Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall on March 3rd 2014 at 7.00pm
Present: Cllrs S Purser (Chairman), G Hearnden, E Price, D Goodwin-Hughes, J Bingham, A Lord,
Mrs J Banks (Clerk). Cnty Cllr Brook attended for part of the meeting.
1 Apologies – Cllr T Evans
2 Declarations of Interest – Cllr Goodwin-Hughes declared a personal interest in item 14.
3 Public Discussion – opportunity for members of the public to comment on any item on the agenda or bring any matter to the attention of the Parish Council
Recycling boxes being blown around the village – the Chairman has received reports of empty recycling boxes being blown around the roads and in one case, a container became wedged in a stream and caused overflow of water into a garden. Item to be put in Unity asking residents to try and secure the boxes or take them in once the recycling lorry has been.
Pound Cottage – a Councillor has been approached by a Parishioner over the intention by DNPA to recommend refusal of planning permission, despite the owner of the property apparently having done everything asked of him by the Park. The Parish Council to email every member of the committee asking for their recommendation to be reconsidered.
Potholes – a Councillor mentioned a very large pothole on the bus route at Foxhole Hill, Christow. Although not within the Parish, the Clerk will notify Highways Department.
MATTER ARISING
4 Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of its meeting held on 3rd February 2014 as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
5 Allotments – nothing to report
6 Play Area – nothing to report
7 Village Hall – the committee met on 18 February. Fundraising was discussed for the following year. The cost of the ceiling repair was £3,027, some of which was covered by insurance. A barbecue is planned for the summer.
8 Roadworks Seven Acre Farm to Smithacott Cross – Highways Department has confirmed that its contractor is aware of the recent forestry works and the patching works will be co-ordinated to be done after the works have finished.
9 Moretonhampstead Hospital – two representatives have been appointed to represent the Parishes on the Steering Committee.
10 Overhanging branches at top of Bridford Hill – the Clerk has not been able to obtain a quote from the contractor. As the nesting season is now upon us, it will have to be left until the end of the summer.
ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
10a Sandbags – a Parish Councillor reported that the availability of sandbags from Sheldon Lane has worked well for local residents.
11 Meetings Attended – none
County Councillor Jerry Brook joined the meeting at 7.40pm and was welcomed by the Chairman who invited him to speak
The recent County Council budget meeting went without a hitch. Consultations are now out to find £49m savings for the next year. There was an extended debate on the badger culling on Council ground. The motion was that there should be no culling on County Council property and that quicker investigation into vaccine should be encouraged – 27/18 against the motion. DCC is to put up tax by 1.90%. Devon County Councillors will continue to each
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have £10,000 available from Investors in Devon and funds from the current year can be carried over.
The Chairman asked if the Electors Fund will continue next year. Cnty Cllr Brook was not aware that a decision has been made. Cllr Lord mentioned that it had been reported in the media that Councils were funding food banks. Neither Cllr Brook nor the Chairman was aware that any public monies had been used for this purpose.
Lengthsman – when it is clear what will be happening in the future, Cnty Cllr Brook will be looking to find funds to assist. If jobs are being carried out only in strategic places, this will not help people outside of the villages.
Cnty Cllr Brook left the meeting at 7.55pm
PLANNING
Items for Discussion
12 Little Heltor Farm, Doccombe, Moretohampstead re proposed demolish existing bungalow and construct replacement house on existing footprint (DNPA ref. 0096/14). “The Parish Council has no objections”
13 Shippen Farm, Bridford re proposed re-submission of consent 0340/09; conversion to holiday Accommodation and demolition of garage (DNPA ref. 0091/14 Full Planning Permission & 0092/14 Listed Building Consent). “The Parish Council has no objections”.
14 Searles, Bridford re proposed extension to dwelling (DNPA ref. 0059/14). Comments on pplication deferred from last meeting pending a site visit. “The Parish Council strongly supports this application. Externally the proposed changes will visually enhance the house and internally much improve it as a family dwelling”.
15 Many Waters, Bridford re proposed erection of extensions to dwelling (following removal of Existing extensions) (DNPA ref. 0060/14). Comments on application deferred from last meeting pending a site visit. “The Parish Council has no objection to this application and agrees that the original Victorian features should be retained wherever possible”.
16 Any items received for discussion since publication of the agenda – none
Items for Information
17 Lower Lowton Farm application has been withdrawn re proposed erection of livestock unit and covered yard (DNPA ref 0018/14)
18 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
FINANCE & ACCOUNT
19 Account balances as at 27th February 2014 – current account £2,847.81 and deposit account
£3,135.31 (balances include £851 earmarked for Play Area, & £150 balance of refundable deposits for allotments)
Balances allow for all expenditure and income detailed below.
20 Income
Bank Interest re January £ 0.26
Nathan’s Waste re textile bank £ 51.60
21 Expenditure
Mrs J P Banks re Clerk’s salary for February 2014 £ 170.51
Mr G Dicker re grass cutting 2013/14 £ 420.00
The Parish Council resolved to approve the accounts and authorise the expenditure. The Chairman checked the invoices to the cheque book and the reconciliation to the bank statement.
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FOR DISCUSSION
22 Clerk’s Salary – the Parish council resolved to authorise an annual increment increase from SCP20 to SCP21, an increase of £0.35 per hour with effect from 1st April 2014.
23 Financial Regulations & Statement of Financial Control – reviewed by the Parish Council. No amendments required.
24 Statement of Internal Control – reviewed by the Parish Council. No amendments required.
25 Risk Assessment – updated assessment reviewed by the Parish Council. Resolution to accept the amendments.
26 Annual Review of bank account signatories – existing signatories to remain. No changes required.
27 Teignbridge Neighbourhood Watch Scheme request for financial assistance. The Parish Council only considers support within its Parish.
28 Elector Fund monies unclaimed in the Council’s budget for this year – the Parish Council could not think of a project requiring funds within the Parish. The Parish Council resolved to put its share of the Fund towards replacing the ceiling lights with low energy lighting at the Teign Valley Community Hall at Christow.
29 Christow Beating of the Bounds 4th May 2014. The Chairman will meet with Christow at the boundary with Bridford. The Parish Council has no knowledge of any boundary stone at Bridford.
30 Teign Tennis Trust AGM 19 March. It is hoped that Bridford Parish Council will be able to send a representative .
31 Grass Cutting Contract ending. Invitations to tender for a new three year contract will be sent out and details published in the next edition of Unity.
32 Any items for discussion received since the publication of the agenda
FOR INFORMATION
33 South West Water investing in improvements – £160m investment for 2014/15 and prices frozen.
34 Rural Revitalization one day conference at Bristol 26 June 2014
35 Local Audit and Accountability Act has now become law
36 Repeal of section 150(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 re the requirement of two signatories to sign payments. The Parish Council agreed that two signatures provided more security. However, all invoices must be approved at a Parish Council meeting prior to payment.
37 Warnings
Details received of a scam involving Paypal, whereby the account holder is advised that the account has been suspended and bank details are requested.
Reports of deer poaching using dogs on land around Ashton and the theft of heating oil from properties in the Chudleigh area. Residents are asked to be vigilant and to report anything suspicious to the Police on the 101 telephone number.
38 Adult Residential Care Services Review 10 February – 26 March. Consultation event at Exeter City Football Club Wednesday 19th March
39 DCC Adult Social Care Day Services stakeholder event 13th March at Cardinal Newman
House, Exeter
40 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda
Advance notification of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Carol Concert 16th December at Exeter Cathedral.
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Ministry of Defence may provide grants of up to £10,000 to help organisations to put on
Armed Forces events this summer.
Rural Aid applications for the financial year 2014/15 are now open.
41 District Councillors Report from Dst Cllr Stephen Purser. The District budget put forward was agreed. An alternative budget was put forward including the Right to Buy funds of £300,000 and it was debated to try and use these funds to keep the public toilets open, but this failed by two votes. The Community Infrastructure Levy is under consideration. TDC will keep its tax at the same level. The dustcart fleet is seven years old, TDC is looking at what to do for the future, currently looking at a weekly collection for food waste.
42 Public Discussion – the meetings are lacking in public attendance. This seems to be the norm unless there is something controversial on the agenda for discussion
43 Date of next meeting – Monday 7th April 2014 at Bridford Village Hall.
Original copy signed by the Chairman 7th April 2014
CORRESPONDENCE FOR CIRCULATION (Appendix A)
Miscellaneous
Richard Cotterll’s Campaign West – January 2014
Mobile Library timetable
Reports and Agendas
Dunsford PC January minutes
Letters sent
Various
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