MINUTES OF A MEETING OF STRETE PARISH COUNCIL

HELD AT STRETE PARISH HALL ON THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2007 AT 7.30 PM

1651     Present; Cllr Wills (Chairman), Cllrs Buckler, Crawford, Goldring, Howell, Phillips, Pound, County Cllr Brazil, District Cllr Longrigg, Mrs Phillips (Clerk).

 1652     Apologies;  none were received..

 1653     To approve minutes of previous meeting;  The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 14 December 2006 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.  .

 1654     To note Declarations of Interest;  none were declared.

 1655     To deal with Matters Arising from the minutes of the previous meeting;

            NatWest cannot offer a competitive rate to that of the Alliance & Leicester, the clerk is to work out approximately what the PC would save on average by changing.  Bearing in mind that A&L cannot offer a current account, only a savings account, so the PC would still continue to use NatWest in addition, which might make money transfers difficult.

            Regarding the coastal path, the situation will be monitored and Cllr Brazil will enquire with Steve Church as to the latest position.

             The clerk has spoken to DCC reporting the faulty street lamp and Cllr Brazil is to enquire as to whether individual street lights can be operated at different times to others. 

1656     Agenda Items

             i)          Bus Stop Update - The clerk and Cllr Crawford, together with Mike Friend, duly met Mike                 Jones of DCC, at the proposed site for the new Dartmouth bound bus stop.  DCC are                                     planning to install a boarder step, with disabled access, if space permits.  This would provide               a safe place to stand and also will be raised slightly above the road surface, to avoid rain                                  water, surface mud etc.  The clerk is to write to Mike Jones confirming that the Highways                  Department will need to obtain agreement from DCC, as the landowner, to cut back the bank              for the additional Dartmouth bound bus stop and will thereafter need to assume                                               responsibility for that part of the bank.  It was reported that bus drivers are not recognising              the new Kingsbridge bound stop; this will be taken up with First by Mike Friend.  Cllr                          Crawford is to contact Mike Friend to request a flag on the existing bus shelter from First.

 1657     Planning Matters 

            There were three new planning applications;

             54/2330/06/F     Mrs S Joy, 10 Crestway – erection of PVCu conservatory to the side of the property – following a site visit there were no objections.

             54/2427/06/F     Mr M Ambrose, Landcome, 2 Hillside – resubmission of application 54/0388/06/F for erection of extension and modifications to dwelling – following the previous site visit, despite the redesign and resubmission, the PC’s original comments still pertain.  The PC voted 6:1 to object to this application of the same grounds of mass and volume on the site and design in an area of AONB, within the close proximity of a Listed building.

             54/0024/07/F     S&P Developments, Hollocombe – demolition of existing bungalow and erection of two new dwellings – a site visit will be arranged.

             There was one planning consent;

             54/2198/06/CU Mr D Worsley, Strete Barton – change of use to B&B accommodation.

 1658     Accounts;

             Cheque 868       £20.50              Parish Hall – hall hire

            Cheque 869       £169.99                        clerk’s salary

             The annual invoices have been given to two advertisers on the village website in the sum of £25 each.           

1659     Correspondence;

       SHDC                                      Executive mins 21.12.07

      DCC                                         Highway Management

      SHDC                                      Executive Forward Plan

      SHDC                                      South Hams Magazine

      Local Council Review

      LCA                                         Election Pack

      DAPC                                      Newsletter

      Voluntary Vine

      Clerks & Councils Direct

      Slapton Line Partnership Coast erosion scheme

      Stratton & Holborow                 Strete Estates

      SHDC                                      Cllrs information

      SHDC                                      Executive Mins 4.1.07

      The Clerk

      Playing Field

      SHDC                                      Re; Tearooms @ Torcross

      DAPC                                                  “

      Hon Anthony Steen                               “

      Stokenham PC                                      “

      DCC                                                     “

      Mr Shepherd                             Re; 14 Crestway

      SHDC                                      3 x planning applications – Hollocombe, 10 Crestway & 2 Hillside

      “                                              planning consent – Strete Barton

      MCTi                                       invitation to exhibition 9.2.07

      1660     Matters to be Raised;

            Cllr Brazil reported on several matters.  DCC have made the decision that Barnardos are to run the        new Children’s Centre in Dartmouth, which is to be built in the grounds of the Community College,            this will provide help and advice on all areas of childcare, from pre-natal to school age.  DCC have         been notified of their funding figures, which have been granted at £49 per head below the shire            county average, which obviously will have budget implications for the coming year.  Dartmouth        Community College is officially the smallest secondary school in Devon, which might impact on          staffing and budget issues.  Traffic wardens will cease to exist under DCC in 2008; a meeting is          shortly to take place to discuss future plans. 

             It was reported by Cllr Brazil that BT are in some areas removing the traditional red telephone             boxes.  Cllr Pound confirmed that the one in Strete no longer took cash, only phone cards, which was         not a popular move judging by the complaints he has received in the post office.  After a short discussion, it was decided that the clerk should write to BT and request that this facility was             reinstated and also to make enquiries on having the telephone box listed as it is an original design   and is in the Conservation Area.

             The clerk has sourced a grant from the Football Foundation, which will pay up to half the cost of         replacing the goalposts in the children’s play park.  They would have to be purchased through a             recommended supplier, and are predominantly full size goals i.e., 24’ x 8’ or 21’ x 7’ which would   be too large or mini goals which are 12’ x 6’ and would probably be too small.  The clerk is to             investigate further and make an application on behalf of the PC.

             It was noted that new signs have been erected from the Coast & Countryside Agency for the             Community Woodland and the Tannen Land.

            Cllr Crawford reported that the MCTi’s exhibition is to take place on 9th February and all             households are to receive an invitation. 

            Cllr Longrigg reported that the recent proposal for a new mechanical sweeper was voted out in the        scrutiny meeting held at SHDC today, which was a great pity.  

 1661     The date of the next meeting is confirmed as Thursday 15 February 2007 at 7.30pm.

 1662     The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.10pm.

            _____________________________

            Chairman               15 February 2007