Whitestone Parish Council
PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 2012
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7:30 pm on Thursday
12th April 2012
Attendance: Chairman – Councillor P Nierop
Councillors Mrs M Belt, Mrs P Fisher, S Heathcote, D Munro, Mrs B Netherway,
A Reed, A Skeet, R Phillips, M Quinn.
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mr and Mrs Greenfield
Apologies: District Councillor P Bromell
The Council Meeting was preceded by the April Draw for the 100 Club in support of the Parish Hall Development Fund. The Number drawn was 53 and belongs to Rachel Purser.
The Chairman opened the meeting and the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 8th March 2012 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chairman.
PLANNING
Grant of Conditional Planning
12/00433/FUL Two storey rear extension at Russetts, Halsfordwood Lane.
12/00281/FUL Demolition of existing boat store and garage roof and rebuild with additional storage at first floor level for domestic use at Merry View
The Clerk gave information that she had received two Planning Applications which were too late for inclusion on the agenda, namely at Upper Kingswell Farm and 11 Merrymeet, and therefore asked permission to convene a Planning Meeting at 7pm prior to the Annual Parish Meeting to be held on Thursday 23rd April. The meeting was in agreement and the Clerk will send out the necessary information.
MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
1 School Houses
It was reported that the kitchen refurbishment had now been completed with the exception of the internal decorating and the Clerk was instructed to contact the contractor regarding this. The invoice of £1,345.31 for the installation had been paid and an account for £1,650.52 for the supply of the kitchen equipment was presented for payment. Cllr Phillips declared an interest in this account. It was noted that the total outlay of £3,329.03 which included £333.20 for kitchen fittings was within the £3,500 budget which had been allocated at the February meeting. A further cost of £200 (plus cost of new tiles) will be incurred to replace tiles and redecorate the kitchen. A vote of thanks was given to Cllr Phillips for organising this work.
It was reported that in order to comply with Letting Regulations it had been necessary to obtain a NICEIC Electrical Installation Condition Report for No 1 as five years cover elapsed on the 31st March. The report indicated that smoke detectors had been removed and needed replacement and it was necessary to upgrade the consumer unit. This work had now been carried out. The Clerk was instructed to write seeking an explanation for the removal of these alarms.
Crossway Park
The annual inspection had been completed by Playsafety Ltd with Cllr Nethereway in attendance and copies were distributed to the Councillors. Some items were noted such as a projecting bolt thread on the entrance gate and Cllr Munro volunteered to deal with this. Also mentioned was the need for preservation of timber and it was agreed that the Asset Group would go through the inspection report and make an action plan. A vote of thanks was given to Cllr Netherway.
Jubilee Beacon
Request for a 50% contribution towards insurance costs of £130 for the Jubilee Beacon organised by Whitestone Jubilee Committee which had been raised at the March meeting was discussed and it was resolved that a contribution of £65 should be made towards this expense. All in favour.
Annual Parish Meeting
The Clerk gave notification of Annual Parish Meeting to be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 26th April 2012. Organisations throughout the Parish had been approached with requests for reports for this meeting.
Rural Skip
The Clerk reported that the Whitestone Rural Skip Service would take place on Saturday 12th May and notices advertising this had been placed on notice boards and sent for inclusion in the Church magazine and the Whitestone website.
MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
Cllr Nierop asked for volunteers to be involved in a “litter pick” around the parish on Saturday 16th June in preparation for the Whitestone Open Gardens event on Sunday 24th June when ten gardens would be open for visitors.
FINANCE
The accounts/balance sheet for the year ended 31st March 2012 were circulated with the balance sheet showing a balance at the year end as follows:-
Current Account £200.00
Business Reserve Account £8,298.12
Business Reserve Account £3,395.67
*£11,893.79 *This balance includes £95.30 P3 Grant Money
The Clerk reported receipt of notification that the Whitestone Parish Council Annual Audit will be completed by the Audit Commission on the 11th June 2012. Notices advertising the Audit, together with a balance sheet will be displayed within the Parish and the Annual Return will be presented to the meeting on 10th May for approval and signing. Mr Ken Abrahams will be visiting her on the 17th May to conduct the Independent Internal Audit.
Income
HM Revenue & Customs – VAT Repayment £1827.01
Expenditure
The following accounts were proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour.
Whitestone Parish Hall Management Committee (April payment) £125
S Hipgrave - £1345.31 (No 1 Kitchen refurbishment)
R Phillips - £1650.52
Playsafety Ltd - £142.80
A S Down -£140 (NICEIC Report) + £293.30 (Repairs) = £433.30
Devon Association of Local Councils Membership Renewal - £153.50
Devon Playing Fields Association Membership Fee - £36.50
Clerk’s expenses - £63.95
The Clerk reported having attended a Preparing for Audit Course organised by the Devon Association of Local Councils on the morning of 29th March at a cost of £30.00 which she had paid. It was resolved that she be reimbursed for this expense. All in favour.
Cllr Quinn requested information regarding the sale of the ride on mower as resolved at the March meeting. The Clerk reported having discussed this with DJM and it had been agreed that they would bring the mower up to a saleable condition and then when sold would recompense the Council with the balance.
CORRESPONDENCE
Whitestone Parish Hall Committee of Management – Two photographs of the Parish Council members from 1986 and 2002 were returned to the Parish Council. These had been displayed on the wall in the Billiard Room where the Parish Council meets but it was stated that it is intended to advertise the wall space for the display of art etc and there is no longer a place for these. The Councillors noted this with regret and the Clerk was instructed to request that the Hall Committee reconsider their decision as it was felt that these were a part of Whitestone history and as such they should be in the Parish Hall.
It was noted that the Fund Raising Sub-Committee intend to hold a Whitestone Open Gardens event on 24th June and as part of the event it is intended to hold a scarecrow competition. Permission was requested for these creations to be displayed either in the Community Garden or in the area of the bus stop or both. Discussion followed and it was agreed that this should be granted, although it was felt that the bus stop area might be the most advantageous position.
Devon Libraries Mobile Service – Request to promote the service which stops at Merrymeet fortnightly on Mondays 16.05 to 16.50.
Teignbridge District Council – Information regarding the Torch Relay Village Games to be held at The Den on Teignmouth seafront from 11am to 1pm on 20th May.
Teignbridge Association of Local Councils – Draft minutes of meeting on 29th March (passed to Cllr Belt)
Community Council of Devon – information regarding Devon Oil Collective.
REPORTS
The following items were brought to the attention of the meeting:-
• Egg throwing at cars through the village
• Speed of cars travelling through the village. Police to be invited to the Annual Parish meeting or a Parish Council meeting to discuss options for addressing this.
• Road surfaces on the Oldridge Road between Hangmans Corner and Toms Head Cross and between Southlands and Little Springs – to be reported
• Painting of telephone boxes – Clerk to approach BT again. It was suggested that this could be undertaken by volunteers if no response is forthcoming.
• Complaints regarding a full skip positioned outside 4 Marylands which has been there for a considerable period. The Clerk was instructed to write to the landowner requesting removal.
• Support was requested for the Jubilee Weekend when various activities were being organised.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Greenfield reported on the Parish Plan and wished to make an amendment to the March minutes when it was stated that the March meeting has not taken place and this should have read the February meeting. The meeting which took place in March had found a new member to join the Steering Group, namely Sam Colson, who can represent the young parishioners. The Steering Group finalised the scooping questions and these have been shared with Agnieszka Szpinda from the Community Council of Devon for an independent view as to whether the questions are clear and appropriate and the Group discussed views appropriate to the scale of the plan and thanked the Parish Hall Committee for installing a post box at the Hall
The meeting closed at 9.10pm