Present:
Cllrs
Monaghan, Hockings, Mason, S Jane, E Janes, Preston-Day, Stubbings, Hoddinott,
Mills, Christiansen, District
Cllr Steer and Devon County
Cllr O Masters
Apologies:
Cllr
Fearn
Speaker:
Mr P Hookham of DCC
Clerk:
Mrs D Crann
Members
of the Public: Nil
The
Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. The minutes of last year’s meeting were then considered, agreed
and signed by the Chairman as a true record. The
Chairman then introduced Mr P Hookham of DCC Highways, who was already known
to everyone and invited him to speak. Mr Hookham told the meeting that he carried good news.
He had been given extra funds from central government, which meant
there would be £640,000 per annum to spend on capital highway projects for
the next five years in the South Hams. The
Totnes area, which included Harberton Parish, would attract one quarter of the
sum mentioned and he would like the Parish Council to inform him of their list
of projects to improve the Parish. Mr
Hookham will supply some large scale maps and the Clerk will write to him with
the improvements which will include a pedestrian crossing by the bus shelter
in Harbertonford. After further
discussions, Mr Hookham left the meeting.
Harbourne
Shuttle. Cllr E Janes reported that the new bus had now been
paid for. Passenger numbers were stable
during the day, but Friday evenings were very variable.
A substantial donation had recently been received with thanks.
Harbertonford
Primary School. Cllr Christiansen reported that the school continued to flourish, the
recent SATS results were very satisfactory and an “Achievement Award” had
recently been received from the Education Authority. There had been a variety of school trips and senior citizens now
had lunches twice a month at the school.
Harbertonford
Playground Group.
Cllr
Christiansen reported that this organisation had almost disappeared through
lack of support. The cost of grass
cutting was the main problem and this was under discussion with the Parish
Council.
Harbertonford
Village Hall. Cllr
E Janes reported that things were going well, with bookings looking very
healthy. The disabled toilets were
almost completed and the lighting had recently been examined and given the OK
for three years and the new water heater in the kitchen was very good.
Harberton
Parish Hall.
Cllr Stubbings reported that booking were excellent,
with many week-end bookings and a large block booking.
The pantomime had been a sell-out and profit was £1,400 and certain
improvements had also been carried out. Unfortunately, there had also been some vandalism to windows and
the boiler, costing about £700.
Harberton
Playing Fields Assn.
John Culf still
maintained the playground.
Feoffees.
D Cllr Steer reported that there had been two
meetings and one new member. Fifty
payments of £25 had been made last October to people in the Parish.
SHDC.
D Cllr Steer. There
was now a new Chief Executive, Ms Ruth Bagley, and the Management Team now
consisted of just four persons. There
had been several other changes within the structure, improving efficiency.
The new political system was soon to be introduced.
Foot and Mouth and the collapse of the Slapton Ley road were the main
problems affecting the area at the moment. The Slapton Ley road had recently
been opened on a temporary basis.
Devon
County Council.
Cllr O Masters reported on the collapse of the
Slapton Ley road, which had now been reopened on a temporary basis, thanks to
the co-operation of SHDC and three parishes. The
flood prevention
scheme in Harbertonford was, hopefully, to start in 2002 and there was some
progress with work in Harberton
to avoid further flooding. A number of
footpaths, including coastal paths, would be reopened for Easter and the
county elections would now be held on 7 June.
Chairman’s
Report. The Chairman reported that he thought the whole
Council had worked together well and thanked the Vice Chairman for standing in
during his (the Chairman’s) absences.
The
meeting closed at 9.05pm.