NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Town Planning and Environmental Management
Committee held on Wednesday 18 January 2017 at 8.00pm at 80 High Street,
Newport Pagnell
Present:
Cllrs Paul Alexander, Roger Clarke, Mark Lombardo, Richard Pearson
and Phil Winsor (Chair)
Absent:
None
In attendance:
Patrick Donovan (Deputy Clerk)
Cllr Phil Ayles (Chairman - Castlethorpe Parish Council)
ITEM 1 JAN 2017/TP:
TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllrs Diane Kitchen and Joan
Sidebottom
ITEM 2 JAN 2017/TP:
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Alexander declared a personal interest in that he was a Newport Pagnell ward
member and also a member of Milton Keynes Council Development Control
Committee/Panel.
ITEM 3 JAN 2017/TP:
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
The Chairman welcomed Cllr Phil Ayles, chairman of Castlethorpe Parish Council, to the
meeting to talk about the issues arising from the briefing sessions on Plan:MK organised
by Milton Keynes Council for Town and Parish Councils in December, and to seek the
Town Council’s support for the Haversham Action Group. The discussions are minuted
under item 8 below.
ITEM 4 JAN 2017/TP:
4.1
The minutes of the meeting held on 14th December 2016 and 4th January 2017
were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman
Prop: PW
4.2
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AND ACTIONS ARISING
Sec: RC
Actions arising from the last minutes
4.2.1 The Deputy Clerk confirmed that Milton Keynes Council would be erecting a
‘Reduce Speed Now’ sign outside No 3 Wolverton Road underneath the
existing roundabout warning sign. The sign has been ordered and will be
installed by the end of January.
4.2.2 The Committee had received from MKC the air quality data from the
monitoring station in Wolverton Road. The station measures nitrogen dioxide
concentration continuously and from this data MKC obtains an annual mean
to compare against the objective level of less than 40 micrograms/m3. The
Minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.
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Signed …………………………………… Date …………………………………………
NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN COUNCIL
annual mean in 2015 was 27.0 micrograms/m3 but data for 2016 will not be
available until February 2017 following checking and data ratification.
ITEM 5 JAN 2017/TP:
5.1
There were no objections to the following applications providing the materials
used were in keeping with the existing buildings, and any tree preservation orders
had been cleared by the Tree Officer and that any refurbishments to listed buildings
conform to the Listed Buildings Officer and Conservation Officers’ remits:
16/03599/FUL
16/03609/FUL
17/00016/FUL
17/00039/TPO
17/00044/FUL
17/00063/TCA
5.2
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
First floor rear extension; new window to bathroom, 30 Swift
Close
Single storey rear extension and loft conversion with rear
dormers, 104 Priory Street
Two storey rear extension, first floor side extension with garage
conversion, 5 Teign Close
Laterally reduce crown back over neighbouring driveway by 1
to 2.5m and lift crown over main road to statutory height of
5.5m and balance crown to shape with reduction over drive to 1
x Holm Oak (T2); reduce crown back to secondary growth
points by 0.5 to 1m and reshape to give a more compact shape
to 1 x Apple (T7); reduce crown back to secondary growth
points by 1 – 2m and reshape to give a more compact shape to
1 x Cedar (T4), 6 The Lodge Park, Wolverton Road
First floor side extension (resubmission of 16/03300/FUL), 28
Tabard Gardens
Notification of intention to crown reduce by 1 metre 2 x Ash tree
(T3’s) and crown reduce by 1 metre and thin to produce better
crop to 1 x Apple tree (T4) and 2 x Pear trees (T1 and T2), 1
River Close
16/02904/FUL – Demolition of one dwelling and erection of ten flats, 2
Westbury Lane – The Committee received copies of the amended drawings
relating to this application and agreed that the new proposals, as illustrated on
drawings 2625/F/3 and 2625/F/4, mitigated the massing and scale of the buildings
which was the basis of its original objection.
Resolved to withdraw the Town Council’s objection to the original application
16/02904/FUL
Prop: PW
Sec: RC
ITEM 6 JAN 2017/TP:
VISION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE TOWN PLANNING
AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Committee discussed the progress that had been made against the agreed objectives
for 2016/17:
6.1
To maintain an overview of public transport issues that impact on Newport Pagnell
residents and to aim to resolve such issues within a 30 day period
Minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.
Signed …………………………………… Date …………………………………………
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NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN COUNCIL
The Deputy Clerk reported that Chris Jarman, Senior Passenger Transport Officer
at MKC, had provided an update on the redesign of the Market Hill roundabout and
the upgrading of various bus stops in Newport Pagnell. MKC Highways have been
instructed to progress both the Market Hill scheme through detailed design to
construction (once approved) and a number of other bus stop improvements in the
area, although final details are still to be agreed. The six bus stops in Newport
Pagnell should start being upgraded in late Feb/early March. These are the two
pairs on Marsh End Road and the pair along Elthorne Way near the Local Centre.
These are all direct upgrades to existing shelters.
6.2
To maintain an overview of highways issues that impact on Newport Pagnell
residents and to aim to resolve such issues within a 30 day period
6.2.1 On the issue of the iron bridge lamps, Cllr Lombardo reported that MKC had now
asked for advice from English Heritage regarding their repair/replacement, and
would keep the Committee updated.
Action: Cllr Lombardo
6.2.2 Cllrs Clarke and Lombardo drew attention to the bus stop markings outside Tickford
Arcade which had faded badly. The Deputy Clerk would report this to MKC
Highways
Action: Deputy Clerk
6.2.3 MKC will now be holding their online services workshop at NPTC offices on
Thursday 26 January starting at 1.30pm. Three councillors had expressed an
interest in attending.
6.3
To maintain an overview of environmental issues that impact on Newport Pagnell
residents and to aim to resolve such issues within a 30 day period
Cllr Lombardo had finally obtained from MKC the cleaning schedules for Newport
Pagnell
6.4
To oversee the newly-formed Neighbourhood Plan Implementation Group’s efforts
to progress with MKC/MKDP and the other landowner the masterplanning of the
Tickford Fields development
The third masterplanning meeting between the various stakeholders has yet to take
place pending completion of further technical work. The next meeting of the
Neighbourhood Plan Implementation Group was scheduled to take place the
following day (19 January)
6.5
To arrange specific training in Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
matters to understand how developer contributions are used to fund the
infrastructure needed to support new development in the town
S106 training has been provided to members and further training will be arranged
as and when necessary. The Business Development Committee is determining how
developer contributions are being sought to fund infrastructure.
Minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.
Signed …………………………………… Date …………………………………………
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ITEM 7 JAN 2017/TP:
NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN COUNCIL
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The Deputy Clerk updated the Committee on the active elements of the Neighbourhood
Plan, all due to be discussed at the following day’s Neighbourhood Plan Implementation
Group meeting. Two masterplanning meetings had now taken place, in November and
December 2016, and a meeting with MKC/MKDP had been held the previous day to
discuss developer contributions relating to the Tickford Fields development.
ITEM 8 JAN 2017/TP:
PLAN:MK – TOWN AND PARISH COUNCIL BRIEFING
SESSIONS
The Committee received details of the two briefing sessions on Plan:MK organised by
Milton Keynes Council for Town and Parish Councils in December. Cllr Phil Ayles
(Castlethorpe Parish Council) addressed members on the issues arising from the briefing,
summarised in the following notes he had previously distributed for members to consider:
Plan:MK
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Milton Keynes must have a Local Plan or risk government creating one for us and
failure at planning appeals. Should have been completed end 2016.
Under NPPF, a Local Plan must designate land for housing to meet the objectively
forecast housing demand for the Plan period.
Completely separate issue to the failure in 5 year land supply which should be
resolved this year and which is resulting in inappropriate building if no NP.
MKC have now briefed draft Plan:MK which will be considered by Cabinet on 21st
February to go to public consultation. Public Examination in 2018.
Designates land for 40,000 homes; 23,000 existing permissions, 4,000 brownfield
sites, 6,000 Northern Expansion Area (Haversham), 5,000 East of M1 (Moulsoe)
and 2,000 South-West (East-West corridor)
Northern Expansion Area
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Devastates Haversham cum Little Linford with a grid road slicing Haversham village
in two and obliterating its identity.
Destroys the rural environment putting housing right up to the borders of
Castlethorpe and Hanslope, less than a mile from the villages.
Puts a grid road through the new parkland created at Oakridge Park with an
awkward dog leg to Saxon Street - gridlock waiting to happen.
Has two dual carriageways bridged over Linford Lakes, river and flood plain and
new lake at Wolverton (gravel extraction).
New grid roads end in a ‘cul de sac’ at the M1 - bridge? No M1 junction committed
by Highways England.
Designation blights properties and is irreversible.
Impact on Newport Pagnell
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Newport Pagnell will have new settlements of similar size to itself both to the north
west and to the south (Moulsoe) despite taking 1,400 homes in its NP. Population
15,000 -> 46,000 in surrounding area.
Minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.
Signed …………………………………… Date …………………………………………
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NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN COUNCIL
Although new settlements will have primary schools and healthcare, they will
probably depend on Newport Pagnell as their local centre with pressures on
parking, secondary schools etc.
Newport Pagnell will become a rat run for drivers going to the M1 – Little Linford
Lane is already the natural route for those of us from Castlethorpe and Hanslope.
Just add another 15,000 people.
Loss of rural amenity at Linford Lakes
Threat of future development east of M1 towards Gayhurst to B526.
Objections
There will be a lot of detail issues such as expanding MK urban infrastructure to cope with
40% increase in population including link dualling Saxon St and Grafton St, capacity at
Wolverton/MKC stations, hospital expansion and flood management which may impact
financial viability of the scheme. Also worth noting that, at the current build rate of 1,400
houses pa, the existing permissions alone represent more than 15 years supply - White
Paper may address land banking.
Two main strategic objections prior to Cabinet:
(1)
Why 20 year period for Plan:MK?
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(2)
Local Plans have to be for a minimum of 10 years and most local authorities set a
Plan for 15 years.
Milton Keynes is setting it for 20 years because “Milton Keynes always does more”
(Anna Rose) Extra 5 years adds 10,000 houses to demand.
Housing forecast is set by the SHMA (Strategic Housing Market Assessment) done
independently by Opinion Research Services. Uses standard methodology which
extrapolates migration [1,700pa] and natural growth (births-deaths) [2,200pa].
Methodology has to ignore two disruptive events (1) Exit from EU - uncertainty
about migration (2) National Infrastructure Commission - plans for growth along new
East-West corridor which will mandatorily skew growth to the south west. Natural
growth also likely to slow as MK population ages.
Uncertainty: set 15 year Plan. Remove Haversham (6,000 houses) and Moulsoe
(5,000 houses). Review 2021.
Why is the Haversham scheme needed at all, even in a 20 year Plan?
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General agreement that Haversham is the least desirable of the expansion areas.
SHMA gives a baseline housing need of 31,457 dwellings over the 20-year Plan
period 2016-36. SHMA recommends 10% uplift to 34,473 of which 30% affordable.
There is no need for the further uplifts by MKC Planning (outside of the SHMA) to
40,000 dwellings. Any changes needed included in 5 year Review.
Even with a 20 year Plan, take 6,000 Haversham dwellings out completely which
leaves just 473 houses to be picked up through rural NPs (Castlethorpe 35,
Hanslope 150, Sherington 40, etc)
Objective
That Newport Pagnell Town Council resolves to:
Minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.
Signed …………………………………… Date …………………………………………
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NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN COUNCIL
Object to draft Plan:MK
Support the Action Group (as are Haversham, Hanslope, Castlethorpe and Great
Linford PCs - others to come) possibly financially
Seek the support of its Ward Councillors to reduce the period to 15 years but, in any
case, to remove the Northern Expansion Area from Plan:MK before Cabinet.
Note that these actions do not impact the growth forecast for MK by a single house
or affordable home.
The Committee carefully considered the arguments put forward by Cllr Ayles and agreed
the following resolutions:
Resolved to support the recommendation to reduce the length of Plan:MK to 15
years
Prop: RC
Sec: RP
Resolved to recommend to the Newport Pagnell Ward Councillors that the proposed
Haversham and Moulsoe developments in Plan:MK should not be supported as they
would have an adverse impact on Newport Pagnell
Action: Deputy Clerk to contact Ward Councillors
Prop: PW
Sec: RC
Resolved to recommend to Full Council that Newport Pagnell Town Council
supports the Action Group and, if so, to what extent
Prop: PW
Sec: RC
Action: Deputy Clerk to circulate information and drawings to all councillors
ITEM 9 JAN 2017/TP:
DOWNS FIELD RESIDENT PERMIT PROPOSAL
The Committee received a copy of an email from Milton Keynes Council Parking advising
of a petition received from residents of Downs Field, requesting the implementation of a
resident permit parking only scheme. MKC is proposing to hold an informal consultation
with residents and if more than 70% of residents that respond support the implementation
of a permit scheme, MKC will introduce one within 6 months of the date the consultation
closes (subject to no statutory objections). If approved, the permit scheme will apply
Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6pm with all properties being eligible for 1 resident and 1
visitor permit. Additional permits are available to official carers. Informal carers (e.g. family
members) would need to use the visitor permit. MKC is seeking the Town Council’s
support for this approach. The Committee carefully considered the proposal, including the
views of other councillors.
Resolved to support Milton Keynes Council’s proposed informal consultation with
Downs Field residents regarding the implementation of a resident permit parking
only scheme
Prop: ML
Sec: RC
Minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.
Signed …………………………………… Date …………………………………………
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NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN COUNCIL
ITEM 10 JAN 2017/TP:
NORTH BRIDGE REFURBISHMENT
The Committee received details of the stonework refurbishment of North Bridge which
started on 9th January 2017 and is scheduled to take 16 weeks to complete. Work on the
Grade 2 listed structure will consist mainly of removal and replacement of areas of parapet
stones, some of which will be replaced with new where they have deteriorated beyond reuse. Some other areas to the facade including the arch voussoir also require attention.
ITEM 11 JAN 2017/TP:
SHERINGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The Committee received details of the final version of the Sherington Neighbourhood Plan
and supporting documents, which is now being published by Milton Keynes Council
Resolved to support the Sherington Neighbourhood Plan
Prop: PW
Sec: RP
ITEM 12 JAN 2017/TP:
HAVERSHAM-CUM-LITTLE LINFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD
PLAN
The Committee received and noted the application by Haversham-cum-Little Linford
Parish Council for the designation of a neighbourhood area, ie the identification of the area
for which the parish council wishes to prepare a neighbourhood plan. The Committee had
no specific comments on the application.
ITEM 13 JAN 2017/TP:
TOWN PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT BUDGET
The Committee received and noted the Month 9 budget report from the Responsible
Finance Officer. There were no significant variations.
ITEM 14 JAN 2017/TP:
ITEMS FOR PUBLICITY
There were no items for publicity
ITEM 15 JAN 2017/TP:
ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
Resolved that the following items would appear on the next full TPEM agenda:
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Objectives for 2016/17
Neighbourhood Plan Implementation Group – minutes of meeting 19/01/17
Plan:MK - update
Prop: PW
Sec:
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.17pm.
The date of the next full TPM meeting is Wednesday 22nd February 2017 at the Town
Council Offices, 80 High Street, Newport Pagnell. An interim meeting to consider planning
applications only will be held on Wednesday 8th February 2017 at 7.30pm
Minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.
Signed …………………………………… Date …………………………………………
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