Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wedneday 6th October 2005 in Holne Village Hall.
Present: Cllrs John Iles(Chairman), Cynthia Irish, Belinda Owen, Pam Melville, Gill Simpson
Clerk: Joanna Radford
Members of the Public: Mr M French, DNPA; Mr R Gray (Tree Warden), Mr P Arrowsmith, Mr K Evans, Mr M Houlton, Ms P Richardson, Mrs P Melville (and see above)
Public Forum : Mr Gray, as Tree Warden, told the meeting he would be attending the South West Tree Warden Forum at Dartington and would claim expenses for this. He also told the meeting that nothing at all had been done yet at Venford reservoir. As a member of the PCC he asked that the Council consider the actual expenses of maintaining the "new" Churchyard when budgeting for the next financial year.
He then spoke on behalf of Gill Gray who had requested an information board at Stoke turn, saying that in discussion parishioners felt it might be better placed in the quarry car park, and that it should contain general information on that part of the Moor, as well as a sign to the toilets near the reservoir.
Mr French reported that a recent application for a house at Gallant le Bower had been withdrawn as the planning officer had asked for detailed plans, although the application was only outline, aswell as being concerned as to access and loss of hedgerow. A similar application in Buckfastleigh West had been approved and there appeared to be inconsistency in the treatment of this one. He also told the meeting that DNPA members were talking of considering the matter of the number of field shelters being applied for, feeling that these should not be allowed although there should not then be prejudice agains genuine agricultural shelter applications.
Mrs Melville drew the Council's attention to a CV that she had provided for each Councillor in considering her application for co-option to the ParishCouncil.
Mr Arrowsmith spoke about his application, reminding Councillors of his length of service on the Council as well as that as Chairman.
0510.01 Apologies for Absence were accepted from Cllrs Copus and Maddicks, as well as County Cllr Pennington and District Cllr Ramsay (who had provided a brief report which was circulated).
0510. 02 Minutes of Previous Meetings Those for the meetings of 20 July, 3 August and 7 September were approved and signed. Those for 6 July would have to wait until there was a quorum of councillors who had been at it present to approve.
0510. 03 Co-option of Parish Councillor There being two applicants an ballot was held, all those councillors present voting and signing their ballot papers in accordance with the requirements of Local Government Act 1972. The ballot resulted in a dead heat, and the Chairman made a casting vote in favour of Mrs Pam Melville who signed a declaration of acceptance of office and undertook to observe the code of conduct expected of co-opted members and took her seat on the Council.
0510. 04 Council's response to a letter from Brian Beasley with notification of a request to reduce longer lateral branches by 2m, lift canopy by 1m and remove smaller of any two crossing branches on semi-mature beech, currently protected by a TPO, in the grounds of Churchway Cottage: Cllr Iles declared a personal interest and did not join the discussion or vote. The Tree Warden had provided a written report and recommendation which was read out. It proposed that the Council recommend approval of the request, with the proviso that similar necessary work to lift the canopy be allowed in the future whenever necessary without the need for reapplication for permission. Those eligible to vote agreed his proposal.
0510. 05 Planning Report The following decision by the Planning Authority was noted: 0611/05 Conditional approval for Conversion of existing barn to ancillary accommodation at Seale Stoke, conditions to include that unit approved to be used solely as additional living accommodation in connection with and ancillary to the existing dwelling and not used, let or otherwise disposed of as a separate unit of accommodation.
0510. 06 Accounts for the Month The Clerk reported receipt of the second tranche of the precept. The following payments were approved:
- District Audit for 2004/5 Audit (inc £8.75 VAT) £58.75
- Mrs J M Radford salary July-September incl £200.00
- Mrs J M Radford expenses for the same period:
- Mileage to housing committee meetings £2.00,
- Telephone- £14.83 (inc £2.20 VAT),
- Internet Access @ £5 per month June/July,
- £10 per month August - £20, Stationery £5.20 ) £42.03
The loan repayment would be due just before the next meeting and would be minuted then.
0510. 07 Housing Needs Committee Report
Cllr Owen made a report based on the Minutes of the meeting previously circulated.
Cllr Simpson reported on a meeting with Graham Wall of DNPA in which he had been very positive and supportive, telling those present that the most necessary action was to achieve the support of South Hams District Council, as DNPA considered Holne to be a case exceptional to the Local Plan criteria for "local settlements". The Housing Needs Committee propose, as a result of this and its own recent meeting, that the Council write to Holne Church Charity to ask under what circumstances it would consider selling land at Play Park for a housing scheme, that at the same time the Council contact Ru Roberts to explain that this was part of an exploration of all possible lines of approach to the provision of affordable housing.
It also proposed that the Council write to both the Chairman and Clerk of Buckfastleigh West Parish Council to ask what that Council's intentions are in relation to Holne's current initiative, and that a letter be sent to Tor Homes to query the computation of rent/mortgate payments on its proposal to sell 6 Bakers Park, and to query the rights of succession of existing tenants of its other properties in Holne. The proposals were all agreed by the Council.
It was confirmed that the expenses of the Committee are borne by the Parish Council, with invoices/claims to be presented to the Clerk ten days before each Council meeting so they can be agenda-ed for approval and payment.
0510. 08 Village Design Statement Agreed to put any decision on whether to undertake such a project on hold whilst Councillors and parishioners studied the documents involved, either the paper copies circulating or on line on "info@devonrcc.org.uk".
0510. 09 Broadband Access Cllr Iles reported on the difficuties parishioners are experiencing in accessing broadband from shared lines. His neighbour had first failed but now reapplied successfully. Agreed that a letter be sent to British Telecome and to Oftel to complain about this service in this area and to request improvement.
0510. 10 Website Councillors had before them a report by Mik Wells, who was managing the loading of parish documents on the website. He had suggested two options for contributing to the site, and it was agreed that option one was the most suitable, and that the Council itself shouldbe the "mandated editor". Also agreed that the "Google" search facility should be removed from the site as this was a commercial operation. Agreed also that Mik Wells should be offered an honorarium to be discussed at the next meeting.
0510. 11 Work to Holne Leat The Clerk reported that Tony Halse had confirmed that DNPA could do the work needed to the leat outside the Church House Inn after next spring when stone would be available from work they were doing in Lustleigh and had done to Watery Lane. He asked that the Council write to DNPA with a formal request for the work to be done, and that the tenant of the Church House Inn be informed what was happening. There would be no cost to Council or tenant. Cllr Iles then expanded on his request that signs at the leat crossings on Holne Moor be replaced/repaired. Agreed to contact DNPA as the landowner, with copies to the Commoners' Association, to ask that this be done.
0510. 12 Cattle Grid Agreed to chase the need for work to this.
0510. 13 Notice Board at Stoke Turn/Quarry Car Park Agreed that a sign board in the Quarry Car Park would be desirable, and that it should give general information on Holne Moor, and signs to the toilets. Agreed to request that DNPA provide this.
0510. 14 Council's response to correspondence on the Sustainable Communities Campaign Agreed to support this.
0510. 15 Correspondence The following correspondence was noted and placed in the Circulation File: DCC Rights of Way Improvement Plan; West Devon Local Development Framework - Community Involvement; Community Council of Devon AGM 19 October (no one able to attend)
0510. 16 DNPA Communities Forum to be held on 28 October - no Councillor present could attend, the Clerk would do so if neither Cllr Copus nor Cllr Maddicks could. A questionnaire on how Holne PC regards the forum was completed in part, with the Clerk delegated to complete the remainder.
0510. 17 Notice of Road Closure of Michelcombe Lane for three days from 7 November to replace stop tap was noted.
0510. 18 Future Agenda Items Cllr Melville asked that the Council discuss the need to allow holiday cottages to be converted for permanent use. Agreed.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20 pm. The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 2 November.
[ Minutes ]