Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall June 2nd 2014 at 7.00pm.
Present: Cllrs S Purser (Chairman),, G Hearnden, E Price, D Goodwin-Hughes, J Bingham, A Lord,
Mrs J P Banks (Clerk) & two members of the public.
1 Apologies – Cnty Cllr Brook and a retrospective apology received from Cllr T Evans
2 Declarations of Interest – none
3 Public Discussion – no items raised by member of the public. The Chairman accepted a
resignation from Cllr David Goodwin-Hughes who will be leaving the Village. The
Chairman, both personally and on behalf of the Parish Council, thanked Dave for his
commitment and enthusiasm during the past three years as a Parish Councillor, particularly in
connection with his work as Bridford’s volunteer Snow Warden. He will be greatly missed
and the best wishes of everyone on the Parish Council go with him and his family when they
move to their new home.
MATTER ARISING
4 Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of the combined Annual Parish
and Annual Parish Council meeting held on 14th May 2014 as a true and accurate record of the
meeting.
5 Allotments – there has been no further information regarding the whereabouts of the tenant of
plot 3 which is now very overgrown. The Council will exercise its right to take back the
allotment and find out the procedure regarding the disposal of personal items left on the site.
6 Play Area – TDC are able to supply a notice to put on the gate. As the Play Area is not owned
by Teignbridge, the Parish Council may have to pay. Further enquiries will be made when
the officer who deals with this, returns from holiday
7 Village Hall – a new volunteer has come forward to take on the role of treasurer, otherwise
nothing further to report.
ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
8 Resignation of Cllr D Goodwin-Hughes and subsequent vacancy. See comments in Public
Discussion item 3. Procedures will now be put in place to enable the Parish Council to
advertise the vacancy and co-opt a new Parish Councillor for the remainder of the four year
term i.e. until May 2015. Resigning Cllr Goodwin-Hughes will try and persuade a member
of the Snow Warden team to take over his role and will put an item in Unity.
8a Overgrown ash tree at the end of Moreton Terrace – DNPA tree officer has indicated that it
would not be responsible for dealing with overgrown trees that are otherwise ‘healthy’.
9 Meetings Attended by any members of the Parish Council.
Cllr Hearnden attended the DNP Forum where there was a lot of routine discussion. The
subject of the First World War and its impact on Dartmoor was discussed. Information and
photos are being collected and groups are going into schools giving talks. The Sustainable
Development Fund is now to be called “Your Dartmoor Fund”.
Cllrs Purser, Hearnden, Lord and Price attended the Three Parishes meeting hosed by
Dunsford Parish Council. All attendees considered it worthwhile and that these annual
meetings should continue. Subjects discussed included roads and housing and it was agreed
that a joint letter should be written regarding the state of the roads. Christow, Bridford and
Dunsford supported Teign Valley Community Hall with their share of the Electors Fund for
2014 and Dunsford PC hoped that Bridford and Christow would support them next year in
connection with work relating to their play park.
TALC meeting – the Chairman did not attend this meeting but was able to report that a
representative from Highways declined an invitation to attend the meeting. A representative
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from the Environment spoke about the problems of tipping.
9a Report submitted by Cnty Cllr Brook
The extraordinary meeting of the County Council held on 14th May proved regrettably to be
a non-event. Objections to the length of consultation periods were made but as there was
limited exchanges between the chamber members, the cost of the exercise seemed wasteful.
The County Council meeting the following day proceeded without incident. Various
ongoing consultations are at different stages. A decision is pending regarding residential
care and day services. Papers are going to the Cabinet on 11th June regarding Youth Services
The Library consultation is ongoing. The Children Centres consultation ends on 6th June.
PLANNING
Items for Discussion
The following item was circulated to Parish Councillors and dealt with between meetings due
to the short timescales for a response.
10 Barn & Roundhouse, Bridford – re proposal to remove dilapidated stable and replace with
shed for storage of agricultural equipment (DNPA ref. 0260/14). “The Parish Council has
no objections to the application.”
11 Any items received for discussion since publication of the agenda – none
Items for Information
12 Bridford Barton, Bridford – Grant of Listed Building Consent issued for the works described
in the application dated 26 March 2014. (DNPA ref. 0187/14)
13 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
FINANCE & ACCOUNT
14 Account balances as at 28 May 2014 – current account £4,205.92 and deposit account
£3,172.62 (balances include £851 earmarked for Play Area, £150 balance of refundable deposits for allotments & £88.40 re proceeds of contents of textile bank)
Balances allow for all expenditure and income detailed below.
15 Income
Mr A Bornemisza re allotment deposit £ 30.00
Mr A Bornemisza re five months allotment rent £ 12.50
Income received since publication of the agenda
Nathan Waste re proceeds of textile bank £ 44.80
HMRC refund of VAT £111.77
16 Expenditure
Mrs J P Banks re Clerk’s salary for May 2014 £176.68
Wood Insurance Services – annual Parish Council insurance premium £710.73
Expenditure to be paid received since publication of the agenda
Mr K Abraham re internal audit £ 90.00
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.
17 Internal Audit has taken place which highlighted a grant from TDC towards the precept
being included as precept instead of other income. Otherwise, a good satisfactory report with
no other issues raised. The Chairman thanked the Clerk for her continued work and
commitment to the Parish Council
18 Annual Return for 2013/14 has been completed and submitted to Grant Thornton.
FOR DISCUSSION – none
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19 Any items for discussion received since the publication of the agenda
Review of Parish Plan – will take place on 30th June at the Bridford Inn.
Rural Skip Service – this will take place on Saturday 26th July from 10.00am – 4.00pm in the
new location at the top of Pound Lane.
FOR INFORMATION
20 Warnings – there have been a number of reported thefts of heating oil in the area. Residents
advised to secure oil storage tanks and report any suspicious activity.
21 Teignbridge Advice Partnership training programme – Third Annual Social Policy Event
The Link Between Debt and Mental Health 19th June at Newton Abbot Recreational Trust
22 Laployd Bridgleway and Windblow Clearance – work well on schedule
23 Notice of Road Closure – B3212 (from A382 junction to B3193 junction) Moretonhampstead
and Bridford. The diversion will be signposted.
24 Teignbridge 2014 Housing Strategy Event 13th June at Exeter Racecourse.
25 Pre-Feasibility and Feasibility Grants available to assist with the process of taking over
a service or asset. Details from www.mycommunityrights.org.uk
26 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda
Dartmoor National Park Authority – SHLAA Review 2014. Landowners are invited to submit
sites for consideration.
27 District Councillors Report from Dst Cllr Stephen Purser.
Discussions about Christow toilets are ongoing with the District Council. Teignbridge will
keep them open until the end of March 2015 and will give Christow Parish Council funds to
operate them. Christow Parish Council will take them over during 2015.
28 Public Discussion
A Parishioner asked when the B3193 would be closed again and how to find out this
information. The Chairman confirmed that up to date information regarding the road closures
can be found on the Devon County website.
29 Date of next meeting – Monday 7th July at the Village Hall 7.00pm.
Original Copy signed by the Chairman 7th July 2014
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