Draft Minutes subject to
Confirmation
LYDFORD PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES
OF THE MEETING
Held
in the Nicholls Hall on Tuesday 17th February 2009
14-2009 Present:
Ms L Ellicott (Chairman): Ms J Gannon
(Vice-Chairman); Mrs L Cole: Mrs S Holland: Mrs K Boyd
Ms C Moriarty: Mr I Hammerton: Mrs A Martin (Clerk)
Parishioners and others in attendance: Six Parishioners were in attendance.
15-2009
Apologies for Absence:
Cllr A Hosking and Cllr I McPhie were accepted. Cllr Moyse (WDBC) was deputising for Cllr Mc
Phie.
16-2009 Declaration
of Interests:
Ms Gannon declared a personal interest in Planning
Application 0044/09 as a neighbour of the National Trust at the Bridge House
end.
Ms Gannon also updated her Register of Interests to
record that she is Chairman of the Parish Plan Steering Committee. It had been recently pointed out to the
Council that this comes under the heading of Membership of a Public Body.
Ms Ellicott recorded that she had also tried to
amend her Register of Interests to record that she used to be a member of the
Parish Plan Steering Committee, having resigned on becoming Chairman of the
Parish Council in May 2007. The
Monitoring Officer had informed the council that only current interests should
be recorded, and so the amendment was not made in accordance with this advice.
CPSO
Chapple entered the meeting during the following item.
17-2009 Parishioners
and Visitors Time:
17.1 The Council had approached the Rights of Way
department of Devon County Council regarding the track from Hartswood to the
A386. The response informed us that
South West Riders had already taken up the issue and were in the process of
applying for a Section 14. The council
was advised that it should assist this group in the gathering of evidence
rather than make a separate application.
A representative of South West Riders, which is a
sub-group of the British Horse Society, briefed the meeting on this application
and another track in the parish. As
advised by DCC the Parish Council will assist in the gathering of evidence for
the applications.
17.2 A parishioner who had recently inspected the
register of interests requested more information on a property recently
acquired, and declared, by the Chairman.
There was no question of any Personal or Prejudicial Interest arising on
the current Council agenda, and it was deemed not an item for the meeting.
17.3 A parishioner had noted a residential caravan
under camouflage netting near the boundary of the Caravan Site. The Councillors were of the opinion that it
was probably the seasonal home for the managers of the site, and would soon be
sited openly in readiness for the new season.
The Clerk will contact the DNPA.
17.4 Police Report: CPSO Chapple reported that it had been a quiet time in
Lydford.
Ms Gannon reported that a number of local
landowners have found evidence of deer poaching on their land, with evidence of
a vehicle and a high velocity rifle having been used.
Both the Chairman and Clerk had received reports
from parishioners regarding the theft of different farm animals. The victims were reluctant to report this to
the police. If this was not done,
however, the police would be unable to look for patterns in the thefts, and the
Council would encourage any parishioner who has recently suffered any theft,
however minor, to report it to the police to enable them to carry out
investigations more efficiently.
Having given his report
CPSO Chapple left the meeting to resume his patrol duties.
18-2009 To
approve the minutes of the previous meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 20th
January 2009 were signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record.
19-2009 Matters
Arising:
19.1 Highways, Parking and
Traffic Issues:
The Clerk had written to Highways on various
issues, but had not heard back.
Highways were obviously under a great deal of pressure during the recent
snow, and so she advised waiting a little longer before chasing this up.
19.2 Parish Plan update – An analysis of the individual
comments is still awaited.
19.3 Progress re: Ancient
Spring and Opening Ceremony – The Council’s
project manager, John Pettitt RIBA, was present at the meeting and reported
that the information board was now in place and that the Spring is ready for
the opening ceremony. He suggested that
instead of a ribbon being cut that the Information Board should be ceremonially
unveiled, and this suggestion received unanimous approval. The Clerk had completed the sending out of
invitations, and several replies had been received. On the current list of acceptances are Cllr Terence Pearce, Mayor
of West Devon, who will perform the unveiling ceremony; Cllr Christine Marsh (DCC); Geoffrey Cox MP (who will be coming on from
another engagement and may possibly arrive late), Mr Martin Rutland and Mrs
Janine Rutland representing ING, the principal sponsors; Mr John Pengelly, the main contractor at the
site, accompanied by Mrs Pengelly; Mr Paul Glanville, our Dartmoor Ranger,
possibly accompanied by other representatives of the DNPA, Mr John Pettitt
RIBA, project manager, accompanied by Mrs Pettitt.
Mr Pettitt is currently formulating the maintenance
plan for the site, which will be essential if the site is not to become
overgrown as it has following earlier attempts to clear it.
19.4 Progress re:
Emergency Plan – Mr Hammerton reported that he had received
and information pack from Devon CC, including some risk assessment forms that
were very helpful in the assessment of risk.
It was hoped that the recent snow may have focused attention on the need
for a plan if Lydford should be cut off from outside help, and a request for
volunteers will be put in the next Parish magazine.
19.5 Beating of the Bounds
– The two leaders have
now had their first meeting, and additionally a volunteer has come forward who
will monitor the middle section of walkers.
The two leaders will perform a recce of the route in the next few
weeks. The Reverend Ian Sykes will open
the walk, in accordance with the old Parish traditions dating back to when the
Parish was administered by the Church.
The route will begin at the Fox and Hounds at 9.30 am and end at the
Waterfall Car Park at the gorge when the walkers get there. This is approximately 12 miles, and leaves
out the final section, which is said to lack interest, though any individuals
are welcome to complete the entire bounds.
Those wishing to participate, but who are not up to the entire route may
join for the final section. It is
traditional to beat the boundary stones, though we will no longer use children
as the instrument of doing so, as was done in the past.
19.6 Community Land Trust
Update There was nothing further to report this
month.
19.7 Granite Way Cllr
McPhie had spoken to officers of Devon CC, and had reported the following:
1. The “No
Horses” sign will be reinstated within a month.
2. The review
of whether to allow horses on cycle tracks will be a county-wide exercise, will
be given time and gravitas, and will include consultation.
3. It was
confirmed that of the two remaining landowners within the “missing link”, one
had agreed to sell, and the legalities of the sale are going ahead. Once this is completed the compulsory
purchase will begin for the final link.
20-2009 Receive Reports from Councillors on
respective outside bodies:
20.1 DNPA Consultative Forum No meeting this month.
202 Police Authority No meeting this month.
20.3 Southern Parishes
Link Committee The next meeting will be held in March.
20.4 Nicholls Hall
Committee In spite of the weather the Bistro Nite went
ahead with a smaller number due to regular patrons being unable to get to the
venue. Nevertheless a sum of £160 was
raised for Hall funds. The jumble sale
held on Saturday 14th February was jointly in aid of the Hall and
the Sports Field, and each organisation had received £150.
20.5 WDBC Cllr Moyse, on behalf of Cllr McPhie, reported that
the WDBC budget had been agreed, and that there would be a 3% rise in the WDBC
element of the Council Tax.
The other elements, which are Devon CC, the Fire
Service and the Police Authority all have rises coming in comfortably under
5%.
In future Parish Councils will receive a copy of
the WDBC meeting schedule in an attempt to more fully engage with local people.
The Boundary Commission review of Devon has been
put back further, making the process even more prolonged. The Unitary proposals are backed by Devon
CC, but opposed by the District and Borough Councils.
21-2009 Finance:
21.1 The proposed budget had been circulated to the
councillors in their briefing notes for the meeting, and the Clerk, as RFO,
sought either ratification or resolutions for changes. The acceptance of the budget was proposed by
Mr Hammerton, seconded by Mrs Holland and UNANIMOUSLY AGREED. Copies were handed out to parishioners
present who requested copies, and will also be appended to the minutes. The proposed budget will keep the precept at
the same level as the previous year, ie a 0% rise in the parish council element
of the council tax.
21.2 The following balances were reported:
Current account – £1214.76
Deposit account - £5953.90
Parish Plan - £1204.23
Ancient Spring - £3504.61
The following cheques were authorised from the
general budget: Clerk salary &
expenses £246.42: HMRC £55.26: Mole
Avon (Spring account) 104.19: Mrs
Holland (Christmas tree festival - decorations) £5.40: Mrs Cole (ditto, tree lights) £10.00:
Bivouac (Spring account for information board) £1495.00 . Transfers from the Ancient Spring account to
the deposit account in respect of the above items was authorised, and a
transfer of £2000.00 from the flexi account to the deposit account. The Clerk noted that with the current
exceedingly low interest rates it was hardly worth maintaining a separate
interest bearing account. Provisions
held as shown on the sheet circulated.
The financial statement is appended to the minutes.
22-2009
Correspondence
22.1 Correspondence requiring action or decision:
1.
Letter from Burrator PC regarding planning at the DNPA. This sought support for a request for
changes in some procedures. Some of
their points were in direct contrast to the experiences and sound working
relationship that Lydford has with the DNPA planning department, which has the
respect of this council. The council
acknowledges that whilst it does not always agree with DNPA decisions the
planning office are always at pains to explain the principles that it has
applied to such decisions when queries are raised. It was therefore UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the council will write
to Burrator PC declining to support their stand.
2.
Letter regarding proposed meeting to explain procedures governing Devon’s “lost
commons”. No date or venue are
available as yet, but the clerk had already replied expressing her own interest
in attending and had been told that one councillor could also attend. It was decided that Mrs Holland will be the
councillor to attend subject to the date and venue of the meeting proving
convenient.
22.2 Correspondence for Information Only
1. Letter from a parishioner declining an offer
by the council to arrange a face to face meeting to go through outstanding
queries regarding the sewage treatment works.
The offer will remain “on the table” for any mutually convenient date.
2. Royal Garden Party – we are not eligible to
nominate a representative this year because we went last year
3 sia information (sia - Spinal Injuries
Association)
4 Details of Geoffrey Cox MP surgeries in
Tavistock and Okehampton. These will be
published in the Parish Magazine each month.
5 Digital UK information
6. DNPA Agenda, Minutes and reports of the
Authority – Inclusion report appended
7.
WDBC Standards Committee Agenda and Minutes and Update on Local Govt Review
22-2009
Planning Applications
22.1 Decisions
Received
None
this month.
22.2 Submission made under Delegated
Powers
Application for a further amendment to
existing permission at the Builder’s Office (0973/07): The following submission was made under delegated powers:
The
Council OBJECTS to any amendment being made to the plans as originally
passed, especially where a specific condition will be changed or breached (in
this case condition 5).
The original
fenestration as passed formed an important part of the design, and the
council also objects on design grounds to the proposed amendment.
The Council has
grave concerns that building work is already taking place on this development
which is not in accordance with the plans as passed, and has especial concerns
that the ridge line may be raised from what was passed in the original
plans.
As has been
previously stated Lydford Parish Council would not like to see a precedent set
whereby it was considered acceptable to flout the planning consent that was
awarded, especially in the Conservation area of the village.
The Council would
not like to see the proposed amendment "rubber stamped" without
detailed consideration of what has been passed, what is proposed, and what is
actually happening on site at this development.
Although not listed
this is a historic building which has a prominent place in the village, and the
Council considers that it is desirable that, although small in size, the
development is carried out to the highest standard of both design and
materials. The original plans as passed satisfied these requirements, and
the council would like to see the development carried out exactly as originally
designed.
22.3 Applications for decision by the
Council:
22.3.1 Conversion of grassed area to
gravelled hardstanding at Lydford Campsite (0039/09)
Councillors
raised a number of queries regarding this application, and the following
submission will be sent to the DNPA:
1.
Members understood that on a previous application the field in question
was restricted to tent camping only – could the DNPA please check on this.
2.
The form refers to planning consent for 120 pitches. Councillors understood that the planning
consent was for 90 pitches, and that the Caravan and Camping Club had a licence
to extend this to 120 because of being the C&CC. Now that the site has reverted to being run privately by the
owner the Council anticipated that the license went with the C&CC and that
there would only be 90 pitches.
3. The application refers to connection
to the main sewers, which is correct as regards the ablution facilities at the
site. There is, however, the matter of
chemical toilet emptying, and in particular the emptying of holding tanks on
motor homes. The Campsite’s website
specifically advertises it as a point for these vehicles to empty their on
board sewage holding tanks, and the Council has concerns that chemical toilet
waste may be discharged into the village sewerage system. It also believes that this should come under
the heading of trade effluent, and may require a license.
4.
The application refers to a sustainable drainage system, but there are
no details of this given, and it does not appear on the plans. The Council
would like details of the point of discharge, for which it understands that
Environment Agency consent is required.
The council would also like to point out that there are flooding issues
on the section of road from the War memorial to Bolts House, which runs
adjacent to the site.
The Council concludes that at present
insufficient information (especially regarding the drainage system and the
emptying of chemical toilet waste) has been given for it to make a decision on
this application.
22.3.2 Application by the National Trust
for new storage compound and change of use to holiday let and office at the
Bridge House end of Lydford Gorge
The
holiday let is presently already a staff apartment, and so it was felt that
this was a relatively non-contentious application. The new wood boiler is environmentally friendly, and the Bat and
Barn Owl survey had been professionally carried out by independent
experts. The Council’s response is as
follows:
The council SUPPORTS the sustainable
energy system afforded by the proposed new boiler.
It SUPPORTS the plans for the stable
block.
It
notes that the vertical slats on the proposed boiler house are not in
accordance with the DNPA advised design, and hopes that the DNPA will be
consistent in its policy on design and use of materials.
22.3.3 Application to fell a tree at Lot
Cottage (former builder’s office)
The
Clerk had consulted the neighbours, who had no objection, and so the council
will respond that there is NO OBJECTION to the proposal to fell this tree.
It was
noted that there have been complaints by parishioners that the building work on
this site was not in accordance with the plans as passed, and that the Council
had passed these concerns on to the DNPA.
It was believed that an enforcement officer had now visited the site.
22.3.4 Application for change of use and
conversion of outbuilding to provide ancillary domestic accommodation at
Hartswood
The
Council had a number of concerns regarding this application. The following response was formulated:
1.
The Parish Council believes that the application is misleading in
describing it as a change of use from workshop to domestic use: the existing
building is a barn and still has pig feeders in it.
2.
The Bat and Barn Owl Survey:
This appeared to have been “glossed over” and did not appear to have
been carried out by an independent wildlife expert. There is local anecdotal evidence of both bats and Barn Owls
using the building up until the departure of the previous owner. The Council calls for an independent survey
to be carried out by an independent and qualified wildlife expert.
3.
The Parish Council queries the orange outline, which is not on the
registered title of Hartswood.
4.
The Council believes that the track marked “private shared track” is a
public right of way.
5.
A great deal of the application seems to refer to the personal
circumstances and future intentions of the applicant – the council believes
that these are not material planning considerations and should not therefore be
part of the application.
It therefore seems to the council that
the application is flawed, and possibly unlawful, and cannot be supported in
its current form.
23-2009 Items raised at the previous meeting for inclusion on this agenda:
23.1 Footpath past Hartswood – dealt with earlier
in the meeting.
23.2 The Standards Committee’s response: The clerk reported that she had spoken to
the Monitoring Officer on the telephone, thus enabling a two way
conversation. It was not possible for
the Council to report itself to the Standards Committee, nor did there seem to
be any grounds for a complaint.
24-2009
Items raised for inclusion on the next Agenda
The Council’s Website
25-2009 To
agree the date of the next meeting:
The date of Tuesday 17th March 2009 was
agreed commencing at 7.00 pm.
There being no
further business the meeting was formally closed by the Chairman at 8.33 pm.
Annie Martin
Clerk to the
Parish Council 20th
February 2008
Return to Lydford Parish Council Website
Signed as a
true and accurate record……………………………………
(Chairman) Date……………….
|
LYDFORD PARISH COUNCIL |
|
|
|
FINANCIALSTATEMENT FEBRUARY 2009 |
|
ACCOUNT |
|
CURRENT |
FLEXI |
AN.SPR |
P PLAN |
TOTALS |
|
BALANCE
B/F |
20 Jan
09 |
1214.76 |
10662.74 |
|
|
11877.50 |
|
FLEXI AC
SPLIT BALANCE |
|
|
5953.90 |
3,504.61 |
1204.23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RECEIPTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TRANSFER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spring
planting |
|
|
103.90 |
-103.90 |
|
|
|
Spring
information board |
|
|
1495.00 |
-1,495.00 |
|
|
|
Admin |
|
|
25.00 |
-25.00 |
|
|
|
Transfer
to current a/c |
|
2000.00 |
-2000.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PAYMENTS |
CHQ NO: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clerk -
A Martin (November) |
856 |
-246.42 |
|
|
|
-246.42 |
|
HMRC
(via Post Office Ltd) |
857 |
-55.26 |
|
|
|
-55.26 |
|
Mole
Avon (Spring planting) |
858 |
-104.19 |
|
|
|
-104.19 |
|
Mrs
Holland (xmas tree decs) |
859 |
-5.40 |
|
|
|
-5.40 |
|
Mrs Cole
(tree lights) |
860 |
-10.00 |
|
|
|
-10.00 |
|
Bivouac
(spring info board) |
861 |
-1495.00 |
|
|
|
-1495.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLEXI AC
SPLIT TOTALS |
|
|
5577.80 |
1,880.71 |
1204.23 |
|
|
CLOSING
BALANCE |
17 Feb
09 |
1298.49 |
8662.74 |
|
|
9961.23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTES: |
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|
PROVISIONS: |
|
|
PRECEPT: |
|
|
|
|
Ancient
Spring |
£1,880.71 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elections |
£500.00 |
|
Payments
made 14th April |
|
||
|
Parish
Plan |
£1,204.23 |
|
plus
Burial Grant £84 |
|
|
|
|
Grant
availability |
£170.00 |
|
£3,259.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments
made 18th September |
|
||
|
|
|
|
£3,175.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|||||||
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|
BUDGET ANALYSIS for 2008/9 |
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
Current Year |
|
|
Next year's |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Budget |
|
|||||||
|
CATEGORY |
Yr to Date |
FullYear proj |
BUDGET |
|
2009/10 |
|
||||||||
|
INCOME |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Grass cutting DCC |
140 |
140 |
136 |
|
140 |
|
||||||||
|
Spring admin |
165 |
180 |
45 |
|
0 |
|
||||||||
|
Interest |
|
110 |
110 |
0 |
|
20 |
|
|||||||
|
Burial grant |
84 |
84 |
84 |
|
84 |
|
||||||||
|
VAT recovered |
670 |
670 |
200 |
|
200 |
|
||||||||
|
Precept |
|
6150 |
6150 |
6150 |
|
6150 |
|
|||||||
|
Total |
|
|
7334 |
6615 |
|
6594 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
PAYMENTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Room Hire |
10 |
100 |
100 |
|
120 |
|
||||||||
|
Grass Cutting |
153 |
153 |
150 |
|
153 |
|
||||||||
|
Clerk (salary + SLCC) |
3093 |
3399 |
3400 |
|
3550 |
|
||||||||
|
Clerk fixed exps |
275 |
300 |
300 |
|
360 |
|
||||||||
|
Equipment |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
||||||||
|
Stationery |
|
71 |
100 |
100 |
|
100 |
|
|||||||
|
Postage |
|
21 |
30 |
60 |
|
50 |
|
|||||||
|
Audit fee External |
175 |
175 |
200 |
|
175 |
|
||||||||
|
Audit fee Internal |
30 |
30 |
30 |
|
40 |
|
||||||||
|
Gen Admin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
||||||||
|
Insurance |
|
421 |
421 |
425 |
|
450 |
|
|||||||
|
S137 |
|
50 |
50 |
100 |
|
100 |
|
|||||||
|
Training |
|
48 |
100 |
100 |
|
150 |
|
|||||||
|
Elections |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
200 |
|
|||||||
|
DAPC |
|
65 |
65 |
75 |
|
76 |
|
|||||||
|
Bounds |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
200 |
|
|||||||
|
Capt Hunter |
245 |
245 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
||||||||
|
Parish Plan |
0 |
250 |
250 |
|
0 |
|
||||||||
|
Mileage |
|
151 |
180 |
120 |
|
200 |
|
|||||||
|
Toilets |
|
0 |
0 |
700 |
|
0 |
|
|||||||
|
Web Site |
|
10 |
160 |
150 |
|
180 |
|
|||||||
|
Contingency |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
250 |
|
||||||||
|
Totals |
|
|
5758 |
6260 |
|
6354 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Grants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Available |
|
|
|
170 |
|
190 |
|
|||||||
|
CAB |
|
|
50 |
50 |
|
50 |
|
|||||||
|
Total |
|
|
|
220 |
|
240 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total |
|
|
|
6480 |
|
6594 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||