Minutes of Past Parish Council Meetings

MINUTES

March 12th 2008

Minutes of the Ashwater Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 12 March 2008

Parish Participation - in items on the agenda - 7.30 pm

Present: Barry Parsons, Maria Bailey (TDC responsible for Core Strategy document), Ivan Buxton

The chair welcomed Maria Bailey who is the Community Planning Manager from TDC. Ms Bailey started off by saying how important parish plans are and encouraged the parish council to make one. TDC are using the parish plans, and these give evidence of the needs of the parishes. She passed around some sample plans and also a Community Plan Tool Kit. TDC will give support to parishes and it is also important to send in the surveys to TDC so that they can add the information to their records as they need to focus in on rural parishes. It was suggested that a meeting could be organised and invite a speaker to come along to discuss controversial issues which could be the basis of the village plan. The village newsletter was a good way to get the local people involved in any issues that might be discussed.

She went on to discuss the Core Strategy document which she said was basically written for professionals. TDC is willing to attend parish council meetings and explain the document as they want to get involved with communities. They believe the document can be achieved and feel that there is a lot of knowledge in local communities.

Affordable housing needs to be increased, especially for local people and there are over 300 houses in the pipeline which will be spread across the area. They will need to liaise with local land owners asking them to release land for affordable housing. She again stressed the production of a village plan as evidence of the need of affordable housing.
BB thanked Ms Bailey for her informative talk.

Parish Council Meeting - 8.25 pm

Present: Betty Batt, Pete Jennings, Steve Furse, Eric Burnill, Trevor Moon, Adrian Littlejohn, Mary Gliddon, Lawrence Langston. Sheila Myers (Clerk)

1. Apologies for Absence

Fiona Bull

2. Declaration of Interest of any Agenda Items and Approval of the Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the previous minutes from the January meeting were amended in paragraph 5.4 (a sum of £27 was inserted) and then approved and proposed by EB, seconded by PJ, and signed by BB.
2.1 Village Notice Board: The notice board has now been erected and BB congratulated Gary Cox on an excellent job. TDC was contacted with regards to planning but had not yet replied. An additional key will be left at the post office. BB thanked PJ and TM for all their help in this project.
2.2 BT telephone box: Sandrymoor Cross - BP said that action had to be taken within three months, and he was not able to do so in the specified time and therefore no further action can be taken. He apologised for this error. It was also mentioned that the finger post at Sandrymoor needs attention as it was loose. A member of the council said they would look at it and try to tighten up.
2.3 Grass cutting Village Green: SM had contacted Lesley Hughes who advised that she was waiting for her public liability certificate.
2.4 Letter regarding new parish hall: LL confirmed that the draft letter written by BB was satisfactory and therefore it would be typed up for him and BB to sign and send out.
2.5 Visit of Chief Executive of Torridge TDC to Parish Council Meeting: It was suggested that the Chief Executive should be invited to attend the Annual Parish Meeting on the 11 June 2008 where members of the public could put their concerns to him.
2.6 Parish recycling pavilion: A letter had been received in this respect saying that all pavilions are being removed. It was decided to write again asking TDC to reconsider, particularly as the pavilion in the car park of the Village Inn was widely used. A note of this point will be placed in the newsletter.
2.7 Parish Council Training: Determining a Planning Application - TM attended the meeting, he reported that they were showed how to read plans, and the criteria how TDC come to a decision.

3. Planning

3.1 Burchill Cottage, Quoditch: Proposed MG, Seconded SF
3.2 Muckworthy Farm: Proposed EB, Seconded PJ
3.3 Heggadon Cottages, Clawton: Proposed PJ, Seconded SF
3.4 Langford Farm Cottage: Proposed EB, Seconded TM

4. Footpaths

EB reported that last year the parish council had £653.50, after deductions there is a balance of £153.50. He has completed the Financial Summary Form and is now waiting to hear about a grant for this year. He passed a copy of the form to SM. EB also reported that he had mentioned to Ivan Buxton that there was no information regarding footbaths in Ashwater. Ivan very kindly produced a leaflet and SM said that she will scan and forward the leaflet to all members of the parish council. A letter will be written to Ivan to thank him for producing the leaflet. Some of this year’s P3 money could be used to print the leaflet. EB said that he would contact Devon District Council and ask if they could produce a reasonable size map of the footpaths in Ashwater that could be placed in the notice board.

5. Finance

5.1 Kirk Engineering: £23.50 for the printing of the newsletter - proposed LL, seconded PJ
5.2 Stationery and Postage: £11.58 - proposed EB, seconded MG.
The price of 2nd class postage is rising in April by 3p to 27p. It was decided that SM would purchase a quantity to the value of approximately £10.
5.3 Clerks Salary: £300 for the period January - March - proposed MG, seconded EB
5.4 Newsletter: MG reported that there has now been a separate bank account set up for supporting the parish newsletter. Monies received from donations and advertising will be put in this account and used for paying expenses incurred in the production of the newsletter.

6. Correspondence / Communications

6.1 Annual Parish Meeting and Parish Council AGM: Annual Parish Meeting - Wednesday 11 June 2008
Annual General Meeting for the Parish Council - Wednesday 14 May 2008
The dates of these meetings will be placed in the newsletter.
6.2 Caravans at Bendibus: People have been complaining about the mess on the site, but they have tidied up and it is not as bad as previously. When writing to Richard Haste about the pavilions the subject of the site will be mentioned. TDC have visited and they are trying to find somewhere to move them to.
6.3 Police Liaison Committee Meeting: BB attended a meeting where there appeared mostly concerns over speeding. Devon police are starting to get really tough in this matter as it has a high casualty rate. There is a Neighbourhood Watch scheme and EB has some forms which he will bring to the next meeting.
6.4 Post Office Closures: After consulting the Electorial Register for the parish it was noted that 38 people in the vicinity of the village are unable to drive. There is no transport to Ashwater village. It is therefore imperative that the post office remains open as it is essential to the community. The shop is also a necessity as it provides a lifeline with newspapers, bread etc and it also has a cash machine. In considering the amount of people that do not drive it was suggested that the Register be looked at again to see how many residents were of retirement age. There was some criticism of how the Register is put together and the parish council would write to TDC with their views on this.
6.5 Websites for Small Parishes: This email will be forwarded to Henriette North.
6.6 Legislation Training: Noted.
6.7 South West Lifelong Learning Network Questionnaire: The majority of councillors returned their questionnaires and these will be returned.
6.8 Holsworthy Area Advisory Group: It was not clear exactly who this group is and therefore a letter will be written to them and ask them to keep the parish council informed of matters.
6.9 Research Project in the Tamar River Catchment: Passed to SF.
6.10 Discovery Day - Milky Way Adventure Park: Leaflets distributed.
6.11 Ruby Country Workshop: Passed to EB.
6.12 Bunting: Noted.
6.13 Products for local councils (litter bins etc.): Various literature received was circulated.
6.14 Listening Events: BB will attend on 27 March 2008.
6.15 New Councillor Training: Nobody available.
6.16 Devon Association of Community Buildings Conference: Passed to LL.
6.17 LCR May Opinion Article: Noted.
6.18 Boundary Commission Review of Local Government in Devon: The email will be circulated for all parish councillors to make a note of.
6.19 Home Working: Passed to LL.
6.20 Cardboard Dog Waste Bags: Noted.
: This will be passed to Ann Shadrick.
6.22 Royal Garden Party: BB nominated.

The meeting closed at 10.00 p.m.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 9 April 2008.

Minutes 03/08

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