Whitestone Parish Council
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Thursday 12th October 2017 at 7.30pm.
Attendance: Chairman ‐ Councillor L HickmanCouncillors Ms T Baird, Mrs M Belt, Mrs B Bramhall, Mrs L Fairley, D Munro, Mrs B Netherway, A Reed, A Rose.
County Councillor A Connett (left at 8pm)
District Councillor P Bromell (left at 8.45pm
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mrs S Greenfield
Apologies Councillor R Phillips
Mr Sam Norton attended the meeting for a short time at 7.30pm to explain that he and his wife have moved into land down from “Chapel Cottage” where they are setting up for market gardening. He wished to explain to parishioners who may be concerned that he is at present opening and splaying the entrance onto the land in order to obtain better viewing for exiting onto the main road.
67. Cllr Hickman opened the meeting and the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 14th September 2017 having been circulated were taken as read and signed by the Chairman.
68. REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR / DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
68.1 County Councillor Connett reported on meetings he had attended in regard to school funding and on Strategic Policing. He also reiterated, as reported to the September meeting, that Devon County Council allocated him funds to enable him to give Community Grants to deserving causes and requested that any organisation wishing to take advantage of this should apply to him for an application form. Cllr Hickman requested applications are sent to the Parish Council in the first instance to prevent any duplication. Mr Connett accepted questions relating to the strategic change in regard to the balance of PCSO&rsquo:s and Warranted Officers in respect of rural policing
68.2 District Councillor Bromell updated the Council on Teignbridge District Council matters.
69. PLANNING
Planning Applications
Cllr Mrs Bramhall declared an interest in both the applications for Halsfordwood Lane as she lives in a neighbouring property.
The following applications were examined and discussion took place with the subsequent observations:-
69.1 17/02363/FUL Single storey side extension at Pound Hill, Halsfordwood Lane. The application was supported.
69.2 17/02452/FUL Retention single storey ancilliary accommodation at Woodlands, Halsfordwood Lane. There were no objections but the Councillors expressed disappointment that this is a retrospective application as they felt that this scenario is becoming more frequent when persons complete work without prior planning permission.
Granting of Request for Prior Approval
69.3 17/01938/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 Rebecca Springs, Nadderwater.
70. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION.
70.1 2 School Houses
A new tenant moved into the property on the 2nd October 2017. A Council Tax Bill for £29.05 has been received from Teignbridge District Council for the period from 25th September to 1st October when the house was untenanted.
70.2 Remembrance Sunday
The Clerk requested clarification regarding the purchase of a Poppy Wreath for presentation at the Whitestone Parish Church Service on the 10th November. It was resolved that if the Poppy Wreath from last year is still available a new one should not be purchased but a donation of £20 should be sent to the Royal British Legion to support the Poppy Appeal,
70.3 Whitestone Parish Hall Committee of Management
Dr Jane Richards, Chairman of the Hall Management Committee, has informed the Council that as from the 1st April 2018 they would no longer require the historic arrangement of a contribution from the Parish Council towards the wage of the cleaner for the Hall to continue. However the Parish Council would be charged for the use of the Hall for their meetings at the local organisation rate. The Clerk informed the meeting of the monetary implications regarding this change and after discussion the Council resolved that as Trustees of the Parish Hall paying a hire charge was inappropriate and therefore a donation of £160 per annum would be offered to the Parish Hall Committee commencing in April 2018 as a goodwill gesture to cover regular and exceptional meetings.
70.4 Crossway Park
The Annual Play Park Inspection was completed by the Play Inspection Company on the 31st August and the report was circulated to all Councillors. Cllr Hickman said that the report has shown that on the whole there were no major deficiencies to be dealt with but he felt that the repairs needed on the Multi Play Activity Equipment should be referred back to Sovereign Leisure who had supplied the apparatus as experts in the maintenance of this type of equipment.
70.5 Teignbridge District Council Elector Fund 2017-18
The Clerk reported receiving information that this Fund is now open and the Parish Council could make a claim for a grant up to £640 which application must be submitted by 3rd February.
70.6 Speed Activity Signs
Cllr Hickman raised the issue of vehicle activated speed signs being installed within the village and various situations were suggested based on previous reports on potentially dangerous situations which might be most effective without damaging the environment and causing light intrusion.
70.7 Environmental improvements
Cllr Hickman suggested areas which could benefit from improvements such as the bus shelter area and the possibility of installing planters beside the “Whitestone Signs” at the village edge which could be filled with flowers. He has also contacted Mr Pike regarding the milk churn stand which has been ascertained as belonging to him. A suggestion is to obtain an old farm implement which could be placed on it to enhance the area. The condition of the Nadderwater triangle was also raised by Cllr Baird who suggested that flower troughs may be available and arrangements put in place to ensure regular cutting of the grass. The meeting agreed that any enhancement to the roads leading into the village would be of advantage.
70.8 Condition of Public Footpath adjoining Crossway Park
Cllr Munro reported that the grass has been cut back on this footpath.
71. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
71.1 Cllr Hickman reported on attending the Teignbridge Association of Local Councils meeting together with Cllr Reed on 27th September.
71.2 Cllr Hickman reported that the glass on the telephone box at Nadderwater has now been repaired and the vegetation around it has been cut back. The line at the box in Whitestone is now in working order. He requested that two volunteers regularly check that these important facilities are in working order.
72. FINANCE
72.1 Bank Balance at Nat West at 30th September 2017
Current A/c |
£200.00 |
Business Reserve A/c 1 |
£27,898.38 |
Business Reserve A/c 2 |
£3,403.81 |
£31,502.19 |
Income
72.2 1 School Houses rent for August/September £675.00 ‐ £64.80 includes £10.80 VAT = £610.20.
72.3 2 School Houses rent to 25th September £447.12 ‐ £42.92 includes £7.15 VAT = £404.20
72.4 Teignbridge District Council 2nd half year Precept £3,000.00
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillors Belt and Munro.
72.5 Whitestone Parish Hall Management Committee (October) £108.00 Cheque 360.
72.6 Clerk&rsquo:s quarterly salary/expenses £308.92 Cheque 361
72.7 The Play Inspection Company Ltd £78.00 (includes £13 VAT) Cheque 362
72.8 Mr Dicker ‐ Grounds Maintenance £413.32 Cheque 363
72.9 Teignbridge District Council ‐ Council Tax 2 School Houses £29.05 Cheque 364
72.10 Devon Association of Local Councils AGM Conference 10/10/17 £50.00 Cheque 365
73. CORRESPONDENCE
73.1 Campaign to Protect Rural England has written to ask for support by the Parish Council joining the membership at a cost of £36. Following discussion it was decided not to take up this offer.
73.2 Information received from Devon Highways Services Manager regarding the filling of grit bins prior to the start of the winter period. Following a request from Highways Cllr Hickman agreed to inspect the bins.
74. REPORTS
74.1 Cllrs Rose and Belt reported on their attendance at the DALC Conference where they had attended various workshops which they had found most interesting. Councillor Rose noted that Ms Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, in answering a question regarding the lack of local policing and contact points for the police told the gathering that a ‘Community Safety Partnership’ link officer for the Teignbridge area may be invited to talk about policing in the community at the Parish Hall. The link officer is Ms Vicky Booty.
74.2 Cllr Belt reported on the poor state of the posts at the bus stop area.
74.3 Cllr Baird asked if some investigation could be made into the lack of bus service through the village regarding the 7pm bus into Exeter.
74.4 Cllr Hickman stated that all the action points will be undertaken from these minutes.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Greenfield gave the following report on behalf of the Parish Plan Steering Committee:- “The Parish Plan Steering Group Committee is currently in the last stages of the pre-printing quality assurance of the appendices to the final plan document. Committee members wish to thank the Parish Council for their support for the Action Plan as expressed at the September Parish Council meeting.”
The meeting closed at 9.50pm