Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall on Monday 7th October at 7.00pm
Present: Cllr S Purser (Chairman), G Hearnden, A Lord, T Evans, J Bingham, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk),
Cnty Cllr Brook attended for part of the meeting. No members of the public were in attendance.
1 Apologies – Cllrs E Price & D Goodwin-Hughes
2 Declarations of Interest – none
3 Public Discussion – no items
MATTER ARISING
4 Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of its meeting held on 4th September 2013 as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
4 Allotments – Plots 2A & 2B have been vacated as at 1st October. Tenant of plot 2B has asked for his refundable deposit to be utilised by the Parish Council. Replacement tenants have been found and tenancy agreements will be sent out this week. The blackthorn hedge at the top of the allotments needs cutting again. Graham Dicker will be asked to cut it back.
6 Play Area – arrangements were made to remove the sea-saw and level the ground. The Clerk will ascertain if this has been done.
7 Village Hall – at the AGM six new trustees were appointed to manage and run the village hall. The committee intend to deliver a flier to each household in the Parish advising what will be happening in the future. A film show is planned.
8 Bridford’s website – the new website is up and running. Invoice received for setting up costs. Suggested the Parish Council budgets a figure of £75 for website costs for 2014/15. The old website domain has been cancelled. An amount of £44.16 in the old account will be transferred to the Parish Council to go towards the setting up costs of the new website.
9 Textile Recycling Bank – the Village Hall committee is happy for the recycling bank to be located in the village hall car park but in return wants 50% of the monies raised. The Parish Council does not consider this to be reasonable request, as it has made all the arrangements to join the scheme and it is a member of the Parish Council who has provisionally agreed to empty the container, bag up the contents and allow their home to be used for storage while awaiting collection. The Parish Council will write to the Village Hall committee.
10 Grass Cutting – the grass verge at Pound Lane has now been cut down as far as the second gate.
11 Cyclists on the Valley Road – at a recent TALC meeting, Tony Hogg accepted that there is an issue and will be meeting with a Devon cycling group who wished to raise the matter of cars and cycling safety. The local PCSO has confirmed that there is no law in regard to cycling two abreast. There is no legislation of the maximum number of cyclists in a group. Cyclists should be courteous to other road users. On a policing note, the Police will pass suitable words of advice to cyclists if and when they see an issue when on patrol. It does not appear as if much will happen to improve the situation in the Teign Valley.
ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
12 Meetings Attended – Cllr Goodwin Hughes attended a Highways meeting. Cllr Lord attended the Village Hall AGM and the first committee meeting. The Chairman attended the recent TALC meeting – cyclists in the Valley on the agenda (see item 11). The
31
Leader of DCC John Hart confirmed that the County has to save £100m over the next four years and a lot of the statutory will be about children and older members of the community.
A lot more rural roads will be abandoned. It was reported that in another county, there are red signs warning about potholes to indemnify the authority against damage to vehicles.
Cnty Cllr Brook joined the meeting 7.36pm. The Chairman welcomed him and invited him to speak. The greatest challenge is the Government itself. The mobile library scheme is being reviewed. If there are only three people at regular stop, it is not considered viable. DCC is likely to look at what it can do from a youth point of view. The question has been raised re OFSTED reports into children’s services. There are management and service issues. The issue of care for a Bridford resident has been called into question as it is considered too far for anyone to come out for the allotted time. There is now a disproportionate number of elderly people in the county. Meetings are less due to the consolidation of DCC.
Cnty Cllr Brook met with Simon Pearson and Peter Brunt at Highways Dept in an attempt to be pro-active by removing some of the trees along the Valley Road. This is a long term problem and would save a lot of money in the long run.
On a brighter note, Farmwise is holding a Devon County Council Farms Estates Educational Day for twelve hundred children at Westpoint on 22 October.
Cnty Cllr Brook left the meeting at 7.50pm and the Chairman thanked him for attending.
PLANNING
Items for Discussion
13 Middle Westcott Farm, Bridford – proposed construction of small first floor balcony at south end of house (DNPA ref. 0490/13). Discussed by the Parish Council. No objection.
14 Green Barn, White Farm, Bridford – proposed repair and alteration of an existing garden building (DNPA ref. 0506/13) Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent. Discussed by the Parish Council. No objection to the building being repaired and restored but no mention is made in the application of the additional guest accommodation shown on the plan. If the applicants are looking to change to residential use, the application needs resubmitting.
15 Any items for discussion received since publication of the agenda – none
For Information
16 Greenhill Cottage. Bridford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re construction of garden studio (DNPA ref. 0384/13)
17 Beech Tree Farm, Blackingstone, Moretonhampstead – Certificate of Lawful Use or Development (DNPA ref. 0388/13)
18 Woodcote, Dunsford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re replacement of existing outbuilding with timber garden room/office (DNPA ref. 0433/13)
19 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
FINANCE & ACCOUNT
20 Account balances as at 2 October 2013 – current account £1,752.29 and deposit account
£2,887.54 (balances include £911.05 earmarked for Play Area and £25 Christmas tree
expenses) Balances allow for all expenditure and income detailed below.
21 Income – Allotment rents F Leversedge £ 15.00
R Clark £ 15.00
K Jones £ 15.00
32
C Baxter £ 30.00
A Dentith £ 15.00
22 Expenditure
Mrs J P Banks re Clerk’s salary for September 2013 £170.53
Mrs J P Banks admin expenses quarter ended 30 Sept £76.88
Use of home as office quarter ended 30 Sept £54.00
Reimburse purchase wireless computer chip £20.00 £150.88
J Poynton re set up charges relating to new website £ 95.12
Bridford Village Hall re hire of room for PC meetings July & Sept £32.00
re contribution to PO rent 5 July – 27 Sept £44.50 £ 76.50
Mrs J Lockwood re refund of allotment deposit £ 15.00
The Parish Council resolved to accept the accounts and authorise the expenditure.
The Chairman checked the invoices to the cheque book and the reconciliation to the bank statement.
FOR DISCUSSION – none
23 Any items for discussion received since the publication of the agenda – none
FOR INFORMATION
24 Warnings
There have been a series of sheep thefts, ten having been recorded in the Devon area during the summer. Farmers are asked to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity / vehicles. The Police have received several reports of thefts of both front and rear number plates from vehicles parked in the Newton Abbot, Chudleigh and Ashburton areas. Please report any suspicious activity.
25 Devon Association of Local Councils – AGM and Conference 12th October 2013 at Westpoint
26 Tackling Rural Isolation Conference – 1st November 2013 at Cullompton Community Centre
27 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
28 District Councillors Report from Dst Cllr Stephen Purser. Ongoing discussions re the proposal to close several public toilets in the Teignbridge district. The facilities at Christow are the only ones in the Valley and are well used by both locals, trades people and anyone using the recreation field. The Christow toilets are subject to £1,600 business rates. The matter will be discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny meeting at TDC on 8 October, as will the subject of CCTV cuts in Newton Abbot. TDC has to find a lot of ways to save money. Plan Teignbridge – the Inspector is intending to find the Plan sound subject to changes. If approved, this will mean a further 12,500 houses in Teignbridge, although this could be one of the changes.
29 Public Discussion – a Parish Councillor reported that Moretonhampstead hospital has closed again.
30 Date of next meeting – Monday 4th November 2013 at the Village Hall. All are welcome.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.07pm
33
Original minutes signed by the Chairman 4th November 2013
CORRESPONDENCE FOR CIRCULATION (Appendix A)
Newsletters & Magazines
Junkmail Issue 13 2013
The Clerk Magazine September 2013
Clerk and Councils Direct September 2013
Public Sector Mapping Agreement September 2013 newsletter
Report and Agendas
TeignValley / Rural Report August 2013
PoliceReportChudleighTown Council meeting September 2013
Christow PC minutes July 2013
Christow PC minutes Extraordinary meeting August 2013
Dunsford PC minutes August 2013
Bridford Village Hall Committee Minutes of 2013 AGM
Devon Asssociation of Local Councils Annual Report 2012/2013
Miscellaneous
Planning Update from DNPA
Copy of DNPA letter re Fingle Woods shoot
Letters sent
Various
34
BRIDFORD PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall on Monday
7th October at 7.00pm
Present: Cllr S Purser (Chairman), G Hearnden, A Lord, T Evans, J Bingham, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk),
Cnty Cllr Brook attended for part of the meeting. No members of the public were in attendance.
1 Apologies – Cllrs E Price & D Goodwin-Hughes
2 Declarations of Interest – none
3 Public Discussion – no items
MATTER ARISING
4 Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of its meeting held on 4th
September 2013 as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
4 Allotments – Plots 2A & 2B have been vacated as at 1st October. Tenant of plot 2B has asked
for his refundable deposit to be utilised by the Parish Council. Replacement tenants
have been found and tenancy agreements will be sent out this week. The blackthorn hedge
at the top of the allotments needs cutting again. Graham Dicker will be asked to cut it back.
6 Play Area – arrangements were made to remove the sea-saw and level the ground. The
Clerk will ascertain if this has been done.
7 Village Hall – at the AGM six new trustees were appointed to manage and run the village
hall. The committee intend to deliver a flier to each household in the Parish advising what
will be happening in the future. A film show is planned.
8 Bridford’s website – the new website is up and running. Invoice received for setting up costs.
Suggested the Parish Council budgets a figure of £75 for website costs for 2014/15. The old
website domain has been cancelled. An amount of £44.16 in the old account will be
transferred to the Parish Council to go towards the setting up costs of the new website.
9 Textile Recycling Bank – the Village Hall committee is happy for the recycling bank to be
located in the village hall car park but in return wants 50% of the monies raised. The Parish
Council does not consider this to be reasonable request, as it has made all the arrangements to
join the scheme and it is a member of the Parish Council who has provisionally agreed to
empty the container, bag up the contents and allow their home to be used for storage while
awaiting collection. The Parish Council will write to the Village Hall committee.
10 Grass Cutting – the grass verge at Pound Lane has now been cut down as far as the second
gate.
11 Cyclists on the Valley Road – at a recent TALC meeting, Tony Hogg accepted that there is an
issue and will be meeting with a Devon cycling group who wished to raise the matter of cars
and cycling safety. The local PCSO has confirmed that there is no law in regard to cycling two abreast. There is no legislation of the maximum number of cyclists in a group. Cyclists
should be courteous to other road users. On a policing note, the Police will pass suitable words of advice to cyclists if and when they see an issue when on patrol.
It does not appear as if much will happen to improve the situation in the TeignValley.
ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
12 Meetings Attended – Cllr Goodwin Hughes attended a Highways meeting. Cllr Lord attended the Village Hall AGM and the first committee meeting. The Chairman
attended the recent TALC meeting – cyclists in the Valley on the agenda (see item 11). The
31
Leader of DCC John Hart confirmed that the County has to save £100m over the next four years and a lot of the statutory will be about children and older members of the community.
A lot more rural roads will be abandoned. It was reported that in another county, there are red signs warning about potholes to indemnify the authority against damage to vehicles.
Cnty Cllr Brook joined the meeting 7.36pm. The Chairman welcomed him and invited him to speak.
The greatest challenge is the Government itself. The mobile library scheme is being
reviewed. If there are only three people at regular stop, it is not considered viable. DCC is
likely to look at what it can do from a youth point of view. The question has been raised
re OFSTED reports into children’s services. There are management and service issues. The
issue of care for a Bridford resident has been called into question as it is considered too far
for anyone to come out for the allotted time. There is now a disproportionate number of
elderly people in the county. Meetings are less due to the consolidation of DCC.
Cnty Cllr Brook met with Simon Pearson and Peter Brunt at Highways Dept in an attempt
to be pro-active by removing some of the trees along the Valley Road. This is a long term
problem and would save a lot of money in the long run.
On a brighter note, Farmwise is holding a Devon County Council Farms Estates
Educational Day for twelve hundred children at Westpoint on 22 October.
Cnty Cllr Brook left the meeting at 7.50pm and the Chairman thanked him for attending.
PLANNING
Items for Discussion
13 Middle Westcott Farm, Bridford – proposed construction of small first floor balcony at south
end of house (DNPA ref. 0490/13). Discussed by the Parish Council. No objection.
14 Green Barn, White Farm, Bridford – proposed repair and alteration of an existing garden
building (DNPA ref. 0506/13) Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent.
Discussed by the Parish Council. No objection to the building being repaired and restored
but no mention is made in the application of the additional guest accommodation shown on
the plan. If the applicants are looking to change to residential use, the application needs
resubmitting.
15 Any items for discussion received since publication of the agenda – none
For Information
16 Greenhill Cottage. Bridford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re construction of
garden studio (DNPA ref. 0384/13)
17 Beech Tree Farm, Blackingstone, Moretonhampstead – Certificate of Lawful Use or
Development (DNPA ref. 0388/13)
18 Woodcote, Dunsford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re replacement of existing
outbuilding with timber garden room/office (DNPA ref. 0433/13)
19 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
FINANCE & ACCOUNT
20 Account balances as at 2 October 2013 – current account £1,752.29 and deposit account
£2,887.54 (balances include £911.05 earmarked for Play Area and £25 Christmas tree
expenses) Balances allow for all expenditure and income detailed below.
21 Income – Allotment rents F Leversedge £ 15.00
R Clark £ 15.00
K Jones £ 15.00
32
C Baxter £ 30.00
A Dentith £ 15.00
22 Expenditure
Mrs J P Banks re Clerk’s salary for September 2013 £170.53
Mrs J P Banks admin expenses quarter ended 30 Sept £76.88
Use of home as office quarter ended 30 Sept £54.00
Reimburse purchase wireless computer chip £20.00 £150.88
J Poynton re set up charges relating to new website £ 95.12
Bridford Village Hall re hire of room for PC meetings July & Sept £32.00
re contribution to PO rent 5 July – 27 Sept £44.50 £ 76.50
Mrs J Lockwood re refund of allotment deposit £ 15.00
The Parish Council resolved to accept the accounts and authorise the expenditure.
The Chairman checked the invoices to the cheque book and the reconciliation to the bank
statement.
FOR DISCUSSION – none
23 Any items for discussion received since the publication of the agenda – none
FOR INFORMATION
24 Warnings
There have been a series of sheep thefts, ten having been recorded in the Devon area during
the summer. Farmers are asked to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity / vehicles.
The Police have received several reports of thefts of both front and rear number plates from vehicles parked in the Newton Abbot, Chudleigh and Ashburton areas. Please report any
suspicious activity.
25 Devon Association of Local Councils – AGM and Conference 12th October 2013 at Westpoint
26 Tackling Rural Isolation Conference – 1st November 2013 at Cullompton Community Centre
27 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
28 District Councillors Report from Dst Cllr Stephen Purser. Ongoing discussions re the
proposal to close several public toilets in the Teignbridge district. The facilities at Christow
are the only ones in the Valley and are well used by both locals, trades people and anyone
using the recreation field. The Christow toilets are subject to £1,600 business rates. The
matter will be discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny meeting at TDC on 8 October, as will
the subject of CCTV cuts in Newton Abbot. TDC has to find a lot of ways to save money.
Plan Teignbridge – the Inspector is intending to find the Plan sound subject to changes. If
approved, this will mean a further 12,500 houses in Teignbridge, although this could be one
of the changes.
29 Public Discussion – a Parish Councillor reported that Moretonhampstead hospital has closed
again.
30 Date of next meeting – Monday 4th November 2013 at the Village Hall. All are welcome.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.07pm
33
Original minutes signed by the Chairman 4th November 2013
CORRESPONDENCE FOR CIRCULATION (Appendix A)
Newsletters & Magazines
Junkmail Issue 13 2013
The Clerk Magazine September 2013
Clerk and Councils Direct September 2013
Public Sector Mapping Agreement September 2013 newsletter
Report and Agendas
TeignValley / Rural Report August 2013
PoliceReportChudleighTown Council meeting September 2013
Christow PC minutes July 2013
Christow PC minutes Extraordinary meeting August 2013
Dunsford PC minutes August 2013
Bridford Village Hall Committee Minutes of 2013 AGM
Devon Asssociation of Local Councils Annual Report 2012/2013
Miscellaneous
Planning Update from DNPA
Copy of DNPA letter re Fingle Woods shoot
Letters sent
Various
34