Whitestone Parish Council
PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 2014
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Thursday 8th May at 7.30pm
Attendance:
Chairman: Councillor P Nierop
Councillors Mrs M Belt, Mrs B Bramhall, Mrs P Fisher, S Heathcote, L Hickman, D Munro, Phillips, M Quinn, A Reed
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mrs B Netherway, Mrs T Taylor, Mr and Mrs A Greenfield, Mr R Jordan, Mr C Hodges.
Apologies: District Councillor P Bromell
The meeting was preceded by the May Draw for the 100 Club in support of the Parish Hall Development Fund. The number drawn was 86 and belongs to Paul Barton.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Jordan, Mr Hodges, and Mrs Greenfield spoke at length and all registered their concerns and disapproval of the proposals put forward in the Working Group Report that 1 and 2 School Houses should be sold and felt that parishioners should be involved in any decision.
Mr Jordan also raised his disapproval that the planning permission should have been granted for the erection of a replacement barn at Springdale Farm, Longdown, and asked why the Council had not objected. The Clerk said that she would supply him with a copy of the reasoning why the Council’s objections had not been upheld.
30. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Councillor P Nierop, the retiring Chairman, opened the Annual General Meeting and stood down as Chairman in order for the election of officers for the year 2014/2015 to take place
30.1 Election of Chairman
Cllr P Nierop proposed and seconded. However Cllr Munro pointed out that the Standing Orders did not allow a Chairman to serve for more than two years consecutively and Cllr Nierop withdrew.
Cllr Mrs M Belt was proposed by Cllr Phillips and seconded by Cllr Reed.
Cllr Mrs B Bramhall was proposed by Cllr Hickman, seconded by Cllr Nierop.
As there were two candidates a ballot was held resulting in Cllr Mrs Bramhall being successful and thereby elected.
30.2 Election of Vice Chairman
Cllr Mrs Belt proposed by Cllr Phillips seconded by Cllr Munro
Cllr Hickman proposed by Cllr Quinn, seconded by Cllr Heathcote
As there were two candidates a ballot was held resulting in Cllr Hickman being successful and thereby elected
30.3 Asset Group Committee
Proposed by Cllr Quinn seconded by Cllr Mrs Fisher that Councillors Phillips, Hickman and Nierop be elected en bloc. All in favour.
30.4 Footpath Warden
Councillor Munro proposed by Cllr Belt, seconded by Cllr Phillips. All in favour.
30.5 Church House Foundation Member
Councillor Mrs Belt proposed by Cllr Fisher, seconded by Cllr Reed. All in favour.
30.6 Crossway Park Officer
Councillor Mrs Fisher proposed by Cllr Belt, seconded by Cllr Munro. All in favour.
30.7 Parish Hall Committee
Proposed by Cllr Nierop and seconded by Cllr Fisher that Councillors Belt, Phillips, Hickman and Bramhall be elected en bloc. All in favour.
30.8 Parish Hall Liaison Member
Councillor Belt proposed by Cllr Hickman and seconded by Cllr Quinn. All in favour.
30.9 Responsible Financial Officer
Mrs P Vaughan proposed by Cllr Belt, seconded by Cllr Nierop. All in favour.
30.10 Independent Internal Auditor
Mr Ken Abrahams proposed by Cllr Nierop, seconded by Cllr Quinn. All in favour.
30.11 The Chairman then thanked the meeting for her election and thanked Cllr Nierop and Cllr Belt for their services to the Council over the past year.
The Council then proceeded to the business of the Parish Council Meeting
31. Minutes of the Council meetings held on the 10th April 2014 had been circulated and Cllr Munro wished it recorded that at the April meeting he had voiced his objection that the report from the working group did not give enough time to assimilate all the necessary information and this had been omitted from Minute 24.5. His complaint was noted and the minutes were duly signed.
32. The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 24th April 2014 having been circulated were taken as read with the addition of Cllr Mrs Belt’s apologies for absence having been added as they had been missed out by the Clerk from the original and these were signed as a true copy by the Chairman.
33 REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
District Councillor Peter Bromell had sent his apologies and asked the Clerk to convey the information that at the annual Teignbridge District Councillor meeting Cllr Anthony Ballinger had been appointed Chairman of the Council and that the Teignbridge Local Plan 2013-2033 had been adopted. It was noted that the Inspector’s report precludes the Attwells Farm site for building as Exeter City Council have stated that it is not needed to meet the City&rsquos needs..
34. PLANNING
Granting of Conditional Planning Permission
13/02716/FUL Erection of replacement barn at Springdale Farm, Longdown
35. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
35.1 Open meeting to discuss Report on School Houses − Wednesday 21st May
Lengthy discussion took place regarding the advisability of postponing this meeting as a letter had been received from members of the public that they did not feel sufficient publicity had been given to a consultation that could result in the sale of the houses. Cllr Nierop responded that the meeting was to inform and discuss and not to consult and in answer to a request that the report from Teign Housing should be made public the Clerk distributed some copies to those present. A decision was reached that the meeting would not be postponed and it was agreed that a leaflet distribution should be carried out advertising the meeting further and some Councillors volunteered to carry this out within their areas.
35.2 School Houses
Cllr Reed reported that the electrical repairs as designated at the April meeting have now been carried out in No 2. He reported that the tenancy agreement for No 1 School Houses had been signed but the tenancy agreement for No 2 School Houses was still awaiting signature.
36. FINANCE
36.1 The Annual Audit was presented to the meeting for authorisation and it was resolved by the Councillors that this was approved and agreed for presentation to the Audit Commission and the Return was duly signed by the Chairman. The Internal Audit will be conducted by Mr Abrahams on the 29th May following which the Return will be sent to the Audit Commission.
Authorisation for continuation of Grants
It was proposed and seconded that the following grants be continued. All in favour.
36.2 Whitestone Parish Hall Management Committee − £125 per month.
36.3 Parochial Church Council (for the Church Magazine for inclusion of Council Minutes) £165.
36.4 Whitestone Gardening Club for tending the Community Garden adjoining Crossway Park − £125.
36.5 Nat West Bank Statement as at 30th April 2014
Current Account |
200.00 |
|
Business Reserve Account |
14,182.35 |
|
Business Reserve Account |
3,399.08 |
|
£17,781.43 |
This balance includes £100.64 P3 Grant Money |
Income
36.6School Houses rents for May £1,425 − Letting Agency fees £136.80 (including £22.80 VAT) = £1,288.20.
36.7Teignbridge District Council − half year Precept £3,000
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour
36.8Whitestone Parish Hall Management Committee (May) £125.00
36.9Hire of meeting room for meetings £26.00
36.10 Parish Council Insurance £834.74
36.11 Clerk’s expenses £64.26
36.12 Renewal of Website domain £10.00
37. CORRESPONDENCE
37.1 Cllr Bramhall declared an interest in the following item as she lives in Halsfordwood Lane.
A letter had been received regarding a parking issue at the south end junction of Halsfordwood Lane with the top road. After discussion it was unanimously agreed that this was not a Parish Council matter.
37.2 Public Path Diversion Order for Bridleway 14
Notification has been received from Devon County Council of the making of an Order dated 9th May and this has been displayed on the Council’s Parish Hall notice board.
37.3 Electors Fund Application
At the April meeting an application had been submitted for a Zoll AED Plus defibrillator which will be based at the Parish Hall and the Clerk reported that she has been informed that the £900 has been granted and she will pass on this information to the Parish Hall Management Committee who had expressed the intention of taking the lead in offering specific training in its use, together with general CPR, to persons/groups so interested for the benefit of the parish.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Greenfield queried some differences contained in the report which was given to the Councillors and the report now published and Cllr Nierop gave a clear and thorough explanation.
Mrs Greenfield gave the following update on the progress of the Parish Plan Steering Group:− “We are continuing to progress conversion of the questionnaire to become web enabled - the Bank Holiday having rather intervened.”
Cllr Nierop asked Mrs Greenfield if the question of the Parish Plan bank statements has been resolved as Mrs Nierop is still receiving information from the bank although she is no longer a member of the Group. Mrs Greenfield said that this was in hand.
Mr Hodges said he did not see the urgency regarding the issue of selling the houses and reiterated his disapproval of this action.
The meeting closed at 9.45pm.