Minutes for a Meeting of Dunkeswell Parish Council held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm, Monday 8th December 2008.

Present:            Mr G Sworder (Chairman), Mr J Barrow (Vice Chairman), Cllrs Mrs B Russell and Mssrs Mr C Sumpter
B Procter, A Luscombe, County Councillor Mr Roger Boote, District Councillor Mr Bob Buxton,
PC Vickery 4783, and no members of the public.
Apologies:         M Stevens, Mrs V Keitch, PCSO Anning 30012
All councillors are politely reminded of their obligation to declare interests under the Code of Conduct.
In making decisions the Parish Council recognise their statutory duties provided for in Section 11A(2) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (National Parks) and Section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (AONBs) that in exercising or performing any functions in relation to, or so as to affect, land, they shall have regard to their purposes (ie conserve and enhance their natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of their special qualities by the public).
           
1            Minutes of the previous meeting held in the Village Hall on Monday 17th November 2008 were signed as a correct record of that meeting. Agreed.
2            PLANNING

• Decisions (for information) None
• Applications (for comment – support or objection)
• 08/3003/FUL Air Westward Ltd, Dunkeswell Industrial Estate – building for storage of aircraft. Comments: The parish council SUPPORT this application.

2.3        Tree Applications (for decision)
2.3.1            08/2882/TRE Delfim – reduce crowns of 15 beech trees by 4 to 6 metres. Decision: APPROVAL
2.3.2            08/2916/TRE Delfim – reduce crowns of beech by 4-6m and coppice 11 beech at bank level. Decision: REFUSAL
2.3.3            08/2906/TRE 15 Potters Stile – re-coppice four ash trees and one beech tree. Decision: APPROVAL 08/2935/TRE 3 Louis Way – coppice at ground level three ash trees. Decision: APPROVAL.

• ENFORCEMENT

2.4.1     EDDC – copy letter to owner to request removal of mobile home and storage containers from agricultural land adjacent Flightway.

• Parish Plan – Greg Davis from the Community Council of Devon attended the meeting; Mr Davis offered comments on the plan, he confirmed that the elements are there in the old plan – issues, visions, actions & target dates.  It could be that the layouts could be changed to tabular form or such like to improve readability. A revised plan may include larger visionary items as we have in the past, as well as smaller more achievable items (especially some that can be met quickly to give a feel good factor). Parish Plans become increasingly important in regard to allocating Section 106 funds when there are major planning applications in the parish, although Mr Davis did not know of anywhere that a plan has become Supplementary Planning Guidance, it is still a document which should be worked with by the planning departments. Mr Buxton suggested a ‘priority list’ is good where there were a great deal of actions. There can be a full and condensed version of the plan as well as a web version. It is recognised that when we now revisit the plan we need to look for a far higher degree of community involvement and higher response rates to consultation.  Various examples of ways to engage were discussed, from free hamburgers to prize draws, and events with sticker boards, web questionnaires and various other ‘hooks’ - it was acknowledged that all age groups and sectors must be reached.  A large event may exclude certain groups and these needed to be considered. There are also areas of the plan which may not have been considered five or more years ago - climate change and environment issues, as well as village shielding. The collated ideas can then be put into a questionnaire and then these can form the basis for a final draft to be agreed with EDDC and then the finished plan distributed to parishioners.
• East Devon District Council has produced a Local Development Framework - Issues and Options Report and an accompanying questionnaire.  The Issues and Options Report sets out key planning and development challenges and opportunities facing East Devon in the future.  It also identifies potential options for responding to these challenges and opportunities. Copies of the document can be downloaded from the Council web site at www.eastdevon.gov.uk and can also be inspected at libraries around the District and paper copies are available at the main Council offices at the Knowle in Sidmouth. An ‘on-line’ questionnaire will shortly appear on the Council web site at http://eastdevonconsult.limehouse.co.uk/portal. Responses need to be received by 5.00pm on Friday 13 February 2009.  Please note that responses will not be treated as confidential and they will be added to a database which may be made available for public viewing over the internet. Response to report will be prepared

Planning matters/applications pending consideration as at the 8th December 2008:(for information)        
December 2007 07/3334/COU Beechwood Farm, Long Lane – COU/industrial/storage space.
http://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx for details

• HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC

3.1        DCC Highways dept – Following a request for signage to the Airfield and a rationalisation of signing through the village in general, Cllrs Sworder, Sumpter and Proctor met with Mr Barnes of Highways and a proposal has been received for comment which was agreed.
            Pothole by water tower on Long Lane towards Broadhembury.

FOOTPATHS AND BRIDLEWAYS

Mr Barrow reported that flood repair work had been carried out on Bridleway 19 and marking on footpath 6.  There are a couple more small jobs to be completed before March.

• ENVIRONMENT

5.1        Best Kept Village – application form received. Agreed to enter.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES   

Community policing report – PC Vickery - one crime – assault argument between two employees

Playgrounds/Sports field/ Allotments – BMX track has had little use due to weather, the MUGA surface has been laid, although there is a little concern that the edge boards are not thick enough and may let the tarmac go in time, although this was completed as quoted for – it was expected that a concrete edge would be laid.

Halls – the new community hall is in action and has all necessary licences. The Parish council wished to record their gratitude to Mr and Mrs Russell for their hard work in maintaining the hall open over the last few years.  The Balance of the hall account has been donated to the youth club and the licences returned EDDC

8            FINANCE         

• Receipts –                    Allotments Association (one third of fence cost)                             £466.67

Uffculme Environmental (towards fence)                                     £546.50
Cheque payments -            Land Registry fee and postage cost (registration of land)                 £36.40
                                    J L Barrow (cut grass playground)                                           £40.00
                                    N Stevens (Christmas trees)                                                    £186.00
                                    Dunkeswell Village Hall (2008 hire)                                             £279.00
                                    J L Barrow (footpaths account)                                                            £145.00
                                                J Howard (footpaths account)                                                            £80.00
                                                CHEQUES AGREED
Account balances - at 1/12/08            Paths Account                                                 £440.70
                                                                    Parish Account                                                £13253.24
            New hall fund – at 1/12/08 total spend including above payments             £5297.93(ex VAT)
                                                            Balance of funds available                        £1602.07 (held in parish account above)

• Land Registry Office – Deeds of the village hall and Churchill playground had been sent off, plus a 'Statement of Truth' concerning the ownership of Wellsteps by the parish council.
• Precept – special items for consideration in 2009/10 budget – youth club rental at the new hall, new century park and sportsfield – parish plan.
• Clerks pay – annual review (letter received from Lesley Smith DAPC regards ensuring we are compliant- her main comment is that a pc should fix hours and scale in order to be able to budget properly).
• Freedom of Information Act – approval of all previous schemes expires on 31 December 2008, from the 1st January 2009 all Parishes are expected to have adopted the new model code – Full information can be see at www.ico.gov.uk. Agreed to adopt Clerk will update web
              QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC (The meeting to be closed before questions from the public).none

Dates for next meetings –      
Planning Applications:              12th January 2009                 7 – 7.30pm             Dunkeswell Village Hall
Parish Council:                         19th  January 2009                 7.30pm                         Dunkeswell Village Hall