Apologies for absence Cllr Sercombe and Cllr Weeks sent their apologies as they would be late arriving.
Cllr Weeks, Borough Councillor for the Exbourne Ward, and six members of the public were present.
Cllr Mardon commented that the minutes did not fully convey how strongly she felt about the vote on the street lights. The minutes were then signed as a true record.
Cllr Squire was in the chair and as Cllr Weeks was arriving late it was decided to begin with Matters Arising.
A member of the public asked whether a draft copy of the minutes can be put up on the noticeboard. The clerk explained that draft minutes can be displayed as long as they state they are not approved, but this is not mandatory.
MATTERS ARISING
Undergrounding of overhead cables (incorporating progress of street lighting Cllr Harper asked the other Councillors whether any of them had had a change of opinion on the voting. None had.
Malcolm Dommett at DCC has not yet been able to provide the costings and light pollution data for the Karl Johan and Abbey street lights.
Members of the public reiterated their dismay that the vote taken at the consultation held on June 2nd was not upheld. A letter has been received from Mr. & Mrs. Williams stating such (copies have been distributed to all the Councillors).
Mr. Coleman arrived at the meeting. He stated he felt that he was funding a consultation on June 2nd and his personal opinion was that the result was not conclusive. He suggested the Conservation Officer should be consulted. The clerk stated he had been asked and stated that he was happy for modern lights on poles that have been painted black. Mr. Coleman offered to ascertain the light pollution and energy consumption in kw. The Cllrs were unanimously in favour of accepting his offer.
A member of the public present at the meeting stated she was not aware of the difference in light pollution and would alter her vote from the Abbey to the Karl Johan.
The parish council were happy for Mr. Coleman to send the drawings done for Sampford Courtenay to other Councils as an example of the work that they do. Mr. Coleman was thanked by the Chairman.
The clerk stated she had contacted Mr. Sekula at WDBC about the grant for the street lights. He goes on a sabbatical in September and felt it would be beneficial to receive something in writing about keeping the grant for £1000 open and also our intention to submit a grant for a third of the cost for the street lights so that the person who stands in for him knows what is happening. The clerk to arrange this.
The chairman had arrived and now took the chair
Recycling of plastic the clerk had spoken to a person at DCC. Currently the yogurt pots etc go to landfill. The plastic bottles are baled up and sent to North Tawton and then on to a reprocessing centre. At the moment it is not cost effective to recycle the other plastics. Exeter do recycle other plastics and Bideford now has a new centre where they take the other plastic. There is more priority to keep food waste out of landfill as it gives off greenhouse gases. The lady suggested we could take it up with our County Councillor. The Councillors requested the clerk contact Councillor McInnes.
Parish Plan Educational facilities - the survey showed a strong demand for adult education in the village. The reading group has started and there are to be Advanced Italian classes starting in September at the village hall. Progress is being made.
Parish Paths Partnership the lengthsman has requested a survey form and hopes to begin the walks when the weather improves. The chairman suggested it may be beneficial is she was to meet Tim Freeman. There may be an opportunity at the Christmas Workshop. The Chairman wondered whether it would be advantageous to raise the profile of the footpaths (perhaps produce our own maps). Something that can be discussed further.
Public Toilets Mr. Cloke has sent a Stamp Duty Land Tax form for the clerk to sign. The clerk asked the Cllrs if they were happy for her to sign it. They unanimously stated they were.
The guttering has been cleared but where it goes out into the road it is not taking the water away properly.
Safety inspections on play equipment Cllr Squire stated the grass had been cut today.
The clerk has almost completed the application form for Local Network Fund for the play equipment. This is being sent in the Village Hall name as parish councils cannot access this funding. Cllr Harper stated that this had been discussed at the recent Village hall meeting and the committee wished to received assurances from the Parish Council that they would bear no liability when the play equipment was erected (should the application be successful). This will be done.
The form has to be submitted by the end of July so the Parish Council has to decide how much money they wish to put towards the project.
A consultation has been carried out and the idea of acquiring new equipment has been well supported.
The chairman felt that fencing off two sides of the equipment and using the cob wall as 'fencing' was not a good idea.
It was felt that it would be better to have the equipment on the southern end of the green and not seek funding for fencing at this stage - just go for the equipment less 2.5% for payment within 21 days of installation (£6602.24). It was decided to apply for a grant of £5602.24 and the parish council will give £1000.
If the existing gates could be made self closing that may be an option instead of having fencing around the equipment.
Debbie Taylor, the local child minder who has also been on the sub committee stated that parents she had spoken to did not feel there was a need for fencing. She will write up a Child Protection Policy for the Village Hall/Parish Council.
Cllr Weeks arrived and it was decided to continue with Planning.
PLANNING
The following applications have been received:-
Orchard Barn, The Barton ,S.C. erection of garage/store and formation of decked area. There were no objections.
Berrydown Farm, S.C. erection of stables, formation of sand school and extension of existing building. Cllr Weeks stated this was a smaller scale version of the application refused permission in 2006. There were no objections.
Chapple Orchard, S.C. removal of condition restricting occupation of annex to allow use as independent dwelling. The Parish Council objected to this application on the grounds that it is outside the development boundary for S.C. and the access onto the highway is hazardous.
Land at Belstone Corner, S.C. erection of dwelling. The Parish Council objected as they felt a full new planning application should be submitted not a modification of the existing application.
Cllr Weeks stated this application may be taken to committee.
The following applications have been granted consent: -
Higher Down Cottage, S.C. erection of extension.
Land adjacent to Chaple Agistment, Okehampton outline application for agricultural worker's dwelling.
Rebeccas Cottage, S.C. Listed Building Consent application for alterations in connection with insertion of new window.
The following application have been REFUSED permission: -
Brook Meadow, S.C. erection of extension.
Land adjacent to Lesser Slatters, S.C. outline application for erection of dwelling. It was explained that this has been refused because the infill policy does not exist anymore. There is a dispute over who owns the land and if this was granted it would keep the situation ongoing for another 3 years. The erection of the dwelling will be considered and if it is granted consent it will have the same lifetime as the existing application (i.e. work must commence on it before the end of October).
Incott Farm, S.C. Listed Building consent application for demolition of Listed Building.
The West Devon Local Development Framework Consultation is beginning and the clerk has been sent details of their public events to enable the public to express their views.
Cllr Weeks stated the two suggested sites in Sampford Courtenay for affordable homes are at Rectory Hill (below the Old Rectory) and the field opposite the end of Southey Lane.
Owing to other commitments Cllr Weeks left the meeting. Three members of the public also left.
Highway Matters DCC have responded stating they will fill the potholes. They have only marked the potholes which are safety defects on the S.C. to Redpost X road as this road requires more substantial patching when funds are available.
A new mirror for Sampford Chapple has been received and will be erected as soon as possible.
Cllr Squire stated that cyclists staying in the village have complained that the corners and verges have not been trimmed between Beacon X and through to the end of the parish (following the cycle route). The clerk to write to DCC.
Revised Members Code of Conduct Cllr Askew's amendment has been sent in. The clerk has also queried adopting paragraph 7, but the Monitoring Officer has stated it is quite alright to adopt it although it will have little practical effect.
FINANCE
The following has been received: -
Interest on Reserve Account £11.31
Cheques were signed for the following: -
Mr. L. Beer (Toilet Cleaning25/6/07-22/7/07) £64.20
J.A. Hodge (Internal Audit) £80.00
WDBC (5th instalment of rates due on public conveniences) £28.00
Post office Ltd. (Electricity 29/3/07 - 16/7/07) £26.36
Mrs. M Weeks (clerks wages and telephone expenses) £379.81
Mr. L.A.Harper (trimming hedge around toilets) £30.00
Amount in bank is £2023.87 and total in Reserve Account is £2002.26 TOTAL - £4026.13
Represented thus P3 - £423.73 Precept, toilets + other £3353.23 Interest £202.26 Countryside Agency - £46.91
The internal auditor has submitted his report and it will be discussed at the next meeting.
A review of budget was prepared, but not discussed. Will be discussed at next meeting.
The bank mandate incorporating new signatories was signed by all the Councillors. The clerk will pass this into the bank.
CORRESPONDENCE
WDBC - Sealed bids for furniture etc. at Oaklands Drive, NHS Foundation Trust Consultation, NALC - 'Cracking the Code' (NEC, Birmingham), Clerks and Councils Direct, WDBC - Standards Committee, Local Council Review, DAPC Newsletter, WDBC - Monthly applications for register of electors, DCC - Annual Report, The Playing Field, DPFA - Annual Report, Standards Board - Bulletin 34, various emails including one about Postwatch - Post Office Closures/Collection and Delivery Times ( it was decided to have this as an agenda item next time
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The clerk stated Mr. Meyrick has rung her and wishes to meet her and discuss ethical governance. She is to meet him tomorrow.
Cllr Harper queried whether the lights are going out at midnight. The clerk will find out.
The dates for the next few meetings are: -
Tuesday 21st August 2007 at 7.30 p.m., Tuesday 18th September 2007 at 7.30 p.m.,
Tuesday 16th October 2007 at 7.30 p.m., Tuesday 13th November 2007 at 7.30 p.m.,
Tuesday 11th December 2007 at 7.30 p.m.,
There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.10 p.m.