Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held at Bridford Village Hall on Wednesday May 20th 2015 at 7.00pm
Present: S Purser (retiring Chairman), Cllrs F Miles (new Chairperson), G Hearnden,
T Evans, E Price, A Lord, R Dowding, J Atkinson, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk), Dst Cllr A Ford,
S Lee (DNPA Ranger) and thirteen members of the public
- Election of new Chairman – Cllr Miles was nominated as Chairperson by Cllr Price,
seconded by Cllr Hearnden and unanimously agreed by a show of hands.
- Election of Vice Chairman – Cllr Hearnden was nominated by Cllr Price as vice Chair
seconded by Cllr Dowding and unanimously agreed by a show of hands.
- Acceptance of Office Forms – Cllr Miles signed the Acceptance of Office form in her
capacity as Chairperson and all Parish Councillors signed the Acceptance of Office
and Acceptance of the Code of Conduct forms as newly elected Councillors.
- Apologies – Cnty Cllr J Brook
- Declarations of Interest – none
- Appointment of Committees
Neighbourhood Watch Steve Simm
Rural Aid No longer applicable to Parishes within the Park
TALC Cllr Miles
DNPA Consultative Committee All Parish Councillors
Planning All Parish Councillors
Lengths man The Clerk
Playing Field Cllr Price
Tree Warden David Price
Parish Plan Development All Parish Councillors
Allotments Representative Francis Leversedge
Allotments PC Representative Cllr Price and the Clerk
Website Jarrod Poynton and the Clerk
Snow Warden Adrian Finding
Village Hall – the Hall Committee are to check the constitution to see if a PC representative is required and this was left open for the time being, to be discussed
further.
Bridford Trust – it was also questioned whether the Trust requires a PC representative, also to be discussed further
- Previous Chairman’s Report from Stephen Purser – see appendix B
Cllr Hearnden responded by thanking Stephen for his many years of loyal service to
the Parish Council and for everything that he has helped the village and, in his role of
District Councillor, the Teign Valley, to achieve.
MATTERS ARISING
- Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council
meeting held on 13th April 2015 as a true and accurate record of the meeting
- Allotments – there is now another vacant half plot. Details from the Clerk and to be
advertised on the notice board and in Unity.
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- Play Area – following annual RoSPA inspection, it was agreed that the only ‘high risk’
area identified in the report was the BMX / skateboard track and that this is only
scored as such by nature of the activity. No work considered necessary other than
cutting back overhanging branches by the slide. Cllr Atkinson volunteered to do this.
The Play Area will continue to be monitored for safety and any future maintenance
over the next twelve months
- Village Hall – local events have been very favourably received. Organisation for the
Village Hall has changed. Under the new constitution, every elected member is a
trustee. There will be regular meetings of the four trustees. A number of working
parties and committees have been organised to deal with various aspects of running
the hall. A suggestion that the Hall Committee should send a report to the Parish
Council meeting each month was received favourably.
- School Lane – DCC Highways has accepted that this minor road is a priority for the
community and will therefore arrange a small patching job but unable to say when.
ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
- Meetings Attended by Parish Councillors – Cllrs Hearnden, Price and Dowding
attended the Bridford Trust meeting where Peter Harper was the speaker.
PLANNING
Items for Discussion
14 Whipple Tree Farm, Bridford – Hedgerow Removal Notice (DNPA ref.
BB/PB/27/15/1(51) – pending site visit
15 Beacon Farm, Bridford – Hedgerow Removal Notice (DNPA ref. BB/PB/27/15/1(50)
pending site visit
16 Any planning items for discussion received since publication of the agenda – none
Items for Information
17 Many Waters, Bridford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re demolition of
existing extensions and remodelling and refurbishment of existing dwelling (DNPA
ref. 0123/15)
18 Smithacott Farm, Bridford – work approved re Notice of Prior Notification of
agricultural building (464sqm) for storage of machinery & feed (DNPA ref 0165/15)
19 Poole Farm, Bridford – appeal has been withdrawn
20 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS
21 Notice of Appointment of Date for the Exercise of Electors Rights – posted on the
main notice board
22 External Audit date is 1st June 2015. Auditors Grant Thornton
23 Internal Audit date is 27th June 2015 and will be undertaken by Ken Abraham of
South and West Audit Services
24 Receipts and Payments Account year ended 31 March 2015 – the Parish Council
resolved to approve the Receipts and Payments account. Signed by the Chairperson
and the Clerk
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25 Annual Return year ended 31 March 2015 – the Parish Council answered ‘yes’ to the
questions in the Annual Governance Statement section two and approved and
accepted the accounts in section one. Sections one and two signed by the Chairperson
and Clerk
26 Annual Parish meeting – the Parish Council resolved to authorise payment for
refreshments served after Annual Parish meeting under S137 payments.
27 Payment for additional hours – the Parish Council resolved to agree to a request from
the Clerk for authorisation of payment of ten additional hours work re preparation for
and post election work.
28 Account Balances as at 14th May 2015 – current account £5,554.09 and deposit
account £3,175.79 (balances include £671 earmarked for Play Area, £150 re refund of
allotment deposits and £57.00 re proceeds of textile bank)
Balances take into account expenditure and income below
29 Expenditure
Mrs J P Banks re Clerk’s salary for April 2015 £ 185.39
SLCC renewal membership subscription £ 77.00
30 Income
TDC first half of precept less DALC subscription £3,134.14
Bridford Village Hall re skittles for Play Area £ 48.06
Bank interest re April 2015 £ 0.27
The Parish Council resolved to accept the accounts and authorise the expenditure.
The Chairperson checked the invoices to the cheque book and the reconciliation to the bank statement
FOR DISCUSSION – none
31 Any Items received for discussion since publication of the agenda – none
FOR INFORMATION
32 Community Compost Open Day – 5 June at Old Forde House, Newton Abbot.
Detail to be passed to Bridford Trust, also available from the Clerk.
33 Warnings/Messages from Devon and Cornwall Police
Trading Standards has received a number of complaints re unsolicited visits from
doorstep traders offering garden, building and driveway work. Trading Standards
advise not to enter into contracts with unsolicited visitors to your home.
Police are investigating a burglary to a secure garage in the Clapham area. Residents
are advised to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to the Police on the 101
number.
34 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda
Etching machine – any farmers interested in getting equipment etched with their
postcode is asked to contact PC Kerridge-Smith via
35 Public Discussion – Mrs Cronin asked if the Parish Council is willing to continuing
financing the costs of the welcome booklet that she prepares and gives out to all new
residents to the village. Cllr Dowding recently new to Bridford commented that he
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received a copy on arrival and felt very ‘welcomed’. The Parish Council unanimously
agreed that it would continue to finance this but suggested that the 50p per copy
currently reimbursed would probably no longer cover the cost and it was proposed
and agreed by a show of hands to increase this amount to £1 per copy.
A Parishioner asked if the Parish Council would make arrangements to cut back the
blackthorn overhanging the slide in the Play Area. Already dealt with in item 10.
A Parish Councillor asked if the alterations at Pound Cottage are conforming to
planning. The Parish Council stated that corrections and additions have been applied
for and agreed by DNPA. Not within the Parish Council’s remit.
36 Date of next meeting – Monday 1st June 2015 in the Village Hall
CORRESPONDENCE FOR CIRCULATION (Appendix A)
Miscellaneous
Letter of thanks from Bridford Parish Church
Newsletters
Junkmail issue 16
Clerks and Councils Direct May 2015
Letters sent
Various
Original minutes signed by the Chairperson 1st June 2015
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