Whitestone Road sign

Whitestone Parish Council

Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 12th September 2019.

Attendance:
Chairman – Councillor N Thom
Councillors R Bramhall, V Bryant, L Fairley, D Jones, T Miles.
County Councillor A Connett
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council
Mr and Mrs Moore, Mrs B Bramhall, Mrs B Netherway, Mrs S Greenfield.

Apologies for absence: Councillors M Belt, R Hunt, P Lee, S Llewelyn, District Councillor A Swain.

Cllr Thom opened the meeting and County Councillor Connett asked if he could give his report at the commencement of the meeting as he had only just made the train journey from London and was anxious to return home and Cllr Thom agreed. 

  1. Cllr Connett said there were two items he wished to raise – firstly the ongoing complaints regarding speed through the Parish and he indicated that this was being looked into by Devon County. He confirmed that Devon County highways office have checked all the signs and their positions and they are legally correct and therefore speeding enforcement by the Police was possible. He said if Whitestone Councillors wished to have a meeting with Devon County on traffic issues he would be pleased to arrange this and Cllr Bramhall suggested a sub committee be formed to take this issue further and this was agreed. 

The second matter was the planning application before Devon County for Lower Hare Farm. He understood the frustration of the Council but said that this was still under review as the applicant had not yet produced the environmental action report and additional information to support his application. Cllr Connett had spoken with the Chief Planning Officer who said that it was not anticipated that this would not be resolved until the November meeting at the very earliest.

Cllr Thom thanked Cllr Connett for his comments and he left the meeting at 7.45pm

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mr and Mrs Moore said they were in attendance at the request of Mr Hanson who had been instrumental in raising this issue with the Parish Council and had instigated the purchase of a speed gun which had been used to assess the speed of vehicles and some discussion took place regarding this issue. They left the meeting at 7.50pm

  1. Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 11th July having been circulated were taken as read and signed by the Chairman.

  1. PLANNING

Cllr Miles declared an interest in the planning application for Trelake Farm. Cllr Jones did not wish to comment on the application.

Planning Applications

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

61.1 19/01647/FUL Demolition of stable/barn and construction of replacement holiday cottage at Trelake Farm, Tedburn Road. The meeting was closed to allow Mrs Miles to answer some queries raised. The meeting was reconvened the Council raised no concerns regarding the application,

Action from this application was that Cllr Thom would clarify Teignbridge District Council position with regard to applications that were clearly in breach of their own AGLV policy.

61.3 19/01482/FUL Two storey side extensions and replacement windows and doors at Brook Cottage, Nadderwater. This application was supported.

61.4 19/01444/FUL Replacement barn with B1(a) office above at Hurston Farm. This application was not supported.

The Clerk reported on the following:-

Grant of Conditional Planning Permission

61.5 19/00322/FUL Single storey side extension at 26 Merrymeet

61.6 19/01109/FUL External changes to existing B8 building including new external wall, new windows and change to external materials at Unit 2, Rebecca Springs.

Refusal of Planning Permission

61.7 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) for building at Rebecca Springs, Nadderwater.

Variation of condition following notice of decision on detailed plans

61.8 19/00907/VAR Removal of condition 1 on planning permission 03972 (new reference 71/00162) relating to agricultural occupancy at Glebe Farm.

Variation of condition following Change of Use

61.9 19/00808/VAR Variation of condition 3 on planning permission 10/01277/COU (use of land for the stationing of two mobile homes, two caravans, a day room and utility room for a gipsy family) to allow two mobile homes, four touring caravans, one day room and one utility room to be stationed on the site at any one time at Exeter View Stables, Rowhorne Road, Nadderwater.

Grant of Request for Prior Approval

61.10 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.

Prior Approval Not Required

61.11 19/01304/AGR Extension to existing agricultural building at Woodhay Farm.

Withdrawal of Application on 12th July

61.12 19/00694/FUL Two storey side extensions and replacement windows and doors at Brook Cottage (please see new application as above).

  1. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

62.1. Speeding through Whitestone

Following a request from Mr Peter Hanson this matter is being pursued through County Councillor Connett and it was agreed that a traffic and speeding subcommittee consisting of Councillors Bramhall, Thoms, Fairley and Bryant would be arranging a meeting at County Hall. Thanks were expressed to Mr Hanson for him bringing this matter to the attention of the Council but it was not felt that he should be renumerated for the purchase of the speed gun as this had not been done with the authorisation of the Council and previous speeding trials had been done under the auspices of Devon County Council as they were the authority to authorise any road signs or improvements.

ACTION: Cllr Bramhall to contact Cllr Connett to accept his invitation for a meeting between Whitestone Parish Council’s Speeding Sub-committee and Devon County Council on traffic issues

62.2 Conclusion of Annual Audit by PKF Littlejohn LLP

Notices regarding the satisfactory conclusion of the Annual Audit have been displayed on Parish noticeboards and on the Whitestone Website.


62.3 Removal of public payphones at Nadderwater and Whitestone

Notification had been received regarding the removal of the phone boxes and it was agreed that BT should be approached with regard to Whitestone keeping their two boxes and Cllr Thom requested suggestions from parishioners regarding the usage to which they could be put. This would be mentioned in the Parish Magazine and it was hoped that some new ideas would be forthcoming. 

ACTION: Clerk to approach BT to purchase the boxes.

62.4 School Houses

Information had been received from Carter Geering that there was a need to replace the off peak consumer unit at 2 School House at a cost of £185 + VAT. This had been investigated by Cllr Bramhall and it was resolved that this should now go ahead. 

ACTION: Clerk to contact Carter Geering to approve the expenditure.

62.5 Neighbourhood Planning

Following a lengthy debate with some polar beliefs it was to be investigated further. The feeling was that Whitestone Parish was probably too small to warrant a full scale plan, however a shortened, targeted approach might be the way forward and the only action agreed was that the Chair would contact Teignbridge District Council with the aim of influencing the ongoing revision of their Local Plan.

ACTION: Cllr Thom to contact Teignbridge District Council regarding a meeting on Whitestone Parish Council’s input into the Local Plan revisions. Cllrs Bramhall, Jones, Miles to investigate with reference to Local Plan. 

62.6 Crossway Park

Completion of installation of “Pickup Sticks” play equipment by Wicksteed Leisure Ltd

Prices for new picnic bench next to adult gym equipment – still under investigation.

Installation of railways sleepers in Community Garden – these have been purchased.

62.7 DALC AGM and Conference – Wednesday 23rd October

Details having been circulated no Councllors in attendance at the meeting are available to attend but the Clerk will enquire from those not here tonight.

62.8 Parish Warden

The Parish Hall Management Committee are unable to take on the role as it would be a breach of their charitable status. Teignbridge District Council have been contacted to see if they are able to act as employers. Failing this the next step would be to offer the role as on a monthly, self-employed basis similar to the grass cutting contract. This is still being investigated by Cllr Thom who will bring a proposal to the October meeting

62.9 Asset Register

It was resolved that this should be adopted and the Clerk reported that she was already in the process of completing this document and Cllr Bramhall offered to help the Clerk with this task.

ACTION: The Clerk to complete the new Asset Register.

  1. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN

It was reported that there has again been unsocial behaviour within the village including egg throwing. The Clerk was requested to ascertain if there is a PSCO responsible for the Whitestone area in order that complaints can be made.

  1. FINANCE

Income

64.1 1 School Houses rent to 30th August 2019 £725.00 - £69.60 (includes £11.60 VAT) = £645.40

64.2 2 School Houses rent to 1st September 2019 £800.00 – £76.80 (includes £12.80 VAT) = £723.20

64.3 1 School Houses rent to 29th September 2019 £725 - £69,60 (includes £11.60 VAT) = £645.40

64.4 2 School Houses rent to 1st October 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 were signed by Councillors Thom and Miles.

64.5 Teignbridge District Council charge for Parish Elections £923.32 (Cheque No 475)

64.6 Devon Communities Together Rural Conference on 28th June £33.75 (reimbursement to Cllr Miles) (Cheque No 476)

64.7 PKF Littlejohn LLP for Audit £240 (includes £40 VAT) (Cheque No 477)

64.8 Wicksteed Leisure Ltd for Pick Up Sticks Play equipment £11,942.18 (includes £1,990.36 VAT) (Cheque No 478)

64.9 Graham Dicker (Grass maintenance within Parish) Jan to July £818.27. (Cheque No 479)

64.10 Whitestone Parish Hall (hire of Hall) £56.28 for Council meetings + £11.00 for Food Fair on 1st June = £67.28. (Cheque No 480)

64.11 Devon Association of Local Councils Councillors Course (Cllr Llewelyn) £65.00 (includes £11.00 VAT) and Councillors Course (Cllrs Hunt, Jones and Bramhall) £198.00 (includes £33 VAT) Total cheque = £268.00. (Cheque No 481)

64.12 Jo Widdicombe for conducting NDP Inception Meeting £250.000 (reimbursement to Cllr Jones) (Cheque No 482)

64.13 Reimbursement to Cllr Thom for railway sleepers for community garden £82.76. (Cheque No 483)

64.14 Clerk’s quarterly salary/expenses £354.97 (Cheque No 484)

64.15 HM Revenue & Customs £74.00 (Clerks income tax on salary) (Cheque No 485)

64.16 Cllr L Fairley – sign on gate for Community Garden and the Adult exercise equipment - £15.00. (Cheque No 486)

64.17 AH Gilbert & Sons £161.00 (includes £27.00 VAT) for PAT Testing at 2 School Houses –paid through Devon Lettings.

  1. REPORTS

65.1 Cllr Bryant reported upon the death of Anna Kellagher who has for many years been such a mainstay in the Parish and sincere condolences are sent to her mother Mrs Jennifer Kellagher.

65.2 Cllr Bryant reported on possible illegal occupancy of a field “Willowcopse” where a postbox has been installed and the Clerk was instructed to contact Teignbridge Planning regarding this.

65.3 Cllr Fairley reported speeding and motorcycles on the C50 and what appeared to be “earth moving” at Ham Farm. She also reported rust on the new equipment installed at Crossway Park and has been in touch with the suppliers regarding this,

ACTION: The Clerk to report this matter to the Enforcement Officer.

The meeting closed at 10p.m.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 10th October.