Whitestone Parish Council

Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Thursday 13^th September 2018 at 7.30pm.

Attendance:
Chairman − Councillor L Hickman
Councillors Ms T Baird, Mrs M Belt, Mrs L Fairley, D Munro, Mrs B Netherway, R Phillips, A Reed
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mrs V Bryant (left meeting at 7.45pm), Mrs L Hickman (left meeting at 8pm), Mrs S Greenfield,. Mr E Hyde (left meeting at 8.05pm).

Apologies: Councillor A Rose, District Councillor P Bromell

62. Cllr Hickman opened the meeting and the Minutes of the Council Meetings held on Thursday 12^th July 2018 and 9^th August 2018 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chairman.

63. Parish Plan Action Day Report and Parish Enhancements

At the request of Mrs Bryant who was in attendance regarding this issue this item was brought forward on the agenda. Mrs Bryant reported on the Open Day which had been held and supplied notes which had been taken on the day and these had been circulated to all Councillors. She said that she was here to offer her services as a facilitator to form a steering group to take the matters raised to the next levels. Cllr Hickman thanked her on behalf of the parishioners and in accepting her kind offer indicated that he would be her contact on behalf of the Parish Council in order to complete the necessary improvements for the Parish. Mrs Bryant then left the meeting at 7.45pm.

64. PLANNING

Cllr Reed declared an interest in the application for West Town, Tedburn Road

Planning applications were examined and discussed and the subsequent observations were confirmed to be relayed to Teignbridge District Council

64.1 Householder Application for Planning Permission

18/00581/FUL Change hipped roof to gables, new bay window, new porch, new canopy roof, replace garage doors with windows, remove door in garage and replace with window and new chimney at Balls Oak, Tedburn St Mary. This application was supported.

Planning Application

64.2 18/01709/VAR Variation of condition 2 on planning permission 17/00574 (Amendments to elevation treatment external hard surfacing and curtilage size to approved dwelling under 16/03302/NPA) to amend elevational treatment and confirm materials on land west of Hindcross. This application was supported.

64.3 18/01627/NPA Application for Prior Approval under Part 3 Class Q (a) and (b) and paragraph W of the GDPO change of use of agricultural building to a dwelling at West Town, Tedburn Road. This application was not supported for the following reasons:-

(a) Lack of a detailed structural survey that supports the application under class Q. Especially as the application refers to a “Chicken Shed” that implies that the structure does not have an adequate substantial structure.
(b) The information does not appear to include a “bat survey” in an area known for bats.
(c) The access from Westtown onto the C50( Tedburn Road) is totally inadequate onto this known high speed road. Additionally leaving Westown turning right to Tedburn St Mary vehicles have to leave the road and turn onto a rough area on the side of the road and on entering Westtown from the same direction vehicles have to leave the highway on this rough area in order to make the turn. This is all while high speed traffic is passing by - thus an unacceptable hazard to the current occupants that would increase with further development.
(d) The information appears to indicate that the development would be larger that the current curtilage of the Chicken Shed.

64.5 18/01686/FUL Replace existing front conservatory with lean-to extension and rebuild barn to form additional accommodation at East Kent Farmhouse. Mr Hyde who was in attendance in support of this application was allowed to give explanations and answered questions from the Council. This application was supported.

The Clerk notified the Council of the following planning decisions from Teignbridge District Council:-

Grant of conditional planning permission

64.6 18/00989/FUL Demolition of existing outbuilding and erection of double garage, workshop and storage building at Way Farm.

64.7 18/00599/FUL Agricultural worker’s dwelling at Upper Kingswell Farm.

Grant of Request for Prior Approval

64.8 18/01298/NPA Application for Prior Approval under Part 3 Class Q (a) and (b) and paragraph W of the GDPO for change of use of agricultural building to a dwelling at Apple Orchard Barn, Styles Barton.

Refusal of Request for Prior Approval

64.9 18/01239/NPA Application for Prior Approval under Part 3 Class Q (a) and (b) and paragraph W of the GDPO for change of use of agricultural buildings to two dwellings at Friars Ball Farm, Rowhorne Road.

Refusal of Planning Permission

64.10 18/01299/FUL General purpose agricultural building at Ridgeway

65. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

65.1 Completion of Annual Audit

The Clerk reported on the successful conclusion of the Annual Audit by the Audit Commission for 2017/18 and the audit report from PKF Littlejohn LLP stating that no matters have given cause for concern. 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 authorised for payment at the August Council meeting. A vote of thanks was given to the Clerk for the work entailed in this process.

65.2 Donation of £397.18 from Whitestone Villlage Fete

Thanks were expressed for this donation and enquiries would be made regarding the purchase of additional play equipment for Crossway Park with a suggestion that it might include a climbing frame for older children

65.3 Re-configuration of Defibrillator at Parish Hall

This matter has been investigated in conjunction with the Parish Hall Committee and a decision reached to re-house the existing defibrillator at present within the Hall in a unit on the exterior of the Hall as it would need an electrical supply in order for the unit to be kept heated. Quotations had been sourced at (a) £717.60 including VAT, (b) £642 + VAT and £1145 + VAT. After discussion it was resolved that the unit be purchased at a cost of £717.60 as this was the one recommended by the Westcountry Ambulance Service. The installation would be arranged with the Parish Hall Committee.

There was a further suggestion that another defibrillator might be situated at the Royal Oak Nadderwater but this will be discussed at a future meeting.

65.4 School Houses

Cllr Reed reported that there were no areas of concern over the past month.

65.5 Crossway Park

It was reported that the shed having been now installed the trellis and the “Fred’s Patch” sign had been replaced. One of the cradle seats on the swing had been vandalised and had to be removed. Mrs Oakey has written to the Council reporting on the Community Garden and requesting that the walnut tree should be pruned as the huge branches overhang practically all the garden.

65.6 Report on Les Pike Bench

Cllr Hickman reported that this seat needed to be replaced and some discussion regarding a replacement took place. A seat has been purchased for installation in the bus stop area and it was suggestion that this might be used as a replacement for the time being and another seat be obtained to replace the Les Pike seat.

65.7 Devon Association of Parish Councils AGM

It was confirmed that this will take place on Wednesday 3^rd October 10am to 4pm at a cost of £25 per head. Cllr Belt and Cllr Hickman were nominated to attend. It was resolved that a card and flowers should be sent to Mrs Lesley Smith who is retiring at Secretary to the Association after several years.

65.8 Review of Standing Orders and Financial Regulations

Cllr Hickman reported that he has had discussions regarding these and the matter will be deferred to the October meeting.

66. FINANCE

Income

66.1 Donation from Whitestone Village Fete for Crossway Park £397.18

66.2 1 School Houses rent to 29^th September £675 - £64.80 (includes £10.80 VAT) = £610.20

66.3 2 School Houses rent to 1^st October £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 Munro

66.4 Whitestone Parish Hall (meetings) £91.88 (Cheque No 417)

66.5 Clerk’s expenses £45.92 (Cheque No 418)

66.6 Bradfords (paving slabs) £56.16 (includes £9.36 VAT) (Cheque No 420)

67. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN

67.1 Cllr Hickman reported that he had requested Peter Hanson to use his email connections to find out parishioners’ views on the installation of adult sport and fitness equipment at Crossway Park and this had resulted on 19 for and 11 against. It is hoped that this questionnaire could also be done through the Whitestone website to get more responses.

67.2 Information has been received from Devon County Council that there will be road closures within the County between17th September 2018 and 31^st March 2019 to carry out road resurfacing, machine patching and hand patching and drainage works. The one road within the Whitestone Parish will be Pound Lane.

68. CORRESPONDENCE

68.1 An invitation was received to attend the Dawlish Annual Civic Service on 30^th September but no Councillors were able to accept.

68.2 Devon County Council had notified that infilling of agricultural land with inert material will be carried out at Welwyn Farm.

68.3 A notice regarding a Review of he Statement of principles on the Gambling Act 2005 has been posted on the noticeboard

68.4 A letter of thanks has been received from the Short Mat Bowls group for the grant of £250 to facilitate the purchase of some smaller bowls and towards the Open Day held on 1^st September which had proved very successful.

69. REPORTS

Cllr Reed left the meeting at 9.10pm

69.1 Clr Netherway and Cllr Baird raised concerns regarding potholes within the parish and Cllr Hickman referred them to the Devon County Council website where potholes could be reported direct on a map

69.2 Cllr Fairley reported she still had concerns regarding the speed of traffic on the C50 road where there had been three more accidents.

69.3 Cllr Belt reported on the recent death of Mrs Joyce Annear at the age of 104 and the Clerk was instructed to send a card of condolence on behalf of the Parish Council.

69.4 Cllr Belt reported receiving complaints from residents at Crossway regarding inconsiderate parking causing congestion and concerns regarding the access should an emergency service vehicle be required.

The meeting closed at 9.25pm