MARY TAVY
PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Tuesday 14th
November 2006
Present:
Cllr T Pearce (Chairman), Cllr M Anning - (Vice-Chairman), Cllr J Higman,
Cllr P Hilborn, Cllr G Hill, Cllr P Jarvis, Cllr J Pendall, Cllr A Prosser,
Cllr W Squire, (9)
Mrs C Williams (Clerk)
Others present:
Two members of the public
Apologies for absence:
Cllr C Marsh (DCC), PC K Reed,
114-2006 Parishioners time:
No parishioners wished to speak.
115-2006 Declarations of
Interest:
Cllr Prosser declared an interest as Chairman of the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Cllrs Hilborn, Hill & Jarvis declared their interest as Trustees of the Mary Tavy Victory Memorial Playing Fields.
116-2006 Minutes of the
previous meeting:
It was unanimously agreed that the minutes of the meetings held on Tuesday 10th October 2006 and Thursday 2nd November 2006 be signed, by the Chairman, as a true and accurate record.
117-2006 Matters arising:
117.1 The site of the old Blackdown garage –The DNPA have collated all the public responses and will be holding a meeting with Tetlow King on 20th November 2006 and will then come back to the Parish Council in mid December. It is aimed to become a planning brief by mid January. Geoffrey Cox MP is also meeting the DNPA. The Chairman commented that it is good to have his backing along with the DNPA, Cllr Marsh and Cllr Diana Moyse.
117.2 Parish Plan – Progress is being made with a Public Meeting to be held in the New Year. Village profiling is currently being carried out. There is also someone at the DNPA to assist when required.
117.3 Parish Records – the clerk reported that the information relating to the retention of records had been obtained and all agreed to deal with in the New Year.
117.4 Streetlight in Bal Lane- No further details were yet known. As we have had no direct approach to the Parish Council agreed to await further details from Cllr Scannell.
117.5 Mary Tavy Gazette – Following the meeting of 2nd November 2006 it was agreed not to make a decision on the number of editions per year but to limit the budget to £1200 per year. Therefore there would not be an autumn edition this year.
117.5 Flooding – The Chairman reported that Highways have the following repairs in hand: The main road outside Walford House, which had been badly affected by flooding, a new drain cover outside Downs Garage, a temporary rain barrier has been placed across the lane to Ivernia. The surface drains required in the lower part of Brentor Road will have to be paid for by the new developers. Following meetings of the Parish Council & South West Water & Highways the obstruction causing flooding in Fellingfield has now been cleared. Concern was expressed regarding the houses flooded in the higher part of Brentor Road and it was agreed to call an urgent meeting of South West Water, Highways and WDBC to assess action required in this area.
118-2006 Correspondence:
118.1 Letter received from West Devon Borough Council regarding sandbags – these have been requested and are held by Cllr Pearce and may be obtained from him. These are supplied without sand. There was discussion whether the Parish Council should buy a large supply of sand but in view of storage and on the basis that if Highways maintain drains there should not then be a need for sandbags. All agreed not to purchase.
118.2 Letter received from a parishioner regarding the area around the war memorial – this has now been dealt with as the area was tidied in advance of the Remembrance service.
118.3 Letter from a parishioner regarding the overgrown hedges on the A386. Letters from the Parish Council requesting the trimming of these has already been sent to residents.
118.4 Letter from Geoffrey Cox MP confirming his concern and involvement over the planned development on the garage sites with regard to road safety.
118.5 Letter from Countryside Alliance enclosing a card supporting local Post Offices to be displayed.
118.6 Dept for Communities & local Government advised of changes to Local Authority electoral arrangements, areas and names in England.
118.7 DNPA letter advising Parish Councils of the importance of their involvement in the Local Development Framework for Dartmoor. Workshops will be held in our area in the New Year.
118.8 DNPA invitation to attend a National Park Management Plan workshop. This however is on the same night as the next Parish Council Meeting therefore no one is available to attend.
118.9 Westmoor Barn Owl Survey – poster to be displayed. Any sightings to be reported on 01364 653026.
118.10 Dartmoor Visitor magazine request for local forthcoming events. Clerk to forward to individual village groups.
119-2006 Financial Report –
119.1 To
receive report from the Responsible Financial Officer – The financial
report detailing the following balances was circulated:
Current account - £5664.22
Cemetery account - £4594.28
119.2 The Responsible Financial Officer reported the receipt of the second half of the Parish Precept. The financial report was reconciled to the bank statements.
119.3 The following payments were authorised: - Allan Dolan £44.21, T Pearce Mileage /stamps £22.40, Clerk Salary £357.12. Clerk mileage/stamps £32.50. RBL Poppy Wreath £25.00, Website domain name £14.29, D Evans-Burial Clerk wages £134.85, P Jarvis - padlock keys £9.50.
119.4 Burial Clerk wages – Cllr Prosser proposed wages for the Burial Clerk should be paid monthly instead of annually as for the previous clerk. Cllr Anning seconded this and it was unanimously agreed. The Burial Clerk, Christine Williams did not object to this.
119.5 Chairman’s Allowance – The Chairman clarified that £330 quoted by a Councillor at a previous meeting were not his alone but total expenses of Councillors to date this financial year.
119.6 Grant Requests – The cost to budget report to enable members to consider the Precept requirement for 2007/08 was circulated. The Clerk read out the Grant requests received from Citizens Advice Bureau, Tavistock & District Local Transport Partnership (Ring & Ride), Mary Tavy & Brentor School Parents, Teachers and Friends Association – play equipment, Guides Association – purchase of a Standard, Mary Tavy & Brentor Under 5’s – mobile storage and Mary Tavy Victory Memorial Playing Fields.
119.6 .1 Having previously declared an interest Cllr Prosser left the room at this point as the CAB was to be discussed, however discussion extended to cover all grants in general. Cllr Prosser was asked to re-enter the meeting and she strongly objected to having been left out of discussion. The Chairman apologised for this unintentional exclusion and the discussion was summarised for her information.
Cllr Higman felt that as the high level of grant requests could not all be supported that it would be equitable to proportionally reduce the grant awarded to each organisation. Cllr Hill commented that he felt amounts awarded to the CAB & Ring & Ride in previous years were fair amounts and should not be reduced. Members agreed to vote on each request individually.
119.6.2 Cllr Prosser left the room at this point.
|
Name |
Amount |
Proposed
by |
Seconded
by |
Votes For |
Votes
Against |
Abstention |
Result |
|
CAB |
£100 |
Cllr Jarvis |
Cllr Pendall |
6 |
1 |
1 |
Carried |
Cllr Prosser re-entered the room at this point.
|
Name |
Amount |
Proposed
by |
Seconded
by |
Votes For |
Votes
Against |
Abstention |
Result |
|
Ring & Ride |
£100 |
Cllr Pendall |
Cllr Jarvis |
6 |
1 |
1 |
Carried |
|
*School PTFA |
£400 |
Cllr Prosser |
Cllr Higman |
6 |
3 |
0 |
Carried |
|
*Guides |
£150 |
Cllr Pendall |
Cllr Anning |
9 |
0 |
0 |
Carried - Unanimous |
|
*Under 5’s |
£150 |
Cllr Prosser |
Cllr Anning |
9 |
0 |
0 |
Carried - Unanimous |
*Grants to the School PTFA, Guides and Under 5’s were all awarded under Section 137 of the 1972 Local Government Act.
Cllrs Hilborn, Hill & Jarvis left the room at this point.
|
Name |
Amount |
Proposed
by |
Seconded
by |
Votes For |
Votes
Against |
Abstention |
Result |
|
Playing Fields |
£900 |
Cllr Pendall |
None |
N/a |
N/a |
N/a |
Retracted |
|
Playing Fields |
£850 |
Cllr Anning |
Cllr Higman |
6 |
0 |
0 |
Carried - Unanimous |
Cllrs Hilborn, Hill & Jarvis re –entered the room at this point.
119.7 Agree level of Precept 2007/08 – The Chairman spoke regarding the progress of the conservation areas within the village. A contribution of about £500 may be required from the Parish Council to finalise the process.
Cllr Prosser proposed to make provision of £500 from the precept in the event that this becomes payable. Cllr Anning seconded this. Cllr Hill proposed an amendment that we await a formal financial request for this money from the DNPA and Cllr Hilborn seconded this. A vote was held, 3 for, 3 against and 3 abstentions. The Chairman had the casting vote and voted against Cllr Hill’s amendment. It is a provision - if the money is not requested then it will not be spent.
A vote was held on Cllr Prosser’s original proposal - 4 for, 3 against, 2 abstentions – proposal carried
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 £10,760 for the next financial year. All agreed to precept this amount.
120.2006 To receive report from PC Reed – PC Reed was unable to attend. It was not possible to have Police Officers to stop the traffic on the main road for the 2 minutes silence during the Memorial Service as the Chairman had requested. It was agreed for the Clerk to contact him and thank him for providing the “Police Slow” signs.
121.2006 Cemetery
121.1 To receive report from Chairman of Cemetery Committee: Cllr Jarvis had received a letter of resignation as Burial Clerk from David Evans. Councillors were surprised at his referral in this letter to his contract of employment. Clerk to request a copy. Cllr Jarvis kindly offered support & assistance to Mrs Williams as the new Burial Clerk. The excess soil in the cemetery has been removed and Cllr Jarvis expressed thanks to Cllr Hill for this work. To avoid future damage to cemetery when removing this soil there has been a suggestion to contact South West Water to see whether future spoil could be held in the adjoining field. Cllr Jarvis did not recommend requesting gravediggers remove the waste in view of the additional charges they would make.
121.2 Fencing in Cemetery: To reduce cost it was felt that a post and 2 rail fence might be sufficient as it is only a boundary marker. It is hoped that WDBC may contribute to fencing costs and we wait to hear from Cllr Scannell.
121.3 Grave Markers: Cllr Pearce commented on the number of unmarked graves in the churchyard. Cllr Pendall explained how the graves would be marked. All agreed that Cllr Pendall & Cllr Hill could go ahead to purchase and fix these markers.
122.2006 Receive reports
from members elected to outside bodies
122.1 DNPA – none.
122.2 Police Authority – none.
122.3 Southern Link – none.
122.4 Coronation Hall – Cllr Prosser advised that the AGM is to be held on Wednesday 6th December 2006.
123.2006 Planning
123.1 To discuss
planning applications received.
Jessamy – New double garage, existing garage conversion to study - no objections.
Midlands Barn – Site visit to be held.
Installation of Telecommunications Equipment, Wheal Jewel Reservoir
123.2 To receive notification on previous applications
27 Great Fellingfield – Refused.
Royal Standard (retrospective application) – Approved.
Appeal for land at rear of Post Office was allowed and costs also allowed.
124.2006 To agree items raised at the October meeting for inclusion on this agenda.
124.1 Suggestions for Southern Link Agenda: Cllr Hill & Cllr Jarvis suggested Care in the Community and Cllr Pearce suggested policing on the main road with regard to speeding.
124.2 Review of Standing Orders: To be carried forward to next meeting.
124.3 Planning
register: To be carried forward to next meeting.
124.4 Parish Magazine: Cllr Prosser is currently submitting the Parish Council article and is happy to continue at present.
124.5 Chairman’s Allowance: There was no indication in the recent white paper of any changes to Parish Councils so we will wait and see if any further notification comes out in December.
124.6 Clerk’s Hours: It was confirmed that there would be an annual review of Clerks hours and salary in accordance with NALC scales. Clerk’s contract allows for additional hours when required. Clerk to estimate reasonable hours.
There being no further business the meeting was formally closed by the
Chairman at 10.20pm.
C Williams
Clerk to the Parish Council 29 November 2006
Return to Mary Tavy Parish Council Website