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Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall on Monday 4th September 2017 at 7.00pm |
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| Present: Cllrs F Miles (Chairperson), G Hearnden, E Price, A Lord, R Dowding, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk) | ||
| 1 | Apologies – Cllr T Evans and J Padgham | |
| 2 | Declarations of Interest – none | |
| 3 | Public Discussion
Warning Road Signs – the owner of Birch Tree Farm thanked the Parish Council for its support in arranging for ‘No HGV Vehicles’ warning signs at Neadon Lane end and Green Bridge end of the lane. These have been agreed and will be supplied by Highways, with the owner covering the cost, but have yet to be put in place. Repairs to Pound Lane – a Parishioner commented that DCC has done a good job repairing the road surface on Pound Lane (aka Bridford Hill). Overgrown Hedges – the Parishioner also commented that as it is September, landowners can now cut their hedges. Landowners with hedges bordering Pound Lane will be contacted and asked to arrange for them to be cut as a matter of safety. The Chair asked the owner of the hedge on the corner of the back road to Christow, who was present at the meeting, if they would make arrangements for this to be cut. Repairs to Church Tower – a Parishioner commented that although the downpipes are taking the water from the roof, the wall still appears to be very damp and questions whether the work recently carried out has solved the problem. Vehicles parked on bend opposite the phone box – concern was raised by a Parishioner and a Parish Councillor over a vehicle which seems to be parked almost permanently on the bend, forcing vehicles to drive around on the wrong side of the road. The PCSO Mark Easton will be contacted and advice sought with regards to the legality of parking here. Parking in the village is a huge problem. Could the grass area in front of Oxenpark Gate be used for parking vehicles?
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| Dst Cllr Amanda Ford joined the meeting at 7.15pm – the Chairperson welcomed her and invited her to speak | ||
| Very little to report, all quiet during the summer. The next meeting has a very heavy agenda, over viewing Strategy Performance, Infra Structure Delivery Plan, TDC Local Plan. Cllr Ford is attending a meeting next week re the Greater Exeter Plan. There is an acting temporary Head of Payroll, it is not known if there will be another CEO.
Cllr Ford questioned where we stand legally as a Parish if the emergency services could not get through if the main road into the village was inaccessible due to icy conditions. Not many villages in the county are isolated by such a steep hill. Cllr Ford will liaise with Cnty Cllr Brook over the 500 residents limit and what grounds are that this figure is reduced by outlying properties. What is DCC’s legal responsibility in keeping a place accessible? We need to find grounds to change current policy. Cllr Ford is not longer resident in the Valley and now lives in Exeter. She will continue to serve the Teign Valley ward for the rest of her term but cannot stand for re-election next time. |
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| Dst Cllr Amanda Ford left the meeting at 7.25pm | ||
| MATTERS ARISING | ||
| 4 | Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd July 2017 as a true and accurate record of the meeting. | |
| 5 | Allotments – Mr Reg Wills has kindly agreed to put in new gate posts and re-hang the gate at the top of the allotment ground. Mr Wills had previously requested the Parish Council to purchase the new gate posts but has now advised that he has an old telegraph pole that will do the job. The allotments were judged in August with Bridford’s Best Kept Allotment award being won by Sam Newman. An item in Unity magazine is asking if anyone would be interested in keeping bees at the allotments. The Parish Council considers that this is a good idea in principle but will ask the Parishioner for more information if they get sufficient interest to go ahead. | |
| Cnty Cllr Jerry Brook joined the meeting at 7.30pm – the Chairperson welcomed him and invited him to speak. | ||
| Cllr Brook had just driven up Pound Lane and commented that he was pleased with the work which had recently been done, but apologised for the inconvenience caused, in particular to the local pub with deliveries. There are already skid marks on the sections of new tarred road surface. Cllr Brook will try and ascertain whether this is the final surface or if there are plans to tar and chip it. Grants – Cllr Brook has an allocated budget of £10,000 (£1,000 per Parish). The Village Hall has already expressed an interest. Consideration should be given to the split of funds between organisations in the village. The Chairperson has heard rumours that Pound Lane could be downgraded and asked if it was true. Cllr Brook confirmed that there is no truth in the rumours, the road being the main access to Bridford.
Cllr Lord advised that there had been a recent accident on Pound Lane between a coach and two cars and that DCC Highways owns a piece of slipway on the hill opposite the quarry which, years ago, was used as an escape road. The owner of the land adjoining it, built a bank and barricaded it up. It needs to be established whether DCC owns or ever did own this piece of ground before involving Cllr Brook. The Chairperson suggested a site visit with Cllr Lord to identify the area in question. |
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| Cnty Cllr Brook left the meeting at 7.40pm | ||
| 6 | Play Area – following this year’s RoSPA report, the Clerk and Cllr Price inspected the fort & slide and the ‘A’ frame both of which have been recommended to be replaced. Cllr Price suggested to the Parish Council that the fort is worth restoring as a replacement would cost many thousands of pounds and is a far better structure than a modern plastic replacement would be. This was agreed by the Parish Council. Invitations to tender for this work will be published in Unity magazine. The ‘A’ frame is past its sell by date with much of the wood being decayed and Cllr Price suggested that this should be removed and replaced with an outdoor table tennis table which has been discussed in the past. This was agreed by the Parish Council | |
| 7 | Bridford Hill – Pound Lane (aka Bridford Hill) was closed for two days for surface dressing work to be carried out and this has now been completed. Thanks have been passed on to Highways Department. A public meeting will be held on 12th September to discuss the way forward with regards to the treating of the road surface during freezing weather conditions. The Chairperson has asked for support for this very important meeting. Somebody is required to maintain the machine, not necessarily to have to work it. The PC will continue to write to DCC twice a year lobbying for Bridford Hill to be returned to the primary gritting route. | |
| 8 | Telephone Box – the telephone box has now been re-painted and a note of thanks has been sent to BT | |
| 9 | Blue Advisory Road Signs – DCC Highways has agreed to supply two ‘No Access for HGV’s’ signs to be placed on Neadon Lane at the end of the lane leading to Birch Tree Farm and at the Green Bridge end with the cost being borne by the owner of Birch Tree Farm. The installation of the signs will be undertaken by DCC contractors. The incorrect road junction markings on Neadon Lane although advised to DCC have yet to be rectified. | |
| 10 | Village Garden – needs some re-planting. Cllr Price will mention to Bridford Wives who have a piece of the garden that they maintain. Advice to be obtained from Richard Hearnden re best type of plants to get. Some monies earmarked for Village Garden could purchase plants. | |
| 11 | Parish Plan – defer until October meeting to ensure timescales are being met | |
| 12 | Overgrown hedge on Church Path – following a letter sent by the Parish Council to the owner of Wide Horizons, the hedgerow bordering that property and Church Path has now been cut back. | |
| 13 | Repairs to Church Tower – reply has been received from Bridford PCC in response to concerns raised by the Parish Council. | |
| ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING | ||
| 14 | Meetings attended by Parish Councillors – Councillors attended Bridford’s Planning Committee meeting re Planning Procedures and Policies relating to Bridford PC | |
| 15 | District Councillors Report – dealt with earlier in meeting | |
| 16 | County Councillors Report – dealt with earlier in meeting | |
| PLANNING | ||
| For Discussion | ||
| The following planning applications were dealt with between meetings due to there being no meeting of the Parish Council in August. | ||
| 17 | Cedar House, Bridford – following a site visit, the Parish Council objected to this planning application (DNPA ref 0320/17) | |
| 18 | Moorstone, Bridford – re proposed change of use from Guest House / Bistro to dwelling and holiday let. The Parish Council has no objection providing that there is just one holiday let (DNPA ref 0332/17) | |
| 19 | Moorstone, Bridford – re application for Certificate of Lawfulness for an existing use. The Parish Council has no objection (DNPA ref 0387/17) | |
| 20 | Cedar House, Bridford – re proposed erection of outbuilding to provide ancillary living accommodation. The Parish Council objects to this application (DNPA ref 0389/17) | |
| 21 | 10 Oxenpark Gate, Bridford – re proposed two-storey extension to dwelling. Following a site visit, the Parish Council supports this application (DNPA ref 0392/17) | |
| 22 | Any planning items for discussion since publication of the agenda
Land at Westcott, Moretonhampstead, re proposed construction of a new agricultural building (DNPA ref 0435/17) The Parish Council asked for a site visit to be arranged. |
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| For Information | ||
| 23 | Cedar House, Bridford – Application (DNPA ref 0320/17) has been withdrawn re proposed erection of outbuilding to provide ancillary living accommodation | |
| 24 | Thorn Farm, Bridford – Notice of Refusal of Planning Permission re construction of ménage (20m x 40m) with 3-rail timber fence (DNPA ref 0242/17) | |
| 25 | Thorn Farm, Bridford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re demolition of existing rear porch and steps and erection of new rear and side extensions (DNPA ref 0303/17) | |
| 26 | Local Plan Review Consultation – completed by Bridford PC and returned to DNPA | |
| 27 | Planning Procedures & Policies relating to Bridford Parish Council – meeting held to discuss. To be returned to in October | |
| 28 | Any planning items for information received since publication of the agenda
The Parish Council has received clarification from Lesley Smith of DALC with regard to the discussing and commenting on planning applications which are received between meetings. |
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| FINANCE & ACCOUNTS | ||
| 29 | Account balances as at 3rd July 2017
Current account Investment account
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£3,691.61 £3,744.55 £7,436.16 |
| 30 | INCOME
Bank interest June Bank interest July
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£ 0.16 £ 0.15 £ 0.31 |
| 31 | EXPENDITURE
Mrs J P Banks re July salary £200.93 Mrs J P Banks Re August salary £200.93 Newbury Electrical re installation of defibrillator £160 + VAT Mr G Dicker grass cutting April/May/June/July
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£ 401.86 £ 192.00 £ 206.64 £ 800.50 |
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Account balances as at 4 September 2017 Current account Investment account |
£2,891.11 £3,744.86 £6,635.97
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| (Balances include earmarked funds: £120 refundable allotment deposits / £565 Play Area / £67.50 Village Garden / £88.76 textile bank) | ||
| The Parish Council resolved to approve the accounts and authorise the expenditure. Cllr Dowding, delegated by the Chairperson, checked the invoices to the cheque book and the reconciliation to the bank statement. | ||
| ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION | ||
| 33 | Future Parish Council Meeting Dates – to comply with new transparency rules, the Parish Council must now publish on the website, a full list of meeting dates up until the end of its financial year. Future dates were agreed as follows: October 2nd / November 6th / December 4th 2017. January 8th / February 5th / March 5th 2018. It was suggested that it is not a good idea to have a summer recess and that in future we should return to holding a meeting in August. | |
| 34 | Any items for discussion received since publication of the agenda
The website is due its annual renewal, costs in the region of £90-£100. Parish Council resolved to pay the renewal costs and to authorise Jarrod Poynton to make arrangements for its renewal. |
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| ITEMS FOR INFORMATION | ||
| 35 | Notice of Road Closures B3193 Teign Valley Road 8.30am – 3.30pm 4th & 5th September. Other dates may be advised. Traffic lights to be in situ until the end of October | |
| 36 | Devon Association of Local Councils AGM and Conference 10th October 2017. No interest | |
| 37 | An Introduction to Neighbourhood Planning – 4th October 2017. No interest | |
| 38 | Any items for information received since publication of the agenda
Reply received from Wastenage farms re night time working and movement of farm vehicles. Parish Council to ask for assurance that there will be no further disruption in the village during the hours of 11.00pm and 7.00am |
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| 39 | Public Discussion – no further items for discussion | |
| 40 | Date of next meeting – The next meeting will be held on Monday 2nd October at 7.00pm in the upstairs room of the Village Hall | |
| Original copy of minutes signed by the Chairperson 2nd October 2017 | ||
In the Teign Valley