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STRETE PARISH COUNCIL

Clerk:  Mrs Andrea Phillips
Squire’s End,  1 Hyne Town,  Strete,  Dartmouth,  TQ6 0RT
a_phillips@onetel.com      01803 770786     
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF STRETE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD IN STRETE PARISH HALL ON THURSDAY 16 AUGUST 2007 AT 7.30 P.M.

 

PRESENT

Cllr Simon Buckler (Chairman)                                Cllr Tony Crawford

Cllr Kate Gill                                                          Cllr Vicky Tanner-Tremaine      

Cllr Ian Longrigg (District Councillor – Skerries Ward)

Mrs Andrea Phillips (Clerk)                                     Two members of the public.

APOLOGIES

Cllr Ian Cumberlidge                                              Cllr Val Phillips

Cllr Pam Wills

Cllr Julian Brazil (County Councillor – Kingsbridge & Stokenham Ward)

The order of the agenda was amended but the minutes remain in the advertised order.

OPEN FORUM

The points raised were concerning the current planning application on the Parish Hall.

1768   MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 19 JULY 2007

The above minutes were agreed by all present and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

1769   DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None declared.

1770   COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

In Cllr Julian Brazil’s absence, this item was dispensed with.

1771   DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

Cllr Ian Longrigg spoke regarding planning application 54/1399/07/F: Application Affecting the Setting of a Conservation Area, Alterations and improvements to Parish Hall, including signage, access and lighting, Strete Village Hall, Hynetown Road, Strete, Dartmouth, TQ6 0RS.  It would appear that some of the grant providers each part-funding the proposed works may be under the wrong impression that the Parish Council (PC) objected to the application.  The PC did not object but their observations questioned the need for a second access ramp and the quantity of outside lights.  Correspondences written to the applicant by the grant providers were read out by the clerk and copies of such were handed to councillors.  Cllr Longrigg informed the PC that the applicant would be withdrawing the planning application because neither the proposed nor the existing ramp met the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) width requirements.  It is thought that a new application would be submitted shortly with the necessary amendments.  Cllr Longrigg believes that although the PC’s comments were valid and he did agree with them, the greater picture needed to be considered.  If grant providers withdrew their funding as a consequence of the PC’s observations or the Parish Hall committee missed the deadline for the commencement of work with the chosen builder and, as a consequence, lost part of the funding due to missing time deadlines, then it would indeed be a great pity.  He stated that whatever comments the PC make on the soon-to-be resubmitted application, he would in any case be recommending approval.  He said the PC should either reconsider their reply to the new application, or the Parish Hall Committee could renegotiate with the grant providers, after planning consent has been granted, to delete the second ramp and reduce the number of lights.  The DDA is open to interpretation and therefore there is no one person who can definitively say which improvements were sufficient and which were not necessarily required.  It was hoped that a meeting would be held with the PC and Parish Hall Committee and the PC will consider the new application in the usual way.

The Chairman said that he and the PC have to make their planning decisions for justifiable planning reasons and neither he nor any of his Councillors, nor Cllr Longrigg, are allowed to make any comments prior to the planning application being submitted and formally discussed which may be seen as prejudicing the outcome.

The meeting was closed for a refreshment break at 8.30 p.m.

The meeting was reconvened at 8.55 p.m.

1772   SOUTH HAMS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK (LDF)

The PC received three consultation documents concerning the LDF for reply to SHDC.  These documents were circulated previously and each was dealt with as follows:

·                Rural Areas Development Plan Document (DPD) – this was discussed in full and a questionnaire duly competed by councillors for onward transmission.

·                Affordable Housing DPD – after discussion, it was agreed by all present that it is be carried forward to the next meeting and Cllr Buckler is to request further sets of the document and a time extension.

·                Development Control Core Policies DPD - after discussion, it was agreed by all present that it is be carried forward to the next meeting and Cllr Buckler is to request further sets of the document and a time extension.

1773   DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL’S DRAFT BUS INFORMATION STRATEGY 2006 - 2011

It was agreed by all present that this item would be carried forward to the next meeting and invite Mr Mike Friend in his capacity as Project Leader of the Public Transport Group of the Dartmouth & District MCTi to be present and offer the PC his views.

1774   SHDC’s REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES

This was discussed and agreed by all present that the PC are content with arrangements as they presently are.  The clerk is to notify SHDC of this.

1775   DARTMOUTH & DISTRICT MCTi REPORT

Cllr Tony Crawford reported on the proposed skating rink to be installed for the Christmas festivities as a joint venture between the MCTi and Dartmouth Town Council.  It was thought that the costs have been somewhat misleading from the installers and the true cost to the MCTi / Town Council is circa £13,492 for the installation.  Therefore it was unanimously agreed by the MCTi that they would not be going ahead due to excess costs.

Following a £70,000 traffic consultation, Dartmouth Town Council will not be taking up any of the recommendations.

1776   TREE WARDEN REPORT

In Cllr Ian Cumberlidge’s absence, this item was dispensed with.

1777   PLAY PARK EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION

An update was given on the installation, which has been completed, but not to the satisfaction of Park Project (the project leaders).  There are various minor faults with the finish of certain parts and the condition of the site which are to be taken up with the installers, Playdale Playgrounds Ltd by Park Project.  The “witches hat”, which forms part of the equipment installed three years ago by Playdale, is also faulty and Playdale are to deal with this.  It was agreed by all present that once all matters have been attended to, the final invoice will be paid.  Thereafter, the edges of the Park which were levelled-out for the installation need to be gently sloped to avoid a tripping hazard.

1778   DAMAGED PLAY PARK PICNIC TABLE

The Play Project has requested the PC make the payment to Playdale for the cost of the damage repair so that the VAT may be reclaimed by the PC and the Park Project will only have to fund the ex-VAT amount.  It was agreed by all present that upon receipt of the ex-VAT sum from the Park Project, the PC would settle the bill and in due course proceed to reclaim the VAT.

It was noted that Playdale has supplied a brand new table in lieu of repairing the damaged table.  This was accepted by the PC as this was in fact a better outcome and has already been installed.

1779   PLANNING AND PLANNING MATTERS

Applications to be considered at this meeting:

·                None

Planning Permission Granted:

·                54/0705/07/LU – Removal of condition 5 of planning consent 54/0270/03/F to allow B&B accommodation in studio above garage at Frogwell, Strete, Dartmouth.

Planning Permission Refused:

·                None

1780   FINANCE

The clerk advised bank balances as follows:

Current Account:                                                                                                                     £3,467.02

Reserve Account:                                                                                                                   £10,381.72

0893       Playdale Playground Ltd (first payment):                                                                      £6,431.95

0894       Andrea Phillips – clerk’s salary:                                                                                      £169.99

0895       Cllr Simon Buckler – course expenses:                                                                             £28.46

0896       Post Office Limited – stamps                                                                                          £20.00

0897       NewNet plc – website domain                                                                                       £117.50

It was agreed by all present to authorise payments as enumerated above.

1781   POINTS OF INFORMATION

·                DCC – Adopted Local Waste Plan

·                DCC – Annual Report

·                DCC – Bus Information Strategy consultation

·                English Heritage - re; application to have telephone box listed

·                Local Councils Update

·                SHDC – Planning Consent – Frogwell

·                SHDC – Review of polling station provision

·                SHDC – Sherford LDF

·                Society Local Council Clerks – South west Regional Conference

·                South Devon AONB – Annual Report

·                South West Regional Assembly – Consultation of gypsies / travellers

·                The Playing Field

1782   CORRESPONDENCE

·                Copy of letter to planning authority from member of parish objecting to planning application 54/0705/07/LU, Frogwell.

·                Letter dated 16 August 2007 from member of parish discussing planning application 54/1399/07/F, Strete Parish Hall

1783   REPORTS

·                Cllr Simon Buckler is to re-approach the homeowner to request the overhanging trees in Hynetown Road be cut back.  It is hoped this will be carried out shortly, but if not, then South West Highways will be notified and the homeowner will be billed direct from them.

·                Due to many queries and complaints regarding various works being carried out at Matts Point, the clerk has visited the property and liaised with the SHDC planning department.  The Planning Enforcement Officer is content with the structural work carried out so far inasmuch as the owners have re-built a deteriorated studio in the same footprint.  The outside lighting is a separate issue and the Officer is waiting for the owner’s electricians to supply a detailed schedule of works to consider whether the amount of lighting is excessive or may be permitted.  The Officer is considering an evening visit to assess the impact of the lighting on the surrounding properties and the coast in general.  The A379 roadside bank which had been churned up by contractors’ vehicles has now been reinstated.

·                Mr and Mrs Waddington of Glen Cottage have written to Devon County Council (DCC) to complain about the overgrowth of vegetation hanging down from the Tannen Land, adjacent to their front door as this could be dangerous.  The clerk and the DCC representative met on site to ascertain ownership and responsibility.  It would also appear that the retaining wall of the Tannen Land underneath the overgrown vegetation needs attention.  The PC is therefore requested to attend to the overgrowth, then DCC will attend to the wall.  The clerk is to organise quotes for the work.

·                Regarding the Conservation Area Appraisal carried out recently, SHDC have now concluded their findings and the results will be made public soon.

·                In her absence, Cllr Pam Wills submitted a report concerning the Tannen Land.  The two PC Representatives for the Tannen Land, Cllrs Pam Wills and Val Phillips, are to meet with other PC members with a view to establishing a list of works required over a period of time.  Regarding the possible reconstruction of the “Postman’s Path” through the Tannen Land, the clerk is to read the Management Agreement the PC holds with DCC to see if this might be possible.

·                Regarding Fairholme Thatch, the roadside boundary wall has now been reinstated and the clerk has requested the Enforcement Officer from SHDC to make a site visit to ensure the works are in order.

1784   THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

will be on 20 September 2007 at 7.30 p.m. in Strete Parish Hall.

1785   THE MEETING was closed

at 10.58 p.m.

 

 

Signed:                                                                                                                    Cllr Simon Buckler (Chairman)

Dated:   20 September 2007

 

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