Whitestone Parish Council
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Thursday 8th March 2018 at 7.30pm.
Attendance:
Chairman - Councillor L Hickman
Councillors Ms T Baird, Mrs B Bramhall, Mrs M Belt, D Munro, Mrs B Netherway, R Phillips, A Reed.
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council.
Mr and Mrs Mingo, Mrs M Dyer, Ms L Dyer, Mrs S Greenfield,
Apologies Cllrs Mrs L Fairley, A Rose, District Councillor P Bromell
19. Cllr Hickman opened the meeting and the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 15th February 2018 having been circulated were taken as read and signed by the Chairman.
20 Arising from the minutes Cllr Hickman gave some explanations regarding the Letting Agents responsibilities regarding the School Houses and some discussion ensued regarding Cllr Bramhall’s query regarding the selection of tenants for the houses.
21. PLANNING
Planning Applications
The following applications having been circulated prior to the meeting were discussed with the subsequent observations to be relayed back to Teignbridge District Council
21.1 18/00284/VAR Variation of conditions 2 & 3 on planning permission 1700550/FUL (Replacement dwelling and associated works) to make alterations to approved heights, ground levels and fenestration at Folley Hill, Folley Lane. No objections
21.2 18/00358/FUL Demolition of existing outbuilding and erection of replacement double garage, workshop and storage area at Way Farm. No objections
21.3 18/00419/CLDE Certificate of Lawfulness for existing use of land with associated development including siting of caravan for human habitation with associated wooden building and residential access at Yonder Ridge, Rowhorne Road. No objections but disappointment was expressed that planning is given on a time basis over 10 years rather than through the application for planning process.
22. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION.
22.1 Application for a Grant - A very full and comprehensive application for a grant for repairs to the bells at St Catherines Church Whitestone by the Whitestone PCC. The total cost being £7,284 and although fund raising and donations have taken place there is a remaining amount of £1,079.29 outstanding . Following discussion it was unanimously resolved that a grant of £1,079.29 should be made to what is part of the heritage of the Parish to allow the necessary work to be completed.
22.2 School Houses − It was reported that a PAT Electrical Test is to be carried out on 2 School Houses and also repairs to the guttering. A repair to rear UPVC door at 2 School House was organised by Carter Geering at a cost of £84.87.
22.3 Crossway Park − New doors have been fitted to the garages following Health and Safety concerns and two sets of keys have been given to Cllr Belt together with a key for the gate into the play area.
Cllr Belt raised the question of the lawn mower shed which is badly in need of attention and appears to be in a hazardous state and Cllr Hickman said this would be investigated.
Cllr Bramhall raised the question of the flooring under the swings being badly worn.
23. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
23.1 Cllr Hickman said he had received information from Peter Hanson that he would no longer be reporting on the Motor Cross Events through his e-mail contacts as he felt it was not consistent with the aim of the local e-mail system.
23.2 Derek Fisher had sent all the details regarding the defibrillator in the Parish Hall as he seemed to be under the misapprehension that the Parish Council would be moving this to a new external position to ease access in the event of an emergency and taking on the responsibility. Some discussion took place and it was confirmed that this was not the case although there had been previous discussions in regard to the potential re-use of telephone boxes if the public phones became redundant or as part of the bus shelter improvement it was verified that neither of these were imminent. However, if the developments went ahead in the future there was strong support for a second defibrillator to be put in place rather than repositioning the current machine from the Parish Hall. The information folder on the current defibrillator would be returned to Mr Fisher to support the arrangements presently in place. The Parish Council confirmed continued support for the maintenance of the current machine.
23.3 Discussion took place regarding the distribution of draft minutes and Cllr Hickman said that these should go forward as issued to be ratified at the following Council meeting and not altered in advance of that meeting.
23.4 Cllr Hickman thanked Cllr Belt for all her help with the organisation of the Water Board delivery of bottled water to the Parish Hall during the recent water cuts and also for delivering some of it to residents.
24. FINANCE
Income
24.1 1 School Houses rent to 30th March £675.00 - £64.80 (includes £10.80 VAT) = £610.20
24.2 2 School Houses rent to 1st April £800.00 − £76.80 (includes £12.80 VAT) = £723.20
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillors Belt and Phillips.
24.3 Whitestone PCC £1,079.29 − Cheque No 1390
24.4 Whitestone Parish Hall Management Committee (March) £108.00 − Cheque No 1391
24.5 Garage Doors South West £1,194.00 (includes £199 VAT) − Cheque No 1392
24.6 Clerk’s quarterly salary/expenses £281.71 − Cheque No 1393
24.7 SG Property Maintenance £64.87 (Paid through Carter Geering)
25. CORRESPONDENCE
25.1 Minutes of the Committee of Management for the Parish Hall meeting held on 21st February
25.2 Mr Derek Fisher has written to say that the new Booking Clerk for the Hall is Caroline Honeywell on 01392 811245 (email merrygirl1@hotmail.com) and also notified the Clerk of the new key code for accessing the Hall. Derek and Pauline Fisher will shortly be leaving Whitestone although Derek will be staying on as Secretary for the Hall for a while.
25.3 Teignbridge Environmental Control requested further details about a complaint regarding a leaking septic tank and a map was passed to Cllr Baird which she will get the resident to annotate.
25.4 Letter of complaint received from Judy Sanford and Steve Whitmore regarding litter signs in village. These signs were put up in February following a request from a Teignbridge District Council initiative regarding a litter prevention campaign launched in November 2017.
25,5 Notification of new General Data Protection Regulations due to come into force in May 2018. The Clerk reported a 65 page document regarding this and said that there was a 2 hour short course at £40 per person on Thursday 19th April. After discussion it was authorised that two places should be booked for the Clerk and Cllr Hickman to attend.
26. REPORTS
26.1 Cllr Reed felt that Highways should again be made aware of the potholes throughout the Parish.
26.2 Cllr Bramhall said that following a recent enquiry from a parishioner she had investigated the procedures regarding the role of the Parish Council in relationship to the Parish Hall and found that although the Parish Council are named as the Custodian Trustees the administration of the Hall is the responsibility of the Committee of Management who are a registered charity.
26.3 Cllr Bramhall asked that the details of the Budget which was passed in December 2017 should be shown on the Council website.
26.4 Cllr Bramhall asked that the change of officers for the Council should be placed on the April agenda for discussion prior to the May meeting.
26.5 Cllr Netherway said that she had noted Devon County officers and Police on the road by Glebe and Bickhams Farm where the road surface was so very bad which may mean that some action was being taken.
26,6 Cllr Belt said that the finger post for the Parish Hall was down. Before contacting the District Council ownership of the post needs to be confirmed with the Parish Hall Committee as this may not be a T.D.C. responsibility,
26.7 Cllr Belt wished to give thanks to Jock Kirkpatrick and Peter Hanson for their help in the recent water difficulties.
26.8 Cllr Baird reported that the Dartline Bus was not coming through Whitestone as there was a blockage on the road by the Reservoir and people were unaware that it was not running. The Clerk was asked to contact Dartline with some urgency regarding appropriate information for the public.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr and Mrs Mingo complained about the hedge by Chapel Cottage which is causing problems for traffic and in particular for cyclists. Further contact will be made to the appropriate department.
The meeting closed at 9.05pm.
Signed ____________________ 12th April 2018