DUNKESWELL PARISH COUNCIL

DUNKESWELL PARISH COUNCIL

Annual Parish Meeting

Minutes for the Annual Parish Meeting of Dunkeswell Parish Council held in The Highfield Community Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 17th May, 2004.

Present: Mr G Sworder (Chairman), Mr A Guest (Vice Chairman), Mrs B Russell Messrs. J Barrow, A Luscombe, C Sumpter, B Procter, Mrs M Boote (District Councillor), PC Lea and 16 members of the public.

Apologies; Mr B Nicholson (County Councillor) and Mr M Stevens

1 Introduction of the Parish Council Officers appointed at the election of Officers held at the Annual General Meeting of The Parish Council on 10th May, 2004. It was resolved that Mr Sworder take the chair for this meeting.

The Chairman: Mr Geoffrey Sworder
The Vice Chairman: Mr Andy Guest
Planning Committee: Mr Sworder, Mr Charles Sumpter, Mr Andy Guest
Tree Warden: Mr John Barrow
Footpaths Representatives: Mr John Barrow
Transport and Traffic Representative: Mr Andy Guest

Other Councillors with no particular appointment; Mrs Beth Russell, Mr Malcolm Stevens,
Mr Procter, Mr Luscombe.

2 Minutes of previous meeting held on 19th May, 2003, were signed as a correct record of that meeting.

3 Reports

3.1 COMMUNITY POLICING
PC Lea reported that during the period 1st May - 30th April for 2002-3 there were 66 crimes, but for the same period 2003-4 there were only 44 crimes reported (a reduction of 33%). The past year had seen the successful operations Mulberry and Tamarisk which had prevented a repeat of the illegal festival held on Smeatharpe in 200, this forward planning saved much money by ensuing officers were already on duty during the high risk periods in the summer. Permanent speed camera signs have now been erected allowing checks at any time without further signage. PCSO Anning had joined PC Lea this year in patrolling his 15 parishes and everyone was very pleased with his work. There has also been an increase in neighbourhood watch involvement and our local community policing has received force wide and international recognition for good practice (with visits from Sussex and even Arizona police who were greatly impressed by the community policing of our area). Other initiatives are the current operation Mackintosh property marking drive and Special Constable Mark Dawkins efforts in night policing of the Airfield. PCSO Anning is shortly to organise Cycling Proficiency tests in the village. PC Lea thanked the mobile library unit, villagers and the Parish Council as a primary partner for crime reduction in the area, Mr Sworder thanked PC Lea and his team on behalf of the Village for all their hard work in our area.

3.2 PARISH PLAN
Mr Sworder explained that the plan which has developed over a number of years from the planning for real exercise and various consultations has now reached the stage of second draft and is with EDDC for further comment. Part of the purpose of publishing a plan is that the Parish Council are aiming to achieve ‘Quality Parish’ status which may mean the parish is delegated powers by the District Council in time.

3.3 YOUTH CLUB/COMMUNITY HALL
Mrs Russell confirmed that the Youth Club was still running one session per week at the Community Hall. The Community Hall (was taken under the umbrella of the Parish Council) is now receiving a steady flow of bookings, including three regular weekly slots (Youth Club, Garden Society and Preschool bingo), In addition there have been cinema, willow dens, nativity play and other events. The utility bills, cost of checks (required for Public Entertainments licence) are all now being covered.

3.4 FOOTPATHS AND BRIDLEWAYS/TREE WARDEN
Mr Barrow told the meeting that all the footpaths and bridleways were in good order, this would be checked the next day by a Highways representative who walks each path to ensure they are being correctly graded and discuss any proposed improvements. The Right to Roam laws soon to introduced will have little effect on the Parish as the only area included is bog or gorse, Mr Barrow did express some disappointment in the effect this law may have on disturbance of wildlife nationwide, there being 3000 miles of footpath already in the UK he felt it an unnecessary move. In a recent survey returned to Highways regarding improvements to footpaths, the Parish Council has requested consideration of an official link between the Highfield Estate and the footpath network via the Caravan site. MR Barrow thanked those who took the time to inform him where work is necessary on footpaths and asked that people call him if they note work to be done.

Mr Barrow explained that he hoped that a recent planning document regarding trees and buildings published by EDDC might help in the on-going problem of trees between dwellings becoming dangerously high on Highfield Estate. The document is aimed at new building, but specifies recommended angulation between height of tree and buildings and right to light where trees are near development.

3.5 PLANNING
Mr Sumpter gave an overview of the planning system and explained that is was ongoing and takes approximately 1/3rd of the time at meetings. The parish council make recommendations to EDDC within a 21 day time limit, assisting the District Council in meeting their decision targets of eight weeks. All sites are visited by both the Parish and District Councils and neighbouring properties are considered and the occupants asked for views. The applications are then voted on at the meeting (where time permits - or committee make decision where not). Many applications are received from large developers and industrial applications. Mr Sworder added that the District Council do disagree with Parish Council recommendations from time to time based on whether applications satisfy planning rules.

WIMS proposal to alter existing plans for the Highfield car park area/Community Hall and Playgroup
(Representatives of SW Parkes the agent for WIMS in submitting applications attended prior to the meeting to answer any questions that the councillor or public may have).
Mr Sworder told the meeting that the Caravan Site had been sold (including woodland at Rough Grey Bottom) to Mr Holloway from Cheshire, who lives in the Channel Islands. The land proposed as a sports field, the dog walking area and land next to High Dunscott had not been sold. As a result the area for the proposed new Community Hall was no longer in Mr Throgmorton’s ownership and so a new application had been devised.

The new plans propose to turn the existing buildings at Culme way into a new Hall and preschool (a direct swap of current locations, but incorporating the currently empty portion into the hall). A new scheme for pavilions, doctors surgery extension and revised housing. The Parish Council are trying to balance the various merits of the revised scheme in order to obtain the best deal for the village as with the previous application where EDDC could see no planning grounds to object to the principle,(if the Parish objected it would be overruled and given facilities it may not want). The Parish Council may be faced with simply negotiating the best deal they can.

Mr Sumpter expressed his dissatisfaction with the scheme, as it might mean a smaller hall and insufficient money for furnishing.

Dunkeswell Kart Club’s proposal to extend their track
Mr Sworder explained that although this application was in our parish, Sheldon is in fact where the noise is heard most strongly. There is currently much debate over whether the extension to the track will lessen the noise and this is being investigated by experts representing both Sheldon and the Kart Club. There is a meeting this week with EDDC and representatives of both Sheldon and Dunkeswell Parish Councils.

BTs proposal to remove two public phone boxes from the parish BT are proposing to remove two of the three loss-making telephone boxes in Dunkeswell (Post Office Hill box will stay, as will Culme way box, but the boxes at Abbey and Jenwood Road will be removed). BT are consulting the parish on the proposal. Both red boxes are listed, however there would be no objection to the removal of the aluminium box at Jenwood Road box. The Parish Council will object to the removal of the listed red box at Abbey, as this is also the only outlet in a remote area, with no mobile reception. There were no objections to the removal of the box from Highfield Road, but the vote was that the Parish Council should object to the removal of the listed box at Abbey. Mrs Gorman asked that they erect a sign where the box was to tell people where the nearest alternative is.

3.6 TRANSPORT - Community Travel Plan
Mr Guest reported that traffic was predicted to worsen with the building of new industrial units and that an application for an aeroplane manufacturer who intends to build three planes per week and employ 120 staff had been received. A recent meeting with Mrs Little (head of Development Control at EDDC) confirmed that if the land was designated for industrial use, it was difficult for the District to find grounds to reject an application, this could only be done if Highways ever decide that the road network will not sustain the traffic (which they have not decided to date). In addition even if a bypass for the village was scheduled it would only be possible to request funds towards this at the time of application where the build was to be on land outside the previously designated industrial area.

PC Lea has now had the camera signs erected and will continue his speed checks, in addition the Parish Council has now completed the Community Travel Plan, which it is hoped will lead to a lowered speed limit of 40mph from Wolford Cross to the village and 20mph inside the estate and through the old village (from Percy Cross, Mill Lane and Green Lane).

The main Honiton Road has seen great improvements this year, with cats eyes and resurfacing, it is also hoped to move the school bus pick up point into the estate and off the main road. The footpath link on Percy Hill is now in the schedule for 2006 (if this does not get moved backward due to more urgent schemes).

Mrs Gorman asked if it would be possible to have ‘no footpath’ signs through the village.

3.7 FINANCE
The clerk gave a brief summary of the accounts and spending in the past year, particularly with regard to grant funding and Rural Aid.

Mr Jones asked if the industrial area did not give the parish extra precept - the clerk replied that business rates were not distributed to District or Parish Councils as the domestic rates were, but this may be coming into force in the future.

Mrs Gorman asked what contingency fund the Parish Council was aiming to build up - the clerk replied that the aim was enough to fund Rural Aid requirements though the year as small local businesses were used for all works and they were not able to wait for payment until grant funding was paid out on completion of the whole project.

3.8 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
Councillor Boote gave a brief report on the District councils year of changes, the main point of interest being the increase in planning applications now up to over 3500 per year, with increased staffing levels the council are still struggling to keep pace with these and should they fall behind their targets, there is a risk that dealing with planning applications could be taken away from them.

4 Public Questions
Mrs Sworder asked the meeting what their views were on a new sports field/multi-use games area (MUGA) which may be offered by Mr Throgmorton by the Birdwatcher. There was a mixed reaction, two residents of Liberator Way felt strongly that they did not want children passing their houses to access the proposed facility, whilst other residents welcomed the idea of a leisure area for older children and sports. Further public consultation will be carried out at the fete in June.

Meeting closed at 9pm.

Next Parish Council Meetings: Planning Meeting 7- 8pm Monday 14th June in the Village Hall
Parish Council: Monday 21st June, 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village