Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
on 3rd November 2009
in Holne Village Hall at 8.00pm
The meeting commenced at 8.00pm.
Present: Councillors Owen (Vice Chairman), Arrowsmith, Copus, Powell and Ross.
In attendance: District Cllr Jones
Clerk: Suzanna Hughes
Members of the Public: 3
OPEN FORUM
1. District Cllr Jones
Cllr Jones reported that he had attended the cluster meeting at SHDC and had spoken strongly about the future of the play areas. As yet, he has not yet received any satisfactory answers from Ken Carter at SHDC. He put a motion to the Council asking that SHDC continues with the maintenance, insurance and inspection of the play areas despite the ownership. Unfortunately, he was quickly criticised by a Conservative member and put forward an amendment nullifying the motion which was supported by the Conservatives including County Cllr Pennington. He has also been making enquiries of the Town Councils and it would seem that the majority are not interested in putting money into their own play areas. However, as they are owned by SHDC it is likely that ultimately they will not be subject to the same conditions as those areas not owned by SHDC, like Holne. He would continue pursuing this and will be attending the Public Spaces meeting on 4th November. Cllr Jones suggested that an approach be made to the DPFA and also that the Playpark Committee meet to discuss in more detail how to move forward with this.
2. Ru Roberts
Would like to claim £10.40 fuel expenses for attending the Tree Forum at TDC (26 miles @ 40p).
Has a leaflet about dormice which was placed in the circulation folder. Also, a DVD about hedges which she handed to Cllr Powell as a member of the Playpark Committee, for information detailing new rules about hedgerow and how moves are afoot to protect saplings.
Leats – good news about the leat in Margaret West’s field. The leat has been deliberately blocked by the Wrights so that the Wilde’s pipe doesn’t become flooded. Permission has given by the Wilde’s to go and clear the Wilde’s part of the leat and the Wright’s have been told that it is their responsibility to maintain the leat. No further action is therefore required at the moment by the Parish Council.
031109.01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllr Irish and PCSO Gareth Jones
031109.02 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were reminded of their responsibility to continually update their Notice of Registerable Interests and invited to state whether they had a personal or prejudicial interest in any matter to be discussed during this meeting.
None declared.
031109.03 RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting dated 6th October 2009 were approved by all present and duly signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
031109.04 LEATS
This item was addressed by Ru Roberts during the Open Forum and it was agreed that no further action was required.
031109.05 PARISH APPRAISAL
After discussion, members agreed that there are no obvious benefits of producing a parish appraisal. It was agreed that if parishioners had an issue they would usually bring those issues to the Parish Council and they would be dealt with accordingly. It was therefore agreed not to pursue this further at this time.
031109.06 PLANNING
a. NEW APPLICATIONS/APPEALS RECEIVED
0490/09 Listed Building Consent at 4 The Village, Holne – Replacement front door
There were no objections to this application providing that the door was finished so that it is in- keeping with the adjoining properties.
b. DECISIONS
None to report.
031109.07 FINANCE
(i) The following payments were approved:
Cheque no 559 – £30.56 to the clerk (stamps, fuel etc)
Cheque no 560 - £25.40 - Expenses to Ross Gray to attend a meeting at TDC
Cheque no 561 - £20 to Holne Church Charity Trust – rent for playpark
Cheque no 562 - £30 – Village Hall – hire of hall
Cheque no 563 - £28.75 – Peter Owen – hedge trimming
Cheque no 564 - £10.40 - Expenses to Ru Roberts to attend a meeting at TDC
Cllr Arrowsmith observed that hedge cutting should be undertaken after January. Cllr Powell reminded members that the decision to trim the hedges followed the advice of the tree warden.
(ii) Budgets proposals for 2010/2011:
The clerk outlined the Finance Committee’s proposals for 2010/2011 stressing that the committee were keen not to increase the precept for next year. After discussion and clarification about how the committee arrived at the figures, it was agreed that the precept would remain static at £5,280. Within those discussions it was agreed that the Parish Council would grant £400 to the Church for the maintenance of the Churchyard.
031109.08 BT – ADOPT A KIOSK
Further to discussions in October’s meeting which followed BT’s invitation to ‘adopt a telephone kiosk’, it was agreed that the Parish Council would decline their offer and would advise the DNPA accordingly.
031109.09 HOLNE WEBSITE
Cllr Arrowsmith is in the process of obtaining Dreamweaver to enable the clerk to manage the content of the website. He suggested that once up and running, the site needs some good digital photos of local events and appealed to members and parishioners to send them to the clerk.
031109.10 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Cllr Ross reported that having spoken to Mike Cunniam, who had run the scheme for a number of years on behalf of the parish, she concluded that there was a lot of work involved which would preclude the Parish Council from taking the scheme on.
031109.11 MAINTENANCE OF BENCHES
The clerk reported that she was still trying to establish ownership of the benches at Bearwood and Greendown. In the meantime, Cllr Arrowsmith reported that he intends to do some urgent remedial work to ensure the bench at Beardown is safe to use.
031109.12 PLAYPARK REPORT
(i) The clerk reported that she had received correspondence from Alex Whish, SHDC, asking the Parish Council to trim the hedges around the swings. Members confirmed that this was the responsibility of SHDC.
(ii) The clerk reported that she had obtained some information from the insurers, Community First, advising that if the responsibility of insuring playpark does become the responsibility of the Parish Council , additional playground liability will need to be taken out. The equipment itself would also need to insured separately. The details were passed to Cllr Powell.
(iii) Cllr Powell reported that four different play area companies are now preparing designs and quotes at no obligation and she is awaiting their return.
Cllr Powell proposed that it might be a good idea to inform the parish of SHDC’s proposal to offload the play area management. A flyer could be circulated at the same time as the affordable housing flyer. This was supported by members. Cllr Powell agreed to organise.
031109.13 HOLNE AND SCORITON HOUSING GROUP REPORT
Cllr Ross reported that she had attended the opening of the affordable housing in Brayford with Cllr Jones and Gill Gray. A key point which she took from the visit was that they had been very robust about getting what they wanted. The houses were well-designed and the people residing in them most pleasant. A meeting has been arranged with South Devon Rural on 18th November .
The flyer had been amended by Cllr Powell and was now ready to photocopy as agreed in the October’s meeting. The flyers would be divided up between each member and distributed after December’s meeting. Clerk to organise.
Cllr Owen reported that the Housing Group had received a contribution of funding from Buckfastleigh West Parish Council £100. It was agreed that the clerk would write a letter of thanks.
031109.14 POTHOLES AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE REPORTS AND OTHER HIGHWAYS ISSUES
It was agreed to wait until current work had been completed before observations were made.
031109.15 CLERK’S OR COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS ON MATTERS AUTHORISED BY THE COUNCIL AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS NOT OTHERWISE ON THIS AGENDA
Parish Cluster Meeting – this had already been covered in Cllr Jones’ report in the Open Forum.
031109.16 CHAIRMAN’S URGENT BUSINESS FOR ACTION BY THE CLERK IF COVERED BY DELEGATED POWERS OR FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA OF THE NEXT MEETING
(i) The clerk reported that PCSO Gareth Jones has asked the Parish Council to assist with the purchase of a sign connected with the farm watch scheme. After discussion, it was agreed that whilst it is a good idea in principle, such a scheme only really works if the farmers’ mobile telephone numbers are used. It was felt by members that the signs were unnecessary and the proposal to help fund the signs was declined.
(ii) It has been noted that a summerhouse at Darryn Bank, Holne has been erected. The clerk was asked to confirm with the DNPA whether planning permission was required.
(iii) Christmas tree – the clerk was asked to contact Justin and Steve at The Church House Inn about whether they would be able to make a contribution to the purchase and lighting of this year’s Christmas tree.
031109.17 CORRESPONDENCE
The clerk notified councillors of relevant correspondence received during the month not otherwise dealt with above, including:
(i) South West Lifelong Learning Network – letter of thanks and report.
(ii) Local Community Action Team – Mel Stride, Prospective Conservative MP for Central Devon
(iii) DNPA Forum – date of next meeting 27th November
(iv) DAPC AGM 2009 – Main points – placed in circulation folder for information.
(v) Totnes and Dartmouth Ring & Ride service – request for funding.
(vi) Letter from SHDC re delegated services. More information being forwarded soon.
031109.18 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was confirmed that the date of the next meeting will be Tuesday 1st December 2009 at 8.00pm in Holne Village Hall.
Matters not requiring discussion and placed into the folder for circulation and perusal by Councillors included:
(Please ensure that you have informed the Clerk if any need attention at the next Parish Council meeting).
(i) Open Door – newsletter for Tor Homes residents
(ii) Empowering Communities in Devon – Conference report
(iii) Vanguard Review of Development Management Service
(iv) SHDC - Minutes of the Executive Meeting – 8th October
(v) SHDC - Agenda and Minutes of the Council – 29th October
(vi) Aspirant Foundation Trust Consultation
The meeting closed at 9.50pm.
Cllr Belinda Owen Suzanna Hughes
Vice Chairman Clerk
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