Holne Parish Council
Draft Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting
on 28th April 2010
in Holne Village Hall at 7.30pm
IN ATTENDANCE: 16 members of the public including councillors and guest speaker.
APM280410.01 APOLOGIES
- Cllr Copus
- Cllr Arden
- Yvonne Fairman
- Rev’d Corynne Cooper
APM280410.02 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 2009
The minutes of the meeting held on 29th April 2009 were approved by all present and duly signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
APM280410.03 GUEST SPEAKERS
The Chairman welcomed and introduced Liam Reading (SHDC) and Sue Hitchcock (Devon Rural Housing Partnership) as the guest speakers:
Liam Reading, SHDC
Gave a general overview about how SHDC go about delivering Affordable Housing.
What is it? – can be social rented housing, intermediate housing or low-cost home ownership.
The first step in the process is to identify a need, secure land and identify exception sites. The second step is to identify a partner – a Housing Association or a registered social landlord. The next ingredient is to source funding either from Housing Associations through loan finance or through a community government grant. Financing is more difficult at the moment and will be further reduced over the forthcoming years. The next step is planning. Design and quality has improved dramatically, fitting local circumstances more appropriately. The final stage is construction – a scheme for Holne would typically take 12-18 months. The housing will then need to be allocated. Often small rural schemes are delivered by way of an exception site whereby 100% will be for local people.
- How many projects have you been involved in, in South Hams and Dartmoor National Park?
- Several. Not aware of any in DNPA.
- Are you aware of any situations generally where schemes were unable to proceed because of local objection or no site?
- Yes, frequently. The planning authority will take the decision – may also be because of a lack
of funding.
- Could you clarify whether schemes can go ahead without external funding?
- Social, low cost housing generates low rent and is therefore more difficult to fund. Other tenures, where the income may be higher and the funding gap therefore smaller is more feasible.
- Pre-empted severe cutbacks after the election – will Affordable Housing be effected?
- Yes, funding will be reduced by up to 50% capital funding.
- Does SHDC still have funding from the sale of council houses?
- Probably yes.
- Why do projects fail in small rural areas?
A. Usually they don’t proceed early on. It might be on planning grounds (site not suitable), or
a lack of will in the community?
Q. Even if there is a lack of will, if there is a defining need, is it likely to go through?
A. In East Portlemouth, whilst there was support, there was a lot of objection yet the scheme still
went through. In South Hams there is a really strong need for affordable housing due to
property prices and the number of second homes.
Sue Hitchcock - Rural Housing Enabler, Devon Housing Rural Partnership
Works for the Devon Housing Rural Partnership and its partners: Local Authorities, DCC, DNPA, Community Council of Devon, Registered Social Landlords (15). Her role enables her to work independently with communities.
The team:
Holne and Scoriton Housing Group was tasked with finding a way to meet local housing need. The team also includes SHDC, DNPA and RHE. Together there has been a sustained commitment to try and resolve the issues of affordable housing and problem solving finding the best way forward for the communities.
Achievements:
- Housing Needs Survey 2008 identified a need for 24 affordable homes.
- Fed back the results to the communities in March 2008
- Took site suggestions from the report and also considered any alternatives
- Sites were viewed by ‘the team’, issues were considered, i.e. possibilities, restrictions, potential etc.
- Feedback to the community – shared information, feedback taken, allay perceptions, discussed why decisions were made and looked at potential design.
- Talked to landowners of potential, preferred sites.
- Made sure that potential applicants i.e. responders to the survey and others were aware of having to register with SHDC and Parish Clerk.
- Thinking through the ways forward…
- drive is about localism, perpetuity for communities
- consider all options available to deliver including community land trust, developers or other bodies, i.e. affordable housing UK, Barley Manor, Housing Association Partner, understanding the tenure and allocation process and new models of delivery.
- Have any sites been identified?
- Yes, we are looking at them now.
- The District Council deals with allocation, does the Parish Council have any say in who is allocated a house?
- There is a system for allocation. They will be advertised through the Choice Based Letting
System. Needs to be done in a fair and transparent way.
APM280410.04 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Cllr Simpson reported as follows:
‘Welcome to everyone. It has been a busy year and we have managed to hold all our meetings, despite the snows earlier this winter. Many thanks to Suzanna’s Dad who so kindly drove her here in his 4 wheel drive when the roads got too bad for ordinary cars.
On the vexed subject of roads and potholes, we have had continual correspondence with Highways about the state of our roads. Shoddy workmanship, the general deterioration after a poor winter, lack of an experienced and competent Lengthsman, and a relief Lengthsman who doesn’t wear wellie boots, even when working on flooded roads, have not helped the situation. The top road from Holne Chase turn off up to the cattle grid is to be patched and surface dressed very soon. You will see that grit bins have finally been popping up around the Parish.
We have been commenting on the Local Government Review by the Boundary Commission. As you know they have finally decided, after a year, that Exeter should become a Unitary Authority, which few seem happy about. Colin Jones, our District Councillor, I’m sure will update us in his report.
Our Playpark Working Group have been working hard on ideas to improve the park for everyone in the village, then came the bombshell-SHDC announced the probable withdrawal of funding to support the play area. Cllr Powell will give her report later.
The Housing Group has continued their work to secure affordable housing for Holne and Scoriton, Gill Gray will update you in her report.
Other topics on our agenda have included dog fouling, renovation of benches, leat maintenance, planning applications and hedgerows.
I would like to thank Keith Evans, who has now stood down, for auditing the accounts over the last few years. My thanks also go to our Councillors for their continual support and especially to our Clerk, Suzanna, who works so hard on our behalf and makes my job so much easier. Finally, our thanks and farewell to Fleur Powell, who is standing down for family reasons. Good luck with the very imminent baby. We are delighted that she will continue on our Playpark Working Group.’
APM280410.05 FINANCIAL REPORT
The clerk presented the financial position of the council:
Balances held March 2010
Current Account £ 766
Savings Account £ 3,540
Total £ 4,306
Balances held at:
March 2009 £3,162
,, 2008 £2,152
,, 2007 £?
,, 2006 £ 884
,, 2005 £1,082
Grants Donated 2009/10
St Mary’s Church £ 450
Parish Link £ 60
_____
£ 510
Major Sources of Income 2009/10
Precept £5,200
The Parish Council has managed its finances prudently this year ending the financial year with an overall balance of £4,306 compared with £3,162 last year and £2,152 in 2008. There is nothing specific that accounts for this but there is a pattern forming which shows that for the last couple of years the Parish Council has been saving around £1,000 of the money precepted each year. This means that, as advised by the auditor, the Parish Council has built up a small contingency fund should anything unexpected happen.
The Parish Council has no other sources of income other than the precept and interest from savings is minimal at less than £2 compared with £46 last year. However, donations of £200 have been received for the Affordable Housing Group - £100 each from our District Councillor’s Community Fund and Buckfastleigh West Parish Council. This is added to the £250 received last year from the Pennon Group of which only £192 has been spent. This therefore leaves £258 in the kitty.
The Parish Council has made two grants this year – a grant of £450 to St Mary’s Church and a contribution of £60 to the Parish Link.
The Parish Council continues with its annual repayments of £1,148.78 to the Public Works Loan Board with the amount outstanding currently at around £5,574. The Parish Council did make a request to the Village Hall Management Committee asking for help in funding the loan, however, the Charity Deed which the VHMC must adhere to prevents financial assistance in this way.
Following the clerk’s report, members of the public asked about the loan and more specifically whether the Village Hall Management Committee could help with its repayment. It was agreed that the Parish Council would investigate this further as an option.
APM280410.06 REPORTS FROM PARISH ORGANISATIONS
Cllr Colin Jones – South Hams District Council
Another eventful year – with more changes to come. The ‘highlights’ were:
- Local Government Review in Devon
Bizarre twists and turns from both the Boundary Committee (which ignored most people’s views – and ignored the lack of evidence to support the change) and the Government (which defied all logic in deciding on a Unitary Exeter) with the result that the whole process became a shameful, wasteful farce and pending the coming General Election we still don’t know what the final outcome of all this will be.
- Streamlining and Shared Services
This continues apace at both West Devon and South Hams in order to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale – but how far can it go and how sustainable can it be in the longer term? But it certainly seems to be producing some cost savings and it’s a much better idea than a wholesale and highly expensive restructuring of local government in Devon.
- Budgetary pressures
This is the ticking time-bomb as the government (and any government) has made it clear that things will get much worse for public sector finances and local government seems set to take a huge hit in 2011/12. SHDC is already looking to offload some services and costs on to parish councils (pretty unfairly in my view – and I’m fighting them) to save money on its own budget. But that doesn’t help anyone else – especially parish councils and the residents who will still have to foot the bills, if services – especially in rural areas – are to continue. There will be trouble ahead – but even in tough times the SHDC approach needs to be fair and equitable to ensure that rural parishes (which already loses out badly to the towns in terms of services received and resources allocated) are not further discriminated against. A few barricades may need to be manned.
PCSO Gareth Jones - Police Report from 1st December 2009 – 28th April 2010
During this period there were 16 incidents within the Holne area. The monthly total can be broken down as follows:
Traffic related incidents |
5 |
Abandon vehicles x 4, vehicle obstruction x 2 |
Miscellaneous |
7 |
Child playing with phone x 4, injured foul x 1, lost kayaks x 2 |
Assault |
0 |
|
Criminal damage |
0 |
|
Burglary |
0 |
|
Domestic incidents |
0 |
|
Theft |
1 |
River Dart Country Park |
Nuisance youths |
0 |
|
Public Order |
0 |
|
Concern for welfare |
2 |
Missing persons |
Public safety |
1 |
Light aircraft crash |
There were a total of 509 crimes reported in the Chudleigh section and 191 in the Ashburton section of which 3 were in the Holne area.
The Holne crime figures can be broken down as follow:
- Conviction for possession of cannabis
- Theft from a motor vehicle, purse/wallet and bags stolen
- Theft – River Dart Country Park
During the forthcoming months we normally have a rise in thefts from motor vehicles. This normally occurs when vehicles are parked in remote locations and left without any supervision for long periods of time. Can I therefore ask that you are extra vigilant when driving across the moor and report anything you may find suspicious.
Judy Henderson, Church of St Mary the Virgin
Rev Corynne Cooper and the Church Wardens would like to apologise to the Parish Council that none of them could be present tonight, but have submitted this report in their absence.
Worship and Christian witness has continued on a regular basis at the church throughout the year. Set at the heart of the community, the church is there for the whole community to use and enjoy and is open during the day throughout the year. Everyone is welcome.
We have continued to maintain the church during the past year. Conservation work on the Medieval Rood Screen has now been completed. This work, carried out by Eddie Sinclair and Hugh Harrison, has extended over a four year period and was funded by a legacy, generous grants from several funding bodies and money raised locally. The screen is a rare and beautiful relic of the medieval period and is now being recognized nationally. It is something which Holne should be justly proud.
During last summer, the ceiling of the south aisle was restored, repairing damage caused by a squirrel and reinstating previous sub-standard repairs with lath and plaster. The organ is currently undergoing a major clean and restoration and in early May, a team from WallWalkers will be abseiling down the tower to check the condition of the rendering and pointing.
The PCC is currently exploring ways of improving the church heating systems, providing more heat for hopefully less money, and are discussing ways of reducing draughts.
The Vicar, Church Wardens and PCC would like to thank the Parish Council for their generous grant which has assisted with the maintenance of the new church yard. The mowing of this area is currently being undertaken by Simon Birbeck.
Congregations have remained roughly the same, with increased attendance at major festivals. We continue to hold our very successful week-long workshop for children at the beginning of August, which is always popular and well supported, as is the annual children’s Crib Service on Christmas Eve.
Jon Stones, DNPA Ranger
Apologised for not being in the parish for the last 6 weeks – had suffered an accident and was not working whilst recovering. Reported that the DNPA was going through a lot of internal change. The Development Control department is being restructured and Ranger Review will be coming to an end in July. 1 Ranger has retired and has not been replaced. Holne parish will continue to have a Ranger. DNPA are currently writing a management plan for Holne Moor and have asked that a questionnaire be completed. 85% of people are happy with the National Parks. The cost of running a National Park is 93p per person over the country. Dartmoor’s annual budget is £5.7 million. A contractor is due to start work on the Cumberstone bridleway. Looking at crime, Holne Moor is notorious for being targeted. In particular the quarry car park, the car park at Vennford, Saddle Bridge and Spitchwick.
- Is there a cut-off for allowing canoeists on the river?
- The DNPA are in the process of writing a recreation strategy. There is an agreement on the Dart from Dartmeet to Holne Bridge which is renewed annually. The BCU are claiming access to rivers at any time – however the agreement between the riparian owners and Dart Fisheries Association is that canoeing is allowed between 1st October and 31st March. There has been a slight extension recently by 2 weeks because of fish not coming quite as high.
- What is the timescale for the management plan for Holne Moor?
- This year, data will be collected and this will start to be collated in the Autumn. No question about the vegetation on Holne Moor. Under HLS, vegetation is taken out of DNPA’s hands. Holne Moor is identified as a PAL – looking therefore for a reduction of bracken and gorse.
Cllr Ross commented that she was impressed with the work that has been done on Birches Way and commends the Park. Jon Stones confirmed that the same contractor will be Cumberstone.
Q. There is an assumption that consultation will take place with the Commoners but what
about the Parish? Jon replied that he could let the Park know that the Parish would like to be
consulted.
Playpark
‘The Playpark Working Group (PWG) began this last year by looking to improve facilities in the Playpark for the whole community. The intention is to provide a more inviting public space to include such things as picnic tables, better access and other possibilities. Initial consultation has been started with request for parishioners’ comments on notices posted in the Village Hall and shop and by generally spreading the word.
Unfortunately, this work has been put on hold as the Parish Council has been informed by SHDC that funding cuts are to be made. The PWG is now dealing with this issue in order to secure the future of Playpark.
SHDC gave HP very short notice that they would be required to contribute £100 towards the maintenance, insurance and inspection costs of the Playpark Play Area for the current financial year (2010-2011) or it would withdraw these services entirely.
Due to the logistical and possible legal implications of not having these services provided by SHD, HPC decided to agree to the contribution of £100 for the current financial year with a view to trying to arrange a cost effective and manageable solution to manage Playpark within the next year.
It is SHDC’s intention to withdraw all funding of maintenance, insurance and inspection of the Playpark in the year beginning April 2011. As such the responsibility of these services will need to be paid for by someone if the play area, and indeed, play field are to remain as public community facilities in the village.
The main current objective of the PWG is to fin a way of funding the essential maintenance, inspection and insurances without the burden being passed on to the parishioners through their Council Tax.
Until now, SHDC has viewed its maintenance, insurance and inspection service as a ‘favour’ to parishes. Due to the current financial constraints, this service at local level to local people is no longer considered viable.
There are approximately 65 play areas owned by SHD, mostly in larger villages and towns and 40 play areas owned by other people (as Holne’s is). Most of these are in rural locations. SHDC’s new policy from 2011 will continue to pay for the services to play area sites that it owns, but not to those it doesn’t, like Holne.
The Playpark Working Group believes that this new system is in its view unfair on small rural parishes, favouring larger settlements.
HPC has contacted the other 39 rural parishes in a similar situation to see what their response is to the situation. While some have responded to HPC, most were unclear as to how to proceed at this time.
The PWG is now looking at the possibilities of forming a new trust or body to management to manage Playpark or the possibility of joining up with an established non-statutory body within the village, such as the HCCT or the VHMC. This would mean a greater possibility of funding opportunities for the maintenance and inspection of the Play Area and for any future improvements. The PWG has recently had a very positive meetings with representatives of the HCCT to explore possibilities for the future management of Playpark – we will be meeting again in due course.
If anyone has any suggestions as to how Playpark might be managed or funded, or if anyone would like to help be involved in setting up a new trust or body to secure the future of Playpark for our whole community, please contact one of the Playpark Working Group or the Parish Council Clerk.
Ross Gray – Tree Warden
1. ‘Looking around the village, a concern I have is young conifers, Leylandii and the like, planted as hedges and screens. These may grow rapidly and become a problem to their owners and neighbours if not topped off at the appropriate time. Please do not let them grow over tall, then have to cut off thick bushy tops with fat trunks that will never again look good and be open to disease. Much better to take a good look in advance, decide what is the maximum desirable height for your tree or hedge and pinch out the leaders about one foot below the desired height and keep them trimmed each year from then on.
2. Many trees were damaged by the snow this winter. I have tried to help where people needed advice or could not cope themselves. There were branches broken off or dangling dangerously in the old and new churchyards. I performed tree surgery on the younger Yew and Atlantic Cedar there as emergency action was needed.
- Holne Moor – You may recall that I have reported to previous Annual Parish Meetings on the establishment and progress of an experiment to observe two hectares of scrub growth next to the Orchard of Thorns. It is with great sadness that I have to report that one of the three experimental moorland scrub plots by the Sandy Way was burnt down on 15 March this year. Subplots 1A, B and C totaled 0.76 hectares (about 1.8 acres) and can be seen from the road into the village by Tumbly. They had an easterly aspect, were the most sheltered with perhaps the thickest soils and hence the most advanced growth of all the plots. They contained a matrix of Western Gorse with a few large old ‘grandmother’ European Gorse bushes and a thick sprinkling of well established Rowans with occasional Hawthorns and Alder Buckthorn. Whether there were seedling Holly, Birch and Oak or whatever would have become apparent over the intended 30+ years life of this experiment. You will see from the official DNPA and Holne Commoners Association map which I have brought that the plots are called ‘Protected Areas of Scrub Regeneration’, They are protected, not by fences, but by firebreaks all around to prevent them being burnt. This is so that we can all observe in a scientific experiment whether the gorse and trees will survive and thrive, or be broken down by the weather and devoured by the grazing animals or whatever, over a long period of time. DNPA and I have monitored and recorded the plots sine 2002. Last December I remarked all plots with the fluorescent tape. I was not called out as usual to help swailing on Holne Moor on Friday 12 and Monday 15 March. However, on that Friday I observed that the marker tape had been removed from Plots 1 and 2. I personally reported to the Chairman of Holne Commoners Association that the firebreaks round the experimental plots needed to be cut as a matter of urgency. Then this tragedy occurred on the following Monday. However, it appears that the burning of Plot 1 was not an accident but a deliberate act on the part of some Holne Commoners. Having put in hundreds of hours to this project over the years, perhaps you can imagine how devastated I feel by this irresponsible act. Our partners DNPA and Natural England have been informed of the facts as I know them.
Gill Gray - Holne & Scoriton Local Housing Group
- The Local Housing Group was set up by Holne Parish Council in April 2005 following a Housing Needs Survey for Holne which was carried out by the Devon Rural Housing Enabler in November 2004 which had demonstrated that there was a definable need for affordable housing for local people. Because of the proximity of Scoriton and the close community relationship between the two parishes it was agreed to include West Buckfastleigh parish in our work.
- The members of our group are: Gill Simpson, Paul Arrowsmith, Belinda Owen and Liz Ross (all Holne Parish Councillors) and Sue Colwill representing West Buckfastleigh Parish Council. Other members of the group who have been co-opted are: Colin Jones (our district councillor), Mike Bonney and Gill Gray.
- A second Housing Needs Survey was undertaken in the autumn of 2007 which again proved the need for housing for local people. Since then we have been indebted to both the Devon Rural Housing Enabler, Sue Hitchcock, and the Dartmoor National Park Authority through its officers Phil Markham and Chris France and the District Council’s officers who have guided us through the intricacies of achieving our aims.
- All along, we have attempted to keep the community informed of what we have been doing. Besides using the Link, in August last year our group had stands at both the Holne Fete and the Scoriton Flower Show with lots of interest and a number of local people wanting to put their names down on the Housing List.
- Later on in the month we held a ‘drop in’ session in Holne Village Hall to which over 35 people attended. We were fortunate to have in attendance, Chris France and Phil Markham, Sue Hitchcock and Phil Vogel from the Land in Hand Trust (a community land trust). This event enabled people from both parishes to come along and ask questions and to voice their concerns about our plans. The Mid Devon Advertiser reported very positively in the following week’s edition.
- Much of the work during this last year has been concerning sites in both parishes. We had previously written to all known landowners in both parishes and had identified various sites which might be suitable. All of these sites were inspected by Phil Markham from DNPA who also took advice from DCC Highways. We have now identified two sites, one in Holne and one in Scoriton which the DNPA has considered and these will be pursued in due course. In November 2009 we produced a newsletter and a map showing the locations of the sites in Holne that were considered which was mail dropped to every household in the parish which explained how we had arrived at the Little Bewden site next to the Playpark field.
- During the year we have had meetings with several Housing Associations to learn more about how they operate and especially the allocation of the houses which has been, and still is, our greatest concern. We also had an in depth meeting with Phil Vogel from the Land in Hand Trust based in Chudleigh which some of the group felt would give us greater control of the allocation of our houses.
- In late October three of us attended the opening of a small housing development in Brayford, North Devon. This event was well worth the journey there and the time spent in talking to the local parish councillors, the housing association and some of the tenants. To a large extent it did allay our fears on allocation issues as all the tenants were local people. Since then we have learnt more about the Section 106 Agreement which sets out the conditions which the DNPA would expect allocations of the houses to prospective tenants to be decided upon.
- We have met again with the owner of Little Bewden and she has given us her assurances that she is still willing to part with the land needed to build six houses – she has also indicated that she would like to see community composting and allotments on this land and we are looking into this.
- So where are we now? We believe we have done all that is needed to satisfy ourselves that over the five years we have been in being that we have properly researched the issue of achieving affordable homes for local people and are now ready to go forward to the final stage of achieving our aims to do just that. Last evening we met separately with representatives of the Hastoe Housing Association and the South Devon Rural Housing Association to gauge how they would deliver the houses on our behalf. We believe both would do the job admirably and would involve the Parish Council in its work. The Parish Council will be deciding shortly which of the two it will work with.
Cllr Trevor Pennington – Devon County Council
- I am currently vice-chairman of Devon County Council and also serve on the Development Management Committee, the Audit Committee and the School Transport Appeals Committee. I serve 11 parishes.
- Devon County Council has currently gone to judicial court review with its appeal to prevent the government decision to remove Exeter from Devon County Council and create a unitary Exeter as we feel that it would be uneconomic and not in Devon’s best interest.
- I am pleased to see that the new Dartington Primary School is now open – it is a model school for which I fought very hard at the County Council over the last five years to get in finally into our capital programme.
- The County Council tax for 2010/11 was the lowest increase for 30 years – an increase if 1.98% on a Band D property i.e. £21.89 (from £1,094 to £1,116). Total net budget increase was £9.9 million from £525 million to approximately £539 million.
- Spending on highway maintenance = £62.8million, an increase of £3.9 million now bolstered by a further £3.6 million by a recent government allocation.
- A further grant of £20,000 to CAB and £250,000 on flood prevention.
- During February and March 47,000 potholes were identified and repaired and DCC Highway Superintendents are carrying out inspections over the next 6 months and will make resulting orders for repair of safety defects. Poor state of the roads has been under funded for the last 20 years.
Nick Cape, South Hams CVS
Reported that he is trying to get out to the rural parishes to inform them of what SHCVS do. His role is to help local groups to get things done. E.g. If a group is being set up, they will be able to help with how it should constitute itself etc. If they do not know they can refer to one of the 600 groups which the CVS are involve with.
APM280410.07 PUBLIC FORUM
- A question was asked about whether a Beating of the Bounds should be organised. Cllr Owen responded that this is something which is usually organised by the Commoners. Jon Stones added that the Commoners have requested this of the DNPA.
- Is the ‘No dogs’ sign in Playpark an official sign? The Chairman responded that this was a decision of the Parish Council to deter people from walking their dogs there. It was confirmed, however, that there was no bylaw and it was therefore not enforceable.
- It was noted that there were grit bins at Gallant Le Bower and Hembury Woods but there was no bin on the road to the cattle grid or at the bottom of the road by Bearwood. This was noted and the clerk would advise DCC Highways that additional bins (preferably green) were required in these locations.
APM280410.08 CLOSE
The meeting closed at 9.25pm and was followed by tea and coffee.
………………………………………………….. ................................................................
Cllr Gill Simpson Suzanna Hughes
Chairman Clerk
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