County Planning Committee approves unanimously Langmead Farms' application for permanent processing of green waste at Walnut Tree Farm, Runcton (WSCC/09/024/NM). Councillor Andrew Smith spoke on my behalf in my absence in India.
Ahead of the meeting I had written to all members of the committee highlighting errors as I saw them in the factual evidence provided by the applicant, arguing that the site was surplus to requirements for green waste composting in West Sussex, given existing capacity elsewhere, and recommending that if it were to continue the Runcton site should have its temporary approval extended for a further period to demonstrate that its recently improved performance as far as odour control was controlled could be sustained.
The committee added a condition to the approval in the shape of a liaison committee that would meet to review operations representing residents, the EA, CDC member, site operator and site owner. We wait to see what effect this meeting will have.
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Marsh Lane Watch
Little odour this week ahead of next week's planning committee site visit.
Some to-ing and fro-ing with Contract Services on collection of green waste flytipping in stream near flint wall. They said as on private land (Langmeads) not their responsibility. I said, come off it. I think I have prevailed.
19:00. Mayor's dinner with Esther Rantzen as speaker raised over £1100 for Mayor's thoroughly worthwhile charity, Haslar Visitors Group that cares for refugees and asylum seekers held in detention at Haslar. The way the UK treats these people is not exemplary.
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County planning releases committee papers for the October 27 meeting which will consider Langmead Farms's application for permanent operations on the Walnut Tree Farm, Runcton green waste composting site. Officers are recommending approval in spite of many considered objections from residents including myself and CDC. What will have influenced the recommendation is the support of the Environment Agency that has had few complaints this year, though plenty enough in earlier years. Let's see how the media handle it.
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Looking at the other three members websites on the Council website, which have not been updated for months, this is clearly not proving a useful channel for members to communicate with residents as was hoped. But I will persevere as I know some people look at my site and it serves as a useful and easily accessible record of my activities for my own reference.
Received copy of the 2008 Place Survey of ward residents. It doesn't make great reading. It was part of survey of 3000 households in the district carried out about 12 months ago by postal questionnaire. 22 households responded from this wards, or 1.6 per cent of the total received. We were under represented as a representative sample would have been 2.1 per cent or 29 households.
There are good things. Residents are among the most satisfied with their area and there is good community cohesion. But we have the lowest percentage of people who are satisfied with the way the District Council runs things and our people don't think they are treated with respect by public services.
Among the questions, residents don't think the police and other services seek their view on local issues but think they are successful in dealing with them. Neighbourhood Management Panels, set up after the survey was done, should help solve this problem.
I was concerned that only 11 per cent felt well informed on what to do in the event of a large scale emergency. This has been one of my hot buttons and I have encouraged both parishes to put together emergency plans. But if residents read the latest Initiatives mag page 9 they should have all the information they need.
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Marsh Lane Watch
Quiet week in Marsh Lane, slight odour one day.
Meeting of Community Action Project at Tangmere. 15 present. PCSO announced plans to set up separate meeting for a Tangmere Neighbourhood Management Panel in the hope of attracting more from the community including business. No decision on venue nor when first meeting. I am doubtful if it will attract more people. I would have thought the CAP provided a wide enough community representation.
In the absence of a successor to Jayne Stansby who planned to step down as chairman but stay on the committee until the Spitfire Court improvement project was completed, it was suggested I approach Oving PC for a possible nominee. Failing that perhaps a merger would make sense with Tangmere Action Group that had similar community objectives such as giving the place improved sense of self pride by providing eg welcome signs.
Lively debate on the merits of plans for a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) to occupy the existing tennis court.
As I have remarked before this CAP is a thoroughly worthwhile community action group. It would be a pity if it lost momentum in the search for a new chairman.
The Executive Board recommended increases to car parking charges in Chichester city as set out in the service review by officers. It was claimed by the portfolio holder that there would be no increase in charges for three years from April 2009. This is true but misleading. What is recommended is that while hourly rates be unchanged charging times be extended by one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon. Sunday charging would be introduced with a flat rate of £1.00 for the four hours from 12:00 noon.
The income gained from these increases plus an increase in Roving season tickets and an overnight charge for lorry/ coach parking amounts to £320K. This is some £180K in excess of target in 2010/2011 and some £100K in 2011/2012.
The Sunday charge would yield £70K. We should oppose it. Never mind what happens elsewhere, Sunday should be a special day for people to visit the city and worship if they wish, and we should not be adding to the number of people we employ on a Sunday if we can avoid it.
Also on the agenda was a report on committed capital plans to install new combined heat and power units at Westgate that save on energy costs, reduce carbon footprint etc. A part II item because commercial tenders considered. We shall be reviewing as part of the Westgate service review at the PDC in November, but it's not looking good.
North Mundham Parish Council. I reported on recent PDC activity including a strategy to finance public art out of Section 106 funds provided by developers, and improvements to planning enforcement The latter attracted special interest as the parish's experience in recent years of the effectiveness of the service has been decidedly mixed.
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A little odour during the week in Marsh Lane, mostly near the flint wall. Not strong enough to alert the Environment Agency but the strengthening SW winds don't help . Grass cut this week. Welcome, though it showed up the litter not collected.
On dog walk on October 5 passed Careline mobile response unit employee smoking beside his van parked by the church. Something incongruous about the smoking and monitoring elderly people with health concerns.
Earlier in the day called Service Team to remove some black bags of green waste some irresponsible individual (there seem to be plenty who travel along Marsh Lane) from the stream by the flint wall.
Irish give thumbs up to Lisbon Treaty at the second time of asking. Assuming the eurosceptic Czech president sees reason and goes along with his parliament's approval as he should, the treaty will come into force on January 1, 2010. It won't make a lot of difference to the way the EU governs itself. May be a little more efficient having a permanent president (please may it not be Tony Blair. Nothing would make eurosceptic Britain more so) and its own foreign service, but it is a nickel and diming exercise at bottom. But it gets an obstacle out of the way of further enlargement and that is a good thing.
Separate Tables has had mixed reviews but we thought a very good production and with a good house. Coming after a debate about the merits of funding arts institutions in the morning, it made me even more determined to campaign for continued support even if at a reduced rate.
The theatre and the gallery are major cultural assets that not only attract people to live and work in the district. They have a major economic impact. In an ideal world they would be able to stand on their own feet without public subsidy. But no arts institution of this kind in this country at least that lacks the tradition of private philanthropy of the US for example, can do so.
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Chaired meeting of the Policy Development Committee that took its first look at service reviews that are targeting cost savings. Among the reviews was the use of CCTV cameras to provide surveillance of car parks mostly in Chichester city. I think we let the officers off too lightly with proposals that are nickel and diming and are far from the savings target. We have a gold plated system like none other in the county whose contribution to community safety is hard to assess with any accuracy and in tough times, I think, needs to be scaled back. I may push to revisit this one.
One big advance is the new approach to planning enforcement, an issue I first raised as a member of the PDC in March 2006. We now have a sensible and comprehensive strategy, some reshaping of responsibilities and processes and a more sustainable staffing structure. It deserves to succeed. We need to ensure members are fully on board with the improvements and communicate them to their wards who in the past have been dissatisfied, sometimes with good reason, sometimes because of false expectations.
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