tributes placed on the railings could be monitored.
Mr. Hackett said that he wished to have the railings removed, but that he would agree to a fixture being attached to the ground (not to the base) on the Docks facing side of The Tribute.
Councillor M. H. George QGM considered that instead of holding a Service at Thornton Cemetery in memory of those who lost their lives on the Boston Heron, Robert Limbrick, Milford Viscount and Richard Crofts, then an annual Fishermen’s Service to remember all Seafarers could be held at the Fishermen’s Tribute.
Members agreed that it was a first-class idea for the Milford Haven Town Council to hold an annual Fishermen’s Service at the Fishermen’s Tribute, but, in the meantime, costings should be obtained for the removal of the railings and permission sought from the Pembrokeshire County Council for the erection of a fixture attached on to the ground (not to the base) of the Fishermen’s Tribute on the Docks facing side of the Tribute.
RESOLVED THAT:
(i)the Milford Haven Town Council arranges an annual
Service at the Fishermen’s Tribute to remember all
those associated with the fishing industry;
(ii)Mr. Hackett is to be asked to agree to leave the railings in place until after this year’s Service;
(iii)in the meantime, the Milford Haven Town Council is to obtain costings for the removal of the railings and to seek permission from the Pembrokeshire County Council to have a fixture attached on to the ground (not to the base) of the Fishermen’s Tribute on the Docks facing
side of the Tribute;
(iv)Mr. Hackett is to be asked to confirm his acceptance of the above in writing.
409.DRAFT FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR WALES FOR CONSULTATION:
Members gave consideration to a letter from the Head of Community Safety Division, Welsh Assembly Government, enclosing “the Draft Fire and Rescue National Framework for Wales for Consultation 2008-2011”.
The letter stated that Sections 21 and 62 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 require the Welsh Assembly Government to publish the Fire and Rescue National Framework for Wales.
The Framework is divided into the following parts:-
Part A – Vision for the Fire and Rescue Service in Wales – how the Assembly Government sees the Fire and Rescue Authorities engaging with the wider agenda for public services in Wales and the Assembly Government’s vision for ‘One Wales’.
Part B – Delivering the Fire and Rescue Service – the Assembly Government’s Expectations – how the Assembly Government expects service provision to be delivered to the communities in Wales and, in particular, the emphasis it will place on collaboration, equality and diversity.
RESOLVED THAT the letter and consultation document be received.
410.CASTLE PILL FOOTPATH APPEAL:
The Chairman reminded Members that Mr. B. Wallace, Public Rights of Way Officer, and Mr. M. Cloud, Definitive Map Officer, Pembrokeshire County Council, had attended the Special Meeting of the Public Works and Planning Committee held on the 27th February, 2008, to discuss the footpath at Castle Pill.
At that meeting it was drawn to Mr. Wallace’s attention that in his report he referred to a supporting letter which indicated that works on the claimed route had been undertaken by a former employee of the Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council, Mr. Knight, who was Chair of the Boat Club. This was incorrect, as Mr. Knight had never been employed by the Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council. Mr. Wallace had said that he would check his records.
Members then gave consideration to Mr. Wallace’s letter in which he wrote that he had researched his file and found that that he had made an error. He advised that the letter was one of over 500 items of correspondence and other documents contained in the case file, covering some 33 years. Mr. Wallace said that the letter was attached to a letter from Mr. Knight, and was typed in a very similar manner to Mr. Knight’s.
Mr. Wallace wrote that the error did not affect the analysis of the application evidence. The relevance of the letter was that its contents indicated that works on the claimed route had been undertaken at public expense. The County Council’s analysis accepted this as evidence in support of the claim.
Mr. Wallace stated that at the Special Meeting it was also noted that in the summary analysis some of the items were not fully completed by the persons who signed them. Mr. Wallace wrote that this statement has not been contradicted, and the case file contains correspondence from one person who says that he had no part in the construction or content of a letter sent to the Pembrokeshire County Council bearing his name and address.
RESOLVED THAT the letter be received.
411.THE NATIONAL PARK BRIEFING SHEET FOR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES:
Members gave consideration to Park Post – The National Park Briefing Sheet for Council Representatives. Topics included the opening of a footpath at Castell Henllys and the information that the Countryside Council for Wales has offered the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park an extra grant of £29,811, of which at least £6,000 will be spent on improving access for the less able.
RESOLVED THAT Park Post – the National Park Briefing Sheet for Council Representatives –
be received.
_______________________________
|
