Present:
Councillor A White (Chairman)
Councillor R Souness (Vice Chairman)
Councillor J Pillar
Councillor W Cann
Councillor R Darch
Councillor R Tilley
Councillor J Darch
Councillor J White
Councillor C White
Dr P Brotherton (Clerk)

Apologies were received from Councillor C Curtis

In attendance: Dr and Mrs K Crawford, Ms R. Davies, Mr and Mrs Fynn, Mr H Norman and Mr M Wimberley.

Declaration of Interest (for Items on the Agenda)

07/001 Councillors J Darch, J White, Cann and Souness (Vice Chairman), declared an interest in Planning Application DNPA 0014/07.

07/002 Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 11th December 2006 were circulated, read, two errors corrected and initialled by the Chairman, otherwise confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Clerk’s Report

07/003 06/357 Concerns about Footpath 53 (Broadpark Lane) that crosses the dual carriageway. As Ms Davies, the Devon County Council Parish Paths Liaison Officer, was present at the meeting, the Clerk suggested that this matter be referred to her.

07/004 06/357 Concerns about the fence and railings at Ring Hill Cross bridge. It was reported that the Clerk was still pursuing this matter via WPC Jo May, Neighbourhood Beat Manager, who was in contact with the Highways Agency.

07/005 06/213 The Clerk advised the Council that a meeting of the Parish Emergency Committee would be held on Thursday 25th January 2007.

07/006 06/208 The Council were advised that following the nomination of the Church House Management Committee by the Parish Council for an Edward Morshead Award, the Committee had been awarded a Certificate of High Commendation for their work restoring and renovating Church House. Mr D Youle (Secretary) and Mr J Christian (Chairman) wished the Clerk to thank the Council for their support.

07/007 06/49 The Clerk informed the Council that he had been advised that a Planning Application would be forthcoming concerning a diversion of Footpath 57.

07/008 06/321 St Mary’s Churchyard. It was decided to wait for a request from the Parochial Church Council for help concerning the grass cutting before proceeding. All agreed.

07/009 The Clerk outlined the various steps he had taken to determine who best to contact regarding the perceived lack of signage of local villages on the A30 dual-carriageway at Merrymeet junction.

Questions

07/010 There were no questions

Correspondence

07/011 Jobs for the Parish Lengthsman on February 13th. The Clerk received various instructions from Councillors.

07/012 Planning in Your Parish Workshops. February Tuesday 27th at Chagford Village Hall. Councillor Cann expressed an interest in attending this Workshop.

07/013 Letter of thanks for grant received from West Devon CAB. The Clerk reported that he had received this.

07/014 Offer to provide a ‘Needs Survey’ of affordable housing in the Parish. The Council asked the Clerk to seek further information from the company.

07/015 Minutes of the November Eastern Link Committee meeting. There were no matters arising.

Agenda items for discussion and resolution

07/016 The Parish Paths Partnership Scheme. Ms Ros Davies (DCC Parish Paths Liaison Officer). After the Clerk had stated that four parishioners, Mr N Butlin, Mr R Arnheim, Mr B Jeffery and Mrs S Whitmarsh, had expressed an interest in the Scheme by replying to an article in the Beacon, the Chairman, Mr A White, welcomed Ms Ros Davies to the meeting. Ms Davies introduced the subject by explaining that the purpose of the suggested scheme was to form a partnership between the County Council, land-owners, Parish Council and volunteers to help maintain, improve and encourage the public use of our Bridleways and Footpaths that lie outside the National Park yet within the Parish. With the use of photographs, she went on to outline the details of the scheme, including the provision of various types of gate, sign-posts, way-markers, special projects, maintenance, equipment, training and financing. The Chairman thanked Ms Davies for her presentation. When asked, Mr Norman Butlin accepted the post of Voluntary ‘P3’ Coordinator and Mr H. Norman said that he would be interested in helping. Council agreed to examine the model contract that Ms. Davies had supplied and to return to a decision at the next meeting.

07/017 Report from Dr. K Crawford on Parish Plans. The Chairman, Councillor A White, welcomed Dr K Crawford and adjourned the meeting to allow him to speak to the Council about Parish Plans and the undertaking he had accepted at the October 2006 Council meeting to “supply a list of those parishioners who actively supported the idea of a Parish Plan…” He presented a list of 29 signatures to the Council, representing some 3% of parishioners on the Electoral Register. After further discussion the Chairman reconvened the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor A White (Chairman) and seconded by Councillor Cann, the motion was put that “Council were strongly of the opinion that a Parish Appraisal would probably be a better way forward, offering all the opportunities of a Parish Plan at a far cheaper cost. It was also felt that it might be more appropriate to wait until after the May elections and ask the new Council’s advice on how to move the matter on” All agreed.

Dr Crawford and Mr Norman both volunteered to help with a Parish Appraisal if one was forthcoming.

07/018 Clarification of the ownership and management of the Recreation Ground toilet block. Council were concerned about various aspects of the documents sent by West Devon Borough Council and agreed to reserve their decision until the next meeting, allowing time for Councillor Tilley to examine it. All agreed.

07/019 Minute to state that the Clerk is also the Responsible Financial Officer. The Clerk was given permission to minute that he was the Responsible Financial Officer. All agreed.

07/020 Minute to ask that the Clerk obtain a letter of Tax Exemption at source from the Inland Revenue. The Clerk was asked to obtain a letter from the Inland Revenue stating that the Council was not liable for the tax on the Clerk’s remuneration. All agreed.

07/021 Strong and Prosperous Communities: the recent White Paper. Noting this important White Paper, it was suggested that Council would wait to debate this issue when the legislation was available.

07/022 Invitation to nominate for the Fifth Annual West Devon Mayoral Award. It was suggested that Mr J Goodwin be nominated for one Award for his work on the “Pub Quiz” and the young parishioners who had initiated the bike jumps in the Recreation Ground for another. All agreed.

07/023 Draft Code of Practice for Handling Complaints. The Clerk advised the Council that the model Complaints Procedure had been sent to the legal department of the National Association of Local Councils for comment and possible revision.

07/024 Request for grant from The Dartmoor Thursday Club. It was noted with sadness that this application had been withdrawn.

07/025 Amendment of the Register of Interests. The Register of Interests was brought up to date.

07/026 Request from the Clerk to attend a Planning Course. Withdrawn.

Planning

07/027 DNPA 0007/07 (Helen Shobbrook 5th February 2007, Initial Consultation). Mr and Mrs A Fynn and Mr and Mrs M Wimberley, Amesbery, Ramsley Lane, South Zeal. Renovation, modernisation and alteration of the roof to facilitate two bedrooms and a bathroom.
Council agreed to support this application. All agreed

07/028 DNPA 0001/07 (Helen Shobbrook, 5th February 2007, Initial Consultation.) Mr D Nickell, Clannaborough Cottage, South Zeal. Single storey rear extension to provide a bedroom.
Council agreed to support this application. All agreed

07/029 DNPA 0014/07 (Helen Shobbrook, 5th February 2007, Initial Consultation.) Devon County Council, County Hall, Exeter. Disabled ramps to two Devon Lady classrooms and construction of two timber handrails to the existing steps of porch on main building
Council agreed to support this application. All agreed

Determination

07/030 DNPA 0577/06 Mr and Mrs M Lewis, Moorestone Barn, Addiscott, South Tawton.
Construction of garden shelter. Refused. Reason: Failure to conserve the historic character and appearance of the building.

07/031 DNPA 0786/06 Mr S Knox, Well Farm,Throwleigh. Agricultural building (418sqm) to house new milking parlour, dairy, office and associated livestock handling and collecting yards.
Granted. Conditions: grey slate;samples of metal cladding, Yorkshire boarding, materials for the windows to be submitted, detail of the yard and new access to be submitted, building to be removed if it becomes redundant and no other acceptable use, foul water separated, slurry tank, no pollution allowed.

07/032 DNPA. 0840/06 (Listed Building Consent) and 0839/06 (Full Planning Permission). Mr and Mrs F Methven, Church View Cottage, South Tawton. Removal of conservatory and replacement with single storey rear extension with dining room, utility and shower room.
Granted. Conditions: Natural slate sample submitted, nailed only. Detailed schedule of all new external joinery submitted, painted within one month, details of rooflight submitted.

07/033 WDBC 9444/2006/OKE. IGER North Wyke, Okehampton.
Replacement workshop, implement store and farm office building
Granted. Conditions: only for main research use or for agriculture

07/034 Councillor A White (Chairman) volunteered to help Councillor Pillar with Planning Applications for the next month if needed.

Accounts

07/035 Proposed by Councillor J White and seconded by Councillor A White (Chairman) and agreed by all, the accounts were adopted.

07/036 The Clerk asked that a note of congratulation be sent to Ms. L. Smith, Secretary to the Devon Association of Parish Council, on the award of an MBE in the New Year Honours List. All agreed.

The meeting ended at 9.30 pm.