Present: Cllrs Hockings, Mills, Preston-Day, Hoddinott, Fearn, Stubbings, E Janes, S Jane, Christiansen and Mason.
Apologies: Cllr Monaghan and D Cllr Steer.
Clerk: Mrs D Crann.
In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman took the Chair. He commenced by welcoming everyone. The minutes of the previous meeting were considered, agreed and then signed by the Chairman as a true record.
Matters Arising:
1) Flooding in Harbertonford. Still ongoing.
2) Flooding in Harberton. Still ongoing.
3) Vehicles in a field near Hazard Cottage, Harberton. Still ongoing.
4) Ford area, Harbereton, Still ongoing.
5) Bus shelter in Harbertonford. Cllr S Jane reported that since he had spoken to the youngsters, giving them responsibility to keep the shelter tidy, things had improved greatly and it needed sweeping only twice a week now.
6) Cllr Fearn reported on the meeting he and Cllr Hockings had recently attended at South Brent. This was to explain four options open to SHDC with the reorganisation which is soon to take place throughout the country. SHDC appear to favour Option 2 with a "Leader and Cabinet". The public will, however, be able to influence the final decision on which option is to be chosen, so the public are urged to contact SHDC with their opinion.
7) Community Action Awards. Cllr S Jane had completed the form and returned it as required.
8) Re accident at Stancombe corner. The Clerk will contact Jim Morrison at DCC Highways.
Planning:
Parish Council Recommendations – Decisions at the meeting:
9/23/0329/01/F Amendment of plans for conversion of store to dwelling at Blacklands Farm, Moreleigh Road, Harbertonford. No objections in principle. Proposed by Cllr E Janes, seconded: Cllr Preston-Day. All in favour.
Work to a tree in Conservation Area, Harberton House, Harberton. No objections in principle. Proposed by Cllr Mills, seconded by Cllr Fearn. All in favour.
Decision between meetings:
9/23/0104/01/BT 15m antennae and associated equipment (for mobile phones) at Westcombe Farm, Dartington. No objections. Prior permission for this is not officially required as it is within the limits allowed.
Correspondence:
1) Letter from SW Water notifying the Parish Council that it has received a Charter Mark status from the government. Cllr Hoddinott reported that he had had a burst water main in one of his fields for the past six months and although he had reported it more that once, it had not yet been repaired, thus causing quite a pond.
2) A letter had been received from Mrs Franklin of Diptford, with regard to the possibility of this Parish joining the P3 Partnership for parish paths. The Clerk will respond that some two years ago we did consider joining, but finally declined as there had not been enough interest or enthusiasm from the parishioners.
3) A letter had been received from Mr R L Abraham of Totnes, notifying us that he had been appointed Volunteer Development Worker for SHDC on behalf of AGILE (Devon Advisory Group for Later Life). The Parish Council take note of this appointment and keep it on file for future reference.
4) Notice received of S Hams Police Liaison Meeting at Modbury Memorial Hall on 2/4/01 at 7.30pm.
5) SHDC Play schemes in S Hams Summer 2001. Details to be passed on to Jan Culf. The Parish Council agreed to pay any room hire charges in the Parish that might be needed is the scheme is feasible.
6) SHDC Parking Charges 2001/2. Details shown to the meeting.
7) SHDC. Parish Cluster Meetings. Details shown to the meeting.
8) DCC. Council Tax 2001/2. Band D increased by 7.46%.
9) DCC. Local Government Executive Arrangements. Consultation document shown to the meeting. This outlines proposals similar to District Council proposals. After discussions, it was unanimously agreed to respond with "Leader and Cabinet" as the chosen option.
10) DCC. Local Transport Plan 2001/6. Details received from DCC’s Peter Hookham re proposals for a pedestrian crossing across A381 by the bus shelter in Harbertonford, together with an extension to double yellow line around the corner to Woodcourt Road. After discussion it was agreed that the Annual Parish Meeting should be held at the next meeting on 10 April and that Peter Hookham be invited to speak. All in favour.
11) Internet Access Points. A letter received from S Hams Housing enquiring if there were any public Internet Access Points in the villages that might be available for the use of their tenants when they launch their new website. At present, there appear to be none available.
12) DAPC. Various items received: notification of various training days in 2001, Stakeholder Pensions, notices for foot and mouth disease and Village Green magazine.
13) New Register of Electors shown to the meeting. To be displayed in both churches.
14) DCC Consumer Watch Scheme. Details shown to the meeting.
15) SHDC. School for Social Entrepreneurs. Details shown to the meeting.
16) Totnes Caring. Notice to be displayed.
17) SHDC. Mobile Phones and Base Stations. Leaflets shown to the meeting.
18) SHDC. St John Ambulance. Letter read to the meeting seeking new members. Details to be published in the Parish News.
19) DCC and SHDC. Notices and information re foot and mouth outbreak shown to the meeting and to be displayed on noticeboard.
20) Invoice for grass-cutting at Harbertonford Playground received from Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Ltd as per estimate, £71.42 plus VAT (Total £83.92) to be paid. Proposed by Cllr E Janes, seconded by Cllr S Jane. All in favour.
21) Dept of Environment, Transport and the Regions. Local Government Act 2000 Model Code of Conduct for Members. Consultation paper shown to the meeting.
22) SHDC. Agenda and Minutes shown to the meeting.
23) Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group. Details shown to the meeting.
24) S Hams Rural Transport Forum. Next meeting at Harbour House, Kingsbridge on 23/5/01 at 7.30pm.
25) Copy of a report of a meeting of Governors of Dartington Primary School on 23/1/01 had been received and was shown to the meeting.
26) SHDC. A letter from Alan Robinson, Chief Planning Officer, had been received notifying us of new staff changes, ie: the three officers responsible for our West Area are now as follows – Steve Bottomley, Kati Owen and Gaille West.
27) A letter had been received form Mr Hyne of Moreleigh Road, Harbertonford, regarding a planning matter, without application, at 1 Moreleigh Road. Copy letters were also handed to the Clerk from Mr Rothwell and Mr Willis, both of Harbertonford, on the same subject. As D Cllr Steer was away on holiday, the Clerk will write to SHDC planners and report back.
Annual Grants:
Applications had been received as follows:
1) Totnes and Dartmouth Ring and Ride. It was proposed by Cllr Hoddinott, seconded by Cllr Christiansen to give no grant this year as it formed competition with the Harbourne Shuttle. All in favour.
2) WRVS had sent in a grant application for the first time. It was proposed by Cllr Hoddinott, seconded by Cllr Mills to give no grant. All in favour.
3) CAB had applied for a grant as usual and although the District Office had now moved from Kingsbridge to Dartmouth, it was proposed by Cllr Mills, seconded by Cllr E Janes to give £100.00. All in favour.
4) A letter, supported by the latest accounts, has also been received from J Culf of Harberton Playing Fields Assn for a grant towards the cost of grass cutting. It was proposed by Cllr Fearn, seconded by Cllr Stubbings to give £200.00. All in favour.
Matters at the Discretion of the Chairman:
1) Cllr S Jane reported that a car had been parked for a long time on the church car park in Harbertonford. It was suggested that the Police be contacted, as the Parish Council has no powers to act on church property.
2) Cllr Fearn reported that the fire hydrant sign near Angle Cottages, Harberton, needed repairing again.
3) Cllr Hoddinott reported that the road drain near Meadow Close, Harberton, needed unblocking, since contractors had carried out work nearby.
4) Cllr Mills reported that the road near Tristford Farm and Manor Cottage, Harberton, was in need of attention.
5) Cllr Hockings reported that a Gidley Climb, Harberton, by the public footpath, there had been fly tipping.
6) The Clerk wished to express her thanks to Cllr Fearn for taking the minutes, printing them out and photocopying them for the previous meeting when she had been away. The meeting echoed these sentiments.
The Clerk also reported that last December she had overpaid herself by £14.01 but as soon as she discovered the error, she had repaid the sum with her personal cheque on 8 January 2001.
Cheques signed:
No 223 Mrs D Crann - £387.19
No 224 Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Ltd - £83.92
No 225 Harberton Playing Fields Assn - £200.00
No 226 CAB - £100.00
The meeting closed at 10.10pm. The next meeting will be the Annual Parish Meeting to be held at Harbertonford Primary School on 10 April 2001 at 7.30pm. Mr P Hookham will be invited as speaker.