Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 1 February 2006 in Holne Village Hall
Present: Cllrs Cynthia Irish, Michael Maddicks (Chairman), Pamela Melville, Belinda Owen, Gill Simpson
Clerk: Joanna Radford
Members of the Public: Mr R Gray (Tree Warden), Miss R Roberts, Mr D Mudge, Mr K Evans, Mr M French (DNPA Member), Mr P Arrowsmith
Public Forum : Mr Arrowsmith reported that the tree at the cattle grid had been dealt with. Miss Roberts referred to the DNPA Consultation Document "Statement of Community Involvement" and commented that if the recommendations in it regarding written confirmation of informal discussions of planning applications by planning officers were approved, this would cover her concerns, so long as information on this was included in the advice given to applicants. Mr Evans asked why there was not item on the Agenda to discuss the budget for next year. The Clerk apologised and said it would be on the March one. He then asked what the benefit to the parish was of recommending that barn conversions should be for full residential use, as they could then be sold as second homes. He was informed that holiday use meant that such conversions could only be bought as second homes. Mr Gray referred to his letter to the Council stating that the hedges in Play Park should be flailed before the end of the month. Mr French reported that Mr Chris France had been appointed to fill Mr Graham Wall's place at DNPA, and paid tribute to Mr Wall's work for the Park Authority over the years. Miss Roberts asked for a copy of the Holne P C Code of Conduct. Mr Arrowsmith suggested the Council should write to Mr Wall to thank him for his work and help to the community. All those present agreed that this should be done. The Clerk presented to the Council and member so the public the District Councillor's written report. The County Councillor had said he had nothing to report.
0206.01 Election of Chairman In view of Cllr Iles's resignation, an election to fill his place as Chairman was held. Cllr Simpson proposed Cllr Maddicks, who accepted the proposal. All approved. Cllr Maddicks proposed Cllr Owen as Vice-Chairman, who accepted, all approved.
0206.02 Apologies for Absence were accepted from District Cllr C Ramsay, County Cllr T Pennington. Cllr Copus's absence was noted.
0206.03 Minutes of the Meeting of 4 January 2006 were approved and signed.
0206.04 Planning Matters The meeting closed for Councillors and public to examine the plans, and for Mr David Mudge to explain these, and to describe amended plans submitted (and received by the Clerk the following day). On the meeting reconvening, Cllr Simpson reported that both she and Cllr Owen had visited the site, and as a result proposed recommending approval of the application and amended plans as described by Mr Mudge. Cllr Owen reported in addition that the barns were very visible from Holne Moor, but would hide the house if built as planned. Cllr Simpson formally proposed that the Council recommend approval of the application and the amendments described by Mr Mudge. Cllr Irish agreed, feeling that the plans showed a good quality house and that the farming enterprise by a young farmer should be supported. Cllr Melville said that she would have agreed to recommending approval of a proposal to build within the farmyard both for good farming practice and to avoid using a green field site as was planned, but was against the current application. She felt the stables already existing on the proposed site should also be moved. The Chairman, ending the discussion, asked if, in view of Cllr Melville's opposition to Cllr Simpson's proposal, the meeting wished to vote on this. This being the case, a vote was taken, with three voting for the proposal to recommend approval, and one against.
The following planning decision had been received: 0817/05 Visitor facilities (toilet block) Picnic Meadow, Holne Park, Ashburton.
0206.05 Accounts for the Month The following payment was approved:
Mr R Gray for work to the new hedge in Play Park £46.86
Balances at the Bank were reported as follows:
Current Account £182.28
Savings Account £1109.10
0206.06 Housing Need Committee Report Cllrs Owen and Simpson made reports, referring to the unapproved Minutes of the meeting held on 25 January, which are attached to these Minutes. Mr Andrew Dinning, currently Chairman of Buckfastleigh West Parish Council, had been co-opted on to the Committee. The Clerk asked that that Council, if the Housing Needs Committee work was to apply to its Parish, make a formal resolution to be involved in the project and formally appoint Mr Dinning as its representative on the Committee. The meeting closed for Mr French to say he would make sure this happened. Cllr Simpson reported in addition that members of the Committee would meet informally in the near future to summarise progress so far in the project. Cllr Melville asked for it to be recorded that not everyone in the parish agreed that Holne should be a "sustainable settlement" from housing provision needs perspective.
0206.07 Co-option of New Councillor to fill the Vacancy Caused by Cllr Ives's Resignation for family reasons. Agreed to defer until the March meeting and to invite nominations for co-option, should no election be requested.
0206.08 Youth Facilities in the Parish Cllr Simpson reported that although it was hoped there would be money available through lottery funds to the District Council, the bid was not through yet, the District Council having agreed to a feasibility study for a bid. Agreed that the subject should be on future agendas, particularly in relation to the possibility of providing youth club facilities for young people in the Parish.
0206.09 South Hams Local Development Framework Consultation Agreed to a proposal by Cllr Melville that the Council should recommend that private providers of sporting facilities should benefit from exemption from business rates where they are providing facilites that the local authority does not.
0206.10 Consultation on Kenwyn, Ashburton Cllr Owen reported on a third option now proposed. Agreed to support this by commenting on the County Council's website form
0206.11 Letter from Miss R Roberts on Delegation in the Planning System Agreed to support her view that all changes to an application made at the suggestion of planning officers, either before the application is submitted or after, in forming amendments, be put in writing, and that applicants be informed of this in the information provided with application forms. Agreed also to pass this resolution to the Planning Authority when commenting on the consultation document " DNPA Local Development Framework Statement of Community Involvement" at the next meeting.
0206.12 Hedges in the Parish the Clerk reported that the hedge referred to in Minute would be dealt with by the owner by the recommended date. Agreed to ask Mr P Owen (Cllr Owen declared a personal and prejudicial interest, signed the book, and was exempt from leaving the meeting because of the sub-zero temperature outside) to flail the hedges of Play Park as recommended by the Tree Warden.
0206.13 Village Shop and Post Office A letter from Mr P Joyce, DNPA, informed the Council that the owners of the shop hoped it would be open by Easter.
0206.14 New Waste Collection A roadshow/presentation would be held in Scoriton Village Hall on 22 February.
0206.15 Holne Fête Committee Request to use Play Park for the Fête on 12 August was approved.
0206.16 Letter from DNPA re a caravan parked in Michelcombe Agreed not to comment as the letter requesting a view had been received too late for inclusion in the Agenda and no research had been done on the matter.
0206.17 Letter from SWWater offering to bring promotional stand to local events was passed to the F ê te Committee for possible action.
0206.18 Other Correspondence Receipt of the following was noted: ODPM on Standards of Conduct in English Local Government, the Future; DNPA re Communities Consultative Foru m.
0206.19 Work Locally by SWWater Agreed to write to SWWater to complain about their contractor's work - the messy state of the roads after work and the closure of roads when not scheduled, as well as water being shut off at times not scheduled.
0206.20 Items for inclusion on future Agendas The Chairman asked that an item on the failure of Broadband unrolling in the area be put on the next Agenda, with a view that a representative of BT might be invited to address the Annual Parish Meeting. Cllr Melville asked for an item regarding a campaign by CPRE to designate certain roads in the countryside as "quiet lanes".
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.35 pm. The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 1 March at 7:30 pm.
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