Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 6 October 2004 in Holne Village Hall

Present: Cllrs Paul Arrowsmith,  Richard Copus (Chairman), John Iles, Cynthia Irish, Gill Simpson

Clerk:  Joanna Radford

Members of the Public: County Cllr Date, Mr R Gray, Mr G Fergusson

Public Forum :  Mr Gray  spoke about his recent planning application and Councillors gave their opinions as to how this appeared to have been dealt with by the Planning Authority.  He reported on work needed to the hedges of Play Park and on work that he had carried out over the summer, with the voluntary help of a nearby resident.  Finally he described to the Council work that was required in both the old and new cemeteries requiring expenditure by the Parochial Church Council of over £2500 per annum.  He urged the Council to consider how it might be able to help in financing this.  Councillors agreed that the subject should be discussed at the next meeting. 

Mr Fergusson introduced himself as the new National Trust warden for the area which includes Holne Woods, and described work that would be taking place here in the near future, including rhododendron control and the creation of access for disabled users at New Bridge.

Cllr Date reported on two task groups in the County Council working on the provision of rural Post Offices and on print and design functions at County Hall.

0410.01 Apologies for Absence were accepted from Cllr Owen and from District Cllr Ramsay

0410.02 Minutes of the Meeting of 1 September  were approved and signed.

0410.03 Planning Matters Amended plans for 0636/04 Barn conversion at Long Barn, Ingletts Farm, Michelcombe for Mr M French which relate to details of doors, windows and boundary treatment (including the doorway which the Parish Council commented upon):  no objections

The following planning decisions were reported:  640-1/04  Permission for Single storey infill extension to rear with associated internal alterations at 1 & 2 The Village  conditional on approval of materials used.

0466/04 Refusal of application to erect a dwelling related to rural business at Priddons

0410.04 Concerns of local residents on planning officers' role in local planning applications:

Agreed that a letter should be sent to the Dr Atkinson, with a copy to Mr Graham Wall, to state the fact that members of the public and councillors in Holne have  expressed concern at Council meetings both at the procedures set up by the Planning Authority to deal with applications and at the attitude of officers to members of the public requesting information on applications; that at their own meetings and at site meetings members of the Authority show an unprofessional lack of knowledge of details of applications upon which they should have been briefed.  In addition agreed that the letter should state that the Parish Council would like to know the policy on the selection of site meeting membership.

0410.05 Accounts for the month  The following payments were authorised:

            a) Mrs G Simpson - mileage to planning course                                                            £22.40

            b) R C Richardson - repairs to gate of Play Park                                                           £53.40

            c) Project Cosmic for establishment of website (inc £70 VAT)                         £470.00

            d) Mrs J M Radford - salary & expenses July-Sept inc (inc £1.71 VAT)                       £217.22

 The Clerk reported that the certificate for the external audit for 2003/4 had now been received and would be advertised in the usual way.

0410.06 Housing Survey  The Clerk reported that the survey questionnaires had not yet been received but that they would be given to councillors with extracts of the electoral roll for distribution and collection by the due dates. The Chairman confirmed that Buckfastleigh West PC were in contact with Lizzie Uttley to go through the same procedures with the results being collated.

0410.07 Website  Cllr Arrowsmith reported that this was nearly ready to go live, and councillors discussed details of the contents and images to be used.  

0410.08 Casual Vacancy on Council  This was caused by the disqualification of Cllr Bradford who now lives in Exeter.  It is being advertised and will be filled by co-option if an election is not requested.

0410.09 Play Park Hedges  Agreed that the Council would remunerate Mr Gray for the work he had done to the new hedge plants, and that those mistakenly strimmed by South Hams DC should be replaced by him from his own stock, and that he should be authorised to continue to care for this hedge at the Council's expense within the limits above which two estimates for this work would be required (£150 per annum).  Agreed also to ask Mr Peter Owen to cut the sides of the hedges on the other three sides of the field, and to cut the road side hedge on the instructions of Mr Gray

0410.10 "A model code of conduct for local government employees" & "Review of the regulatory framework governing the political activities of local government employees."  Agreed not to comment on these.

0410.11 Jubilee Fund  Agreed after discussion that the remaining funds be split between the two parishes for use as their Councils see fit.  This would be on the next Agenda as payment for authorisation so that residents could come and make their views known should they wish to.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.40 pm.  The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 3 November