Minutes of the Meeting held at The Flyford’s Hall on Tuesday 15th November 2022
Present
Sadie Densham
David Waide
David Rhodes
Andrew Short
Anna Toivola
John East
Richard Davey (Chairman)
Mark Broughton-Taylor attended as clerk
1. Apologies
Linda Robinson – DC and CC Councillor
2. Declaration of Interest
None
3. Public Participation
There were two members of the public in attendance.
It was noted that the ‘Carols at the Hall’ and the carols at the Boot Inn had been arranged for the same day. However, the event takes place at the hall at 6.00pm and at the Boot at 8.00pm. It was hoped that next year the events could be co-ordinated to take place on separate days.
The clerk explained the situation concerning the VAS for Radford Road. The present one is now old and does not work and Highways have promised to replace this with an up to date solar powered model. This has already been paid for but there have been a number of delays at highways which means that it has not been erected yet. The clerk promised to chase this up.
It was noted that the minutes had been uploaded to the website very late although they had been circulated to councillors in good time. It was hoped that this would be better managed in future.
The matter of Hill Top Farm was mentioned. Please see item 11.1 below.
4. Minutes of the 26th September 2022
Minutes of the meeting held on 26th September 2022 for an Ordinary Meeting were accepted as a true record of the meeting.
Proposed: Andrew Short
Seconded: Sadie Densham
All in favour
5. Matters Arising from the Minutes
There were no matters to report.
6. Climate Change
The working group had met in July and proposed a 20 item action plan. National statistics showed that Flyford Flavell and Grafton Flyford both have a carbon footprint well above the national average whereas North Piddles’ footprint is below. The full repot is included as an addendum to the minutes.
It was agreed that councillors will consider the report over the next few weeks and at the January meeting a few priorities will be chosen to implement in the parishes.
6. Local Police Officer and Neighbourhood Watch
The clerk reported that a meeting had been arranged with the assistant police commissioner and he would report back in due course.
Sadie had had a meeting with Jane Hand and the matter of Smartwater was discussed again. In the past it has proved difficult to obtain the necessary number of people to join the scheme so that it could be implemented. This matter will be considered again at a future meeting.
Jane Hand will be organising a recruitment drive to join Neighbourhood Watch.
6. District and County Councillor
New data which is released weekly shows that Wychavon Covid 19 numbers have dipped again. We currently have 40 cases down from 102 last week.
Last week there were 43 admissions to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals with Covid . Data from the last six weeks shows that Worcestershire had 30 deaths related to Covid 19. Vaccination take up has been steady for both flu and Covid boosters.
Less good news for our wild birdlife populations in Worcestershire with cases of avian flu being confirmed nationally. Strict biosecurity measures have been introduced. It follows the deaths of wildfowl including swans at the lakes around County Hall and Nunnery Wood. All bird keepers are advised to keep their stock inside. This could have a knock-on effect for the supply of turkeys for Christmas. Two thousand were culled in Lancashire today.
People are being urged not to touch any sick or dead wild birds and to report sightings to officials. The risk to the public from avian flu remains very low, however it is possible for humans to catch the virus, so it is vital not to touch any sick or dead birds or have contact with their droppings, eggs or bedding which may also be contaminated.
In readiness for any downturn in the weather, Worcestershire’s gritters are now on standby for the winter season. they have around 16,750 tonnes of salt stored in depots across the County, 36 gritting lorries and over 50 drivers. Let’s hope they will not need it all and we avoid too many cold spells especially with the current energy crisis.
Residents urged to put their bin out on time
The time waste and recycling bins are collected across Wychavon may change slightly.
Changes are being made to all waste and recycling collection rounds across Wychavon to further improve efficiency and ensure the current high standard of service is maintained.
Only Chawson residents in Droitwich Spa will see a change to their collection day and residents have already been contacted about this.
Across the rest of the district, collection days will remain the same but the time bin crews arrive may change from what people are used to.
To make sure nobody misses their bin collection, residents are being urged from Monday (7 November) to make sure their bin is out by 7am on the day of their scheduled collection. Crews will collect anytime between 7am and 6pm.
New Census data releases
New data has been released from the 2021 Census giving us a greater insight into how our district is changing.
The data shows we have an estimated 57,346 households, more than anywhere else in the county.
Over 8,000 are single person households occupied by someone 66 and over, an increase from 6,764 from the 2011 Census.
The median age of our residents is 47. We have more people over 50 in Wychavon than the average for England and Wales and are significantly behind the England and Wales average in the age group from 20 to 40..
Around 32,900 of our residents are 65 and over with 16,149 aged 18 to 30. Interestingly 51 of our residents are 100 or more.
The Census ranks household according to if they are considered deprived based on the four deprivation dimensions – education, employment, health and housing.
27,730 of our households are considered deprived in at least one dimension.
Marriage remains the main form of living arrangement in the district with 56,975 people in an opposite sex marriage and 271 in same sex marriages – more than anywhere else in Worcestershire.
10,720 people moved into Wychavon from another address within the UK the year before the Census took place with only 548 moving from an address outside the UK – Covid-19 restrictions on travel in place at the time may have affected these figures.
In terms of migration, the vast majority of our residents were born in the UK. Our single biggest group of non-UK residents are from Poland at 2,625, followed by Romania on 1,229. There are 1,556 people living here from various other EU countries that joined the union between 2001 and 2011.
Have your say on sites for Travellers and Travelling Show People in South Worcestershire
The South Worcestershire Councils are inviting comments on the provision of sites for Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.
Worcester City, Malvern Hills District and Wychavon District Councils have prepared a Development Plan Document which includes information on the accommodation needs of
Travellers and Travelling Showpeople across South Worcestershire.
The document includes policies which seek to ensure that future Traveller sites are appropriately located and designed.
The document proposes additional Traveller pitches on two existing Traveller sites at Newlands, Malvern and Charlton, Pershore and two existing sites at Aldington and Evesham are also allocated in case the latest planning permissions lapse.
To help meet the medium to longer term needs of Travellers or Travelling Showpeople, new sites are also proposed on the new and expanded settlements at Worcestershire Parkway, Throckmorton and Rushwick, together with a site on each of the urban extensions at Worcester South and Worcester West.
The six-week public consultation runs from 1 November until Tuesday 13 December 2022 at 11.59pm. The public and other interested parties are being asked to comment on whether they believe the Development Plan Document is sound and legally compliant.
For the Development Plan Document to be considered sound it must show that it will meet the identified need for Traveller sites, is based on robust evidence, is deliverable and is consistent with national planning policies. To be legally compliant, the document must have followed all necessary legal and procedural requirements.
The Development Plan Document has been informed by earlier public consultations held in 2016, 2018 and 2021. This is the last public consultation on the document before it is submitted to the Government's Planning Inspectorate for independent Examination in 2023.
Cllr David Harrison, Chairman of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Joint Advisory Panel, said: "Providing sufficient appropriately located and designed sites for Travellers and Travelling Showpeople is vitally important, so I would urge people to make their voices heard on this essential issue."
While all comments submitted during the consultation will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration during the next stage of the document, the Government's Planning Inspector is only likely to consider comments that relate to the soundness and legal compliance of the document.
People can comment by visiting https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/consultations/south- worcestershire-traveller-and-travelling-showpeople-policy from Tuesday 1 November and downloading and filling in the comment form, by email or by post. Paper copies will also be available from Customer Contact Centres, local libraries and some parish and town council offices.
Consultation starts on SWDP Review Publication
A six-week public consultation has started on a key planning document that will shape the future development of South Worcestershire.
The revised South Worcestershire Development plan allocates land for 13,240 additional new homes and 290.7 hectares of employment land to be delivered by 2041. This will help meet the Government requirement to allocate land to build 26,360 new homes and 350.5 hectares of employment land across South Worcestershire from 2021 to 2041. Not all sites in the Plan
are new, with some being carried over from the last version of the SWDP and sites that already have planning permission being taken into account.
The majority of the new housing will be met through strategic growth sites at Worcestershire Parkway, Throckmorton, Rushwick and Mitton.
The public are being asked to comment on whether they consider the review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan is sound and legally compliant. To be considered sound the Plan must have been positively prepared, based on robust, credible evidence, show a clear deliverable vision and be consistent with national planning policies.
On top of this the three South Worcestershire Councils – Worcester City, Malvern Hills District and Wychavon District Councils – must also show they have complied with planning legislation including the legal duty to help neighbouring councils meet their strategic housing needs.
Comments can be made from Tuesday 1 November until 11.59pm on Tuesday 13 December 2022. Only comments made during the consultation can be considered.
People can comment by filling in the online comment form available on the SWDP website at https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/review. Paper copies are also available from Customer Contact Centres, local libraries and some parish and town council offices.
A series of public information events are being held to help describe the proposed growth at each of the strategic sites and give people the chance to ask questions.
These will be held on the following dates:
- Rushwick expanded settlement - Thursday 3 November 12pm to 8pm at Rushwick Village Hall, Bransford Road, Rushwick, WR2 5TA
- Worcestershire Parkway new settlement – Wednesday 9 November 12pm to 8pm at Norton Parish Hall, Wadborough Road, Littleworth, WR5 2QB
- Mitton - Friday 11 November 1pm to 8pm at Bredon Village Hall, Main Road, Bredon, GL20 7QN
- Throckmorton new settlement - Monday 14 November 1pm to 8pm at Bishampton Village Hall, Broad Lane, Bishampton, WR10 2LU
After the consultation all comments will be passed on to the Planning Inspectorate. The Plan will then go for Examination where it will be scrutinised in detail to make sure it is sound and legal. A series of public hearings may also be held where people will have the chance to make representations and ask questions providing that they have responded to this consultation.
It is expected the plan will be formally adopted by the South Worcestershire Councils in late 2023.
Cllr David Harrison, Chairman of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Joint Advisory Panel, said: “At this stage we are seeking views on whether people feel the Plan meets the test of soundness and is legally compliant. We cannot make changes to the Plan at this time; however, all comments will be passed to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration. There is a lot of information available through the SWDP website and in local
libraries to help people understand what is being proposed and how to comment. I urge people to get involved with the consultation and to make their views known.”
ENDS
The current South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) covers the period 2006 to 2030 and is based on extensive evidence and previous consultations. It has been jointly prepared by the three partner councils – Malvern Hills, Worcester City and Wychavon.
The Review will extend the period the plan covers from 2030 up to 2041.
The SWDP Review includes policies for dealing with four broad areas:
- Creating jobs and economic prosperity
- Meeting housing needs
- Transportation
- The environment
Most of the new housing will be provided through new settlements, known as strategic sites.
These will be located close to existing or new railway links. Clear layout (concept) plans have been prepared for each area. Providing new greenspaces will also be a key part of the Plan. A range of house types will be provided to meet the future requirements of our area’s population. Consideration has been given for people of different age groups and with health needs.
Development will be completed in phases over time and developers will be asked for payments known as “developer contributions” to support, and where necessary, deliver local infrastructure.
The strategic sites are as follows:
- Worcestershire Parkway - Up to 2041, 5,000 new homes will be built at this location with up to 40% affordable housing and 50 hectares of employment land to build a new settlement based on garden community principles. Another 5,000 homes are planned after 2041. The settlement will be carbon neutral with renewable energy providing the development’s energy needs. The focus will be on making sure residents’ needs are met near to where they live including a new town centre, schools, local neighbourhood centres and community facilities. Together with investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, it will promote sustainability and reduce dependency on the car.
- Throckmorton - A carbon neutral settlement of 2,000 homes with 40% affordable housing and 20 hectares of employment land will be created by 2041. In the second phase after 2041, another 3,000 new homes are planned, as well as 40 hectares of employment land. Again, the focus will be on delivering sustainability with a town centre, schools and community facilities forming part of the proposals. New infrastructure will include direct walking and cycling links to Pershore Railway Station to reduce the need to travel by car.
- Rushwick - 1,000 new homes are planned as well as 5 hectares of employment land, a new railway station, primary school, retail and other supporting services including a new or improved village hall, community park, allotments and orchards. Up to 40% of the housing will be affordable and no development will be allowed before land necessary to enable the railway station to be built and other critical infrastructure has been secured.
- Mitton - Land near Mitton close to Bredon and next to Tewkesbury town, has also been identified to provide 1,000 new homes, 500 of which will be to meet neighbouring Tewkesbury Borough Council’s housing need. This agreement is part of the legal Duty to Cooperate which requires councils to support each other’s strategic planning needs. A new primary school, community facilities and walking and cycling links are included in the proposal.
Smaller sites have also been identified for new housing in each area during the plan period. In Worcester City 866 new homes are planned, 594 in Malvern, 10 in Tenbury and 376 in rural villages across the Malvern Hills District. In Wychavon 916 new homes have been allocated to Droitwich Spa, 255 in Evesham, 212 in Pershore and 1,069 in rural villages across the district.
As well as housing, the new Plan provides 290.7 hectares of new employment land to support business growth, renewed protections to prevent development on the Green Belt and around 179 hectares of new recreational open green space for people to enjoy.
There are also new and enhanced policies supporting each councils’ efforts to protect the environment and tackle climate change. Measures within these policies include:
- Developments must be designed to minimise car use
- Developers must provide the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles in each new home
- Sustainable materials and construction techniques must be used
- At least 20% of predicted energy use by a development must come from renewable or low carbon energy sources
- Sites for new solar farms have been identified
- Sites for Informal Areas of Recreation (AIRs) have been identified
- Developments must provide measurable net gains in biodiversity
- Polices to protect valued landscapes and landscape character
- Policies to manage and mitigate against flood risk
- Policies to make the most effective use of land
Cllr Robinson was asked if the new census data was being considered in the SWDP
and whether this would determine the type of housing proposed in the new plan. Cllr Robinson agreed to ensure that the comment was past on.
9. Footpaths Officer
Councillors were asked to spread the word that a new footpaths officer was required. This is a post that reports direct to Worcestershire County Council but that has a consultative role with the parish council and community.
In the meantime members of the public can report matters direct to the clerk or on the Worcestershire County Council website.
10. Flyford Green
The consultation concerning the new management group had been extended to 25th November. It was agreed that this should be posted on the Flyford Facebook Page and the website.
It was agreed to start the process of registering the Green with Fields In Trust.
Proposed David Waide
Seconded: Richard Davey
All in favour
The annual inspection had been carried out by the ROSPA inspector with David Waide in attendance. It had been determined that the sheafing was not presently dangerous but David will fix some support tape in due course.
It was reported that the rocks had finally been removed but it was agreed to hold fire with the fencing until the new management group was in place.
11. Planning Matters
11.1 W/20/02435/S106
Mr & Mrs Farmer
Hilltop Farm
Old Hill
Flyford Flavell
WR7 4DA
Efforts were still being made to find a solution to the access issues presented by the site. Cllr Robinson reported that the planning officer had now been changed and considered that the application should be approved. The parish council were adamant that if this was the case it should go to committee so that the parish council could make it’s views know.
The application to lift the S106 agreements on this site had been withdrawn and there was no indication of the developers intention on this matter.
11.2 W/22/02163/FUL
Land on Radford Road
Development of 4No. live/work units
It was agreed to oppose this application but it was considered too complex to formulate the comment at the meeting. It was agreed to ask the clerk to formulate a comment which would be circulated around councillors for their agreement. (The final comment is included as an addendum to these minutes and reflects the concerns raise by councillors at the meeting.)
Proposed Sadie Densham
Seconded: Andrew Short
All in favour
11.3 SWDP Development Plan
The clerk and some councillors had visited the presentation at Bishampton Village Hall the previous day. A number of concerns were raise about the Throckmorton Development and it was agreed that there appeared to have been little thought about some aspects of the proposal. In particular, as far as our parish is concerned there does not appear to be any proposals to improve traffic flows to Redditch and the M42 junction which will inevitably take traffic through Flyford Flavell and possibly North Piddle.
It was agreed to contact the other local parish councils to see what they were doing about the consultation and devise a strategy from there.
It was noted that the land directly to the south of Flyford Green has been included as a possible development site in Flyford Flavell. This site had been subject to a number of unsuccessful applications is the past but it was agreed not to comment at this stage.
12. Flyfords Hall
The clerk reported that the Flyfords Hall was very well booked and continued to provide a good service to the local and wider community. All councillor were invited to the AGM on 1st December and the Carols on 21st December.
13. Treasurer’s Report
Grafton Society: £1,500.00 Appeal Fund: £1,570.00
Deposit Acc: £17,004.35 Current Acc: £2,479.39
14.
The clerk reported, that despite the fact that CCLA had moved to protect the Local Authority Property Fund in October by increasing the redemption notice period from 90 days to 6 months, the investment had done well in the last quarter and the council received a dividend of £959.86.
The clerk reported that he would prepare a full budget before the next meeting in January when the precept for 2023/24 needs to be set. This will be circulated in due course and will include a reconciliation of the Flyford Green expenditure.
The budget for next year should include an amount for work to the pond in Flyford Flavell.
15. Highways & Footpaths
The clerk reported that contrary to a report at the last parish council meeting Highways were now not intending to carry out any work to the A422. As a result of the report from Cllr Robinson at the last meeting the clerk and lengthsman completed a full survey of the footway along the A422 through the parishes. This had been sent to Highways who had then apparently conducted their own survey and concluded that no works were required and that the highway was safe to walk along. Councillors registered their dismay at this outcome.
The clerk reported that there was still no date for the VAS camera replacement for Radford Road. This was entirely in the hands of Highways. Funding had been provided many months ago and he was baffled by the fact that Highways had still not manged to provide the camera.
16. Flyfords Church Website
The clerk reported that the churches website had now been closed down. It was agreed that an extra tab would be included on the parish council website to upload the ‘Flyfords Flyer’ which was produced by Caroline Ward and contained community information and the times of the church services.
17. Any Other Business
It was agreed to provide a Christmas tree for Flyford Green.
Proposed Richard Davey
Seconded David Waide
All in favour
Andrew Short and Anna Toivola both gave notice of impending planning applications on their properties and asked for their Declarations of Interest to be recorded at the appropriate time.
18. Dates of Next Meetings
It was agreed to provide a Christmas tree for Flyford Green.
Proposed Richard Davey
Seconded David Waide
All in favour
Andrew Short and Anna Toivola both gave notice of impending planning applications on their properties and asked for their Declarations of Interest to be recorded at the appropriate time.
19. Dates of Next Meetings:
7th January 2023
21st March 2023
16th May 2023
18th July 2023
19th September 2023
21st November 2023
The meeting concluded at 10.40pm