HOLNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 1 March 2006 in Holne Village Hall
Present: Cllrs Paul Arrowsmith (see Minute ), Richard Copus, Cynthia Irish, Michael Maddicks (Chairman), Belinda Owen, Gill Simpson
Clerk: Joanna Radford
Members of the Public: Messrs M Hamilton and R Haffron, Customer Liaison Officers for Balfour Beatty Plc, Mr K Evans, Miss R Roberts, County Cllr Pennington, District Cllr C Ramsay
Public Forum : Two representatives of Balfour Beatty spoke about the work being carried out in the Parish at present, apologising for disturbance and any mistakes by their colleagues, and guaranteeing that road sweepers would be brought in at the end of the works and that the verges would be reinstated. They asked for a parking site for a caravan for customer liaison: Miss Roberts suggested the Forge car park, and undertook to ask the owners (who have kindly granted permission)
Miss Roberts told the meeting of a Tree Walk planned to take place in the parish after Christmas next year. She thanked the Council for its support on the subject of delegation of planning consents and reminded members of the clause in the Code of Conduct that Councillors are required to make written allegations on colleagues who break this. Mr Gray reported on planting at Play Cross and the state of the hedge discussed at a previous meeting (Minute 0601.07). Mr Evans queried a statement made at the previous meeting that barn conversions for holiday use could only be sold as second homes. Cllr Copus corrected this. Mr French paid tribute to Mr T. Wills, past Chairman of Dartmoor National Park Committee, who had died recently. County & District Councillors presented written reports. There were no questions on these.
0603.01 Apologies for Absence were accepted from Cllr Irish.
0603.02 Co-option of Parish Councillor Mr Paul Arrowsmith had applied to fill the vacancy caused by Cllr Iles's resignation. The Council agreed unanimously to co-opt him and he signed a declaration of acceptance of office. It was then reported that Cllr Pamela Melville had decided to resign from the Council. A notice inviting parishioners to request an election had been posted and if no election was requested, invitations for nomination for co-option would be put on the notice boards with co-option possible at the April meeting of the Parish Council. Discussion followed that it would be desirable for future Councils to be elected, and it was agreed to discuss the subject at a future meeting, with the idea of it being an Agenda item for the Annual Parish Meeting, which would be held as usual in the third week of April.
0603.03 Declarations of Interest Cllr Arrowsmith declared a personal interest in Item 8 and signed the register.
0603.04 Planning Report Conditional permission for an agricultural dwelling at Gallant le Bower was reported, the permission document being put in the circulation file for Councillors to see the details of the conditions.
0603.05 Accounts for the Month The following payments were approved:
- Mrs J M Radford salary for January-March inclusive £200.00
- Mrs J M Radford expenses for the same period:
- Internet access at £10 per month - £30,
- Telephone: £11.65 (VAT £1.73)
- Home use for 2005/6 £96 (minute 0503.04) £137.65
- Holne Village Hall Management Committee - rent £26.50
0603.06 Budget and Reserves After some discussion showing that the budget as written involved some guess work which would probably result in underspending thus building up reserves, the meeting closed for Mr Evans, internal auditor for the past three years, to state that it was his view that the Council needed to agree a strategy for building up the reserves to the required 50 to 150 % of the annual turnover. Agreed that this should exclude the annual loan repayment, so that the Council should aim to have reserves of at least £1000. Agreed to precept for £200 more than the budget every year for five years, subject to an annual review, for the purpose of increasing the Council's reserves. Whilst discussing details of the budget it was agreed to ask Ross Gray to continue his work in Play Park to a total in the next financial year of £150, and to complete in this financial year the winter pruning of the hedge he recommends. South Hams Council would be informed that the oak tree in the play area needs attention, as it is responsible for this area. Agreed also that Mik Wells's offer to host and manage the website for £135 (plus VAT) for the next year (from September when the current contract expires) be accepted.
0603.07 To rescind, at the request of the Monitoring Officer, Minute 0511.10, and, if agreed, to discuss the subject again and make any resolution approved by the Council Cllr Arrowsmith, having declared a personal interest as the maker of the complaint against Cllr Melville for failing to declare an interest in the discussion leading to Minute 0511.10, took no part in the discussion. Rescinding of the Minute was agreed but the Council decided to defer until April discussion of the subject and any resulting resolution.
0603.08 DNPA Local Development Framework Statement of Community Involvement Agreed to make only the comment agreed in Minute 0602.11.
0603.09 Model Complaints Procedure Agreed to adopt the model complaints procedure provided by the Society of Local Council Clerks, a copy of which is attached to these Minutes.
0603.10 Report of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Cllr Simpson presented this report, which is attached to these Minutes. She asked the Council to consider at its next meeting the suggestions of the Committee that owners of land that might be used for social housing should be written to to ask their interest in making such land available. The Clerk confirmed that members of the Committee who are also Parish Councillors would have to declare a prejudicial interest if any planning application was considered by their Council, and that if this resulted in the Council not being quorate for such a discussion, the Council as a statutory consultee would be unable to comment.
0603.11 Broadband Access Cllrs Copus and Maddicks declare personal interests as they are both in communication with BT as to the lack of such access, but spoke and voted on the subject. Agreed to invite a representative of BT to address the next Council meeting.
0603.12 Campaign by CPRE for "Quiet Lanes" in the Countryside Agreed to discuss this at the next meeting
0603.13 Youth Facilities in the Parish Cllr Simpson reported that she had heard from Gill Gray who was administering funds for such projects.
0603.14 Correspondence as follows was placed in the circulation file, or to be dealt with as specified:
- DNPA Agendas for meeting 3 March 2006
- South Hams Local Development Framework consultation (for individual comment by 14 March);
- DAPC re nominations for Royal Garden Party ballot and future course details: councillors to state if they wish to attend any of these.
- South Hams Sustainibiltiy Group "Light Pollution Event" 28 March - Cllr Copus interested in attending Devon CC re Road Closures;
- Standards Board and S Hams DC re failure to declare interest incident;
- DNPA re delegation in Development Control;
- DNPA Conference on the new Management Plan - 11 April - Clerk would reserve a place to be used by her unless any Councillor could attend
- South Hams Training Sessions- Tues 14 March to be attended by the Clerk, Thursday 16 March to be attended by Cllr Arrowsmith
There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.00 pm. The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 5 April.
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