Minutes for a Meeting of Dunkeswell Parish Council held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm, Monday 19th January 2009.

Present:            Mr G Sworder (Chairman), Mr J Barrow (Vice Chairman), Cllrs Mrs B Russell and Mrs V Keitch,
Mssrs M Stevens, B Procter, A Luscombe, District Councillor Mr Bob Buxton, PCSO Anning 30012
and two members of the public.
Apologies:         County Councillor Mr Roger Boote, PC Vickery 4783 and Cllr C Sumpter

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 8th December 2008 were signed as a correct record of that meeting. AGREED

2            PLANNING

• Decisions (for information)

08/2643/FUL Little Turbury – permission granted for retention of garage.
08/2882/TRE Delfim – permission granted to reduce crowns of 15 beech trees by 4-6 mtrs
08/2916/TRE Delfim – permission refused to reduce crowns of 4 beech trees by 4-6 mtrs and coppice 11 beech at bank level
08/2935/TRE 3 Louis Way – permission granted to coppice at ground level three ash trees
08/2906/TRE 15 Potters Stile – permission granted to re-coppice four ash trees and one beech tree

• Applications (for comment – support or objection)

08/3185/LBC The Old Forge – retention of replacement windows
COMMENTS: The Parish Council Support this application
09/0092/FUL Hooked Rise Farm – Use of land for siting of two steel containers for storing fireworks.
COMMENTS: The Parish Council Support this application

2.3        County Matter Planning Application – Sui Generis 5/7 Westerhope Units Long lane – permission refused for change of use to recovery and recycling of non hazardous waste.

• Parish Plan - An application has been written and will be submitted to the Blackdown Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund for £1500 funding towards the plan costs.
  
• EDDC – Extension of public speaking to the Development Control Committee – from 13th January 2009 parish councils and public (objectors and supporters) will be allowed to speak at Development Control meetings on any application which falls within their area. There will be no requirement to apply in writing or inform EDDC that you intend to speak at the committee meeting. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes and there will be no provision for supplementary comments, questions or to make additional points. Speakers are not allowed to table any information or other material for Members at the meeting and will be strictly only allowed to refer to planning considerations. It is asked that if a previous speaker makes your point that you do not restate the point, if you do you may be stopped. Speakers may be asked questions by the committee in order to clarify any points and at the close the planning officer may choose to respond on any points raised, the committee will then debate the item.
  
• EDDC – Systems Thinking Review in Development Control - update – Although concern was expressed by some parishes regarding the new processes EDDC are pleased that their fundamental internal changes to the way they process planning applications has resulted in a clear improvement in turnaround times for applications and in levels of customer satisfaction, they have also been able to divert more resources into planning enforcement.  There has been some distrust about the Councils motives for changing the very visible public notification procedures and delegations, the council assure us that theses are not intended to undermine local democracy, but do reflect current planning law and policy. EDDC are now working more closely with Ward Members (even where decisions are delegated), officers will put the most contentious issues to committee even if they have powers to make delegated decisions, the Chief Executive is acting as an arbiter where Members feel there are reasons for minor matters to go to committee and as from January there will be public speaking at Development Control Meetings.

 

 

• Communities and Local Government – Communities in Control: Real People Real Power – code of recommended practice on local authority publicity – A consultation. Views sought by 12th March 2009. Full document available online at www.communities.gov.uk no comments to be made.

• EDDC Proposal for establishment of a new conservation area in the parish, this would encompass the old village, the Airfield and its original buildings as well as the new development area, in terms of what this might mean – we are awaiting a full breakdown of what this might mean for landowners – and a full consultation as landowners have not yet been inform.

 

Planning matters/applications pending consideration as at the 19th January 2009:(for information)        
http://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx for details

• HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC

There are many potholes to report – clerk to speak with highways, there is however an extreme weather warning for tonight so the situation may yet worsen.

• FOOTPATHS AND BRIDLEWAYS

4.1        Report from Mr Barrow – clerk to request two loads of planings for bridleway 19.
4.2        DCC - temporary prohibition order received for footpath 18, closed for a further six months to 31st May 2009 due to missing footbridge, no alterative route is offered.

• ENVIRONMENT

 

COMMUNITY FACILITIES   

Community policing report – PCSO Anning – theft of a plotter cutter from industrial unit, damage to a Laguna on the industrial estate, theft of a car transporter and also of a pedal cycle.Playgrounds/Sports field/ Allotments – there is a pothole to fill in new Century Park and funding is till being sought for equipment on the MUGA.Halls – New hall is getting bookings and all is going well, it was agreed that halls need to be in communication

• Emergency Plan – Devon Primary Care Trust has written to the Parish Council explaining that government are predicting a pandemic flu as seen last in 1968, they anticipate half the population becoming infected during a fifteen week period, this may even carry an increased mortality rate than is usual with seasonal flu with secondary infections such as pneumonia. They are therefore urging parishes to write an emergency plan and publish this incase of an outbreak (see below for reminders on avoidance!). A model plan is available at http://www.devon.gov.uk/model_plan.pdf (taken for completion by plan committee). Clerk to bring the forms to the next meeting.

6.5        Dog Control Orders – EDDC – map of proposal enclosed for information. There is one amendment to make that the dog walking area is included.

8            FINANCE         

• Receipts –                   
• Cheque payments -            Parish News 2008                                         £316.25

 

Account balances - at 1/1/09            Paths Account                                                 £121.10
                                                                    Parish Account                                                £13258.34

            New hall fund – at 1/1/09   total spend including above payments             £5297.93(ex VAT)
                                                            Balance of funds available                        £1602.07 (held in parish account above)

• Precept, budget and donations for agreement – precept of £12000, which is lower than last year and an additional donation to be added - £50 specially for the mobile Library, in addition to the normal library donation.
• 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). Agreed clerks pay should rise a scale to 26 in line with Lesley Smiths advice (for review annually) and keep hours on flexible basis for the next year.
• Co-operative bank forms for completion.
• Honiton Town Council – notes from meeting with local parishes held on 9th December 2008 received.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC (The meeting to be closed before questions from the public).none
Dates for next meetings –      
Planning Applications:              9th February 2009               7 – 7.30pm             Dunkeswell Village Hall
Parish Council:                         16th February 2009               7.30pm                         Dunkeswell Village Hall