HAWKCHURCH PARISH COUNCIL

1 1 HAWKCHURCH PARISH COUNCIL Clerk to the COUNCIL : Mr John Vanderwolfe Chartered MCIPD, MCMI Newenham 5 Halletts Way Axminster EX13 5NB TEL 01297 34444 Minutes of the COUNCIL Meeting held at the HAWKCHURCH Village Hall on Tuesday 20th November 2012. Present: Cllr T Greenshields (Chairman), P Searle, S Bartlett, G Searle, P Melville, J Baker, C Lewis, R Hooper and S Bowditch. In Attendance: The Clerk (J Vanderwolfe), Cllr J Jeffery (EDDC), PCSO A Worchester and 27 members of the public. 789 Apologies An apology was received from Cllr A Moulding (Devon County COUNCIL ).

2 790 Planning Application The chairman pointed out that whilst the planning application for the Solar Farm was not on tonight s agenda, due to being received after the agenda was set, it would seem a good idea to deal with it tonight. Resolved that the application be dealt with tonight. 790 Declarations of interest Cllr Bowditch declared a pecuniary interest in the Solar Farm application as it was on his land. He would leave the room prior to any discussions taking place. Cllr S Bartlett declared a personal interest, as it was near to land owned by her husband. Cllr R Hooper declared a personal interest as he lived within that area.

3 Cllr C Lewis declared a pre-determination on the planning application, and would leave the room prior to the item being discussed. 791 Matters Arising: no issues 792 Police Report PCSO A Worchester reported that there had been damage sustained to a car s petrol cap; believed to have been an attempt to steal petrol. There had been some heating oil thefts In the area. Alarm padlocks can be purchased at a cost of 7 each. Ring 101 and refer to PCSO A Worchester 2 793 Democratic Period Concerns raised by parishioners about the lack of official notification of the proposed Solar farm.

4 Parishioners objected to the loss of amenity and the visual impact of this proposal. Representative from the developer answered questions put to him by members of the public, There were serious concerns regarding drainage and protection of badgers. Concerns were raised about the management of the Wild Meadow site, which is in the WDDC planning area. It was stated that there had been a number of breaches in the conditions imposed under the granting of planning permission. A parishioner asked the agent how the solar farm would benefit local people. He replied that it would provide employment for Dorset people.

5 He stated that the Government agency was happy with the plans for the water runoff from the proposed site. He went on to explain that swales would deal with any water problems. There was a great deal of concerns from the members of the public present that there were now too many solar farm sites in the area. There were further concerns regarding hedges and the screening of the site. It was understood that the solar panels would be tall, the same height as Wild Meadow. A parishioner was concerned that if the site next to the village hall was chosen for the future development of the PARISH there could be problems with establishing a physical building line boundary.

6 He also felt that any further development of that site could result in flooding. 794 District COUNCIL Report Cllr J Jeffery stated that he was unhappy with the proposal for the Solar far and that he would be calling the application in. 795 Finance Resolved that the following accounts be paid: D Strawbridge (775), HAWKCHURCH Ladies Club (776). 796 Planning 12/2410/MFUL Opposite Woodcote Substation Solar Farm (22ha). Erection of solar arrays, inverters, transformers, equipment, security fencing and internal tracks. The COUNCIL is concerned regarding the cumulative impact that this application could have on the area, taking into consideration the number of these sites already in place, either in the PARISH or on its borders.

7 It is felt that the application is over development. There are concerns in respect of drainage, the proposed height that the solar panels will be and also the lack of screening. The COUNCIL would also point out that there have been a number of problems with a site within the West Dorset area, not far from the proposed site, which is operated by this company. 797 PARISH Bondary and Development Cllr P Melville provided a report on the recent public consultation meeting. 3 798 Revised Standing Orders The clerk talked through the changes that were necessary. Resolved that the draft Standing Orders be adopted, with one small change.

8 The change was in relation to the procedure if the meeting became incorate. Agreed that only a corate meeting could delegate the power to finish off any business to the claker, not an incorate gathering. 799 Dispensation Resolved that, in accordance with Standing Orders and the Code of Conduct, that the Clerk to the COUNCIL be given the power to grant a dispensation to a councillor, if he or she felt in doing so, that it was in the interest of the COUNCIL . 800 Dispensation to Councillors Resolved that the Clerk s recommendation that all Councillors of HAWKCHURCH PARISH COUNCIL be granted a Dispensation until April 2015 to discuss and vote on matters relating to the budget and the precept.

9 801 Items of Urgency: No items 802 Correspondence: Nil 803 Next Meetings: Tuesday 18th December Finance & General Purposes 7pm General Meeting 8pm