Present: Cllrs Hockings, Stubbings, Jeffreys, Beamish, G Janes, and D Cllr Steer.
Apologies: Cllrs E Janes, Fearn, Johnson and Williams.
Public: 2.
Clerk: Mrs D Crann.
The Chairman opened the meeting, welcomed everyone, and invited the members of the public to speak. Mr Beagley of Harberton commenced by referring to the letter from SHDC that many Harberton residents had just received. They would be those situated at the lower part of the village who have been susceptible to flooding at times. This letter referred to the flood works and the problems that had arisen due to the out-turn figure of these works, which exceeded the estimate by £40,000. SHDC hoped that these residents would be prepared to contribute towards this excess. There was a full discussion and the Chairman and councillors all felt the way forward would be to arrange another public meeting in Harberton as soon as possible after Christmas. The Clerk will arrange a meeting at the Parish Hall, hopefully on 5 or 6 January 2005 and all interested parties will be informed.
Mr Reddaway then spoke about a planning application for the conversion of a barn to an agricultural dwelling at Langford Barns, Harberton. He explained the importance of having someone on hand to assist with the calving of his herd; these cows are all kept outside, in the fields surrounding the barn.
Mr Beagley then left the Hall, but Mr Reddaway remained.
The minutes of the previous meeting were then considered and, after one amendment, were agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
Matters Arising:
1) Community Rooms, Bow Road, Harbertonford. Referring to the previous meeting, D Cllr Steer reported that Tor Homes had now decided these would close. She was concerned, however, that the residents should be made fully aware that of the £7.10 they each paid per week, only approximately £3.50 went towards the Community Rooms, the balance going towards the expenses of the warden.
2) Flooding in Harberton. This matter had been dealt with at the start of the meeting.
3) P3 Footpath Scheme. There had been a meeting earlier this evening with the volunteers who will be walking the Parish footpaths during the next few months. The Clerk had obtained extra maps and distributed them amongst the volunteers. Another meeting will be held in February/March 2005.
4) Harbertonford Playground Scheme. The Clerk had received a letter from Mrs Walker of Michelmores, solicitors to the Diocese. She had detailed on a map where the 8ft metal fence was to be placed. This included all the way along the footpath bordering the playground. The Chairman and the Clerk had visited the site and paced out the length required, approximately 70 metres. With an 8ft security fence costing about £50 per metre, this would be quite out of the question for the Parish Council to afford. It was unanimously agreed that there should be site meeting called between Cllr Hockings, Mrs Graham (Chairman of the School Governors) and the surveyor to EDBF (Diocese). The Clerk will arrange it.
5) Re proposed 20mph speed limit in Harbertonford. This is still ongoing.
6) Referring to the site meeting with John Halliday of DCC, re the siting of pedestrian crossing and the need for a flashing warning light similar to that at Halwell, both Cllrs Beamish and G Janes felt the meeting had been almost a waste of time and they had not achieved anything. After further discussion, the Clerk was asked to contact John Halliday again regarding the flashing light and get some costings.
Planning:
Parish Council Recommendations –
Decisions at the meeting
23/2216/04/F 4 Riverside Mill Cottage, The Old Mill, Harberton. New porch. No objections. Proposed by Cllr Stubbings, seconded by Cllr Beamish. 4 in favour, 1 abstention.
23/2250/04/F Langford Barns, Harberton. Conversion of one barn to agricultural dwelling. No objections, but with agricultural tie and need to be proved. Concern by Parish Council at the remoteness from main farm. Proposed by Cllr G Janes, seconded by Cllr Stubbings. 4 in favour, 1 abstention.
23/2321/04/F Sandwell Barn, Sandwell Farm, Harberton. Erection of glazed link between offices. No objections. Proposed by Cllr Stubbings, seconded by Cllr Jeffreys. 4 in favour, 1 abstention.
23/2301/04/TCA Maple Tree Cottage, 4 Meadow Close, Harberton. Fell two oak trees. The Parish Council support the option that these oaks be pollarded to 4 metres as per the letter of Phil Sheardown, Tree Warden, of 23/11/04. Proposed by Cllr Jeffreys, seconded Cllr Stubbings. 4 in favour, 1 abstention.
Correspondence:
1) Precept for 2005/6. This to be considered at the next meeting in January 2005. Proposed by D Cllr Steer. All in favour.
2) James Miller’s invoice for grass cutting had been received and was for 10 cuts @ £33.00 per cut plus VAT, as per estimate. The total being £391.27. This to be paid. Proposed by D Cllr Steer, seconded by Cllr Beamish. All in favour. Also received was an estimate for 2005, being £36.00 per cut plus VAT for 10 cuts. It was proposed by Cllr Jeffreys, seconded by Cllr G Janes, to accept this. All in favour.
3) GLEAM. Minutes for the AGM held on 29/10/04 were passed to Cllr Stubbings.
4) A letter had been received from Mr Whittle of Harberton. The Clerk read out this letter thanking the Parish Council for permission to site a marquee on the Harberton Playing Field for a wedding next May.
5) Two letters have been received from the Standards Board for England. Both were shown to the meeting.
6) DCC. Temporary road closure on 05/01/05 at Foalesleigh to East Leigh Cross, Harberton.
7) SHDC. A letter from the War Widows’ Association of Great Britain commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of WW2 was shown to the meeting.
8) SHDC. A letter re the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar was shown to the meeting.
9) SHDC. Waste management changes in the South Hams. Letter shown to the meeting.
10) SHDC. Licensing Act 2003. A letter received explaining changes to this Act was shown to the meeting.
11) DCC. Local Community Self-help Emergency Planning. Letter shown to the meeting.
12) DAPC. Various items received: -
Village Green magazine, various training days and a newsletter.
13) Letter from Victim Support was shown to the meeting.
14) DCC. Rights of Way Improvement Plan Consultation shown to the meeting. A questionnaire to be completed by the Clerk.
15) Letter from Mr Chattaway of Harbertonford was read out to the meeting. This proposed that a Christmas tree be erected at the Ford in Harbertonford. The Clerk had consulted with both Cllr E Janes and the Chairman between meetings as time was running short. She had replied to Mr Chattaway that perhaps the matter could be left for this year, but consultations be started earlier in 2005, say June or July, as the arrangements for the usual tree were already under way.
16) The new Electoral Roll had been received and was shown to the meeting.
17) The Chairman had received another letter from Mr Lawson (Mrs Yates’ Agent), which was read out to the meeting. Amongst other things, this letter referred to “heavy objects” which were to be placed at the splay entrance to Harberton Parish Hall.
18) There had been a letter from Mr and Mrs Ganter of Harberton, referring to the revised signing request regarding the narrow road down the side of Wyse House and Vine House in Harberton. The Clerk had written to DCC Highways without any response and will follow this up again.
Other Items on the Table:
SHDC Executive Forward Plan; letter from Richard Webb Gardening Services; Shaping Health; South Hams CAB Annual Report 2003/4; DCC Local bus service 111; SHDC Agenda and Minutes; SHDC Minutes of Executive Meeting 02/12/04; DCC newsletters; Devon Wildlife Trust Dart Catchment Project.
Matter at the discretion of the Chairman:
D Cllr Steer reported the following matters:
a) There are travellers’ vehicles parked on the verge at Dorsley Lane, Harberton, blocking a field entrance. She also reiterated illegal parking of caravans and vehicles on the verge very close to Twin Cottages, Gerston Farm.
b) At times there is sewage sludge on the road near a field entrance of Brockhills Farm, opposite the mobile phone mast in Harbertonford.
c) She asked the Clerk to write a letter of thanks to Mr C Lund of Harberton, as he had recently cleared away all the cress from the river at the Ford in Harberton and had kept the beds neat and tidy.
Cheques signed:
No 326 – Mrs D Crann - £519.40
No 327 – James Miller - £391.27
The meeting closed at 10.15pm. The next will be held on Tuesday 11 January 2005 at 7.30pm at Harbertonford Primary School.