- MINUTES OF A MEETING OF STRETE PARISH COUNCIL
- HELD AT STRETE PARISH HALL ON THURSDAY 17 MAY 2007 AT 7.00 PM
1709 Present; Cllr Wills
(Outgoing Chairman), Cllrs Buckler, Crawford and Tanner-Tremaine, County
Cllr Brazil, Mrs Phillips (Clerk) and two members of the public.
1710 Apologies; were received
from District Cllr Longrigg
The meeting was closed to
allow members of the public to raise any points they wish to bring to the
attention of the Parish Council. Two members of the public attended to
learn of the co-option policy.
The Parish Council meeting was
reconvened.
In line with Standing Orders,
it being an election year, the usual agenda order of the evening was
altered as follows.
1711 To Elect New Chairman for
2007/08; Cllr Wills proposed Cllr Buckler, Cllr Tanner-Tremaine
seconded and following a further non-accepted proposal, it was voted 3:1
in favour of Cllr Buckler. Cllr Buckler duly took the chair.
1712
Declaration of Acceptance and Registerable Interests
The clerk handed out four copies of the Declaration of Acceptance of
Office and Undertaking to observe the Authority’s Code of Conduct for each
of the four Parish Councillors. These were duly signed and returned. A
further form of Declaration of Acceptance of Office was handed to the new
Chairman, Cllr Buckler, which was duly signed and returned.
It will
be enquired of SHDC whether the candidate’s expenses returns have to be
completed and returned to SHDC as the election was uncontested.
Four
copies of the Declaration of Registerable Interests were handed out to the
four parish Councillors which must be completed and returned to SHDC
within 28 days. A copy may be held by the clerk for future reference.
The
Chairman thanked Cllr Wills on behalf of the Parish Council for her care
and duties carried out over the past four years and for her hard work and
dedication to her role. Cllr Buckler also passed on his congratulations
to the Parish Councillors and to the District Councillors Brazil and
Longrigg.
The
meeting was closed once more for
public participation.
The
meeting was reconvened.
1713 Agenda
Items;
i) Co-option
Procedure. The recent election was an uncontested one with only four PC
applicants for seven positions. Therefore the newly elected Parish
Council has the power to co-opt a further three Councillors to fill the
vacant positions. A procedure for a casual vacancy had previously been
agreed by the PC and forms part of the Standing Orders, so although
technically these vacancies have not occurred under such circumstances, we
were advised to follow the previously agreed format. So, with this advice
and further advice from DAPC and SLCC, a co-option procedure was agreed.
It was further agreed by 3:1, (one objection on the grounds of cost) to
place an advert in the Dartmouth Chronicle at a net cost of £25.56
advertising the fact that these vacancies would be filled by co-option.
Applicants were invited to obtain an application form containing the form
of validity, as supplied by SHDC, both of which must be returned to the
clerk by 12 noon on Wednesday 30th May 2007. A notice to this effect
would also be placed on the noticeboard and in StreteWise. An
Extraordinary Meeting would be called for Thursday 31st May in order to
co-opt three members from valid applicants. Cllr Wills proposed this
action, Cllr Tanner-Tremaine seconded and it was voted 3:1 to
follow these guidelines. The objection was on cost grounds for the advert.
Cllr Brazil left the meeting and the Chairman
invited all council members, together with the clerk, to give a brief
introduction of themselves with a little on their involvement in the PC
and in the village.
1714 To Elect
New Vice-Chairman for 2007/08;
Cllr
Tanner-Tremaine proposed Cllr Wills, Cllr Buckler seconded and all were
in favour. The clerk handed the new Vice-Chairman, Cllr Wills, a
Declaration of Acceptance of Office, which was duly signed and
returned.
1715 To
approve minutes of previous meeting;
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 12 April 2007
were discussed and with the word ‘a’ from the second line of 1694 replaced
with the number ‘3’, were agreed as a true record and were signed by the
Chairman. The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting also held on Thursday
12 April 2007, were agreed as a true record and were also signed by the
Chairman.
1716
To Adopt Standing Orders; Cllr Crawford proposed the newly formed PC
adopts the current Standing Orders, Cllr Wills seconded and all were in
favour. New copies will be obtained for all Cllrs.
1717
Matters Arising from the minutes of the previous meeting;
Footpath to Fuge – this has now been sprayed with herbicide and rolled and
is clear.
Start Bay Park bonfire complaint, all residents of Start Bay Park have
been sent a letter from SHDC requesting they do not have bonfires but
compost their garden waste instead.
Sewerage Farm Reed Beds – the reeds have not been cut back, there are dead
reeds rotting at the base of the new growth, the clerk has written to Ian
Mounsey, SWW, but no reply has yet been received. SWW workmen are due to
attend the plant on 23 May; Cllr Wills will meet them on site and report
to the council.
Mr Toll is apparently still in talks regarding the proposed new
development, but no further news is available.
It was confirmed by SHDC that cement-rendering a stone wall on Strete
Barton, a property in the Conservation Area, was within permitted
development and therefore no permission was needed.
The clerk is still chasing an outcome from SHDC concerning their
investigations into a possible breach of covenant on number 2 Severns
Cottages.
The application to English Heritage to list the telephone box is still in
progress, no decision has yet been received.
Concerning a complaint on speeding tractors through the village, it was
decided that there may not be a major problem, but the PC will continue to
monitor.
Regarding the contingency plan for a possible further breach of Slapton
Line (A379) by the sea, an amended traffic re-routing plan has been
received from DCC who has invited comments in time for the Coleridge
Association meeting on Tuesday, 12 June, but in general, the PC are happy
with their amended proposal.
It was noted that the “naturist bathing” sign, previously removed by
persons unknown, has still not been reinstated on Strete Sands.
1718 To note Declarations of
Interest; none were declared.
Agenda Items;
ii) Clerk’s Job
Description and Contract of Employment. New revisions have been received
from NALC. These revisions will be incorporated within the proposed new
Contract of Employment and will be carried forward to a further meeting.
iii) New Councillor
Training – SHDC and Ivybridge Town Council are holding a joint training
day on Wednesday 13 June at Follaton House, for which we have been
allocated a minimum of two places, a further place may be available nearer
the time. It was agreed that Cllr Tanner-Tremaine should attend and a
name for the second place would be advised following the
Extraordinary meeting for co-option on 31 May.
1719 County Councillor Report
This report was given at the beginning of
the meeting, during the closed session, to enable correct procedure to be
followed and allow other items to be first on the agenda.
Cllr Brazil confirmed that
DCC are to take over the duties and roles currently being carried out by
Traffic Wardens from April 2008. No firm proposals are yet in place for
day-to-day operation.
Concerning the streetlights
previously mentioned to DCC, County Cllr Brazil is to request Les Pym to
contact the clerk direct to arrange on and off timings for two
streetlights in particular.
1720 District Councillor Report
In Cllr Longrigg’s absence, this item was dispensed with.
1721
Planning Matters
54/0640/07/F Mr & Mrs Beck, 14 Crestway – this application is to go to
the full planning committee with member recommendation for refusal. The
PC’s detailed letter of response listing all objections and comments is
now available on the SHDC website as part of the planning application.
There was one planning consent;
54/0386/07/F Mr R Hitchin, Close Bye – resubmission of application
54/1610/06/F for extension to dwelling.
1722 Accounts;
Cheque 880
£47.00 Strete Parish Hall – March and April
Cheque 881
£169.99 clerk’s salary.
Cheque 882
£265.23 Community First – Insurance
Following the submission of
the Annual Accounts to Cllrs for approval, it was unanimously agreed to
approve such accounts, and to request Mr Nick Shepherd to perform the
internal audit as previously. Thereafter, the accounts go to the County
Auditor for scrutiny and approval. The Statement of Accounts was duly
signed by the Chair and Clerk, as Responsible Financial Officer. The
Annual Governance Statement was also approved by the PC and signed by the
Chair and Clerk.
1723
Correspondence;
SHDC agenda and mins 12 April
SLCC
agenda and mins 8 June
SH
CVS Voluntary Vine
SD AONB
newsletter
Slapton Line
Partnership mins 12 April
SLCC
The Clerk
DCC
re; proposed Exeter Unitary structure
Clerks &
Councils Direct
SHDC
mins Executive meeting 26 April
DCC
In Touch
DCC
Minerals & Waste Development Framework Consultation
Slapton Line
Partnership Bulletin
Local Council
Review
DAPC
Newsletter
English
Heritage re; telephone box
SHDC
planning consent – Close Bye
The Playing
Field
Concerning the PC’s insurance
renewal, it was agreed to pay the premium but the PC will obtain an
estimated rebuild cost for the bus shelter to see if the current insurance
cover is adequate.
1724 Matters to be Raised;
It was reported that DCC now have a facility on their website to report
minor matters such as pot holes, blocked drains etc.
It was reported that three
exceptionally large vehicles delivering mobile homes to Stoke Fleming had
been advised by the Police to approach through Strete and along Hynetown
Road. This caused problems outside several properties due to their size
and branches were cut off trees to obtain access. Where this was not
possible, the vehicles damaged some garden verges. One property in
particular has very overhanging trees, which normally cause no problems at
all, but did on this occasion. Cllr Buckler is to enquire as to whether
the owner is aware.
Cllr Crawford has volunteered
to apply for the DAPC Committee as a representative of Strete, to replace
ex-Cllr Howell. All were in agreement and the application form was duly
signed.
Cllr Tanner-Tremaine has
volunteered to read the consultation papers on DCC’s Mineral and Waste
Plan and to produce a short report and recommendation for the
Extraordinary Meeting on 31 May, due to time constraints on the required
replies.
The PC recorded their
condolences and sadness on the passing of Colin Gill and acknowledged the
part he and Kate play in village activities, especially on Village Day.
1725 The
date of the next meeting is confirmed as Thursday 21 June 2007 at 7.00pm,
with the Extraordinary meeting to take place on 31st May at 7.30pm. The
meeting on 21st June will commence at 7.00 pm instead of the usual 7.30 pm
due to Inspector Paul Morgan’s attendance to talk to the PC and members of
the public and to answer any questions they may have.
1726 The
Chairman closed the meeting at 10.05 pm.
____________________________________
Chairman 21 June 2007
|