Draft minutes subject to confirmation

 

MARY TAVY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

Held in the Reading Rooms

Tuesday 10th March 2009

 

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.(8)

C Williams (Clerk)

Others present: Cllr Christine Marsh, one member of the public.

Apologies for absence:

Cllr M Roe, PC K Reed, PCSO Dave Chapple,

Parishioner’s time: No parishioner wished to speak.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm.

37-2009 Declarations of Interest: Cllr Prosser declared a personal interest in The Croft as a            neighbour.

38-2009 Minutes of the previous meeting:

All agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10th February 2009 were a true and accurate record and were duly signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman brought forward agenda items 13.1 and 13.2 as Cllr Street could only attend part of this meeting and the Chairman wished all councillors to discuss and vote on these items.

39.1-2009 Conservation Area: It was clarified that the Parish Council were aware that the DNPA & English Heritage were looking at part of Mary Tavy becoming a Conservation Area in early 2006 as detailed in minutes at that time. Written information on the Conservation Area was circulated to members in a round robin prior to the public consultation days. A letter has now been received from a parishioner requesting that the Parish Council send a letter to the DNPA to request that their property be removed from the Conservation Area. It was felt that the parish council had done a lot to inform the public through the public consultation days and the Community News delivered to each household. However, with hindsight it was acknowledged that this resident felt that more could have been done and members were sorry he felt that we had not consulted as well as we could have done.  Following much discussion it was proposed by Cllr Hill that a letter be sent to the DNPA stating that we have a parishioner who objects to their property being in the Conservation Area and asking the DNPA what the position is. This was seconded by Cllr Elton. A vote followed with 7 in favour and 1 against.  The Chairman thanked Cllr Street for the latest piece in the February Community News which sets out clearly any implications for parishioners living in a Conservation Area.

39.2-2009 MTVM Recreation Ground Grant: Cllr Hill reported that the trustees had applied for funding under the Grass Roots scheme details of which had been forwarded to them by the clerk.  The Parish Council have currently set aside £350 in the contingency fund for the Recreation ground should alternative funding not be available. Cllr Pearce expressed concern that children were playing on equipment deemed unsafe by ROSPA for over 6 months before funding to replace items was sought. Cllr Marsh advised the meeting that there are several quick and easy grants to apply for with money available e.g. Awards for All and WDBC. It agreed to await the outcome of the grant application before making any further decisions.

40-2009 Matters arising:

40.1 Litter clean up day – Community Plan Action Point 6.2. This is to be held on the 25th April 2009.  DNPA will provide equipment. Cllr Street has sent an invitation to the primary school and the clerk is to send an invitation to the Guides. Cllr Robins is to carry out a Risk Assessment and provided any recommendations are carried out the parish council insurance will cover this event. Cllr Roe was not at this meeting but it was hoped that he also could be involved with the event using the Emergency Plan to divide up the village. Clerk to contact the Coronation Hall trustees to request use of the hall facilities for this Community Event. A pasty lunch is to be provided. It appears that WDBC may have already completed a roadside pick up in some areas of the village.

40.2 Summer Fete Day – Members agreed to have a stand at the Summer Fete Day. Cllr Street is to try and obtain a photo stand for a competition.  Members in attendance to wear a Name Badge in line with Quality Council recommendations so that parishioners are aware of the identity of councillors and have an opportunity to approach them. The Community Action day on the Wednesday 8th April is also an opportunity for parishioners to approach councillors in attendance.  Clerk to write to MTVM Recreation Ground Trustees to request use of the playing fields for parking. Cllr Pearce asked everyone to let parishioners know that there will be advisors present at the day to help people check their entitlements to Pension Credits. Cllr Prosser added that the CAB will also be in attendance to advise on entitlements. Cllr Street left the meeting at this point.

41-2009 Police: - To receive report. The Clerk reported that the police had advised they had

received complaints of “cherry knocking” in the village and that this had been dealt with. Regular speed checks are now been carried out at various sites in the village together with an unmarked police car also carrying out checks.  

42-2009 Correspondence

1.      DCC Highways – Request for quotations for work required to bus shelter to bring it up to an adoptable standard.

2.      Lengthsman due w/c 23/3/09. Any problem areas to be advised to clerk.

3.      NHS Devon Partnership Trust – Application forms for free membership. (Over 4,800 members already.)

4.      Post offices – Securing Their Future. Public meeting to be held at County Hall March 17th 2009. 4.30-5.30pm. Details passed to Sally & Brian Edwards.

5.      Villages in Action event – “Kosmos” Friday 3rd April 7.30pm, Coronation Hall – please support this event which has sold out elsewhere.

6.      WDBC – notice of next precept payment.

7.      WDBC – Meeting Schedule 2009-2010.

8.      DAPC Newsletter.

9.      Highways leaflets – What the County Council do & who to contact-Highways/Drainage.

10.  Town & Parish Standard – Standards board newsletter

11.  Devon Link – your voice on health & social care in Devon.

12.  Devon Environmental Business initiative newsletter

13.  Village Green newsletter

14.  Dartmoor Biodiversity Newsletter

15.  Royal Devon & Exeter Express newsletter

16.  DNPA – news releases. DNPA partnership with local car share club & climate action group.

17.  Standards Committee agenda for meeting 10/3/09.

18.  DNPA – Delivering for Dartmoor – DNP Management Plan.

19.  WDBC kerbside recycling report – this area maintains the highest standard of recycling due to the kerbside sorting and as a result is receiving a good price for the recycled materials.

43-2009 Financial report

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

                        Current account - £4124.47

                        Cemetery account - £5605.99

                        Mary Tavy Community News £123.60

            43.2 To authorise payments for March –The following payments were authorised: T Pearce mileage/postage £29.92, C Williams postage £2.52, C Williams February salary, Chairman’s Allowance £100, W Wardell grass cutting £42.50, Hepworth workshops £153.59, Ottery Press £250.00.

            43.3 Grants – The grant provision for MTVMRG was discussed under 39.2 above.  The grant provision made for the Mary Tavy & Brentor Primary School will be discussed at the April parish council meeting.

44.2009 Cemetery: To receive report from Burial Clerk

44.1 The clerk had no interments to report. The clerk reported on the Cemetery Committee meeting held on 10th February 2009. All agreed the minutes of the cemetery meeting held on Tuesday 10th February 2009 were a true and accurate record and were duly signed by the Chairman. Cllr Hill proposed to agree the amendments to the regulations and charges made in this meeting.  This was seconded by Cllr Downham and unanimously agreed.

44.2 In addition to cemetery work Mr Wardell has mended the chain on the war memorial, which had pulled out of the granite and he has also serviced the lawnmower. Members were very grateful for his efforts.

44.3 The clerk reported an enquiry received from a former parishioner about the possibility of returning an unused plot to the parish as it is no longer required by the family.  Following discussion members agreed by a majority of 6 to 1 to write to the family with agreement in principle and to ascertain what monetary value they expected.

45.2009 Receive reports from members elected to outside bodies:

            45.1 DNPA Forum – None.

            45.2 Police Authority – None.

            45.3 Southern Link – None.

45.4 Coronation Hall – Cllr Downham reported that a variety of events are being planned for the fete day and that the committee were still awaiting the outcome of the grant applied for from Community Council of Devon. 

46.2009 Planning

            46.1 To discuss planning applications received

            Beechwood Barn, Burntown – Change of use of auxiliary annexe to holiday let. No objections.

            The Old School House – single storey extension for new porch. No objections.

            Part Dowerland – erection of lambing shed. No objection in principle.

            Blackdown Nursing Home – Amenity pond and terrace – objections on grounds of safety due to risks of possible flooding of properties on the A386.

            The Croft, Brentor Road – Conservatory – site visit not possible. Concerns over materials due to age of property. Cllr Marsh left the meeting at this point. 

            46.2 To receive notification on previous applications –

            11 Station Road – Provision of off road parking – conditional consent granted.

47.2009 Quality Council Status: Cllr Robins reported that following the DAPC training day that this is not so onerous.  A main element will be the qualification of the clerk for which approx 40 hours work will be required.  Another element required will be the ability of the council to engage the youth of the village.  It was agreed to keep Quality Status on the back burner and to bear these requirements in mind whilst carrying out council activities. To review in 6 months.

48.2009 Annual Parish Meeting: To be held on Wednesday 22nd April at the Coronation Hall at

7.30pm. Invitations have been sent to village organizations to take part. Members are also to consider items that they may like to talk about.  It was also suggested that it would be a good opportunity to display the Blackdown Garage plans as many parishioners will not have seen the approved plans and also the Community Plan.

49.2009 To agree items raised at the February meeting for inclusion on this agenda – see 38.2009 above.

50.2009 To receive items raised for inclusion on April Agenda

            50.1 Website

51.2009 To agree the date of the next meeting:

            The date of Tuesday 14th April 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 9.55pm.

 

 

 

 

C Williams

Clerk to the Parish Council                                                  14th March 2009

 

 

 

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

                                                (Cllr T Pearce - Chairman)

 

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