Whitestone Parish Council
PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES February 2011
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Thursday 10th February 2011
Attendance: Vice Chairman – Councillor R Phillips
Councillors P Hanson, D Munro, A Reed, Mrs B Netherway, Mrs T Taylor
County Councillor J Brook
District Councillor P Bromell
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Apologies: Councillor Mrs M Belt, Councillor E Beeching (illness),
The February Draw for the 100 Club in support of the Parish Hall Appeal had been carried out at the meeting on the 20th January and the winning number was 41 and belongs to Laura Obbard
The meeting was opened by the Vice Chairman, Councillor Phillips, in the absence of Councillor Mrs Belt who is on holiday.
Minutes of Council meetings held on 13th and 20th January 2011 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy.
PLANNING
Application Withdrawn
10/03922/FUL Two storey extension at Poole Farm, Tedburn St Mary
Applications Granted
10/03593/FUL Retention of access path and track to stables at Woodlands, Five Mile Hill
10/03435/FUL New front entrance lobby, change existing kitchen into new toilets and the existing toilets on the other side of the hall into a larger kitchen and store at Whitestone Parish Hall.
Planning Application
11/00268/FUL Widening of existing field access at Barton Vale Farm, Barton Head Hill for Mr T Russell. The application and plans were examined and although there were no objections concerns were raised because this work has already been carried out prior to permission being applied for and is therefore in breach of planning regulations.
MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
Council Minutes
The Clerk asked for authorisation to arrange for the binding of the Council Minutes from 2006 to 2010 for archival presentation purposes as these books go to the Devon Records Offices. Enquiries have been made from a local book binding company and the cost would be £62. It was proposed and seconded that this action be implemented. All in favour.
Winter weather road conditions
Devon County Council Highways have responded to the complaints raised by the Council and given explanations regarding the clearing of the highways and the filling of the grit bins. County Councillor Brook reported to the meeting on his input into the situation. Councillor Taylor raised the point that not all grit bins have in fact been fitted with numbers or replenished as stated in the letter from DCC and she volunteered to again make an inspection in order that the Clerk could reply to DCC with the necessary information. It was suggested that the question of the Parish Council purchasing grit which could be placed in strategic areas throughout the parish could be discussed at the June meeting in order that this could be implemented for the winter months.
School Houses
Cooksleys have reported on the condition of the houses and it was noted that they arranged for repair work to be carried out on the living room door and a bathroom window handle at a cost of £40. following complaints by the tenant at No 1. Councillor Belt has reported that the side door post is broken at No 1 and the door will not close. Accounts for £430.71 for the work on the chimneys and £3,390 for the guttering, fascia and soffits were proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour.
The Clerk reported that four estimates have been received for dealing with the damp problems at the houses. Councillor Phillips recommended that in view of the complicated nature of the estimates a sub committee should be set up to examine these and it was resolved that this should comprise of Councillors Belt, Phillips and Reed who would then report back to the Council with recommendations.
MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
Broken reflector posts on the village side of Pound View
Entrance being widened and building/waste materials in a field in Pound Lane
Mud on the road at Nadderwater/Nadderbottom leading up to Top Steps Farm. This has been reported (number 11387217) and apparently the owner at Top Steps Farm has arranged for this to be cleared. Concerns were expressed regarding the large number of lorries (28 a day) going to this site which had planning permission to build up a track..
Large pothole on the road from Trowbridge to Oldridge and also on this road there is subsidence causing vehicles to ground.
FINANCE
Expenditure Clerk’s expenses £45.19
Parish Hall Management Committee (February payment) £125.00
CORRESPONDENCE
Whitestone Parish Hall Management – letter of appreciation for the Hall signs that have now been installed and thanks to County Councillor Brooks for the monies which he had allocated from his community fund which had formed the main resource for this expenditure. The Clerk submitted the account for the fixing of the boards in the amount of £356.80 and this was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour.
Police Report for Chudleigh Sector – reported to Councillors.
Devon County Council – P3 Finance
Devon County Council Highways – response regarding matters reported from the January meeting.
Devon County Council – Leaflets and information regarding Social Care for Adults distributed to Councillors.
ROSPA – notification of playground inspection in March
Devon Association of Local Councils – Conference “Making it work locally” to be held on 15th March from 9.45am to 4pm in Exeter. It was resolved that three delegates (Councillors Phillips, Reed and Mrs Belt) should attend this event at a cost of £10 per person.
REPORTS
Road signpost snapped off at Pound Down Corner/Bickhams Farm
Potholes were reported at Heath Lane, Hackworthy Lane. Deep gulley at edge of road by Lower Hare.
Broken sign at bottom of Heath Lane (to be reported to Teignbridge District Council.
It was reported that a track at Cutteridge Lane just before Dymond Bridge was sunken and difficult to traverse owing to deep mud. It ascertained that this comes within the Holcombe Burnell Parish and the Clerk verified that she had contacted them in November 2009 regarding this and would write again regarding the matter.
County Councillor Brook spoke to the meeting regarding the impending financial cuts which will be made to services and warned how this will affect all Councils.
The meeting closed at 9.15pm.