Present: Cllrs Fearn, Knight, Hockings, Janes, Jeffreys, Johnson, Beamish and Steer.
Apologies: Cllr Williams and Devon CC Date.
Clerk: Mrs D Crann.
The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. Due to the absence of Cllr Date, his report was given by the Clerk. He had met with the new Highways supremo for the area, Mr Brian George, who was already known to many councillors. Cllr Date had also met with the Headmaster of KEVICC to try and sort out the problem of lack of dining facilities at the school.
Cllr Steer then gave her report as District Councillor. SHDC were reorganising the areas covered by their Planning Officers at Follaton. Our Parish is now in the East section and the officer in charge is Dave Kenyon. Cllr Steer proposed that she should try to make an appointment for him to attend our next Parish Council meeting to introduce himself (if not available, then possibly the Jan 07 meeting) and this was agreed by all councillors. Cllr Steer also reported on the new White Paper for Local Government which was up for discussion and contained several important changes. There were also several items which could be shared with Teignbridge and West Devon District Councils to help allay costs. The biggest need for housing in the SHDC area was now around Totnes, for single bed accommodation.
The last Police report, received by telephone to the Clerk was on 12 October. Sgt Hopper apologised for the lack of Police presence at our meetings. He had had several police constables drafted from his area and sent to other districts. The community patrols promised for the evenings had not materialised. After some discussion, the Chairman proposed that he should write to the Police expressing dissatisfaction at the difficulty in obtaining any useful results when contacting the Police regarding community problems.
Matters Arising:
1) Poor visibility at Fork Cross. Ongoing.
2) P3 Footpath Scheme. New surveys of the footpaths are to be carried out.
3) The Clerk had contacted James Miller for a quote to clear the silt at the Ford in Harberton.
4) The bench in memory of the late Edmund Janes, to be sited at the Ford area in Harbertonford. The Clerk had received a quote from Rattery Sawmills – an oak bench £186.60 + VAT or Douglas Fir at £100.70 + VAT. After discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Steer, seconded by Cllr Beamish, to purchase the oak bench. All in favour. The Clerk will order it.
5) Harbertonford Playground Assn. Cllr Jeffreys reported that the new play equipment was to be installed early in December. This will mean slight inconvenience to residents in that area for a few days due to contractor’s vehicles, for which she apologised. Cllr Jeffreys also reported that there was a need for a new entrance further along the footpath to comply with the disabled regulations. The Clerk will be writing to the Diocese regarding this matter when the plans are to hand.
6) The Clerk had written to Highways regarding the request for a one-way traffic system down to Harberton from Langridge Cross, also Steve Jane’s request for new road signing in Harbertonford to stop vehicles passing in the village. She was awaiting a reply.
7) The Clerk was in the process of sorting out the signatures for the Parish Council’s accounts at Lloyds TSB Bank.
Planning: Parish Council recommendations.
Decisions at the meeting –
23/1906/06/F The Dairy, Tristford Barns, Harberton. This plan now withdrawn.
23/2012/06/F 1 The Old Hall, Tristford Road, Harberton. Single storey rear extension for kitchen and utility. Cllr Steer declared an interest and took no part in the discussion or decision. No objections. Proposed by Cllr Johnson, seconded by Cllr Hockings. All in favour.
23/2076/06/F Little Grove Farm, Tigley, Harberton. Re-submission of 23/1579/05/F. Change of use to two workshops. Parish Council object prior to improvements at Fork Cross. Proposed by Cllr Hockings, seconded by Cllr Janes. 7 in favour, 1 abstention.
Correspondence:
1) Invoice received from Audit Commission for £141.00 (£120.00 + £21.00 VAT) to cover the cost of annual audit. This to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Steer, seconded by Cllr Knight. All in favour.
2) SHDC. Letter received re new areas for planning teams as mentioned earlier by Cllr Steer.
3) SHDC. South Hams Business Forum will be held on 07/11/06 at Follaton House.
4) SHDC. Customer Service Response. Letter read out to the meeting.
5) DAPC. New Local Government White Paper. Summary of details explained to the meeting by the Chairman and passed round the councillors.
6) Invoice for £75.00 received from Anthony Holmes for replacement glass to noticeboard opposite the Post Office in Harbertonford. This to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Beamish, seconded by Cllr Jeffreys. All in favour.
Other Items on the Table – Devon Wildlife Trust newsletter; SHDC Minutes of Executive Meetings 12/10/06 & 19/10/06; Countryside Alliance – “Love Your Post Office”; Voluntary Vine; DAPC newsletter; DPFA newsletter; DCC newsletter.
Matters at the discretion of the Chairman:
1) Cllr Jeffreys reported the goalposts in the Harbertonford playground had been damaged/vandalised and Cllr Beamish volunteered to repair them. Many thanks to him.
2) Cllr Jeffreys further reported that new dog fouling signs are to be erected in the playground. She also reported that, as the Parish Council had not signed the new terms and conditions for the playground last year (prior to the signing of the lease with the Diocese), SHDC were still considering their position on insurance. The Parish Council proposed that Cllr Jeffreys should be appointed to sign any such agreement with SHDC on behalf of the Harbertonford Playground Assn and the Parish Council and report back at the December meeting.
3) Cllr Hockings reported that Dry Bridge (on the road out of Harberton towards Peak Cross) had been repointed and looked terrible. The Clerk will contact Highways.
4) Cllr Beamish reported that the road from Crowdy Mill to Beenleigh, near the recent repairs to the road at Beenleigh, was in danger of collapsing.
5) Cllr Johnson reported that at a recent meeting for Harberton Parish Hall, the subject of landscaping the splay entrance where the granite boulders are placed, was raised again. There followed a further discussion by councillors and Cllr Johnson agreed to write to Mrs Yates’ agent, Mr Tim Lawson, for permission to make a rockery at this site.
6) The Clerk reported on a conversation that she had had with the Parish Lengthsman regarding the continual problem with water at the side of the road from Coppithorne down to Blakemore in Harberton, at the left-hand bend in the road by the buddle hole. She will write to Mr P Anning, the farmer, for permission to relocate this buddle hole, lower down round the corner.
Cheques signed:
No 369 – Audit Commission - £141.00
No 370 – Anthony Holmes - £75.00
The meeting closed at 9.45pm. The next will be held on Tuesday 12 December 2006 at 7.30pm at Harberton Parish Hall.