Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 5 April 2006 in Holne Village Hall
Present: Cllrs Paul Arrowsmith, Richard Copus, Cynthia Irish, Michael Maddicks (Chairman), Belinda Owen, Ru Roberts (Minute 0604.02) Gill Simpson
Clerk: Joanna Radford
Members of the Public: Mr M French (DNPA), Mr K French, Mr R Gray, Mr M Baker
Public Forum : Mr Gray asked the Council to arrange to cover the hole on the Village Green made to contain the Christmas Tree, as this had become damaged and was a potential danger to the public. He suggested that a new pipe be inserted and the whole covered with a slab. This would be on the next Agenda for authorisation, the tenants of the Church House Inn, as tenants also of the Green, having been consulted.
He also spoke about his own planning application. Mr Evans asked that Item 8 of the Agenda include a discussion of what good would result in relation to affordable housing from a resolution asking that owners be allowed to convert holiday houses to full residential. Miss Roberts spoke also on this item, suggesting that any resolution should include the proviso that such conversions should not be allowed to be sold away from the main residence particularly when these were agricultural holdings. Mr French made a brief report on DNPA affairs, and wished to correct the Minutes of the last meeting. The Clerk read a report from County Cllr Pennington.
0604.01 Apologies for Absence were accepted from District Cllr Ramsay and County Cllr Pennington
0604.02 Election of Parish Councillor It was reported that no request for an election had been received by the Electoral Officer at South Hams DC and that Miss Ruth Roberts had volunteered to stand for co-option. The Council agreed unanimously to co-opt her, she signed a declaration of acceptance of office and took her seat.
0604.03 Minutes of the Meeting of 1 March 2006 were approved and signed after the alteration of the name "Wills" to "Mitchell" in Mr French's report, and deletion of "chairman" and insertion of "member" in the same report.
0604.04 Declarations of Interest Cllr Copus declared a personal interest in item 9 as user of the track which had been damaged by Balfour Beatty. Cllr Roberts declared a personal interest in item 11 as owner of land that might be used for affordable housing, and would declare a prejudicial interest during the item if discussion showed this was required. Cllr Arrowsmith declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 8 as is residing in a property where change of use for an existing holiday property is shortly to be applied for. All signed the register.
0604.05 Planning Matters 0203/06 Extension to existing farmhouse to provide attached dwelling relating to rural business, to include adaptation of existing access track and entrance gate at Priddons for Mr R Gray: Cllr Owen reported on behalf of the Planning Committee and proposed that the Council recommend approval. Agreed unanimously.
Discussion of the above had included examples of demands made by planning officers that councillors felt constituted bullying and showed inconsistency with permissions previously granted. Cllr Roberts proposed that the new chief planning officer of DNPA be invited to a daytime meeting (to allow him to see examples of these) to see individual inconsistencies. Agreed, and that Councillors would provide details of such inconsistencies in advance of such a meeting.
Breach of planning conditions: Agreed to write to DNPA to point out that three of the parking spaces required for the new village shop were impossible to use as a large pile of waste soil had not been cleared from the site.
0604.06 Accounts for the Month The Clerk presented a Receipts and Payment Account together with figures that would be used for the Annual Return which are attached to these Minutes and were approved by the Council. The external audit had been set for July and the meeting closed for Mr Keith Evans to offer to carry out the internal audit. The following payments were approved:
a) Devon Association of Parish Councils subscription and £41.00
Local Govt Review sub £14.00
b) Devon Playing Fields Association subscription £15.00
c) Moorland Team Ministry for Parish Link £60.00
d) Mr R Gray for work to oak tree and road hedge in Play Park £117.90
e) Public works Loan Board loan repayment (due 30 April) £574.43
0604.07 Request from the Fete Committee for permission to use Play Park for the fete to be held on Saturday 12 August: approved
0604.08 Conversion of Holiday Accommodation : Cllr Arrowsmith left the room and took no part in discussion or vote. Agreed unanimously after discussion that the Council approve the resolution that holiday cottages or accommodation should be able to be converted, where wished by their owners, to permanent residential use. Where they are within the curtilage of a rural business or on the same holding, this use should be ancillary to the main holding.
0604.09 Damage to Gallant le Bower by Balfour Beatty Cllr Copus reported that this damage was being caused by the bad standard of driving by contractors. Agreed that Balfour Beatty had stated they would repair such damage, but that the locations should be passed on to the new representative in the area, Mr Terry Walsh.
0604.10 Quiet Lanes Agreed that as any possible conversion of rural roads to 20 mph zones would require national legislation and intrusive signs, and that such conversion might give the Highway Authority reason not to maintain the roads, the Council would take no action at present except to initiate a discussion of the subject at the Annual Parish Meeting.
0604.11 Housing Committee Agreed that owners of land that might be used for social housing should be written to ask their interest in making such land available. Miss Roberts, as owner of such land, took no part in the discussion which was not deemed to be such that she needed to declare a prejudicial interest. Cllr Simpson further reported on future projects of the Committee which include a parish walk in Widecombe and a joint meeting with Bridford Housing Committee.
0604.12 Annual Parish Meeting Arrangements for this were discussed and agreed.
0604.13 Community Forum Agreed to suggest the following for the Agenda an item to encourage DNPA to request that Waste Collectors (ie District Councils) provide recycling facilities for waste bins where these are provided at car parks and similar venues on the Moor. Cllr Arrowsmith offered to attend the meeting on 12 May.
0604.14 BT Broadband in the Parish After reports of experiences in the parish, it was agreed that it was necessary to produce a firm list of those with problems and use this to put pressure on BT to provide the necessary infrastructure for successful broadband access. Agreed that the Clerk should ask BT to contact Broadband4Devon for additional help.
0604.15 Oak Tree in Play Park The clerk reported that South Hams was concerned only with maintaining play equipment and cutting the grass, so she had, under her delegated powers, instructed Mr Ross Gray to prune the tree.
0604.16 Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund Advisory Panel Members Agreed that the Clerk should approach Mrs Jackie Parsons to see if she was interested in being suggested as a member, and if so, that she should be so nominated to DNPA.
0604.17 Receipt of the following correspondence was noted DNPA on Conservation Area Proposal Totnes & District Sustainability Group Conference on Potential for Renewable Energy in the South Hams on 8 May; DCC on future of Kenwyn; Dartmoor Discovery Marathon on 3 June; DNPA Agenda 6 May.
0604.18 Monitoring Officer Investigating Officer's Report on Complaint 13623.05 receipt was noted. Cllr Roberts commented that she hoped the Council would in future not fail to report anyone it felt had failed to declare an interest, according to the requirements of the Code of Conduct.
0604.19 Highway & Similar Matters Agreed that the Clerk should remind the Highway Authority of the need to repair pot holes, and to deal with the leat repairs needed at the Tithe Barn, Little Cross and Holne Cott Lodge. Agreed also to inquire if chippings could be put at the Play Park end of Church Path. Agreed that the Clerk research the terms of planning permission at Dartmoor Driving as a new barn was being put up there.
0604.20 Flooding at Littlecombe Hill was agreed to result from excessive rain in March, but the matter would be watched.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.10 pm. The Annual Parish Meeting takes place at 7:30 pm on Wednesday 26 April, and the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 3 May.
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