SPC Income and Expenditure 2020 2021

Chairmans’ Report April 2020 – 2021

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As we look back on the last year, so much has changed with the Covid pandemic of 2020. Councils across the country are now meeting remotely and I am writing this report to submit via the medium of Zoom. A new Parish Council was elected in May 2019 and we welcome new Councillors Darren Brown and Jonathan Kelsey. Collectively, Councillors continue to make progress in the following identified areas with the help and support of key volunteers.

  1. Supporting the development needs of the Village Hall.
  2. Establishing a working means of managing the Playing Field as a resource for the whole village
  3. Working with Warwickshire County Council and Stratford District Council to address speeding in the village
  4. Ensuring that Snitterfield remains a safe and attractive place to live.

Village Hall Management Committee (VHMC).

Thanks and congratulations to Chair, Tony Moon, Treasurer Hilary Schmidt-Hansen and the Committee for successful completion of phase one of renovation works. Needless to say, SPC appreciates that Covid has meant an additional burden of regulations for the Committee and commend VHMC’s work in this area, which has been used as an example by Warwickshire Rural Community Council on its website for other hall committees.

Snitterfield Playing Field

Snitterfield Parish Council has received legal advice, and updated the Charity Commission accordingly, that it is sole trustee of two significant assets within the community: Snitterfield Village Hall and Snitterfield Playing Field. With no management committee in place for the latter, progress to manage and make improvements to existing facilities has been stop-start. However, after recent and intensive meetings, the trustees are pleased to announce an agreement in principle with Snitterfield Nursery and Snitterfield Cricket for a community pavilion to replace the old Youth Club building. A new CIO “Snitterfield Playing Field Association” is to be formed, subject to Charity Commission approval, and its managing trustees will be responsible for fundraising for this project and maintenance of the field itself. Thank you to Mr Dumbleton of Rotherham Solicitors for services in kind and Cllr Norris for leading this legal advice.

Parking, Road Safety &Traffic

Parking, already an issue in the village, has been further squeezed as a result of development at two sites at Duttons Close and Highfield Close.  Increased parking on Bearley Road as a result is a hazard for traffic which has been reported to Police, Fire Services, Highways.  Parking, unless illegal, cannot be prevented, therefore a working group, led by Andy Payne, is producing proposals to increase the number  of parking spaces in Highfield Close, Duttons Close and vicinity. It is hoped that a costed project can be submitted to Stratford-on-Avon District Council Infrastructure Statement to be considered in autumn 2021.

Safety & Amenity

  • Planning

A Planning Committee was formed commencing December 2020 to recommend more coordinated and timely responses as well as providing a dedicated public platform for residents who wish to make representation. Chair and lead Cllr Elliott is instrumental in making recommendations to the Committee and members have taken turns to speak at Committee to develop experience.  Since then 24 Planning Applications and 10 Tree Works have been considered by the Committee

A significant application to extend the Methodist Church to accommodate a private pre-school Nursey, affecting the village centre, with a corresponding increase in parking spaces to accommodate additional children and staff was turned down at Committee. The Parish Council felt they could not support the conversion of the Methodist Church into a pre-school Nursery owing to the parking and traffic concerns in this area.  However, a scaled down planning application was later supported by SDC at committee and the Parish Council are trying to mitigate the impact of this development by maintaining a watching brief on this development. The planning application by Snitterfield Sports Club for a new club and 9 2 and 3 bed houses, as included in the Neighbourhood Plan, has been recommended for refusal by SDC, but remains in balance with Ward Member and Parish Council support. Permission for holiday lodges on Gospel Oak Lane was granted in 2011 and 2013; the combined total of 44 at the Stratford Armouries are now being built. The effect of this development on local infrastructure including highway safety at the A46 junction and public footpaths must be monitored closely.

There is an increased scrutiny of drainage schemes with input from Andy Payne on behalf of the Flood Group. Thanks to Cllrs Kelsey and Cox for volunteering to sit on this new Committee.

  • Flooding

The culvert bypass scheme has performed well; however, a severe incident in November 2019 saw 5 properties flooded with surface water and sewage. A witness and helper at the incident, Andy Payne stepped forward to chair the Flood Group and has since worked tirelessly to coordinate the agencies response. Severn Trent have made improvements to the drainage downstream of Bell Lane and the Environment Agency continues to make betterments in the area.  A good working relationship has been established with them and WCC as Lead Local Flood Authority. With the 44 new holiday lodges on Gospel Oak Lane, sewage capacity for The Green must be monitored and maintenance of the Bearley Brook remains a priority.

  • Emergency Plan

Highest risks to safety of residents were associated with flood incidents and snow, but pandemic is also on the list. Snitterfield Community Volunteers was created and launched in a matter of days in response to the national lockdown in March 202. Thanks to Sue Yendall, volunteer coordinator, Bruce Newsom, as project manager, Snitterfield Community Project, and Cllr Darren Brown, for support at the village shop to keep deliveries running. All residents who contributed time and funds to this initiative are to be thanked once again for supporting their community. A survey delivered in December 2020 will complete the draft Emergency Plan, to be completed this summer.

  • Social Housing: WRHA 

Damp and mould continue to be a problem for three of the WRHA affordable homes in Hurdler’s Lane.  Work has been carried out during the last year by the housing association in regard to the roof and insulation under the foundations, which had been recommended by their independent consultant.  However, the issue is still occurring and therefore, ongoing discussions are continuing between the residents, Snitterfield Parish Council and WRHA as to the next steps that the housing association are prepared to undertake. Thank you to Cllr Cox and Cllr Blanchard for pursuing improvements on behalf of the residents. It is 7 years since last Housing Needs Survey was undertaken; perhaps time to consider next survey.

  • Grasscutting

Under supervision of Cllr Paul Smith, in addition to his playground inspections, has worked with Jack Mee to improve and widen footpaths at Monarchs Way and Park Lane. Much less litter observed thanks to local residents for their picking.

  • Allotments

All allotments are currently taken and offer much improved thanks to clearance works organised by Parish Clerk, Nicola Everall. An investigation of rights of way and easements and discussion with Severn Trent have led SACC to conclude that a water supply from mains off The Green is not financially viable. Instead, it is hoped this much-anticipated and desired amenity, will be achieved in the next year, using an innovative, cheaper and natural solution, by tapping into Bearley Brook.

  • Cemetery:

Cllr Smith and Cllr Norris are working on improvements to the cemetery to include fences and gates. Cllr Blanchard and the Parish Clerk await on Commonwealth War Graves for a commemorative plaque to mark the four graves.

  • STAG

Snitterfield Tree action Group (STAG) are a newly formed group supported by Councillors committed to the planting of appropriate species of trees as widely as possible across the parish of Snitterfield to reduce carbon dioxide levels, mitigate flood risk, increase biodiversity and improve the surroundings for the local community. Snitterfield Parish Council has given permission for the planting of a native species hedge on its land off The Green at the small playing field and looks forward to a socially distanced tree planting event on Sunday May 9th and thanks to Forest of Hearts for their help and guidance.

District & Council Representatives

Goodbye and many thanks to County Councillor Anne Parry, for her time as well as financial support of the Village Hall grants and commitment to road safety funds. Also to our War Member, Peter Richards for advice in particular on planning applications and support on ongoing infrastructure matters.

Thank you to the outgoing Chairman, Paul Blanchard, after 5.5 years of service and oversight of the Neighbourhood Plan as well as gas installation at Hurdlers Lane. I also wish to thank all the current Parish Councillors and the Clerk for their perseverance during a period of change and adjustment for us all.

Looking ahead to the next two years and election in 2023, Snitterfield Parish Council has a number of urgent infrastructure projects to deliver. It will need to be creative with funding opportunities and proactive in its consultations with residents in order to identify priorities. This will help to define an action plan and corresponding budget over the next two years.