Draft minutes subject to confirmation
MARY TAVY
PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Held in The
Reading Rooms
Tuesday 13th
September 2005
Present:
Cllr T Pearce (Chairman) Cllr P Jarvis (Vice-Chairman) - Cllr A Prosser
Cllr J Pendall - Cllr W Squire - Cllr M Anning - Cllr P Hilborn - Cllr G Hill (Arrived at 8.15) - Cllr J Higman (Arrived at 7.45) - DG Evans (Clerk)
Others present:
Two members of the public (One arrived after the time allotted for the public to speak and after the Chairman had formally opened the meeting.)
PC K Reed Cllr P Scannell WDBC
Apologies for
absence:
Apologies for late arrival were given in advance by Cllr Hill
Absent with no apologies received:
None
86-2005 Parishioners time:
The one parishioner present at the time did not wish to speak, accordingly the meeting was opened at 7.30pm by the Chairman.
87-2005 Minutes of the previous meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 12th July 2005 were signed, by the Chair, as a true and accurate record.
88-2005 Receive report from PC Reed:
88.1 PC Kevin Reed stated that there have been twenty seven reports of incidents in the village since the last meeting of which eleven have been logged as crimes and five of those have been detected. He reported that speed detection vehicles have twice visited the village the figures from these visits not being available at the moment. Concern was expressed by Cllr Hilborn and reiterated by all present regarding inconsiderate and potentially dangerous parking within the village. PC Reed agreed to visit the sites of concern and speak to the owners of the vehicles. He also offered to discuss the problem with Highways in an effort to ensure compliance with the various road safety issues raised.
89-2005 Matters arising:
89.1
Stones on verges Cllr Pearce reported that Colin Hicks is no longer the
person to contact and that his replacement is a Mr John Doddswell. He confirmed
that this person is investigating the concerns already aired and other matters.
Concern was raised by Cllr Prosser regarding ownership of verges with the clerk
being requested to seek clarification from Highways regarding the point where
ownership belongs to the property and is not classified as Highway.
89.2 Housing survey It was confirmed that John Packer of WDBC will attend the next meeting on the 11th October to answer questions and queries regarding the survey from the members. The Chairman sought clarification from Cllr Scannell regarding progress on Choice Band Lettings. Cllr Scannell explained the mechanics of this and stated that it is currently out to tender and the signs are hopeful for an adoption of this method by WDBC.
89.3 The letter received from Mrs S Chambers at the July meeting regarding the costs of the Mary Tavy Gazette and other associated issues has been acknowledged with the Chairman intending to respond more fully to it as soon as the costings of the Gazette are known.
89.4 Beating of the Bounds The clerk explained that this would not be covered under the existing insurance policy and that the additional cover required for some fifty people to take part was likely to be expensive. Cllr Higman enquired as to the arrangements regarding insurance at the last Beating of the Bounds. The clerk was unable to offer any guidance on this. The Chairman proposed that this should be deferred to August 2006 with Cllr Anning requesting that a quote be obtained now for the extra cost in order that parishioners can see why it has been deferred. This was agreed.
89.5 Web site Cllr Prosser stated that she has spoken to Adrian Hepworth regarding the presence of the Gazette onto it. She has also spoken to Richard Davies Computer Services who has intimated that this can now be done and that for a cost in the region of £50 he will train Cllr and Mrs Jarvis and update the software on their PC to accommodate it. Cllr Jarvis stated that he too has spoken to Richard Davies who has said that he cant be sure on costs until he has seen the exact requirements, to this end he has taken a copy of the Gazette on disc to ascertain how many hours time he is likely to incur. Cllr Anning proposed that this should go ahead providing the costs are reasonable and acceptable. Cllr Jarvis will report back with costs to the next meeting.
89.6 Receive costings for the Gazette The Chairman requested these, as agreed at an informal meeting held to discuss this one issue, from Cllr Jarvis. Cllr Jarvis re-directed the question to the Financial Officer. The clerk stated that as far as he could ascertain the net cost of the last two issues (VAT exclusive) was £1,187 which covered production of 2 x 400 copies and the distribution of them. This equates to £1.48 per copy. The clerk continued by stating that a decision on the future of this publication would need to be made by the October/November meeting in order that the sum required could be included into the Precept. It was agreed that the possibility of a 30/40% sponsorship deal should be sought from local business and that if this was in place the overall control of the Gazette would remain with the PC. Cllr Hilborn felt that organisations in the village should be asked to contribute but this was considered to be unworkable. Cllr Jarvis agreed to speak with Noel Thompson who has previously offered his assistance to attaining sponsorship.
(Cllr Hill arrived at this point in the meeting.)
89.6 (Contd.) Cllr Scannell felt that the PC was doing all it could to advise parishioners about the costs and that parishioners should be prepared to pay for such an excellent and professional publication. She also offered to arrange and run a fund raising event specifically to raise funds for it. The Chairman thanked Cllr Scannell for her offer but felt that this should be kept in reserve for future consideration. Cllr Anning proposed that the members agree to the principle of sponsorship and that Cllr Jarvis and the Chairman should strive to attain some. This was seconded by Cllr Pendall and unanimously agreed.
90.2005 Correspondence:
90.1 An open day to solicit views from the public regarding Dartmoor Sustainability and planning issues up to 2016 has been arranged by DNPA to be held on Monday 24th October at the Nicholls Hall Lydford between the hours of 2.00 to 8.00. The Chairman hoped that as many members as possible would attend during these hours.
90.2 Reading Rooms A grant request was received from The Reading Rooms for assistance towards the costs of the re-covering of the snooker table and new heating. It was agreed to place this item on the agenda for October when the Precept will be discussed.
90.3 A grant request was received from Tavistock Ring & Ride with this also being placed onto the October meeting agenda for agreement.
90.4 Notification regarding the AGM on Saturday 1st October of DAPC was received with the Chairman stating that he will strive to attend.
90.5 A letter from Mr & Mrs Heal regarding overgrown hedges on the A386 adjacent to the Virtual Footpath was discussed. As this arrived during the summer recess the Chairman and the Clerk had acknowledged it and written to those properties where the hedge required attention.
90.6 Police Liaison Meeting As Cllr Pendall is unable to attend Cllr Hill offered to attend which was gratefully accepted.
91.2005 Financial report:
91.1The financial report detailing the following balances was circulated:
Current account - £3492.87
Cemetery account - £3683.75
91.2 The following payments were authorised:
Clerk Honorarium plus stamps £180.01 (Sept) Mileage Cllr Prosser £26.60 and Mileage for Cllr Pearce £76.12. The clerk detailed that cheque 557 payable to the Reading rooms for £40 has been cancelled as this sum has been paid by the Police Authority and that £197.58 has been received from WDBC as contribution towards the set up costs for the Web site.
92.2005To receive report from Chair of
Cemetery Committee:
92.1 Cllr Jarvis reported that a complaint regarding Dog Fouling on the path through the Church graveyard leading to the PC burial grounds had been received. He has spoken to WDBC who have agreed to seek the assistance of the Dog Warden in an effort to catch the culprit and will consider new signage after consultation with the Revd. Ian Sykes. He further reported that current legislation regarding Dog Fouling will shortly be changing with parish councils being empowered to deal directly with this problem under the new Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.
93.2005 Planning:
93.1 Diversion of footpath at Holditch Farm No objections
93.2 Grimming Tor Cllr Jarvis declared an interest in this
application and vacated the room at this point. The Chairman expressed his
concerns over the recent planning committee site visit and that although it had
been agreed by majority not to object he felt that this was inconsistent as
DNPA had turned down this application earlier this year. He also considered
that it still contravened GP2 in the DNPA Local Plan and nothing in the
re-application changed this. Cllr Anning stated that as the planning committee
had already agreed not to object he could see no reason why it was being
discussed at the full council. Cllr Higman agreed and stated that as the
planning committee is authorised to make decisions on behalf of the full
council the decision they had taken should be accepted as the view of this
council. Cllr Anning felt that the decision, as taken, could and should not be
reversed even if the majority wished it which he did not feel was the case. The
Chairman stated that at the end of the day the application was to build a
stable block, with dung heap, within the curtiledge of a domestic garden in a
residential area. Cllr Prosser felt that as the garden was large, surrounded by
open country on one side and was not in the middle of a residential area it
should be allowed. The Chairman reiterated his view and commented that despite
the size of the garden it was still a domestic garden which could lead to a
precedence being set. Finally, it was agreed that Cllrs Anning and Pearce would
represent the PC at the forthcoming site visit of DNPA with one of them to
present the views of the PC. (Cllr Jarvis
returned to the meeting at this point.)
93.3 Previous applications The following applications have all been agreed by DNPA: Lane Head Cottage Patio Doors agreed under permitted development rights Barn at Old Rectory farm Wringworthy Farm Mary Tavy Inn Midlands Farm and Glenside.
The application to build a new dwelling to the rear of the Post Office has been refused. Blackdown Nursing Home where the Old London Road has been filled in without permission, the Chairman sought approval to write to DNPA requesting that an enforcement order be placed on this. This was unanimously agreed.
93.4 Miners Dry The clerk was requested to ascertain the progress on the enforcement order supposedly served by DNPA some time ago.
94.2005 Items raised for inclusion on this
agenda:
None had been raised at the July meeting.
95-2005 Items raised for inclusion on the
October agenda:
95.1 Hedges
95.2 Recreation Fields
95.3 Mining reports
96.2005 To agree the date of the next
meeting:
96.1 The date of Tuesday 11th October 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 9.25pm.
DG Evans
Clerk to the Parish Council 14 September 2005
Signed as a true and accurate record .Date .
(Cllr T Pearce - Chairman)