Draft minutes subject to confirmation

 

MARY TAVY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

Held in the Reading Rooms

Tuesday 8th April 2008

 

Present:

Cllr T Pearce (Chairman) (WDBC) Cllr M Anning, Cllr C Downham, Cllr R Elton, Cllr G Hill, Cllr A Prosser, Cllr M Robins, (7)

C Williams (Clerk)

Others present:

            None,

Apologies for absence:  

Cllr M Roe, Cllr S Street, Cllr C Marsh (DCC), PC Reed.

43-2008 Parishioners time:  

No parishioners wished to speak.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm

44-2008 Declarations of Interest:

Cllr Downham and Cllr Hill declared an interest in the Coronation Hall as Committee Member and President respectively.

45-2008 Minutes of the previous meeting:

            All agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 11th March 2008 were a true and accurate record and were duly signed by the Chairman.

46-2008 Matters arising:

46.1 Speeding – Cllr Robins reported back on the Southern Links meeting where speeding was discussed with Inspector Hammond.  Mary Tavy is a known problem speeding area and speed monitoring will be held here more often. Cllr Pearce also spoke with Inspector Hammond at the Police Authority meeting recently and requested average speed cameras.  These are not available here yet but are on trial elsewhere in the country where there have been numbers of fatalities. All agreed to invite Mr Joe Deasy, the area engineer for Highways to the next Parish Council meeting.

46.2 Community News – A letter was received from Steve Elton thanking members for their comments.  The next edition is to be 6 pages long to cover a large amount of information.  The newsletter is not likely to be any larger than this in future, to keep it to the shorter format which has proved popular with readers.

46.3 Emergency Plan –A less intrusive method is to be used for obtaining information needed for our records.

46.4 Community Plan – The draft document has been prepared. This considerable task has already highlighted some community concerns.  The completed document will be used to address these concerns with the appropriate agencies.

46.5 Unitary Meeting – Cllr Robins suggested that a letter is sent to West Devon Borough Council, with a copy to the Boundary Commission, to make it clear that the wish of this council is to be included with South Devon and Dartmoor rather than the urban centres of Plymouth or Exeter. Clerk to send a letter.

47-2008 Police: - To receive report from PC Reed: The Clerk read out a report from PC Reed.

Three crimes were reported in the parish in the last sixty days, two of which have already been resolved. The traffic unit have been in Mary Tavy for speed detection work and will continue to work in the village at various times.

WDBC will now be employing 4 people to deal with car parking offences instead of this being dealt with by the police traffic wardens. WDBC will also be taking over responsibility for lost animals.

48-2008 Correspondence-

  1. DCC – letter of acknowledgement re speeding
  2. Copy letter from WI re revised bus pass conditions.
  3. DAPC Newsletter
  4. DAPC letter Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 – see 56.3-2008
  5. Calor Village of the Year Competition – agreed not to enter until garage site under development.
  6. 21Century Multi Use Community Buildings
  7. DAPC Questionnaire – Cllrs Prosser and Anning to reply.
  8. Audit Commission – appointment of external auditor.
  9. DNPA News Releases – The Planning Inspector has commended the DNPA on their Core Strategy document.
  10. CVS Newsletter 

A suggestion was made for the Mayoral Awards but received too late for this year. Clerk to check.

  1. WDBC – Parish Precept 2008/09
  2. Letter from Mary Tavy Coronation Hall re Grant Application-

The trustees of the Coronation Hall have applied for a grant from WDBC & CCD and have asked for support from the Parish council. All agreed to support them in their application. If financial support is required it would only be possible to grant them a token amount at this time as the precept requirement has already been set for this financial year.  It was agreed to clarify whether financial support is required.

  1. WDBC Local Government Review – Devon – 2 letters
  2. SWW – letter of acknowledgement.
  3. Letter from MTVMRG re Beech Tree matters.
  4. DNPA letter re Hill Bridge Proposals
  5. DCC Statement of accounts
  6. DCC – Devon towns Forum – free seminar 9th April 12-3.30pm Okehampton
  7. Local Councils Update
  8. Town & Parish Standard
  9. TASS Information
  10. Village Green – newsletter from CCD.

 

49-2008 Financial report

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

                        Current account - £2434.40

                        Cemetery account - £4731.63

                        Community Plan Account £1753.74

                        Mary Tavy Community News £25.00

            The cost of the flyer for the APM of £35 was incorrectly deducted from the Community News account, the clerk will make a correction.

            49.2 To authorise payments for March  - .The following payments were authorised DAPC Annual Membership £151.00, C Williams March Salary £355.21, C Williams Stamps £8.88, T Pearce Mileage £41.30, M Robins £19.25, Reading Room Hire £96.00, Hepworth Workshops – (website) £153.59, Ottery Press £80.00.

            Cllr Hill left the meeting at this point.

50.2008 Cemetery:

50.1 To receive report from Burial Clerk. – The clerk presented revised regulations and charges based on an increase of 4% and incorporating the amendment proposed at the last parish council meeting to classify all those residents who had left the parish within the last 3 years, as parishioners in respect of charges rather than just those residents who had gone into residential care.  Cllr Elton proposed to adopt the new regulations and this was seconded by Cllr Anning. A unanimous vote in favour followed. A discussion followed regarding the use of artificial flowers in the cemetery.  It was noted that in the regulations, provision is already in place for the removal of all flowers artificial or real once they have deteriorated.

51.2008 Receive reports from members elected to outside bodies:

            51.1 DNPA – None

            51.2 Police Authority – A presentation was given on Neighbourhood Policing. Concern was expressed over policing in rural areas. PACT – Partners and Communities Together – police to engage with the community and will be knocking on doors to promote increased awareness of residents concerns about their area.

            51.3 Southern Link – The following items were raised by the representatives of Mary Tavy Parish Council.

            Speeding was discussed as reported above.

            The laying down of headstones in the closed churchyard by WDBC was also raised.  Where no family line exists to repair the headstone it was suggested to put the headstones around the perimeter of the churchyard.

            Japanese Knotweed – no government body is responsible for dealing with this unless riparian and then the Environment Agency will become involved. At present it is the responsibility of the landowner to prevent the spread of knotweed.  It is advised that neighbours press landowners to take action before invasion to their property.

            51.4 Coronation Hall –Cllr Downham reported that the trustees are applying for a grant from the WDBC and CCD for a schedule of works to the hall.  The Musical Variety show went very well but there was a disappointing attendance on the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon performances.  The low attendance to Villages in Action events was also mentioned and it was suggested that village organisations could supply flyers to promote events to be delivered with the Community Newsletter.

52.2008 Planning:

            52.1 To discuss planning applications received   

      None received.

            52 .2 To receive notification on previous applications –

            Kingsett Farm extension to barn –approved with conditions.

            Comments on Site Visits

            Blackdown Nursing Home – site visit was held – Object - concerns.

            Miners Dry –  application for temporary mobile home – Object - major concerns.   

            52.3 The site of the old Blackdown Garage – Still awaiting amended planning application. The removal of the canopy was discussed as concern over the possibility of asbestos.  The appropriate authorities were notified on the same day.

            52.4 Planning Matters –

            52.4.1 Kings Way – concern over the amount of soil banked up high at Blackdown Nursing Home – all agreed for the clerk to write to James Aven at DNPA with details.

            52.4.2 All agreed to also write to Nick Savin at DNPA to express concern that no action appears to have been taken to clear the rubbish from the site adjacent to Standard Court.

            52.4.3 Proposed Conservation Area (PCA) has been enlarged to take in the Kings Way in the north of the village.  Cllr Prosser proposed writing to Keith McKay with the support of the Parish Council.  This was seconded by Cllr Anning. All agreed. Clerk to write to Keith McKay.

            52.5 Fence Heights – The Chairman asked members to discuss the height of fences around the village and if the Parish Council should contact the DNPA to see if it would be possible to reduce the permitted height in the new Local Development Framework document.  All agreed Clerk to write to DNPA.

53.2008 Annual Parish Meeting- A discussion was held on agenda items for Annual Parish Meeting and who would contribute.

54.2008 August Meeting – In view of the responses required for the Boundary commission it was agreed to hold a meeting on the 2nd Tuesday in August 2008.

55.2008 Footpath 11 – Parishioners have complained about the lack of sign posting along Footpath 11, Horndon North West to Kingsett Down,. The clerk is to write to Paul Glanville (DNPA) with a request for improved signage.

56.2008 To agree items raised at the March meeting for inclusion on this agenda.

            56.1 CPRE Membership –Cllr Robins had looked into this membership and recommended the Parish Council did not become members. All agreed.

            56.2 Review mileage allowance. – In view of the increased costs of fuel Cllr Prosser proposed that the allowance be increased to 40p per mile. This was seconded by Cllr Elton and a unanimous vote followed.

            56.3 Review of Standing Orders – Following discussion it was proposed by Cllr Robins and seconded by Cllr Prosser for the following to become the policy of this council. Vexatious Letters – It is the policy of this Parish Council not to waste time on letters which are considered vexatious in their nature and therefore a waste of clerk and council time. This was unanimously agreed and the clerk is to add this to the Operational Procedures.Adopted.  It was also agreed to amend the Standing Orders to include the Section 70 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. This amends the 1972 Local Government Act with the result that the Chairman and Vice Chairman of a parish or town council cannot be chosen from amongst members who have been co-opted.  These office holders can only be members who have stood for election. Adopted.

57.2008. To receive items raised for inclusion on May agenda

            57.1 Burial Charges & Regulations

            58.2008 To agree the date of the next meeting:

            The date of Tuesday 13th May 2008 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 Chairman at 10.30pm.

 

 

 

C Williams

Clerk to the Parish Council                                                  10th April 2008

 

 

 

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

                                                (Cllr T Pearce - Chairman)

 

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