MINUTES OF A MEETING OF STRETE PARISH COUNCIL

HELD AT STRETE PARISH HALL ON THURSDAY 15 MARCH 2007 AT 7.30 PM

1675     Present; Cllr Wills (Chairman), Cllrs Buckler, Crawford, Goldring, Howell, Phillips, County Cllr Brazil, District Cllr Longrigg, Mrs Phillips (Clerk).

 1676     Apologies;  were received from Cllr Pound.

 1677     To approve minutes of previous meeting;  The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 15 February 2007 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman. 

 1678     To note Declarations of Interest;  none were declared.

 1679     County Councillor Report

             Cllr Brazil reported that the new Children’s Centre in Dartmouth should be up and running by the end of April.  This will be a base for all enquiries and problems regarding children from pre-natal to school age and   will be a ‘one stop shop’ for parents and carers to find information and to receive help and advice on any aspect of childcare. 

             DCC are to look into the matter of a replacement system for traffic wardens at the next Executive meeting.

          There is currently an appraisal being carried out in Strete and surrounding South Hams villages      concerning the Conservation Area.  Questionnaires have been posted to households within the          Conservation area, but not the remainder of the village.  Cllr Brazil is to look into the costs of such an appraisal and the reasons for this being actioned.

          Cllr Crawford raised the matter of further increased water charges, but DCC have no control over   this. A discussion then took pace on waste recycling and rubbish disposal.

             Concerning the street lights, Cllr Brazil is to enquire whether just two in particular could be switched off at midnight as these two are adversely affecting households directly behind the lamps.

          The state and condition of the retaining wall at Matts Point was raised again, following some       concern some three years or so ago.  At that time, DCC were happy that the wall had not deteriorated      further, but this winter, another large crack has appeared and the original crack is deeper and has gone further down the wall.  It was felt that as this wall is on a tight bend on the main coastal A379, it therefore has the potential to cause a major road blockage if no action was taken and the wall             collapsed.   The clerk has raised concerns again this month with DCC but Cllr Brazil is to look into        this further.

 1680     District Councillor Report

             District Cllr Longrigg reported that a new planning application is to be submitted for the             soundproofing wall at 14 Crestway.  Cllr Longrigg is monitoring the situation and informed the PC       that the heat exchange unit cannot be used during the night.

 1681     To deal with Matters Arising from the minutes of the previous meeting;

             Cllr Wills is to talk to the land tenant regarding the reinstatement of the footpath to Fuge.

             The Yorkshire Building Society was looked into as a replacement bank account, but they are no        longer taking on any commercial or business accounts.  Any new accounts would have to be in the        name  of a single person.  This was discussed again and therefore decided to stay with NatWest as        unfortunately no other account offers significantly more interest.

      The clerk has received no follow up from Inspector Paul Morgan regarding there being no police    attendance or crime report being received since November 2005, despite the clerk writing further as         requested. The clerk is to chase again.

      The clerk is to chase the progress of the application to list the red telephone box in the village, as the  Department of Media and Culture has to now pass these applications to English Heritage.

      The PC still awaits the quote for replacement goal posts from the preferred supplier of the Football   Association, as the grant application cannot go ahead without this information.  The clerk is to chase.

       Regarding the Coleridge Association meeting, at which the contingency plans for a possible future   breach of the Slapton Line were to be discussed, Cllr Wills gave a report.  The proposed diversion           routes, from Stokenham parish to the main Totnes to Kingsbridge road, will now be amended further      by DCC following recommendations made by the member PCs.  These amended routes will have           widened passing places when funds become available.  Unfortunately, there were no new proposals       concerning the Strete side of the Slapton Line and light traffic was also not considered as these   vehicles were assumed to be able to follow the proposed routes.  A new plan is to be distributed by  DCC before the next Slapton Line meeting on 12th April. This was then discussed further and the PC felt that Strete’s concerns regarding diversion routes this side need to be considered and amended further.  It was therefore proposed and agreed by 4:2 that the PC should write to DCC suggesting   these further proposed amendments and highlighting the possible dangers and difficulties associated with large lorries having to turn right into Totnes Road opposite the Post Office or trying to turn around to go back to Dartmouth.

 1682     Agenda Items

    1)        Playpark grant application form the drafted out application form for an Awards For All             Lottery Grant has been circulated and all Cllrs are happy with the content.  This will have to be done     in the name of the PC, as an accountable body has to be responsible for an application.  This will       now be processed by Emma Rhodes with the clerk having a final check before submission.

 1683     Planning Matters

             There were two new planning applications;

 54/0229/07/F     Mr & Mrs R Jephson, Landcombe Cottage – amendments to approved plans 54/0668/02/F, amended balcony, utility and additional porch – following a site visit, there was no objection.

 54/0386/07/F     Mr R Hitchin, Close Bye – resubmission of application 54/1610/06/F for extension to dwelling – following a site visit, there was no objection.

  There were two further site visits;

 54/0128/07/F     Mr G Unwin, 4 The Plat – There are no objections to the proposed front and rear extensions but the layout of the site lends itself instead to a new gable end, two storey extension.  This would avoid any intrusion, loss of privacy and natural light to the adjoining property and the PC considers it would be beneficial if the applicant could be persuaded to submit alternative plans.

 54/0024/07/F     S & P Developments (Devon) Ltd, Hollocombe, Hyne Town Road – There are no objections but the following is suggested.  The PC has reservations with properties to the south being overlooked from the balconies of the proposed development.  If, however, development proceeds as per the design, the PC recommends retaining the trees on the southern boundary for privacy to Mellstock (Little Brotton) and augmenting the border with further planting.  As vehicle access will be at the north entrance. The block wall should be removed and replaced with local natural stone; this would be more in keeping with the surrounding area.  Retain all Devon banks and trees / vegetation on existing Devon banks and boundaries.  The zinc roof should be left to weather naturally.

  There were three planning consents;

 54/0128/07/F     Mr G Unwin, 4 The Plat – extension to lounge, kitchen and bedroom. 

 54/0229/07/F     Mr & Mrs R Jephson, Landcombe Cottage – amendments to approved plans   54/0668/02/F, amended balcony, utility and additional porch.

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.

 1684     Accounts;

             Cheque 873       £11.50              Parish Hall – hall hire

            Cheque 874       £169.99                        clerk’s salary

            Cheque 875       £15.36              Post Office Ltd – stamps

            Cheque 876       £219.72                        C J Dayment – hedgecutting etc.

             It was proposed and seconded to award the MCTi a donation of £50 towards expenses and costs.

 1685     Correspondence;

            Slapton Line Partnership Meeting notice 12 April

            St Michaels                               Donation thanks

            Shelter                                      grant appeal

            SHDC                                      mins Executive meeting 8.3.07

            DCC                                         bus service changes

            SHDC                                      Development Control & Conservation User Group agenda 2 April

            “                                              Community Land Trust Housing

            “                                              South Hams magazine

            “                                              Parish Cluster Meetings appraisal & questionnaire

            SLCC                                       Devon Branch meeting report 9.3.07

            BT                                           re; payphone

            SHDC                                      election papers

            DCMS                                      re; payphone listing

            DCC                                         In Touch newsletter

            NALC                                      model contract of employment

            SHDC                                      planning consents x 3

            Village Green

            DAPC                                      newsletter

            Clerks & Councils Direct           

            Local Government Review

            The Clerk - SLCC

            Junk Mail

            Voluntary Vine 

 The clerk notified the PC that full election papers had been issued by SHDC to the clerk and these     may be obtained and returned to SHDC by noon on 4 April in order to stand for the forthcoming       parish elections.

 1686     Matters to be Raised;

             It was reported that the lower section of Old Hill was overgrown and needed attention.  The clerk is to report this to the authorities.

             The plaque on Strete Gate beach has once again been removed and is currently awaiting             reinstatement.  The clerk is to organise.

             It was suggested that County and District Councillors reports should be an agenda item.  This was      agreed and will be on the agenda from next month and be included within these minutes.

             The clerk’s Job Description has never been finalised; this to be on the agenda for next month.

1687     The date of the next meeting is confirmed as Thursday 12 April 2007 at 8.00pm to follow the Annual Parish Meeting.  This date is also the date of the Slapton Line Partnership meeting.

 1688     The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.55 pm.

            _____________________________

            Chairman               12 April 2007