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Whitestone Parish Council

PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES JULY 2012 (TWO MEETINGS)

Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council meeting held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Thursday 12th July 2012 at 7.30pm
Attendance: Chairman - Councillor P Nierop
Councillors Mrs M Belt, Mrs P Fisher, D Munro, Mrs B Netherway,
A Reed, A Skeet, R Phillips, M Quinn.
County Councillor J Brook
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mr D Friend, Mr Greenfield, Mrs S Greenfield (from 8.30pm).

The meeting was preceded by the July and August Draws for the 100 Club in support of the Parish Hall Development Fund. The lucky numbers were 89 belonging to Christopher Lee and 97 belonging to Anna Kellagher.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Friend addressed the meeting with a statement concerning Springdale Farm in which he stated his disapproval of the actions taken by Teignbridge with regard to the occupation of this site and his comments were noted by the meeting. The Clerk explained that there was an Informal Appeal pending with the Planning Inspectorate against an Enforcement Notice served on the site by Teignbridge District Council. Mr Friend confirmed with the Chairman that he had passed his concerns to the appropriate authorities.

47. The Chairman opened the meeting and the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 14th June 2012 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chairman.

48. County Councillor Brook gave a short report on Devon County Council and requested that the Parish Council should complete the Winter Review questionnaire that had been sent to Councils.

49. PLANNING
Planning Applications
49.1 12/01834/CLDE Certificate of Lawfulness for non compliance with agricultural typing condition at Eastern Plateau, Rowhorne Road. Use as private residential dwelling with no agricultural occupation restriction. The Council examined the application and plans and there were no objections.
49.2 12/01618/FUL Extension to existing patio at 11 Merrymeet. The Council examined the application and plans and there were no objections.
49.3 12/01457/FUL Retention of timber shed at East Kent Farmhouse. The Council examined the application and plans and there were no objections.
Grant of Conditional Planning
49.4 12/01400/FUL Installation of 770 ground mounted PV solar panels on timber framing on land opposite Holland Ball, Heath Lane.
49.5 12/01499/AGR Agricultural lean-to extension to provide additional storage area at Williams Fields.
49.6 12/01346/FUL Single storey extension to form sun lounge and kitchen at Centre Cottages.

50.MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
50.1 Code of Conduct
The Clerk reported on receipt of documentation for the Code of Conduct 2012 and this was distributed to Councillors. As the Localism Act has now abolished the Standards Board and revoked the previous standards system it is now necessary for Councils to adopt a new Code and the appropriate Register of Interest forms will need to be completed and returned to Teignbridge District Council as the Monitoring Officer within 28 days of the Council adopting a Code. Discussion took place and Councillors felt that they needed to examine the documents in full and therefore resolved that the adoption of the Code shall be left for a future date.

50.2 School Houses
Information had been received from the Letting Agents that when carrying out risk assessment of the properties it was recommended that handrails are fitted on the staircases. The Clerk has ascertained from them that they had received an indicated estimate in the region of £80 to £90 per handrail (subject to length, fittings, etc) and it was resolved that they be requested to go ahead and arrange for the handrails to be fitted and arrange for a catch on the door at the bottom of stairs at No 1 to be mended. It was requested that they obtain a quote for the fitting of a handrail on the outside steps as also recommended by their inspection and this will be discussed at the September Council meeting.

51. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
Cllr Nierop reported that paint and brushes had been supplied by BT for the painting of the telephone box by the bus stop and he would be calling for volunteers to assist with this when the weather improves.

The Chairman had approached Devon Highways regarding some road matters and obtained an offer for a week long survey to be undertaken regarding speed of traffic through the village. Councillors were in agreement that this action should be pursued.

52. FINANCE
52.1 The Clerk reported the following NatWest Bank balances as at 30th June 2012 Current A/c £200.00 Business A/c £9,675.97 Reserve A/c £3396.09 £13,272.06 This total includes £265.30 P3 grant money Income
52.2 Sale of Mower - £150.00
Expenditure
The following accounts were proposed and seconded for payment, All in favour.
52.3 Whitestone Parish Hall Committee (June/July) - £250.00
52.4 Whitestone Parish Hall Committee - hire of Hall for Parish Plan meetings - £22.50
52.5 G Clatworthy - interior decorating at School Houses - £799.83
52.6 Clerk's expenses and quarterly salary - £265.39

53. CORRESPONDENCE
. Devon County Council - Winter Review Questionnaire. Discussed and completed.
. Teign Housing - response regarding the water leak on Crossway Park path that their Asset management team has investigated the problem and instructed a contractor to rectify the leak.
. Teignbridge District Council - Notification of review of statement of principles for Gambling Act 2005. Placed on noticeboard.

54. REPORTS
Councillors gave the following reports on items raised by parishioners:-
Signs to Whitestone at Redhills (near the Barley Mow PH) and near John Stocker School pointing in the wrong directions.
Sign at Pound Down Corner is missing.
Potholes on road near Southlands - some work has been carried out but there are still some outstanding.
It was questioned if there is planning permission for a building at Barn Meadow, Heath Lane and occupancy in caravan on the opposite side of road. Also reported a caravan in Hill Lane, opposite Hill Farm, which appears to be occupied.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Greenfield raised the following issues concerning highways within the Parish and requested that they be conveyed to the Devon County Highways, i.e.:-
. Large boulders which have been placed on roadside near Cross Park Farm which are felt to be a hazard as in icy weather the road surface is known to become very slippery and vehicles could be damaged by collision with these boulders.
. Impairment of visibility at Hackworthy Cottage where the entrance has been altered with a chain attached to gateposts.
. Large pothole in road leading from Whitestone Church to Nadderwater. One pothole has been filled but another not filled.

Mrs Greenfield gave the following update on the Parish Plan Steering Group who met on the 11th July:-
"The group considered general results from the initial questionnaire and will use those and future feedback to guide our way forward. Martin Rich, Community Projects Officer from the Community Council of Devon attended the meeting and provided some really helpful advice, tips and how we take our next steps. We are planning a village event in September to promote the Plan and to discuss what it could contain. That will be with 'refreshments' to aid a good discussion! We really hope for a lively debate and that the "Whitestonians" will actively support this day. We are going to keep the initial questionnaire on the website for a while longer in case anyone wants to complete it and we are still happy to receive any further hard copy forms."
Mrs Greenfield ended by thanking all had who replied to the questionnaire and any others who do so in the next few weeks.

The meeting closed at 9.10pm


Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council meeting held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Friday 27th July 2012 at 6.00pm

Attendance: Chairman - Councillor P Nierop
Councillors Mrs P Fisher, D Munro, Mrs B Netherway, A Reed, A Skeet, M Quinn.
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mrs D Radford Lewis
Apologies: Councillor Mrs M Belt.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Radford Lewis said that she was in attendance regarding the planning application for Bickhams Farm which was being considered at this meeting and she gave a statement of explanation for the necessity for the application.

55. PLANNING
Planning Application
12/02217/FUL Change of use from private equine use of manege and field to commercial use as livery yard and for riding tuition at Bickhams Farm, Whitestone. The Council examined the application and plans and there were no objections. Mrs Radford Lewis then left the meeting.

56. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
56.1 Code of Conduct
At the June Parish Council meeting Councillors felt that they needed to examine the documentation relating to this in full and therefore resolved that the adoption of the Code shall be left for a future date. However, having contacted Teignbridge District Council the Clerk had been advised that it is necessary to adopt the Code of Conduct before the 31st July and therefore this meeting had been called.

Councillors went through the Code of Conduct which had been adopted by Teignbridge District Council and it was resolved (with one abstention) to adopt the NALC Code of Conduct which did not include the amendments made by Teignbridge District Council that members should leave the meeting whilst a matter is being dealt with.

56.2 In view of the adoption of the Code of Conduct it was resolved that the following revision be made to the Parish Council Standing Orders:-

Code of Members Conduct
The Code of Conduct as adopted by Whitestone Parish Council must be observed by all members which includes:-

The need for councillors to disclose "Interests" defined by the code

The need for Councillors to register "disclosable pecuniary interests" and "other interests" set out in the Code and to notify the Monitoring Officers of Teignbridge District Council, in writing, of any change to those interests within 28 days of becoming aware of any changes or new interests.

Councillors with a declared interest relating to the Parish Hall Management Committee or the Parish Plan Steering Group shall have dispensation and may speak and vote on related matters.


The meeting closed at 6.45pm