Minutes of Harberton Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 10 September 2002 at Harbertonford Primary School at 7.30pm.

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Present:  Cllrs Hockings, Janes, Stubbings, Preston-Day and D Cllr Steer.  Also, co-opted Cllrs Evans and Williams

Apologies:  Cllrs Fearn and Christiansen

Also Present:  Mr G Buxton-Smith and Mr G Wills from Environment Agency and PC A Lowe of Totnes Police

Clerk:  Mrs D Crann

The Chairman opened the meeting, welcomed everyone and invited Mr Buxton-Smith to speak. He commenced, as usual, by outlining the progress made with the flood prevention scheme. He particularly wanted the school to be involved with the opening of the dam. The top class of children would be visiting the sites next week and he hoped they would make a model to be displayed at the opening, which was being planned for 6 or 7 December next. There was to be a site meeting with councillors re the final design of the Ford area in Harbertonford and it was hoped that seats would be placed overlooking the dam up Woodland Road and on the riverbank down Bow Road.Mr Buxton-Smith and his colleague then left and PC Alan Lowe gave his report. There had been some vandalism at the school during the holidays and there had been a suspicious male on a motorcycle, but otherwise, no serious crimes. He then left and the meeting commenced.

The Chairman introduced Mrs A Evans and Mr N Williams from Harberton, who had both written to the Clerk applying to become councillors to fill the two vacancies in Harberton. They introduced themselves briefly and were then asked to leave the room temporarily. After discussion, it was proposed by D Cllr Steer, seconded by Cllr Preston-Day, to co-opt them. All in favour. They both returned and rejoined the meeting, having signed the required Code of Conduct.

The Clerk then reported that Cllr Christiansen had been taken ill a second time and felt she could not continue as a councillor. This was regretted and a letter of thanks will be sent by the Clerk for her work on the Council and also as Council representative on the School Board of Governors.

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

Matters Arising:

1) Flooding in Harberton. Still ongoing.

2) Ford area in Harberton. Work here was now completed and the area had been officially opened by the Chairman on 31 August. The slate plaque was now in place, thanks, in part, to a donation from Mr Sams of Harberton. Thanks to all those involved for all their hard work; they had transformed the area. All invoices had now been received.

3) The Queen’s Golden Jubilee photographic record for Harberton was now nearly complete.

4) Re HGV lorries through Harberton. Still ongoing.

5) Recycling bottle banks. A new suggested site down Bow Road, Harbertonford, was being assessed by SHDC.

6) It was reported that there were additional travellers’ vehicles at the site along the lane near Dottins Quarry.

Planning:  Parish Council Recommendations

Decisions between meetings –

23/1177/02/F Little Belsford, Harberton.  Driveway and garage.  Following a site meeting, Parish Council object as design of garage is not in keeping with the surrounding area.

23/1363/02/CU West Leigh Farm, Harberton.  Storage area for natural stone.  No objections.

23/1412/02/F Lower Ashridge, Tigley.  Alterations and extension.  No objections.

23/1486/02/LB Whiteley Farm, Dartington.  Reslating part of roof and rerendering walls and chimney.  No objections.

Decision at the meeting –

23/1676/02/F Gosworthy Farm, Harberton.  Conversion of barn to dwelling.  Renewal of 9/23/1024/93/3.   No objections in principle, but openings look very prominent.  All in favour.

Correspondence:

1) New specimen signature forms for the bank were signed by each councillor and the names of former councillors were to be deleted. As there had been some recent confusion at the bank, it is confirmed that the Clerk can sign the forms for the transfer of funds from the Savings account to the Current account.  Proposed by Cllr Preston-Day, seconded by Cllr Janes. All in favour. It is also agreed that the cheques will only require two signatures in future (not three as at present). Proposed by Cllr Evans, seconded by Cllr Janes. All in favour.

2) SHDC. Executive Forward Plan posted on noticeboard. Minutes of Executive Meeting on 1/8/02 were shown to the meeting.

3) Totnes Community Strategy meeting in July – details shown to the meeting.

4) SHDC. Active South Hams questionnaire to be completed by the Clerk.

5) Targeting in SW Region Community Fund – details shown to the meeting.

6) South Hams Rural Transport Forum meeting will be held at Quay House, Kingsbridge, at 7.30pm on 18/9/02.

7) DCC. Newsletter shown to the meeting.  Also Watchdog magazine.

8) South Hams Play Forum newsletter shown to the meeting.

9) Commission for Racial Equality information pack shown to the meeting.

10) SHDC. Agenda and Minutes shown to the meeting.

11) DEFRA. Two letters received. Councils to retail their role in planning shown to the meeting.

12) SHDC. Promoting Environmental Health. Notices posted on board.

13) SHDC. Development Control and Conservation User Group meeting on 22/8/02. Minutes shown to the meeting.

14) SHDC. Visit to Cornwall Paper Company, Redruth, on 2/9/02. Unfortunately, no representative was able to attend.

15) Helepayne Foundation, Harberton. Details shown to the meeting.

16) DCC. Temporary road closure of Woodland Road, Harbertonford, from 2/9/02. This road was now open again.

17) SHDC. Chairman’s Golden Jubilee Fair had been held on 8/9/02 at Follaton House.

18) New Register of Electors 2003. A small notice for the Parish magazine is to be passed on for publication.

19) S Devon Carers Consortium. Meeting 3/10/02 at 10.30am at Dartmoor Leisure Centre, Ivybridge.

20) TOR Homes. Second newsletter – PRC News – shown to the meeting.

21) CAB. Poster received for noticeboard.

22) DAPC. Various items received:- Annual Report 2001/2, Village Green magazine, Clerk’s training 7/11/02, reminder of AGM 28/9/02, National Tree Week 20/11/02-1/12/02, Community is Key Fund information. Cllr Evans said she would like to attend the AGM on 28/9. The Clerk will make the booking.

23) The Clerk had received a request for the Annual Audit for the year ended 31/3/02 to be carried out by the District Auditor on 21/10/02. With the new relaxed rules, the new form is to be completed by the Clerk and the Internal Auditor (this year Cllr P Preston-Day may continue is her role as Internal Auditor). The form was read out to the meeting, the figures agreed and signed by the Chairman, Cllr Preston-Day and the Clerk at the meeting. All in favour. This will be sent to the District Auditor for signature. The necessary Notices of Audit had already been displayed on 6/9/02. The Clerk would like to express her thanks to Cllr Preston-Day for auditing the Parish Council accounts over the past three years.

Matters at the discretion of the Chairman:

1) It was noted that the road near Manor Cottage, Harberton, still required attention.

2) Cllr Janes noted that the former footpath along the end of Kiln Lane, Harbertonford, was not shown on the map as a public Right of Way.

3) Cllr Stubbings requested new dog fouling signs for Harberton.

4) The Chairman had been approached for public toilets for Harberton. This was not viable at the present time.

Cheques signed:
Between meetings –
No 262
– Delabole Slate Co - £323.04
At the meeting – 
No 263
– Mrs D Crann - £368.66
Cheques paid into account – 
From Mr J Sams - £150.00

The meeting closed at 10.15pm. The next meeting will be held at Harberton Parish Hall on Tuesday 8 October 2002 at 7.30pm.

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