Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall August 4 2014 at 7.00pm.Present: Cllrs G Hearnden (Acting Chairman), J Bingham, A Lord, E Price, F Miles, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk). No members of the public were present.
- Apologies – Cllr S Purser & Cnty Cllr Brook. Cllr T Evans – apology received in retrospect.
- Declarations of Interest – none
3 Public Discussion – A Parish Councillor mentioned that all the hedges need cutting. This is the responsibility of the farmers / landowners and is unlikely to be undertaken yet.
The subject of the dangerous junction at the bottom of Pound Lane / B3193 was raised again. The Parish Council has written to DCC but no action is considered necessary as there are no recorded accidents in this location.
MATTER ARISING
4 Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve and accept the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7 July 2014 as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
5 Allotments – plot 3 has now been cut back and treated with weed killer and all the rubbish removed. There is black plastic ground cover in the shed. The Parish Council agreed that should be put down to prevent the weeds growing again. There is currently no interest from anyone wishing to take on an allotment. The Clerk will arrange for the allotments to be judged. The Bridford Best Kept Allotment trophy will be presented at Christow Show on 16th August.
6 Play Area – it has been reported that drinking has been observed at the Play Area at night, there is also evidence of there having been a camp fire. The Clerk has been approached to find out if the second goal post can be put back up. This request has come from adults who wish to play football, who currently use the basketball court and who would like to mark out the lines on the court and have requested a template to do this at a cost of approximately £75. The Parish Council engaged in a lengthy discussion and considered that whilst there was no harm in the basketball court being used by youths / adults, comments have been received that families have found their presence, at times, intimidating. The Parish Council concluded that for youths / adults to be kicking a football towards the swings (where the second goal post would be and children may be playing) would constitute a safety issue. Whilst it is appreciated that there is no provision for older youths and adults, the Play Area is first and foremost meant for children. The Clerk will contact TDC and also the insurance company, to find out what if any, rules and regulations there are relating to Play Areas and if there is an age restriction for their use.
Skateboard track – the Clerk asked for confirmation whether the Parish Council wanted the holes filled in and confirmed that the area of 10′ x 5′ would require approximately ten bags of tarmac. The Parish Council confirmed that there are funds earmarked for use at the Play Area and authorised the work to be carried out.
The resident in the end bungalow adjoining the Play Area contacted the Clerk to ask for the net behind the goal post which had been pulled down children to be reinstated. To prevent any damage to the gentleman’s garden by balls being kicked over the wall, this was undertaken immediately. The Parish Council was happy to authorise this in retrospect.
7 Village Hall – the last meeting was cancelled. Future regular meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of alternate months, the next one being 12th August and the AGM in September,
8 Snow Warden – nobody has come forward to fill this volunteer vacancy. A further item will be put in Unity and posters put around the village. Cllr Price has offered to approach somebody who she thinks may be willing to take it on. DCC has confirmed it will go through the basic training with anybody taking over the role
ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
8a Footpath at Heltor – The Parish Council was notified that the path from the road to Heltor was Overgrown. The DNPA ranger has confirmed that this has now been cut back.
9 Meetings Attended by any members of the Parish Council – none
PLANNING
Items for Discussion
The first three items were circulated to Parish Councillors and dealt with between meeting due to the short timescales for a response.
- Middle Westcott Farm, Moretonhampstead – re proposed temporary agricultural dwelling for use in connection with livestock enterprises on adjacent land and building, plus provision of new track (DNPA ref. 0358/14). “The Parish Council objects to this application, the temporary dwelling would be a visual intrusion in the open countryside. Any dwelling should be in close proximity to the existing Westcott settlement. The applicants own considerable land holding elsewhere on which they have permission for eight houses, one of which we think would be more suitable as a base. The acreage owned at Westcott is severely disadvantaged land and the Parish Council questions the financial viability of this as a stand alone unit. The Parish Council also questions the proposed stocking levels for SDA land and therefore the functional need for a dwelling. It also notes that the barn has not yet been built.”
11 Venn Bridge Farm, Bridford – re proposed extension to existing agricultural building (DNPAref 0373/14) “No objections”.
12 Green Barn, Bridford – re proposed repair and alteration of an existing garden building. (DNPA ref 0368/14) “The Parish Council has no objection to the restoration and renovation of this listed barn. The Parish Council notes that there is no proposed change of use.”
13 Venn Bridge Yard, Teign Valley Road, Bridford – re proposed change of use of 250sqm of agricultural building and 250sqm of its curtilage to storage purposes for motor vehicles, building materials, tools and other equipment (DNPA ref 0412/14). Comments and discussion deferred pending a site visit.
14 Pound Cottage, Bridford – re proposed extension and alterations to dwelling (DNPA ref 0399/14). “The Parish Council supports this application.”
15 Any items received for discussion since publication of the agenda – none
Items for Information – none
16 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda
Venn Bridge Farm – re extension to existing agricultural building (DNPA ref. 0373/14). Application withdrawn
Many Waters, Bridford – Refusal of planning permission re proposed extensions to an existing dwelling following the removal of existing poorly built extension. (DNPA ref. 0302/14)
FINANCE & ACCOUNT
17 Account balances as at 31 July 2014 – current account £3,469.12 and deposit account
£3,173.15 (balances include £745 earmarked for Play Area, £120 balance of refundable deposits for allotments & £174.00 re proceeds of contents of textile bank)
Balances allow for all expenditure and income detailed below.
18 Income
Bank interest June 2014 £ 0.27
Nathan Waste re textile bank £ 40.80
19 Expenditure
Mrs J P Banks re Clerk’s salary for July 2014 £176.68
Mr S Tallowin re replacement of tap connection £17.50 + V.A.T. £ 21.00
73
Mr C Banks re clearance & weed killer application at the allotments
Labour £110.00 + Materials £ 26.45 £136.45
The Parish Council resolved to accept the accounts and approve the expenditure. The Chairman checked the invoices to the cheque book and the reconciliation to the bank statement.
FOR DISCUSSION – none
- Any items for discussion received since the publication of the agenda
Review of polling places and designated polling stations – the Parish Council agreed that the Bridford’s designated polling station at the Village Hall is satisfactory.
FOR INFORMATION
21 Steps Bridge – at the recent Three Parishes Meeting, concern was raised that saplings/trees are beginning to grow out of the stonework at the bridge at Steps Bridge. DCC Bridge Maintenance has advised that this is a common problem with larger structures where access is difficult to remove these at normal inspections. The situation is monitored at the biennial inspections and works undertaken when required. Because of the access constraints these works are undertaken in batches to minimise costs. It is likely that these works will be undertaken in the next financial year.
22 The Way we register to vote is changing – TDC sending out letters to everyone.
23 Any items for information received since the publication of the agenda
Connecting Devon and Somerset – has launched its new website:
www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk
Community Council of Devon Annual Conference – Rural Renaissance will take place 25th
September 2014 at Exeter Racecourse 10.00 – 16.00.
Funding Package to fight rural crime – two year funding package of almost £40,000 operating across England and Wales has been announced.
Devon Association of Local Councils – AGM and Conference 11th October at Westpoint, Exeter
10.00 – 16.00.
24 District Councillors Report – Dst Cllr Purser not at the meeting so no report this month.
25 Public Discussion – no further items for discussion.
26 Date of next meeting – Monday 1st September at the Village Hall 7.00pm.
Original copy of minutes signed by the Chairman 8th September 2014
CORRESPONDENCE FOR CIRCULATION (Appendix A)
Reports and Agendas
Dunsford PC June minutes
News from DNPA Planning Service
Newsletters and Updates
TDC Monthly Update – June 2014
Teignbridge Funding News – June 2014
The Clerk Magazine – July 2014
Everyone’s Tomorrow – Summer 2014
Village Green – Summer 2014
Clerks & Councils Direct – July 2014
Miscellaneous
Launch of Advice Teignbridge – July 2014
DNPA Calendar of Meetings 2014/15
Broadband update – Connecting Devon and Somerse
Letters sent
Various