Present: Cllrs Hockings, E Janes, G Janes, Fearn, Johnson, Patrick, Jeffreys, Williams, Stubbings, Cllr Beamish and D Cllr Steer.
Public: 6
Clerk: Mrs D Crann
Other: PC Miskin
The Chairman opened the meeting, welcomed everyone and invited the members of the public to speak. Mr J Hawkins stood up and introduced himself as a prospective candidate for Devon County Council in the forthcoming County elections on 5/5/05. The next to speak was Mr D Ellison of Harberton, who wished, on behalf of four others, to raise the subject of the flood prevention works in Harberton. This had already been the subject of two public meetings in Harberton and had now run out of funding. As Devon County Council had withdrawn some of the promised funds, SHDC could not afford to continue. Mr Ellison asked if D Cllr Steer could give a report on a meeting she had had today with Mr J Halliday (DCC), Messrs Lawrence and Hodgson (SHDC) and Devon County Cllr Owen Masters. Cllr Steer said the meeting had been conducted in a friendly atmosphere and she felt that Mr Halliday had taken on board certain facts which had been new to him. She came away with the impression that he would be returning to Mr Chorlton (Deputy Chief Executive DCC) with that new information, implying that he would try to bring influence to bear that Highways should accept some of the responsibility for the works which had been started. Mr Ellison then outlined some figures which his group had worked out. These detailed yet another loan of £15,000 for the Parish Council to consider, to be repaid over 15 years, ie: £3.94 per household per annum for Band D, assuming a 4.95% interest rate. Mr MacAdie of Harbertonford then spoke. He said he had received several telephone calls from Harbertonford residents who were concerned at the 100% increase in the Parish precept for this current year and would certainly not be prepared to fund any extra loans. (The Parish Council has already agreed to put £15,000 towards this scheme.) Mr MacAdie strongly felt that the precept should not be increased any further.
The Parish Council meeting then proceeded. The minutes of the previous meeting were considered, agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
Matters Arising:
1) Flooding in Harberton. This had been fully discussed at the beginning of the meeting.
2) P3 Footpaths Scheme. A further meeting had just been held prior to this meeting. Roz Davies of DCC had attended and made notes on the reports received. It would appear that only two paths needed work. She will be in touch with the Clerk in the near future. The Clerk had also received another £1,090 towards the cost of any work to be carried out, making a total of £1,640 in the Savings Account.
3) Harbertonford
Playground Scheme. The Clerk had now received a letter from Mr Graham Davies
of the Diocese, together with a report from the Charities Surveyor. This
report stipulated several items:- a) the proposed rental to be £500 per annum,
b) the length of the lease to be 6 years with a 3 year break, c) the Diocese
acknowledge the mutual arrangement that the Parish Council agrees to pay half
the cost of grass cutting, d) that the Parish Council be responsible for
maintenance of the existing fencing and for insurance at the Playing Field,
fencing and play equipment and e) the School reserve the right to use the
Playing Field if necessary.
After a
full discussion, the councillors expressed their disappointment at the rental
and felt it appeared that the Diocese wanted to discourage this lease in view
of the fact that they wanted a 3 year break clause. This could mean
termination of the Lease after 3 years. Cllr Jeffreys was of the opinion that
the proposed rental was completely unrealistic in view of the original
proposal of a “peppercorn” rent. It was decided by the meeting that Cllr
Beamish, as the Parish Council representative on the Board of School
Governors, should discuss this item at the next governors’ meeting, which was
due at the end of April, before the Parish Council took any final decisions.
4) Re Narrow Road signs in Harberton. The Clerk has contacted DCC Highways yet again and there are proposed minor alterations to the new signing.
5) Re sewage sludge on the road near Brockhills Farm near Harbertonford. Cllr E Janes reported that sludge was still being stored in the field at Brockhills Farm, but there had been no problems recently.
6) Parking at the splay entrance to Harberton Parish Hall. There had been a “No Parking” sign removed from this site and various vehicles were still parking there, obscuring visibility at the entrance to the hall and car park. Councillors were in full agreement that the Chairman proceeds with the purchase of granite boulders to prevent vehicles parking, as previous agreed.
7) Re dam at the ponds in Harberton at the rear of Town Farm. D Cllr Steer reported that she had been in contact with the owners, who confirmed that the Environment Agency had passed this site after their inspection.
PC Miskin was then invited to give her report. There had been some vandalism with graffiti at the school and bus shelter in Harbertonford. The culprits had now repainted the relevant walls. Cllr Patrick reported that there had been two motorcycles travelling round Harberton at alarming speeds, causing danger to all. This was supported by Cllr Stubbings. PC Miskin said she would follow up this problem. Cllr Beamish also reported vandalism to the fence at Harbertonford School. PC Miskin then left the meeting.
Planning: Parish Council Recommendations
Decisions between meetings –
23/0404/05/F Erection of porch and verandah/store at Ashridge Barn, Tigley, Harberton. No objection.
23/0439/05/F Retrospective for siting static caravan for office/mess use at Tigley Croft, Dartington. Objection unless applicant can prove agricultural need.
23/0443/05/F Replacement roof to existing electricity substation off Vicarage Ball, Harberton. No objection.
23/0482/05/O Outline for erection of agricultural dwelling at Langford Farm, Harberton. No objection, but Parish Council insist there should be agricultural support.
23/0523/05/F Extension to dwelling, Dattins Farm (The Chapel) , Harbertonford. No objection. 10 in favour, 1 abstention.
Correspondence:
1) A letter had been received from Mr Norman and four others from Harberton re the flood protection scheme in Harberton. This subject had been fully discussed at the start of the meeting. S Cllr Steer reiterated that the support from SHDC did not necessarily expire when the tender expired. There was also further discussion by the councillors and it was proposed by Cllr Williams, seconded by Cllr Johnson, to leave any decisions on this matter in abeyance, awaiting further news from DCC. All in favour.
2) An invoice received for wood for goalposts which Cllr Beamish had now installed at the playground. Cllr Jeffreys said the Harbertonford Playground Assn would pay this invoice. Thanks to Cllr Beamish for erecting these goalposts.
3) DCC. Minerals Waste Development Questionnaire received. This to be completed by the Clerk.
4) Subscriptions to DAPC and DPFA now due. These to be paid – DAPC £194.00 and DPFA £15.00. Proposed by Cllr Fearn, seconded by Cllr E Janes. All in favour.
5) Parish Council insurance. New details had arrived from DAPC of insurance by Zurich Municipal through Community First at Devizes at a favourable rate for small parish councils. The Clerk will pursue this for a firm quote as Cornhill Insurance had just sent their renewal invoice of £451.92 due on 1/6/05 – this being an increase of over £100 on last year’s premium.
6) Harberton Playing Field Assn. Annual grant towards grass cutting had been held over from the last meeting. This was now considered by councillors. After the purchase of the new mower last year, John Culf now undertook more mowing in Harberton village and churchyard, for which the councillors would like to thank him. It was proposed by Cllr E Janes, seconded by Cllr Beamish, to send a cheque for £400.00 for this year. All in favour.
7) SHDC. Plymouth and Torbay Sub-regional Spatial Strategies. D Cllr Steer explained this subject to the meeting, it being a look at the wider issues being considered for the south-west region.
8) SHDC. Waste collection update shown to the meeting.
9) DCC. Notices received and already displayed for the County elections.
10) DEFRA. Quality Parishes and Parish Planning. Details shown to the meeting.
11) DCC. Spring surfacing programme shown to the meeting.
12) S Hams and W Devon NHS. The Word newsletter shown to the meeting.
13) SHDC. Local Authorities Recommended Members’ Allowances. Details shown to the meeting.
14) D & C Constabulary letter re website passed on to Cllr Fearn.
15) SHDC. Details received re a Planning Delivery Grant of £365,000 received by the District Council.
16) SHDC. Standards Board Review of Code of Conduct passed to the Chairman to be circulated amongst councillors.
Totnes Town Council meeting 27/4/05 re traffic management; Sutcliffe Play Details; Dartington Hall Trust spring schedule; SHDC Executive Forward Plan, Agenda and Minutes; Devon Wildlife Trust newsletter.
Annual Grants:
It was proposed by Cllr Patrick and seconded by Cllr E Janes to send £50.00 to South Hams CAB. All in favour
Matters at the discretion of the Chairman:
1) Cllr Fearn reported that the Pension Service had had two meetings in Harberton and Harbertonford. Disappointingly only 3 people had turned up in Harberton and none in Harbertonford, but one person had benefited from their advice.
Cheques signed:
No 331 – Harberton Playing Field Assn - £400.00
No 332 – Devon Assn of Parish Councils - £194.00
No 333 – Devon Playing Fields Assn - £15.00
No 334 – S Hams CAB - £50.00
Received:
29/3/05 – DCC had credited the Savings Account with £1,090.00 toward the P3 Footpath Scheme.
The meeting closed at 10.10pm. The next meeting will be the Annual Parish Meeting at Harbertonford Primary School on Tuesday 10 May 2005 at 7.30pm to be followed by the Parish Council meeting.