Whitestone Parish Council
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall on Thursday 8th November 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 Rose, A Reed. (Councillors Fairley and Netherway left the meeting at 8.05pm)
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mrs L Hickman (left the meeting at 8pm), Mrs B Bramhall, Mr and Mrs Kindred, Mr G Fielding, (these four persons left the meeting at 8.15pm) Mrs S Greenfield
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Kindred indicated that together with her husband, Mrs Bramhall and Mr Fielding they were in attendance regarding the planning application for Nizhoni and the Chairman indicated that they would be given the opportunity to talk to the Council with their concerns.
77. Cllr Hickman then opened the meeting and the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 11th October 2018 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chairman.
78. PLANNING
Planning Application
78.1 18/02161/FUL Retention of outbuilding for business purposes (Use Class B1c) at Nizhoni, Halsfordwood Lane. Copies of the application together with letters of complaint had been distributed to the Councillors and Cllr Hickman then closed the meeting to allow Mrs Kindred to read a statement giving the views of the neighbouring residents who were opposed to the application being granted. The meeting was then re-opened and Cllr Hickman addressed the Council concerning what was in fact a retrospective planning application. After consideration the Council proposed that the application should not be supported on the following grounds:-
• Noise from the activity will have a disproportionate effect on this valley environment and the people who live in the immediate area in a small number of homes.
• The applicant references the Teignbridge Local Plan Section S22 in support of his application. The proposed business does not appear to fulfil the criterion in this section
• The area is designated an Area of Great Landscape Value. Therefore the proposal is inconsistent with this definition and the aspirations of the Whitestone Parish Plan
• It is a concern that if permission is granted further expansion will take place in future to the detriment of this valley environment. Currently the Parish Council is given to understand a further workshop/shed is under construction on this site that is not mentioned in this application.
• The application implies that the new workshop/shed replaces a previous outbuilding but it is believed that this is not the case.
Planning Notification
78.2 18/02201/DEM Notification received of application for the demolition of barns at Friars Ball Farm following a previous application for change of use from agricultural buildings to dwellings having been turned down in September 2018.
Grant of Request for Prior Approval.
78.3 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
Variation of Condition following Grant of Prior Approval
78.4 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.
79. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
79.1 School Houses. Cllr Reed reported that Carter Geering have completed a six monthly report on the houses and will be obtaining quotes for work needed to the flat roof on the back extension at No 1 School Houses
79.2 Re-configuration of Defibrillator at Parish Hall. Cllr Hickman reported that the cabinet for the housing of the defibrillator has now been placed in position outside the Parish Hall and thanks were expressed to Jock Kirkpatrick for his assistance with this. The defibrillator will be housed in the cabinet as soon as the signs indicating its usage have been received and reassurance has been received from SWAST that the repositioned AED is on their database.
79.3 Crossway Park. Cllr Hickman reported a small group consisting of Cllrs Rose, Fairley and himself are in the process of obtaining/considering quotes for the proposed climbing frame, matting under picnic tables and repair of the matting under the senior swings. The Clerk reported that the Annual Inspection of the Park has been completed and this was distributed to Councillors. Appropriate action will be discussed at a future meeting. Cllr Hickman reported that the cradle seat which had been removed from the swing owing to damage has now been replaced. Cllr Hickman reported that he had investigated the pruning of the walnut tree and has been informed by the tree surgeon that it is necessary to prune this when it is in full leaf and was given a price of £288 to complete this. As it was obviously not the season to complete this work this will be given the go ahead in the spring. He informed the meeting that the hedges on the east and north side have now been cut back and he is approaching a parishioner who carries out garden maintenance regarding other overgrown hedging as previously agreed by the Parish Council.
79.4 Parish Plan - Parish Enhancements. A progress update was received from Vicky Bryant and distributed to Councillors.
79.5 Grant System for Clubs The Parish Council would like to reiterate the invitation to Parish groups to apply for a grant that will enable the individual group to be established, maintained or developed. Fundamentally with an underlying aim of connecting people within the Parish. Please ask for a Grant Application Form from Pat Vaughan (Clerk to the Parish Council), 145 Sweetbrier Lane, Exeter, EX1 3AP, by telephone 01392 411628 or email.
80. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
80.1 Cllr Hickman reported that he is in the process of completing the grit bin survey.
80.2 Following the proposal raised at the previous meeting discussion took place regarding a further donation to the British Legion Poppy Appeal in remembrance of the 100 year centenary of the ending of World War One and Councillors were in agreement that a donation of £100 be made.
80.3 Cllr Hickman also asked for opinions regarding a small remembrance garden being established at the bus stop area as an appropriate development on this special anniversary. This was thought to be a good idea he was asked to explore this idea further.
80.4 It was reported that the replacement bench for the Les Pike bench has now been obtained and will be put in place shortly. On removing the plaque from the bench this had been found to be split and Cllr Hickman recommended that the Parish Council should provide a replacement and this was agreed.
80.5 The flowering season is now coming to an end and Cllr Hickman reported finding cheaper prices for made trugs to placed around the base of the east and west village signs. Further trugs would be developed if the triangle could be maintained by a volunteer. Councillors reaffirmed their support to go ahead.
80.6 It was reported that Mr Thom is still completing his Road Warden training.
80.7 Cllr Hickman reported that he will be attending the Remembrance Service on Sunday to lay the wreath and he has also been requested to read the names of those parishioners who died in the service of their country.
80.8 He has again received feedback from parishioners who find the litter signs provided by Teignbridge District Council provocative and questioned their effectiveness. It was suggested that these be moved to other sites within the parish as Councillors felt this initiative should be supported. Future sites for the signage to be discussed further.
81. FINANCE
81.1 Draft Budget for 2019//20
The draft budget has been distributed and will be discussed at the December meeting with a view to agreeing the budget for the forthcoming financial year. It was reported that the issues of rents for School Houses has been discussed with Carter Geering. Their recommended financial plan will be adopted.
Income
81.2 Teignbridge District Council Community Infrastructure Levy £1,631.91
81.3 1 School Houses rent to 29th November 2018 £675 - £64.80 (includes £10.80 VAT) = £610.20
81.4 2 School Houses rent to 1st December £800.00 ‐ £76.80 (includes £12.80 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
81.5 Streetscape (Products & Services) Ltd £127.68 (includes £21.28 VAT) (Cheque No 426)
81.6 Clerk’s expenses £108.40 (Cheque No 427)
81.7 St Bridget Nurseries £449.00 (includes £74.83 VAT) (Cheque No 428)
81.8 Edwin Tucker & Sons Ltd £165.00 (includes £27.50 VAT) (Cheque No 429)
81.9 Devon Association of Local Councils £50.00 (Cheque No 430)
81.10 Play Inspection Company £78.00 (includes £13 VAT) (Cheque No 431)
81.11 Royal British Legion £100 (Cheque No 432)
81.12 C R Kibbey (repair at 1 School House) £60 includes £10 VAT) paid through Carter Geering
82. CORRESPONDENCE
82.1 Teignbridge Christmas Waste and Recycling information ‐ sent to Jock Kirkpatrick for publication.
82.2 British Legion Poppy Appeal ‐ thanks for the donation of £20 made in lieu of purchase of a Poppy Wreath.
83. REPORTS
82.1 Cllr Rose reported blocked drains at Heath Cross. He also congratulated Mrs Lesley Hickman on the notice which had been placed by the bus stop to advertise the coming Whitestone Remembrance concert and sing-a-long on Sunday 11th November.
83.2 Cllr Rose raised concerns regarding an unscheduled motorcycle event published to take place on Sunday next, 11th November and requested that representation be made to Teignbridge District Council regarding this. He stated that this was not one of the permitted days in the calendar and also it was unsuitable for the day (Remembrance Sunday) on which it was taking place.
82.3 Cllr Belt reported that when attending the DALC AGM she had declared an interest in the Commissioner’s Councillor Advocate Scheme which is being run by the Devon & Cornwall police and she distributed a letter she has received from them.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mrs Greenfield reminded Cllr Hickman of the need to include grit bags in his grit bin survey.
The meeting closed at 9.40pm.