Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 5th November 2008 in Holne Village Hall
Meeting commenced at 8.00pm
Present – Vice-Chair - Cllr Mrs B Owen, Cllr Mrs L Ross, Cllr Mrs C Irish, Cllr Mrs F Powell, Cllr P Arrowsmith, Cllr R Copus, D Cllr C Jones, C Cllr T Pennington.
Attended by - 3 members of the public & Ross Gray, Ru Roberts – Tree Wardens.
Apologies – Chair – Cllr Mrs G Simpson.
In the absence of the Chair – Cllr Mrs G Simpson and Vice-Chair – Cllr Mrs B Owen took the meeting.
Public Forum –
a) The Leat which runs under the road at Holne Cross is blocked - item for DCC.
b) Ru Roberts - car sharing many thanks for letting me use the notice board - it will also go onto the Parish Link. It will be easier for some people to give their contact names direct to me as they may not want to see it on the notice board. Item 16a) on the Agenda questions to put to DNPA for consideration - she would support direct elections to the parks which she feels would best serve the electorate.
c) Keys are now to be provided for people who want to cross Venford.
Reports – C Cllr T Pennington –
DCC did not invest any money in Icelandic banks, however SHDC has done. DCC has a Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee which vets all investments. At the last DCC full Council meeting on the 2nd October 2008 I tabled the under mentioned question to Cllr Greenslade. “How much has DCC spent on the Local Government Review including officer time and meetings both internal and external and does he not consider that such expenditure could have been more usefully spent on essential services to our council tax payers had not the Secretary of State and the Labour Government imposed this unnecessary review on the Devon Local Authorities”? Answer – Local Government review has cost so far £103,000 from reserves – some officer time has been fitted on to their normal duties. 70 meetings have taken place throughout the County. Devon did not request the LGR. Cllr Pennington confirmed that he supported keeping the status quo on this matter.
Children and Young People – I raised my concern to Cllr Smith the Devon executive members for Children and Young People Services in connection with Contact Point – a Government Scheme costing £224 million. This is a data base which will contain details of every child under 18 in England which has to be submitted by all Local Education Authorities – it will contain personal details of all children and their parents – 11 million children. It will be available to 330,000 workers in educations, health, social care, youth, justice and voluntary sectors. Concern is that as it will be available to such large numbers of people it could become available to paedophiles and be exploited by them. Also the data could be mislaid. Our job is to protect vulnerable children but contact point could result in an increased risk. I first raised the issue at DCC 18 months ago but was given an assurance that it would be security protected. However even Government has recognised that there could be potential dangers and has postponed its introduction in February 09 to examine safety and security further. Michael Gove – Shadow Minister has stated that if there is a change in Government it will be scrapped and replaced with small local targeted data bases only to be shared with key local professionals.
Highways – At a recent meeting I took up repair of potholes with John Halliday – Area Engineer. He agreed workmanship was not good and that SW Highways do not use the same materials as previously used. Parish Councils must contact him immediately with any problems.
Local Housing – Monies for affordable Housing could be available from Councillors Community Fund or Exeter Airport Money – available for Capital Projects only. If the Affordable Housing Committee can give me precise details and costings I will do all necessary to obtain required funding.
Highways – Cllr Mrs C Irish - Mitchelcombe Lane from the hump back bridge - road surface bad with potholes. D Cllr T Pennington confirmed that he would bring this to the attention of DCC.
Reports – D Cllr C Jones -
Boundary review - decision to be made just before Christmas - present economic climate may result that this does not take place in its present form. SHDC - Meeting tomorrow - budget monitoring 100,000 deficit expected - car parking down on projected income less tourists, Dartmouth ferry down on forecast and land changes down as housing is slow. SHDC 1 ¼ million in Icelandic bank. Invest income forecast 150,000 up through cash flow so doing quite well in spite of this. Review of charges for the coming year - street trading licences up 13%, 12% contaminated land inquiry, 6% food and dangerous wild animals, 5% hackney carriages and gambling licences no change.
Services - SHDC provides a whole raft of services for the district ie; bins and various activities which any SHDC residents can partake in. Community Fund which can be tapped into for various items which are required by various communites in the district.
10.11.01 - Minutes of the meeting of 1st October 2008. These have been circulated and read - one amendment to Item – 9.10.06 Finance was duly undertaken. The minutes were then duly signed by the Vice- Chair – Cllr Mrs B Owen.
10.11.02 - Declarations of Interest - Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interest relating to any agenda item at this stage in the meeting , but may also do so at any time during the meeting , should they become aware that they may have such as interest in a subject being discussed. No declarations given.
10.11.03 – Planning Matters including any applications received in time for the meeting and decision notices/conditions:
a) Langaford Meadows - works currently going on an e-mail has confirmed that the owners of the field have contacted DNPA who have advised them to put up a temporary shelter which is what they have done. – Cllr Mrs L Ross – there seems to be a proliferation of these temporary type stables at the moment and DNPA needs to maybe amend their policy.
b) Entrance Splay at Brackenwood – matter arising from the last PC Minutes – Cllr Mrs L Ross confirmed she had spoken to the owner as follows - the kerb stones have been placed to keep back the water and the topsoil has been placed behind which will gradually work into them. They have built exactly to what the Parks have asked him to do and in time a hedge will be planted behind the fence. Tarmac path which stipulated as gravel was not acceptable coming out onto the road. A tree will need to come down also which will improve the tree behind it and will make way for the electricity wire.
c) Mount Cottage – Breach of Planning - there was a caravan and tepee tent in the Garden which has now been removed. No further action.
d) DNPA Planning Policy Update - Cllr Mrs F Powell reported - Local development framework replaces the old local plan, Holne is one of the 34 rural settlements mentioned, blanket no new market value housing in these settlements except for affordable. Barn conversions for residential if they are to be converted into affordable. Permitted development rights give householders more scope for small developments ie: windows etc. Small scale renewable energy projects they will be supportive of - but not on listed buildings. Hard standings over 5 square metres in front of a property and not a permeable surface or run off to a soakway may require planning permission. Cllr Mrs L Ross also attended and commented - very good informative evening.
Stakeholder event - design guidance for new housing - Cllr Mrs F Powell will be attending if there is anything which needs to be brought up – takes place on 14th November 2008.
10.11.04 - To hear the Clerk’s financial report & to approve the following payments
Cheque no - 522 - £574.39 - Public Works Loans Board
Cheque no – 523 - £137.41 – Sharon Raggett (Clerks Wages for October 08).
Bank Balance – November 2008 = £2,350.29
All Cllrs were in agreement that a letter should go to the bank to try and get the money back on the recent Bank Charges its expenditure that should not have occurred and is inexcusable.
10.11.05 - To arrange a date for the Finance Committee to discuss the precept for 2009/2010 - now arranged a date for the meeting – this now set for Wed 19th November 2008.
10.11.06 - Wreath for Commemoration Sunday – Cllr P Arrow smith - now organised.
10.11.07 - Venford Dam Closure and Management - to hear an update - nothing further to report.
However it was noted that there are signs from Ashburton to say the road is closed but none from Buckfastleigh.
10.11.08 - Tree wardens reports - a written report to be given now and not reported at the meeting
and the position to be reviewed every 12 months at the AGM.
10.11.09 - Playpark:
a) Report on the setting up of a Working Party – leat clearance 8.11.08 at 10.30am – Cllr Mrs F Powell, Cllr Mrs L Ross and Cllr Mrs B Owen - please come along and help if possible.
b) Hedgelaying works - Playpark and church park hedge to be done, fence here will not be replaced and other hedges are still to be looked into - maybe SHDC community grant to do this. Brash to be burnt on site unless any Parishioners want to take away small logs. People need to be signed up to the course if they want to attend. Vice-Chair – Cllr Mrs B Owen will speak to Sue Halse at DNPA.
c) Short term grazing for 2 weeks in November to improve grass quality – Holne Church Charity to be informed - letter to ask permission. For Health and Safety reasons maybe the play park should be closed at this point. Farmer to be responsible for keeping the sheep in.
10.11.10 - Holne and Scoriton Housing Group report - nothing to report.
10.11.11 - Potholes and Highway Maintenance reports –
a) Letter from C Cllr Trevor Pennington - now written to John Halliday DCC regards the quality of the material used to fill Potholes.
b) Report from Gill Gray - Potholes monitor - trying to contact Alan Cash DCC to meet with him to discuss the state of the slippery roads and potholes.
Letter to Chair of DCC - to address this ever increasing Potholes problem in the Parish (01626 353652) number to report holes
10.11.12 - Clerk’s or Councillor’s reports on matters authorised by the Council at previous meetings not otherwise on this Agenda – nothing to report.
10.11.13 – Correspondence for attention.
a) South Hams Young Sports Person 2008- Nominees by 26/11/08.
b) DAPC – Consultation from Defra via DAPC - to replace Parish Council element
with directly elected reps on National Park Authorities. Went in folder for circulation - cllrs to comment individually if they so wish.
c) CCD – Training – Making Sport and Play Accessible and Inclusive for All – Dec 8th and Jan 14th - Cllr Mrs F Powell or Cllr Mrs L Ross to attend if possible.
d) DNPA – LDF Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment – replies by 21.11.08.
e) SHDC Budget meeting – 12.11.08.
f) South Hams Volunteering in Devon Survey – www.volunteerdevon.net/count-me-in. Leaflets in the Correspondence File.
g) Letter from St Mary the Virgin – Holne – PC Grant for 2009/2010 - onto December Agenda for discussion.
Matters not requiring discussion and placed into the folder for circulation and perusal by Cllrs. (Please ensure that you have informed the Clerk is any need attention at the next Parish Council meeting).
10.11.14 - Chairman’s Urgent Business for action by the Clerk if covered by delegated powers or for inclusion on the Agenda of the next meeting.
a) Provision of Xmas Tree – Cllr P Arrowsmith will speak to the owners of the Pub and ask if they would like to donate towards the provision of the tree for the village. Should have a more permanent provision of power to supply the tree, towards the new year ask the Water Board to help with provision of the electric towards this.
b) Web-site - Bill has not been received from Joanna Radford yet but should be around £50 - would be interested to know how many hits it has. Minutes need to go back into the Parish Link at some time.
c) Leat adjacent to path field at Petherings below Bearwood - Mr G Soble owner to be contacted as this needs clearing.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.30pm
Next Parish Council Meeting - Holne Village Hall - Wednesday 3rd December 2008 at 8.00pm.
ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAS SPECIAL NEEDS AND REQUIRES A COPY OF THESE MINUTES SENT TO THEM – PLEASE CONTACT THE CLERK – 01364 644109.