Draft Minutes subject to Confirmation
LYDFORD PARISH
COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE
MEETING
Held
in the Nicholls Hall
Tuesday
17th June 2008
71-2008 Present:
Ms L Ellicott (Chairman): Ms J Gannon (Vice-Chairman); Mrs L Cole: Mrs S Holland:
Mrs K Boyd: Ms C Moriarty: Mrs A Martin (Clerk)
Parishoners
and others in attendance: There were none.
72-2008 Apologies for Absence:
Mr I Hammerton (unwell) and Cllr I McPhie (maternity break) were accepted.
73-2008 Declaration of Interests
73.1 Mrs Cole and Ms Ellicott both declared a personal interest in planning item 0340/08 at the Paddock, Mrs Cole as a long-standing friend and Ms Ellicott as a neighbour of the applicants.
73.2 Councillors were reminded that they should review their Declaration of Interest forms and update them if appropriate, as it is now a year since they were submitted.
74-2008 Parishioners and Visitors Time:
74.1 A
Parishioner had asked when the parish lengthsman was due. The clerk replied that he was last in the
Parish at the end of January, and that we should be hearing about his next
visit soon. The lengthsman service is
now less frequent than it used to be, and many parishes are concerned about
this. The question was raised at a
recent meeting of the Southern Parishes Link Committee.
74.2 PCSO Chapple had earlier reported that there has been another theft in the village, this time of the granite statue of Aphrodite from the back of The Castle. This may have been a professional theft, with the statue being stolen to order. Alternatively, if the statue was taken by pranksters, it may turn up at a later date in an unexpected location.
75-2008 To approve the minutes of the
previous meeting:
The minutes of
the meeting held on Tuesday 20th May 2008 were signed by the
Chairman as a true and accurate record.
76-2008 Matters Arising:
76.1 Bus Services Update – The most recent letter received from First Bus does not really add any information to that received in previous communications. The situation remains that the vast majority of drivers are extremely kind and helpful to bus users and a minority let the company and their colleagues down. Regarding the operation of the new bus passes problems are still being experienced by local pensioners, who are paying the price for living in a holiday area where local resources are subsidising holiday use of the passes whilst local residents cannot get to doctors appointments using theirs because the first bus on which they can use them is too late. Our MP has tried to champion this cause but has got nowhere.
76.2 Highways, Parking and Traffic update – No reply has been received yet to our letter regarding the pedestrian approach to the school. The issue of speeding within the Parish was considered, and the possibility of a 20mph limit outside the school was suggested. Replies received by the Parish Plan evaluators will indicate whether this is of concern to Parishioners.
A letter will be sent to the Highways department regarding the missing “30mph” sign outside of Sharptor, and also the missing “Lydford” sign.
A reply has been received from Graham Cornish at Devon County Council regarding the missing section of the Granite Way through Bridestowe, reporting progress. Some planning complications have been resolved and an investigation to locate tree roots on Beech Avenue put in hand. He has set up meetings with representatives of the two owners and set a deadline of 1st August to resolve these negotiations. Following this date compulsory purchase orders will be commenced. He thanked the Parish Council for its support.
Members were extremely pleased to receive this news. The Clerk reported that she had also been in communication with Cllr Alan Hosking (DCC) on the matter and had forwarded him a copy of Mr Cornish’s letter so that he is kept up to date on progress.
76.3 Parish Plan update – the main Questionnaire had recently been distributed.
76.4 Progress re: Ancient Spring – The project manager had received and considered the tenders for the work and had selected his preferred contractor, who was also the cheapest. Members were shown the proposed contract, and the Chariman sought authorisation to sign it on their behalf. It was RESOLVED that the Chairman should sign the contract on behalf of the council, and this was done and witnessed by the Clerk.
Following the Solicitor’s recommendation that he should go no further with an attempt to register the land the Clerk had called on the combined expertise of other Clerks throughout Devon and a number of different options had been suggested. The best of these for Lydford seemed to be for the Council to put a First Caution on the land. This means that the land would remain unregistered, but that the Council would be consulted by the Land Registry if any other party sought to register it. This can be done at a cost of £40, and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk should follow this line.
76.5 Progress re: Emergency Plan – A first draft of a plan had been circulated to members for their consideration ahead of the meeting. There is a statutory requirement for Parish Councils to do this, and the Clerk referred them to the relevant legislation, the Civil Contingencies Act 2005. The Emergency Plan will be considered further at the next meeting.
77-2008 Receive Reports from Councillors on respective outside bodies:
77.1 DNPA Consultative Forum – Mrs Holland and Ms Moriarty had attended the meeting on 23rd May and learned that new planning rules are coming out which will remove the need for planning permission to be sought on solar panels and small wind turbines unless the property is in a Conservation Area.
In strategic planning the Park contains eight towns, in which new developments are required to have 50% of affordable housing. There are thirty two rural settlements, of which Lydford is one, in which new developments will be required to be 100% affordable. There is, however, a conflict in that the materials which are likely to be specified by the Park are normally high quality materials which do not mesh well with the affordability requirement.
The second session of the meeting comprised an illustrated presentation about the Plym Valley and Granite Way cycleways.
77.2 Police Authority – No meeting this month, but it was reported that a new police surgery in Okehampton seems to be proving popular.
77.3 Southern Parishes Link Committee – The next meeting is on Thursday 31st July, and at this meeting members will be appraised of the outcomes of the Boundary Committee.
Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 24th April, at which the West Devon and Devon County Council concepts for the Boundary Committee were presented, were circulated to members prior to the meeting. Copies of all the concepts can be accessed on the Boundary Committee website at www.boundarycommittee.org.uk, and individuals wishing to comment should send their comments to The Boundary Committee for England, Trevelyan House, Great Peter Street, London, SW1P 2HW
77.4 Nicholls Hall Committee – The last Bistro Nite raised £248. The next one will be on 4th July and will have an American theme. There will then be none in August or September.
Mrs Boyd reported that the Hall Committee are planning to buy tables and chairs for kiddies, a public address system and a picture of the moor to include a memorial plaque for the late Ted Lyon, who was a generous supporter of the Hall.
77.5 WDBC – No report this month.
78-2008 Finance:
78.1 The Clerk, as Responsible Financial Officer, gave a report detailing the following points:
i) Signatories who have not yet provided their ID photocopies were reminded to do so in order for the application to the CAF bank to proceed.
ii) Ms Gannon will be unable to act as a signatory for the next three months due to the injury she has sustained to her hand and wrist. Rather than go through the process of listing another signatory it was RESOLVED that the Clerk should deputise as an active signatory until the injury recovers.
iii) The formalities of the Annual Return have been complied with and the Return is ready to send in to the Audit Commission.
iv) Confirmation has been received that the Council’s VAT refund claim is being processed.
78.2 The following balances were reported:
Current account – £1867.64
Deposit account - £4396.93
Parish Plan - £1331.38
Ancient Spring - £9447.80
The following cheques were authorised from the general budget: Clerk salary & expenses £245.22: HMRC (via Post Office Ltd) £53.85: T Liversidge (grass) £17.00; Chilcotts Solicitors (from Spring a/c) £320.13; S Holland - mileage £28.00; DAPC training £25.00: M Jones (from Parish Plan a/c) £114.90 Land Registry £40.00. Provisions held as shown on the sheet circulated to members and attached to the master set of minutes.
79-2008 Correspondence
79.1 Correspondence requiring action or decision:
1. Removal of BT Payphones
– response invited. The Lydford box is
not on the BT list for removal. The
Clerk reassured members that as it is in a Conservation Area it cannot be
removed without permission from the DNPA.
Mrs Holland thought that it is in any case a listed building. As there
is no threat at the moment no further action will be taken.
2. Letter from a Parishioner
regarding the Parish Plan. The Chariman
sought authorisation to reply on behalf of the Council, and it was RESOLVED
that this should be given.
3. Letter from Ed Pinsent,
archivist at the University of London, re ULCC publication of Lydford Memories. Those who contributed remembered that no
mention of copyright was made at the time, and therefore the Clerk advised that
those who wrote their own contributions retain the copyright on them. The University will be advised of this fact.
4. From CCD: an information
book on Community Shops. The Chairman
reported that three Parishioners had expressed a strong interest in becoming
involved with the running of a Community Shop, and she has put them in touch
with each other and with the mentors from CCD.
Mrs Holland agreed to act as a consultant in matters requiring detailed
local knowledge, and Ms Gannon has offered her professional skills as a
Chartered Surveyor if these should be required. The setting up and running of Community Shops is not included in
the Statutory Powers of Parish Councils, and the Council has only been involved
to the point of providing the local contact necessary for the mentoring body to
identify and make contact with interested members of the local community.
79.2
Correspondence for Information Only
1.
Information on changes to the way complaints are made against
councillors
2.
Information and update from the DNPA
3
West Devon e-connect – May edition
4
Letter from Geoffrey Cox QC MP re Bus Services
5
Notice of Confirmation of Modification Orders on Bridleway 8 and
Footpaths 49 and 50
6
From Lydford PCC: receipt for
the Cheque for £30 re Mr Boyd’s audit fee
7
Minutes of special Southern Parishes Link Committee
8
Info re: Team Devon
9 From
Derek Palmer: a CD of the Ceremony of
Dedication of Captain Hunter’s Plaque.
Members had viewed the CD ahead of the meeting and remarked on the
beauty of the moor and of how good it was to have this record of the
occasion. A letter of thanks will be
sent, which the Chairman will sign on behalf of the Council.
10 From
DNPA inviting entries for next
winter’s Dartmoor Visitor
publication
11
Letter from Jane Marchand (DNPA) re resiting of boundary stone with
Bridestowe
12 From
WDBC letter about the Boundary Commission review
13
Details of the free training event organised by UoP, now postponed to
September
14 West
Devon e-Connect – June edition
15
Village Green newsletter
16 West Devon Sustainable Community strategy
2007-2010
17 West
Devon Housing Strategy Update 2008-09
18. Tavistock
Carnival Parish bowls competition
19,
Letter from George Greenaway (WDBC Environmental Health Officer). It was noted that Mr Greenaway has been frequently
seen in the village checking on the workings of the sewerage system.
20
Letter from DCC re Boundary Commission
21
Standards’ committee Agenda for special meeting
22 From
WDBC a reminder to update members register of interests
23 DNP
Core Strategy Development Plan – the Adopted Version and Summary
80-2008 Planning Applications (all DNPA)
80.1 The following planning decisions have been received: An application for extension and alterations to garage and workshop for form an attached three-bedroom house with off-road parking at the Croft, School Road (0231/08) – permission refused.
80.2 An application for the
construction of a detached garage adjacent to dwelling at the Paddock, Lydford
(0340/08)
Mrs Cole declared a personal interest as a long-standing friend of
the applicant.
Ms Ellicott declared a personal interest as a neighbour of the
applicant.
Discussions hinged on the need for a garage for a modern property and members were agreed how useful they found their own garages. It was, however, felt that the size of the proposed garage was excessive in that it was larger than that needed even for two large cars, and that the height was also in excess of what was needed.
It was RESOLVED that the following response should be made:
The Parish Council SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLE of a double-sized garage
for this property, but has CONCERNS over
the large size and detailed design of this application, particularly the
roof-line.
80.3 An application for
alterations including first floor extension to enable annex to be occupied by
relative, ancillary to use of dwelling at 1 South View, Lydford (0362/08)
It was noted that a similar extension has already been constructed at a neighbouring property, and therefore the application should be supported in line with the precedent already set, although it was noted that the proposed staircase was not likely to be suitable for a frail elderly relative. It was RESOLVED that the following response should be made:
The Parish Council SUPPORTS this application.
81-2008 Items raised at the previous meeting for inclusion on this agenda:
81.1 Winter Opening of the toilets – consideration of this item was postponed until the next meeting.
81.2 Signage around the village – A comprehensive response had been received from Mr Chris France, Director of Planning and Sustainable Development at the DNPA. The issue of A Boards is not a National Park matter, but of national planning regulations which apply everywhere. If such signs are located on a public highway they are illegal, and can be legitimately removed by the Local Planning Authority or by the Highway Authority, and this is especially likely to be taken where they constitute a hazard either because of the distraction to drivers or because they force pedestrians to take a route around them which might prove hazardous.
Mr France emphasised that the DNPA were keen to work with local businesses to help them to advertise within the regulations.
The Council was very pleased to receive such a comprehensive reply, which addressed all the points of concern it had raised, and will send a letter of thanks to Mr France. A copy of the reply will be forwarded on to the three businesses involved.
82-2008 Items raised for inclusion on
the next Agenda
82.1 Beating the Bounds.
83-2008 To agree the date of the next meeting:
The date of Tuesday 22nd July was agreed commencing at 7.00 pm.
There being no further business the meeting was formally closed by the Chairman at 8.40 pm.
Annie Martin
Clerk to the Parish Council 18th June 2008
Signed as a true and accurate record…………………………………… (Chairman)
Date……………….