DUNKESWELL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes for a meeting of Dunkeswell Parish Council held in the Village Hall at 7.30pm, Monday 15th November 2010.
Present: Cllrs Mr G Sworder (Chairman), Mr J Barrow (Vice Chairman), Cllrs Mrs B Russell and Mssrs M Stevens, B Procter, A Luscombe, County Councillor Mr Paul Diviani, PCSO Anning 30012 and two members of the public.
Apologies: District Councillors Mrs V Keitch, C Sumpter, District Cllr Bob Buxton, PC Vickery 4783.
All councillors were 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).
Minutes of the previous meeting held in the Village Hall on Monday 18th October 2010 were signed as a correct record of that meeting. AGREED.
(http://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx )
Decisions (for information)
10/1776/FUL Church Terrace – Permission granted for construction of first floor extension, relocation of oil tank and construction of shed
10/1777/LBC Church Terrace - Permission granted for construction of first floor extension, replacement of porch roof with thatch, installation of replacement door and replacement of window with french doors in south elevation and internal works/alterations
09/2474/OUT Land North Of Powells Way - Permission granted for erection of nine affordable bungalows (approval of access and layout with conditions).
Applications (for comment – support or objection)
10/2058/FUL Badgers Holt – Construction of replacement dwelling and garage/workshop, extension to curtailage, retention of barbeque hut and installation of replacement septic tank. COMMENTS: No objections.
Tree Applications (for decision)
10/2090/TRE 5 Whitebeam Grove – crown reduce height and spread by four metres, one Beech and three Ash. DECISION: THIS IS A SPLIT DECISION (a part of the application has been refused and a part approved). The Council hereby grants permission to carry out work described below subject to the following conditions: 3 x Ash: Reduce height back to the historical reduction points at approximately 7 metres above ground level. Pruning cuts shall retain the newly formed branch collars above the historic reduction points. Lateral crown reduction shall remove no more the 1.5m from the trees crown radius. 1 x Beech - Height and lateral reduction shall removal no more foliage and branch material than is necessary to bring the trees profile in line with the adjacent Beech hedge located directly to the south.
The Council hereby refuses permission to carry out work described below for the following reasons:
x Ash and 1 x Beech - Reduce height and crown spread by 4 metres. Reason - If undertaken to their full extend the proposed works will remove a significant proportion of the trees. These works would be detrimental to the amenity of the surrounding area. Lesser more appropriate works have been approved.
Parish Plan – A draft will be submitted to the parish council in December and it is aimed to produce a final plan in the New Year.
Local Development Framework - Core Strategy Preferred Approach Consultation will be available for you to view and comment between the following dates: 06/09/10 17:00 End date: 30/11/10 17:00 Please select the following link to view this event: http://consult.eastdevon.gov.uk/portal/pref_app AGREED to submit the comments below.
DCC Minerals and Waste Planning – the Minerals Core Strategy providing the framework for mineral working and restoration in Devon over the next 20 years is open for consultation see; www.devon.gov.uk/mineralscrestrategy for opportunity to comment. Parish Council have been invited to respond. There are no implications within our parish boundaries.
Blackdown Hills Community Plan – invitation for a representative of the parish to a meeting on Tuesday 23rd November at 7.30pm at Smeatharpe Parish Hall. Response required by Friday 19th November. Chairman to attend.
EDDC Planning presentation – Chairman attended with Cllr Sumpter, parishes were united in their request that EDDC incorporate parish plans in their LDF and use the content to inform their decisions.
EDDC Information Event - Tuesday 9th November 2010 – Chairman attended and it was an interesting evening with displays from each department.
To receive issues to report – Limers Cross to Wolford Cross only one hole has been marked and filled, there are still many holes and councillors noted the resources used to send the team out to put up temporary traffic controls would have been better spent filling all the holes.
Community policing report – PCSO Anning – there have been three crimes since the last meeting, vehicle log books and mot certificates stolen from caravan used as office / storage and rover car stolen from outside where keys had been left inside vehicle, a male and female entered store and selected magazine from shelf leaving without making payment - both reported to court, and a cheque book stolen from insecure car.
Playgrounds/Sports field/ Allotments/halls – query received for a row of small sheds at the rear of the allotments. Agreed Chairman to write to the planners and check if permission is necessary.
The swing seats in New Century Park need replacing, cost should be around £80 per seat, but it was acknowledged that there is a risk more parts will need replacing when they are taken apart. It was discussed that a warden for safety checks needs recruiting for the new sportsfield. Youth club to be approached.
Emergency Plan – clerk to complete
Mobile Library – email received from Claire Bennett DCC – regards the launch of the new Saturday service in Dunkeswell, looking for ideas or an event to launch the new service – Throgmorton Hall are talking of a regular coffee morning. For discussion.
Funding – no applications received
Receipts - none
Cheque payments – Cut and Trim (grass cutting invs) £25.00
T Bell (clerk remuneration August – November) £1074.06
T Bell (clerk expenses August – November) £182.86
(cheques for agreement)
Account balances – Parish Account at 1/11/10 - £12157.27 includes the following:
P3 balance of funds - £142.00
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC (The meeting to be closed before questions from the public).
A gentleman asked about affordable homes and whether land is still being sought – it was explained that exception sites are still part of the Local Plan, and that the district council are still open to discussion if a plot is available.
LDF core strategy preferred approach report Proposed comments from Dunkeswell parish council for agreement:
We are encouraged by the contents of this consultation document, but have some comments on section 14 which covers the ‘Smaller towns, villages and countryside’.
Dunkeswell figures among the 16 settlements in table 2 and has the following concerns-
The proposal that only 50 homes over the 20 years of the plan (i.e. 2.5 per year) will be adequate does not square with the fact that we have just completed building 16 affordable homes (on top of the 6 already existing) and still have a waiting list. Also there is an unfulfilled need for homes for elderly people. There needs to be a clear plan for homes required in Dunkeswell rather than a blanket allocation.
Employment land in Dunkeswell is plentiful, but needs substantial redevelopment in the run-down area owned by Briton House Properties Ltd (ex Home Office Site).
You refer in draft CS20 to the aspiration for a school, as Dunkeswell is the only settlement in the list of 16 which does not have a primary school. We have been battling unsuccessfully for some years to get a school built here, to avoid the wasteful bussing of large numbers of pupils to schools n the area.
Traffic in the parish has been a serious problem for some time. Speeds are excessive and HGVs through the village are dangerous. We need a by-pass down a route now available since the MoD land has been sold to a willing buyer.
We understand that the planners at EDDC now realise that Dunkeswell needs a clear plan for its future development, based on the items above and the emerging third edition of its Parish Plan. We believe that this new plan should be included as a Supplementary Planning Document so that action will be taken in future to achieve the necessary developments.
