Cllr Weeks, Borough Councillor for the Exbourne Ward. Mr. S. Blakeman and Dr. Nielson were present. There was also a member of the public present.

Public participation the member of the public did not wish to directly address the members of the parish council.

The minutes of the last meeting were signed as a true record.

Dr. Nielson arrived at the meeting.
PLANNING

Fenlea, Exbourne notification of the refusal of a certificate of lawfulness of proposed use or development for erection of a garage had been received.

The following planning applications have been received: -

Fenlea, Exbourne extension and alterations to dwelling. A comment was required prior to the meeting. The clerk had consulted with Cllrs Askew, Squire, Mardon and Cartwright. A comment was sent supporting the application.

Bank Cottage, S.C. creation of driveway and car parking area including demolition of garage and associated landscaping. It was resolved to object to the application. The site is within the Conservation Area and the creation of the driveway would spoil the street scene with the removal of the hedge and trees.

Incott Farm, Okehampton change of use of farmhouse ruin to domestic studio including alterations. It was resolved to support the application.

Incott Farm, Okehampton works associated with conversion of farmhouse ruin to domestic studio. It was resolved to support the application.

Incott Farm, Okehampton works associated with conversion of barn to dwelling. It was resolved to support the application.

The following planning applications have been granted permission: -

Fenlea, Exbourne new agricultural storage building and revised access.
The Barton, S.C. proposed dwelling (alternative design).
Farfield, S.C. extension including addition of first floor for loft conversion.

The clerk has reported the erection of a shed on the Honeychurch road to the enforcement officer, who has replied stating the matter will be investigated as soon as possible.

Cllr Weeks stated the revised scheme at Rowden Manor for the conservatory had been granted consent.

The Barton - a discussion on whether to make a formal complaint to WDBC the clerk had spoken to Lesley Smith at DAPC and had been informed that WDBC would have a complaints procedure and the parish council should follow that. She also advised that it should be thought through very carefully and be very certain what you wish to achieve.
Letters to WDBC did not receive replies. After much discussion it was decided not to take the matter any further.

Mr. Blakeman and Dr. Nielson left the meeting.

Local Government Review of Devon update this item will be discussed under the Eastern Link item.

West Devon Local Strategic Partnership - Community Planning Protocol sets out the support the West Devon Local Strategic Partnership can provide when communities prepare and implement their own parish plan. The letter was passed to Cllr Askew.

Planning Local Development Framework The Local Development Framework Strategy Document had been approved by WDBC and would go for public consultation in May for 6 weeks. Cllr Weeks said he did not support the document for a number of reasons including, the route of the proposed link road from Waitrose car park to North Road, the proposed location of employment land on the road between Mole Avon and Appledore Hill and the lack of expansion of Local Plan policy H35 to take into consideration the urgent need for proven local demand for affordable housing.

Owing to other commitments Cllr Weeks left the meeting.

MATTERS ARISING

Parish Plan tonight's review on development within the parish will conclude this run through of the parish plan. The majority of those responding to the questionnaire wish to see it remain as a working community. Residents do not wish to see it become a retirement community.
The minority wish to see no change. Respondents are in favour of the village retaining its farming routes and retaining a blend of varying age groups.

Parish Paths Partnership the clerk has written to Belstone Farm and Garden Services accepting their quote of £13.50 per hour and requesting detailed worksheets. The parish council will notify him when work is required.
At the last meeting it was mentioned that Ros at DCC would endeavour to get a further £235 to make the grant up to £600. The clerk informed the council that a further £1480 has been received. She has spoken to Ros, who has informed her that when the work at Frankland Ford bridge is carried out the parish council will be requested to pay up to £880 towards this project. Tim Freeman has spoken to the clerk. He has contacted the contractor and it is hoped the work will be done within the next couple of months.
Cllr Coleman has requested the map (with alterations) be returned so that printing can be completed. Cllr Askew stated the necessary alterations had been made and he would return it to him.

Public Toilets the clerk had spoken to Stephen Heal at WDBC regarding the 28% increase in the business rates. He had informed her that every 5 years a new rating list is issued and transitional relief is applied to help reduce any huge increases from year to year. This is the fifth year and the transitional relief hasn't been used. Thus the huge increase. A new ratings list will be issued next year so transitional relief should be applied again, but it won't necessarily prevent an increase in rates.
The clerk has received a letter from WDBC stating that the government has just announced plans to allow businesses the option of deferring payment of part of the increase in their latest Business Rates bills, by up to 2 years. They will write again when it becomes law (possibly July 2009).

Cllr Squire has looked at the lights in the toilets and they are in sealed units.

The clerk reminded Cllrs that there will now be three hours per week to pay for the toilet cleaning.

Playground Equipment Inspection Cllr Cartwright had carried out the inspection. He has sprayed the path again and tended to the stinging nettles. The grass has been cut, but not collected. It is specified in the contract that the first two cuts are collected. A tidy job has been done and will wait and see what happens with the second cut. There are no problems with the play equipment. The wire is still missing in the bottom left hand corner of the green. This must be tended to.

The Chairman will carry out the next inspection.

WDBC have sent a letter regarding the Play Builder and the funding that is available to parish councils for play park improvements.

Highway Matters FLOODING INFORMATION AND SANDBAGS - the clerk has received a letter from WDBC. They are offering a supply of sandbags and a dumpy bag of sand (approx 1 tonne) for flood protection purposes. It was resolved to request the tonne of sand and some more sandbags. Cllr Cartwright stated he did not wish to store it. Cllr Mardon stated it could be stored at her place.
Cllr Squire stated the pothole at Honeychurch Moor was getting worse. The lines have not been repainted at Willow Tree Farm and the branches cut down on the B3215 have not yet been picked up. The drain at Sampford Chapple has still not been tended to. The clerk will chase these items up.
The clerk has received a questionnaire regarding the cleaning of streets and public conveniences. The clerk will meet with the chairman and fill this in.
DCC have sent a list of dates for the parish lengthsman to visit the parish in 2009-2010 (August 17th -21st, September 1st- 4th 2009, February 4th - 6th 2010, February 16th - 20th ).
DCC have written informing the parish council of the amount of money that has been allocated to highway maintenance.
Cllr Mardon stated that the top hand rail on the footbridge by the New Inn is rotting away (the end nearest Brook Cottage). The clerk to contact DCC.

Removal of BT payphones Cllr Coleman was not present.

Report on the Eastern Link Committee Meeting a special meeting was held on April 23rd at North Tawton regarding the Local Government Review of Devon. The Chairman and Cllr Mardon attended. WDBC and DCC are opposed to a unitary status. 68% of people who responded are against it (Cllr Cartwright stated many of these are a standard letter signed by different people). It was decided to send in a response again in support of the Devon unitary authority (same as previously expressed).

The clerk has received the minutes of the meeting held on March 5th at Sampford Courtenay.

Land Registration the clerk is still waiting to hear from the solicitor.

Bus Shelters the clerk has written to DCC stating the parish council wishes to proceed with the erection of a bus shelter at Sampford Chapple. The shelter should be sited far enough out from the hedge to allow the landowner to trim the hedge and it is understood that DCC will deal with the planning issue.

Community Self Help Emergency Plan the clerk has looked into this and it was discussed at meetings, but never committed to paper. She has the previous correspondence from DCC concerning this. It was felt that the parish was split into clusters and it was decided that should there be an emergency then the parish council would meet up.

The member of the public asked for the leaflets left by Station Commander Twiggy Lake whereby you can request a fire safety visit. The clerk would get them for her.

FINANCE

The following has been received: -
Interest on Reserve Account £1.54
DCC (P3 Grant) £1480.00
WDBC (first half of parish precept) £2891.00
WDBC (burial fund) £40.00

Cheques were signed for the following: -
Post Office Ltd. (electricity bill 21/1/09 - 17/4/09) £17.02
Mr. L. Beer (toilet cleaning 30/3/09 - 26/4/09) £68.76
WDBC (second instalment of rates on public conveniences) £43.00

Amount in bank is £5270.77 and total in Reserve Account is £4165.41 TOTAL - £9436.18
Represented thus P3 - £1784.77 Precept, toilets + other £7289.09 Interest £315.41 Countryside Agency - £46.91

The Chairman conducted a mini audit.

The new insurance schedule has been received, but the clerk is currently waiting for a quote from Came and Company. It will need to be finalised at the next meeting.

Accounts for year ended 31st March 2009 these will be ready for signing at the next meeting.

Three year forecast this was prepared by the clerk and discussed at great length. It was resolved that the document be accepted as part of the council's financial controls.

CORRESPONDENCE
DCC - Money Matters, Public Sector Equality Duties, Information Commissioners Office - Freedom of Information Act, Milligan and Sons - Building Contractors, The Playing Field, WDBC - Notice of Election (June 4th - DCC and European Parliamentary elections)

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The next meeting on May 26th will incorporate both the Annual Parish Meeting and Council Meeting.

The clerk stated that the Freedom of Information details for the website is in hand. Mike Flanagan has encountered problems getting access to the website to make the alterations.

The dates for the next few meetings are: -
Tuesday 26th May 2009 at 7.30 p.m.,Tuesday 23rd June 2009 at 7.30 p.m.,
Tuesday 21st July 2009 at 7.30 p.m., Tuesday 18th August 2009 at 7.30 p.m.,
Tuesday 15th September 2009 at 7.30 p.m.,Tuesday 13th October 2009 at 7.30 p.m.,
Tuesday 10th November 2009 at 7.30 p.m.,Tuesday 8th December 2009 at 7.30 p.m.,
Tuesday 5th January 2010 at 7.30 p.m.,

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.15 p.m.

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