Minutes for the Meeting of Dunkeswell Parish Council held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 19th June 2006.

Present: Mr G Sworder (Chairman), Mr A Guest (Vice Chairman), Mrs B Russell, Messrs J Barrow, M Stevens, B Procter,
A Luscombe, PCSO Anning 30012 and 10 members of the public.
Apologies: Mr C Sumpter, District Councillor Mr D Key, District Councillor Mrs M Boote, County Councillor Mr R Boote

1 Minutes of the previous meeting held in the Village Hall on Monday 8th May, 2006 were signed as a correct
record of that meeting.

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).

2 PLANNING
2.1 Decisions (for information)
06/0715/FUL Rosemary Cottage – permission refused for two storey extension
05/2475/FUL The Old Forge – Permission granted for new dwelling.
06/0990/FUL Land adjoining the Royal Oak – permission refused for detached house and new access (inadequate information and bland design)

2.2 Applications (for recommendation)
06/0241/FUL Dunkeswell Kart Circuit – race control tower. EDDC have confirmed the exact number of letters of objection received to date are 400, against 169 letters of support for this application (all of these wrote regarding both applications in one letter). The height and design of this building is felt unsuitable for the location. There is no need for a building of this height as the current control is carried out from a double decker bus of 15ft high. Recommendation: REFUSAL
06/0319/MFUL Dunkeswell Kart Racing Circuit – new pits, workshops and visitors/user facilities. Additional information has now been received (Transport Assessment) EDDC have confirmed the exact number of letters of objection received to date are 628, against 169 letters of support. Issues are; noise (which is still objectionable with new fences), intrusion into the flight path of existing runways, traffic (an inaccurate and incompetent report has been filed to support the figures, although Highways have not yet made formal comment), the building is an intrusion into the AONB and conflicts with its policies. The AONB have now reinforced the objections made by the AONB planning officer and the management group have agreed to campaign against the application. DCC Planners have not been consulted and this application does not conform with several policies of the Devon Structure Plan. As representatives of the community it is the Parish Councils duty to reflect the huge concern over this application, there are several residents action groups in different villages surrounding the parish Paul Diviani Economy Portfolio holder for EDDC has not been presented with any evidence of this application enhancing the economy as is being claimed by the applicant, in fact it is felt that the size of this enterprise will damage other local businesses and therefore result in a negative economic affect. It is felt that the sheer scale of this development is inappropriate, whereas a smaller scale improvement of this site would have been welcomed as an improvement of the site. There is a meeting scheduled for Friday morning with the planners, the parish councils planning committee, AONB planning officer and stand in District Councillor David Key. Recommendation: REFUSAL

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESPONSE SENT TO EDDC 20/6/06

06/1233/FUL Supacat, Marcus Road – extension to industrial unit Recommendation: APPROVAL

06/1247/MOUT Land Adjacent Flightway – 34 bed motel with reception, parking and landscaping including ponds for SUDS drainage scheme (plus additional information). This is outside the village limit, on green field land and even if it was within the industrial boundary this development would not be classed as B2 Light Industrial development, as is the designation of the land. Recommendation: REFUSAL

06/1481/COU Land at Liberator Way – Change of use to Sports field, one letter of objection (enclosed) but overall it is felt this is the interest of the parish, although the application has been made by the parish council therefore an interest has been declared. Recommendation: APPROVAL

06/1650/FUL Dunkeswell Airfield Mast – installation of 2no. 0.3m dish antennae’s, gas bottle enclosure and exhaust cover. Clerk to request extension for discussion at the next meeting.

06/1571/OUT Oaklands – Four bungalows with new access road. Clerk to request extension for discussion at the next meeting. Mr Procter declared an interest.

FOR COMMENT
06/0043 proposed erection of chemical store/workshop at Lammasland – agricultural appraisal and applicants’ response for comment within 14 days. Mr Luscombe and Mr Barrow to provide detailed comments, further to the parish councils initial comments already provided.

APPEALS
Westerhope Pig Unit – Public Inquiry date Tuesday 11th July 2006 at 11am at the Council Offices at The Knowle, Sidmouth.

ENFORCEMENT
6 Powells Way – enforcement notice. EDDC have resolved to pursue the enforcement of the inspectors appeal regarding the heights of fences as preciously described.

Email received from owners of 6 Powells Way regarding the parish council’s support of the inspector’s decision on recent appeal. Clerk to reply that this matter is not in the hands of the parish council.

Letter EDDC – Retrospective planning applications, enforcement and authorisation. The Enforcement section has found need to write on several occasions to various parishes and ward members asking for their comments and support after a refusal decision has been imposed. To assist efficiency it would be much appreciated if recommendations on enforcement action would be included in the comments returned at the time of application.

Outstanding planning matters/applications as at the 19th June 2006: (for information)
January 2004 04/P0078 British Light Aircraft Co. (awaiting highways new proposal)
April 2005 05/0993/FUL Land at Highfield – 26 open market units, Land off Powells Way - 19 affordable dwellings, community facilities recreational land off Liberator Way
October 2005 05/2721/FUL Brookside Farm – change of use to residential, educational centre, activity equipment.
January 2006 06/0051/CPE Westerhope Units, Long Lane - use as dwelling
February 2006 06/0043/FUL Lammasland – chemical store/workshop and hay barn
06/0241/FUL Dunkeswell Kart Circuit – race control tower
06/0319/MFUL Dunkeswell Kart Racing Circuit – pits/workshops/visitors facilities.
March 2006 06/0430/FUL units 4a and 3b Marcus Road – renewal of permission of 01/P0351
06/0490/FUL Beechwood Farm, Long Lane – extension to house pigs.
06/0499/FUL unit 18G Flightway – retention of work live unit.
May 2006 06/0969/FUL Highfield Community Hall
06/0893/FUL 22 Simcoe Way – conservatory.

4 HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC
4.1 Royal Oak pavement – nothing to report
4.2 Abbey Road – nothing to report
4.3 Meeting with Highways re engineered solutions: letter received confirming content of meeting and although funding is not currently available for works the matters have been brought to the attention of DCC Highways.
4.4 RCS – Highway Parish Forums 7pm 19th June 2006 – RCS is a highway maintenance provider preparing a tender for DCC for the maintenance of Devon roads for the next ten years, they are requesting the views and opinions of the parish at an evening event in Exeter.

5 FOOTPATHS AND BRIDLEWAYS
5.1 First annual topping has been carried out on all paths necessary.

6 ENVIRONMENT
6.1 litter picking - nothing to report
6.2 Letter received from Family Care Homes Ltd – only one young person remains at their property at Abbey, the other youth has been moved. Mrs Nicholson states that she has offered residents the chance to meet up and discuss concerns but has not had any response with a date or venue for a meeting.
6.3 DCC – Local Government White Paper – the views of the parish council are requested on a number of topics
related to partnership working between Parish and County Councils. Delayed until September.
6.4 South West Regional Assembly – Consultation on the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West 2006 –
2026 – comments by 30th August 2006. Chairman to give comments as necessary.

7 COMMUNITY FACILITIES
7.1 Community policing report – PC Vickery/PCSO Anning – 7 crimes – robbery (two youths in care threatened care staff and stole cash), harassment, theft of an England flag from car, criminal damage to a sign at airfield, theft aviation fuel, criminal damage to a boundary hedge, harassment between neighbours (resulting in male offender being issued with an £80 fine for use of abusive language). Operation Pell will use roaming traffic controls between Thursday and Sunday to control any possibility of raves on Smeatharpe airfield.
7.2 Playground safety inspections – A replacement barrier has been ordered and Awards For All money raised for the replacement of the bark surface.
7.3 Sports field – An application for change of use has been submitted
7.4 Halls – nothing to report
7.5 EDDC Concessionary Fares Scheme – matter is being reconsidered (further information awaited) – Clerk to request Mrs Boote complain on our behalf of the parish.
7.6 Devon Adult and Community Services Directorate – now plans to buy in all social care and not be a provider itself (this is already the case for 90% of residential care, 70% of domicile care and 40% of day care). Currently advertising for expressions of interest from providers an 18 month time frame is projected for the change over. Being on the edge of Devon parishioners are extremely disadvantaged.
7.7 Consultation on the proposed relocation of Millwater School Honiton to Cranbrook. For comment by 14th July 2006. Millwater at present has 94 mental and physically handicapped children between 2 and 18 and the current building is totally unsuitable. There is an area designated in the new settlement at Cranbrook which will encompass both rest bite care and mainstream, meetings and consultations are ongoing. There are only three years left to reassure staff that their jobs will be safe and a decision is needed by July or August although nothing is final. The choice would be to do nothing at all, the current building area has no grass area and the building is crumbling, however the Cranbrook development has no permission as yet. Meanwhile the Parish would like to support the School in whatever decision they feel is best for its future.

8 FINANCE
8.1 Receipts – Awards For All England £5000.00
VAT reclaim 2005-6 £1258.91
8.2 Cheque payments - Community Hall (APM) £30.00
Community First insurance (renewal 1st June 2006) £94.63
EDDC planning fee (see application 06/1481/COU above) £132.50
Brian and Mikes Cut and trim (grass cutting x2) £50.00
C Sumpter (reimburse flowers) £20.00
J L Barrow (Footpaths Account) £114.00
J Howard (Footpaths Account) £76.00

Payment by direct debit - Virgin Broadband (Public Access Computer) £24.99
BT Quarterly payment (Public Access Computer) £32.99
(Cheques and direct debits for agreement).
Account balances - at 1/6/06 Paths Account £571.80
Parish Account £11152.07

Mrs Sworder and Mrs Russell were thanked for all their efforts in raising the £5000 Awards For All funds.

8.3 Location of meetings for 2006 – to be discussed at the next meeting.
8.4 Clerk Expenses telephone/home as office/computer has previously been £70 per quarter for five years now (computer used to be provided clerk now uses own), request that it be linked to inflation or reviewed in some way to reflect the proportionate costs of IT/broadband/virus scanner/home office space/telephone etc – clerk to speak to Lesley Smith DAPC and come up with proposal.
8.5 EDDC – letter offering a twice yearly meeting with parishes (19th September are proposed). Area Committees; Lesley Smith has offered assistance in setting up new areas as well as a contribution of £110 per annum towards administrative expenses and her support at an exploratory meeting.
8.6 VAT reclaim has been submitted for £1258.91.
8.7 Accounts are completed and clerk requested permission to engage an auditor before the deadline of 26th June should Mr Marshall not feel he can do this years audit. The parish council expressed much gratitude to Mr Marshall for all his work over the past years in performing the audits free of charge.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC (The meeting to be closed before questions from the public).

Old control tower – Mr Guest asked if the clerk would contact the owner (Ministry of Defence) and ask what they are doing about the upkeep.

A gentleman asked if a quote could be obtained from cut and trim for cutting the grass at Wellsteps. Agreed.

Dates for next meetings – Planning Applications: Monday 10th July, 2006 7pm – 7.30pm - Village Hall
Parish Council: Monday 17th July, 2006 7.30pm - Village Hall