Draft minutes subject to confirmation

 

MARY TAVY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

Held in the Reading Rooms

Tuesday 14th April 2009

 

Present:

Cllr T Pearce (Chairman)(WDBC), Cllr M Anning, Cllr A Prosser, Cllr M Robins,

Cllr S Street.(5)

C Williams (Clerk)

Others present: Two members of the public. PCSO Dave Chapple

Apologies for absence:

Cllr C Downham, Cllr R Elton, Cllr G Hill, Cllr M Roe.

Parishioner’s time: No parishioner wished to speak.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm.

53-2009 Declarations of Interest: Cllr Street declared an interest as a Governor at the primary

 school. Cllr Pearce declared an interest as WDBC councillor.

54-2009 Minutes of the previous meeting:

All agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10th March 2009, save for an addition to 52.2009 - Members agreed that the clerk should receive the pay scale she is entitled to under national guidelines; also the village caretaker would receive an increase following completion of the probationary period. - were a true and accurate record and were duly signed by the Chairman.

55-2009 Matters Arising

55.1 Litter Clean Up Day: Cllr Robins reported that a Risk Assessment  has been carried out for this event and will be lodged with the clerk for insurance purposes.  Litter will not be collected from the main road area for safety reasons and also this area is the responsibility of WDBC.  Coronation Hall will be the base for meeting and for the lunch.  Cllr Pearce proposed a budget of £75 for the pasty lunch. This was seconded by Cllr Anning and unanimously agreed.

55.2 Summer Fete: Cllr Street is compiling a collection of photographs of mystery locations within the parish. Cllrs to forward any contributions to her by e-mail.

55.3 Conservation Area: The Clerk read out a letter from the DNPA with regard to the Conservation Area.  As it is an Area designation rather than an individual property designation it is not possible to simply remove a property from the Conservation Area.  The clerk is to forward a copy of the letter to the parishioner making the enquiry.

55.4 Community Action Day: Members were pleased to report a very successful day which was well attended.  Parishioners have also commented how pleased they were with the home visit safety checks carried out by the fire brigade as part of this event. The clerk is to write a letter of thanks to the officers at WDBC who arranged the event and to pass on thanks to the other agencies who attended.  Cllr Prosser proposed that the cost of the hall hire for this event be shared between the Parish Council and WDBC. That as a gesture of goodwill and thanks a one off payment of £15 be made. This was seconded by Cllr Anning and a vote of 4 in favour followed. Cllr Pearce declared an interest as WDBC councillor and Mayor and was unable to vote. The Chairman gave a vote of thanks to those councillors who also attended the day.

56-2009 Police: - To receive report. PCSO Dave Chapple was in attendance at the meeting and

had no crimes to report.  There was an incident of a child being knocked off a bicycle on the road to the school and members were pleased to hear that the child is OK.

57-2009 Correspondence

  1. Letter from DCC re classification of a Highway affecting land at Grendon Farm. Members agreed to investigate this with the DNPA and pursue diligently as DCC are advising the Parish Map issued to us in 1984 is incorrect.
  2. DNPA Local Development Framework – Devon Management & Delivery  Development Plan Document – to be circulated to members for comments before 15/5/09. The Chairman requested that members read this carefully with particular regard to the new proposals for social housing. Comments to be passed to the clerk.
  3. Freedom of Information Act DVD – Tick Tock – to be circulated to members.
  4. Road closure notice for drainage works Station Road/Warne Lane junction to beyond Burnford Farm. Mon 29/6/09- Tues 30/6/09.
  5. DCC highways reply re Horndon Clam – special funding requested by Highways from Devon County Council before  work can be done, due to the overall cost..
  6. MTVMRG letter offering to donate land to accommodate a bus shelter.
  7. MTVMRG replies re speaker for APM & use of field for Community Action Day. Clerk to write to trustees to thank for offer of use of the field
  8. WDBC – Local Strategic Partnership – Community Planning protocol – an update re challenges of climate change.
  9. Parish Planning drop in surgery – Fri 24th April Cullompton Town Hall. Inc demonstration  of Communities in Action Database www.communitiesinaction.org.uk
  10. Community First – Insurance renewal £355.50
  11. WDBC – notice of precept BACS pmt.
  12. DNPA News releases – Sustainable future for Dartmoor, Climate Change Exhibition at Postbridge, Conservation  Award – Edward Morshead Results, Over the cattle grid – life on the high moor.
  13. The Clerk – newsletter
  14. Devon Talk – newsletter
  15. The Boundary Committee and WDBC letters re Unitary local government – to be discussed later on agenda.
  16. Reply re Website – costs of attaching links

58-2009 Financial report

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

                        Current account - £3043.87

                        Cemetery account - £5546.84

                        Mary Tavy Community News £73.60

            58.2 To authorise payments for April –The following payments were authorised: A Prosser mileage £6.40, Reading Room Hire £168.00, C Williams postage £4.32, C Williams March salary and back pay, W Wardell grass cutting £33.29, M Roe Emergency Plan supplies £72.44, Ottery Press £90.00.

            58.3 Precept – The clerk clarified why the increase in the parish precept was shown as 5.2% on the council tax bills when the actual increase in the precept total was 4.8%. WDBC advised that this was because of the reduction in Band D equivalent houses in the parish.  This may have been due to re banding or reduced as a result of an increase single occupiers who would pay a reduced council tax.

            58.3 Grants:

58.3.1 A letter has been received from the WI requesting a small grant to help them replace heathers in the WI garden at the top of Bal Lane.  Cllr Pearce proposed a grant of £30 which was seconded by Cllr Street and agreed unanimously. The clerk is to write to the WI to thank them for all their work over the years on this garden.

58.3.2 MTVMRG Cllr Hill was unable to attend this meeting but had advised members that the Grass Roots grant funding had been declined.  Members felt a duty to support this village amenity and have set aside £350 in contingency should external funding not be available. Cllr Robins expressed concern that the works recommended by ROSPA some time ago had not been implemented, or funding sought at that time and felt that the Parish Council should exhibit due diligence and request to see a copy of the ROSPA report. It was also felt that external grants may be more forthcoming if funds were used for new equipment rather than repairs.  Clerk to request a copy of the work specified by ROSPA.

58.3.3 Primary School – The lower playground shelter is being replaced and unsafe areas are being resurfaced to utilise much needed space in the playground.  The school had been unable to obtain additional funding for structural improvements above their normal allocation.  Cllr Prosser proposed that £400 held in contingency be granted to the PTFA to assist with this project. This was seconded by Cllr Anning and a vote of 4 in favour followed. Cllr Street declared an interest as Governor and was unable to vote.

59.2009 Cemetery: To receive report from Burial Clerk

59.1 The clerk had no interments to report. The revised regulations and charges have been distributed to local funeral directors and memorial masons.  The Perspex in the notice board has been replaced and notices can again be displayed there. A letter of enquiry had also been received with regard to the regulations for headstones and a reply sent.

59.2 Following discussion about the return of an unused burial plot to the parish it was proposed by Cllr Robins to write to the family and explain that we have taken advice and feel that a fair solution in these unusual circumstances would be non-negotiable offer of £98 (base cost of a burial plot less an administration fee of £11.50). This was seconded by Cllr Pearce with a vote following with 4 in favour and 1 against. Carried.

60.2009 Receive reports from members elected to outside bodies:

            60.1 DNPA Forum – None.

            60.2 Police Authority – Cllr Prosser reported 3 new frontline officers - 1 in Tavistock and 2 in Okehampton; Operation Quest to improve operating policing processes concludes in April; 3 more speed guns in West Devon, Crime reduction partnership to become more reactive & responsive to community issues; focusing this year on PACT – police and community together.  There will be surveys every 6 months. PACT cards for comments and feedback to the police are available in libraries.

            60.3 Southern Link – Special Meeting to be held 22nd April re Boundary Commission proposals for Devon.  Unfortunately this date coincides with our Annual Parish Meeting. Clerk to send apologies and any questions members wish to raise – to be advised to clerk.

            Members had raised questions at the last Southern Link meeting to Brian George of Highways who advised that WDBC is responsible for litter collection on the A386 and that gritting outside of the primary school in icy weather is not possible, as they do not have the finance for all roads and A roads are the priority.

60.4 Coronation Hall – Cllr Downham was unable to attend this meeting but had advised members that the grant from the Community Council of Devon had not been awarded to them.

61.2009 Planning

            61.1 To discuss planning applications received: None.

            61.2 To receive notification on previous applications –

            Beechwood Barn, Burntown – Change of use of auxiliary annexe to holiday let. Consent granted with conditions.

            The Old School House – Consent granted.

            Blackdown Nursing Home – Amenity pond and terrace – Refused due to risks of flooding.

62.2009 Devon Unitary Status: Cllr Pearce reiterated that everyone needs to submit their views to the Boundary Commission. There is growing concern over the potential costs of Unitary following Cornwall’s experience. There now is an option of maintaining the status quo.

63.2009 Annual Parish Meeting: To be held on Wednesday 22nd April at the Coronation Hall at

7.30pm. Several village organisations have responded and agreed to take part. It has been advertised in the Community News, Tavistock Times and Cllr Prosser will also be displaying posters around the village.

64.2009 To agree items raised at the March meeting for inclusion on this agenda

            64.1 Website – It is possible to add links to the website Cllrs to liaise with clerk to advise which links are required and from which pages

65.2009 To receive items raised for inclusion on May Agenda

            65.1 DNPA Local Development Framework.

            65.2 Boundary Review

            65.3 AGM – members were asked to give thought to which roles they wish to stand for in the next council.

66.2009 To agree the date of the next meeting:

            The date of Tuesday 12th May 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 10.25pm.

 

 

 

 

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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