Whitestone Parish Council

PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 2013

Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council meeting held at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 10^th October 2013.

Attendance: Chairman − Councillor P Nierop
Councillors Mrs M Belt, Mrs P Fisher, L Hickman, R Phillips, A Reed.
District Councillor P Bromell
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mr D Friend, Mrs B Netherway, Mrs S Greenfield,
For part of the meeting re their planning applications − Mr C Hodges, Miss M Collett, Mrs Collett
Apologies: Councillors S Heathcote, D Munro, M Quinn, County Councillor J Brook

The meeting was preceded by the October draw for the 100 Club in support of the Parish Hall Management Development Fund. The number drawn was 61 and belongs to Eileen Milverton.

67. Chairman opened the meeting and the minutes of the Parish Council Meetings held on 12^th September 2013 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chairman

68. REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR / DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

District Councillor Bromell said that owing to cut backs at Teignbridge District Council he had not attended so many meetings as in the past and a lot of the work was being done by email. He gave his apologies for non attendance at the next two meetings as he will be going into hospital for a hip operation but advised that he could be contacted with any problems within the Parish.

County Councillor Brook sent written apologies for non attendance at the meeting and his report was read to the meeting. It included news that the mobile library service has been under review with footfall at every stop being recorded and on the basis of less than three regular visits to the mobile library it is being proposed to terminate that stop. He noted that looking at the figures a fortnight ago one of the stops in Whitestone is likely to be discontinued but a decision will be made nearer the end of the month.

69. PLANNING

Planning Applications

The Council examined the following applications and members of the public were allowed to answer any queries in support of their applications. The following are the Council’s decisions:-

69.1 13/02739/AGR Barn for hay storage at Woodlands, Halsfordwood Lane. Supported although it is thought that being an agricultural application this may have already been passed.

69.2 13/01685/FUL Relocate access and associated new drive at Chants Cottage, Heath Cross. Supported.

69.3 13/02774/FUL Erection of detached garden studio/shed at 2 Merrymeet Cottages. Supported.

69.4 13/02939/FUL Construction of screening wall at 7 Merrymeet. Supported

Mr Friend had sent objections regarding the following applications which had been distributed to Councillors with their agendas and he was allowed to address the meeting.

69.5 13/02846/VAR Variation of condition 5(ii) on planning permission 11/03176/FUL to extend time limit imposed for the approval of the site development scheme from 11 months from the date of decision to two years at Springdale Farm, Bondhouse Lane. This application was discussed at length and the Council have objections as they feel that it is unreasonable to keep extending the time limit for this site development.

69.6 13/02716/FUL Erection of replacement barn at Springdale Farm, Bondhouse Lane. The Council have objections to this application as they noted that this barn has already been built without planning permission and that it does not meet the necessary requirements for agricultural and animal welfare. It also has the potential for conversion to a dwelling.

Grant of Conditional Planning Permission

69.7 13/02491/FUL Retention of extension to existing stone yard at Williams Fields. Teignbridge District Council had supplied a report giving details as to their reasoning for granting this permission when the Parish Council had expressed concerns.

Application withdrawn

69.8 13/01712/OUT Outline for demolition of existing, disused outbuildings and erection of dwelling and creation of double garage on land adjacent to Hindcross.

70. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

70.1 The Clerk reported having received the resignation of Mrs Lyn Luxton as Councillor owing to her moving from Devon. The appointment of a Councillor to fill the Casual Vacancy can now be implemented and anyone who is interested should contact the Clerk to the Council. There has already been one applicant and an appointment will be made at the Council meeting on the 14^th November.

70.2 Crossway Park

The Clerk had expressed concern regarding the insurance cover for play equipment and Cllr Heathcote had done some investigation by pricing the existing equipment and after discussion it was resolved that there was no need to increase the insurance cover.

70.3 School Houses

The Asset Group Committee supplied a budget cost guide for future work as referred to in the Schedule of Conditions/Maintenance Report and recommended that the installation of a replacement window on the second floor at 1 School house to facilitate emergency escape route is implemented within this year’s budget and it was agreed that this be placed on the November agenda.

71. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Cllr Nierop reported attending the Devon Highways Conference and gave details of some of the items discussed which included the Parish Lengthsman.

72. FINANCE

72.1 Budget Review for 2013-2015

Requests for financial support from :-

Whitestone Parish Hall Committee
(i) Insurance Cover - £988.42
(ii) Subsidy for Caretaker’s wage - £1,688
(iii) Replacement windows - £900
Whitestone Gardening Club £125
Creative Whitestone - hosting charge for the Whitestone Website £41

72.2 Nat West Bank Statement as at 30^th September 2013

Current Account	£200.00
Business Reserve Account	£6,570.09
Business Reserve Account	£3,398.23
	£10,168.32	*This balance includes £200.64 P3 Grant money

Income

72.3 2^nd Half Year Precept £3,000

72.4 School Houses rents for October £1,375 − Letting Agency fees £132 (including £22 VAT) = £1,243

72.5 Whitestone Sports & Social Club - £5.00.

Expenditure

The following expenditure was proposed and seconded. All in favour

72.6 Green Sweep (1 School Houses - arranged by Devon Lettings) £40.00

72.7 Whitestone Parish Hall Management Committee (October) £125

72.8 Clerk’s expenses/salary £225.04

72.9 Wootton Industries Ltd − Play area notices £22.22.

73. CORRESPONDENCE

73.1 Whitestone Parish Hall Committee of Management − Application for the claim to be made to Rural Aid for the grant of £1,850 agreed in July for re-felting of the flat roof at the Parish Hall. The necessary paperwork having been completed by the Clerk this was signed by the Chairman.

73.2 Whitestone Sports & Social Club − a report supplied by Mr J Kirkpatrick regarding the events organised for the Queen’s Jubilee and the monies raised was read to the meeting. £200 of this money was earmarked for a bench to replace the damaged bench that had previously been donated by the Trailblazers Children’s Group and work is continuing on finding a suitable bench. It was noted that £5.00 was received from the Club as the annual charge for use of storage space in the garages.

74. REPORTS

Cllr Belt noted that following her request at the March Council meeting that the Public Paths Map situated on the side of the Parish Hall could have some binding around to tidy it up she asked if she could approach a parishioner to do this work as it has not yet been done. It was agreed that she should request a price and then liaise with the Chairman to see if it was alright to go ahead with this improvement.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mrs Greenfield gave the following report on the Parish Plan Steering Group:-

“No formal committee meetings have taken place since the last report but work has continued on the full questionnaire and will continue over the next few meetings.”

Cllr Nierop requested Mrs Greenfield to apply to the Council for monies to be set aside in the 2014-2015 budget to fund this Steering Group.

The meeting closed at 9.05pm.