Present: Cllrs Fearn, Knight, Janes, Beamish, Williams, Hockings, Johnson & Jeffreys. Also, Devon County Cllr Date & District Cllr Robert Steer.
Apologies: Cllr I Steer.
Public: 3
Clerk: Mrs D Crann.
The Chairman opened the meeting, welcomed everyone and invited the members of the public to speak. Mr Monaghan spoke first. He had come as Chairman of the Harbertonford Village Hall Committee and related the problems experienced at the Hall last Friday evening, 08 June through to the Saturday morning. The Police, who had been called several times during the Friday evening, had arrived after several hours and had not taken any action, saying there was no problem with drunkenness. A full discussion followed and the Clerk was asked to write to the Police with the concerns of the village at the poor response by them when there was a problem with drunkenness. As another matter, the Head Teacher had reported that on Saturday 09 June she had discovered damage had been caused to the school swimming pool where the bubblewrap had been split and the pool found to contain a large number of beer cans. Mr Monaghan then left the meeting. The other members of the public were invited to speak. Mr Attree had just come to sit in and Mr David Hill introduced himself saying he was interested in standing as a Parish Councillor and wished to sit in for this meeting.
The Chairman then asked Cllr Date to give his report. He reported that the AGM of DCC had taken place and he had been appointed to several committees, including Chair of the Audit Committee. He then left the meeting.
D Cllr R Steer then gave his report. South Hams District Councillors had been arranging all their committees following the recent elections. David Incoll had now been appointed as temporary Chief Executive following Ruth Bagley’s departure. He would be at SHDC for 2.5 days each week and share his duties with West Devon Council for the other 2.5 days until another Chief Executive is appointed.
The minutes of the Annual Meeting were then considered and, after one amendment, were signed by the Chairman as a true record.
The minutes of the last meeting were then considered, agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
Matters Arising:
1) Re purchase of a computer for use by the Clerk. Various details were discussed, including broadband and email address. Andrew Hockings’ quotation for the computer package he had put together was then discussed. This would be a Dell computer costing £518.07 inc VAT. A printer would be approx £60 extra. It was proposed by Cllr Williams, seconded by Cllr Jeffreys, to purchase this package. All in favour.
2) Re Highways signed on A381 approaching Harbertonford from Kingsbridge. Cllr Knight agreed to approach the residents for trimming of shrubs obscuring the road signs.
3) Re the recent letter from Harbertonford Football Club. The problem has now been sorted out.
4) Re letter from Harbertonford Primary School about grass cutting. The matter is now completed.
5) Re Harbertonford parish noticeboard repairs. Ongoing.
6) The bench in memory of the late Councillor E Janes was now installed, thanks to Cllrs Knight and Beamish. The plaque was still to be added. Cllrs did not like the one which had been obtained as it was thought not suitable. Another will be purchased.
7) Replacement of flowering tree at the Ford area in Harberton. This was discussed again and the general opinion was that maybe a small shrub would be more suitable due to the restricted space available.
Planning: Parish Council recommendations – Decision between meetings.
23/0976/07/LB Overleigh, Harberton. Amendments to 23/0250/04/F and 23/1634/03/LB. Alterations and refurbishment of farmhouse. No objections.
23/1067/07/F Belsford Court, Harberton. Alterations to existing accommodation. Conversion games room to one bed unit. No objections. All in favour.
23/1085/07/F Smokey Cottage, Harbertonford. Construction of link between cottage and outbuilding. No objections. All in favour.
23/0568/07/F Blacklands Farm, Moreleigh Road, Harbertonford. Now withdrawn.
23/1129/07/F Hernaford Farm, Harbertonford. Conversion of barns to 9 residential units. Decision delayed for a site meeting.
Correspondence:
The Police report was read by the Chairman. There had been 6 crimes, 2 detected, 2 others with known suspects. Update on the German Shepherd in Harberton. The dog’s owner had been visited by the Dog Warden and PC Jacqui Hopper. The dog will be kept under control in future and was not considered a danger by the Police.
There is an Open Day at Totnes Police Station on Saturday 23 June after the refurbishment.
1) Letter received from Mrs Ronson, Head Teacher of Harbertonford Primary School, was read out to the meeting, expressing her grave concern at the damage to the school swimming pool last week-end and all the drink cans in the pool. One day there could be a fatality.
2) The Clerk had purchased a new “Arnold Baker Local Council Administration 7th Edition” from Lexis Nexis Butterworths costing £67.45, no VAT. This was to be paid for. Proposed by Cllr Williams, seconded by Cllr Jeffreys. All in favour.
3) Devon and Cornwall Police Authority Liaison Meeting tonight at Salcombe.
4) S Devon AONB meeting 20/06/07 at the Flavel Centre, Dartmouth at 6.30pm.
5) SHDC. Licensing Act 2003. Draft shown to the meeting.
6) Letter received from John Culf, Harberton Playing Fields Assn, was read to the meeting. This set out terms and conditions for granting access to Mr & Mrs Whittle of Merlewood Cottage (backing on to the play area) for access to the playground during building works to their house. Whilst the Parish Council had no objections to this agreement, it was pointed out that permission should have been sought from the Parish Council beforehand.
7) Letter received from DCC re decision of the new provider of externalised services. DCC had chosen Shaw Health Care Group for this service after careful consideration.
8) SHDC Villages in Action passed on to Cllr Jeffreys.
9) Invoice received from K C Garden Machinery, Totnes, for repairs to the mower at Harberton - £190.01 inc £28.30 VAT. This to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Johnson, seconded by Cllr Hockings.
A grant cheque had also been received from HPFA for £161.71 which had been paid in to the bank.
10) Two letters had been received from the PCCs requesting grants for the upkeep of the churchyards. Both included a copy of the current year’s accounts. These were passed around the meeting and it was proposed by Cllr Johnson, seconded by Cllr Williams to pay £350 to Harberton PCC. All in favour. It was proposed by Cllr Janes, seconded by Cllr Hockings to pay £300 to Harbertonford PCC. All in favour.
11) A new account book had been purchased by the Clerk from Shaw & Sons Ltd costing £57.46 inc £8.56 VAT. This to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Fearn, seconded by Cllr Hockings. All in favour.
12) Annual accounts for 2006/7 had been audited by Mr J Maddox of Harberton. The Parish is very grateful for his support. These have been signed by the Chairman and Clerk following the required advertising period on the noticeboards in both villages prior to the audit by the Audit Commission on 09/07/07.
13) DPFA AGM 12/07/07. No nominations this year for the Executive Committee. Also, DAPC Village Green magazine.
14) Parish Paths P3. Summer Event passed to Cllr Williams.
15) Standards Board for England, Guide for Members 2007. Copy for each councillor.
Other Items on the Table - SHDC Executive Forward Plan; DCC Newsletters; S Hams Society bulletin; SHDC Agenda & Minutes; S Devon Womens' Aid leaflets; SHDC magazine; Voluntary Vine newsletter; Devon Community Recycling Network; SHDC New Smoke-free Laws.
Matters at the Discretion of the Chairman:
1) Cllr Hockings again reported on the road opposite Hazard Cottage leading to East Moore at the bridge where the lorry recently fell over. The edge of the road needs urgent attention as Highways’ temporary measures are dangerous to HGVs.
2) Cllr Hockings volunteered to approach the resident at Leigh Bridge about parking on the blind bend by the houses.
3) Cllr Williams voiced concern about the condition of the roundabout at Harberton Playing Field.
4) Cllr Janes reported the pavement along A381 between the Harbourne Filling Station and Mill Meadow in Harbertonford needing cleaning up.
Cheques signed:
No 392 – Mrs D Crann - £435.51
No 393 – Dell Computers - £518.07
No 394 – Lexis Nexis Butterworth - £67.45
No 395 – K C Garden Machinery - £190.01
No 396 – Shaw & Sons Ltd - £57.46
No 397 – Harbertonford PCC - £300.00
No 398 – Harberton PCC - £350.00
Cheque paid in:
HPFA - £161.71
The meeting closed at 9.45pm. The next will be held on Tuesday 10 July 2007 at 7.30pm at Harberton Parish Hall.