Minutes of Harberton Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 9 September 2003 at Harberton Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

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Present: Cllrs Hockings, E Janes, Beamish, Evans, Jeffries, G Janes, Patrick, Stubbings, Fearn and D Cllr Steer

Apologies: Cllr Williams

Also Present: PC Julie Miskin

Clerk: Mrs D Crann

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone after the summer recess. The minutes of the previous meeting were then considered, agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

Matters Arising:

1) P3 Footpath Scheme. Ongoing.

2) Flooding in Harberton. There had been a site meeting at the entrance to the field adjoining Harberton Parish Hall on 28/7/03, with the Chairman, Mr T Lawson (Mrs Yates’ agent), David Camp (Tenant) and his father, Mr J Morrison and Mr Nick Boulton (both DCC Highways). Also, Mr and Mrs Strivens, Mrs Gaskin and Mr Jim Hoddinott. Following discussions, it was decided to make a new entrance at the top of the field at Screws Lane and close up the bottom gateway. Co-operation was agreed with interested parties and it was hoped the job could be completed before the wet weather started. Following on, James Miller had agreed to give a day’s labour to the project of filling the baskets to close the bottom gateway and Jim Hoddinott would also help. An estimate from James Miller for subsequent labour, if necessary, had been received at £180.00 + VAT per day. It was proposed by Cllr Fearn, seconded by Cllr Evans, to accept this. All in favour.
The top entrance in Screws Lane had just been opened but not completed.

PC Julie Miskin from Totnes Police then arrived and was invited to speak. She started with her report on the recent problems in Harberton regarding skateboarding in Church Square. Cllr Patrick also joined in with information regarding an agreement that had been reached between the youngsters and residents on a month’s trial to try and resolve the difficulties experienced recently. Other items mentioned by PC Miskin were parking in Woodland Road, Harbertonford, a burglary at Joyner’s Nurseries, Avonwick Road, Harberton, also a car which had been broken into in Harberton. There followed further discussions. PC Miskin then wished to publicise the new telephone number for non-urgent calls – 08452 777444 – and Minicom – 01392 452935. She then left the meeting.

3) Harbertonford Playing Field. The skip had now been filled with rubbish and the site cleared by volunteers from the village. Many thanks to everyone who had helped. The cost of the skip had been more than expected. The original cheque for £56.27 had been cancelled and two more issued, one for £100.00 and a second for £60.27. Proposed by Cllr Evans, seconded by D Cllr Steer. All in favour. The Clerk will be writing to Mr B Greg of the Diocese for reimbursement as they had promised and also to expedite the issue of the licence to the Parish Council.

4) The new signatories on the Parish Council account with Lloyds TSB Bank were completed, though some delay had been experienced through the new regulations at the bank identifying new signatories.

5) It was hoped that Mr Ben Hubbard would attend the October meeting to explain the new Community Travel Plan.

6) SHDC Standards Committee. Cllr Williams had written to SHDC applying to be accepted as the new representative and the Parish Council had supported his application.

7) The Luscombe Cross. Cllr G Janes reported that, at last, this had been inspected by English Heritage, where it now lay at Luscombe Farm and it was hoped the repairs would be completed this autumn.

Planning: Parish Council Recommendations –

Decisions between Meetings

23/1332/03/LB) Units 2 and 3, Foalesleigh,
23/1333/03/F   )
Harberton. Conversion into two dwellings. No objections.

23/1590/03/F Manor Barn Cottage, Harberton. Extensions. No objections if this is in line with SHDC policy on barn conversions.

23/1611/03/LB) Dundridge House,
23/1612/03/F   ) Harberton. No objections, but check drawing number 14, NW elevation, higher balustrade and steps should match the lower ones – ie: one is metal, the other concrete.

23/1633/03/F ) Overleigh (formerly
23/1634/03/LB) Foalesleigh), Harberton. No objections to conversion of barns to two dwellings.

Decisions at the meeting

23/1663/03/F The Cider House, Lower Blakemore, Harberton. Removal of Condition B on application 23/1206/93/3 to allow a permanent dwelling. No objections. Proposed by Cllr Evans, seconded by Cllr Patrick. 9 in favour, 1 abstention.

23/1714/03/F Melba, Sandwell, Harberton. Retrospective permission for polytunnel. No objections. Proposed by Cllr Stubbings, seconded by Cllr Evans. 9 in favour, 1 abstention.

Correspondence:

1) Appointment of a Parish Council representative to HSSG (Harbertonford Sports and Social Group) to be considered following Mr Steve Woollett’s visit to our meeting in July. It was proposed by Cllr E Janes, seconded by Cllr Patrick, to appoint Cllr Jeffries. She accepted the position. There being no other proposals, voting was all in favour.

2) The Clerk wished to note her vote of thanks to Mr John Maddox of Harberton for carrying out the Internal Audit of the Parish Council’s accounts, which she had prepared.

3) A letter from Mrs Pope was read out to the meeting.

4) DCC. Temporary road closure of Woodland Road, Harbertonford on 16/9/03.

5) DCC. Education Act 2003 – reconstitution of Governing Bodies. Letter read to the meeting. Following this, Cllr Steer will ask at the next Governors’ meeting if the Primary School wish the Parish Council to appoint another Governor Representative.

6) Invoice for grass cutting received from the Primary School for £100.00 covering the 2002 season. It was proposed by Cllr E Janes, seconded by Cllr Patrick, that this should be paid. All in favour.

7) Feoffees. Mr C Lund, the Secretary, had written to ask the Parish Council to appoint a representative as Cllr E Janes’ term had expired. It was unanimously agreed to re-appoint Cllr E Janes, who agreed to continue to serve for another four years.

8) Notice of Register of Electors for 2004 received and posted on noticeboard.

9) DAPC/DPFA. Various items received: Village Green magazine, DAPC Annual Report 2002/3, notice of AGM 27/9/03 at Exeter, policy updates, also various training days and courses this autumn.

10) Booklet “Providing Indemnities to Authority Officials” shown to the meeting.

11) “Pesticides Safety Directorate” shown to the meeting.

12) SHDC. Temporary road closure Old Road, Harbertonford, for one day on 25/8/03 shown to the meting.

13) South Hams Rural Transport Forum. Notice of final meeting on 18/9/03 at Kingsbridge, passed on to Cllr Fearn.

14) GLEAM – notice of AGM on 24/10/03 at Newbury, Berks. Also, newsletter shown to the meeting.

Other items on the table for examination:

Letters from DEFRA

South Brent Community Centre Group (notice posted)

SHDC Minutes of meetings 17/7/03, 28/7/03 and Executive Forward Plan, the latter posted on noticeboard

South Hams Tourism Website

SHDC Agenda and Minutes

Standards Board Revised Booklet and Committee Determinations

Devon Fire and Rescue Performance Plan 2003/4

S Hams Council for Voluntary Service Review 2002/3

S Hams Community Strategy 2003/6

Torbay Community Health Council Annual Review 2003

Devon and Cornwall Annual Policing Plan 2003/4

SHDC Table Tennis table for hire

The Local Channel

Sutcliffe Play

DCC newsletters

Copy of minutes from Dartington Parish Council

Matters at the discretion of the Chairman

1) Cllr E Janes reported that the wall bordering Harbertonford Car Park and the Old Parsonage was in a dangerous state. The Chairman and Vice Chairman agreed to a site meeting on Saturday 13/9/03 at 10.00am to inspect the wall.

2) Cllr E Janes had received a letter enquiring about the possibility of a lantern parade around Harberton on Guy Fawkes’ night. After discussion, this was not deemed to be feasible at such short notice.

3) It had also been reported to Cllr E Janes that the cress growing in the leat from under the Post Office in Harbertonford was rather overgrown and Cllr Beamish kindly offered to cut and remove it.

4) Cllr Stubbings reported that the Ford area in Harberton looked rather unkempt. He also reported the road drains from Langridge Cross down to Harberton, also the drain outside Rock Cottage, needed clearing. Furthermore, the grille over the road drain below the lower entrance to Harberton Playing Fields (just below the steps) was broken.

5) At Tristford Road, Harberton, outside Tillylands, there appeared to be a water leak in the road. (Stubbings)

Cheque cancelled:

No 292 – Totnes Skips - £56.27

Cheques signed between meetings:

No 294 – Totnes Skips - £100.00

No 295 – Totnes Skips - £60.27

Cheques signed at the meeting:

No 296 – Mrs D Crann - £412.06

No 297 – Devon County Council - £100.00

The meeting closed at 10.00pm. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 October 2003 at 7.30pm at Harbertonford Primary School.

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