DUNKESWELL PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes for a Meeting of Dunkeswell Parish Council to be held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm, Monday 16th March 2009.

Present:            Cllrs Mr G Sworder (Chairman), Mr J Barrow (Vice Chairman), Cllrs Mrs B Russell and Mrs V Keitch,
Mssrs M Stevens, B Procter, A Luscombe, County Councillor Mr Roger Boote,
District Councillor Mr Bob Buxton, PC Vickery 4783, PCSO Anning 30012 and five members of the public.
Apologies:         Mr 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 16th February 2009 were signed as a correct record of that meeting.  AGREED

2            PLANNING

• Decisions (for information)
• 09/0092/FUL Hooked Rise Farm - Permission refused for use of land to site up to four steel containers for the storage of fireworks.  Reasons; activity not explicitly permitted policy within open countryside. The proposed use comprising permanent storage containers and an earth bund would be an alien intrusion into the countryside to the detriment of the natural beauty of the AONB (policies S5, EN1, CO3 &ST5)
• 09/0036/FUL Highfield, Collard Hill, Blackborough – permission granted for a 15m 6kw wind turbine
• 09/0196/FUL Higher Musgrove – permission granted for extension.
• Applications (for comment – support or objection)
• 09/0318/FUL Land adjoining CJ Keitch on Dunkeswell Airfield – use of land for brick cutting and stationing of containers for self storage hire. For comment when plans are received. Mr Procter declared an interest as he owns the land. The parish council are awaiting further information before commenting
• 09/0436/FUL Tower Poultry Unit Long Lane – erection of farm managers dwelling

Comments: The parish council SUPPORT this application

• 08/3069/FUL Oaklands -Two chalet bungalows and associated access

Comments: The parish council SUPPORT this application (Mr Procter declared an interest and left the room while this was discussed and voted on)

• Parish Plan Update – the Parish Council has been granted £1500 towards the cost of the parish plan by the Blackdown Hills Sustainable Development Fund, this can be increased if we agree to include a Village Design Statement.
• Section 106 – 07/2427/MFUL land at Culme Way erection of ten bungalows - developer has agreed to upgrade the two nearest bus stops to the development and amend the existing access with tactile drop kerb paving – are the parish council prepared to accept responsibility for the maintenance of these shelters once installed, and would wooden, steel or polycarbonate be most in keeping. (see www.queensburyshelters.co.uk/arun-specifications.html  ) County council will be responsible for the new kerbs which will be part of the highway. Agreed to maintain a shelter, preference to be given as dark green polycarbonate and steel with solar lighting and seating.
• Housing Needs Survey - rural housing enabler programme evaluation for completion by Mr Sworder.
• East Devon AONB & Blackdown Hills AONB Landscape Character Assessment and Management Guidelines (for information)
  

Planning matters/applications pending consideration as at the 16th March 2009:(for information)        
http://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx for details

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC

Mr Barrow reported that scalpings have been spread on Bridleway 19 they have also inserted concrete sleepers to retain the scalpings. There has been fencing work on Footpath 1 and all funds have been spent.

 

ENVIRONMENT

COMMUNITY FACILITIES   

Community policing report – PCSO Anning – There was a meeting tonight with local residents and care home managers to Abbey, which it is hoped will result in a positive outcome.  There have been two thefts one of invoices, and two motor vehicles.  A police officer was injured as someone resisted arrest, and threats to kill. There was a theft of a trailer and ride on mower from Highfield estate. There was also a padlock knocked off a secure shed. There have been complaints about motorbikes being ridden on the BMX track and of dangerous driving on the Dunkeswell - Hemyock road. A gentleman asked about under age drinking and PCSO Anning explained the measures that are currently being taken.

Playgrounds/Sports field/ Allotments – New Century Park budget was handed out and agreed. The sportsfield and allotments leases are still not signed. It was agreed that the flower beds should be put on contract with Hillview Nurseries for one year as a trial. It is also proposed that a tree planting scheme be carried out as well, this yet to be costed.  Mr Russell has put new springs on the gates of the BMX track. Mr Barrow was thanked for his excellent repair work.

Halls –

• 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 in case of an outbreak. A model plan is available at http://www.devon.gov.uk/model_plan.pdf  Mr Sworder took the plan for consideration.
• Bus Shelter Manleys Lane – planning permission would be needed and depending on whose land it falls on  - do we know whose land this is – clerk to get quotes for a shelter.
• Devon Library Services – review of visits to villages by mobile library – are the current visits at appropriate times or could the visits be linked in with other activities at the hall
• School for Dunkeswell – analysis of school areas has been done to prioritise studies of where schools are needed.  Honiton were gauged as 26 out of 31 so a low priority, however our concerns are not over the Honiton schools, but more the numbers of children being bused out to other schools, so to await four years for a review is not acceptable. Cllr Boote to obtain a list of numbers of Dunkeswell children in each local school.

8            FINANCE         

• Receipts –                   

Cheque payments -            DAPC (training event – Power of Well Being - GNS)            £10
                                    DAPC (training event – new councillor - VK)                   £25
                                    J Barrow (work on BMX track)                                            £85
                                    J Howard (work on BMX track)                                            £40      
                                    J Howard (P3 Account)                                                           £60
                                    J Barrow (P3 Account)                                                           £225
J Barrow (Footpaths) annual expenses                                    £45
Donations Under Section 137 Local Government Act 1972:
Devon Victim Support                                                            £50.00
Account balances -            P3 balance of funds                                                £208.70
                                                                    Parish Account at 1/3/09                           £10316.25

• Co-operative bank forms for completion.
• 6th April 2009                 WARD MEETING – SHELDON VILLAGE HALL?
• Letters of thanks for donations from Young Devon and the Blackdown Support Group
• SDF funding claim form was signed.
• Devon Wide Sustainable Communities Act Public Meeting Thursday 26th March 2009,6.30pm 'Boston Tea Party', Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3RP. The Sustainable Communities Act became law in 2007 after a four year campaign. Unlock Democracy is part of the coalition which successfully campaigned for the Sustainable Communities Bill. This legislation is now an Act and Unlock Democracy is working to raise awareness of how it can be used to combat community decline.

The Sustainable Communities Act gives new powers to communities and their elected councils to drive government policy to tackle local economic, social and environmental issues. It was supported by 80 national organisations, 300 local organisations, over 1000 parish and town councils and thousands of individuals.
81 Councils have now resolved to use the Sustainable Communities Act with more taking up the opportunity to use it every week. This public meeting will enable you to hear about how this exciting, bottom-up democratic process can be used to make a difference in your community, with a chance to question the Local Works National Coordinator on how it will work in practice and to hear from national coalition supporters as well as local Councillors.

• Parish council cabinets – the cabinets are in the shop store room, and need relocating – agreed that they should

be moved to Courtmoor Farm for a small annual rental and kept with the AONB records.
8.8        View From the Blackdown Hills paper - would the parish council support an annual donation to the View From the Blackdown Hill newspaper? The parish council was undecided.

QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC (The meeting to be closed before questions from the public).
Manleys Lane still requires a no through road sign.  Clerk to request.

Dates for next meetings –      
Planning Applications:              20th April 2009                      7 – 7.30pm             Dunkeswell Village Hall
Parish Council:                         20th April 2009                      7.30pm                         Dunkeswell Village Hall