Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall Monday 1st December 2014 at 7.00pm.
Present: Cllrs S Purser (Chairman), G Hearnden, E Price, A Lord, J. Bingham, F Miles, Mrs J P Banks (Clerk), Matt Jones (Chairman of Bridford Trust). No other members of the public were present.
- Apologies – Cllr T Evans
- Declarations of Interest – none
- Public Discussion – a Parish Councillor reported that a number of old television sets have been dumped by the electricity sub station at the junction of Neadon Lane. Teignbridge will be requested to remove them.
A Parishioner has asked, via one of the Councillors, if the Council can make arrangements to cut back an overgrown tree adjacent to his property. Cllr Price will try and ascertain exactly where the tree is and report back at the next meeting.
MATTER ARISING
- Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on November 10th 2014 as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
5 Allotments – arrangements have been made to cut back the blackthorn hedge at the top of the allotment ground. Plot 3 remains vacant and will continue to be advertised. Two annual rents remain outstanding.
6 Play Area – the plastic goal posts left on the grass have now been removed. The tennis sessions have been moved to the village hall, so insurance is not now an issue.
7 Village Hall – nothing new to report.
8 Snow Warden – arrangements in hand for training for Adrian Finding, the new Snow Warden.
ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
- Meetings Attended – The Chairman attended a recent TALC meeting where finance and budgets were on the agenda. John Hart, leader of DCC spoke about ongoing cuts and savings. Concern was expressed about grit bins not being replenished. Lesley Tucker from TDC spoke about precepts and the top up grant.
The Chairman also attended the DNPA Forum. The new DNPA Chairman Peter Harper gave a resume and update. A representative from DCC Highways spoke about footpaths. An ecologist spoke about cuckoos, sensors and tracking them as far as Nigeria and back. A question and answer session followed at which our Chairman commented that Park members were never seen at local Parish Council meeting.
Cllr Price attended the consultation meeting concerning Fingle Wood. Plans are going ahead to open part of the area to the public, but parking will be a problem.
The Chairman suspended standing orders to allow Matt Jones, Chairman of the Bridford Trust to address the meeting.
10 Matt wished to advise the Parish Council that he has been contacted by Ugbrooke Environmental who provided the Bridford Trust, (through landfill tax credits) with 90% of the purchase money for the Woodland Park. Ugbrooke Environmental has been funded through Viridor Credits, but this has recently been stopped and Ugbrooke Environmental is now in a period of ‘managed closure’. As part of this closure, the company has written to Bridford Trust to request the following:
- agreement to the change of name on the funding agreement from Ugbrooke Environmental to Virador Credits
- agreement to the change of name linked to the land title (on the land registry) from Ugbrooke Environmental to Viridor Credit
45
Bridford Trust would require legal representation to oversee these changes which the Trust cannot afford to pay. Ugbrooke Environmental is checking with Viridor Credits as to whether funds are available to cover these costs.
Standing orders were resumed
PLANNING
Items for Discussion
11 Lower Neadon Cottage, Bridford – re demolition of existing utility and garage to rear of existing house and erection of single storey extension (DNPA ref. 0652/14). Following a site visit, the Parish Council commented as follows: “The Parish Council fully supports this application. This is a modern contemporary design which will fit well with the proposed location. The extension will not be visible from the road and not overlook or be overbearing on the neighbour.”
12 Lower Lowton Farm, Bridford – Erection of agricultural livestock building (314sqn) (DNPA ref. 0656/14). Following a site visit, the Parish Council commented as follows: “The Parish Council fully supports this application. The Parish Council is disappointed to understand that the preferred location adjacent to the other barn is not available due to the incorrect mapping of the footpaths and that to correct this inaccuracy would entail several years of bureaucracy and cost to the applicant through no fault of their own, Sadly it appears a common sense and practical correction cannot easily be made.”
13 Any items received for discussion since publication of the agenda – none
Items for Information
14 Venn Bridge Farm, Bridford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re extension (58sqm) to agricultural building (DNPA ref. 0537/14)
15 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
FINANCE & ACCOUNT
16 Account balances as at 26th November 2014 – current account £5,350.40 and deposit account £3174.47 balances include £623 earmarked for Play Area, £120 balance of refundable deposits for allotments, £400 re replacement computer & £278 e proceeds of contents of textile bank)
Balances allow for all expenditure and income detailed below.
17 Income
Bank interest October 2014 £ 0.26
Mr A Hawkes allotment rent £ 15.00
18 Expenditure
Mrs J P Banks re Clerk’s salary for November 2014 £ 176.68
FOR DISCUSSION
- Budget 2015 /16 – the Parish Council discussed and agreed the draft budget figures for 2015/16. The amount required from the precept will remain the same as last year i.e. £6,500 to include the top up grant from TDC.
20 Replacement computer – the Parish Council resolved to authorise the Clerk to purchase a new computer using funds already earmarked for this purpose towards the cost.
21 Any items for discussion received since the publication of the agenda – none
FOR INFORMATION
22 Warnings – Police are investigating the theft of two chainsaws in Chudleigh which were stolen while being unloaded from a van. Scam telephone cold calling is currently doing the rounds whereby the caller will state that your bank account has been compromised and request that funds are transferred into a new ‘safe account’ Anyone with any information should contact the police using the non emergency 101 telephone number.
23 Any items for information received since the publication of the agenda – none
24 District Councillors Report – Dst Cllr Purser announced that the road repairs at Lyneham are due to be completed by 17th December. The IT arrangement between the District Councils is up and running. A ‘memorandum of understanding’ has been signed by all three Councils. Ways of working and use of funds and possible amalgamations will be discussed. The permanent Travellers Site on Haldon has been completed and those who have booked are due to move on to the new site. Those left on the old unauthorised site will be asked to leave to allow it to be restored.
25 Public Discussion – Cllr Price asked on behalf of the Tree Warden if the Parish Council would authorise a working party of volunteers to cut back the trees in the hedge at the top of Bridford Hill. The Parish Council was happy to agree to this.
The Chairman wished everyone a Happy Christmas and thanked the Clerk for providing the homemade mince pies and cream!
26 Date of next meeting – Monday 5th January 2014 7.00pm in the upstairs room at the Village Hall
Original copy signed by the Chairman 5 January 2015
CORRESPONDENCE FOR CIRCULATION (Appendix A)
Letters sent
Various
47
Minutes of a meeting of Bridford Parish Council held at Bridford Village Hall Monday 1st December 2014 at 7.00pm.
Present: Cllrs S Purser (Chairman), G Hearnden, E Price, A Lord, J. Bingham, F Miles, Mrs J P Banks
(Clerk), Matt Jones (Chairman of Bridford Trust). No other members of the public were present.
- Apologies – Cllr T Evans
- Declarations of Interest – none
- Public Discussion – a Parish Councillor reported that a number of old television sets have
been dumped by the electricity sub station at the junction of Neadon Lane. Teignbridge will
will requested to remove them.
A Parishioner has asked, via one of the Councillors, if the Council can make arrangements to
cut back an overgrown tree adjacent to his property. Cllr Price will try and ascertain exactly
where the tree is and report back at the next meeting.
MATTER ARISING
- Minutes – the Parish Council resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting
held on November 10th 2014 as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
5 Allotments – arrangements have been made to cut back the blackthorn hedge at the top of the
allotment ground. Plot 3 remains vacant and will continue to be advertised. Two annual
rents remain outstanding.
6 Play Area – the plastic goal posts left on the grass have now been removed. The tennis
sessions have been moved to the village hall, so insurance is not now an issue.
7 Village Hall – nothing new to report.
8 Snow Warden – arrangements in hand for training for Adrian Finding, the new Snow Warden.
ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
- Meetings Attended – The Chairman attended a recent TALC meeting where finance and
budgets were on the agenda. John Hart, leader of DCC spoke about ongoing cuts and savings.
Concern was expressed about grit bins not being replenished. Lesley Tucker from TDC spoke about precepts and the top up grant.
The Chairman also attended the DNPA Forum. The new DNPA Chairman Peter Harper gave a resume and update. A representative from DCC Highways spoke about footpaths. An ecologist spoke about cuckoos, sensors and tracking them as far as Nigeria and back. A question and answer session followed at which our Chairman commented that Park members
were never seen at local Parish Council meeting.
Cllr Price attended the consultation meeting concerning Fingle Wood. Plans are going ahead to open part of the area to the public, but parking will be a problem.
The Chairman suspended standing orders to allow Matt Jones, Chairman of the Bridford Trust to
address the meeting.
10 Matt wished to advise the Parish Council that he has been contacted by Ugbrooke
Environmental who provided the Bridford Trust, (through landfill tax credits) with 90% of
the purchase money for the Woodland Park. Ugbrooke Environmental has been funded
through Viridor Credits, but this has recently been stopped and Ugbrooke Environmental is
now in a period of ‘managed closure’. As part of this closure, the company has written to
Bridford Trust to request the following:
- agreement to the change of name on the funding agreement from Ugbrooke Environmental to Virador Credits
- agreement to the change of name linked to the land title (on the land registry) from Ugbrooke Environmental to Viridor Credits
45
Bridford Trust would re quire legal representation to oversee these changes which the Trust
cannot afford to pay. Ugbrooke Environmental is checking with Viridor Credits as to whether funds are available to cover these costs.
Standing orders were resumed
PLANNING
Items for Discussion
11 Lower Neadon Cottage, Bridford – re demolition of existing utility and garage to rear of
existing house and erection of single storey extension (DNPA ref. 0652/14). Following a site
visit, the Parish Council commented as follows: “The Parish Council fully supports this
application. This is a modern contemporary design which will fit well with the proposed
location. The extension will not be visible from the road and not overlook or be overbearing
on the neighbour.”
12 Lower Lowton Farm, Bridford – Erection of agricultural livestock building (314sqn) (DNPA
ref. 0656/14). Following a site visit, the Parish Council commented as follows: “The Parish
Council fully supports this application. The Parish Council is disappointed to understand that
the preferred location adjacent to the other barn is not available due to the incorrect mapping
of the footpaths and that to correct this inaccurary would entail several years of bureaucracy
and cost to the applicant through no fault of their own, Sadly it appears a common sense and
practical correction cannot easily be made.”
13 Any items received for discussion since publication of the agenda – none
Items for Information
14 Venn Bridge Farm, Bridford – Grant of Conditional Planning Permission re extension
(58sqm) to agricultural building (DNPA ref. 0537/14)
15 Any items for information received since publication of the agenda – none
FINANCE & ACCOUNT
16 Account balances as at 26th November 2014 – current account £5,350.40 and deposit account
£3174.47 balances include £623 earmarked for Play Area, £120 balance of refundable deposits for allotments, £400 re replacement computer & £278 e proceeds of contents of textile bank)
Balances allow for all expenditure and income detailed below.
17 Income
Bank interest October 2014 £ 0.26
Mr A Hawkes allotment rent £ 15.00
18 Expenditure
Mrs J P Banks re Clerk’s salary for November 2014 £ 176.68
FOR DISCUSSION
- Budget 2015 /16 – the Parish Council discussed and agreed the draft budget figures for
2015/16. The amount required from the precept will remain the same as last year i.e.
£6,500 to include the top up grant from TDC.
20 Replacement computer – the Parish Council resolved to authorise the Clerk to purchase a new
computer using funds already earmarked for this purpose towards the cost.
21 Any items for discussion received since the publication of the agenda – none
FOR INFORMATION
22 Warnings – Police are investigating the theft of two chainsaws in Chudleigh which were s
while being unloaded from a van. Scam telephone cold calling is currently doing the rounds
whereby the caller will state that your bank account has been compromised and request that
46
funds are transferred into a new ‘safe account’
Anyone with any information should contact the police using the non emergency 101
telephone number.
23 Any items for information received since the publication of the agenda – none
24 District Councillors Report – Dst Cllr Purser announced that the road repairs at Lyneham
are due to be completed by 17th December. The IT arrangement between the District Councils
is up and running. A ‘memorandum of understanding’ has been signed by all three Councils.
Ways of working and use of funds and possible amalgamations will be discussed.
The permanent Travellers Site on Haldon has been completed and those who have booked are
due to move on to the new site. Those left on the old unauthorised site will be asked to leave
to allow it to be restored.
25 Public Discussion – Cllr Price asked on behalf of the Tree Warden if the Parish Council
would authorise a working party of volunteers to cut back the trees in the hedge at the top of
Bridford Hill. The Parish Council was happy to agree to this,
The Chairman wished everyone a Happy Christmas and thanked the Clerk for bringing along
the homemade mince pies and cream!
26 Date of next meeting – Monday 5th January 2014 7.00pm in the upstairs room at the
Village Hall
Original copy signed by the Chairman 5 January 2015
CORRESPONDENCE FOR CIRCULATION (Appendix A)
Letters sent
Various
47
