MINUTES OF A MEETING OF STRETE PARISH COUNCIL

HELD AT STRETE PARISH HALL ON THURSDAY 14 DECEMBER 2006 AT 7.30 PM

 1639     Present; Cllr Wills (Chairman), Cllrs Buckler, Crawford, Goldring, Howell, Pound, County Cllr Brazil, Mrs Phillips (Clerk) and one parishioner.

 1640     Apologies;  were received from Cllr Phillips.

 1641     To approve minutes of previous meeting;  After a lengthy discussion and advice from Cllr Brazil,  it was decided by a majority vote to accept the minutes of the last meeting held on 16 November with the word ‘despite’ deleted from the 1st line of the 4th para of section 1636.  The remainder of the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 16 November 2006 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.  .

 1642     To note Declarations of Interest;  none were declared.

 1643     To deal with Matters Arising from the minutes of the previous meeting;

             Cllr Howell reported that he was informed the work on the remaining section of the coastal path is to be commenced in 2007 and that funding will be available.

             Cllr Pound reported that there have been further changes to the ambulance service for Dartmouth and that from January there will be a 24 hour ambulance based in the town and from 10am to 10pm there

            will also be a paramedic with car on duty.  Staffing and recruitment is still a problem, which is  believed is being caused by a lack of affordable housing locally.  It had been confirmed to the PC       previously by SHDC that the proposed new development in Strete would favour key workers such as ambulance personnel as they are awarded extra points when on the housing list for their profession.        If any problems with the ambulance service are reported to the PC, they will be investigated.

             The clerk reported that a letter has been sent to NatWest requesting a better rate of interest and no        reply has been received.  The clerk is to chase.

             The clerk reported on a reply from SHDC concerning the property at Severns Cottages in which they        are to consider the reply from the owner and will advise accordingly in due course. 

            Mr Mike Friend, representing the Travel Committee of the MCTi, was welcomed to the meeting to         report and clarify the situation with the proposed new bus stops and to answer any questions.  It was           confirmed that the changes are to be as follows;

 ·        A new window is to be inserted into the side of the existing Kingsbridge bound bus shelter, to enable both bus drivers and passengers waiting for a Dartmouth bound bus to see one approaching.

·        A pole and flag are to be erected on the opposite Dartmouth bound stop by the pub car park.

·        A new stop with pole and flag is to be created for Kingsbridge bound buses, outside the entrance/exit kissing gate to the coastal footpath.

·        A new stop with pole and flag is to be created for Dartmouth bound buses opposite the above, between the visibility splay and Glen Cottage, where the hedging and bank has been cut back.

             It was noted that there is to be no new bus shelter and this has previously been a misunderstanding.  New stops are to have a board showing a texting service telephone number to enable passengers to be texted the expected arrival time of the next bus and subsequent buses.  Mike Friend is to clarify whether buses are obliged to stop, between stops, where safe to do so.  Also whether all stops are now request stops or whether some are still the obligatory fare stage stops, where historically buses were obliged to stop and depart at a certain time.  Mike Friend then outlined future plans and ideas of the MCTi Travel Committee, including proposed bus links to Torbay and Exeter, a new Higher Ferry, rail links to Kingswear and new, low floor buses along the A379 route. 

            Cllr Brazil reported that Stoke Fleming Library are now in talks with DCC to see how the service can be maintained long term.

             Regarding the Slapton Line, Cllr Brazil reported that DCC may get funding from DEFRA to make modest repairs to the road, should minor damage occur, and have lodged a planning application to move quickly on road repairs when and if necessary.

             Cllr Brazil also reported on his proposals to DCC to enable a 100% business rate relief to premises, including village shops, post offices and pubs, who currently qualify for a 50% rate relief.  It would be funded partly from DCC and partly from central government.

 1644     Agenda Items

             There were none.

 1645     Planning Matters

             There was one new planning application;

             54/2198/06/CU Mr D Worsley, Strete Barton – change of use to B&B accommodation – following a site visit, there were no objections.

            There was one withdrawal of a planning application;

             54/0388/06/F Mr Ambrose, Landcombe, 2 Hillside.

             There was one planning consent;

             54/1904/06/LB  Mr and Mrs Herbert, Rose Cottage – retrospective application for listed building consent for alterations and repair to property (to include thatching, replacement gable wall and replacement of first floor structure).

             There was one planning refusal;

             54/1872/06/CU  Mr D Blackbourn, Frogwell – change of use of studio over garage to B&B accommodation ancillary to the main dwelling.

 1646     Accounts;

             Cheque 860       £25.00              Poppy Appeal

            Cheque 861       £20.50              Parish Hall – hall hire

            Cheque 862       £169.99                        clerk’s salary

            Cheque 863       £25.00              WRVS

            Cheque 864       £25.00              SH Citizens Advice Bureau

            Cheque 865       £25.00              Totnes & Dartmouth Ring & Ride

            Cheque 866       £150.00            `           St Michaels Church

            Cheque 867       £40.05              Clerks travel expenses for SLCC AGM

            Prior to the PC meeting, the PC met for budget talks regarding the application for the precept for the financial year 2007/08.  A spreadsheet breakdown of the past year was studied together with anticipated costs for the forthcoming year.  2007 is an election year which will possibly incur costs if an election is contested.  However, SHDC will not invoice the PC for this until the next financial year.  At last month’s PC meeting an application for a donation towards the Parish Hall improvements was made by the Parish Hall committee.  With the Chairman declaring an interest, this was considered as part of these discussions.  It was proposed and agreed by all to give the sum of £1,000 towards the Parish Hall proposed improvements, with the remaining costs to be applied for through grant funding.  With this figure in mind and the need to build up the contingency fund to enable the play park fencing to be replaced within the next few years, it was further proposed and agreed by all to request a precept funding similar to last year, with an inflationary rise, together with the Parish Hall donation, making a total therefore of £6,750.

 1647     Correspondence;

  South Hams Strategic Partnership           SH Sustainable Community Strategy

            DCC                                                     Emergency Planning

            SHDC                                                  Mins Executive Meeting 7.12

            “                                                          Planning refusal – Frogwell

            Village Green

            SHDC                                                  re; Budget Meeting

            “                                                          withdrawal of planning application – Hillside

            “                                                          Re; Severns Cottages

            Home start                                            appeal letter

            SHDC                                                  Public Space Strategy

            Executive Forward Plan                        

            The Clerk

            SW Coastal Path News

            DCC                                                     Re;  Footpath Creation Order

            SHDC                                                  listed building consent – Rose Cottage

            Devon & Cornwall Constabulary geographic restructure

            SHDC                                                  precept application

            “                                                          planning application – Strete Barton

1648     Matters to be Raised;

             It was reported by the clerk that although a crime report has twice been requested, one has not been

            received.  The PC has therefore requested the clerk to write to Inspector Morgan at Totnes.

             On 9 February the MCTi are to hold an exhibition at either the Guildhall or the Flavel in Dartmouth,       which will outline current and future projects and progress made so far. 

            Improvements have been made to the footpath from Start Bay Park down to Vicarage Lane, which   has seen the bordering shrubs cut back, the potholes filled in and the green moss removed, thus             improving safety.

             Regarding the streetlights on the main A379, it has been requested by residents that numbers 3 and 5    should go off at midnight.  Also that number 1 is on 24 hrs a day.  The clerk is to organise.

 1649     The date of the next meeting is confirmed as Thursday 18 January 2007 at 7.30pm.

 1650     The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.45pm.

            _____________________________

            Chairman               18 January 2007