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

In attendance: Mr S McCaffery, Mr J. Anstee, Mrs S. Clarke and Mrs K.J. Pearson

Apologies for Absence

07/265 Apologies were received and accepted for Councillors Coombs and Darch, for family business.

Declaration of Interest for items on the agenda and update of Register of Interests

07/266 There were no declarations of interest and no update of the Register of Interests.

07/267 Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 20th August were circulated, read, confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

07/268 Clerk’s Report

a. Clearing the WDBC black litter bins. The bin outside the shop would be emptied more often.

07/269 Questions

a. Mrs K.J. Pearson enquired about planning application DNPA 0518/07. It was suggested that consultation with the Planning Officers might be helpful.
b. Councillor J White asked about hedge trimming at various places. It was suggested that this should happen within the next 5 or 6 weeks.
c. Councillor J White asked that the Dog Warden’s attention be drawn to fouling on the South side footpath from Yellands to Greenbank. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr D Ascott (WDBC Environmental Health).
d. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr Richardson Dawes (DCC Transport Coordinator) about the changes in the bus timetable that meant that the last bus Monday to Thursday left Okehampton for Exeter at 3.45pm.

07/270 Correspondence

a. Report from Mr Ian Brooker (Senior Ranger) on the repair of Prospect Lane and the diversion of Bridleway 57, with notice of works from Mr Andrew Davis. Mr Brooker had reported that agreement had been reached with all parties and that the proposed resurfacing of Prospect Lane would therefore go ahead at the end of September 2007. The Clerk also circulated a note from Mr A Davis concerning the matter. Mr Brooker had also informed the Clerk that the proposed diversion of Bridleway 57 should happen in October.

b. Notice of Dartmoor Society Debate on ‘What future for the Dartmoor Village?’ on 29th September. This invitation was circulated.

c. Notice of consultation in April 2008 on branch Post Office closures in Torridge and West Devon. Notification of the date and time of this consultation was brought to the Council’s attention.

d. Notice about ‘Stand-by Saturday’, a nationwide overnight switch-off of non-essential electrical appliances. This event, a plea to turn off all stand-by equipment on this night, was advertised.

e. Highway matters. The Clerk outlined the content of correspondence that he had had with Mr J Deasy (DCC Highways North) and the Tiverton Call Centre, “My Devon”, detailing perceived deficiencies in this service for Parish Clerks.

07/271 Agenda Items for discussion and resolution

a. Visit of Ms S. Clarke, WDBC Licensing Officer, to discuss the alleged noise problems caused by the Oxenham Arms Hotel and the Kings Arms Public House. The Chairman (Councillor A White) welcomed Ms Clarke to the meeting. Ms Clarke said that she had spoken to the manager/licence holder at both premises. She had been told that customers where being directed to the beer gardens at the rear of the properties and felt that, as she had received no more complaints, she would not be pursuing the matter further at the moment. Having answered a range of questions on licence renewal and review, on banning orders and public disorder, the Chairman thanked her for this clear and concise information.

b. Visit of Mr J Anstee (DCC Highways North) concerning the reduction of the speed limit through the village from 30mph to 20mph. The Chairman (Councillor A White) welcomed Mr J Anstee (DCC Highways, North) to the meeting. Mr Anstee explained the criteria that had to be satisfied before a reduction in the speed limit would be recommended and went on the itemise the measures that could be used to reduce traffic speed. He asked that council advise him of areas within the villages where traffic travelled fastest and council undertook to pin-point such places on a map that Mr Anstee kindly supplied. I was agreed that this would be placed on the agenda for the October meeting. Mr Anstee concluded by explaining something of the funding issues for such measures and the Chairman thanked him for helping Council to move this matter on.

c. Report and recommendations from the Appraisal Group following attendance at the Parish Plan Information. Event at Belstone Village Hall on Wed. 5th September. Members of the Appraisal Group reported their favourable response to the Parish Plan information meeting held at Belstone Village Hall and recommended that Council proceed. This was agreed by all, with a strong recommendation from Councillor Cann that Council act as the lead for this project at all times.

d. Decisions based on research on various employment matters. The Clerk outlined the progress that he had made investigating the law surround this subject. He was asked to continue to do so as time permitted.

e. Invitation to Councillors to report on their inspection of the footpaths/bridleways allotted to them. Some Councillors presented their reports.

f. Report and discussion on the mains water supply repair to the Recreation Ground toilets and pavilion. The Chairman (Councillor A White) presented two quotations for this work. After discussion the motion that the quotation from Mr S White for £2760 including VAT be accepted in the expectation that the Recreation Ground Committee would grant between £800 and £1000 towards this cost, proposed by Councillor Cann and seconded by Councillor Souness (Vice Chairman), was agreed by all.

g. Report from Councillors Woolland and C White on the Eastern Parishes Link Committee Meeting on 6th September. Councillor C White gave his report.

h. Request from the Clerk for funding to attend the Devon Association of Parish Councils’ AGM. Proposed by Councillor A White (Chairman) and seconded by Councillor Pillar, all agreed to this request to allow the expenditure of £15.

i. DAPC training opportunities. A leaflet advertising various courses was made available to the Council.

j. Report on discussion about the future of the bike jumps in the Recreation Ground. I was reported that the bike jumps appeared to be in use again. Mr D Chadwick had confirmed that the bikers group was still active.

k. Request for the clearance of the vegetation around the cross at Addiscott Cross. The Clerk was asked to send a letter to the landowner asking that the promise to keep the vegetation around the cross cut back was honoured.

l. Request that Mr A Madders’ memorial plaque be replaced. The Council thanked Councillor J White for agreeing to supervise this matter.

07/272 Planning

a. DNPA 0658/07 (Jon Holmes, 17th September 2007) Ms H Ratcliff and Mr T Sunderland for East Week Farm, South Zeal. Full Planning Permission. Driveway to provide off-road parking, garden shed and garden office for ancillary use.
Council agreed to support this application, with the proviso that the hedges remain untouched.
b. DNPA 0711/07 (Jon Holmes, 17th September 2007) Mr and Mrs MJ&SJ Wonnacott, South of Firestone Cross for Wheatley Farm, South Zeal. Creation of new gateway (field entrance) SX66779269. Prior Notification.
Council agreed to support this application.
c. WDBC 10654/2007/OKE (Anna Henderson-Smith, 19th September 2007) Mrs B Gibbons, Hendicott, Spreyton. Listed Building. Conversion of barn, which is adjacent to a listed building, into a studio.
Council confirmed their earlier decision which read “The Council agreed to support this application. However, Council also agreed that the converted barn should be considered ancillary to the main dwelling and not separately sold”
d. DNPA 0752/07 (Louise Smith, 15th October 2007) Mr S McCaffrey for Black Street Field, Black Street, South Tawton. Full Planning Permission. Open-fronted tractor shed cut into sloping field with hedge on three sides.
After the proposed application had been publicly displayed for the correct length of time and having had no further representations on the matter, the Council’s decision in principle to support this application was forwarded to the Authority.
e. DNPA 0738/07 (Louise Smith, 15th October) Mr A Simons, 2 Cross Park, South Zeal. Full Planning Permission. Establishment of polytunnel (3.6m x 7.6m)
After the proposed application had been publicly displayed for the correct length of time and having had no further representations on the matter, the Council’s decision in principle to recommend that this application be refused on the grounds of over development inappropriate to the area was forwarded to the Authority.

07/273 Determination

a. DNPA 0521/07 (Louise Smith, 6th August, 2007) Mrs P Addelsee, Higher Blackaton, Throwleigh Road, South Zeal. Full Planning Permission. Car port and store to replace an existing garage and store.
Granted. Conditions: Roof slate grey coloured material, details of timberwork external finish to be submitted and approved.
b. DNPA 0530/07 (Louise Smith, 6th August) Mr T Hopkins, 12 The Croft, South Zeal. Change of use. Change of use of land of (sic) to garden and driveway
Granted. Conditions: gate open inwards, finish of timber to be submitted and approved.
c. DNPA 0518/07 (Christopher Hart, 30th July, 2007) Mrs KJ Pearson, 6 Steddaford Court, Sticklepath. Full Planning Permission. Erection of timber-frame building used for horse shelter, fodder store and sheep pen. Refused. By reason of its location, size and design, would have a detrimental impact on the character, appearance and cultural heritage of this part of the Dartmoor National Park…. Policies listed.
d. WDBC 10550/2007/OKE ( Jonathan Dymond, 20th July, 2007) Mr R Reddaway, Livaton Farm, Livaton, South Tawton. Prior Approval – Agric. Granted. Within 5 years.
e. WSBC 10610/2007/OKE (Jonathan Dymond, 10th August 2007) Mr and Mrs J Mansell, West Nymph House, South Tawton. Full Planning Permission. Extension to form shower room and sun room.
Granted.

07/274 Councillor Woolland volunteered to help Councillor Pillar with Planning Applications for the next month

07/275 Accounts

a. Proposed by Councillor J White and seconded by Councillor Cann and agreed by all, the accounts were adopted.

Meeting ended at 9.55 pm