Whitestone Parish Council

Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 11^th July 2019.

Attendance:
Chairman – Councillor N Thom
Councillors M Belt (left at 7.45pm through illness) R Bramhall, V Bryant, R Hunt, D Jones, S Llewelyn, T Miles.
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mrs D Radford Lewis – left at 7.50pm. Mrs S Greenfield.

Apologies for absence: Councillors L Fairley and P Lee, County Councillor A Connett, District Councillors A Swain, C Nuttall and A Foden

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mrs Radford Lewis had come to inform the meeting that an event “Proms on the Park” would be taking place at Rowhorne Farm from 4pm to midnight and she felt that it would create excessive noise in the area to the detriment of farming communities in the area. She is contacting Mr Varker regarding this as she feels that prior notice should have been given to neighbours. She understands that an entertainment licence has been obtained for the event. Apparently there will be fireworks at midnight to end of the event. She left the meeting after giving her report.

Mrs Greenfield thanked those concerned for the filling of the potholes in Church Lane

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 13^th June having been circulated were taken as read and signed by the Chairman with an amendment to Minute 46.6 (Neighbourhood Plan) where Teignbridge District Council was replaced by Community for the Protection of Rural England.

It was agreed by the meeting that an “Actions Arising” statement should be made after each agenda item which would consist simply of a statement of the action and which Councillor was responsible for that action.

PLANNING

The following planning applications were examined and discussed and the subsequent observations were confirmed to be relayed to Teignbridge District Council

53.1 18/01169/FUL Change of use and conversion of agricultural building to a live/work unit at Springdale Farm.

Oppose the application as it is believed that the replacement barn was granted permission for agricultural use only.

53.2 19/00322/FUL Single storey side extension at 26 Merrymeet

This application has already been granted

53.3 19/01109/FUL External changes to existing B8 building including new external wall, new windows and change to external material at Unit 2 Rebecca Springs

No objections

53.4 19/01126/FUL External alterations including raising of roof, dormer window, additional windows and doors and changes to external materials (prior approval to create a dwelling permitted under 16/01549/NPA) on building at Rebecca Springs, Nadderwater

No objections but concerns of privacy on neighbouring properties in the area

53.5 19/01304/AGR Extension to existing agricultural building at Woodhay Farm.

Grant of Request for Prior Approval

19/00835/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.

MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

54.1 Review of 2019/20 Budget

Documentation was discussed and it was agreed that the £12,000 allocated in Parish Projects be allocated to pay for the Adult Exercise Equipment which costs £10,800. It was agreed that the Quarterly Outcome will be published with the minutes in the Parish Magazine and on the Whitestone website. Cllr Miles had requested to see the Asset Register and associated insurance documentation and it was agreed that the Asset Group review insurance cover, replacement costs and results of the annual inspection of Crossway Park.

Actions Arising:- A review of the information contained in the Asset Register to be completed by the Asset Group (Cllr Bramhall)

54.2 Installation of telephone line/internet access at Parish Hall

Further to the request from the Hall Committee in February 2019 for the Parish Council to make a grant to fund the installation of a telephone line/internet access at the Hall after consideration of the expenditure now requested it was resolved that a one time grant of £195 should be made.

54.3 School Houses

Plumbing repairs in kitchen No 1 had been arranged by Carter Geering in May.

54.4 Crossway Park

The installation of “Pick up Sticks” play equipment has taken place. The adult exercise equipment is proving to be popular and it was agreed that a picnic table should be purchased to be placed in the area for the convenience of those using the equipment.

54.5 Teignbridge Association of Local Councils meeting and AGM

Cllr Miles reported on the meeting which she and Cllr Bramhall had attended on the 27^th June.

54.6 Neighbourhood Planning

Cllr Jones reported on investigations he had made regarding this issue. It was proposed and seconded that Cllr Jones was requested to arrange for Jo Widdicombe to brief Parish Councillors on the advantages and disadvantages of neighbourhood planning as soon as possible. It was resolved that the Parish Council should join the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England at a cost of £36.00 per annum

Actions arising:- Meeting of Councillors with consultant Jo Widdicombe. (Cllr Jones)

54.7 Devon Communities Together Rural Futures Conference 28^th June 2019

Councillors had attended this conference and it was agreed that Cllr Miles would be the Parish Council representative to report on future activities.

Actions arising: Contact Devon Communities for advice (Cllr Bramhall).

54.8 Parish Paths

Cllr Bryant reported having obtained up to date maps of the Parish Paths and Bridleways and Cllr Thom will place a new one in the allocated notice board outside the Hall.

54.9 Memorial Garden

After consideration the Council has decided not to proceed with the previous proposal to commission a memorial garden in the Parish. The Council wish to make it clear that it fully acknowledges the debt owed to those who fell in the two World Wars but is aware of the passage of time and the need to focus Council activities on current concerns.

MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Cllr Thom reported that the dog bins within the village are being moved to more convenient places. He will be responsible for the picnic bench to be purchased and installed by the adult exercise equipment. He has now completed his training for the filling of potholes and is making enquiries regarding future progress for this development. The issues of traffic speed through the parish had been raised by several residents and he intends to place this item on the next Parish Council agenda and hopes that Councillors will bring forward any comments on this issue to the next meeting.

Actions arising: Councillors to comment on traffic flow throughout the parish.

FINANCE

56.1 Bank Balance at Nat West at 30^th June 2019

Current A/c	£200.00
Business Reserve A/c 1	£41,146.16
Business Reserve A/c 2	£3,410.42
	£44,756.58

Income

56.2 1 School Houses rent to 30^th July 2019 £725.00 - £69.60 (includes £11.60 VAT) = £655.40

56.3 2 School Houses rent to 1^st August 2019 £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 will be signed by Councillor Belt and RFO Pat Vaughan.

56.4 Clerk’s quarterly salary/expenses £320.32 (cheque 468)

56.5 Devon Tree Services £288.00 (includes £48.00 VAT) (cheque 469)

56.6 R&M Utility and Civil Engineering Services Ltd £270.00 (includes £45.00 VAT) (cheque 470)

56.7 Devon Association of Local Councils - Chairmanship Course £36.00 (includes £6.00 VAT) and Councillors Course £201.49 (includes £33.00 VAT) = £237.49. (cheque 471)

56.8 Hampshire Flag Co Ltd £52.73 (includes £8.79 VAT + postage/packing) (cheque 472)

56.9 Whitestone Parish Hall Committee £195.00 (cheque 473)

56.10 Campaign to Protect Rural England £36.00 (cheque 474)

56.11 C R Kibbey Ltd £264.00 (includes £44 VAT) paid through Carter Geering

CORRESPONDENCE

57.1 The Clerk reported that Mr Kirkpatrick has fitted a replacement lock to the defibrillator cabinet and it is working flawlessly. He reports that even though the pads for connecting the defibrillator to the body have never been used their shelf life expires on 9^th November and will be due for replacement which is possibly something for discussion at the October Parish Council meeting.

57.2 Cllr Fairley has ordered the Red Ensign Flag and has paid by card over the phone so will need to be reimbursed (see minute 56.8). She says the plan is to fly the flag on 3^rd September 2019, Merchant Navy Day at St Catherines Church and maybe the Chairs of the Parish Council and Parochial Church Council could be in attendance when the flag is raised.

REPORTS

58.1 Cllr Hunt said he had a complaint from the tenants at 1 School Houses that when the Tree Services had reduced the walnut tree in the Community Garden they had also cut back climbing honeysuckle at the rear of their garden which has taken away the privacy they had. In view of this it was requested that the Parish Council should supply a shrub or a tree to replace this screening and it was resolved that this should take place.

58.2 Cllr Jones said that the Parish Plan was now on the Whitestone website and gave thanks to Mrs Greenfield who had been instrumental in completing this project.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 12^th September 2019 as no meeting is scheduled for August unless in special circumstances.

The meeting closed at 10pm.