DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
3 March 2009
The meeting commenced at 8.00pm.
Present: Councillors Simpson (Chairman), Owen (Vice Chairman), Arrowsmith, Copus, Irish, Powell and Ross.
Clerk: Suzanna Hughes
Members of the Public: 6 parishioners present
OPEN FORUM
DNPA representative
It was reported that the DNPA has been running several reviews on the questionnaires which had been completed by Parish Councils almost a year ago. The initial proposal is for a reduction of a ranger at a senior level. The DNPA are looking at streamlining efficiencies and looking at support services. Ultimately there will be less money to spend on works.
There was a brief discussion between Cllr Ross and the DNPA rep about the marked bridleway from Cumberstone which was agreed to be very dangerous for horses. Cllr Ross confirmed that it was her intention to walk the route and would liaise with Jonathan.
Cllr Arrowsmith queried why there wasn’t a more senior member of the DNPA present at the meeting given the significant reductions being proposed. Jonathan replied that it had not been signed off yet and in any case it was part of the ranger’s remit to attend Parish Council meetings and inform them of the activities of the DNPA. Cllr Simpson suggested that this could be brought up at the Annual Parish Meeting.
District Councillor Jones
1. Budget 2009/10
SHDC has frozen it budget at the current level but DCC budget it going up 2.9%, Fire & Rescue Authority by 3.9% and Police Authority by 4.9%. The overall increase in bills will therefore be over 3%. A Band D property in the parish of Holne will therefore pay £1,485 in 2009/10.
Cllr Jones noted an interesting variation in parish/town precepts within SHDC and the amounts payable. For a Band D property, residents of Ivybridge will have to pay an extra £93 for Ivybridge Town Council services, whereas residents of Woodleigh Parish will need to pay only an extra £7. Holne Parish Council’s charge per band D property will be about £41.50, the 6th highest in the District, just below Kingsbridge and Bickleigh.
2. Council Executive meeting – 5th March
Two new grant schemes to help local communities are likely to be approved and will start in April.
(i) Investment in the Community scheme
a. £1m budget for grants
b. No maximum grant or cost of scheme
c. Mainly to help larger projects
d. Projects must fit SHDC corporate priorities (eg. Affordable housing, prosperous local economy) and will be prioritized.
e. Business plans etc will be required.
(ii) Sustainable Community Locality Fund
a. £1,000 per councillor to spend in their ward on worthwhile projects to benefit residents
b. Minimum grant £100
c. Application form and assessment, but not ‘bureaucratic’ or too onerous
3. Local Government Review
The Boundary Committee’s Final Recommendation is postponed from mid-February to mid-July. But the Boundary Commission now says it will produce a further draft recommendation by 19 March which it will consult on until mid-May before issuing its final recommendation in July.
County Councillor Pennington
1. The council tax has increased by 2.89%.
2. The Government Support Grant was increased and totaled 5.5%
3. £6.5 million has been taken from reserves otherwise the council tax increase would have equated to 5%.
4. There will be need for tight control or spending this year
5. Capital Programme – borrowing will equal £65 million costing £35 million in interest charges equal to 10% of council tax. Capital Programme equals £173 million.
6. Poor Government Dedicated Schools Grant – 2.1% increase. Devon is 146 out of 149.
7. Total budget requirement is £506 million.
8. Highway Maintenance:-
a. Principal roads – increased budget by £100,000 (+2%)
b. Non principal roads & bridges – increased budget by £3,499 million (+12%)
c. Highway lighting increase of £500,000 (+ 8.5%)
d. Public Rights of Way – no increase.
9. Affordable Housing - is able to help with the legal costs from his locality budget once he hears from Gill Gray.
10. Road gritting – has taken up the problem of road gritting for all the parishes in his ward as he doesn’t think it has been carried out satisfactorily this year.
Members of the public
1. Ru Roberts had observed that the gritting lorries were only spreading salt. She commented that it was important that it should be a mixture of grit and salt as salt alone can be. Cllr Irish commented about the potholes not being filled in Michelcombe which were now dangerous.
2. A resident of Michelcombe commented that he thought that it was too late for Michelcombe and he and its residents will now be embarking on a course of self-help. Hedges are growing into the road, potholes are not being repaired and nothing is being maintained.
3. Keith Evans noted that he had received a letter from the Parish Council about the leats and commented, with reference to the proposed walk-around, that the Parish Council would need to be more specific about when they would be inspecting the leats and how they were proposing to do it. Cllr Simpson confirmed that the Parish Council would liaise with landowners.
4. Concerns were expressed about dustbin bags being opened by foxes and rubbish being scattered around. At the suggestion of bulk bins, Cllr Copus expressed that he didn’t think it would work and would look awful.
5. Bridgette Mills informed the Parish Council that she was still taking her dog over the playpark. She
commented that the ‘No dogs’ sign is not a byelaw and therefore not legal. She also expressed that she had been approached by a councillor whilst walking who had informed her that she should not be walking her dog on the area. Cllr Owen replied that she was disappointed that someone was not showing any respect for children and the council’s decision and as the area can’t be policed, we had to rely on the public’s goodwill. Whilst supporting Cllr Owen expressing that whilst not illegal it is anti-social, Cllr Ross added that the Playpark Committee were quite prepared to make provision for a dog walking area in its plans.
030309.01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Received from Ross Gray.
030309.02 RATIFICATION OF MINUTES OF 6 JANUARY 2009.
These were signed and agreed without amendment.
030309.03 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None received.
030309.04 PLANNING
(i) Cllr Owen explained that the amendment to the plans for Catkin Cottage related to the skylight over the stairwell which wasn’t included within the original plans. It was agreed that there were no additional comments to make.
(ii) The clerk had received a letter from South West Water notifying the Parish Council that the road to Venford Dam would be closed on 13th & 14th May to allow the completion of major construction work. The work will involve resurfacing the road and a signed diversion route will be in place. The clerk would advertise this on the Holybrook Exchange, in the Parish Link and on the parish noticeboards.
(iii) The Parish Council were informed of a walk being led by Rupert Lane, DNPA, through parts of White woods on 1st April starting at 10.00am. The intention is to look at work that has been undertaken and to discuss local views on the next phase of management in an attempt to ensure that as many issues as possible are embraced within the next five year plan.
030309.05 FINANCE
(i) To agree payment of clerk’s wages and expenses for February 2009 to Suzanna Hughes for £125.76 (cheque no. 532) was agreed.
(ii) It was agreed that the clerk’s future salary and regular expenses (mileage & broadband) would be paid via standing order on the 1st of each month.
(iii) A VAT refund of £33.91 was noted.
(iv) The monthly bank reconciliation was noted.
(v) Whilst not on the agenda, payment of £21.00 for the hire of the village hall for February was agreed (cheque no. 533).
030309.06 PLAYPARK
(i) The Committee reported that they had been trying to contact Parks and Gardens at SHDC in order to discuss its plans for the Playpark. Also reported that the hedge is now laid and photographs are on display in the village hall. There is still wood available for collection but it was agreed that to avoid any heatlh and safety issues, it should now be removed. Cllr Powell agreed to remove it and Cllr Arrowsmith agreed to take the wire away. The Committee requested authorisation to purchase a digital OS map. After brief discussion, it was agreed that the committee should first contact the DNPA to find out if they had any appropriate maps for use by the Parish Council.
(ii) It was agreed that the Parish Council would start again with the ‘No dogs’ sign and the clerk would seek a new quote from Pluss.
030309.07 HOLNE AND SCORITON HOUSING GROUP REPORT
Cllr Simpson reported that the group had had a meeting with reps from the Community Council of Devon. The main topic was land sites for affordable housing. All sites have now been visited. Any suitable site would have to be inspected by highways. Four sites have been identified and letters have now been sent to find out if the owners are still interested. A grant has been received from Pennon Group for £250 which will help to put a display together.
The group have also been undergoing work to investigate Land Trusts. The Chudleigh Group is now registered as a Community Land Trust called 'Land in Hand Trust'. Holne and Scoriton are included in the Trust. This would mean that the affordable housing group would come under their umbrella.
030309.08 POTHOLES AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE REPORTS AND OTHER HIGHWAYS ISSUES
(i) Surface dressing - Cllr Copus commented that the potholes which have been filled now need to be surface dressed as they are fraying around the edges. Cllr Simpson believed that the next road to be dressed is the one leading down to Mill Leat. She said that she would stress this at her meeting with Gerry King.
(ii) Summer bus service - Cllr Copus reported that the bus used to run every day from Totnes – Ashburton – Tavistock stopping in Holne. Last year, however, it only came into the village at weekends. Cllr Copus outlined the benefits of the bus coming into the village every day (which adds only 7 minutes to the journey) and proposed that the clerk contacted the bus company/transport department about the bus running 7 days a week during the summer.
(iii) The clerk had received correspondence from DCC in response to the Parish Council’s concern about the re gritting and salting of the road during the icy weather and the work to the cattle grid.
(iv) The clerk had received correspondence from Brian George who asked Cllr Simpson to contact Gerry King about the Parish Council’s concerns about highways and how the budget is spent.
030309.09 LEATS
The clerk confirmed that letters had been sent to parishioners regarding the leats as agreed in February’s meeting. Cllr Simpson confirmed that she would liaise with councillors outside the meeting to agree a date for a walk-around of the leats.
030309.10 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
The clerk confirmed that Sue Goodfellow from DNPA had agreed to speak at the meeting. The clerk confirmed that village groups had been invited to report at the meeting. The format of the meeting was agreed.
030309.11 CLERK’S OR COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS ON MATTERS AUTHORISED BY THE COUNCIL AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS NOT OTHERWISE ON THIS AGENDA
None.
030309.12 CHAIRMAN’S URGENT BUSINESS FOR ACTION BY THE CLERK IF COVERED BY DELEGATED POWERS OR FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA OF THE NEXT MEETING
The clerk reminded the Parish Council that there was not currently a Neighbourhood Watch committee functioning in the village and Cllr Arrowsmith suggested that we include this as an item for April.
Cllr Ross reported that she had been asked by a parishioner about activities at Priddons in relation to the replacement of the mobile home with a mobile log cabin. It was agreed that this would be added as an item for discussion at the April meeting.
030309.13 CORRESPONDENCE FOR ATTENTION
The following correspondence was noted:
(i) Evaluation of the Rural Housing Enabler Programme – questionnaire to be completed by Housing Group
(ii) Best Kept Village Competition 2009 – no nomination. (iii) SHDC – Local Government Review Parish Cluster Meetings – contents were noted.
(iv) SHDC – playpark funding – this was passed to the Playpark Committee.
(v) Cllr Simpson noted a letter from Ross Gray, Tree Warden which had been distributed to councillors for their information. It was agreed that this would be an item of May’s meeting.
030309.14 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Tuesday 7th April at 8.00pm.
Matters not requiring discussion and placed into the folder for circulation and perusal by Councillors.
(Please ensure that you have informed the Clerk if any need attention at the next Parish Council meeting).
(i) SHDC – Executive Forward Plan
(ii) The Playing Field – DPFA Newsletter
(iii) Dartmoor National Park Management Plan 2007-2012
The meeting closed at 9.45pm.
Cllr Simpson
Chairman
Mrs S Hughes
Clerk
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