| Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall on Monday 4th April at 7.00pm | ||
| Present: Cllrs F Miles (Chairperson), G Hearnden, R Dowding, E Price, T Evans, A Lord, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk), Dst Cllr A Ford and three members of the public. Cnty Cllr Brook attended for part of the meeting | ||
| 1 | Apologies – none | |
| 2 | Declarations of Interest – none | |
| 3 | Public Discussion – a Parishioner reported that the seat at the end of Butts Close in memory of a local resident has disappeared. It was bolted down into the concrete base and therefore it is likely that it has been stolen. Cllr Miles will ask the occupants of the end bungalow if they have seen anything or if they know what has happened to it. The police will be informed.
The Clerk has received an email from a Parishioner complaining about the state of the road between Laployd Barton and Blackingstone Rock. Also two lorry loads of soil have been dumped in a passing place and levelled. The Parish Council will contact Highways. |
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| MATTERS ARISING | ||
| 4 | Minutes – Parish Council to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7th March 2016 | |
| 5 | Allotments – the tenant of plot 4b will move to plot 2a with immediate effect. Plots 2b and 4b are therefore available for rent and will continue to be advertised. | |
| 6 | Play Area – RoSPA has completed its annual inspection of the Play Area and submitted its report and recommendations to the Parish Council. Cllr Price as the Play Area representative, has gone through the report, undertaken a further inspection and made subsequent recommendations regarding the action required which the Parish Council is happy to accept. Taking everything into consideration, no further action is thought to be necessary for the time being. Cllr Price inspects the Play Area weekly and will continue to monitor the points raised by RoSPA which will be reviewed again in six months time. | |
| 7 | Snow Warden & Gritting of Bridford Hill – the Parish Council agrees that Devon County Council’s policy is flawed in the case of communities such as Bridford. With its scattering of houses and the steepness of the terrain, the size of the community is irrelevant. Given the opportunity, the Parish Council would hope very much to be able to change the fundamental policy which is based only on numbers. The subject will be revisited in the autumn.
The Parish Council is not aware if Snow Warden training has yet been undertaken. The Chairperson will have a chat with the Snow Warden and ensure all is well. |
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| Cnty Cllr Brook joined the meeting at 7.30pm and the Chairperson invited him to speak/ | ||
| Cllr Brook had nothing of great importance to report and invited questions which prompted the subject of the broken bridge at Leigh Cross. Cllr Brook has asked questions to the appropriate department and will let the Parish Council know as soon as he has a reply. It is a question of getting everyone’s agreement to change the splay.
Cllr Lord asked if there was an outcome re Trusham Quarry. Cnty Cllr Brook stated that the Management and Development meeting for March did not go ahead and the matter was therefore not discussed. |
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| The Chairperson invited Dst Cllr Ford to present her report | ||
| Teignbridge CEO Nicola Bulbeck would like to come out to the Teign Valley on the 10th June. A venue is required where Parish Councillors from across the
11 Valley can come and ask questions. The Clerk will ascertain the availability of the meeting room at the Teign Valley Community Hall and advise Cllr Ford accordingly. Cllr Ford has been to see MP Mel Stride regarding improved Broadband services and has also met with Matt Barrow of Connecting Devon & Somerset. Looking to arrange a presentation between Mel Stride, Matt Barrow. Torbay Telecom and Air Band who won the contract for Connecting Devon & Somerset.. There is currently no further information on the mobile phone structure. At the recent meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny committee, the District Manager for coastal and drainage was asked about flooding of the roads in the Teign Valley. Communities Together can help with emergency plans. |
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| Cnty Cllr Brook and Dst Cllr Ford left the meeting at 7.40pm | ||
| 8 | Notice of Casual Vacancy in the Parish of Bridford – TDC has confirmed that it has not received any requests for an election and the Parish Council may therefore fill the vacancy by co-option. Nobody has to date expressed an interest in filling this vacancy which will be advertised in Unity, on the website and on the notice board. | |
| 9 | Flooding of B3193 by Teign Valley Nurseries – it would appear that the drain under the road was cleared two weeks ago. Highways will be asked for assurance that it will be kept clear on a regular basis. | |
| 10 | Alternative textile recycling arrangements – Cllr Price reported that the textile bank is being well used. | |
| 11 | Defibrillator and First Aid Training – David Wood the First Responder for the Teign Valley has confirmed that he is a qualified first aid trainer and would be happy to give a presentation to the Parish Council regarding defibrillators and first aid training. It was suggested that Mr Wood should be asked to do this at the Annual Parish Meeting but he will be on holiday so another date will be arranged. | |
| 12 | Village Garden – the Chairperson has not heard back from HMLR regarding the Ownership of Title. Until ownership is established, the Parish Council cannot arrange for the repair of the wall. If the Parish Council was to take it over, it would need to be included on the Council’s public liability cover. Cllr Lord stated that the Learners proceeds from the skittles are to be donated to the upkeep of the Village Garden. | |
| 13 | Birthday Card to HM Queen Elisabeth 11 – Alan Fitzjohn has submitted several drawings of Bridford church. One was selected and the Parish Council agreed that Cllr Price should scan and make into a card to send to the Queen with the appropriate birthday greetings. | |
| Cllr Hearnden left the meeting at 8.05pm | ||
| 14 | Broken wall at bridge over leat at Leigh Cross on B3193. Dealt with earlier in the meeting. See Cnty Cllrs Report. | |
| ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING | ||
| 15 | Meetings attended by Parish Councillors – none | |
| 16 | District Councillors Report – item brought forward earlier in the meeting | |
| PLANNING
For Discussion |
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| 17 | Establishing Bridford Parish Council’s Planning Policy – deferred from last meeting Cllr Evans advised the Parish Council that this was in progress and that he needs to do more research in order to present a document which is informative but not too long. Deferred until the June meeting.
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Dealt with between meetings due to short timescale for responses
Higher Westcott Farm, Moretonhampstead – re proposed installation of biomass Boiler with external flue attached to side of property and retention of storage shed (DNPA ref. 0120/16). Details were circulated to the Parish Council which had ” no objections to the application” The White Barn, Weeke Barton, Bridford – Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent re proposed refurbishment and alterations (DNPA ref 00161/16) Comments deferred pending a site visit arranged for 9th April, West Park Cottage, Bridford – re proposed extension and alterations (DNPA ref 0169/16). Parish Councillors were asked to look at the application online and unless the Clerk receives comments suggesting otherwise, the Parish Council will advise DNPA that it strongly supports the application |
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| 21 | Any planning items for discussion received since publication of the agenda – none | |
| For Information | ||
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Cedar House, Bridford – Notice of Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re erection of building (81sqm) for use as stables (DNPA ref. 0019/16)
Poole Farm, Bridford – Notice of Appeal against Refusal of Full Planning Permission re erection of rural worker’s dwelling (DNPA ref. 0356/15) The Parish Council originally supported this application and will contact the applicants to find out what the current situation is before submitting a further positive response to the Planning Inspectorate. |
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| 24 | Any planning items for information received since publication of the agenda – none | |
| FINANCE & ACCOUNTS | ||
| 25 | Account balances as at 7th March 2016
Current account Investment account |
£3,709.81 £3,341.25 £7.051.06 |
| (Balance Includes earmarked funds £165 refundable allotment deposits, £623
Play Area and £342.76 textile bank) |
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| 26 | INCOME
Bank interest re February 2016 |
£ 0.28 £ 0.28 |
| 27 | EXPENDITURE
Mrs J P Banks re Clerks salary for March 2016 Mrs J P Banks re Admin Expenditure1 Jan – 31 March 2016 Playsafety Limited re RoSPA annual inspection HMLR re Clerk’s PAYE quarter ended 5 April 2016 Bridford Village Hall re 20% of income from textile bank |
£ 185.19 £ 120.01 £ 117.60 £ 166.40 £ 71.44 £ 660.64 |
| 28 | Account balances as at 4th April 2016
Current account Investment account
The Parish Council resolved to accept and approve the accounts and toauthorise the expenditure. Cllr Dowding, delegated by the Chairperson, checked the invoices to the cheque book and the reconciliation to the bank statement. |
£3.049.17 £3,341.53 £6.390.70
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| ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION | ||
| 29 | Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Parish Council Meeting 2016 – the Clerk
13 suggested that Devon Air Ambulance should be invited to give a presentation re it’s Night Time Flying project. This was unanimously agreed by the Parish Council. The Clerk will invite local clubs and organisations to give short presentations about their activities over the past year. The Clerk will organise refreshments. The Chairperson will create and put up posters. |
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| 30 | CPRE Devon ‘Our Outdoors’ Competition – previously the Best Kept Village Competition. Bridford does not wish to participate. | |
| 31 | Closure of Permissive Footpath at Steps Bridge – Dunsford Parish Council has asked if Bridford would be happy for them to take the lead in this matter as although it is within Bridford Parish, the closure of the footpath will have more impact on Dunsford residents. Bridford PC is happy to advise Dunsford to go ahead and will strongly support them with any strategy to try and resolve the matter. | |
| 32 | Any items received for discussion since publication of the agenda – none | |
| ITEMS FOR INFORMATION | ||
| 33 | Police Warning Notices to be published in Unity | |
| 34 | The Prince’s Countryside Fund is now open to applications. Details to be published in Unity. | |
| 35 | Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none | |
| 36 | Public Discussion
A Parishioner has reported an another ‘broken bridge’ on theB3193 opposite the vets. It is not though that this is a bridge as such and that the owner of the adjoining garden is likely to be responsible for the upkeep of this wall. The Clerk will send a photo to Highways to establish who is responsible. Cllr Dowding advised the Council that the Village Hall committee has been successful in securing a grant of £3,500 from the Dartmoor communities Fund. The money will be used to resolve the problem of the overloading of the electrical circuit by replacing the overhead heaters. A Parish Councillor asked if the Parish Council will have to pay for the Police Commissioner elections in May. The Clerk confirmed that this is not so/ |
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| 37 | Date of next meeting
Monday 9th May 2016 in the upstairs room at Bridford Village Hall at 7.00pm This will be the Annual Parish Meeting with refreshments, followed afterwards by the Annual Parish Council meeting. |
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Original copy of minutes signed by the Chairperson 9th May 2016
CORRESPONDENCE FOR CIRCULATION |
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| Newsletters, Reports and Circulars
Christow Parish Council February minutes Dunsford Parish Council February minutes Healthy People – March 2016 |
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| Miscellaneous
DNPA News Release – Super Broadband on Dartmoor |
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| Letters sent
Various |
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