DUNKESWELL PARISH COUNCIL
DUNKESWELL PARISH COUNCIL
Annual Report 2009
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 on 11th May, 2009 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
2 COMMUNITY POLICING - PC Vickery
There were 57 Crimes during 2008/09, down from 63 Crimes in 2007/08and 62 Crimes in 2006/07, these were as follows:
9 Non Dwelling Burglaries Premise entered include Business premises on Industrial Estate as well
as rural farm buildings –items stolen include cash, quad bike, power tools,
JCB and occasionally nothing
2 Dwelling Burglaries 1 is actually a business premises used as a home.
The other had no sign of forced entry, but small quantity of cash was missing.
16 Criminal Damages -6 caused the same night at the end of Jan ’09 whilst a group were on the
rampage through the village.-4 were damages linked to domestic
incidents. Others were; -2 damages to cars – scratches and dents
-1 farm gate ripped off
-1 greenhouse glass broken with stones
-1 wooden gate to house smashed up
-1 CCTV camera ripped down, dealing with
9 Theft - diesel stolen from tank in field
- cutter stolen from industrial premises
- leylandii plants dug up from holiday park
- equipment stolen from industrial show room
- insecure pedal cycle, later found dumped - car transporter trailer from industrial compound
- invoices missing, employee suspected
- ride on mower & trailer
- ride on mower, recovered, offenders dealt with
5 Assaults All parties were known to each other apart from one where the offender assaulted police during arrest
1 Threat to kill One of the above males who was arrested had made threat
2 Drink Drive One a stop check near Industrial Estate, one after an accident near Wolford Cross
1 Drunk & Incapable Male found wondering under influence
3 Thefts of motor vehicle - broken down vehicle stolen
- car not in use taken from Industrial Estate
- car taken by known juvenile male offender from private location
3 Theft from motor vehicle All theft of fuel from vehicles
1 Vehicle interference Attempted entry to door of van in secure compound
1 Cruelty to animals Two cows shot with airgun
1 False representation Debit card taken from purse and used on 2 occasions
1 Arson Juvenile female caused damage to clothing and bedding
1 Sexual assault Male offender known to female aggrieved
1 Possession Cannabis Female arrested for other offence found in possession of cannabis
Pc Vickery reported that the Stop a thief Scheme is now operating in this area, they are PIR alarms which offer an early alert for rural properties. The area has several for loan. Anyone interested should speak to Clive or Phil.
Mr Sworder thanked the police for their faultless attendance at meetings and reporting of crime figures to the parish council meetings.
3 PARISH COUNCILS YEAR – Geoffrey Sworder
This year the parish council has renewed its Quality Parish Council status after being granted the status five years ago. This has many benefits and promises many more under future government policy. Currently we have been delegated the power to determine tree and advertisements planning applications. There is still pressure on the District councils to delegate further powers to parishes, the cost involved should also be delegated where appropriate. As part of our efforts to retain our quality status, we will be updating our parish plan this year which is also five years old now. The first opportunity to view the old plan and make comment will be at the Church Fete at the end of July.
The Throgmorton Community Hall is an excellent new asset run by its own committee.
We continue to campaign for the DCC Education authority to consider a primary school for Dunkeswell Dunkeswell lost its primary school due to numbers in 1952, but has since grown substantially and large numbers of children are bussed out daily. We have had recent communication from the County Council on how and when they are looking at school provision for our area, but we are still trying to get them to look at our specific problems.
Highways are always on the agenda, we have a number of areas of concern such as the bridge collapse at the bottom of Percy Hill, Manleys Lane and the footpath link between old and new parts of the village. A meeting is being sought with highways to discuss some of these larger problems.
During this year we have made representations to the Boundary Committee on their review of Devon, and different Unitary proposals. Whatever the outcome, much work is going on in terms of devolution of powers and authorities working together, which should not be wasted. The process has been interesting, but frustrating, we hope we continue to be seen as a parish council who are constructive and have a good voice.
4 YOUTH CLUB – Ann Barratt
Youth Club has seen significant changes over the past year.
George, Adam and Guy received funding from the Youth Opportunities to open Tower Studios …a film studio on the Eco Business Park, in Marcus Road. During the summer holidays they ran a Film Club for Youth Club members.
In the autumn term, after much rehearsing, eight young people represented Youth Club performing for two evenings, in Dunkeswell's Got Talent. In between rehearsals and Youth Club sessions we were organising the big move from the old Community Hall into the new Throgmorton Hall. The New Year brought quite a change to the style of Youth Club. The new hall took football, basketball and boisterous games off the menu.
Focusing more on lively sessions with a Beat Boxer, Karaoke and Tower Studios … we introduced more arts and crafts along with our usual activities of pool, table-tennis, air hockey, music and board games.
Having proved our respect for the hall we have recently been allowed to play badminton, so we were pleased to be able to buy the 2nd hand equipment from Ron and Sybil Nichols. We're also grateful that Sheldon Village Hall offered us the chance to buy their 2nd hand table-tennis table …all much needed for our growing Youth Club.
Charlie, George and Adam have been on a Youth Leader course showing commitment to the work we do.
We thank the Parish Council for the much appreciated continued support with our rent. It is with the Parish Council's backing that in April we launched a new session of Youth Club with Jo as the leader. This early session is for year 3 upwards. Already they have produced some wonderful pictures, which were shown on the big screen during a "Joseph" play and service organised by Youth Club at Upottery church. They have been making a papier-mâché treasure island which will be painted this week in time for a fun day at the Social Club. The new group has welcomed parent volunteers who have run the Tuck Shop. Our thanks to all the volunteers and Charlie our Youth Leader, as we look forward to another busy year.
5 FOOTPATHS AND BRIDLEWAYS/TREE WARDEN – John Barrow – we have had an interesting and productive year whereby we now decide our own tree applications. Working with the EDDC Arboricultural officers we now receive their report and then determine the applications. Footpaths have been well maintained and are all in good order.
6 PLANNING – Geoffrey Sworder
The parish Council made comments on 35 planning applications this year, the District Council then determine these applications. We also decided eight tree applications under the new power delegated by the District Council to us.
The kart track has had a noise abatement order placed on it during this past year which was appealed against and the judge quashed thee order, this was felt to be a flawed judgement and the District Council have asked this to be reheard at a higher level in front of a new judge and two magistrates.
In addition the MOD are selling off land on the southern end of the airfield and land south of that. The parish Council have had a discussion with the MOD about their proposal, and under Critchell Down Rules they must reoffer the land to any living relatives of the original owners before it can be put on the open market. The District Council have shown interest in buying the part of the airfield which might be for sale (and the two listed airfield buildings), this may then become a conservation area in order to preserve the heritage of the airfield.
A third current issue is the rainwater run off from the Highfield Estate, which discharges into the Madford River. Unfortunately a charge has been levied for disposing of this water through the mains sewer by South West Water to all householders since the estate was built – people could have opted out, but may not have been aware of the charges. Although SWW may not in their rules have to refund householders, they should have a moral and ethical duty to reimburse and we will be continuing to challenge this. SWW will however be posting a letter to everyone on the estate and this should be heeded and not binned as it will tell you how to change tariffs.
The Play and Leisure Group have now been in operation for ten years, and have furnished two playgrounds and now the sports field. The sports field land has been donated by Mr Throgmorton and there have been numerous funders, which has meant fencing, tarmac area, landscaping, exercise machines for all ages and the BMX track. More ideas will be gratefully received at the church fete. Mr Barrow was thanked for his help in keeping the grass cut.
Thank you for asking me to give you an update on how the Dunkeswell allotments are progressing. It’s hard to believe that over two years have passed since that initial meeting with Mr & Mrs Sworder and the potential allotment plot holders.
As some of you will know a committee was formed, the site was cleared, the top surface was scraped and the plots were marked out by volunteers and generous supporters.
This was done very quickly after that first meeting which allowed virtually all the plots to be planted by May in 2007.
Since then the site has gone from strength to strength. Top priority was to install and connect three troughs to allow people to water their crops. Again this was done by volunteers and with some financial help from the Parish Council the mains water was connected, but only after a lot of digging by some plot holders to find the water main itself which was over six feet deep. This apparently saved having to pay the Water Board somewhere in the region of three thousand pounds and was done for under three hundred pounds.
Next on our list were fences to enclose the site and a communal shed. This was achieved by successfully applying to the AONB for some funding and by arranging local fund raising events such as plant sales, car boot and table top sales. This paid for the materials and again the labour was supplied by volunteers. The main fence between the allotment site and the sports field needed to be higher than the others and therefore was more expensive, but thanks to a joint effort between the Sports Field Committee, the Parish Council and us, all contributing one third of the cost, a brilliant deer fence has been erected. We also had some steel gates made and erected at the entrance to the site.
The site started out with twenty seven allotments in three rows of nine. Three of the allotments were split into half plots making thirty plot holders in total.Since then, as some people have gone and new ones come, more plots have been split into two and we now have a total of thirty seven plots and a membership of forty.All the plots are being well cultivated and we have a waiting list of eight.
Membership cards are issued to all members annually. These allow members a ten percent discount upon presentation at Slades Countrywise in Honiton. Also rule books are issued and accepted by all new members.
Overall as we go into a new year, (our AGM is on Friday) the Allotment Association is in a very healthy position and we look forward to many more years of enjoyable ‘allotmenteering’.
Thank you to all concerned.
Throgmorton Community Hall - Vanetta Keitch
This Hall was opened November 22nd 2008, 6 months ago. Since then the Hall has been used regularly by local organisations; Youth Club, Bowls Club, Pre School, Dog Training, Church and other groups periodically. A two night show was held with 64 local people taking part, raising £1400 for the Hall funds. The Hall had no stage, this was planned and built by 6 local people. The kitchen was fitted by the Parish Council. Most of the equipment is new and has been purchased by the Committee and paid for through fund raising. The Hall was full to capacity when Helen Shapiro came to Dunkeswell for her Gospel Outreach. It has also been used for family parties and other organisations outside of Dunkeswell. The Committee are mainly young people, new to the challenge of running a village hall. All legal requirements have been put in place by them: Insurance and Licensing, Disabled facilities, Fire Assessment, Health and Safety regulations, Constitution.
One member of the Committee is responsible for inside and outside maintenance including flower beds.
Because it is not used by local groups, as there are two other venues, the Committee have had leaflets printed advertising the Hall and these have been sent out over East Devon to encourage outsiders to use the Hall. Many people do not know the Hall is here.
Village Hall - Charles Sumpter
The Village hall has benefited several good Villages In Action evenings this past year, and has regular bookings, with a fund raising event virtually each month.
10 FINANCE – Tracey Bell (clerk)
This has been an unexceptional year, apart from funding gained for the new hall, which is beautifully furbished now to a very high standard. Funding for a parish plan has also been received and we are looking forward to new committees being formed to consult on different areas of parish life and then form action groups to take the issues forward.
The precept has not been increased for this year, neither has the District Council. Full accounts are available to view.
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
11 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR – Bob Buxton
Cllr Buxton had enjoyed his first year as Dunkeswell District Councillor, he believed he had brought most problems presented to him to a satisfactory conclusion.
He offered his telephone contact number 01404 861481 and email courtmoor.farm@btinternet.com if anyone needed to reach him.
12 COUNTY COUNCILLOR – Roger Boote
The county council got awarded four stars this year for managing their finances so well. During the first three years they struggled, but the last year has been good. The Airport money has been spent well, the awards were substantial sums and applications were looked at carefully. Cllr Boote has helped Honiton and Upottery with Airport grants and has also worked on achieving an A35 eastern bypass for Honition. Cllr Boote also intends to tackle the issue of free car parking in town centres.
Tracey Bell
Clerk to Dunkeswell Parish Council 26th May 2009
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
