Clayhidon Parish Council
A Meeting of the above council
was held, Monday 12th
November 2007 at the Church Room, Clayhidon at 7.30pm.
The following Business was
brought before the council:-
1.
Confirmation of Minutes of Preceding Meeting.
2.
Matters arising from the minutes
3.
Payment of Accounts – Hall Grant
4.
Correspondence
5.
General business
6.
Charity Business
Present
Mr G Langford,
Chairman; Mr MJ Hudson; Miss J Ward; Mr AFJ Redwood; Mr RJ Pike;
Mr ME Bendle; Mr RM Kallaway; Mr R Radford, County Councillor; Parishioners
Mr R Jeffery; Mr S Roberts; Mr W Smith and Mr MC Osmond,
clerk
Apology
An apology was given for Mr FJ Rosamond
Dist. Councillor who was unable to attend.
On opening the meeting the Chairman welcomed all those present, after
which the Minutes of Meeting of 17th September were taken as read, confirmed
& signed (copies having been previously circulated).
Matters Arising
Chairman reported still
awaiting reply from Mr J. Guscott on the hedge removal by Mr Napper.
Smeatharpe Stadium
Noted on planning website that
there was a further planning application received for race meetings at the
stadium. Council not received planning
details at present.
Hidon Fields
Developers sought application
change but no decision yet made.
Barley Meade
Application for change of land
use to equine exercise area with new access track to serve stable block had
been granted.
Mays Farm Event
Mr Kallaway raised the issue
of the drumming noise through two nights at the past event. As there was a limited number attending, no
notice was required to be published and consequently no objections could be
made. Mr Hudson had taken up this point
with police and letter replying was read which agreed with his points
raised. The present procedure for this
type of event was not satisfactory.
Letter from MP Mrs A. Browning noted.
Many bags of rubbish collected after event and left on road for
collection. General discussion on points
raised and members thought there could be a similar event next year.
Wiltown Green Sign
Chairman stated that, as
agreed, new sign now erected with prevention of theft in mind as it was high on
a branch of a tree.
Payment of Accounts
The following payments were
proposed by Mr Bendle seconded by Miss Ward and agreed after General discussion
on the Hall Grant in particular as noted kitchen work done but windows in need
of attention.
Clayhidon Parish
Hall
|
Grant
|
£ 1750.00
|
Tiverton &
District Community Transport
|
Grant
|
£ 25.00
|
Hemyock Parochial
Church Council
|
Pump Grant
|
£ 50.00
|
Precept 2008
Late notice received for
estimate on precept from Mid Devon Finance Dept. Details of years finances given by clerk of
income, expenses to date and expected to year end. Opening balance £4531.56 income £4428.00. Expenses rounded off £4890, a closing balance
of £4069.56. Members then discussed the
expenses and noted the % returned in grants to the parish. Noted the reduction in closing balance and
need to hold a small reserve to cover any other costs. Noted was circular from DAPC on planning
Precept to hold and the amount in reserve.
Expenses for next year discussed and thought similar. The following amounts were proposed: Miss
Ward £5,000, Mr Redwood £4500, Mr Bendle £4750, none were seconded. Mr Langford proposed £4620 and this was
seconded by Mr Kallaway. On a vote
£4620 was carried with objection from Miss Ward as figure lower than
expenses. Chairman invited comments from
the parishioners present.
Correspondence
Minutes of Standards Committee
September 2007. Blackdown Hills
Management Review questionnaire was noted and a response would be made. Permission to Mr S. Napper, erection of
agricultural storage barn at site at Wiltown.
Notice of Appeal by Mr and Mrs J. Bendle of refusal of application for
conversion of barns to live/work accommodation at Gladhayes Farm. Notice from the Lieutenancy Office at Exeter with invitation
for comments on ways to strengthen ties between Magistrates and communities
they serve. DCC Public Path diversion Order
at Callers Farm noted. Permission to
Mr and Mrs M. Broadbent, Higher Hill Farm, for erection of stables and
storage, alterations and change of use to existing buildings. Variation of condition No.13 (agricultural
occupancy) of dwelling to include equestrian activities. Planning application for mobile field shelter
at Wiltown Lane
by Miss C. Hopper, Pleasant House, no objections raised. Copy of Taunton Town
Centre Area -- Action Plan. DAPC
quarterly Newsletter. Local Council
Review. Standards Board copies to each
member of revised May 2007 "Code of Conduct". South West Water -- your views on future
priorities. Devon
and Exeter NHS
Annual Report. Mid Devon Summary of
Accounts our spending 2006 / 2007 Devon and
Cornwall Police -- Notice of Meetings to be Web cast at County Hall, Council
chamber. Planning application for
increase of exercise area at Hidon Fields for Mrs B. Wilmer. After General discussion agreed response to
include "for personal use only".
Concern expressed over sand erosion from present area into road drains.
General Business
The Chairman presented a draft
letter of agreement for discussion to members for Half Moon to rent the Pound
from the Parish Council at rental of £50 per year. Members in general agreement with clauses and
agreed that it should proceed.
Twinning Ass'n.
A letter was received from
Upper Culm Twinning Ass'n. stating of
visit to St Herblon Loire Valley to sign an official Twinning Agreement. Invitation for Parish Council representative
to attend. After General discussion as
no Parish Councillor was able to state could attend, a representative attend on
their behalf agreed. As Mr W. Smith was
present and is member of Association and was attending the event he could be
the representative. This he agreed to
do. Afternote: An invitation has since
been sent to the Chairman, inviting attendance.
.
County Councillor Mr R.
Radford
Mr R. Radford reported the DCC
were £7 million over budget. Savings
were to be made from Social Services and Environment departments. Also £200 million in arrears on road
repairs. Still awaiting reply from Mr L.
Willmington to a letter sent from Parish Council on matters raised. Unitary status of Exeter, no decision at present but DCC to
oppose if granted. The costs of this
action not known when asked. In April
2008 DCC to delegate to District Councils roadside parking and the enforcement
of bylaws. Government had made 1%
increase in their Capital Grant. After a
general discussion on points raised in his report and other matters raised,
grass cutting, cemeteries, recycling arising from the portfolio he now held at
Mid Devon District Council the chairman thanked him for his detailed reports.
Garlands Bower Hedge
Mr Redwood raised the point on
the roadside hedge of the field was in need of cutting. As this was rented by the Parish Council, the
Chairman agreed to make inquiries on past cutting to get this done.
Lengthsman Visit
Members raised the matter of
places ditch/drain clearing done and also those not done in Parish. Noted only limited time in parish with a lot
to do. Ploughing out of ditches to start
in January which was thought very late to be done as well into winter. Miss Ward stated fly tipping items still on
site at Smeatharpe. This to be taken up
again to include Black Lane
and the Gladhayes Road
landing. Details noted by Mr
Radford.
Next Meeting
As there was no other business
it was agreed the date of the next meeting as 14th January 2008 at the Church Room. The Chairman then thanked those present for
attending and closed the meeting.