Whitestone Parish Council
PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES DECEMBER 2012
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council meeting held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Thursday 13th December 2012 at 7.30pm.
Attendance: Chairman - Councillor P Nierop
Councillors Mrs M Belt, Mrs P Fisher, D Munro, R Phillips,
S Heathcote (for part of the meeting), A Reed, A Skeet.
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council.
Mrs T Taylor, Mrs B Netherway, Mrs S Greenfield.
Apologies: Councillor M Quinn, District Councillor P Bromell.
The Council Meeting was preceded by the December Draw for the 100 Club in support of the Parish Hall Development Fund. The number drawn was 100 and belongs to Kathryn Coombs.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Greenfield said that she was concerned about the increase in horse riding activities throughout the Parish which was resulting in more traffic on the roads.
79. The Chairman opened the meeting and the Minutes of Parish Council Meetings held on 8th November 2012 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chairman.
80. PLANNING
Planning Applications
80.1 12/03499/FUL Construction of new porch, demolition of existing garage and construction of new garage and new roof to rear of property replacing existing flat roofs at Rose Marie, Whitestone. The Council examined the application and plans and there were no objections.
80.2 12/03442/FUL Erection of field shelter at Nadder Park, Nadderwater. The Council examined the application and plans and there were no objections but a special request that this should be for family use only.
80.3 12/02886/COU Change of use of barn to dwelling at Hurston Farm, Whitestone. The Council examined the application and plans and there were no objections but concerns regarding highway access and extra traffic.
Cllr Phillips declared an interest in the following application.
80.4 12/03545/FUL Erection of stable block at Cleave Farm, Whitestone. The Council examined the application and plans and there were concerns that work has already begun on this stable block prior to approval and it was requested that this should be restricted for family use only.
Grant of Conditional Planning
80.5 12/02350/FUL Single storey side extension at 1 Merrymeet.
80.6 12/02945/COU Change of use of agricultural barn to stabling for commercial livery at Farm Barton.
80.7 12/03091/VAR Variation on planning permission to permit provision of pitched roof on square stair tower to be finished in render in place of timber cladding at Heath House.
80.8 Appeal Decision by the Planning Inspectorate
Grant of Appeal against Enforcement Notice issued by Teignbridge District Council for change of use of land from an agricultural use to a mixed use for agriculture and the stationing and residential occupation of five residential caravans/mobile homes on land at Springdale Farm.
80.9 Notification of Appeal
Appeal against refusal of planning permission by Teignbridge District Council for a two storey extension, conservatory and wall at The Old Forge, Whitestone. (As this appeal is proceeding under the Householder Appeals Service there is no further opportunity for the Parish Council to submit comments. Any comments made at the application stage have been forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate.)
81. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
81.1 Co-option of Councillor to fill the Casual Vacancy
As Cllr Munro felt that the Councillors should discuss the applications before voting on this matter the three members of the public volunteered to leave the room in order not to inhibit discussion. Three applications have been received, i.e. Mr L Hickman, Mrs L Luxton and Mrs T Taylor. A ballot was conducted and as a result Mrs L Luxton will be invited to become a Parish Councillor. The members of the public then rejoined the meeting.
81.2 Request for noticeboard on Rowhorne Road
Cllr Belt said that this request had come from three Parishioners residing in this area. It was resolved that further investigation should be conducted as to the number of persons who would be availing themselves of this facility in view of the cost implications of erecting a notice board.
81.3 Report on water pump at Nadderwater
Cllr Belt had approached Mr Baker who owns the land around this pump and he would be willing to allow access to the pump in order for maintenance and upkeep but requested an official letter from the Council. It was agreed that efforts should be made to find out exactly who "owned" the village pump as obviously it is an historic artefact.
81.4 Report on County and District Elector fund
It was reported that no decisions had been made regarding the possibility of a liaison with Tedburn St Mary and Holcombe Burnell in order to claim monies from this fund as it has not been possible to highlight a project suitable to all three Parishes. Further investigations will take place.
81.5 Crossway Park Report
The Clerk reported that having examined the Council's Insurance it has been found that the Policy stipulates that weekly inspections of the play area should take place. After discussion Cllr Fisher agreed to take over this task from Cllr Skeet as she lived nearby and the Clerk passed over the Inspection Book for 2013. Cllr Skeet said that he had made an inspection since the November meeting and had done some work on the slide, i.e. scraping off algae and giving a coat of paint. The Chairman gave a vote of thanks to Cllr Skeet for his attention in this matter.
81.6 School Houses
It was reported by Devon Lettings that repair work had been organised at No 1 for remedial work on the fireplace at a cost of £90. Electrical appliance testing and supplying and fitting a new immersion heater time clock had been carried out at No 2 at a cost of £126. The Clerk reported that it had not been possible for the chimneys to be swept at No 2 as requested at the November meeting as the entry to the chimneys were blocked up. After discussion the Clerk was instructed to request that Devon Lettings arrange for these to be unblocked to allow for the chimney sweep but to ask for an estimate before authorising.
It was noted that the wall at No 2 had been removed although it had to be taken further down than expected owing to its instability. To give the tenant privacy a fence had been erected although further work is needed to build a low brick wall and make the area in the road safe.
82. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
Devon Highways had been in touch regarding the speed survey carried out and the Chairman was trying to arrange for a meeting to discuss the results although the timing has proved difficult to arrange and it is thought that this will now not take place until the New Year.
The Chairman said that he had examined the Teignbridge Local Plan document and had concerns as Whitestone has been classified as open countryside and he hoped that parishioners examine the document and convey their comments to Teignbridge District Council on line.
83. FINANCE
Income
83.1 Rural Aid Grant for new kitchen at Parish Hall £3,500. (Resolved to be passed to Parish Hall Management Committee).
Expenditure
The following accounts were proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour.
83.2 Whitestone Parish Hall Management Committee (Dec. payment) £125.00
83.3 Clerk's expenses £27.33
83.4 Society of Local Council Clerks' Subscription £63.00
83.5 G Dicker (grass cutting/grounds maintenance) £937.50
Cllr Phillips declared an interest in the following accounts
83.6 Samco Estates (dismantling of wall and new fencing at 2 School Houses) £240.00
83.7 R S Phillips (supply of materials for fencing at 2 School Houses) £129.11
84. CORRESPONDENCE
84.1 Notification has been received of road closure for 24 hours outside Traveller's Rest to outside Merrywood on Pound Lane between the dates of 25th February to 1st March 2013 for South West Water Utility works.
84.2 Teignbridge District Council Planning responded with information concerning a complaint made in July regarding the occupancy of a caravan in Hall Lane.
84.3 A Parishioner has sent a copy of a complaint made to Teignbridge District Council regarding the "slippy and dirty state" of Halsfordwood Lane which had resulted in some accidental falls. This was discussed and the Clerk was instructed to write to Teignbridge reinforcing the complaint.
84.4 A letter was received on behalf of the Whitestone Relief in Need Charity. As a result of the death of Mr Graham Milverton the Charity have to appoint a new Trustee and Mrs Belle Netherway has been unaminously proposed and seconded as a prospective Trustee subject to approval by the Parish Council and this action was authorised.
84.5 Mr Dicker when sending his account for the grass cutting and grounds maintenance has indicated his interest in quoting again for next year and this contract will be discussed at the January meeting.
84.6 Whitestone Parish Hall Management sent a response regarding funding arrangements and these will be discussed at the January budget meeting.
85. REPORTS
The following items were raised for the Clerk to report to the appropriate authority:-
Extreme potholes on road from the Whitestone Church to Nadderbottom. Additional potholes noted in road by Pound View, Royal Oak Nadderwater, By "Merrywood" in Pound Lane and in Heath Lane.
Leaves and debris in Hill Lane.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Greenfield reported that there had been no Parish Plan meeting in December but the Group would like to wish you all a "Merry Christmas"
Mrs Taylor reported very muddy road surfaces at Twiscombe Lane (EX4 2HS) and also requested that they might have some grit bags in this area.
The meeting closed at 10.10pm
Signed ___________________________ 10th January 2013