Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on on Wednesday 2nd January 2008 in Holne Village Hall.
Present : Cllrs Paul Arrowsmith (Chairman), Belinda Owen, Ru Roberts, Liz Ross, Gill Simpson
Clerk : Yvonne Fairman
Members of the Public : Mr K Evans, Mr Kent, Mrs G Gray, Councillor Colin Jones and County Councillor Pennington
Public Forum : County Councillor Pennington reported that Government has rejected the bid for Exeter to have unitary status, however government has instructed the Boundary Commission to examine the existing structure of local government. This may involve changes to the existing boundaries of Plymouth City and Torbay which would mean that South Hams District Council would possibly be abolished. Restructuring would have a financial impact to taxpayers – if all 34 counties were restructured the likely cost would be £1billion if there were 2 unitaries per county, £2.6billion if 3 unitaries per county and £3.5billion is 5 unitaries per county. The likely cost to each taxpayer would be in the region of £300. The District and County Councillors are working together on this unnecessary restructuring. The central government revenue grant for 08/09 is only equal to the consumer price index – this entails Devon making savings to avoid huge increase in Council Tax. Negotiations with Shaw Ltd are now well advanced to take over the management of Devon elderly care homes – this will involve a contract for caring for the elderly and officers from the Devon County Council to make check on the homes. Councillor Jones reported that South Hams had confirmed there would be no alteration to the collection of refuse on a fortnightly basis. He reiterated the reference to car parking charges made at the meeting on the 5th December in that discussions were still taking place whether residents of South Hams could be allowed free parking from say 10.00am to 4.00pm. There was only going to be a rise of 1% in Government grants in relation to Council Tax which would probably mean the maximum rise of 5% would apply. Councillor Jones had also objected to the amended plans at Hazelwood but on looking at the Moorhaven website had noted that a 3 bedroomed property with carport was for sale by the company.
Mrs Gray enquired why the issue relating to in the apparent incorrect reporting of the Affordable Housing Committee by the Western Morning News had not been dealt with instead of being deferred. She commented that the Council should deal with this and something needs to be in place to deal with such matters. Comment was also made in relation to planning applications within the village. It was stated by the Council that plans etc were available from either the Clerk or directly to the Dartmoor National Park and the planning application protocol had already been discussed at previous meetings and a paper prepared and submitted by the Council. Mrs Gray went on to comment about the 2 Special Holne Parish Council meetings on the 11th and 17th December and the attendance of Police Community Support Officer Douglas McCance on the 11th December. It was stated by the Council that all members of the Parish were invited to attend all meetings of the Parish Council and that Community Support Office Douglas McCance had invited himself along to the meeting on the 11th December and no insufficient warning of his attendance was given to enable the Clerk to put this onto the Agenda. In relation to the Affordable Housing Group and the proposed open meeting in March, Mrs Gray proposed that an independent Chair take the meeting, i.e. the Enabler, Sue Hitchcock and that sufficient time should be given so that the meeting could be advertised in the Link. Mr K Evans queried why the letter to Chris France and his response was confidential in relation to the Affordable Housing Group Committee. He commented that discussions with the public about the proposed site should be made. Mr Evans also wanted to know why no-one had visited the Trusham site.
08.01.01 Apologies for absence : Cynthia Irish
08.01.02 Minutes of the meeting of the 5th 11th and 17th December 2007 : Councillor Simpson requested amendment to the comments of Mr K Evans in the public forum in that it was Councillor Simpson who made reference to the open meeting of the Affordable Working Group in March. The amendment was approved and agreed. Minutes of the meeting of 11th December 2007 : amendment was requested by Councillor Owen regarding the members of the public at that meeting. A new Minutes would be prepared and submitted at the next meeting. Minutes of the meeting of 11th December 2007 were agreed.
08.01.03 Declaration of Interest : None
08.01.04 Planning matters : None.
08.01.05 Clerk’s financial report : The Chairman requested that a payment of £45 be made for the Christmas Tree and a payment of £55 for the Clerk Gift.
8.01.06 Affordable Housing Working Group : (a) It was agreed that a letter should be sent to the Play Park Trustees asking for if they could attend a meeting in February and that available dates should be sought. The results of the survey had not yet been known but plans were still ongoing for an open meeting in March. Discussion then ensued about the press protocol regarding the letter to the Western Morning News. Clarification of the wording of the report was called for and Councillor Ross requested that Gill Gray be asked to produce a draft letter to the Western Morning News relating to their inaccuracies. All Councillors apart from the Chairman agreed with this request. Councillor Ross said there was a dilemma as to who was running the show between the Affordable Housing Group and the Parish Council. All seemed to be reviewing matters but who was actually in control? A letter of thanks was to be sent to Sue Hitchcock for her assistance in particular with the drop in sessions – this was to be sent on behalf of the Parish Council and the Affordable Housing Group.
08.01.07 Development at Trusham: Discussion took place with regard to the development at Trusham which involved the demolition of a house and subsequent development of several houses thereon. It was agreed that it was an atrocious development but that it was not within the Dartmoor National Park. Teignbridge had very lax planning but it was felt that no-one should make a special journey out to Trusham but to be aware of what is happening. Councillor Roberts raised the question of the 106 Section agreement in relation to Hazelwood which would be an end to the planning applications on that site. No one wanted to see Hazelwood demolished and several houses put in its stead.
08.01.08 Conservation Plan for Holne : A working group is being set up and a meeting of the working group would hopefully take place before the next Parish Council Meeting. This item was to be put on the Parish Agenda for discussion for February and March.
08.01.09 Light pollution from Hazelwood: The lights which the builders were using had been switched off.
08.01.10 DNP Management Plan : Councillor Roberts had been through the Management Plan and there were 3 areas which the Council should look at : (i) Sustainable living, (ii) Affordable Housing, and (iii) Energy. Council Members were to look at the Plan and suggestions be put forward for discussion at the next monthly meeting. 08.01.11 Clerk’s or Councillors’ reports : No letter of response had been received in relation to the right of way and therefore a chasing letter should be sent from the Council. 08.01.12 Other Correspondence : The Clerk read over a letter which she had received from Police Community Support Office Douglas McCance. It reported that there had been 3 incidents within the area as follows : (i) 1 Miscellaneous, (ii) 1 assault and (iii) 1 theft .
08.01.13 Chairman’s Urgent Business : It was agreed that Mr Owen would trim the hedges in play park as usual. It was agreed that the letter regarding the press should be put on the Agenda for the next meeting. There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.45pm.
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