Retrospective Application to Display Development Direction signs - Junction of Sturton Road and Church Road for McLean Homes
In his report to the Committee, the Planning Officer concluded that "these signs are temporary in nature and not significantly detrimental to the visual amenity" and so recommended to grant consent!
Until quite recently this area of the village retained a genuine rural aspect protected to some degree buy the Local Plan which requires the frontage "to remain undeveloped."
Anglian Water then renewed the mains and installed stop valve marker posts, Diamond Cable built three large terminal boxes and the Parish Council instruct West Lindsey to locate a dog waste bin in the middle to keep the road traffic signs and the fire hydrant company!
These installations are controlled by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 Part 17, so declare a bye and obviate any need to involve the Local Planning Authority although the Parish Council could have influenced Diamond Cable's plans and the siting of the dog waste bin.
Unsurprisingly, the McLeans sign was not "Permitted Development", hence this planning application. I endorsed totally the objections lodged by many local residents, disagreed with the views expressed by the Planning Officer and received the unanimous support from the Committee to refuse the retrespective application. Furthermore, failure by the applicant to remove this sign (and the one opposite Westcroft Drive) within 21 days will result in enforcement proceedings being initiated.
Outline Application to Erect a Bungalow and Garage on Garden Land in Chapel Yard
This application was also rejected unanimously on grounds of environmental and vehicular access reasons.
Indeed, these small pockets of "old Saxilby" must, in my view, remain unspoiled wherever possible under current planning policies.
Council Tax Issues
Budget-setting time is here again and Council Officers are busy calculating tax bases for FY 99/00 for presentation to members next month.
As the billing authority, the Council have already declared an estimated surplus of some £400,000 (based on a percentage collection figure) on the collection fund which must be apportioned between all the major precepting authorities (ie the District, County and Police).
The surplus cannot be used for capital expenditure but must be deducted from the budget requirement to reduce Council Tax!
I have already made my views clear to the Spokesperson for the Independents that I would wish to see the District element of Council Tax reduced to a level more comparable with that of neighbouring District Authorities.
Interestingly, the Parish Council have submitted their Estimate of £30,675, which after deducting £700 for election expenses, amounts to a rise of over 6% from FY98/99. The Clerk's salary, the Treasurer's remuneration and grants to the Sports Association take up approximately a third of the total Estimate and a further quarter (7,000) for the Millennium Woodland Project!
GORDON ALLEN
District Councillor