Bridford Parish Council Minutes of November 2016 Meeting

Minutes of Bridford Parish Council meeting held 7th November 2016 at Bridford Village Hall at 7pm
Present: Cllrs F Miles (Chairperson) G Hearnden, A Lord, R Dowding, E Price, T Evans, J Padgham, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk) and two members of the public. Cnty Cllr J Brook and DNPA Parish Link member Pamela Woods attended for part of the meeting
1	Apologies – Dst Cllr Amanda Ford
2	Declarations of Interest – none
3	Cllr Jennifer Padgham was welcomed to the meeting by the Chairperson and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office in the presence of the Clerk.
4	Public Discussion – the subject of parking around the loop by the Old Post Office and the church steps, which appears to be permanently blocked with vehicles was discussed. The Parish Council has suggested that a letter should be delivered to all residents in that vicinity, (but not targeting any one individual) to see if the problem can be resolved. A copy to be drafted and circulated to all Parish Councillors.
The Chairperson welcomed Pamela Woods as our new DNPA Parish Link member and invited her to address the meeting
4a	Pamela has been appointed to the board of DNPA. Members are asked to attend meetings from time to time within their allocated Parishes and to provide information updates. If there are any issues she will be pleased to raise them with the Park. The new Local Plan when it is written up in its final form, will be one of the first things that planning officers will look at when considering an application. The current consultation regarding this plan will be a two year process. When responding to the consultation, thought should be given as to what you think your Parish should look like in the next ten years. Workshops are taking place for Councillors to get together with DNPA officers. A Parish Councillor asked how the Council should proceed in responding to the consultation in terms of a neighbourhood plan. There is a difference between a neighbourhood plan and a parish plan – a neighbourhood plan is a more formal document, not always considered worthwhile for a small village, which slots into the planning policy while a parish plan outlines aims and objectives. The Parish Council agreed to defer its planned meeting to review its parish plan until after Christmas and to use this time to prepare a response to the DNPA Local Plan consultation.
Mrs Woods was thanked by the Chairperson for attending the meeting and left at 7.45pm
5	Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to agree the minutes of meeting held on 3rd October as a true and accurate record of the meeting
6	Allotments – there are now only six tenants with three half plots and one full plot being vacant. These plots continue to be advertised on the notice board and in Unity. Cllr Lord suggested that a poster promoting the allotments be sent to the Teign Valley Gardening Club. This will be done.
7	Play Area – Cllr Price mentioned that a play area in another Parish has a concrete table tennis table. The Parish Council considered this to be a good idea and asked Cllr Price to research further. The parts have been ordered from Playdale to repair the climbing frame. A new chain, padlock and keys have been purchased for the gate.
Cnty Cllr Jerry Brook jointed the meeting at 7.50pm. The Chairperson welcomed him and invited him to speak, bringing forward item 13
13	Cllr Brook stated that he was due to attend the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny meeting the following day. Change is inevitable as to how health care is delivered in the community with a current consultation regarding how care is delivered in Devon and it is very important that people are aware of the consultation process. A completely different system is being looked at in the future for care in the community to try and prevent individuals and the elderly ending up in hospital. ‘No change’ is not an option. Highways – DCC has made the decision to award the Highways contract to a new company with the present contractor South West Highways, ceasing to act for DCC in April 2017. The present contractor will however, be committed to any work on their worksheet to be done. A Parish Councillor mentioned pending road repairs in the Parish where the road had been marked but nothing had been done and the markings were disappearing. Cllr Brook replied that this was likely to be part of a process and he would try to find out what the timescales would be. Cllr Brook was thanked for his input to the campaign to get the bridge at Leigh Cross repaired. The Chairperson has received email confirmation that the work will now take place within the next few weeks. The Clerk on behalf of the Parish Council thanked Cllr Brook for the £200 from the Locality Budget received towards the purchase of the defibrillator, Grant monies – Cnty Cllr Brook still has funds available for community projects and is encouraging applications to be submitted.
Cnty Cllr Brook left the meeting at 8.05pm
8	Defibrillator and Training – this item is combined with item 30, Proposed Removal of Telephone Box A notice has been displayed on the telephone box asking which is considered the most important use for the BT telephone box – a telephone or a defibrillator? The Parish Council discussed this in length and the majority decision was to approach BT with the aim of adopting the box for £1 and using it to house the defibrillator. However, BT will be asked if it is possible to also maintain a line for emergency calls. Under the ‘adoption’ scheme, BT would supply the electricity for seven years but the box would be taken on in its current condition and maintenance would then becomes the responsibility of the new owner. Another possible site considered for the defibrillator is on the outside wall of the Village Hall if BT is not in agreement to the PC adopting the phone box.
9	Village Garden – the broken wall was the result of an intruding blackthorn branch. This has now been removed and the wall repaired courtesy of Cllr Dowding who kindly instructed stonemasons already at his home to undertake this repair. The Chairperson thanked Cllr Dowding for this gesture. Transfer of Title to the Parish Council – Kitsons Solicitors are to act in the transfer of title. Cllr Francis Miles (Parish Councillor and Chairperson) and Joan Banks (Clerk to the Parish Council) will sign the transfer document and will need to present ID in respect of anti-money laundering procedures. Kitsons agreed to cap the fees at £500 plus disbursements. Rosie Evans at Kitsons will be responsible for the conveyancing work.
10	Parish Footpaths – most of the footpaths allocated to individual Councillors have now been walked and most are in good order. Councillors will email details of any remedial work needing to be done to the Clerk . The Council will then decide which needs priority and advise the DNPA Ranger.
11	Meetings Attended – Cllrs Miles and Dowding attended a meeting of Bridford Trust. Any groups using the park for their own fundraising must arrange their own insurance.
12	District Councillor’s Report – Dst Cllr Amanda Ford sent in her report which related to the following: Telephone Box – Amanda will be writing to BT to try and maintain the telephone boxes in the Valley until such time that there is an acceptable mobile signal. Mobile Phone Signal – the main mobile phone providers have been contacted by our constituency MP and they are saying that we can expect to see coverage from all providers by the end of 2017! The infrastructure is there due to the extension of the mast in Dunsford. Cllr Ford wishes to see this process speeded up . Broadband – Still awaiting for one installation to be completed outside Christow. AirBand engineers have indicated that it will be going live at the end of November. CEO of Teignbridge District Council , Pay increase – Cllr Ford wishes to make it clear that she does not support the pay increase of the CEO of Teignbridge District Council nor the letters that were written by her fellow conservative Councillors, Cllr Doug Hellier-Lang and Cllr Sylvia Russell (article in the MDA). The Executive and the full Council including Independents and the Liberal Democrats were not privy to the transparency of the pay increase . The Parish is assured that this matter is being looked into. Cllr Ford will look into any issues that you require her assistance with.
13	County Councillors Report – dealt with earlier in the meeting
PLANNING For Discussion The following item was circulated to Parish Councillors and dealt with between meetings due to the short timescales for submission of comments
14	Land at Westcott, Moretonhampstead – re proposed erection of agricultural building (30.5m x 15.2m) (DNPA ref 0525/16)/ The Parish Council responded with a neutral view and commented that it re-iterates the points raised in 2012 and trusts that the Planning Authority will continue to monitor siting, environment and access in line with the report of 5 July 2012.
15	Cedar House, Bridford – re proposed works to facilitate additional living accommodation (DNPA ref 0554/16) Following a site visit, the Parish Council has no objections to the application
16	Rockside, Bridford Road, Christow – re proposed use of the track through field for domestic vehicles. Application for Certificate of Lawfulness for an existing use. (DNPA ref 0568/16) The Parish Council supports this application referring to its comments relating to the original application
17	The Grange, Bridford – re proposed replacement log store (DNPA ref 0573/16). The Parish Council has no objections to this application
18	Woodland adjacent to B3212 Bridford – re proposed creation of temporary access and loading area (DNPA ref 0574/16) The Parish Council supports this application
19	Any planning items for discussion received since publication of the agenda Land at Westcott, Moretnhampstead – amended plans received siting a revised location re the proposed erection of agricultural building (30.5m x 15.2m) (DNPA ref 0525/16). The Parish Council objects to the revised location that is now being proposed and strongly suggests that the new building should be located in accordance with the 2012 planning application.
For Information
20	Shippen Farm, Bridford – Grant of Listed Building Consent re erection of single timber garden room (DNPA ref 0438/16)
21	Any planning items for information received since publication of the agenda Green Barn at The White Barn, Weeke Barton, Bridford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re proposed refurbishment , alterations and change of use to ancillary accommodation (DNPA ref 0368/16)
FINANCE & ACCOUNTS
22	Account balances as at 3rd October 2016 Current account Investment account £4,966.33	£1,623.43 £3,342.90 £4,966.33
	Balances include earmarked funds: £90 refundable allotment deposits / £659 Play Area / £43 Village Garden / £22 textile bank re percentage due to Village Hall on 2016 proceeds
23	INCOME TDC 2nd half of Precept TDC Dst Cllr Grant £ 200.00 TDC Elector Fund Grant £ Bank Interest September £ 0 Bank Interest August £ 0 Allotments Annual Rent Mr & Mrs F Leversedge £ 15 Mrs S Lawrence £ 1 Mrs K. Jones £	£3,250.00 £ 200.00 £ 458.00 £ 0.16 £ 0.28 £ 15.00 £ 15.00 £ 15.00 £3,953.44
24	EXPENDITURE Teign Valley First Responders – donation re first aid training £ 2 Mrs J P Banks re Clerks salary for October 2016 £ 19 HMRC re Clerk’s PAYE quarter ended 5th October 2016 £ 1 Mr J Poynton reimbursement web hosting charges £ 436.96	£ 25.00 £ 192.56 £ 144.40 £ 75.00 £ 436.96
25	Account Balances as at 7 November 2016 Current Account Investment Account	£5,139.47 £3,343.34 £8,482.81
26	Allotment Refunds – earmarked funds. None of the allotments that have been given up have been left in an acceptable state by the tenants and therefore refundable deposits taken at the time of the agreements have not been returned, the monies being utilised to keep the plots cut back until new tenants are found. The figure for earmarked funds in respect of allotment deposits has therefore been reduced to £90. The Parish Council agreed to the retention of the deposits of departing tenants and to the reduction of the earmarked amount relating to allotment refunds
27	The Pension Regulator – Bridford Parish Council has complied with the requirements in connection with new pension regulations and has submitted the Confirmation of Declaration to HMRC
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
28	Bridford Parish Plan – deferred until after Christmas. See item 4a
29	Any items for discussion since publication of the agenda – none
30	Proposed Removal of Telephone Box – see item 8
31	Dartmoor National Park New Local Plan – the Parish Council has arranged separate meetings to discuss its response to the Consultation
32	Notice of Road Closure – details have been put on the notice board of a temporary restriction at B3212 Farrants Hill on 11th November.
33	Any items received for information since publication of the agenda Changes to Senior Leadership at DCC – details will be circulated to Parish Councillors for information re new appointments at DCC
34	Public Discussion – A Parish Councillor brought to the attention of the meeting, the increased number of scam telephone calls that are being received recently particularly in connection with roofing insulation. Notice to be put in Unity.
35	Date of next meeting – Monday 5th December 2016 at 7.00pm

Original approved minutes signed by the Chairperson 5th December 2016
	CIRCULATION Newsletters, Reports and Circulars – Christow PC approved minutes of September meeting Dunsford PC approved minutes of September meeting Smokefree Alliance Devon Newsletter September 2016 DNPA ‘Looking after public rights of way May 2016 Healthwatch Voices Autumn 2016 Miscellaneous Correspondence forwarded from Amanda Ford re update regarding mobile phone reception

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