Present: Cllrs Hockings, E Janes, Patrick, Stubbings, Fearn, Jeffreys, Johnson and D Cllr Steer.
Apologies: Cllrs G Janes and Williams.
Public: 4
Clerk: Mrs D Crann
The Chairman opened the meeting. He welcomed everyone and invited the members of the public to speak. All four had come from Harberton, following the public meeting held there on 6/1/05 in the Parish Hall to discuss the flood prevention work in that village and to attend this meeting when the Parish Council would be setting the annual precept for the coming financial year.
The minutes of the previous meeting were considered, agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
The Clerk had been in a telephone conversation with PC Julie Miskin, who had now returned as Community Constable for our area. She had reports of five crimes in the Parish since the beginning of November. She apologised for not being able to attend our meeting this month.
Matters Arising:
1) Community Rooms, Bow Road, Harbertonford. Cllr Fearn enquired if this facility had been closed, but D Cllr Steer was not able to give any definite information on the subject.
2) Flooding in Harberton. There had been a meeting at Harberton Parish Hall last Thursday, 6/1/05, as already reported. This had been attended by over 40 residents, together with Mr Bill Lawrence and Mr Nick Hodgson of SHDC. Mr Lawrence had explained that he was unable to recommend a reduced scheme, ie: a 1 in 10 year scheme, instead of the 1 in 50 year scheme which was in hand. This would not be worthwhile and would not warrant all the work. There was, at the present time, a shortfall of £45,000 as it was costing more than the original estimate of £80,000.
3) P3 Footpath Scheme. Another meeting will be arranged for late February or early March 05.
4) Harbertonford Playground Scheme. The Clerk had now arranged for a site meeting on 18/1/05 at 2.30pm with Mr Graham Davies (Diocesan Surveyor), Mrs Graham (Chairman of School Governors) and Cllr J Hockings (our Chairman) to discuss the matter of the security fence.
5) Re proposed 20mph speed limit in Harbertonford. Ongoing.
6) Re narrow road signs in Parish Road and Tristford Cross in Harberton. A letter had been received from Ben Hubbard of Highways, saying that at the present time he was not permitted to erect new signing in this area, but look at what he could do to alleviate the present problems.
7) Re sewage sludge on the road near a field entrance of Brockhills Farm, opposite the mobile phone mast at the top of the hill out of Harbertonford. The Clerk had already been in correspondence with Jim Morrison of Highways on this subject, and had also spoken to SHDC Environmental Health. She will continue to follow this matter up, as it remains a continuing problem after at least two years.
Planning: None.
Correspondence:
1) Precept 2005/6. This had to be set for the new financial year commencing April 2005. After some discussion, it was proposed by D Cllr Steer and seconded by Cllr E Janes, to increase the precept by £200, making a total of £4,700. All in favour. There was then further discussion regarding the proposal made at the public meeting in Harberton on 6/1/05, that a further £5,000 should be added as a one-off increase towards the shortfall of £45,000 in the final cost of the flood prevention works in Harberton. This was deemed by councillors to be the fairest way of raising the money in the Parish. This was proposed by D Cllr Steer and seconded by Cllr Fearn, with voting all in favour. As a result, the total precept will amount to £9,700 for one year only. D Cllr Steer would now have the council’s backing to go forward to the SHDC Executive meeting on 2/2/05 and hopefully be able to obtain further funding from SHDC to enable this scheme to be completed. A further proposal was that the Parish Council might take on a loan of £5,000 from SHDC and the Clerk will pursue this matter. Proposed by Cllr E Janes and seconded by Cllr Stubbings. All in favour.
2) A letter received from Mrs Wright of Harberton was read out to the meeting. This dealt with the floodwater which came down from Langridge Cross (A381), descending the hill towards Harberton and flooded her property at Ford Farm, in spite of her having carried out substantial work on the advice of the Environment Agency. Mrs Wright was particularly annoyed that after several letters to Mr Bill Lawrence at SHDC, she had not even received an acknowledgement. This problem had been going on since at least 1991. The Clerk will pursue this matter, together with the matter of the water flow under the bridge in Harberton village, particularly whether the latter could be examined for silt levels.
3) South Hams Police Liaison Meeting will be held at Salcombe Town Hall at 7.30pm on 18/1/05.
4) SHDC. Budget Consultation Meeting will be held at Follaton House on 12/1/05 at 7.00pm.
5) Mr Lund of Harberton had written following the Parish Council’s letter of thanks to him for his gardening work at the Ford. He will be pleased to continue whilst he is able to do so.
6) A letter from Mr Ken Cannon was read out to the meeting regarding the overgrown branches of the sycamore trees on the opposite side of the road to his house in Meadow Close, Harberton. He feared they might cause damage in high winds.
7) The Clerk had recently received a telephone call from Mr Manning of Tor Homes. BT wished to erect a telephone pole on the verge next to the Parish Hall sign outside Harberton Parish Hall. Cllr Stubbings reported that the Hall Committee had already said no to this request before last Christmas.
Also on the table:
SHDC Executive Forward Plan; SHDC Minutes of Meeting 16/12/04; new bus timetable from 9/1/05; Safer South Hams; Draft Crime and Disorder Strategy 2005/6; South Devon Landscapes – Kerbside Collection and Composting Scheme.
Matters at the discretion of the Chairman:
1) Cllr E Janes reported that there was a large black dog wandering along Bow Road, Harbertonford some evenings. Further details are required.
2) Street lighting faults reported - No 4 at the lower entrance to Harberton Playing Field (Cllr Stubbings). Also at Church Lych Gate (Cllr Johnson).
3) Cllr Patrick raised the subject brought forward by Mr Beagley of Harberton on possible overflowing of the ponds in the field between Screws Lane and Town Farm in Harberton. The Clerk will speak to Mr Bottomley of SHDC Planning Dept.
The meeting closed at 9.30pm. The next will again be held at Harbertonford Primary School on Tuesday 8 February 2005 at 7.30pm.