Present: Cllrs Fearn, Knight, Jeffreys, Johnson, Hockings, Williams, Janes and Steer.
Public: 2
Clerk: Mrs D Crann.
The Chairman opened the meeting, welcomed everyone, and invited the members of the public to speak.
Mr B Gardner of Harbertonford had come to represent the Fordstock Committee and gave a short report. Last summer’s event had made a profit of £7,000, which benefited village organisations and other charities. There had been one complaint about noise, about which SHDC had been informed. Other minor incidents had been reported to the Police, including a broken window, which Fordstock had paid to repair. This year the event will be held on 14 July and will close an hour earlier at 11.00pm and a phone number will be published in Village Life for instant contact should any problems occur. Cllr Steer suggested the Parish Council should request a higher Police presence in Harbertonford during the evening. After further discussions, Mr Gardner left the meeting.
Mr Robert Steer from Avonwick then introduced himself as the Conservative candidate for the Ward for the District election on 03 May 2007 and wished to sit in on the meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting were then considered and, after one amendment, agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
Police report. This was received by fax from PC J Hopper of South Brent. 2 crimes reported in the Parish – 1 - garage broken into but nothing stolen, 2 – attempted entrance to a wooden shed. Please check outbuildings regularly. Any power tools should be marked and locked away. Do not leave doors and windows open when out, even if working in the garden.
County Councillor’s report. Cllr Date had sent the Clerk a cheque for £1,000 as a grant towards Harbertonford Playground Assn’s new play equipment.
Due to Cllr Steer’s impending retirement as District Councillor, the Chairman expressed the Parish Council’s thanks for her support and hard work during her term of office. This was seconded by Cllr Knight and supported by all councillors.
District Councillor’s report. The Chief Executive, Ms Ruth Bagley, will leave at the end of May, so there could be an interim period before a new Chief Executive is appointed. A committee from SHDC is to decide how best to proceed with is new appointment. There had been a letter from Rachel Bland regarding the approach to new affordable housing. Private leasing and bed & breakfast will be cut back by half. Relating to how the Parish Council should deal with planning applications between meetings, advice from the legal department supported our present procedures of each village dealing as separate committees, headed by the Chairman or Vice Chairman and reporting to the Clerk, who will transmit the decisions to SHDC.
Matters Arising:
1) Poor visibility at Fork Cross. Cllr Steer proposed that this matter be held in abeyance until later in the year. All in favour.
2) Re purchase of computer. Following some research by the Clerk, and details supplied to the meeting, it was proposed by Cllr Steer, seconded by Cllr Johnson, to ask Cllr Hockings to approach Andrew Hockings for information . All in favour.
3) Re Highway signs in Harbertonford on A381 from Kingsbridge direction. Cllr Knight commented that some signs had been lowered and that a shrub/tree obscured the view and required trimming back.
4) Cllr Williams reported he had attended a committee meeting for Harberton Parish Hall. Re the splay entrance, the committee had not yet made any plans for landscaping the entrance where the granite boulders are placed. He had made it clear that the Parish Council wished to see any plans before they were implemented.
Planning: Parish Council Recommendations – Decision between meetings
23/0274/07/O ) Preston
Farm, Harberton.
23/0348/07/LB ) Two
storey dwelling house at rear of Preston Farm. Outline planning application
23/0274/07/O
now withdrawn.
Decisions at the meeting
23/0566/07/F Field SX760603, Little Grove Farm, Harberton. Creation of ménage 40m x 25m. No objections. For owner’s use only – proposed by Cllr Jeffreys, seconded by Cllr Hockings. 6 in favour, 1 abstention.
23/0568/07/F Blacklands, Moreleigh Road, Harbertonford. Resubmission of 23/1084/04/F. Decision delayed for a site meeting.
Correspondence:
1) Letter received from Audit Commission informing that Mr Alun Williams would be the Auditor to Harberton Parish Council for the current audit 2006/7. An audit request 2006/7 to take place on 09/07/07 had also been received.
2) DCC road closures. Old Road 25/04/07 and Woodland Road 14/05/07, both in Harbertonford.
3) Invoice from Totnes & South Hams Tyre Service for £42.75 inc £6.37 VAT for new tyre for mower. This to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Janes, seconded by Cllr Williams. A donation cheque from Harberton Playing Fields Assn for £36.38 had also been received and paid in to the bank.
4) A letter had been received from County Councillor Geoff Date with a cheque for £1,000 for Harbertonford Playground Assn as a grant from DCC towards playground equipment. A cheque for £1,000 is to be paid to Harbertonford Playground Assn. Proposed by Cllr Hockings, seconded by Cllr Johnson. All in favour.
5) Annual subscriptions now due for DAPC £202.00 and DPFA £15.00. These to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Jeffreys, seconded by Cllr Steer. All in favour.
6) A letter had been received from Ashfords, Solicitors, acting on behalf of DCC. This itemised a number of Prohibition of Waiting & School Clearways Orders 2007. At the exit splay to Harbertonford School, there will be a No Waiting area, except school buses , between 8.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday during term time. Any observations to be made no later than 24/04/07.
7) A letter received from the South Hams Society, together with a copy of their latest newsletter. Both shown to the meeting.
8) South Hams CAB. A letter of thanks for the annual grant received.
9) Insurance renewal request received from Community First for the Zurich policy. Premium £385.01 this year – an increase of £18.00. This to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Johnson, seconded by Cllr Janes. All in favour.
10) A letter had been received from Harbertonford Football Club Secretary, Steve Jane. This explained that the Club had received a demand for Council Tax of £627.00 prior to receiving charitable status. He was asking the Parish Council for a grant towards this demand. After some discussion, it was agreed that the Clerk seek further clarification from Mr Jane.
11) A letter had been received from Harbertonford Primary School requesting 50% of grass cutting costs from Jan-Mar 2007 of £32.05. The Clerk will contact the School Secretary seeking clarification.
12) A copy of a press release from SHDC received re the road closures in Totnes of Totnes Southern Area commencing 10/04/07 shown to the meeting.
Other Items on the Table – Community Council of Devon – Making our Devon Better; SHDC Minutes of Executive Meeting 08/03/07; SHDC Executive Forward Plan; SHDC Agenda & Minutes.
Matters at the Discretion of the Chairman:
1) The Clerk reported that the Parish noticeboard in Harbertonford was in need of repair. Cllr Knight offered to look at it and assess the problem.
2) Cllr Hockings reminded councillors that he was still storing the bench to be installed at Harbertonford and wondered about a plaque.
3) The replacement of the flowering by the Ford area in Harberton was also raised again by councillors.
Cheques paid in to bank:
22/03/07 from DCC £1,000.00
12/04/07 from HPFA £36.38
Cheques signed:
No 384 – Harbertonford Playground Committee - £1,000
No 385 – Totnes & South Hams Tyre Service - £42.75
No 386 – Community First - £385.01
No 387 – DAPC - £202.00
No 388 – DPFA - £15.00
The meeting closed at 9.30pm. The next will be held on Tuesday 08 May 2007 at 7.30pm at Harberton Parish Hall. This will be the Annual Parish Meeting.