Minutes of Harberton Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 12 March 2002 at Harbertonford Primary School at 7.30pm.

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Present:  Cllrs Hockings, Monaghan, Stubbings, Preston-Day, Mason, Hoddinott, Christiansen, E Janes, S Jane, Fearn and Mills

Apologies:  D Cllr Steer

Speakers:  From Environment Agency, Halcrows and Messrs E Thomas.  Also, Insp M Ellis from Totnes Police

Public:  1

Clerk:  Mrs D Crann

The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and inviting the visitors from Environment Agency, Halcrows and E Thomas to speak. Mr Buxton-Smith started by detailing the flood prevention work which was now under way in the centre of Harbertonford by the A381 bridge. There had been a slight delay when some old petrol was discovered by the former garage site, but that had now been cleared up and the contaminated soil had been taken away to a tip with fresh soil replacing it. It was hoped that this phase would be completed by the end of April and they could move down to Bow Road. Work on the holding dams up towards Rolster Bridge would start at the end of April. There would be another public exhibition in Harbertonford Village Hall to show the progress of the works – this will be on 16 April from 4.00pm to 7.00pm and open to the public. After further discussions, and some questions, these visitors then left and the Chairman invited Insp Ellis to speak.

He introduced himself and said he had been at Totnes Police Station just 4½ months and came from Paignton, but had also been stationed at Totnes several years ago, so knew the area quite well.  Insp Ellis said he hoped to visit each Parish Council twice a year. So far this year there had been 12 incidents in the Parish, but he stressed it was a very safe area to live in. It was not possible to appoint a specific Community Officer, but there would be regular visits, as often as possible, to both villages. The non-emergency telephone is 08705 777444 and Crimestoppers is 0800 555111 and, of course, the last resort is 999 in an emergency. The Inspector then left the meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting were then considered, agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

Matters Arising:

1) Flooding in Harbertonford. Already dealt with earlier in the meeting.

2) Flooding in Harberton. Still ongoing.

3) Ford area in Harberton. The Chairman had met with Jim Morrison of DCC on site to discuss design plans. Mr Morrison had promised some kerb stones. There appeared to be a hitch with contacting BT re a manhole. The Clerk will write to them. Cllr Fearn was liaising with Ken Cannon regarding the materials which would be required – the cost estimate was in the region of £750.00 so progress was being made.

4) Re Harbertonford Playground. Cllr Hoddinott had spoken with Mrs Yates’ agent seeking any historical information that might be available. The agent did not have any definite records, but did appear adamant that when the Marl Park land was sold by Mrs Yates, the boundary would have been “sold away”.

5) Queen’s Golden Jubilee. A letter had been received from Helen Strivens of Harberton with an estimate of £150.00 for a photographic record of the 250 houses and occupants in Harberton. Cllr Hockings also reported that he and Mrs Hockings would be pleased to donate a tree for planting at a site to be arranged.

6) The biennial audit April 1999-March 2001 had been completed successfully and the Clerk was awaiting the official Certificate of Audit.

7) Re buses turning in Harberton. The Chairman had met with Peter Hookham of DCC, who had agreed extra signing and some white lines on the road. Residents are strongly urged not to park in the bus turning bay and to stop visiting vans or cars from parking there, otherwise the village might well lose its bus service if the buses continually have to reverse out of the village.

Planning:

Parish Council recommendations

Decisions between meetings –

23/0251/02/F 1 The Old Hall, Harberton.  Side extension and raising of roof with loft conversion.  No objections to extension, but object to raising of the roof as per 23/0500/01/F.

23/0344/02/F Langford Farm, Harberton.  Extension to bungalow.  Cllr Hockings declared an interest and took no part in the decision.  No objections in principle.

Decision at meeting –

23/0427/02/F The Hams, Woodcourt Road, Harbertonford. Construction of football club house/meeting rooms. Cllrs S Jane and Monaghan declared an interest and took no part in the decision. No objections in principle. Proposed by Cllr E Janes, seconded by Cllr Mason. All in favour.

Correspondence:

1) New Model Code of Conduct was discussed.  Cllr Fearn and the Clerk had been to a training meeting at Follaton House, where the new Code was explained.  Each councillor is required to complete a form with various personal details which will be sent to the Monitoring Officer at SHDC.  The Register of Interests will be available to be read by any member of the public.  It will also include any beneficial interest exceeding £25,000 in any corporate body which has a place of business or land in the authority’s area that each councillor may have.  There was a full discussion on this matter, which will be continued at the next meeting.  This will come into force at the beginning of May 2002 and any councillor who does not sign will be required to cease to continue in office after May 2002.

2) DAPC.  Village Green magazine received.  Also the Clerk had enrolled at an Audit Training Day at Buckfastleigh on 27/3/02.  Cost £15.00 the cheque having been signed between meetings.  CPRE Village of the Year Competition 2002.  No entry this year.

3) Coast and Countryside Open Forum will take place on 15/3/02 at Stoke Fleming Village Hall.  Also, the Annual Report 2000/01 had been received.

4) SHDC.  Executive Forward Plan displayed on noticeboard.

5) DCC.  Best Value Review of Highway Maintenance shown to the meeting.

6)  S Devon Carers Consortium.  Meeting 4/3/02 at Totnes Pavilion Leisure Centre.

7) SHDC.  Display of Register of Electors.  Extra notices received for display in both villages.  The Registers may be inspected either at the Post Office in Harbertonford, or by appointment with the Clerk – tel: 732210 – but no copies may be made.

8) CPRE.  Details of Government’s Planning Green Paper shown to the meeting.

9) Community Council of Devon Rural Survey 2002 shown to the meeting.  To be completed by the Clerk.

10) A letter from Mrs Franklin of Diptford re public rights of way was read to the meeting.  This was referring to the P3 (Parish Paths Scheme).  If there is anyone interested in this scheme, please contact the Clerk – tel: 732210.

11) Airwave MMo2.  The Chairman and Vice Chairman had attended an exhibition in Totnes Civic Centre explaining the new Airwave service planned for the emergency services to cover the whole country with the TETRA system.

12) Devon Youth Games.  Saturday 22 June 2002. For details, telephone Naomi Langdon on 861175.

13) Tor Homes Newsletter re precast concrete homes shown to the meeting.

14) Invoice from Veaseys of Totnes (printers) to be paid. New stationery total £45.83 inc VAT. Proposed by Cllr Hoddinott, seconded by Cllr E Janes. All in favour.

15) DCC. Monitoring and Enforcement of Planning Control shown to the meeting.

16)  Newsletter from DCC shown to the meeting.

17) DEFRA. Campaign against illegal poisoning of wildlife – details shown to the meeting.

18) SHDC. Minutes of Executive Meeting 7/3/02 shown to the meeting.

Annual Grants:

Annual grants towards the upkeep of both churchyards totalling £500.00 (£250.00 each) were unanimously agreed to be reserved.

A grant to Harberton Playing Fields Association towards grass cutting costs was considered. It was proposed by Cllr Hoddinott, seconded by Cllr Mills to pay the £260.00 cost of grass cutting. All in favour.

No other grants were considered as all applicants were out of the Parish.

Matters at the discretion of the Chairman:

1)  Cllr Hoddinott reported a large pothole in the road between Westleigh and Larcombe Quarry.

2) Cllr Mason reported a scaffold plank in the road drain under the entrance to Bow Road, Harbertonford.

Cheques signed:

Between meetings –

No 242 – Devon Association of Parish Councils - £15.00

At the meeting –

No 243 – Mrs D Crann - £388.49

No 244 – Veaseys - £45.83

No 245 – Harberton Playing Fields Association - £260.00

The meeting closed at 10.30pm. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 9 April 2002 at Harberton Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

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