LYDFORD PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Held in The Nicholls Hall
Tuesday 18th November 2003
1. Present:
Mr S Powne (Chairman): Mrs R Baker: Mrs K Boyd: Mrs S Holland:
Mrs P Martyn (Vice-Chairman): Mrs L Cole: Mr DG Evans (Clerk)
Parishioners in attendance:
Mrs N McMullen: Mr T Lyon: Mrs L Ellacott: Mr A Hepworth
Others in attendance: Cllr R Williamson: P Glanville (DNPA)
2. Apologies for absence:
Mr P Fletcher: PC G Callender
3. Parishioners time:
3.1 Mrs McMullen stated that whilst the improvements carried out at the Triangle are good, the roadway width at the rear is now too narrow to allow the school bus to reverse round into. It was agreed to take this point up with DNPA and Highways.
3.2 Mrs Ellacott introduced herself as a member of the Tavistock & Villages Committee. She detailed funding opportunities for village initiatives that would include the whole community and not just the PC. She agreed to write an article for the Parish Magazine, detailing how to access the funding.
3.3 Mr Lyon's stated that he was present to support the application for funding submitted by the Cricket Club. He said that the number one priority is for a supply of electricity to the pavilion. Cllr R Williamson suggested that Mr Lyon should also submit a funding request to WDBC Community Fund.
4. Reports from the floor
4.1 Cllr R Williamson WDBC - Cllr Williamson detailed various issues that he has been involved with recently. He reported that the petition for signs to show horses crossing at Skit Lane has received in excess of one hundred and fifty signatures. (All members questioned this figure as none of them had been approached to sign.) He explained about the ongoing water problem to the fields below Long Ridge. He felt that a bore-hole could be constructed adjacent to Lake Cottage at a cost of £350. He requested that the PC give consideration to funding this. Mr Powne asked Cllr Williamson to elaborate on the e-mail he had sent to Mr Powne in which he stated that Lydford PC was "under the spotlight." Mr Powne asked "who's spotlight?". Cllr Williamson stated that a comment had been passed back to him, from Mr D Incoll Chief Executive WDBC, stating that "they" had monitored the minutes of the PC and enquired as to the meaning of certain statements reported in the September minutes. Cllr Williamson also stated that he had received a similar enquiry from "The Leader of the Council" Cllr Dick Eberley. (A parishioner present asked, "Was Cllr Dick Eberley the leader of WDBC or the leader of the party that Cllr Williamson was a member of." Cllr Williamson stated that Cllr Dick Eberley was the Leader of the same party he was a member of and not the leader ofWDBC.)
4.2 PC G Calendar - Community Beat manager - Due to the absence of PC Callender no report was available
4.3 P Glanville - DNPA Ranger - Paul stated that DNPA has been requested to sign all bridleways from the highway. This request has come from DCC. Paul asked members if there were any they did not wished to be signed? The members agreed that they could all be signed. Concern was expressed to Paul regarding the "puddling" of water on the Coryton Road (Described as "Stuarts" bit.) and the condition of the Bridle path leading to Highdown. Paul stated that both of these items have been reported to DNPA for attention.
At this point the meeting was formally opened by the Chairman.
5. Minutes of the previous meeting:
5.1 The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 21st October 2003 were signed as a true and accurate record with the following amendments; Mrs Baker stated that the detail of the voting numbers was incorrect, as stated under Reconvened meeting. This was amended and signed by the Chair.
6. Matters arising:
6.1 Dedicated PC Web site - Mr Hepworth gave an informative and detailed presentation, guiding members through the newly constructed Lydford Parish Council Web site. Mr Hepworth was commended on the professionalism of the site and thanked for his and Mrs Hepworth's work by Mr Powne. It was agreed on behalf of the Editor by Mr Powne, to send Mr Hepworth the Parish Magazine electronically every month in order that he can extract items for insertion into the web site.
6.2 The Triangle - To receive update on progress. Mr Powne re-iterated the concern already raised by Mrs McMullen about the access at the rear. The clerk was requested to contact Highways with the concerns raised. Mr Powne stated that Highways has offered £75 per annum for the PC to arrange for the grass to be cut on the Triangle. The clerk was requested to contact Gary Friend for a quotation for this and for the cutting of the grass around the Home Guard seats on Gorge Hill and outside of West Grange.
6.3 Affordable housing - A letter received from West Devon Homes was read out. In it they state that as the PC is not supportive of the site at School Hill, their preferred location, and that the other sites identified were not acceptable to either Highways or DNPA, they did not intend to pursue the possibility any further at this stage. It was agreed to place the letter into the Notice Board.
6.4 Jubilee Seat - Review Progress. As no progress has been made by DCC the clerk was requested to contact Graham Cornish for an update.
6.5 Dog Fouling - It was unanimously agreed not to support the proposal for an increase in charging to fund the appointment of a full time Dog Warden. It was also agreed that the clerk should attempt to obtain a further supply of notices in this financial year.
6.6 To review progress regarding the seat outside West Grange - The clerk was requested to advise PC Callender that the plaques on this seat and the one outside of Lyneast have been removed by persons without authority. It was agreed to replace them in the same style as the one outside of Merriment House. The clerk agreed to photograph the plaque on the seat outside of Merriment House as a template. The clerk reported that a "Licence of Consent" had been obtained from DCC for the seat outside of West Grange and he awaited DCC solicitors' advice.
7. To receive report from Councillors and others on respective outside bodies:
7.1 DNPA - Mr P Fletcher - Due to Mr Fletcher's absence through illness no report was available. The clerk was requested to write to Mr Fletcher extending the best wishes of all members for his speedy recovery.
7.2 Police Authority - Mrs K Boyd - Nothing to report
7.3 Board of School Governors - Mrs M Barkell - The last report has been circulated and read by all members.
7.4 Southern Link Committee - Mrs P Martyn & Mrs L Cole - Next meeting scheduled for 27th November.
7.5 PCC - A member of the Parochial Church Council. Mrs Martyn agreed to present this report in future. The next meeting of the PCC is scheduled for January 2004.
7.6 Nicholls Hall Committee - Mrs K Boyd - Mrs Boyd reported that the next meeting, the AGM, is scheduled for 27th November.
8. Financial report:
8.1 Receive report from Responsible Financial Officer; The clerk reported the following balances;
Current account - £468.27
Deposit account - £4,796.77
Petty Cash - £21.368.2 The following cheques were authorised:
Charles Arnold Baker 6th Edition £39.95 - Audit Commission £141.00 - Clerk salary £232.56 -
RBL Poppy Wreath £16 - Toilet cleaner £75 E Pascoe, cleaning War Memorial and adding name £411.25 Petty cash £20 - Transfer from deposit to Current £1,000.8.3 Precept 2004/05: A detailed report on the proposed expenditure for 2004/05 was presented. Mr Powne requested that all members read through the figures again in readiness for the December meeting when the final Precept figure would be agreed. It was suggested that the Public Convieances should be closed during weekdays from now until April 1st. After considerable debate it was resolved that the toilets be closed Monday to Friday and opened on Saturdays and Sundays until the end of December 2003. The clerk was requested to write to WDBC and advise them that this action, whilst unfortunate, was necessary through the lack of funding that had been provided for this facility in this current year. It was agreed to review this item in January 2004.
9. Items raised at October meeting for inclusion on November Agenda:
9.1 Agree strategy for attainment of Quality Council status
9.2 Computer access/Broadband
9.3 Formulation of a Parish Plan It was unanimously agreed that because of the lack of time, discussion of theses these items should be postponed and placed on to the December Agenda.
10. Items raised for inclusion on the December Agenda:
10.1 Production of a photographic CD of scenes in the village.
10.2 Appointment of Internal Auditor for 2003/04 accounts.
11. Planning applications;
11.1 Castle Inn - Illumination of the previously agreed hanging sign outside the Castle Inn. No objections were received.
12. Agree the date of the next meeting:
12.1 The date of Tuesday 16th December 2003 was agreed for the next meeting.
There being no further business the meeting was formally closed by the Chair at 9.45pm.
DG Evans
Clerk to the Parish Council ....................................................................................... 25 November 2003
Signed as a true and accurate record
Date
. ....
................................................ (Mr
S Powne - Chairman)