Whitestone Road sign

Whitestone Parish Council

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 10th June 2021.

Attendance:- Chair – Councillor T Miles.
Councillors M Belt, V Bryant, L Dyer, A Evans, L Fairley, P Lee, S Llewelyn. C Galton – from 9.15pm
Mrs P Vaughan – Clerk to the Council
Apologies:- Cllr M Smith, District Councillor A Swain, County Councillor A Connett

41 Cllr Miles opened the meeting and the Minutes of the Council meeting held on Thursday 13th May 2021 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chairman.

42 PLANNING - These applications can be viewed on line by going into the public access system at Teignbridge Planning following the directions giving the application reference. The following applications having been received from Teignbridge District Council with a request for comments were examined and responses were sent which can be viewed in full on Teignbridge District Council Planning site:-The Parish Council full response was discussed and ratified at this meeting and a summary extract is provided below:

42.1 21/00985/FUL New dwelling replacing existing agricultural barn at Friars Ball Farm, Rowhorne Road.

Response Summary:- The Parish Council support this application.

This extant Class Q approval has already established the change of use of this barn for residential use and the current application has utilised the fallback position as a vehicle to obtain a newly built dwelling. A new build would otherwise not be permitted in the countryside under Policy S22 where development outside settlement boundaries would be strictly controlled. We have recently seen a significant increase in applications obtaining a Class Q conversion approval and then proceeding with an application for demolition and rebuild under the legitimacy of the qualifying Class Q approval as a fall-back position. As Whitestone has declared a Climate Emergency a new build presents the opportunity to create a carbon positive dwelling. We would recommend the use of building materials that booster eco credentials and take carbon out of the atmosphere, aiming for a building that generates more energy than it consumes.

Response Summary:- The Parish Council provided comment. This application is a modification of two previous planning applications Ref 20/02379./NPA and 21/00422/NPA. As the approved development has not yet commenced, the applicant has submitted a revised design for two reduced sized dwellings which meets the Class Q criteria but it is important to retain the agricultural reference in the design of these homes. The applicant explained that the land is to be managed under the Defra Countryside Stewardship scheme under which the sole purpose is to help and protect the landscape. Access to the development is noted as a concern due to the narrow roads and awkward entrance and if approved the applicant has agreed to be mindful of the construction vehicles timings and routing. Risk of Light spill/pollution was mentioned and also the declared Whitestone Climate Emergency in respect of using eco-friendly building materials. It was also noted to remove and dispose of any asbestos sheeting responsibly. The applicant agreed to take on board the Parish Council’s concerns.

Response Summary:- The Parish Council provided comment.

This application currently has consent for a residential dwelling under Prior Approval - Part 3 Class Q a) and b)paragraph W of GPDO reference 19/00058/NPA. This new application utilises the fall-back position as a vehicle to obtain a newly built dwelling. A new build would otherwise not be permitted in the countryside under policy S22. The existing barn is situated in an AGLV and has currently been used for agricultural purposes. Whitestone Parish Council in the main feel that the existing concrete barn with its large buttresses is not a particularly attractive building and a new dwelling should provide the opportunity for a sympathetic design that is more in keeping with its surroundings to be built. However, such a new build should still reflect its agricultural setting and be single storey so as not to be too intrusive in its elevated position. A new build would be an opportunity also to incorporate “green” credentials and provision for roosting and nesting for bats and birds.

Response Summary:- The principal consideration as to whether this development is acceptable arises from the site’s location and its associated sustainability criteria. Each application is judged on its own merit and whether it has potential for adverse harm or benefit to the local area. It is not prejudiced in any way as the applicant has suggested but provides a truthful response to the claims made in this application. It is not felt that this proposal offers sustainable local tourism as claimed as any accommodation should be of an appropriate scale to its location with appropriate facilities and accessibility by a range of transport modes.

21/00834/FUL Erection of hay storage building and formation of hardstanding at Bickhams Farm

21/00735/NPA Application for a 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 Styles Barton Farm.

  1. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
    • Review of DCC Lower Hare Farm

The letter sent to the Solicitors Regulation Authority was distributed to Councillors and it was noted that an acknowledgement has been received that a response will be made to the Parish Council within 40-50 working days.

District Councillor Swain has been in touch with Teign Housing who are familiar with the long standing parking problems and they are offering to carry out some remedial work within the parking areas. It has been recommended that we approach County Councillor Connett to confirm DCC’s ownership and to request support to change the grassed area into additional parking using a type of durable matting to maintain adequate drainage. The cost of the project and the on-going maintenance would need detailed discussion to explore what options could be available to residents and to seek an agreement with Devon County Council.

Cllr Evans confirmed that he has investigated the areas where the signs could be placed having gained agreement from Highways and the Parish Council will need written consent from property owners where necessary and two signs will be ordered initially to be placed on three posts.

Cllr Llewelyn, Cllr Fairley and Cllr Galton reported that they are organising an event with an exhibition at the Parish Hall from 1.30pm to 4pm on Saturday 17th July to bring an awareness of Climate Change to the attention of parishioners. It was agreed that the Parish Council would be responsible for the charges for the hire of the rooms required for this event which would be publicised in the Parish Magazine and within the Parish.

Cllr Miles informed the meeting of a complaint received regarding this and she will be investigating this further and any appropriate action taken.

Cllr Miles will lead the report regarding this and the recent refusal of Redhills is a good starting point. Everyone is encouraged to respond.

The Council confirmed the renewal of membership at a cost of £36.00.

It was reported that all necessary paperwork and records have been examined and an internal audit has been completed by Mr R Cox who reported that they represent a true and fair view of the financial position and he presented an unqualified audit report and concluded that the financial control methods, systems and procedures are adequate and being followed and adhered to and he therefore has no advisory notes to add. Mrs Vaughan reported that the Annual Audit documentation has now been submitted to the PKF Littlejohn for the external audit. The meeting proposed a vote of thanks to the Clerk for her work regarding this Audit.

  1. FINANCE

Income

44.1 1 School Houses rent/insurance to 29th June 2021 £750.00 - £102.00 (includes £17.00 VAT) = £648.00.

44.2 2 School Houses rent/insurance to 1st July 2021 £825.00 - £109.20 (includes £18.20 VAT) = £715.80.

44.3 Devon County Council P3 Grant £170.00

Expenditure

The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillors Miles and Belt

44.4 Mr L Blades £379.09 – Cheque 576

44.5 Fry & Son £29.40 (includes £4.90 VAT) Cheque 577

44.6 L Dyer £5.49 (Insurance for wildlife camera purchased May) Cheque 578

44.7 Campaign to Protect Rural England £36.00 Cheque 579

44.8 Mr R Cox (Internal Audit) £200.00 Cheque 580

44.9 Mrs P Vaughan - Clerk’s expenses/quarterly salary £475.59 Cheque 581

44.10 HM Revenue & Customs £81.80 (Clerk’s income tax on salary) Cheque 582

  1. CORRESPONDENCE

St Catherine’s Whitestone Parochial Church Council thanks for the grant of £175.00 for the inclusion of minutes in the Church Magazine.

  1. REPORTS
    • Cllr Bryant reported that she had been approached regarding the change of use of an agricultural field at Pitt Farm, Church Town where children’s play equipment had been installed. The property owners had been advised to notify Teignbridge District Council regarding this matter which they did immediately as they were unaware that planning permission was required.

The meeting closed at 9.50pm.