Marsh Lane Watch
Litter pickers on February 25. They come from time but don't have much to collect on this side of Marsh Lane north of Marsh Barns as we do it pretty well ourselves. Still it was good to see them.
The vet clinic application (O/10/05635/COU) went through virtually on the nod against officers' recommendation. It was a pretty weak argument the officers presented and they backed off pretty smartly when it was clear members were having nothing of it. It rather shows the merit of the red card procedure but had I done it for the Montessori school application I think it would have been a different outcome. I spoke briefly for the applicant. See Oving Vet
........................................................................................................................
Marsh Lane Watch
Repair part installed in resident sewage plant and odour now gone. This has taken many weeks after I first raised the matter with the property landlord. Lack of action on his part caused me to go to the Council who responded promptly and put effective pressure on him that I was unable to exert. There's a lesson there.
35 people turned out for Oving litter pick. Is this a record? It was certainly impressive given what a miserable and bleak morning it was. We collected 56 bags. The village should look all the better for it. Congratulations to the chairman for getting so many of us to take part and organising our beats. It felt like beyond the call of duty, given I am off in two months but these things have to be done. I was a keen sponsor of village clean up days so have to carry it through.
Received agenda paper for Development Control (South) meeting on February 23 that included the Oving vet clinic application. Officers concluded that the case was 'finely balanced' but recommended refusal on grounds of trip rates. A rather paltry reason, in my view, for stopping a sound economic investment. I will try and get the committee to take a broader view of planning guidelines and look at opportunities to increase and sustain the rural economy. But don't hold your breath that I will succeed.
I was expecting that the flytipping guidelines would be tabled at the same time but they have been delayed until March.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Marsh Lane Watch
Previous week had advised Environmental Health of odour from a resident's property, probably emanating from leaking sewage plant. Landlord took action but still some residual odour at times. Not clear if the leak has been plugged. However officer response very prompt.
Attended members briefing on changes in housing benefit from April 1. It's a complicated picture with a number of different schemes in operation. But major changes have been announced which will result in most cases of privately rented accommodation in benefit reductions of between three and over 20 pounds per week. Tenants of five bedroom houses will only be entitled to the benefit payable for four bedroom houses.
The rate of local housing allowance will be based on the lowest 30th percentile of assessed local market rate as against the median as of now. Rents on social housing will be reduced by a contribution expected to be made by other non dependants living at the property. In other words the government is making cuts here as elsewhere in the public sector. About 1000 households in the district will be affected. Letters have been sent to them explaining how their position will be changed.
Attended scrutiny crime standing panel at which officers reported that the cut in the district Safety Partnership budget that oversees community policing, eg anti social behaviour, alcohol abuse, intervention where families are causing harm to communities, support for community wardens etc, will be cut by 20 per cent in the coming year. None of this makes encouraging reading.
Meeting of affordable housing working party at North Mundham identified two potential sites for the development project. Project timeline is report on March 16 of outcome of discussions with landlords of the two sites, recommendations submitted to parish council on April 5 and consultation with the community at the PC's AGM on May 17. There are 101 social housing units of the 500 houses in the parish. Of the 76 on the housing register with a local connection, 24 are in the priority category of bands A-C. This initiative is now moving along well after a slow start. I shan't be around to see it through but will be involved in the recommendations made to the parish.
Click here to return to the top of the page.
Marsh Lane Watch
Odour, quite strong up to level 3 out of 4 the whole afternoon of January 31.
Officers announce final grant settlement from government for 2011/12 that represents a £400K increase on the indicative settlement received in December. The amount represents a cut in the claw-back on the establishment of the South Downs National Park. This is good news and more than covers the earlier predicted budget deficit of £100K. It means that the Council has more breathing space to plan for cuts in 2012/13.
I submit red card for the homeopathic vet planning application (O/10/05635/COU)that was threatened with refusal by planning officers on grounds of unsustainability in accordance with government planning policies. My position is that special consideration should be given to the rural economy, journeys for a large proportion of clients will be reduced and car journeys are needed for taking animals to a vet.
Heads of local secondary schools including CHSG publish letter in Observer complaining the English bac is too prescriptive and reduces student choice. Yes and no. It represents a broad curriculum that provides the basis for further education in a wide range of subjects, which should be welcomed. It still leaves room for the less academic subjects that currently all too often skew league tables. Not a particularly well argued letter, and better sent to local MP than the newspaper.
NMPC supports my announcement of proposed rural allocation policy that would give priority, subject to reasonable need (Bands A-C), in the case of social housing re-lets, to applicants with a local connection.
Click here to return to the top of the page.