Minutes of the meeting of the Development and Planning Committee held at

The Stevenson Centre on Monday 26^th November 2007.

Present:           ouncillors:   R I Wade – Chairman

                                                P K Beer – ex-officio

                                                Mrs A Harper-Clark

                                                M D Newman (substitute for Mrs F A Jackson)

                                                J R A Sayers

                                                Mrs C Todd (substitute for H N Todd)

                        Clerk:              Mrs S M Brotherwood (Sudbury) (Deputising for M J Fitt, Council Manager)

1)            Apologies for absence

Apologies were receievd from Cllrs Mrs F A Jackson and H N Todd and M J Fitt, Council Manager.

2)            Declarations of Interest, Gifts or Hospitality

Cllr Beer declared that he is a Suffolk County Councillor, Babergh District Councillor and Sudbury Town Councillor.  Cllr Sayers declared that he is a Babergh District Councillor and Sudbury Town Councillor.  Cllrs Newman and Mrs Todd declared that they are Babergh District Councillors.  These members also asked that it be noted that their views expressed at this meeting would be based on information available at the time and might not eb the same as thos expressed at meetings involving other councils.

3)            Chairman’s Announcements

Through the Chair, Cllr Beer congratulated Cllr Wade on being elected as Vice-Chairman of the Development and Planning Committee and on chairing his first meeting as a parish councillor.  Cllr Mrs Jackson was unable to attend; Cllr Beer informed the meeting that she was improving and the committee wished her well.

Cllr Beer also welcomed Mrs Brotherwood, Town Clerk to Sudbury Town Council, who had kindly agreed to take the minutes of the meetings for the evening.

4)         Items Brought Forward

a.      Broom Street footpath/flower bed adjacent to the Queens Arms

Members requested that the Council Manager contacts Rob Page and Alan Newman of Suffolk County Council in an attempt to elicit a response.

b.     Minsmere Way slope

It was agreed that the Council Manager should have a meeting on-site, as offered by Suffolk County Council, in order to review this situation.

c.      Stevenson Approach flooding

Suffolk County Council has confirmed that the drainage work in Broom Street/Head Lane should alleviate the flooding at The Stevenson Centre.

d.     Parking on Shawlands Avenue

This matter is being dealt with by Babergh District Council and the Community Warden.  However, the most persistant offender has stated that he has permission to park there; this statement is currently being investigated.

e.      Anglia Estates Improvements

This matter is ongoing and should remain on the Items Brought Forward list until the outcome is known.

f.        North Cornard Regeneration Group

The next meeting is scheduled for 23^rd January 2008

5)         Items for Inclusion in the 2008/09 Estimates

Cllr Beer asked that £4000 be included in the 2008/09 estimates for new lighting in Blackhouse Lane.

6)         New Planning Applications

(i) B/07/01633/FUL/BEL – Shopping Precinct, Poplar Road

Construction of masonry chimney with metal top for extraction from takeaway shop unit – APPROVAL

(ii) B/07/01808/FHA/BHW

Erection of rear conservatory – APPROVAL

(iii) B/07/01816/FHA/MB

Retention of rear decking; erection of garden shed; increase to height of eastern boundary fence – APPROVAL

(iv) Chilton Mineral Plan

Members discussed amendments to the proposed mineral works at Chilton and agreed to make the following comments to Babergh District Council and Suffolk County Council.

Great Cornard Parish Council opposes the proposals for the following reasons:-

The large incresae in heavy traffic along the A134 which is already a dangerous road.

The proposed layout of a ‘feeder’ lane would not work as large lorries take some time to turn and other drivers could easily misjudge this.

The increased traffic will cause car users to use narrow back roads as ‘rat runs’.

There are no measurers (policing and/or penalties) in place to prevent lorries using Valley Road as a short cut (several miles difference).

Despite the amendments, there is still a significant amount of business associated with the site which is nothing to do with the extraction of minerals from it.

If this is not a viable site for mineral extraction on a stand-alone basis, then the parish council feels that the application should be dismissed out of hand.

The site is not sufficiently removed from residential and business premises and, although a dust management plan will be implemented, it will be impossible for them to remain unaffected.

Please make these comments known to the appropriate officers when the matter is discussed at BDC and SCC.

N.B. If it is seen fit to approve this plan it is absolutely imperative that a roundabout be constructed and NOT the proposed feeder lane.

The meeting closed at 7.40pm.