DRAFT MINUTES SUBJECT TO AMMENDMENT
LYDFORD PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Held in The Nicholls Hall
Tuesday 21st
March 2006
28-2006 Present:
Mrs L Cole: Mrs S Holland: Mr S Powne (Chairman): Mrs L Ellicott
Mr P Fletcher - Mrs P Martyn - Mrs K Boyd (Vice-Chairman)
Mr DG Evans (Clerk)
Parishioners and others in attendance:
Four members of the public were present plus Cllr R Williamson (WDBC)
Mr R Cunningham (Devon Community Council) – Mr R Plumb (WDBC Regeneration Officer) – Mrs P Arnold (Chair of School Governors to Lydford Primary School) and PC Kevin Reed (Devon & Cornwall Police)
29-2006 Apologies
for absence:
Cllr A Hosking (DCC)
30-2006 Receive
report from Community Beat manager:
PC Reed reported that no real problems have been reported save for one theft of money which will probably sort itself out. Mr Fletcher enquired why the recent speed trap at Mary Tavy could not be applied at Lydford on the A386. PC Reed stated that on the same day as the Mary Tavy one he had carried out a similar exercise at Lydford. Mrs Holland enquired if any response had been received from Highways regarding the concerns expressed about the road outside of the school. PC Reed stated that despite filling in and submitting a report he has heard nothing. The Chair thanked PC Reed for all his efforts in keeping Lydford crime free. (PC Reed left the meeting at this point.)
31-2006 Consideration
of a Parish Plan:
31.1 The Chair detailed the previously carried out Village Appraisal in 1997. He considered that the need for the Parish plan to be carried out was now right. He welcomed Mr Cunningham (RC) and Mr Plumb (RP) and invited them to give a presentation regarding a Parish Plan.
RC stated that the difference between a Plan and an Appraisal was that in the former the District Council picked up the items identified and did not necessarily respond to them but under a Parish Plan they would have to act. The aim of a Plan is to involve everyone in the Parish, to identify key needs and the needs of the Community to produce a ‘living’ document that can be re-visited. It will require the formation of a Steering Group and a properly conducted Open Day. Bids for attaining funding start in May with the maximum amount payable being 75% (circa. £2,500) the remainder being in volunteer time (20%) and cash (5%). It should start with a Community Event from which the Steering Group would be formed. Mrs Ellicott felt that the main aim was to establish parishioners’ views as to the need for affordable housing in the village. It was suggested by RC that the members should also speak to Mr Southwell who is the Housing Enabler for assistance in this matter as he is motivated to this one aim and familiar with Action Plans. Mrs Boyd enquired if the relevant authorities would act on the results of the plan. RP stated that the Parish Council must engage with them.
Mrs Boyd responded by stating that the members already did but nothing happened! She also considered that everyone could waste an awful amount of time and money for little positive effect. RP stated that housing needs must be presented to DNPA without facing it ‘Head on’. The Chair enquired to RP whether the completion of a Parish plan would carry weight with the relevant authorities and, as a consequence, would they take it on board and respond to it. Mrs Ellicott considered that Lydford would possibly be disadvantaged without one and needed to establish current needs. Mrs Powne (member of the public audience) stated that, in her opinion, this parish council was pro-active and continued to ‘bang on’ about various issues without any success. It was also agreed that whilst the majority of the villagers at the public meeting had agreed on the need for such housing it was not established if this was for rent, part buy or low cost for sale. RP agreed by stating that this was not an apathetic council, however, he considered that a Parish Plan is very likely to assist future decision making. The Chair summed up the proceedings and felt that the village may be disadvantaged without the vehicle provided by a Parish Plan when discussing items with the relevant Authorities. He requested that the members consider the points raised and be in a position to discuss them at the April meeting, when a decision will be taken to either adopt or refuse the proposal. He thanked RP and RC for attending. The clerk was requested to progress a funding application as nothing could commence until such funding was in place.
(Cllr Williamson arrived at this point)
32-2006 Questions
from the floor:
The Chair invited questions from the floor and invited Mrs Arnold, in her capacity as Chair of the Governors, to make comment on the letter received from the Governors regarding this Parish Councils lack of commitment towards Affordable Housing and to the view of the Governors regarding extending the pavement from The Croft to the School. Mrs Arnold considered that this is not seen as an issue by the School. The Chair stated that he had spoken to Mr John Packer of WDBC Housing regarding the concerns she raised in her letter and the results of the recent housing survey carried out by WDBC. From this he was informed that the cost of a plot for Affordable Housing, for a single house, was now circa. £7,000. He continued by stating that WDBC consider the need in Lydford is for six houses. Four of these being for rent and two for Part Purchase. He further considered that West Devon Homes handled the previous issue very badly some two years ago. He feels that the need exists for the Rural Housing Enabling Officer to hold an Open Day in the village to establish exactly what the need is. Mrs Holland considered that the provision of affordable housing will not necessarily bring an influx of children into the village to boost the school numbers.
The Chair thanked everyone present for comment and invited them to stay, if they wished, for the formal meeting of the Parish Council.
He formally opened the meeting at this point, 8.22pm.
33-2006To approve the
minutes of the previous meeting:
33.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 21st February were signed as a true and accurate record.
34-2006 Matters arising:
34.1 Re-sitting of the Post Office – The clerk reported on the latest progress and that it now looked a strong possibility that Lydford would have a dedicated Post Office for two days a week, probably based in the Nicholls Hall as already agreed by the Hall Committee.
34.2 Progress reports for Bridge House, Waste Treatment Works and the Caravan Park were sought. The clerk detailed the letters sent and that, to date, no responses have been received.
34.3 Mr Fletcher collected the items
that members wished to raise at the forthcoming meeting of the Community Forum.
He confirmed that he would submit these within the required time frame for
inclusion on the agenda.
35-2006 Receive reports from Councillors on
respective outside bodies:
35.1 DNPA – Date of next meeting May 12th with items for inclusion on this agenda to be submitted by March 31st. (See also 34.3)
35.2 Police Authority – No meeting held
35.3 Southern Link Committee – Attended
by Mrs Cole and Mrs Martyn who stated that an interesting talk was given by an
Officer from the Youth Offending Team. Crowndale Tip is being upgraded and the
level of Council Tax increase would be 4.9%.
35.4 Mrs Boyd stated that a recently held Jumble Sale had raised in excess of £100 and that the committee were applying for funding towards the improvement s planned for the kitchens. Mrs Boyd also reported that through the success of the Drop IN it has been agreed that a lunch will be provided on the first Friday of the month for those who wish to avail themselves of it.
36-2006 To receive
financial report:
36.1 The clerk circulated balances as follows;
Current - £175.75
Flexi - £6118.95
36.2 The following payments were authorised for March:
Clerk – £239.70 – PC costs £15 – Mainly Stationery £5.13 – Room rent £70.
It was agreed to transfer £250 from the Deposit account to the Current account and to award a grant, under S137 regulations, to The Lydford Play Group of £50.
36.3 The clerk requested that the members give consideration to the provisions they feel necessary at the next meeting in April.
36.4 Mrs Holland enquired why the level of Council Tax for Lydford was so much higher than other adjacent parishes. The clerk offered to find out.
37.2006 - Correspondence:
The clerk detailed the correspondence received.
37.1 Nominees for the DNPA Sustainable Development Fund panel. None received.
37.2 Nominees for the DNPA Conference at Buckfast Abbey – None received
38.2006 - Planning applications:
38.1 Children’s play area at Lydford Gorge – No objections
39.2006 - Items raised for inclusion on this agenda:
39.1 1 DNPA Community Forum – Agenda items – It was agreed that Mr Fletcher would advise DNPA of the items for inclusion.
39.2 Dog Fouling – Mr Fletcher wished to withdraw this item from the Agenda.
39.3 Future Housing needs for Lydford – It was agreed, by majority, that this parish council supports the provision for suitable affordable housing to fulfil a local need, once established, in conjunction with the Planning Authority.
40.2006 - Items raised
for inclusion on the April agenda:
40.1 None raised
41.2006
- To agree the date of the next meeting:
41.1 The date of Tuesday 18th April 2006 was agreed commencing at 7.00pm.
41.2 Annual Parish Meeting – The date of Tuesday 2nd May 2006 was agreed for this meeting.
42.2006 Clerk
gratuity:
The clerk requested that the members give consideration to a formal proposal ensuring that no lump sum gratuity is paid to the clerk on retirement from the post.
It was agreed that a formal statement as follows be minuted:
“Lydford Parish Council does not consider it appropriate to pay a
lump sum gratuity to the clerk on his/her retirement.” This was proposed by Mr
Powne, seconded by Mrs Ellicott and unanimously agreed. Resolved
There being no further business the meeting was formally closed by the
Chairman at 9.30 pm.
DG Evans
Clerk to the Parish Council 27th March 2006
Signed as a true and accurate record……………………Date………………….
(Mr S Powne - Chairman)