Draft Minutes subject to Confirmation
LYDFORD PARISH
COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE
MEETING
Held
in the Nicholls Hall
Tuesday
15th April 2008
41-2008 Present:
Ms L Ellicott (Chairman): Mrs L Cole: Mrs S Holland: Mrs K Boyd: Ms C Moriarty:
Mr I Hammerton: Mrs A Martin (Clerk)
Parishoners
and others in attendance:
Cllr I McPhie (WDBC): PCSO Dave Chapple: In addition three Parishoners were in attendance.
42-2008 Apologies for Absence:
Cllr A Hosking (away) and Ms J Gannon (detained at work) were accepted
43-2008 Declaration of Interests
Ms Moriarty for the Planning Application to fell two trees at her home. She was informed that the response had already been sent by the Clerk, using her delegated powers, and so there would be no need to leave the meeting when the item came up.
44-2008 Parishoners and Visitors Time:
44.1 PCSO Chapple had nothing to report. Mrs Holland has warned those holding parties for teenagers, and in particular those holding them at the Nicholls Hall, that they should not publicise their parties in public places after the recent trouble with large numbers of gatecrashers at a party in Bovey Tracey when the details were made public.
PCSO Chapple left the meeting
44.2 Mrs Brickl talked about sustainable energy. She recently attended an interesting presentation at the River Dart Country Park where a device is generating hydro-electricity from the flow of the river. Mrs Brickl wondered if something similar could be installed at Lydford, providing sustainable and cheap electricity for the village. The Chairman referred to the recent presentation by Adrian Coulston of the National Trust and also the fact that the Trust owns most of the river bank in Lydford. She reiterated the Council’s support for the reduction of all our carbon footprints, and advised Mrs Brickl in the first instance to talk to the National Trust.
44.3 Mr Pettit gave an update on the progress at the Ancient Spring, and showed his architect’s drawings to all present. These will now remain in the Nicholls Hall for interested parties to view. The Devon Wildlife Trust has completed a wildlife survey of the site and produced a report detailing a planting scheme and maintenance schedule, and a detailed schedule of work is now available for contractors submitting prices. There will be a site visit on Thursday with the contractor recommended by the DNPA, another contractor has already visited the site. The snowdrops, which will be relocated, need lifting soon before they disappear. The Lydford Wildlife Group will be invited to become involved, and in particular to make a photographic record of the site through the seasons. Two natural oak benches are planned and an interpretation board.
Mr Pettit left the meeting
45-2008 To approve the minutes of the previous meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 18th March 2008 were signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record of the proceedings after an amendment had been made to item 33.3 The item now reads
33.3 The Parish Plan secretary has visited Mr
MacDonald at Devon County Council and has handed over the questionnaire for
approval by DCC. The plan has yet to
obtain approval from the Steering Group.
46-2008
Matters Arising:
46.1 Bus Services Update – members were unimpressed with the letter received from First Bus Customer Services in reply to out letter sent last month, one member stating that she was appalled. The letter seems unaware that the bus company has erected bus stops at Silver Street and the War Memorial, and the stops listed in the letter do not agree with the information listed in the timetables.
Mrs Holland reiterated the problems that Lydford pensioners are having in getting to doctor’s appointments in Tavistock, and in particular for blood tests which have to be done at the surgery in the morning. Our MP is supporting this cause and recently spoke in Parliament on the issue.
There have also been rumours that there are plans to stop the bus going through the villages and have it go straight down the main road.
The Clerk was instructed not to reveal the name of the Parishoner whose recent treatment had initiated our original letter and replied that she was aware that the octogenarian in question felt too intimidated to want her name revealed, and that was why the Council had written on her behalf.
46.2 Highways, Parking and Traffic update – No reply has been received yet to our letter regarding the pedestrian approach to the school
46.3Parish Plan update – the Chairman reported that the questionnaire has been approved by the Devon County statisticians and has been returned to the Steering Group for their approval prior to publication.
46.4 Progress re: Ancient Spring – Dealt with in Visitor’s time.
46.5 Progress re: Emergency Plan - Mr Hammerton showed members information he had obtained from the Cabinet Office which has published it for use by local councils. There was unanimous agreement that Mr Hammerton and Mrs Boyd should form a Working Party on this issue.
47-2008 Receive Reports from Councillors on respective outside bodies:
47.1 DNPA Consultative Forum – No meeting this month.
47.2 Police Authority – No meeting this month, but it was noted that a Neighbourhood Watch Public Meeting was held in Okehampton. Mrs Holland was informed of the meeting by telephone less than two hours before it started and was therefore unable to attend or to send a representative.
47.3 Southern Parishes Link Committee – No representative from Lydford was able to attend the recent meeting. There is a special meeting at Horrabridge on 24th April regarding the Devon Boundary Commission Review, and the Chairman will attend this, accompanied by Mrs Boyd.
47.4 Nicholls Hall Committee – The new chairs and trolleys are now in situ, and have been well received. The next Bistro Nite will be on 2nd May.
47.5 WDBC – Cllr McPhie reported that she was hoping that Cathy Aubertin, West Devon Services Manager, would be able to attend this meeting, but she is currently away. The Clerk had rearranged the visit for June, but in conversation with Ms Aubertin had discovered that the options for the toilets for next year are still extremely limited, and the only new development is that WDBC will advise us to make a more formal arrangement with the Castle Inn to make their toilets available to the public over the winter months. The Chairman felt that it was to nobody’s advantage to use an officer’s time coming to our meeting if this was all there was to be said, and will discuss the matter with Ms Aubertin and report back.
Mrs Holland reported that a Lydford pensioner recently could find no public toilets open in Tavistock on a Monday when the market is closed. Cllr McPhie told the meeting the the Guildhall toilets are currently being refurbished. The meeting noted that for the elderly or infirm the walk to the toilets at the Wharf is too far.
Cllr McPhie also reported that the changes to the car parking are taking place, and that there is an increased officer presence in Tavistock.
Finally she reminded us that we shall find out which Post Offices are to close in May.
48-2008 Receive the financial report:
48.1 The Clerk, as Responsible Financial Officer, presented members with the financial statement and a supplementary written report detailing the following points:
i) An incremental point has been applied to the Clerk’s salary this month, bringing it to the third (top) point of LC1.
ii) Information from the signatories is required for the opening of the CAF bank account. Mrs Holland is about to go on holiday and needs her documentation with her, so this will now wait for her return.
iii) Another 7 dozen second class stamps were purchased just before the price rise on 1st April.
iv) The first half of the Precept has been received.
v) The Council’s insurance renewal forms have been received. The Clerk reported that she had found that virtually all local Councils use the same firm, and that she recommended that we renew with them. Mrs Holland had noticed that the amount insured for Notice Boards appeared to be high in comparison with their actual value, and the Clerk will follow this up.
48.2 The following balances were reported:
Current account – £1597.12
Deposit account - £2817.93
Parish Plan - £1331.38
Ancient Spring - £9767.80
The following cheques were authorised from the general budget: Clerk salary & expenses £291.78: HMRC (via Post Office Ltd) £28.60: Mainly Stationery £11.97: DAPC subscription £65.00: Wildlife survey at the Ancient Spring £275.00: costs of Captain Hunter’s Dedication reception totalling £256.09. Provisions held as shown on the sheet circulated to members and attached to the master set of minutes.
49-2008 Correspondence
49.1 Local Strategic Partnership – Rural Planning Event: The Chairman will attend the Okehampton meeting
49.2 SLCC Conference in Plymouth – Lydford will not be sending any delegates this year
49.3 Letter from a Parishoner: The correspondence was considered. There is a request under the Freedom of Information Act for Minutes of the Parish Plan meetings, but these do not exist as the Steering Committee has not held formal minuted meetings. The Chairman was requested to reply to this effect.
The correspondent also points out that the May public meeting from last year is still on the Parish Council website. The Clerk was given authorisation to request the webmaster to remove this. She explained that the webmaster carries out Parish Council requests and does so very promptly when uploading agendas and minutes. It is not his function to monitor the material on the site nor to add or remove items on our behalf without our asking him to.
49.4 A collection of correspondence regarding the Local Government Review (see items 47.3 and 47.5).
49.5 Letter from First Bus (see item 46.1).
49.6 Devon NHS Strategic Framework for health and social care – comments and feedback invited: no response was formulated.
49.7 Letter from Devon County Council highways engineer in reply to our letter about the Granite Way. It was not felt that the highways engineer was the appropriate person to deal with this issue and the Council will refer it on to Cllr Hosking. Following an article in the Tavistock Times the Council has received a much more robust level of concern from Parishoners about the issue.
49.8 DAPC AGM consultation: this was aimed at gemerating a better level of attendance at the AGM. The Chairman offered to fill in the form and send it on, and was given a mandate to do this.
49.9 Information from DAPC on the new Powers of Wellbeing
49.10 DAPC newsletter
49.11 Devon CC information on Direct Payments – the Clerk will display this on the notice board.
49.12 Information from CCD regarding community buildings
49.13 DCC information on the ProHelp scheme.
49.14 Information newsletter from the Standards Board
49.15 DCC Statement of Accounts – how the county spent last year’s money
49.16 Collected correspondence regarding the Plaque Dedication
49.18 Information from TASS with details of activities in Tavistock and surrounding villages for the Over 55’s and other community groups.
49.19 Notification that Lydford’s name came out of the hat for the Buckingham Palace Garden Party and Mrs Cole will be going later this year.
49.20 Devon Talk newsletter
49.21 Dartmoor Biodiversity Newsletter
49.22 Letter from the Recreation Ranger at the Forestry Commission regarding a joint event with the National Trust later in the summer, requesting (non-financial) support for the event to happen. The Council was happy to give this support.
49.23 Notification from the DNPA that the amended Core Strategy Development Plan, the Inspector’s Report and the Sustainablilty Appraisal can now be seen on the DNPA website. The new core Strategy will be brought into operation on Monday 9th June 2008. A copy of the formal Adoption Statement was included with the letter.
49.24 Information about the Devon NHS Local Involvement network, including a meeting in Okehampton on 29th April at 10am in the Charter Hall. The information will be put on the notice Board
49.25 Information from Devon NHS Primary Care Trust with details of consultation meetings in Exeter, Barnstaple and Newton Abbot. The Clerk has already raised the question of why no meeting was arranged in West Devon and has suggested the Nicholls hall as a suitable venue being geographically central in West Devon.
50-2008 Planning Applications (all DNPA)
50.1 The following planning decisions have been received: Proposed removal and rebuilding of porch at Bridge House Lodge – permission granted.
50.2 An application to fell two semi-mature Beech trees at 7 Hawthorn Park had been dealt with by the Clerk using delegated powers after consultation with four disinterested Members. No objections were raised.
50.3 Amended plans for: Addition of “outer skin” to “single skin”
bungalow with alterations to porch dimensions.
Extension to rear of bungalow to provide extra living space (single
storey) and addition of two roof lights. (0106/08)
Having viewed the amended plans Members could see no reason to change the Council’s original observation, and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to resubmit the following:
The council OBJECTS to this application on the basis that it is out
of keeping with the Conservation Area and the size of the building has an
adverse impact on the amenity of the adjoining properties.
As a general point of principle Lydford parish Council would not like to see a precedent set whereby it was considered acceptable to flout the planning regulations.
50.4 Plans have been received for: Extension and alterations to garage and workshop to form an attached
three bedroom house with off road parking at The Croft, School Road. (0231/08)
An additional Parishoner joined the meeting at this point, not
having realised that the WI room is adjacent to the main hall, and having had
difficulty in finding the venue.
Members had viewed the plans prior to the meeting, and appreciated that this was a valid application under DNP Policy HS1. They were, however, concerned that there would be an inconsistency in allowing the raising of the roof line at the Croft when a similar application at Cross Cottage had been required to keep the existing roof line lower than that of the attached cottage. They noted the historic value of the external cobbles, and it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to submit the following recommendation:
The council has NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE to the development under
HS1 but does have significant misgivings about the raising of the roof
level.
There is a feeling that there would be an inconsistency with the
roof line of Cross Cottage (see application 0897/07) which retains its stepped
roof levels.
The Council considers it to be important that the external cobbles
are retained as they have historic value.
51-2008 Items raised at the previous meeting for inclusion on this agenda:
51.1 Dog Fouling Having read the briefing pack supplied by the Clerk Members were agreed that there is little the Parish Council can do in solving this problem. The dog warden scheme has been tried in the past but did not work in Lydford. It was noted that neighbouring Parishes have similar problems. Mrs Holland reported that there is fouling in her private driveway in spite of there being no dogs in the properties it serves, and the Chairman had furnished an unknown dog walker with a plastic bag in a residential area of Okehampton and obliged him to pick his dog’s mess up from the pavement. Apparently in the countryside some owners, having picked up the mess, leave bags of the stuff hanging in the trees and vegetation. Education and community pressure seem to be the only ways of tackling the issue.
51.2 Review of the Standing Orders and Complaints procedure – it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to adopt the amended documents with immediate effect. They will also be posted on the Parish Council website.
51.3 Clerk’s annual appraisal – the Chairman asked this to be put under Matters Arising at the next meeting.
51.4 Review of the Clerk’s Surgeries – it has been decided that weekly surgeries are not required as there has been limited take up. In future there will be one morning surgery and one evening surgery per month. The evening surgery will take place at 6.15 on the evening of the Parish council meeting. The date of the morning surgery will be advised in the Parish magazine on a monthly basis, to take place on a Tuesday from 10.30 to 11.15.
52-2008 Items raised for inclusion on
the next Agenda
Representatives of SWW will be invited to a
future meeting, date to be confirmed, to update us on local sewage issues.
53-2008 To agree the date of the next meeting:
The date of Tuesday 20th May was agreed commencing at 7.00 pm. This will be the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council (colloquially referred to as the AGM)
There being no further business the meeting was formally closed by the Chairman at 9 pm.
Annie Martin
Clerk to the Parish Council 16th April 2008
Signed as a true and accurate record…………………………………… (Chairman)
Date……………….