Minutes for Annual General Meeting of Dunkeswell Parish Council held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm, Monday 11th May 2009.
Present: Cllrs Mr J Barrow (Vice Chairman), Mrs B Russell, Mssrs M Stevens, C Sumpter,
PCSO Anning 30012 and two members of the public.
Apologies: Mrs V Keitch, Cllr Mr G Sworder (Chairman) B Procter, County Councillor Mr Roger Boote, PC Vickery 4783
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).
1.1 Cllr Buxton took the chair for the appointment of Chairman and officers:
Chairman: Geoffrey Sworder
Vice Chairman: John Barrow
Planning Committee: Geoffrey Sworder, Vanetta Keitch & Charles Sumpter
Tree and Footpaths Warden: John Barrow
All officers accepted their posts and were unanimously agreed
- Minutes of the previous meeting held in the Village Hall on Monday 20th April 2009 were signed as a correct
record of that meeting. AGREED
1.3 Apologies for absence. AS ABOVE
2 PLANNING
- Decisions (for information)
- 09/0618/TRE 43 Jenwood Road - permission granted for reduce height of one beech by 20% and reduce remaining crown via thinning by 20%, also coppice two further beech.
- 09/0492/OUT Beechwood Farm - permission granted for replacement dwelling
- 09/0418/FUL The Old Forge - permission granted for formation of secondary access
- 09/0417/LBC The Old Forge – permission granted for replacement windows
- Applications (for comment – support or objection)
- 09/0854/FUL Hooked Rise Farm – Use of land for siting up to four steel containers for the storage of fireworks. Comments: The Parish Council have no objections to this application.
- 09/861/FUL Little Tencery – replacement garage. Comments: The Parish Council have no objections.
- 09/0801/FUL Rosemary Cottage – retrospective application for demolition of existing single garage reduction of site levels and construction of new double garage with deck over. Comments: The Parish Council have no objections to the larger garage, however the decking above is not in keeping (a mono pitched roof would be preferable) and the water course should be encased so that from source to exit it is taken away from the neighbouring property.
- 09/0664/FUL Dunkeswell DCSA Uniter Building – change of use of former communications centre to training facility. Provision of visibility splays within the application site. Comments: The Parish Council have no objections to this application provided no agricultural land is tarmaced.
- Tree Applications (for decision)
09/0618/TRE 43 Jenwood Road - reduce height of one beech by 20% and reduce remaining crown via thinning
by 20%, also coppice two further beech.
- Parish Plan – meeting to be arranged at the next meeting
- Planning Aid – training sessions and advice for communities
- Changes to the planning appeals process – from 6th April 2009 there will be ‘Householder Appeals Service’ to fast track appeals by written representation. The changes to the service are as follows: The time limit to the appeal has been reduced from 6 month to 12 weeks, there will be no right by third parties to comment at the appeal stage (although any representations made at the application stage will be considered still), no further written statement can be sent at the appeal stage with the report, policies and associated documents forming the councils case. All fast track Householder Appeals must be submitted in electronic format, the inspector will visit the site alone, with the appellant only present if it is necessary to gain access.
Planning matters/applications pending consideration as at the 20th April 2009:(for information)
http://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx for details
APRIL 2009 09/0561/FUL Unit 3 Flightway – new light industrial building
09/0741/FUL Little Tencery – Single storey side and rear extensions and front porch.
09/0677/COU Royal Oak Inn – Change of use from a public house to a dwelling
09/0664/COU Dunkeswell DCSA Uniter Building - change of use
09/0705/FUL Droughtwell Farm, Sheldon (adjoining parish) – formation of vehicular access and erection of free range broiler house (building1)
- HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC
- Letter from the Leader of the Devon County Council Brian Greenslade regarding highway maintenance – the DCC budget for 2009/10 includes a 6% increase for general highway spending (£59m) this included a further £1million for improving drainage capacity at badly affected spots. After this terrible winter a further £2million was allotted to ensuring winter weather damage is made safe. The total will then be £61m a total increase of just over 9.5%. For information.
- Issues to report: road surface between Wolford Cross and Limers cross is being Broken up by water, clerk to request lengthsman/digger ditcher to clear ditches. Landslide beside bridge at Percy Hill is extremely unsafe as the barriers have fallen over the edge.
- FOOTPATHS AND BRIDLEWAYS
- Burnsome Lane bridge is in need of repair, but isn’t technically a footpath. The landowner is going to arrange boulders to fill the hole, and DCC in partnership with Mr Barrow are looking at reopening Burnsome lane footpath/bridleway as a permissive path, all landowners are being consulted.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Community policing report –PCSO Anning – two crimes: aggravated vehicle taking car stolen and abandoned in Culmstock the other crime was a BT telephone scam – a call was made to a parishioner asking for a payment of £13 in order to stop their phone being cut off, they gave their card details and were victim of a large fraud.
Playgrounds/Sports field/ Allotments – New Century park play equipment is to be pressure washed by Cut and Trim, Mr Barrow to assist with water provision from a bowser. Mr Sumpter requested access via the Churchill Playground for the duration of building works while the new wall is built, permission was agreed, provided all necessary signage and safety measures are attended to, as well as lockable gates to ensure children are not able to access the site.
Halls – nothing to report.
- Emergency Plan –http://www.devon.gov.uk/model_plan.pdf to be continued.8
- Bus Shelter Manleys Lane – Planning permission is to be sought, and a shelter three metres by one metre, three sides enclosed, clear Perspex unlit, no seats quotes to be invited and solicitor to be consulted as this land has been offered at a £1 per year pepper corn rent.
7 FINANCE
7.1 Receipts – P3 Grant 2009-10 £545.00
7.2 Cheque payments - Ken Abraham (annual audit 2009) £116.00
(Open Spaces Act 1906 ss9&10)
Cut and trim (invoice 2249|) £27.00
Account balances –
P3 balance of funds - Feb balance: £208.70, less £285 payments March plus £545.00 grant for 2009 = £468.70
Parish Account at 1/5/09 £14468.32
- Co-operative bank forms have been submitted.
- To agree Accounts and Annual Governance Statement for agreement. Internal auditor made no comments. AGREED.
- VAT reclaim was submitted for 2008-9 of £997.42, this has been received.
- Equality and Human Rights – Public sector duties – the forthcoming Equality Bill will harmonise the three public sector duties in to one equality duty, which will also be extended to cover seven equality strands (age, disability, gender. Gender identity. Race. Religion or belief and sexual orientation). These changes will not come into force until 2011. see www.equalityhumanrights.com/publicsectorduties for more details. For information.
- A request has been received from the village hall committee that the parish council cover the insurance of approximately £550 per annum – for agreement at the next meeting.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC (The meeting to be closed before questions from the public). none
Dates for next meetings –
Planning Applications: 8th June 2009 Planning Meeting 7 - 8pm Dunkeswell Village Hall
Parish Council: 15th June 2009 Parish Council Meeting 7.30pm Dunkeswell Village Hall
