Tuesday 9th December 2014
I gave full reports on issues in my report to the last meeting of the Town council on 25th November.
Meetings attended since the last Town Council meeting:
Friday 28th November I attended a meeting of the Policy, Sites and Places Working Group which dealt mainly with Gypsy and Travellers Sites Yate
Wednesday 3rd December I attended a briefing on the new governance proposals for and proposed by Merlin. Kingswood
In the afternoon I attended a meeting of PTSE Lead members for a briefing on the agenda papers for the next meeting of JTEC (Joint Transport Executive Committee) Yate
Thursday 4th December I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee which dealt with a housing site on UWE land East of Coldharbour Lane Thornbury
In the evening I attended a meeting of the Filton Safer and Stronger Group Filton
Friday 5th December I attended an Executive Committee meeting of the LGA Public Transport Consortium. Westminster
Saturday 6th December I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 7th December- I attended a further meeting of the Policy Sites and Places working group. Yate
Between today and the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Tuesday 8th October – a presentation on Community Land Trusts Kingswood
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson written on Monday 8th December 2014 – to see back copies of these reports please go to my blog: rmhutchinson.wordpress.com
Tuesday 25th November 2014
Northville Road Toilets – The work on the Northville Road toilets is now almost complete apart from the purchasing and placing of the Town Council notice board, which is now ordered and due for delivery in early February 2015.
CPNN (Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood) – As members of the Council will be aware the BAE planning application was submitted recently and has been out to consultation prior to being submitted to the Development Control West Planning Committee. I am also aware that the council was missed off of the formal list and I didn’t a little to help this to be facilitated properly.
At the recent meeting of the PTSE Committee on 12th November the Framework Plan which is the combined developer proposals guided by the Council’s SPD and which will be backed up by the Section 106 agreement, when it is considered by the Development Control West Planning Committee.
The committee had previously been not prepared to confirm the plan because of concern about the lack of clarity in respect of the designated routes for public transport and uncertainty in respect of the helicopter bases.
Our decision at committee in respect of public transport was “That officers be instructed to advise the land owners/developers for the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood that notwithstanding the principles for the MetroBus route shown on the Public Transport Strategy Plan, it is the council’s clear expectation that MetroBus is to be provided throughout it’s length within CPNN on dedicated routes, and further that the preferred eastern exit/entry for MetroBus should be via the Combination Ground Junction. The Council will approach the consideration of any planning application for the site from this starting point.”
As far as the helicopters are concerned a draft S106 schedule is being discussed with BAE systems which; identifies a location for the temporary relocation of the services on the former airfield, sets timescales for identifying alternative sites, requires BAE Systems to provide regular updates on progress with site identification, sets a process by to apply for planning permission for an alternative site and assess it’s suitability, and sets a date by which the temporary relocation becomes permanent if no other site is found. The work on finding an alternative site is being done collectively but the 2 helicopter organisations and BAE systems.
Commuter Parking – Phase 3 of the Filton Traffic Management was reported to the Planning Transport and Strategic Environment Committee on 12th November as 2 objections had been received. Neither were significant enough to delay the various parts of the review from going ahead and it was therefore approved and will be carried out within this financial year.
HMO’s – I have continued to raise this issue with officers in spite of problems that arose with the progress of the work that South Glos Council were undertaking to gather evidence.
I do appear to have made some progress though as I am now advised that in Feb to April 2015 Private Sector Housing will undertake a street walking survey in Filton. Whilst all details remain to be concluded the aim is to improve their intelligence of Filton’s housing stock on a house by house basis. This is in addition to recent improvement in data access through CTAX which has allowed some comparisons to be done in a ward which has issues with HMOs too.
Meetings attended since the last Town Council meeting:
Wednesday 29th October I attended a Performance Board meeting to consider progress of work in the Planning Department Yate
Thursday 30th October I attended a meeting of the Policy Advisory Group which oversees the roll out of the conversion of street lights from sodium to LED’s. It was reported that 10,000 of the new units that had proved faulty last year and failed when the clocks changed, had been changed and this included Filton. We confirmed that the roll out over the coming year should concentrate on the main roads where the highest savings would be made and saw some new units which are far more serviceable than the old ones and show how fast the technology is improving. Yate
This was followed by the meeting of the Lead members of the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee to approve the agenda for the meeting on the 12th November. Hate
Saturday 1st November I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 3rd November – I attended a meeting of the Allowable Solutions Board Hanham Hall
This was followed late in the afternoon by a briefing on the European Union Structural and Investment Fund. Kingwood
Tuesday 4th November – I attended a meeting of the CPNN Members Working Group Yate
Thursday 6th November – I attended a meeting of the DC West Planning Committee Thornbury
Friday 7th November – I attended the Annual General Meeting of a the Local Government Association Public Transport Consortium, where I was again elected as the Labour vice Chair of the organisation. Westminster
Saturday 8th November – I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Wednesday 12th November – I attended a meeting of the PTSE Committee Kingswood
Thursday 13th November – I attended a meeting of the Policy, Sites and Places DPD Working Group Yate
Friday 14th November – I attended a meeting of the South West Councils which had an interesting plenary on the issues of authorities working together in various form and the thorny question of Metro Mayors.
Saturday 15th November- I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 17th November – I attended one of our regular meetings with representatives of First Bus which was attended for the first time by the newly appointed Managing Director James Freeman. Yate
Tuesday 18th November – I attended the Southern Brooks Area Forum which turned out to be a long meeting with interest in the MetroBus extension and the New Homes Bonus applications which resulted in Filton applications doing well with the Scouts receiving a grant to refurbish the scout hut, Filton Bowls club with a grant for a path to the green to be improved and the Community Centre/Sports and Leisure Centre/FACE receiving a grant for signage around Elm Park. Filton
Wednesday 19th November – I attended a meeting of the cycling forum. Bradley Stoke
Between today and the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Friday 21st November – a meeting of the DC West Planning Committee Sites Inspection Panel followed by another update briefing on the CPNN Thornbury
Saturday 22nd November our weekly councillors surgery at Filton Library.
Monday 24th November – a workshop on skills. Kingwood
Tuesday 25th November – a meeting of the PTSE Lead members Yate
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
written on Thursday 20th November 2014 – to see back copies of these reports please go to my blog: rmhutchinson.wordpress.com
Tuesday 28th October 2014
Northville Road Toilets – The work on the Northville Road toilets is now almost complete apart from the purchasing and placing of the Town Council notice boards.
CPNN – Planning applications are now coming in for the developments on and around the airfield. All will be considered by the DC West Planning Committee in the next few months and these are the Deeley Freed site which is the one that covers the area side the M5 and includes Clifton Rugby Club, the second is the application for the Aerospace museum which will include the Bristol Aircraft Collection and the new home for Concorde and thirdly the application for the development of the Airfield site itself, which is expected to come to committee inn the new year.
The Framework agreement, which I have mentioned before, is expected to come back to the PTSE Committee at the next meeting and also to the Development Control West Planning Committee at a later date.
Road improvements – We have recently been notified that the resurfacing of Filton Roundabout is delayed and will now be carried out in the spring of next year
The resurfacing of Filton Avenue North together with the putting in of the speed tables will also be done in the spring
The consultation on the scheme that we managed to get chosen by the area forum has now been completed and as a result, with minor adjustments, the scheme will proceed to public advertising of the Traffic Regulation Order.
Commuter Parking – The consultation on phase 3 of the traffic management review will finish at the end of this month and any objection should be reported to the next meeting of the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee on 12th November.
HMO’s – As I reported last month the work on this has been put on hold until January 2015 due to a number of issues. I am told however that we do have staff looking at improving the current data held by the Private Housing Section in relation to HMO’s and will be looking at action to identify more licensable HMO’s. |Although opportunities for more proactive work are less than they were I am assured that the starting points are always Filton and Stoke Park.
Meetings attended since the last Town Council meeting:
Wednesday 1st October I did a site visit with a South Glos officer to key parts of the proposed Henbury Loop line, for information and to look at where specific major issues exist that would need to be overcome. I am personally fully in favour of the re-opening of this line but have to recognise that these issues will need to be overcome and funded and the business case, under present government policy, will have to be proven if it is to be re-opened. South Glos and Bristol
Saturday 4th October I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Wednesday 8th October – I attended a meeting with officers to discuss elements of the CIL proposals. Yate
This was followed by meetings of the CPNN Members Working Group at Yate and a meeting of the Mall Forum at the Mall.
Thursday 9th October – I attended a meeting of the DC West Planning Committee Thornbury
Friday 10th October – I attended a meeting of a newly convened working group to review the Council’s Charter for the Welfare of Animals Yate
Saturday 11th October – I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Wednesday 15th October – I attended a meeting of the PTSE Lead members. Yate
Friday 17th October – I attended a meeting of the South West Councils Resources and Management Committee Taunton
Saturday 18th October – I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Tuesday 21st October – I attendance 2 performance board meeting on Street Care and Transport and Strategic Projects Yate
In the evening I attended a meeting of the Liaison Committee on the CPNN Filton
Wednesday 22nd October – I attended an Sustainable Transport Conference. London
Thursday 23rd October – I attended the opening of the newly renovated garden at SHE7 Filton
Between today and the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Friday 24th October – a meeting of the DC West Planning Committee Sites Inspection Panel Thornbury
Saturday 25th October our weekly councillors surgery at Filton Library.
Tuesday 30th September – a meeting of PTSE Lead members Yate
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
written on Thursday 23rd October 2014 – to see back copies of these reports please go to my blog: rmhutchinson.wordpress.com
Tuesday 30th September
Northville Road Toilets – The work on the Northville Road toilets is now almost complete apart from the purchasing and placing of the Town Council notice boards. Feedback that I have had has been positive and the addition of the seat seems to be a bonus as I have seen people using it regularly when I pass. The new litter bins on Filton Avenue are part of this scheme and, again, look better than the old ones.the replacement of the old (ancient) litter bins.
HMOs – It is some time since I reported on the work that was being carried out by South Glos officers in respect of the possibility of collecting the necessary information for an application to be able to have discretionary licensing of HMO’s and then possibly an Article 4 direction.
I have been working with officers on this and discovered recently that some difficulties have occurred firstly with barriers on data sharing, both within the council and with other organisations and secondly the issue of resourcing the work which we knew might be a problem.
I won’t give up on this and will continue to talk to officers about it, particularly concerns that I have in respect of internal data sharing which I still would expect to be possible. If this is the case then either we are not going to be able to achieve the object that we had hoped for or we are back to trying to do some degree of survey work locally.
Metrobus – This is an update report to inform that almost the last hurdle to achieve Metrobus, which is the North Fringe to Hengrove route, the part which connects Bristol City Centre to UWE, Parkway station and the Mall, received planning consent for the Bristol part in August and the South Glos routes earlier in September. Work is also continuing on and extension of the route which would join the Mall to Parkway, calling at Filton North station and would involve the re-building and widening of the bridge at Gypsy Patch. The initial route now needs the Government part of the costs to be confirmed and if that happens on time then we should see buses running on the initial route by 2016.
I was reported as saying, at the planning committee that it isn’t what I might have wanted and this referred to the disappointment that I felt when the government reduced the original spending commitment which meant that we had to cut out sections of dedicated route which I believe that it should have.to ensure better timings. However it is the best improvement to our transport system that we can achieve in a short time scale and it was important that it gained approval.
Road improvements – A number of schemes that I have mentioned in earlier reports are in the process of being carried out or are finished. These are the work at Hambrook, mainly cycling improvements. Gypsy Patch Lane widening and the widening of the ring road at Filton Roundabout to increase the queueing lane on the south side.
We have recently been notified that the resurfacing of Filton Roundabout is to be carried out between 20th and 28th October. “The works will involve the planing off of the existing surface of the carriageway and the laying of a new surface. The work will start at approximately 8.00pm at night and remain in place until approximately 6.00am. These works will create a significant amount of noise.
For the duration of the works, the road will be closed and all traffic will be diverted around the area whilst the closures are in place. Access to properties and amenities fronting the site and whose only access is from the closed road, will be available at all times and every effort will be made to keep the disruption to local residents to a minimum. Please note that adverse weather conditions or plant / delivery problems may affect these times and dates.
Although alternative routes will be signposted whilst the works are in progress, it is possible that delays may occur on the surrounding network. Please watch the local press for any further news, but you are advised to avoid the area if possible for the duration of the works”.
The Council recently began consultation on the scheme that we managed to get chosen by the area forum for 20mph and traffic calming to improve safety at Shield Road School. The scheme includes 2 speed tables and a 20mph zone which includes Northville Road, Park Road, Third Avenue, Shields Road, Ferndale Road, Fourth Avenue, Tenth Avenue and Eleventh Avenue. Cropthorne Road is covered by the Bristol Scheme. This will helpfully make a difference to speeds and safety.
New Homes Bonus – I have continued to complain about the practice of publishing a list of annual expectations of NHB per ward, when it should actually be a global figure for the Area Forum to allocate. I understand that this has now been clarified and my belief on this has been proved to be correct.
Commuter Parking – There has been a slippage in the work on Phase 3 of the Traffic Management Review and whilst it was expected that any objections to the Traffic Regulation Order should have been reported to the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee on the 3rd September, it is now coming to the meeting on 12th November as the proposed order hasn’t only just been published for public consultation.
Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood (CPNN)
The primary issue concerning the CPNN has been the progressing of the framework agreement which is in effect the agreement between the developers on the concept statement, intended to be in line with the SPD as far as the layout and infrastructure content was concerned and the combined section 106 agreement on the payment for the infrastructure package.
The agreement. Came firstly to the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee ŵhere the concept part was considered and the committee refused to endorse it as there was no clarity on the proposed or agreed siting of the Police and Air Ambulance helicopters or a defined route of safe-guarded land for public transport. At the planning committee on the next day we considered the section 106 part of the agreement and whilst we gave interim approval, we expressed concern on a number of issues on the viability of the site and the guarantees on issues such as public transport and affordable housing numbers, which are a major concern.
There is a meeting of the liaison committee tomorrow (Wednesday 1st October), where we hope to receive updated information on this.
Meetings attended since the last town Council meeting:
Thursday 31st July With members and officers of the Self Build Working Group I visited a group of new homes in Bristol, which featured some very interesting features allowing choice of internal organisation, underfloor heating built in and some energy saving measures at a reasonable price, Bristol
In the evening I attended a meeting of the S Glos Cycling Forum Bradley Stoke
Friday 1st August I attend a meeting of the DC West Sites Inspection Cttee. Thornbury
Tuesday 5th August – I attended a meeting of the CPNN Liaison Group Clifton
Wednesday 6th August – I attend a meeting of the “Allowable Solutions “Board which is deciding how to spend capital funds derived from the Hanham Hall development by Barrat Homes. Hanham
Thursday 14th August – I attended a tour of the new Police Station at Patchway Patchway
Tuesday 2nd Setember – I attended a meeting of southern Brooks Area Forum Patchway Wednesday 3rd September – I attended a meeting of the PTSE Cttee Kingswood
Thursday 4th September I attended a briefing on the proposed Metrobus extension, which I have mentioned above. Yate
Friday 5th September – I attended a meeting of a new working group on Sports facilities in South Glos followed by the final meeting (we think) of the Renewables, Landscape Character Assessment Working Group. Yate
Saturday 6th September I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 8th September I attended a meeting of the CIL Working Group Yate
Tuesday 9th September – I attended a joint meeting of the DC East and DC West planning committees to consider the application for the South Glos section of the Hengrove to North Fringe Metrobus Route. Kingswood
This was followed by a meeting of the South Glos CPNN Members Working Group and then a briefing for Lead members of PTSE on the agenda items of the forthcoming Joint Transport Executive Committee of the West of England Kingswood
Thursday 11th September – I attended a meeting of the DC West Planning Committee Thornbury
Friday 12th September I attended a meeting of the Policy, Sites and Places Members Working Group. Yate
Saturday 13th September – I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 15th September – I attended a meeting of the PTSE Lead members. Yate
Tuesday 16th September – I attended a members briefing on Master Planning for Major Sites Yate
Before the Council meeting I expect to attend:!
Friday 26th September – a meeting of the Executive Committee of the LGA Public Transport Forum in Westminster
Saturday 26th September our weekly councillors surgery at Filton Library.
Tuesday 30th September – a meeting of PTSE Lead members Yate
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
written on Wednesday 25th September 2014 to see back copies of these reports please go to my blog: rmhutchinson.wordpress.com
Tuesday 29th July 2014
Northville Road Toilets – I am at last in a position to update on this. The original plan was to use some New Homes Bonus money that I secured to improve the pavements in front of the shops and demolish the old toilet block. I have reported since the original funding was gained that whilst the demolition was still to take place there were issues including the presence of asbestos.
The position has now changed for a number of reasons including the presence of asbestos, the close proximity of a building belonging to Spar which is in danger of being damaged by demolition and concerns about the security from shop keepers.
Demolition has therefore been ruled out and instead the toilets will be bricked up, with the steps being removed, and rendered to try to make it fit in with the rest of the wall and not stand out as an old toilet block. The Town Council will then have a blank wall on which to attach the notice board that has been wanted in that area for a long time. There will also be some new street furniture, particularly the replace emit of the old (ancient) litter bins.
Filton Hill School – In December 2006 South Glos Council committed to capital of £1.2m for improvements to Filton Hill School of which the main part was to provide a proper kitchen. This was confirmed in the past couple of years as part of the capital programme and yet the Children and Young People Committee at South Glos were asked on the 23rd july to delete this from the programme. Given that Filton Hill is in the Priority Ward of Conygre in the Priority Neighbourhood of Filton and the government has just decided that the age group of children that attend the school are to receive free school meals this is a real blow to the school and the children who attend it. Cllr Adam Monk,
Unfortunately despite our protestations and the votes of the 3 Labour Councillors on the committee, the combined votes of the Conservatives and the Liberal DemocratsCllr Ian Scott and myself made a joint submission to the committee, asking that the members refuse to take the decision, which would leave Filton Hill without a proper kitchen with children receiving school meals brought in from outside and acting as a “serving” school and not a cooking school.
Unfortunately, despite our protestations, and the votes of the 3 Labour Councillors on the committee, the combined votes of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats agreed to take the money away and use it elsewhere.
more to come……….
Wednesday 25th June 2014
Traffic Management Review – I am raising an issue in respect of the knock on effects of traffic management schemes which generally solve a problem for the residents who requested them, on streets that the commuters move to thereby creating another problem which falls outside the period of the traffic management plan.
Major Road Schemes – The work on the Shield Centre side of the ring road, due to start on the 16th june, expected to be for 3 months with lanes being closed as needed to within a restricted working period of 9.30am to 3.30pm to avoid, as much as is possible, causing major disruption during peak hours.
At the meeting of the PTSE Cttee we approved the scheme to widen Gypsy Patch lane to allow more queueing space for vehicles joining the A38 south bound. This will be done later this year or early next year.
The proposals for improvements for cyclists on the A38 Gloucester Road North northbound are on the web site for consultation now.
The planning application for the Metrobus route from Hengrove to the North Fringe is due to be considered by the South Glos and Bristol Planning Committees around the end of July.
There is currently a plan being worked on for an extension of Metrobus to run from Bristol Parkway Station through to the airfield along Gypsy Patch and either on the A38 or preferably on a route through the East Works to the edge of the airfield at Filton North Station. It would then continue through the business area, passing the Concorde Museum and on up to the Mall bus station. A massive benefit to be gained apart from the bus route is that it would include the replacement of the railway bridge on Gypsy Patch with a proper 2 carriageway bridge with pavements and cycle ways. It is projected that this cold be in place at around 2018/19
Policy, Sites and Places Plan – This is now out to consultation and can be found on the South Glos web site.
Meetings attended since the last town Council meeting: Wednesday 28th May In the afternoon I attended a meeting of the Mall Forum where there was a general update on transport issues and a presentation from a representative of First Bus on the proposed launch of the new Smart Card The Mall
In the evening I attended the Annual Meeting of South Gloucestershire Council. Kingswood
Thursday 29th May I attend a meeting of the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee Kingswood
Friday 30th May I attended a meeting of the CPNN (Cribbs, Patchway New Neighbourhood) S Glos members working group. Kingswood
Saturday 31st May I attended our Councillors weekly surgery Filton
Tuesday 3rd June I attended a meeting of the CPNN Liaison Committee with Bristol City Council members and officers where we were introduced to the new project managers for the airfield site, now having BAE as the developer with the exodus of Brisgehouse. Clifton Rugby Club
Thursday 5th June I attended a meeting of the PTSE Major Schemes Sub Committee, the main time of which was the proposed extension of Metrobus which was followed by a meeting of PTSE Lead members with Officers. Kingswood
In the afternoon I attended a joint meeting of the PTSE Cttee and Development Control Committees. Kingswood
Friday 6th June I attended a meeting of the DC West Sites Inspection Committee , Thornbury
Saturday 7th June I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 9th June I attended a meeting of the Public Transport Forum Kingswood
Tuesday 10th June I attended a meeting of the South West Councils Resource and Management Committee Taunton
In the evening on attended the meeting of the Filton Safer and Stronger Group Filton
Wednesday 11th June I attended a meeting of the PTSE Committee. One of the items on this meeting was the proposed intention of the Police to switch the red light and speed cameras back on that were previously operated by the partnership. The cameras are in the ownership of each of the West of England authorities and the options available to us were two that involved operating them ourselves or and this was the one supported, transfer them for £1 to the Police. This option takes away risks associated with maintenance and replacements and running costs, although it would also be a loss in revenue, not considered enough to make a difference to the decision. The issue of supported bus services to Southmead was discussed and routes from Chipping Sodbury and Yate approved. However there are still issues in respect of Staple Hill and Kingswood and we agreed to review Southmead bus links across the district. Kingswood
Thursday 12th June I attended a meeting of the LGA Councillors Forum. Westminster
Saturday 14th June I attended our Councillors weekly surgery Filton
Monday 16th June I attended the agenda briefing for the DC West Planning Cttee being held on 19th June the main item was the proposed “Wave Garden” at Easter Compton which is a large and complicated application. Thornbury
Before the Council meeting I expect to attend:!
Thursday 19th June – a meeting of the DC West Planning Committee which has the major application for “the Wave” on the agenda. Monday 23rd June Briefing meeting for the Southern Brooks Area Forum meeting due to be held in Filton on 15th July. Tuesday 24th June – a further meeting of the CPNN S Glos members Working Group
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson, written on Wednesday 18th June 2014 to see back copies of these reports please go to my blog: rmhutchinson.wordpress.com
Tuesday 27th May 2014
Traffic Management Review
The consultations on phase 3 of the traffic management review have been completed and are awaiting the publication of the legal notice to move forward to approve a TRO (Traffic Regulation Order). This includes the car park outside the Nat West in Church Road, the car park beside the Ring Road at the rear of Church View flats and various applications of yellow lines where there has been concern at commuter parking. Should there be any objections to any of these it is likely that this will have to go to the committee meeting of the Planning,Transport and Strategic Environment Committee due to take place on 12th November although I will press for it to be earlier.
Major Road Schemes
Nothing further to add currently to my report to the April meeting. Clearly, now that the transfer of services from Frenchay to Southmead and the closure of Frenchay, then the start of the work on the ring road will be within the next few weeks.
Stone Supplies Holdings Limited
I understand that the granting of planning consent for the Stone Supplies Holdings Ltd application to use the site and buildings at the old airfield car park for an Aggregate Recycling Facility and Operations Centre has caused some concern so I thought that I should explain why the consent has been given.
I am aware that concern was expressed that the proposal would affect the integrity of the Filton Enterprise Area and although this wouldn’t exactly the case there was concern by Planning Officers that it could affect the planning of the employment part of the airfield site.
In actual fact the issue that arose was that the land on which the application was made is the land that is allocated for the siting of the proposed new Filton North Station and therefore would not be appropriate in that location.
However,it transpired that the company have a two year lease on the land to give them time to find another location and the planning consent is therefore for a period of two years only. As there is no likelihood that the station would be built within the next 2 years there is no reason to refuse it and should the council have done so I do not believe that it could be defended at appeal and would probably have costs awarded against the council.
For information condition number 2 of the consent states:
“The use hereby permitted shall cease within 2 years from the date of this permission and the site cleared of buildings, structures and materials approved by this permission.
So as not to prejudice further allocated development of the site and to accord with Policy CS26 of the South Gloucestershire Local Plan Core Strategy (adopted) December and the South Gloucestershire CPNN SPD Adopted 26th March 2014.”
Policy, Sites and Places Plan
This is a plan that sits within the policy statements that make up the support documents to the Core Strategy and sets out a large number of individual policies down to location level based on the survey that took place of Town and Parish Councils. I have been a member of the working group that has been drawing up the consultation document which will be made public shortly.
In my list of meetings attended below it shows a number of working group meetings that have taken place over the past month looking at individual policies which, the last of which is a check through the full document to make sure that everything that needs to be covered is covered.
HMOs
Whilst there is noting further to report since last month it is worth noting that the issue of HMOs and licensing has hit the headlines over the past couple of weeks, following the publication of a document by the LGA (Local Government Association) on behalf of member authorities, which is pressing the government to change rules on this issue.
There are a number of authorities which probably have more serious issues than us in respect of the condition of some houses and the poor conditions in which some families are forced to live.
However, I have raised this with officers in order to be sure that we (South Gloucestershire Council) support any moves that Government might propose to make it simpler for local authorities to gain approval for discretionary licensing.
Meetings attended since the last town Council meeting:
Thursday 1st May I attended the first meeting of the Allowable Solutions Project Board for Hanham Hall. This is a housing development that was first conceived in 20008 as one of the few schemes from a government initiative to achieve carbon free homes. It has reached a point where the developer Barratts, are due to start paying funds to South Glos Council as part of the scheme which are called ‘allowable solutions” The Project Board is charged to allocate that money to other schemes aimed at achieving savings in cargo and therefore aiding the work in reducing the effects of climate change. Kingswood
Saturday 3rd May I attend our weekly Councillors surgery Filton
Tuesday 6th May I attended a Nearer to ZERO conference which brought together partners in the house building industry in response to zero carbon homes from 2016. Hanham Hall featured prominently in the discussions. Kingswood
In the afternoon I attended a meeting of the Policies, Sites and Places Working Group which considered policies on Active Travel Routes, Gypsy and Traveller Sites and Sites and Places Yate
Wednesday 7th May I attended a meeting of the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee at which we approved the change of the speed cushions to speed tables in Filton Avenue North which will happen when the re-surfacing takes place later in the year. Kingswood
Thursday 8th May I attended another meeting of the Policies, Sites and Places WG which this time dealt with draft Town Centre Uses Policy, Town Centres – Boundaries, Update of Local Green Space Designation and update on DM policy for Betting Shops. Yate
Friday 9th May I attended a meeting of the DC West Sites Inspection Committee Thornbury
Saturday 10th May I attended our weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 12th May I attended a tempting of PTSE Lead members Yate
Tuesday 13th May I attended a meeting of the Policy Advisory Group dealing with the roll out of LED lighting and the conversion/ replacement of the faulty units. Yate
In the evening I attended a meeting of the Southern Brooks Area Forum where one item on the agenda was the current round of New Homes Bonus grants. The amount of money available was low at £124k and there was a debate on the information available and the method by which the allocation is distributed. My concern is that by allocating by ward depending on the location of the new housing we are likely to lose out because we have the employment land on the airfield site whilst most of the housing is either in Patchway or Almondsbury. I will continue to argue for different rules for distribution. Most of the applications were deferred and with a couple of others there were suggestions of other possible grant options, which included the MUGA. However we were successful in arguing for the £5k for the Festival to be paid and £15k for the scouts to improve the Scout Hut subject to there being money available in the Filton allocation. Bradley Stoke
Saturday 17th May I attended our weekly councillor’s surgery Filton
In the afternoon I joined other members of the Filton Pétanque Club at the Get Active event and was pleased that a number of people both adults and children came over to have a go and learn a bit about the game and the availability of the piste. Filton33
Monday 18th May I attended a further meeting of the Policy, Sites and Places WG and considered Development Management Policy- Active Travel Policy, Development Management Policy – Large Scale B8 uses, Call for sites (rural villages and settlements), Rural Housing Review and the Consultation Strategy. Yate
Wednesday 21st May PTSE Leads meeting Yate
In the afternoon I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee. Thornbury
Before the Council meeting I expect to attend:!
Friday 23rd May – a meeting of the LGA Public Transport Consortium Executive Committee
Tuesday 27th May – a further meeting of the Policy, Sites and Places WG
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson!
Written on Wednesday 21st May 2014
Tuesday 29th April 2014
Traffic Management Review
The lines and notices have now been put in all of the roads covered by the latest consultation, in clouding those in Nutfield Grove and in New Road, Station Road, Pilkington Close and the Sidings and the 2 disabled bays outside Northville Post Office.
Major Road Schemes
It appears that the Ring Road widening on the shield Centre side will be starting in June or July, which is after the new hospital has opened and Frenchay closed. Re-surfacing of the roundabout will take place as part of this work as the previous resurfacing has proved to be unacceptable. The consultation on the speed tables and re-surfacing of Filton Avenue North has ended with one objection which will be considered at the meeting of the PTSE Committee to be held on Wednesday 7th May.
At the last meeting of the committee, held in Filton, I raised the issue of the Filton Avenue and Ring Road junction because of concerns that have been raised about the inability of motorists to cross from North to South. Additionally I asked for a full study to be done of the junction to see if anything can be done to change it and help to alleviate the problems that occur at peak hours and when there are major motorway incidents. This is now in the system but will take some time before I can report further.
I have also met with residents of Blenheim, Canberra and Conygre Grove about continued issues of parking relative to Filton Hill and rat running through Conygre Grove, traffic and speed counts will be taken over the next few weeks.
Metro West
In March I reported that a report on Metro West (rail) is on the agenda for the PTSE meeting on 26th March and that a major issue was that buses should be diverted off of Filton Avenue, through Nutfield Grove to serve Filton Abbey Wood station in both directions. I can now report that the committee decided that this suggestion would not be taken forward.
HMOs
I was pleased to be able to report to the Town Council meeting on Wednesday 23rd April that South Gloucestershire Council are investigating correlations between HMOs and ASB, Crime, waste complaints and Enviro Crime to inform if discretionary licensing may be a solution the council should consult on and consider for any part of South Gloucestershire. Unfortunately the council is unable to commit to a finite timescale as the resources required for gathering the information is limited.
It is therefore advantageous to FTC to wait for the report, progress on which will be reported at each Town Council meeting. As project progresses both SGC and FTC will be better placed to understand if any extra resources may be required.
This is work is essentially in respect of licensing, but planning are being kept up to date with progress and this will aid the possibility of an application for an Article 4 directive at a later date.
Meetings attended since the last town Council meeting:
Wednesday 26th March I attended a meeting of the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee. Filton
Thursday 27th March I attend a meeting of the Development Control West Committee Thornbury
Monday 31st March In the morning I attended a meeting of PTSE Lead members Yate
Saturday 2nd April I attended the weekly Councillors Surgery Filton
Wednesday 9th April I attended a meeting of the CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) Working Group. Yate
Friday 11th April I attended a meeting of the DC West Sites Inspection Committee Thornbury
Saturday 12th April I attended the weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 14th April I attended a the play ares options exhibition. Filton
Tuesday 15th April I attended a meeting of the PTSE Lead members Yate Wednesday 23rd April I attended a meeting with officers to discuss the up to date position in respect of HMOs. Kingswood
In the evening I attended the special meeting of Filton Town council Filton
Kingswood
Before the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Thursday 24th April – a PTSE Development Report followed by a Policies, Sites and Places Working Group, followed bey a meeting of the DC West Committee and in the Evening Filton Twinning Comiittee
Friday 25th April – Self Build working group
Tuesday 29th April – a meeting of PTSE Lead members, another development meeting and a discussion on the CPNN
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
Written on Thursday 24th April 2014
Tuesday 25th March 2014
Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood,
The consultation period for the SPD (supplementary Planning Document) that brings together the various sites in and around the airfield ended and is expected to be adopted at the meeting of the PTSE (Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment Committee) on Wednesday 26th March. This is an important date as the planning application for Fishpool Hill by Persimmon which I managed to get deferred will be determined by the Development Control West Planning Committee on Thursday 27th.
Northville Road Toilets
Still no date for demolition to report yet, this will depend on an asbestos report that is awaited. However, work the resurfacing of the pavement outside of the shops has now been completed.
Traffic Management Review
It is expected that because of the delays due to the weather the yellow lines for the phase 2 schemes will be going in by the end of March.
Major Road Schemes
Last month I reported on the fact that a number of major schemes were being carried out over the next financial year including the resurfacing of Filton Avenue North and the introduction of speed tables instead of the current cushions. The timetable for these still isn’t clear, although I am aware that the consultation on the siting of the Filton Avenue North scheme is on at the moment and the design of the A38 North scene is still being done.
Highways Capital Budget The annual consideration of the schemes on the priority list took place at the Area Forum meeting on the 25th February. The list includes around 30 projects from across the Southern Brooks area and the forum are allowed to allocate up to £100,000 which is peanuts against the total cost of the schemes on the list. The chances of us being able to persuade the forum to choose at least one scheme in Filton are not easy but in the event we managed to obtain agreement to our scheme which was the highest Filton priority which is the traffic calming and 20 mph zone outside Shields Road School.
Metro West
A report on Metro West (rail) is on the agenda for the PTSE meeting on 26th March and has 2 key issues in it that affect Filton in the medium to long term
The first is that the proposal from organisations outside of Filton that buses should be diverted off of Filton Avenue, through Nutfield Grove to serve Filton Abbey Wood station in both directions, which has finally been deemed to be impractical and won’t be going ahead.
The second is that it is clear that one of the new stations to serve the Henbury line when it finally reopens ins on the site of the old Filton North Station and will serve both local residents and the employment area designated in the CPNN SPD on the Filton Airfield site next Airbus.
Street Lighting
At the South Glos Council budget meeting on the 19th February a Labour Group proposal to put a sum of money into the budget to allow the street lights in the urban areas to stay on for an extra hour was agreed.
The result of this is that where we had the faulty units that failed to change properly when the clocks went back last autumn, the units would be changed for non faulty ones by October of this year when the clocks go back again and stay on until 1am instead of 12:00 as the current ones should. This will apply to all of the lights in Filton.
In the next financial year the roll out of the new LED lights will commence and this will start with the major roads where the largest saving can be made. It will then spread across the urban areas, however there are a number of units already in stock that have been being used in trial areas, one of which is Blenheim Avenue in Filton. In addition to Blenheim, I have negotiated a further roll out in Filton which will be going into Mortimer Road and Nutfield Grove over the course of the next month, which will include the renewal of some columns, these will be set to go off at 01:00 as will all LEDs as they are changed.
I should add that this is subject to the report on the revised policy begin agreed by the PTSE Committee on the 26th March.
Please note that the PTSE meeting on the 26th March will be held at Filton Community Centre starting at 15:00 hrs
Area Forum Grants
We were pleased to be able to support and secure grants for filton organisations including a new notice board for the Community Garden project of £600, FTC £25k for the Outdoor Gym/Fitness Centre and £1,000 to the Filton Flyer Bu service 555 all from New Homes Bonus; £4,000 to St Andrews Youth Centre from the Positive Activities Grants and a further £1160 to St Andrews for their Heads Up programme.
A major re-organisation of the administration of all grants was agreed and it is yet to be seen how this will affect the way that grants will be allocated which is dependent on decisions to be taken by the Communities Committee.
Meetings attended since the last town Council meeting:
Thursday 27th February I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Planning Committee Thornbury
In the evening I attended the Filton Twinning Association Cttee meeting Filton
Monday 3rd March I attend a meeting of the LED lighting Policy Advisory Group Yate
Tuesday 4th March In the morning I attended the opening of the S Glos Council’s new MoT testing centre. Yate
I then attended the “Topping out” of the new building at the National Composite Centre. Emmersons Green
In the afternoon I attended a drop in to view the proposed planning of the area at Laurel Hill behind Dick Lovett’s on Cribbs Causeway. Clifton Ruby Club
Finally I attended a workshop with First Group to discuss the bus fare changes outside of the city area. Yate
Wednesday 5th March I attended a meeting of the CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) Working Group which is still trying to agree a level of CIL to apply to sites in South Gloucestershire. Yate
In the afternoon I attended a PTSE Lead members meeting to discuss the 2014/15 Capital Programme Yate
Thursday 6th March I attended a meeting of the Policy, Sites and Places Working Group Yate
Saturday 8th March I attended the weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton
Monday 10th March I attended a meeting of PTSE Lead members agenda briefing for the meeting on 26th March Yate
Tuesday 11th March I attended a meeting of Lead Members of PTSE and Group Leaders to discuss future Strategic Planning arrangements Yate
This was followed by a meeting with other Lead members and Group Leaders with officers of Somerset County Council to be briefed on their experience of the work on the new Hinckley C nuclear power station so that we have knowledge of how to deal with the developers of the proposed new Oldbury Nuclear Station. Yate
Thursday 13th March I attended a further meeting of the Policy, sites and Places working group Yate Friday 14th March I attended the DC West Sites Inspection Cttee. Thornbury
Saturday 15th March I attended the weekly Councillors’ surgery Filton Monday 17th March I attended meeting of the PTSE Major Schemes Sub Committee Kingswood
I then attended another meeting of the Policies, Sites and Places working group. Kingswood
Tuesday 18th March I attended a meeting of PTSE Lead members Yate
In the evening I attended a meeting of the South Glos cycle forum Bradley Stoke
Wednesday 19th March I attended a meeting of South Gloucestershire Full Council which agreed the capital programme for 2014/15, including a £1.1m pledge to provide the permanent home for Concorde 216
Thursday 20th March I attended the opening of the Abbey wood Centre. Filton
Before the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Friday 21st March – a CIL Working Group
Saturday 22nd March – our Councillor’s surgery
Monday 24th March – a briefing on the Fishpool Hill planning application
Tuesday 25th March – A special jt briefing of PTS and P&R Committee Lead members followed by a presentation on the Gypsy and Travellers Assessment
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson
Written on Thursday 20th March 2014
Tuesday 25th February 2014
Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood,
The consultation period for the SPD (supplementary Planning Document) that brings together the various sites in and around the airfield ends it’s consultation period on 28th February. The comments made during the consultation will be considered by the council and a decision taken in March to adopt the document as amended. This will be a big step forward in the opportunity to have a properly planned and integrated set of developments to achieve one neighbourhood covering all of the requirements of that area and seeking to protect as much as possible commutes that will be affected by it.
A couple of weeks ago one of the planning applications came forward in advance of the SPD being approved, which was of concern for the whole area being planned collectively. As a member of the committee I moved that it be deferred until after the confirmation of the SPD and this was agreed.
It is pleasing to know that our involvement has helped to ensure that the home for Concorde can become a reality. that the re-opening of Filton North Station and long term the Henbury line will happen, a major employment area is to be created to include high tech jobs related to the aerospace industry and a location yet to be identified, but promised for the air ambulance and police helicopters.
Northville Road Toilets
Still no date for demolition to report yet, this will depend on an asbestos report that is awaited. However, work has commenced on renewing the pavements outside the shops.
Traffic Management Review
Apart from the fact that the orders were made and the posts were put up, the rain has played havoc with the line pairing programme, but the work will be carried out asap and the roads that were suffering form serious commuter parking should have some respite soon.
Phase 3 consultation is taking place now as we near the end of our 3 year review.
Major Road Schemes
Over the past year the council has been successful in a number of bids to Government for improvements in our road network both for improvements for motor vehicles and for walking and cycling. This success does mean that there are a number of major schemes that are going to take place over the next twelve months, because the money warded has to be spent during the financial year.
A4174 Filton Roundabout – Phase 2 of the ring road widening on the Shield Centre side will be done between May and September 2014
A38 Gloucester Road North. A scheme to extend the two lane northbound approach to Filton Roundabout by widening the carriageway on the east side. Construction October 2014 to February 2015
Gypsy Patch Lane – A scheme to extend the 2 lane westbound approach to the A38. construction between April – May 2014
Hambrook – A scheme to improve pedestrian and cycle crossing facilitates at the Hambrook junction. Construction April – September 2014 which will include major resurfacing of the Bristol road on the Frenchay side of the ring road.
M32 junction 1 a scheme to install a pedestrian/cycle crossing facility across the southbound entry slip road. construction September – November 2014
Two schemes will be carried out on junctions 16 and 17 of the M%to improve traffic flow issues and add additional capacity for the future.
Again in Filton resurfacing will be carried lout on filton Avenue North (Conygre) to replace the existing failed carriageway surface Construction will be carried out in the Autumn of this year.
While this is all good news every scheme represents possible hold ups, particularly if there are motorway closures during the year, which there will be of course.
Meetings attended since the last town Council meeting:
Wednesday 29th January I attended a meeting of the PTSE Committee Kingswood
Later I visited Charfield to see the trail area where LED lights have been installed
Charfield
Thursday 30th January I attended the LED Policy Advisory Group to consider further the rollout of LED lighting. Yate
In the afternoon I attended a meeting of the Development Control West Committee Thornbury
Friday 31st January I attend a plenary meeting of the LGA Public Transport consortium Westminster
Saturday 1st February our Councillor’s surgery Filton
Monday 3rd February I attended a further meeting of the Public Transport Forum where there seems to be more people from Bristol than from South Glos by far! Kingswood
Tuesday 4th February I attended a tempting of the Member Advisory Group that is dealing with transport to the new Southmead hospital from all parts of South Glos Kingswood
In the evening I attended the CPNN exhibition at BAWA followed by Filton Safer and Stronger Group. Filton
Thursday 6th February I attended a meeting of tLead members of the PTSE Committee Yate
Saturday 7th February our Councillor’s surgery Filton
Monday 10th February I attended a meeting of south West Councils Resource and Management Committee Taunton
In the evening I attended the agenda briefing for the next Southern Brooks Area forum, which will consider ways in which grants will be dealt with in the future and the capital highways list from which the Forum can allocate £100,000 from a very long list across the southern Brooks area, some of which are up to £90,000 each, so little or no choice for most! Little Stoke
Tuesday 11th February I attended a further meeting of the FTC Finance Committee
Wednesday 12th February I attended a meeting with other Lead members and officers with Patchway Town council members concerning the proposed mitigation measures following the closure of Highwood Road to most traffic. Patchway
Thursday 13th February In the morning I attended the review meeting of Filton Working together. Filton
In the afternoon I attended a PTSE Lead Member workshop on the capital programme for 2014/2015. Yate
Friday 14th February I attended the DC West Sites Inspection Cttee, which included a visit to the Filton Police Station site Thornbury
Monday 17th February I attended meeting of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) working group which has been working on the possible local CIL for many months because the Government have kept changing the rules. I fear that the promised benefits, particularly for Town and Parish councils may have been exaggerated. There are further meetings of the group on 5th and the 21st March, with the final report going to the Policy Resources Cttee on 7th April Yate
I then called in at the consultation/exhibition on the future development of the Charlton House site. Filton
Before the Council meeting I expect to attend:
Wednesday 18th February – Full Council meeting which will set the budget and the council tax for the coming year.
Thursday 20th February – a PTSE Leads meeting
Friday 21st February – A meeting of the Executive committee of the LGA Public Transport consortium in London
Saturday 22nd february – our Councillor’s surgery
Monday 24th February – a meeting with the Highways Agency concerning pinch points on the A46
Tuesday 25th February – Southern Brooks Area Forum
Written on Wednesday 19th February 2014
Cllr Roger M Hutchinson 