Whitestone Parish Council
DRAFT Minutes of Parish Council meeting held at Whitestone Parish Hall at on Thursday 8th September 2016 at 7.30pm to be ratified on 13th October 2016.
Attendance: Chairman ‐ Councillor L Hickman
Councillors Ms T Baird, Mrs B Bramhall, Mrs L Fairley, D Munro, R Phillips
County Councillor J Brook (from 8.30pm and left after giving his report)
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mrs S Greenfield, Mrs B Netherway, Mr D Friend
Apologies: Councillor Mrs M Belt (on holiday)
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Greenfield gave the following report from the Parish Plan Committee:- “The Steering Group Committee members have now completed going through the feedback received in respect of the proposed Draft Action Plan following the 15th August deadline. We were pleased that some parishioners took the opportunity to look at the folder containing a hard copy of the displayed coffee morning material. Feedback received on the Draft Action Plan will be reflected in any Action Plan revisions, as appropriate. The Committee members are currently pulling together information for our full Parish Plan. We have been meeting roughly weekly to progress this”.
Cllr Hickman asked if there was a date for the publication of the Parish Plan but Mrs Greenfield said there was no promise of a date at the present time.
Mr Friend informed the Council that the planning application for Upper Kingswell Farm which had been discussed by Whitestone Parish Council in July, although actually for land situated in the Parish of Holcombe Burnell, has been refused by Teignbridge District Council because of the proposed size of the house.
The Chairman opened the meeting and the Minutes of the Parish Council Meetings held on Thursday, 14th July 2016 and Thursday 18th August 2016 having been circulated were taken as read and signed by Cllr Hickman..
PLANNING
Notification has been received from Teignbridge District Council regarding their decision to cease paper consultations for planning applications which will commence in May 1917. Discussion took place regarding the implications for the Parish Councillors in making decisions at their meetings. Councillors said that access to the website to view the plans was not “user friendly” and felt that paper plans were a better option. Further investigation will be made as the Parish Hall did not have the internet and this would obviate access to the documents on line at any planning meetings.
The following decisions for planning permissions were reported:-
Grant of Conditional Planning Permission
16/01370/FUL Erection of a triple garage with storage room above at Little Springs, Nadderwater
16/01003/FUL Provision of new permanent farm access onto A30 including landscaping at Lower Hare Farm, Folley Lane.
Grant of Request for Prior Approval
6/01549/NPA Application for Prior Approval under Schedule 2, Part 3 Class P of the GPDO for change of use of a storage or distribution building (Class B8) to a dwelling at Unit 5, Rebecca Springs Nadderwater.
16/01548/NPA Application for Prior Approval under Schedule 2, Part 3 Class P of the GPDO for change of use of a storage or distribution building (Class B8) to 2 dwellings at Unit 2, Rebecca Springs, Nadderwater.
16/01753/NPA Application for Prior Approval under Part 3 Class Q (a) and paragraph W of the GPDO for change of use of an agricultural building from agricultural use to a dwelling at Springdale Farm, Longdown.
16/01754/NPA Application for Prior Approval under Part 3 Class Q (a) and paragraph W of the GPDO for change of use of an agricultural building from agricultural use to a dwelling at Springdale Farm, Longdown
Prior Approval not Required
16/02128/AGR Erection of a pole barn for storage of agricultural inputs, feedstuffs and machinery at Woodhay Farm, Whitestone.
REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
County Councillor Brook joined the meeting at 8.30pm and intimated that there was nothing for him to report and as the Council had no questions he then left the meeting.
MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
It was reported that Teignbridge District Council have awarded a Rural Aid Grant of £1,250 for the installation of a Hearing Loop at the Parish Hall. The Parish Hall Committee of Management have requested the Parish Council, as Custodian Trustee of the Hall, to assist in funding the installation as this could be deemed a structural provision for the benefit of all hall users. Discussion followed and it was resolved that the Hall Committee should be requested to apply for a grant from the Parish Council for this purpose.
Notification has been received for the Devon Association of Local Council AGM and Conference to be held at Newton Abbot Racecourse on 11th October 2016 at a cost of £20 per person. Cllr Hickman asked if any Councillor would like to attend. No one was available and as a result he agreed to attend and ask Cllr Reed as Vice Chairman to accompany him.
The Clerk reported on the successful conclusion of the Annual Audit by the Audit Commission for 2015/16 and circulated an audit report from Grant Thornton. Copies of the report can be obtained on application to the Parish Council Clerk and notices to this effect have been posted on notice boards within the Parish and on the Whitestone website. The account for £240 was submitted for approval in the expenditure section.
Cllr Hickman reported on the progress of the external wall insulation at School Houses. Some considerable organisation had been necessary to enable this to progress including the planned removal of the fence by the side of No 2 and a shed which had been erected by one of the tenants, as well as meeting the E-On Community Liaison Officer with the immediate neighbour. Regrettably the expected notice period from E-On for the work to commence with the erection of the scaffolding did not occur. This would have allowed the nomination of a Councillor at the Parish Council meeting to act as a link person to the neighbours. However, he had been advised on the Tuesday morning prior to the Parish meeting that week that the scaffolding would arrive later that day and as a result the neighbours were informed on the day by the Chair via individual fliers. The work will need to be completed before the end of September in order to qualify for the grants that are available to the Council. A vote of thanks was given to Cllr Hickman for all his involvement in the arrangements undertaken.
A complaint from the Hall Committee regarding the parking of a car with no MOT (believed to belong to one of the tenants of School Houses) in the Hall car park was discussed. Cllr Reed will contact tenants in the first instance.
Cllr Bramhall reported on her inspections of Crossway Park and noted damage to a hedge by the football area, stepping logs loose (probably because of the dry weather), the long log is rotting and some screws are loose on the playhouse. In addition it has been noted that the gate is being left open as the closure mechanism does not work. These items were noted and the work needed will be investigated. The Clerk confirmed that the Annual Inspection should be taking place shortly.
A report has been received from Teignbridge Environmental Officer regarding Hales Farm Motorcycle Events in which he states that there is a Court date for a hearing of the appeal on the 15th/16th November at 10am Plymouth Magistrates Court. The Hearing will be heard in an open Court and any members of the public may attend. The Clerk understands that this information has been circulated on line via Peter Hanson
MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
Cllr Hickman reported on his attendance at the TALC meeting in July.
Some parishioners have complained regarding overgrown roadside hedges. It was noted that now is the time that they can be cut back and it was hoped that perhaps a notice could be placed in the Parish Magazine regarding this issue.
A report has been received from PC Croft regarding a local Speed watch programme which will involve Tedburn, Whitestone and Nadderwater acting as one team for all three areas. Any volunteers in the local parish interested in helping with this project should contact Cllr Hickman 01392 811909. Their names can then be registered for an application form to be a Police Volunteer and a comprehensive application form sent to them. Once that has been processed and approved then training will be undertaken. The Clerk to approach Mr Kirkpatrick to draw attention for the need for volunteers for this project in the form of a highlighted box in the Parish Magazine.
FINANCE
Income
1 School Houses rent for August £675.00 - £64.80 (includes £10.80 VAT) = £610.20.
2 School Houses rent for July/August £800.00 - £76.80 (includes £12.80 VAT) = £723.20
1 School Houses rent for September £675.00 - £64.80 (includes £10.80 VAT) = £610.20
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour.
Whitestone Parish Hall Management Committee (August/September) £216.00
Whitestone Parish Hall ‐ hire of meeting room for Parish Plan £18.75
Ms A Oxford £100 (Arts/Crafts Club)
Audit Fees £240.00
Clerk’s expenses £94.86
CORRESPONDENCE
The Clerk read a letter of thanks from Sandy Oxford for the allocation of a grant towards the Arts and Crafts Mornings as noted in the July minutes.
Road closures from St Catherine Corner to Nadderwater Cross, Nadderwater, will take place from Monday to Friday for three weeks commencing on 12th September until 30th September for patching work prior to 2017/18 surface dressing.
The Clerk reported having received a complaint from a resident at Crossway regarding signs warning of fines being imposed for parking there. The resident thought that the Parish Council were responsible and the Clerk responded that we were not. However since that time information has come to her knowledge that it may have been Teign Housing that are responsible as they own some of the properties and she will be passing on this information.
REPORTS
Cllr Bramhall informed the Council that the Environmental Agency have reviewed and increased their flood risk ratings for the EX4 area. Having been shown the various ratings for Halsfordwood Lane there seems no logic in how changes have been determined. On the basis of these reviewed ratings one resident, now in the newly reviewed low risk area, was quoted an increase of 20% in their insurance premiums.
Cllr Munro reported a notice at the public phone box by the bus stop stating that consultation was taking place regarding its removal and Cllr Baird reported that the box at Nadderwater also had the same notice. The Clerk informed the meeting that a consultation had taken place in 2009 when Teignbridge District Council had disputed the removal of several boxes in its area as being necessary for the use of the communities. In addition to this BT had in 2012 supplied paint in order for a working party organised by the Council to repaint the box by the bus stop as it had been in such a bad state of repair. As it was agreed that removal of the boxes would be a shame owing to their historical interest investigations will be made to prevent this. Following discussion Councillors believed it is imperative that parishioners respond to the consultation if they wish to keep the public phones (contact details are in the phone boxes). However, if this proves not to be successful the Council will explore the possibility of keeping the boxes on the grounds of their historical interest but it should be noted that this action will not prevent the actual removal of the public phones.
Cllr Phillips reported very large potholes in the road from Oldridge (Church Cross) to Trobridge and also that the safety rail at Kellands Brook on this road had fallen down.
Cllr Baird said that she was negotiating with parishioners regarding a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Friend queried the logic of installing a hearing loop at the Parish Hall as suggested by the Parish Hall Committee and suggested that an alternative solution may be available with an internet connection.
The meeting closed at 9.35pm.