| Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall on Monday 6th November at 7.00pm |
| Present: Cllrs F Miles (Chairperson), G Hearnden (present for part of the meeting), A Lord, R Dowding, T Evans, J Padgham, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk), Dst Cllr A Ford and Cnty Cllr J Brook were present for part of the meeting. No members of the public were present |
| Apologies: Cllr E Price |
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| Declarations of Interest – none |
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| Public Discussion – no items for discussion |
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| MATTERS ARISING |
| Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd October 2017 as a true and accurate record of the meeting. |
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| Allotments – invoices have been sent out in respect of the annual rental for the period 1st October 2017 – 30th September 2018. Mr Wills arrived at the allotments to put in a new post and secure the top gate but was unable to gain access due to the gate at the top of the hill being locked. The Chairperson will speak with the land owner to see if access can be obtained across their land as with the previous land owner. The Clerk will contact the grass contractor to find out how he obtains access to cut the grass. A suggestion was made to replace the gate with a wire mesh framed structure put in position instead of the gate and posts. |
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| Dst Cllr Amanda Ford joined the meeting at 7.15pm and the Chairperson invited her to speak |
| District Councillors Report – Dst Cllr Ford has moved into Exeter but will continue as District Councillor for the remainder of her four year term. Cllr Ford was unable to attend the Community Safety Partnership Meeting in the South Hams but will forward a copy of the minutes. Collectively, the Fire, Ambulance and Police do not wish to get rid of the PCSO’s.
The Council Tax Support Grant has been reduced by 10% for 2018/19 and by 2019/20 it will have disappeared. At the Overview and Scrutiny meeting, concern was raised over the nitrogen dioxide levels, but there are no problems in the Valley. This is the number one health concern at the present time. From 6th November, TDC recycling will be collecting aluminium foil trays in the kerbside recycling boxes. In the private rental sector, the @Help to Heat Scheme grant is available for replacement boilers and electric storage heaters. Eligible properties must have a D,E,F or G energy performance rating to apply. Apply [email protected] tel. 01626 215202. |
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| Dst Cllr Ford left the meeting at 7.30pm |
| Play Area – No further quotes have been received in respect of the restoration of the fort. The Parish Council authorised Colin Banks to undertake this work in the Spring and requested a resume of the planned work to be submitted. The Clerk is obtaining quotes for the installation of a concrete table tennis table and will apply for grants from TDC District Councillors Fund, the Elector Fund and DCC County Councillors’s Locality Budget. |
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| Bridford Hill and Snow Warden – further discussions took place. Should we challenge the criteria? Number of people and traffic movements. There is no regard to distance, bends in the road and gradient. Should the Policy Committee be challenged on the nature of the policy?
Snow Warden scheme – there is now a volunteer ‘Snow Warden’ but in a co-ordination role only – they would not operate the gritter. There is now a volunteer to maintain the gritter and a second person to help with it. There are six volunteers to take out and operate the gritter, two having vehicles with tow bars. This would enable two teams to be alternatively on call. The Parish Council will set out it’s Snow Warden Plan and confirm with DCC Highways that in this format with the Snow Warden undertaking a co-ordination role only, that it will be covered by DCC insurance. |
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| Cllr Hearnden left the meeting at 7.45pm |
| Roadside grit bins will no longer be refilled automatically and must be reported to Highways if a refill is required. Parish Councillors have been allocated grit bins to check and report back to the Clerk whether they need refilling, have been damaged or if the contents are not useable. Item to be put in Unity asking Parishioners to also keep an eye on grit bins near their properties and to report any needing refilling or attention by visiting https://new.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/map/map_src/gritbins/ |
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| Village Garden – now that the Parish Council owns the land, should it be more proactive in overseeing its maintenance and co-ordination of volunteers? Cllr Dowding to speak with Roger Clark. Agenda item for December to discuss replanting. |
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| Overgrown Hedges on Pound Lane – have now been cut. |
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| Meetings attended by Parish Councillors – none |
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| The Old Quarry, Pound Lane – DNPA has responded to the Parish Council’s query re a number of caravans at the Old Quarry. A DNPA planning officer visited the site in May when the occupier of one of the caravans was in the process of vacating having been given notice by the Park. DNPA will confirm that the notice has been complied with in the near future. The new landowner intends to carry out caravan repairs which would fall within the same use class as vehicle dismantling/scrapping which was previously taking place on the land and as such, would not require a planning application for change of use.
On a separate matter, the Authority has investigated and confirmed a report concerning the residential use of land on the opposite side of the road where a timber clad building has recently been erected and is being occupied above the Old Quarry or what used to be known as Southwood Piggery. The Authority has also reported to the Environment Agency a number of incidents of tipping, waste disposal and burning on this site that it will be investigating in due course and has asked the Parish Council if it has any information on either of these matters. The Parish Council was not aware and will be asked to be kept informed of progress as and when. |
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| Feedback to DNPA by Pamela Wood following last PC meeting – after attending the October Parish Council meeting, Pamela Wood confirmed that she has passed on various issues and concerns of the Parish Council to DNPA |
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| ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING |
| Meetings Attended by Parish Councillors – none |
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| District Councillors Report – dealt with earlier in the meeting |
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| Cnty Cllr Jerry Brook joined the meeting at 7.50pm – the Chairperson welcomed him and invited him to speak |
| County Councillors Report
Cnty; Cllr Brook continues to support the Parish Council in its efforts to reinstate Bridford Hill on the primary gritting route. He has asked Stuart Hughes, the portfolio holder, by which process they arrived at their decision and was advised that the response would be the same as previously. Cllr Brook will continue this conversation. The Teign Valley Road repairs are progressing positively. There are grant monies available to assist with Parish road repairs, run in line with the Road Warden scheme. Cllr Brook offered to assist with any grit bins that need replacing if problems are experienced with Highways. Cllr Brook has spent a morning with the Highways Officer looking at the state of the roads in and around the Teign Valley. The roads out from Bridford to the Reservoirs are pencilled in to be repaired.
An additional £7.5m additional funding has been made available for school fees from the Government equating to £80 per pupil. This still leaves us way behind as there is a serious strain on the budget itself. The County Council has no input into how that money is utilised. 85% of the school budget money goes on salaries.
Returning to the subject of Bridford Hill, the Chairperson thanked Cllr Brook for obtaining a response from DCC. With regards to the ‘500’ residents criteria, what are they looking at on a map? Is there a village envelope or is the village the Parish? The only route to Bridford is always uphill or downhill. Has DCC applied its policy appropriately? The Chairperson suggested to Cllr Brook that DCC should look at Buckinghamshire’s policy where gradient, length and bends are all relevant criteria. Policy makers need to pay more heed to geography. Cllr Brook to ask the following questions: How is it decided which houses count to the criteria number? When is the policy due to be re-visited? |
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| Cnty Cllr Brook left the meeting at 8.05pm |
| PLANNING |
| For Discussion |
| These two items were dealt with between meetings due to the short timescales for submitting comments which were submitted informally and to be ratified at this public PC meeting. |
| Thorn Farm, Bridford – re proposed construction of menage (DNPA ref. 0497/17). The Parish Council supported this application and attached a detailed report from its Planning Committee, submitted ‘informally’. This was ratified at the Parish Council meeting and will be advised to DNPA |
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| Lower Westcott Farm, Bridford – re proposed rebuild of dilapidated barn to form ancillary accommodation (DNPA ref 0507/17), The Parish Council supported this application and attached a report from its Planning Committee, submitted informally, following a site visit. This was ratified at the Parish Council meeting and will be advised to DPNA. |
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| Cedar House – the Parish Council is concerned that DNPA did not follow its guidelines and policies when considering and making decisions regarding applications in respect of Cedar House and The Hide. The Parish Council will request a meeting at the Bovey Tracey offices with the Planning Officers concerned. |
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| Any planning items for discussion since publication of the agenda – none |
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| For Information |
| Land at Westcott, Moretonhampstead – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re proposed construction of new agricultural building (DNPA ref. 0435/17) |
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| 10 Oxenpark Gate, Bridford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re proposed two storey side extension to dwelling (DNPA ref 392/17) |
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| Any planning items for information received since publication of the agenda – none |
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| FINANCE & ACCOUNTS |
| Account balances as at 2nd October 2017
Current account
Investment account
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£2,197.70
£3,745.02
£5,942.72 |
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| INCOME
Teignbridge District Council 2nd half of precept
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£3,750.00
£3,750.00 |
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| EXPENDITURE
Mrs J P Banks re September salary
Bridford Village Hall – PC meetings 1/7 – 30/9/17 £61.00
– PC contribution to PO 1/7 – 30/9/17 £52.00
Mr G Dicker – grass cutting Aug/Sept/Oct 2017
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£ 200.73
£ 113.00
£ 154.98
£ 468.71 |
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Account balances as at 6th November 2017
Current account
Investment account |
£5,478.99
£3,745.02
£9,224.01
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| (Balances include earmarked funds: £120 refundable allotment deposits / £463 Play Area / £67.50 Village Garden / £88.76 textile bank) |
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| The Parish Council resolved to accept 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 |
| Planning Procedures & Policies relating to Bridford Parish Council – the Parish Council’s Planning Committee has finalised its Planning Procedures & Policies document. Cllr Miles will provide the Clerk with a copy to publish on the website. |
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| Bridford Parish Footpaths – it is time to do the annual check of footpaths in the Parish. Parish Councillors will be advised by the Clerk, of the paths they have each been allocated to walk. Any problems will be reported to DNPA Ranger. |
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| 20TH Anniversary of Teign Valley Community Hall – a letter has been received from the secretary of the Community Hall requesting support for an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the building. Bridford Parish Council does not wish to participate. |
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| Any items for discussion received since publication of the agenda
Letter and leaflets/newsletter received inviting the Parish Council to subscribe to membership of CPRE Devon. Details have been put into circulation for Councillors to read and decide at the December PC meeting whether or not it wishes to subscribe. |
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| ITEMS FOR INFORMATION |
| Notice of Road Closures B3193 Teign Valley Road. Works are expected to be completed by Friday 17th November and it is not anticipated that more road closures will be required. |
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| Elector Fund 2017 / 2018 |
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| Teignbridge Christmas Waste & Recycling Information – details to be published in Unity, on the Bridford Village website and on the main notice board. |
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| Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund – funds available to purchase tools and equipment in line with the Road Warden scheme. The Parish Council agreed it would not participate. |
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| Devon & Cornwall Police Alerts – warning of cut price rental equipment being offered from the back of a van. Suspicious activity to reported to the Police. |
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| Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none |
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| Public Discussion – reports of malicious damage in the Woodland Park, a number of trees including an apple tree, adopted as a wassell tree have been hacked down. The Police have been advised. |
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| Date of next meeting – The next meeting will be held on Monday 4th December at 7.00pm in the upstairs room of the Village Hall |
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Original copy signed by Chairperson 4th December 2017
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