Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 7 December 2005 in Holne Village Hall
Present: Cllrs Richard Copus, John Iles(Chairman), Cynthia Irish, Pam Melville, Belinda Owen,
Clerk: Joanna Radford
Members of the Public: Mr M Bonney, Miss R Roberts, Mr R Gray (tree wardens), Mr M French (DNPA), Mr P Arrowsmith, Mr K Evans
Public Forum : Mr Bonney drew the Council's attention to the regulations relating to declarations of personal and prejudial interest, which he had been involved in applying when a member of South Hams District Council. He believed that a councillor should have declared such an interest during the last meeting, and urged the Council to report that Councillor. The Clerk reminded the meeting that a report, if made by the Council, would have to be agenda-ed for discussion first, and that reports were better made by individuals. She understood that such a report had been made (by Miss Roberts who had telephoned her intention to do so shortly after the last meeting). Cllr Copus confirmed that he had made a point of asking Cllr Melville whether she wished to declare an interest, and she had not. Miss Roberts said she had simply contacted the Monitoring Officer of South Hams District Council to enquire how complaints should be dealt with, so the matter had not yet been reported. The Councillor in question, Cllr Melville, responded that she did not believe she had a prejudicial interest as any change in legislation in relation to holiday let conversions would make her worse, not better, off. She had brought up and discussed the matter in the interests of the wider community. It was explained to her that the prejudicial interest clause in the Code of Conduct applies to any consequence, whether beneficial or not, which might lead a member of the public to believe that her judgement in a subject would not be impartial.
Mr Arrowsmith reported that the tree at Holne Cattle grid was leaning even further over. He had been in touch with the Church House Inn re the Christmas Tree and all was in hand, but thought the Council might have to put in a permanent power point for the lights at some time. He drew the Council's attention to the leat outside the Tithe Barn which was about to breach, and to the good job done by DNPA in fencing off Church Path.
He wondered if the website was doing too much advertising for the Tradesmen's Arms.
He then told the meeting that he had made a report to the Monitoring Officer on the failure at the last meeting to declare a prejudicial interest, and had been sent the relevant forms for onward transmission to the Standards Board, which had to be done before any such complaint was official.
Mr Evans asked questions about the interim accounts, and on matters being discussed by the Housing Needs Committee. It was confirmed that this, as a Committee of the Parish Council, meets in public, with its Agenda published in accordance with LGA 1972. All matters except those exempt under that Act are therefore discussed in public, and when the meetings go "in camera" this should be recorded in the Minutes and a separate note kept of what was discussed.
He was assured that the letter to Holne Church Charity asking under what circumstances it might consider allowing affordable housing on Play Park had been written simply as research in preparation for discussion, and was on this Agenda - no decision had been taken. The names of those requesting affordable housing would be confidential until such housing was available, when the allocation would be made by the full Council in camera, with the results being announced publicly.
Mr Gray confirmed that he would have a further bill for the Council relating to his work looking after the new hedge in Play Park. He reported that the work at Venford was now finished but that the small picket gate at the main entrance was frequently left open. Finally, he reported on flooding and work by DNPA and Highways Department of the County Council.
Miss Roberts spoke about the DNPA planning delegated powers.
Mr French made a report on recent activities at DNPA and urged the Council to make comments on the Local Development Framework consultation documents.
0512.01 Apologies for Absence Cllrs Simpson (holiday) and Maddicks (holiday), County Cllr Pennington and District Cllr Ramsay (who had both sent written reports).
0512.02 Minutes of the Meeting of 1 November were approved by those eligible to do so and signed.
0512.03 Planning Matters
- 0839/05
Oil Tank and Shed at Sylvana for Mr & Mrs Applegarth - no objections, though agreed to comment that this was a retrospective application as the tank was already in place. - 0851/05
Additional bedroom with en-suite shower room at Brackenwood for Mr F P Jacklin - no objections. - 0438/04
Amended Plans for extension replacing existing outbuildings and existing defective structure at The Forge, Holne (alteration to part of external facing material) - no objections. - 0907/05
Reduce size of single storey outbuildign attached to side of house and re-roof with increased roof pitch at 7 Church Park for G Russell. Cllr Owen declared a personal and prejudicial interest (next door neighbour) and withdrew from the meeting for this item. Agreed to offer no objections.
The following planning decision was reported: permission for white PVCu conservatory to rear of dwellling, Middle Leat, Holne.
0512.04 Accounts for the Month The following payments were approved:
- Holne Village Hall Management Committee rent.
£34.25 - Royal British Legion.
£16.50 - Project Cosmic annual charge for hosting the website (quotation accepted by the Council July 2004).
£146.88 - Mr M Wells, honorarium for 2005/6 for website editing.
£50.00
0512.05 Budget and Precept for 2006/7 The council considered a draft budget as below:
- Wages £840.00
- Admin (incl training & website) £850.00
- Loan repayment £1,149.00
- Rent £150.00
- Insurance £200.00
- Parks & Open Spaces £300.00
- Section 137 £100.00
- Churchyard Maintenance £400.00
- Total £3,989.00
Discussion followed to ascertain that the budget would result in building up reserves, as requested by the internal auditor and advised by Society of Local Council Clerks (to at least 50% of budget).
The interim accounts showed that the Council's reserves might be under £1000 by March 2006, but the Finance Committee had discussed the budget above and felt estimates, particularly for Parks and for Administration, were conservative enough to include contingency amounts to increase the reserves.
It was agreed to accept the budget above, including making a grant of £400 for Churchyard maintenance (suggesting that estimates should be sought for this with a preference for local labour being used), and including an increase in the Clerk's salary to £840 per annum.
The amount projected for insurance was lower than previously as the Council would be able to take advantage of a new special scheme for small councils, its three-year contract with the existing insurers ending in June 2006.
A request from Village Hall Management Committee saying that help might be needed for resurfacing the Car Park would be considered if necessary, but it was felt the loan repayment constitutes the Council's contribution to Hall funds and it would need to see full accounts if further funds were applied for. Agreed to precept for £4000.
0512.06 Gritting of the Holne to Holne Chase Road Agreed to write to Devon County Council to request that this is gritted in icy weather, particularly as it is the route for school transport to Ashburton.
0512.07 Local Development Framework Consultation Agreed to defer discussion of responses to the January meeting, with the Clerk contacting DNPA to inform the relevant officer there (comments had been requested by the end of December).
0512.08 Housing Needs Committee Cllr Copus reported that there had been no developments since the last meeting of this, with the next one planned for 25 January 2006.
The Clerk read her letter to Buckfastleigh West Parish Council asking for a formal commitment to take part in the project.
The Minutes of that Council showed only that the Chairman would respond to her letter. No response had yet been received but the meeting was informed that the Chairman would be attending the meeting of the Committee.
Standing orders were suspended for Mr Arrowsmith to report that he held a list of those seeking housing, but that this remained confidential.
The letter from Holne Church Charity with regard to an approach asking under what circumstances the Charity might allow the use of Play Park for housing was read out. Agreed that it was early days to take any decisions here, but that the measures suggested by the Charity (that a village referendum be held to determine the communities view of such a use) would be followed if needed.
0512.09 Village Shop Mr Joyce had responded that he was writing to the owner, and the Clerk reported that she had been told by the owner that the shop would open at Easter.
0512.10 Information Sign at Quarry Car Park and Replacement Signs at Leat Crossings John Weir of DNPA had confirmed that the latter had been ordered and would be in position in December, and that he was looking into the former.
0512.11 Correspondence was noted as follows: DNPA Delegation Scheme in respect of Development Control; Kenwyn (Ashburton) Closure Consultation; South Hams DC on Changes to Waste Collection; South Hams and Devon County Council on Second Homes Council Tax.
0512.12 New Councillors Course on 27 or 28 February would be attended by Cllr Melville, payment to be authorised at the next meeting.
0512.13 Highway matters The following would be chased up the by the Clerk: Maintenance of the roads and leat, tree at cattlegrid, request for wooden bollards, quality of signing re road closures at Scorriton.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.30 pm. The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 4 January 2006.
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