First contact with CO

[JoceAndChris]

No question here - just sharing the experience.

Phoned SKDC, very helpful person put me through. Nice little chat with CO who was quite surprised that we'd gone to the effort of listing the building and said she wanted to come and see. Off she went to look at the listing description, which she subsequently said was excellent, and chat with her colleague, then she phoned back and made an appointment with me, which will take place in just over two weeks. She listened carefully to our proposed work (change 1980s skylights to double glazed ones, and similarly a 1980s leaf pattern single glazed window to a double glazed leaded bronze casement, and discuss replacing the breakfast room window that I posted the recent thread about, and what to do with the stone staircase, and changing the Victorian lean to into an ensuite, and altering the white cement render to stone coloured lime render scored to imitate ashlar). She said she'd be coming to take lots of photographs and to assess whether any of those things would impact negatively on the special characteristics of the building, and that permissions often have a 5 year span on them (which probably won't be enough for us). No mention of any fee being necessary. If only everyone on here could have the same experience.

I suppose I have one question. Should I make apple apricot pecan loaf cake for her visit, or a classic Victoria sponge?

 

[Moo]

The loaf cake - it sounds delicious!

 

[philpjuk100]

One vote for the sponge!

 

[worms]

Better make both since we are all coming for tea to meet her!

 

[Feltwell]

Can't beat the classic simplicity of a Vicky Sponge.

 

[Flyfisher]

Excellent Joce - sounds like you're off to a good start. The 5 year time limit is, I believe, a standard planning thing. Our LBCs have included similar conditions. However, the timescale is based on when the work begins. I don't believe there is a time limit once the work has started.

Having said that, I don't know what constitutes starting 'the work' when there are a number of completely separate items included in the LBC application. Does starting one item mean that ALL items then have no further time constraints? Anyway, unless building control is involved, there seems to be no formal mechanism for tracking any works carried out as part of LBC.

But all that is detail. The main thing is to discuss your vision and plans for the property, at which point I have little doubt your CO will feel more than satisfied that it's in the best possible hands.

As for the catering, a victoria sponge can do no wrong but my vote would go to the apricot and pecan loaf cake. Yummy!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Heavens, opinion is so thoroughly divided I'd better make both cakes!

Thanks for the responses. Flyfisher raises an interesting point about what constitutes starting the work and tracking of the works. I don't suppose they much care once the permissions are in place. Yes, I hope she sees we do have a clear and, I hope, sympathetic vision for the property. And if she says no to a bronze casement, but is open to a simple wood sash casement, or like, then of course you have to take that on the chin.

Doubtless I'll be encouraging her to check out PPUKe as an amazing resource. Xxx

 

[Roger H]

Flyfisher - Start part of the set of works that are in a consented scheme, and the clock stops ticking for the whole lot. You have as long as you like to implement the rest.

 

[Carol]

Both cakes sound lovely. Am not surprised you have lured her over with your new listing. Suspect she will be putty in your hands as it is quite obvious you are a period property buff and wouldn't do any harm to the building, in fact, quite the reverse!

Our CO was "ordinary tea, can't stand the fancy stuff" and was clearly pleased to be offered chocolate biscuits or anything at all.

 

[Flyfisher]

Flyfisher - Start part of the set of works that are in a consented scheme, and the clock stops ticking for the whole lot. You have as long as you like to implement the rest.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Penners]

the timescale is based on when the work begins. I don't believe there is a time limit once the work has started.

That's certainly been my experience, too. The LBC will expire if work is not commenced within the stipulated period, but once you've started no time limit applies (unless it's all changed since my last LBC, seven years ago).

Now to the more important matter. We have no experience of catering for a female CO, but the males we have encountered have invariably been putty in my hands, once they've been treated to a generous slice of Mrs P's "Aunt Molly's Chocolate Cake". It's a family recipe, handed down from my Aunt Molly in S. Africa - gooey and sticky and gorgeous!

 

[Zebra]

Yuk! Apricots! Yuk! Definately the other cake....

 

[LadyArowana]

Now to the more important matter. We have no experience of catering for a female CO, but the males we have encountered have invariably been putty in my hands, once they've been treated to a generous slice of Mrs P's "Aunt Molly's Chocolate Cake". It's a family recipe, handed down from my Aunt Molly in S. Africa - gooey and sticky and gorgeous!

Whilst I am sure that it is quite delicious I would sound a note of warning about presenting something chocolate as the only option. My dearest husband won't touch the stuff because it is a migraine trigger for him, and my builder was also a non chocolate eater ( ginger snaps for him, chocolate hobnobs for everyone else ).

As for apricots, I don't mind them as a stand alone fruit either fresh or dried, but tend to Zebras view of them as a cake ingredient. Like raisins in scones, I always pick those out and leave them, not that I am fussy you understand.

 

[agbagb]

agb's missus,
Thanks M'lady
I'd almost forgot about the Christmas pudding, any one got an old sixpence?

 

[Penners]

I would sound a note of warning about presenting something chocolate as the only option. My dearest husband won't touch the stuff because it is a migraine trigger for him, and my builder was also a non chocolate eater

You seem to have been unlucky in your encounters with dietary mutants, Milady.

As for your "dearest husband". just how many husbands have you got?

 

[LadyArowana]

As for your "dearest husband". just how many husbands have you got?

I'm still on my first, but he doesn't really like it when I refer to him that way.

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol:

And Mr P is so lucky to have a lady who makes delicious chocolate cake, and how can people not like apricots, in any form?

Thanks to Carol for her vote of confidence too. xx

 

[Penners]

As for your "dearest husband", just how many husbands have you got?

I'm still on my first, but he doesn't really like it when I refer to him that way.

Do you mean that he doesn't like being described as your "dearest" or your "first"?

Terry Wogan used always to refer to his (longstanding and only) wife as "the present Mrs Wogan".

 

[LadyArowana]

Do you mean that he doesn't like being described as your "dearest" or your "first"?

Terry Wogan used always to refer to his (longstanding and only) wife as "the present Mrs Wogan".

:lol: either way he usually tells me I am being "insolent".

 

[Moo]

I seem to remember a certain Mr Edant on this forum referring to his wife as "the present Mrs P".
Whatever happened to him?