Present: Cllrs Hockings, Hoddinott, Mills, E Janes, Stubbings, Preston-Day, Mason, Fearn, Christiansen, S Jane and District Cllr Steer. Also, DCC Owen Masters
Apologies: Cllr Monaghan
Clerk: Mrs D Crann
Public: 3
The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. The minutes of the previous meeting were considered and after one amendment were agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
With the agreement of the Councillors, the planning was dealt with first as some of the applicants were attending the meeting.
Planning:
Parish Council Recommendations
Decisions at the meeting:
23/0990/01/LB) Foalesleigh, Harberton.
23/0991/0F ) Conversion of buildings to four units and the house to two dwellings and new garages. The Parish Council fully support both these plans as there are existing dwellings in the close vicinity and residential development will improve and retain these buildings in their original character, forming a sympathetic conversion in the countryside. Proposed by Cllr Mills, seconded by Cllr Stubbings. 9 in favour, 1 abstention.
23/0992/01/F Eastleigh, Harberton. Conversion of buildings to agricultural dwelling. The Parish Council fully support these plans as these buildings are well worth restoring and converting before they fall into disrepair and would be lost completely. These buildings would then form a much more convenient centre for farming activities than the existing farm building at Foalesleigh. Proposed by Cllr Fearn, seconded by Cllr Stubbings. 9 in favour, 1 abstention.
23/1066/01/F Springwell Cottage, Harberton. Single story extension. No objections in principle. Proposed by Cllr Mills, seconded by Cllr Fearn. 9 in favour, 1 abstention.
Decisions between meetings:
23/0975/01/CU Land at Preston Farm, Harberton. Change of use to Cricket Field. District Cllr Steer declared an interest and took no part in decision. No objections in principle.
23/1051/01/F The Old Forge, Harberton. Alteration to dwelling and extension. No objections in principle.
The public then left the meeting.
Matters Arising:
1) Flood prevention in Harbertonford. The Chairman gave a report on work being carried out in Harbertonford. This included DCC Bridge Division work under A381 road bridge to both strengthen the bridge and lower the riverbed prior to dredging of the river by Environment Agency next year (2002). This also included proposed work by SW Water to lower the water main across the Harbourne River just downstream of the bridge across the Ford area.
2) Flooding in Harberton. Still ongoing.
3) Vehicles in a field near Hazard Cottage, Harberton. An enforcement notice has now been served.
4) Ford area, Harberton. Still ongoing.
5) Re fence bordering the playground and Marl Park properties in Harbertonford. The Chairman had visited the sire and after some discussions it was decided that the Clerk should write to both the school and TOR Homes expressing concerns at the state of this fence which could prove a danger to children playing in the area.
6) Cockhills, Bow Road, Harbertonford. The Chairman had spoken to Mr Attewell of Joyners Nurseries at the main nursery at Cockwells, Higher Plymouth Road, Harberton, and had a friendly response. They will be making a commercial decision regarding this site in Bow Road in the near future and will contact us later.
7) Equipment cabin at NTL transmitter in Moreleigh Road had now been painted.
Correspondence:
1) DAPC. Various items received including Village Green magazine, notice of AGM at Exeter University 29/9/01, notification of clerk’s salary increase of 3.5% this year will be £47.00 (totalling £1,391.00pa). It was proposed to accept this by Cllr Stubbings, seconded by Cllr E Janes to be backdated to April 2001. All in favour. Other items included foot and mouth recovery information, Parish Plans (Rural White Paper), Royal Garden Parties – ballot was won by Totnes Town Council.
2) DPFA. AGM 12/7/01 at Blundell’s School, Tiverton and Annual Report 2000/01 now received.
3) TOR Homes – formerly South Hams Housing, notification of change of name.
4) Totnes Carers Meeting 11/7/01 at Totnes Hospital 6.30-8.30pm.
5) S Devon Carers Consortium Meeting 16/7/01 at Totnes Pavilion Leisure Centre.
6) SHDC award of contracts for refuse collection, street cleaning and public conveniences. Notification received of new arrangements starting 1/10/01, ie: both refuse collection and street cleaning contracts have been awarded to the in-house contractor Direct Services Organisation for 10 years.
7) DCC "Green for Go". More information shown to the meeting re the reopening of public rights of way following the foot and mouth outbreak.
8) S Devon Women’s Outreach Project - Domestic Violence. Details shown to the meeting.
9) SHDC. Guidance and Requirements for Sustainable Development. Details shown to the meeting.
10) SHDC. Agenda and Minutes shown to the meeting.
11) S Hams Crime Audit. Details to be completed and returned.
12) Voluntary Vine. Details shown to the meeting.
13) Letter received from Dartington Parish Council notifying us of change of Clerk to Mrs S Ready of Brixham and also enclosing a school governors’ report.
DCC Owen Masters then arrived at the meeting late. Both the Chairman and the Councillors congratulated him on his re-election. He was then invited to speak. Cllr Masters gave a short report as follows: Following the elections, there was now a hung council with no overall majority – 23 Conservatives, 21 Lib Dems and 10 others. During the first year there would be a Conservative Chairman and the second year a Lib Democrat Chairman and a cabinet system would be followed. There were a total of 21,500 employees and among the most important issues to be tackled were waste disposal, environment including flood prevention and road maintenance. Also high on the agenda were education and social services. Cllr Masters also informed the meeting that he had again been invited to oversee the forthcoming elections in Kosovo as Head of the Council of Europe Observation Election Mission, and would therefore be away for a few months, but he had made arrangements for colleagues to stand in for him and would be notifying the Clerk accordingly. After a short discussion, Cllr Masters then left and the meeting continued.
Matters at the discretion of the Chairman:
1) Cllr E Janes again reported the road edge subsiding approx 25 metres from Beenleigh junction, Bow Road, Harbertonford. The Clerk will again contact Highways.
2) District Cllr Steer reported that in Harberton during Aug/Sep, SW Water would be carrying out improvement work to the water mains, necessitating some interruption to water supplies.
3) The Chairman wished to convey the thanks of the Council to Mr Crann (the Clerk’s husband) who had kindly stepped in and taken the minutes in her absence at the last meeting.
The meeting closed at 9.40pm.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 11 September 2001 at 7.30pm at Harbertonford Primary School.