DUNKESWELL PARISH COUNCIL
DUNKESWELL PARISH COUNCIL
Annual Report 2008
1 A full compliment of eight Parish Councillors were appointed at the 2007 uncontested local election. Parish council officers were appointed at the election of Officers held at the Annual General Meeting of The Parish Council on12th May, 2008 as follows:
The Chairman: Geoffrey Sworder
The Vice Chairman: John Barrow
Planning Committee: Geoffrey Sworder, Charles Sumpter, Vanetta Keitch
Tree Warden: John Barrow
Footpaths Representatives: John Barrow
Other Parish Councillors; Cllrs Mrs B Russell, Messrs M Stevens, A Luscombe, B Procter
There has been a slight increase in crimes. This is mainly due to; 5 more Non Crime Domestics. 3 more Non Crime Child Protection issues.5 more Taking vehicles without Consent – although ALL vehicles were located after being stolen. 3 more Assaults although NONE were stranger assaults - Offenders ALL known to aggrieved.
The most pleasing reduction is Criminal Damage. This has been halved from 22 to 11.
|
2006-7 |
2007-8 |
Burglary dwelling |
3 |
4 |
Burglary other |
3 |
5 |
Theft of Motor vehicle/twoc |
1 |
5 |
Theft from Motor vehicle |
8 |
0 |
Fraud |
1 |
1 |
Theft other |
11 |
13 |
Criminal damage |
22 |
11 |
Assaults |
6 |
9 |
Obtain property by deception |
0 |
0 |
Public disorder |
2 |
1 |
Robbery |
1 |
|
Drugs related |
0 |
1 |
Drink & drive |
0 |
1 |
Resist Arrest |
0 |
|
Dog out of control |
0 |
|
Vehicle interference |
0 |
|
Unauthorised taking of M/V |
0 |
|
Wasting Police time |
0 |
|
Use telecom sys to cause alarm |
0 |
|
Threat to destroy/damage property |
0 |
|
harassment |
0 |
1 |
Possession of firearm without licence |
1 |
|
Non crime - Domestic |
3 |
8 |
Non crime – Child Protection |
3 |
6 |
Non crime – vulnerable person |
|
1 |
Cruelty to animal |
1 |
|
Cruelty to child |
|
1 |
arson |
|
1 |
TOTAL |
72 |
76 |
Dwelling Burglary
Non Dwelling Burglary
TWOC (taking motor vehicle without consent)
Theft from Motor Vehicle
Theft Other
Assaults
The Parish Council have held 12 meetings and 12 planning meetings during the past year (two of which ran concurrently on the same evenings). As well as organising the Annual Parish Meeting and hosting the Blackdown Hills Parish Network Meeting.
There is to be a new community hall open for use shortly at Highfield, this has been donated by Mr Throgmorton and is complete with close circuit television, ventilation, electricals etc. He has donated £3,000 to the Parish Council towards the furbishment of the kitchen. This has been matched for a further £2000 from the Devon County Council Locality Fund. Further funding will be sought for furniture and fittings. The new hall is far bigger and will attract a different type of rental to the village hall.
The Parish Council continue to support giving the youth club giving the use of the hall for weekly meetings. The Youth club are all eagerly awaiting the completion of the new community hall. There are currently still over 40 young people on the register of regular members. The usual attendance is around 25 to 30, depending on the time of year. The Youth Leader is currently Charlie Stevens. He has done a grand job for the last year keeping an eye on activities … and some times, they are very active! George and Adam, help as adult volunteers now!
Activities include Table tennis, Badminton, Pool, Card games, Unihock, and Rounders. Also "chilling out" chatting, enjoying music and the tuck shop. The choice of activities come very much from the young people and differ depending on who turns up. Recently some members wrote new rules for activities including football, pool and badminton. It was refreshing to see such a fresh approach to fairness … the favourite suggested pool rule being …"If you win, don't boast."
Already this year the club have been able to enjoy ball games in the park which works well as less boisterous activities can take over the hall. In the last year, they have made various trips to both Dunkeswell and Upottery churches. Our youth club members have been acting in plays, singing and reading in services, which has been very much appreciated. Last year we took on an allotment, which was enjoyed by a few of our green-fingered members. However, it was always difficult to comply with the allotment committee's rules not allowing young people to tend their allotment without adult supervision. Whilst we thank the allotment committee for the opportunity, we have to relinquish the plot, as it would be an enormous commitment for any adult to be available whenever necessary.
On a more positive note, the young people have been busy filming and editing their footage. George, Adam and Guy have applied for a grant to set up an exciting ambitious project opening a film studio on the airfield industrial estate (at the Dunkeswell Eco Business Park). They plan to pass on their skills to younger youth club members, running projects for young people. A group representing East Devon were in Dunkeswell to discuss the project before deciding if funding will be made available during the meeting.
The year had been unremarkable in terms of footpaths maintenance, and are looked after well with the budget the parish council has. The new power to determine tree applications is not fully established.
The Parish Council have made recommendations to the District Council on 59 planning applications (down from 63 in 2005/6 and 66 in 2006/7) and four appeals. Three of the four appeals were allowed.
A team of three parish councillors visit most of the applicants or sites before giving comment to the rest of the Council at planning meetings, recommendations are then discussed at the full Parish Council meetings on the third Monday of every month. The public are encouraged to attend these meetings should they wish to listen or express their opinions to the Parish Councillors.
Further to our recognition as a quality parish council, the District Council has agreed to delegate tree and advertisement applications to each of the four councils who have achieved Quality Status. The District Council arboricultural officers now file a report and make recommendation to the Parish Council, who make the final decision. The other part of the new planning delegation will be determining advertisement applications under the same terms.
One constant frustration has been that when an application goes to EDDC Planning Committee for a decision most councils would allow objectors to speak for just a few minutes, this is still not the case at EDDC, but is under review.
The Mansell Raceway is now subject to two noise abatement notices, the latest being far more comprehensive and sought to limit both race and practice meetings to a total of 9. It also put noise levels on different karts, this notice was appealed against by the owner and there will be a hearing in July. There are 33 objecting witnesses and approximately 10 supporters. There have been three pre-hearings to collect the necessary information to make a decision. There will no doubt be much press and public interest and both sides are to be represented by barristers, the case seeks to limit the activity that is currently permitted, not to stop activity. No further application for a new building has yet been received.
Affordable homes in Powell’s Way – in the EDDC local plan there is a requirement for any new housing development of more than four houses to include a balance of 40% designated as affordable homes. There has been an application for ten bungalows granted behind the tennis court, plus a further four houses on Highfield Road. This means that the district council has entered a Section 106 Agreement with the developer in order to procure 6 affordable homes, with a further 10 currently being negotiated. These houses will be allocated by a registered social landlord (housing association) and will be available to qualifying people from Dunkeswell (or nearby villages).
EDDC are currently preparing an issues and options report towards a new ‘Local Development Framework’ to supersede the Local Plan.
Unitary bids – The Boundary Committee are currently looking at ways to reorganise the districts in the county. Devon may be split in a number of ways, between one and four new unitary authorities may arise (excluding Plymouth and Torbay). In July we will hear what the result of their investigations are and consultation will begin.
The new sports field was taken over by the parish council this year and a new bmx track installed. Although this was under the parish councils name a small committee has gained grants for various items including a tarmaced sports area, shelter, fencing and hopes to gain funding for MUGA equipment. The area between the sports field and dog walking area remains in the ownership of Mr Throgmorton.
Churchill Playground has been used well this year and maintained in line with the safety reports, there is little vandalism and it is much appreciated. New Century park has less issues since it has been left unlocked at night and will host the village fete. There will be a new contacts notice erected shortly.
The Allotment Association explained that most people work hard on their allotments during the past year and are very grateful for the opportunity, there are however a few who face eviction if they do not start to maintain their plots. There is a waiting list of approximately 3 or 4.
Funding has been granted for the entrance gates and water has been connected (without sewage bills now which SWW insisted on charging!). Sheds will be made available by order and they will be of one size. There is a communal shed.
The Association propose that they could pay a third of the cost of the new fencing, if the rest of the cost could be met by the parish council. They have found a second hand fence which may be suitable. Alternatives to be looked at by both sides and discussed at a separate meeting.
It was queried as to whether the parish council public liability insurance would cover the allotments when the ground was in the ownership of the parish council. Clerk to check exact terms and email answer.
Accounts available for perusal, the finances are stable and the parish council has been able to support several local organisations as well as the Youth Club, sportsfield, play areas and halls.
Financial support was given to the Community Hall in order to keep it from closure and donations were made to several local charities which benefit our community as follows:
ED Citizens Advice Bureau £50
Under Section 137 Local Government Act 1972
Devon Youth Association £15
Blackdown Support Group £50
Honiton Library Advice/Info Centre £50
Honiton Ring and Ride £25
Devon Victim Support £50
Tracey Bell
Clerk to Dunkeswell Parish Council
28th May 2008
Contact details for your parish council are as follows:
GEOFFREY SWORDER – CHAIRMAN
Meadowbank, Dunkeswell, Devon EX14 4QJ
01404 891623
g.n.sworder@googlemail.com
JOHN BARROW (TREE WARDEN AND LENGTHSMAN CONTACT) - VICE CHAIRMAN
Marylea, Dunkeswell EX14 4RQ
01404 891676
VANETTA KEITCH
3 Highfield Road, Dunkeswell EX14 4XY
01404 891830
BETH RUSSELL
6 Rhodedendron Close, Dunkeswell EX14 4UT
01404 891531
MALCOLM STEVENS
Connetts Farm, Dunkeswell EX14 4QZ
01404 891684
CHARLES SUMPTER
Hunters Cottage, Dunkeswell EX14 4QZ
01404 891684
BRENDAN PROCTER
Devon and Somerset Flight training School, Dunkeswell Airfield EX14 4LG
01404 891643
ANDREW LUSCOMBE
Highwood Farm, Dunkeswell EX14 4QJ
01404 891612
TRACEY BELL (Clerk)
The Old Kennels, Stentwood EX14 4RW
01823 681138
info@theoldkennels.co.uk
