Draft minutes subject to confirmation

 

MARY TAVY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

Held in The Reading Rooms

Tuesday 13th  November 2007

 

Present:

Cllr T Pearce (Chairman)(WDBC), , Cllr C Downham

Cllr R Elton, Cllr A Prosser, Cllr M Robins, Cllr M Roe, Cllr S Street.

C Williams (Clerk)

Others present:

            Three members of the public

Apologies for absence:

Cllr M Anning, Cllr G Hill, Cllr C Marsh (DCC)

156-2007 Parishioners time:  

A member of the public asked if it were possible to erect a seat on the moor on Gibbet Hill. A discussion was held. Clerk to contact DNPA for further information.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm.

157-2007 Declarations of Interest:

Cllr Downham declared a personal interest in the Mary Tavy & Brentor Under 5’s. Cllr Prosser declared a personal interest in the CAB and the Historical Society Cllr Pearce declared a personal interest in the Historical Society.

158-2007 Minutes of the previous meeting:

Save for an amendment to 149.13-2007 to read “it was agreed that outgoing correspondence would also be tabled at future meetings.” all agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 9th October 2007 were a true and accurate record and were duly signed by the Chairman.

159-2007 Matters arising:

159.1 Conservation Area – There was a good attendance at the public consultation on the 18th October at the Coronation Hall however there was a great deal of information there to digest and few comment forms were completed. There also appears to be some confusion over the implications of conservation area status. Cllr Street suggested speaking to a neighbouring village parish council already with a conservation area.  It was agreed to deliver a leaflet to each household to clarify the position.

159.2 Speeding – Some local villages have obtained speed camera signs after 12 years of requesting! All agreed to persevere and keep pressing the agencies involved. Cllr Robins brought a newspaper article which will be referred to Highways Agency.

160-2007 Police: - To receive report from PC Reed – None received. The problem of hazardous

parking close to the junction of Station Road with the main road was discussed. An e-mail was received from Highways with regard to responsibility of vehicle owners in the event of an accident at this junction. A reminder was printed in the October issue of the Mary Tavy Community News that all vehicles should be parked 10m away from the junction.

161-2007 Correspondence

161.1      Letter from Parishioner re dog fouling. A discussion was held and Councillors were sympathetic to this problem. Early results of the Community Plan questionnaire indicate that over half the respondents also felt that this was a problem in the village. It was agreed that action should be taken and the WDBC Dog Warden’s advice be sought and funds set aside for this.  Clerk to request that the dog warden attend a future Parish Council meeting.  The Playing Fields were a problem area and as stewardship is held by the Mary Tavy Victory Memorial Recreation Ground (MTVMRG) Trustees the letter should also be forwarded to them. Cllr Street had also received concerns from parishioners that dogs were using this facility at all, as some children felt threatened when the dogs were running loose.  It was suggested that the Council invite the Trustees to a future Parish Council meeting to discuss this further.

161.2      Letter from Trustees of MTVMRG re Grant

161.3      e-mail re newsletters on Website. It was agreed to remove out of date copies of the Mary Tavy Gazette from the website and to pass them to the Historical Society for retention.

161.4      WDBC – invitation to attend Mayor’s Christmas celebration.

161.5      Completion of Annual Audit from Audit Commission – notice to be displayed.

161.6      E-mail from Highways re vehicles parking at the junction in Station Road.

161.7      Notification of Hedge Notice from Highways

161.8      WDBC – Standards Board Training DVD to be viewed by Council

161.9      Southern Parishes Link Committee minutes

161.10  Detox for Devon – a campaign running up to an abstaining event on 2nd January 2008.

161.11  WDBC – Flood Awareness event to be held at Morrisons on 15.11.07

161.12  DNPA – Dartmoor “Whats on” supplement – request for local events in the diary.

161.13  West Devon – e-connect – newsletter – Due to popularity Tavistock Talk & Walk scheme is being extended to Christmas, meet Tuesday mornings at the Wharf.

161.14  West Devon CAB Annual Report

161.15  DAPC – National Salary Award for clerks 2007-2008..

161.16  WDBC – confirming willingness to participate in annual monitoring of leats on Gibbet Hill.

161.17  E-mail re mining photo on website.

161.18  Parish Lengthsman will be in Mary Tavy on 17-21 December 2007 and 24 -28 March 2008. Please advise the Clerk of any works required.

161.19 At this point the Chairman asked the clerk and members of the public to leave the meeting.  This was to enable members of Council to discuss the clerk’s salary following receipt of the National Salary Award for Clerks-2007-2008 document. The document was outlined by the Chairman for members. Members agreed that the clerk’s salary award would have to be backdated to 1st April 2007 and 5th June 2007 for the pay scale reflecting the training the clerk has undertaken.  The Chairman then asked for the clerk and members of the public to return to the meeting.

 

162-2007 Financial report

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

                        Current account - £6286.43

                        Cemetery account - £4457.12

                        Community Plan Account £1503.74

                        Mary Tavy Community News £540.00

            Interest bearing reserve accounts are now open for the Cemetery and General accounts. Balances are included within the above figures.

162.2 To authorise payments for October – The amount of donation to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal was discussed. Cllr Prosser proposed an increase in the amount of donation to £30, this was seconded by Cllr Robins. An amendment was then proposed by Cllr Elton to increase the donation to £50 which was seconded by Cllr Roe. A vote on the amendment was held with 4 in favour. The amendment was carried. The following payments were authorised: C Williams October salary £325.76, T Pearce Stamps/mileage £28.40, Coronation Hall Hire £30, C Williams stamps £8.88, C Williams cost of living pay increase £57.75 (backdated to 1.4.07), Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal £50, Ottery Press £80, C Williams Burial Clerk £17.64 & cost of living pay increase £1.65.

            162.3 Grant Requests – The cost to budget report to enable members to consider the Precept requirement for 2008/09 was circulated. The Clerk circulated Grant requests received from Citizens Advice Bureau, Tavistock & District Local Transport Partnership (Ring & Ride), Mary Tavy & Brentor School Parents, Teachers and Friends Association – team tracksuits £370, Guides Association – camping equipment £460, Mary Tavy & Brentor Under 5’s – safety mats £165, and Mary Tavy Victory Memorial Playing Fields - £850.

Declarations of Personal Interests were made by Cllr Downham in the Mary Tavy & Brentor Under 5’s. Cllr Prosser in the CAB and the Historical Society and Cllr Pearce in the Historical Society. These members then took no part in the voting on these particular requests.

The high level of grant requests could not be met in full. Following a full discussion regarding the grant requests the following amounts were voted upon. Members agreed to vote on each request individually. All agreed that the Council would not be able to approve a grant to Mary Tavy Victory Memorial Recreation Ground Trust as no accounts were submitted.  Sight of the accounts, projected budget and insurance for the Playing Fields are required before further consideration would be given to this request.

 

Name

Amount

Proposed by

Seconded by

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstention

 

Result

MTVMRG Playing Fields

0

Cllr Robins

Cllr Elton

7

0

0

Unanimous

CAB

£125

Cllr Pearce

Cllr Elton

6

0

0

Unanimous

Ring & Ride

£125

Cllr Street

Cllr Roe

7

0

0

Unanimous

*School PTFA

£350

Cllr Downham

Cllr Robins

7

0

0

Unanimous

*Guides

£350

Cllr Prosser

Cllr Street

7

0

0

Unanimous

*Under 5’s

£150

Cllr Prosser

Cllr Street

6

0

0

Unanimous

History Society

£250

Cllr Robins

Cllr Roe

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

History Society

£300

Cllr Downham proposed an amendment

Cllr Street

3

2

 

carried

      *Grants to the School PTFA, Guides and Under 5’s were all awarded under Section 137 of the 1972 Local Government Act.

 

162.4 To agree level of Precept 2008/09.

Cllr Robins proposed that £500 was set aside as an unspecified contingency. This was seconded by Cllr Elton.

This amount together with the above grants awarded were applied to the figures circulated in the cost to budget report and showed a Precept requirement of £11,275 for the next financial year. All agreed to precept this amount.

163.2007 Cemetery: To receive report from burial Clerk

            163.1 The clerk reported that some confusion had arisen with a cemetery plot purchased some years ago. The grave markers now in the cemetery show the numbers do run the opposite way to those on the other side of the central path.

A further meeting is to be held on Tuesday 20th November 2007 at 7.30pm where cemetery matters will be discussed further.

The padlock has now been serviced and replaced on the field gate.

164.2007 Receive reports from members elected to outside bodies:

            164.1 DNPA – Next meeting to be held on 23rd November 2007.

            164.2 Police Authority – Held 18th October 2007. Report not yet available as Cllr Hill is unable to attend tonight’s meeting.

            164.3 Southern Link – Any issues to be raised at the next meeting to be given to Cllr Prosser.

            164.4 Coronation Hall – The slideshow and bell ringers evening was not as well supported as was hoped. It is hoped that the next slideshow with more recent photographs will create more interest.  A ploughman’s supper was provided and the evening enjoyed by those who attended.

165.2007 Planning

            165.1 To discuss planning applications received

            Cranmere extension – no objections

            Siting of mobile home at Dowerlands Farmland for Farm Manager– Conditions requested for screening and style of construction.

            Amended Plans received for new dwelling adj Glendale – Cllr Pearce declared a personal interest as neighbouring property. Room in roof with velux windows – objection as not in keeping with properties in surrounding area.

            Higher Rowes Farm – re-roofing of stables – concerns as out of keeping with surrounding area.

            Extension and new garage at Silverstone, Brentor Road. No concerns with extension but unhappy with siting of garage because of height.

            Blackdown Garage Site – to be discussed at meeting on Tuesday 20th November 2007 at 7.30pm.

            165.2 To receive notification on previous applications –

            17 Moor View Conservatory – replacement conservatory approved.

            165.3 Planning Matters

            Untidy site at land adjacent to Standard Court. Legal action has now been approved if the rubbish is not cleared.

166.2007 To agree items raised at the October meeting for inclusion on this agenda.

166.1 Dog Warden Scheme – Discussed under correspondence 161.1 2007.

            166.2 Emergency Plan. – deferred until Tuesday 20th November 2007 meeting due to time constraints.

            166.3 Flood Prevention Work – Cllr Roe to check on possible problem at The Mount.

167.2007. To receive items raised for inclusion on December Agenda

            167.1 Dog Fouling

168.2007 To agree the date of the next meeting:

            A special meeting to discuss the Blackdown Garage site, The Cemetery, the Emergency Plan and Community News is to be held Tuesday 20th November 2007 7.30pm at the Reading Rooms.

 

The date of Tuesday 11th December 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 11.05pm.

 

 

C Williams

Clerk to the Parish Council                                                  14 November 2007

 

 

 

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

                                                (Cllr T Pearce - Chairman)

 

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