Present: Cllrs Monaghan, Hockings, Steer, Mills, Preston-Day, Hoddinott, Stubbings, Mason, Janes, Jane, Christiansen and Fearn
Also present: Devon County Cllr Masters
Apologies: Clerk – Mrs Crann and Const Dyer of Devon & Cornwall Police
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm. He passed on apologies from the Police and gave a brief résumé of crimes in the Parish during the past month. These included a shed burglary, damage to a dwelling in Harbertonford, criminal damage to a vehicle and a drunk and disorderly after an accident (not a parishioner!). There were 30 calls for assistance from the public, 6 traffic offences and 6 cases of stray sheep.
The minutes of the last meeting were considered, agreed unanimously and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
Matters Arising:
1) Flooding in Harbertonford. The flood committee has been disbanded and the Parish Council is to monitor progress. The committee will advise the Parish Council of what is happening. Matters have improved lately, with Cllr Masters in discussions with Plymouth City Council about increasing their contribution to flood relief. PCC agreed to raise the extra funding and Torbay District Council followed suit. It is hoped that the scheme of improvements will start in 2002. An appraisal of requirements is already under way and this has been confirmed in writing to SHDC by the Environment Agency in writing.
The Chairman read out a letter from the Liberal Democrats in Totnes about a proposed visit by Devon County Cllr Greenslade (a Lib Dem councillor) to Harbertonford on 27/1. The Chairman expressed his concerns about politicisation of such visits. There was general approval for Cllr Monaghan’s comments that Cllr Greenslade should have come in his capacity as Leader of Devon County Council rather than as a Lib Dem. He had responded to the Lib Dems in Totnes accordingly.
2) Flooding in Harberton. Cllr Fearn presented correspondence from some residents of St Clements Terrace and nearby houses requesting that the Parish Council to confirm that the £10,000 allocated to flood relief in the village is spent before next winter sets in. There was discussion about the overall cost of some £40,000 – of which the £10,000 is only a part. Cllr Steer has spoken to Bill Lawrence of SHDC and he wants to try a more modest scheme which will make best use of any funding available.
3) Vehicles near Hazard Cottage, Harberton. Cllr Steer confirmed that a notice to quit was issued before Christmas and an enforcement notice will be issued to the landowner on 14/2, to be effective within three months.
4) Ford area, Harberton. Ongoing. There will be a site meeting soon with Dennis Cornish.
5) Bus shelter, Harbertonford. Cllr Jane has spoken to the young people who frequent the bus shelter. They have improved their behaviour and are leaving less rubbish.
6) Cllr Fearn reported that he had attended the Rural Transport Forum meeting at Ivybridge on 24/1. The most interesting item was the government’s intention of boosting rural transport with a grant to each Parish Council of £10,000 over three years. Details will be available soon.
7) Salt bin at Harbertonford Village Hall. No bins are currently available, but a bag of salt has been delivered to the Hall.
8) Fly tipping at Blind Lane, Harbertonford. Rubbish has been removed.
9) Crumbling steps at elderly people’s bungalows, Bow Road, Harbertonford. Repairs are being organised.
10) Reorganisation of SHDC. Cllr Steer advised that there will be consultation meetings with Parish Councils.
Correspondence:
1) SHDC Consultation on New Political Structures. There will be a Parish Cluster meeting at South Brent Village Hall on Wednesday 7/3 at 7.30pm. Cllrs Hockings and Fearn to attend.
2) Community Action Awards. Details shown to meeting and passed to Cllr Jane.
3) Totnes & District Older People Consultation Group meeting to be held on 25/1/01.
4) Tidy Britain Group. New campaign details shown to the meeting.
5) SHDC Arts Plan. Policy document shown to the meeting.
6) DCC Fostering Service. Article to be put in Parish news. Cllr Fearn to arrange.
7) SHDC Draft Consultation Document on South Hams Children’s Playground Strategy 2001-2005. Questionnaire given to Cllr Christiansen for completion and return.
8) Letter from Totnes Liberal Democrats. See details above.
9) Follow up of Parish Appraisal from DCC. Cllr Fearn to respond.
10) SHDC "Sounding Board" shown to the meeting. Too short a response time allowed.
11) SHDC Waste Reduction. Draft Strategy and Recycling Plan 2000-2005. Chairman to process and respond.
12) DCC. Working For You documents shown to the meeting.
13) SHDC. Town and Parish update shown to the meeting.
14) SHDC. "Open Door" shown to the meeting.
15) GLEAM newsletter shown to the meeting.
16) SHDC. Building at the mast site in Moreleigh Road. Request to be painted green.
17) SHDC Housing. Footpath at Bow Road. To be investigated and response advised to the Parish Council.
18) Draft Electoral Rolls shown to the meeting.
19) Letter from Julian Darling tabled.
Devon County and SH Councillor Owen Masters
arrived and the Chairman invited him to address the meeting. Cllr Masters said
that he and Cllr Steer would be exploring all available options to maximise the
use of funds allocated by county and district to remedy the problems with
flooding in Harberton. He said that he would continue to monitor developments in
Harbertonford.
Cllr Masters reported on Cllr Greenslade’s visit to Harbertonford and said
that they had met and that hopes for improvements in flood defence for 2002 were
restated.
He said that repiping has been delayed at the pink cottage had been delayed, but
would be done.
Matters at the Discretion of the Chairman:
1) Cllr Janes queried the situation regarding the water from fields at Riverdale and Stancombe Cross. SHDC had cleared the mud at the sides of the road, but not the middle, and this had caused an accident. The Clerk to report the situation.
2) Cllr Jane reported a blocked buddle hole past the mill on the Rolster Bridge road. The roadway is in need of attention due to subsidence.
3) Cllr Mason said that travellers are spending some nights near Marylands. There is a problem with waste disposal and the passing place is blocked.
4) Cllr Stubbings reported that there had been a lot of mud washed down from the fields below the reservoir on to Screws Lane and the buddle hole there had become blocked.
5) Cllr Hoddinott asked for a volunteer to take the key to the noticeboard in The Square at Harberton. Cllr Mills took on the task. Cllr Fearn to put a notice in the Parish News.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.10pm.