Draft minutes subject to confirmation

 

MARY TAVY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

Held in The Reading Rooms

Wednesday 11th June 2007

 

Present:

Cllr T Pearce (Chairman)(WDBC), Cllr M Anning, Cllr C Downham, Cllr R Elton, Cllr G Hill, Cllr A Prosser, Cllr M Robins, Cllr S Street.

C Williams (Clerk)

Others present:

            One member of the public.

Apologies for absence:

Cllr M Roe, PC K Reed

108-2007 Parishioners time:  

No parishioners wished to comment.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm.

109-2007 Declarations of Interest:

Cllr Hill declared a prejudicial interest as a trustee of Mary Tavy Victory Memorial Recreation Ground. (MTVMRG)

Cllr Prosser declared a prejudicial interest as parent of planning applicant at land adjacent to Sunnycroft, Brentor Road.

Cllrs Pearce, Anning and Elton declared personal interests as friends of applicant’s mother.

Cllr Street declared a personal interest in the conservation area as her property is within the proposed area.

110-2007 Minutes of the previous meeting:

Proposed by Cllr Elton and seconded by Cllr Anning all agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 12th June 2007 were a true and accurate record and were duly signed by the Chairman.

111-2007 Matters arising:

111.1 Conservation Area – The Parish Council has written to the DNPA to provisionally support the proposed conservation area.  The public consultation day date is yet to be announced.

111.2 Speeding – Copies of the speeding petition sent with a letter from the Parish Council have elicited responses from G Cox MP, DNPA, Devon County Council Highways, WDBC and Police. A survey carried out by DCC in 2006 showed 85% travelling over the speed limit - evidence of the problem. Cllr Prosser reported on her discussion of this issue at the Southern Link Committee meeting and is pursuing a meeting with Inspector Milligan.  She has been categorically told that Mary Tavy cannot get average speed cameras and it was agreed to pursue speed camera signs and consider media involvement if unsuccessful.

111.3 To Ratify Resolution On Term Of Chairmanship – Cllr Prosser proposed to ratify the resolution made at the June meeting not to limit the term of chairmanship if it is the will of that council.  This was seconded by Cllr Elton and a majority vote followed.

111.4 Parishioner’s letter – The items carried forward from the last meeting were discussed.

111.4.1 Role of Vice-Chairman – it was felt that new councillors were making use of training available and have taken on active roles within the council. It was proposed not to spend more time discussing and all agreed to move on.

111.4.2 Cemetery Committee – The Burial Clerk is now dealing with day to day matters. Any important decisions to be reported back to Council members at meetings, this is to be reviewed in 12 months or as necessary.  Specific tasks such as cemetery fencing can be dealt with by Task and Finish groups to be appointed when necessary. It was proposed by Cllr Elton and seconded by Cllr Robins to proceed on this basis and a majority vote followed.

111.4.3 Planning Committee – It was proposed by Cllr Robins and seconded by Cllr Hill to continue as in the last council with the whole council as members of the Planning committee so that any member can be called to a site visit and attend a planning meeting afterwards. A unanimous vote followed.

The clerk is to keep a list of operational procedures to ensure that these are readily available in the event of a change of clerk and/or council without having to review the previous minutes.  Clerk to reply to the parishioner’s letter.

114.5 Beating The Bounds Cllr Robins reported back progress on planning this event. The route has been walked and risk assessed. Costs were discussed for provision of food, drink, maps and leaflets. Where possible the Council’s own printer is to be used to reduce costs of colour printing and to incorporate the leaflet into the Mary Tavy Community News.  This event is usually carried out once every five years and it is hoped to involve as many in the community as possible. Cllr Prosser proposed a budget of £300 for the event and this was seconded by Cllr Hill and a unanimous vote followed.

115.2007 Police: - To receive report from PC Reed – The Clerk read out the report. More speed             enforcement by the Traffic and Camera Partnership has been requested. A road defect report   has been submitted re Station Road junction, damage to both phone boxes was reported and       there were 14 calls to Mary Tavy area in last 2 months. A warning was also given to be             aware of a spate of thefts from locked sheds in neighbouring areas.

116.2007 Correspondence –

116.1 DAPC – County Committee result.

116.2 DAPC – Parish Council representatives on DNPA result.

116.3 WDBC – Standards Committee result.

116.4 Complaint from resident re parking in Bal Lane – (Land is not owned by West Devon Homes – clerk is currently ascertaining ownership with land registry)

116.5 Letter of receipt re grant to MTVMRG.

116.6 Letter of thanks from Mary Tavy History Society for grant.

116.7 E-mail from Highways re Axna Lane repairs. Also advises that footway on A386 near Kelly College was to improve pedestrian access to industrial estate and funds were from budgets not in local control.

116.8 E-mail re Tavistock Community College Trust Consultation.

116.9 Vitalise – request for Grant. Clerk to advise they contact us again in October for a decision at that time when precept is discussed.

116.10 10.Mary Tavy Commoners Association – acknowledgment of  Chairman’s letter re flooding.

116.11 .DNPA News Release re National Archaeology events on Dartmoor.

116.12. Devon Countryside Access Forum – Annual report 2006/07.

116.13. West Devon News – 15/6/07, 29/6/07,6/7/07.

116.14. West Devon Community & Voluntary Services Newsletter.

116.15. NHS Foundation Trust Consultation.

117.2007 Financial report

117.1 Receive report from Responsible Financial Officer - The financial report detailing the following balances was circulated:

                        Current account - £3620.33

                        Cemetery account - £4258.29

                        Community Plan Account £2421.81

                        Mary Tavy Community News £260.00

            The internal audit has been completed. The clerk is to investigate the possibility of transferring some funds to an interest bearing account.

117.2 To authorise payments for July – The following payments were authorised: History Society             £100, C Williams expenses £10.10, T Pearce Mileage/expenses £32.20, C Williams salary             £325.76, C Williams Burial Clerk salary £7.84, R & G Turner Treework £380, Ottery Press    £240.

118.2007 Cemetery: It was noted that the padlock on the cemetery gate has been damaged and will require replacement.

            118.1 Transfer of soil – Rev Higman confirmed that there is no problem in principal in using some of the excess cemetery soil to repair subsided areas of the churchyard. This would not accommodate any excess stone and the clerk is to write to SWWA re use of an area outside the cemetery gate for spoil.

            118.2 Grave Markers – Cllr Hill stated that these will be completed in the next fortnight weather permitting. The Chairman commented those completed so far looked excellent.

            118.3 Treework – The line of fir trees in the cemetery have now been removed.

119.2007 Receive reports from members elected to outside bodies:

            119.1 DNPA – New Management Plan re use of moor by the public and military.

            119.2 Police Authority – None.

            119.3 Southern Link – Cllr Prosser had discussed speeding issue earlier. She also reported that other parishes have raised problems with satellite navigation systems sending vehicles down unsuitable lanes and whether parishes are concerned by the number of non permanent residents. Next meeting is 20th September 2007.

            119.4 Coronation Hall – Cllr Downham reported £1295 was made at village fun day. The suggestion of a produce/craft show was raised as an idea for next year. The trustees are looking into proposals by the developers of Blackdown Garage site re Coronation Hall lane.

120.2007 Equipment Purchase on behalf of MTVMRG – A request has been received to

purchase a strimmer on behalf of the Trustees of Mary Tavy Victory Memorial Recreation Ground which could then be sold on to the trustees without the VAT and the Council could then reclaim the VAT.  Cllr Hill withdrew from the meeting whilst this was discussed.  Cllr Robins proposed and Cllr Street seconded that if the Council can legitimately do this and if as a charity they cannot reclaim the VAT themselves that we proceed. A unanimous vote followed. Clerk to ascertain the correct position.

121.2007 Planning

            121.1 To discuss planning applications received

            17 Moorview – conservatory – application withdrawn.

            Cllr Prosser withdrew from the meeting at this point.

            Land at Sunnycroft – new dwelling – concerns with details/measurements on drawings

            6 Warren Road – Solar panels - concerns with details on drawings and siteing of panels.

            Nonsuch House, Warren Road – new conservatory – no concerns

            5 Laburnham Villas – demolish and rebuild garage – no objections

            121.2 To receive notification on previous applications – none received.

            Kings Way to be reinstated at Blackdown Nursing Home by end of August 2007.

122.2007 To agree items raised at the June meeting for inclusion on this agenda.

            Local Development Framework – DNPA held an open day in the village on 21st June 2007.  The Chairman handed out booklets to members.  This is a policy to replace the Local Development Plan and comes into effect 2011-2026. Any comments are to be made by 27th July 2007.

123.2007 Dartmoor Management Plan – Booklet circulated for members to read re use of the moor by military etc - any comments to be made by 6th August 2007.

124.2007 Dog Warden Scheme – The Parish is currently only one of a few who are not members of this scheme. The Clerk advised the cost would be 29 pence per head of population = £267pa.  Members asked the Clerk to find out more information for further discussion at September meeting.

125.2007 Minerals and Waste Development Framework – Document received however this does not apply to parishes in the DNPA as the DNPA have incorporated this into the Local Development Framework.

126.2007 Neighbourhood Watch – the scheme appears to be changing and all coordinators are invited to attend a meeting at the Coronation Hall on Wednesday 25th July at 7pm.

127.2007 Website Update – Some concern was expressed that events that have passed are not coming off the site. Details of Beating the Bounds and the Mary Tavy Community News are to be put on the site. The Chairman is to speak with the webmaster.  It was also hoped to get a link to the school website.

128.2007. To receive items raised for inclusion on September Agenda

            128.1 Dog Warden Scheme.

            128.2 Emergency Plan.

            128.3 Review of Beating the Bounds

            128.4 Flood prevention work.

129.2007 To agree the date of the next meeting:

            The date of Tuesday 11th September was agreed for the next meeting of the Parish Council to commence at 7.30pm to be held in the Reading Rooms.

           

There being no further business the meeting was formally closed by the

Chair at 10.15pm.

 

 

 

C Williams

Clerk to the Parish Council                                                  17 July 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Signed as a true and accurate record……………………….Date………………….

                                                (Cllr T Pearce - Chairman)

 

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