STRETE PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk: Mrs Andrea Phillips
1 Hyne Town, Strete, Dartmouth TQ6 0RT
a_phillips@onetel.com 01803 770786 www.strete.org.uk
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STRETE PARISH COUNCIL (PC)
HELD IN STRETE PARISH HALL ON THURSDAY 21 JULY 2012 AT 7.30 P.M.
PRESENT
Cllr Tony Crawford, Chairman (TC) Cllr Ian Cumberlidge (IC)
Cllr Kate Gill, Vice-Chairman (KG) Cllr Malcolm Hollis (MH)
Cllr David Rothwell (DR) Cllr Jeff Scanlan (JS)
Cllr Bryan Seymour (BS)
Cllr Richard Foss, District Councillor, Skerries Ward (RF)
Cllr Julian Brazil, County Councillor, Kingsbridge & Stokenham Ward (JB)
Mrs Andrea Phillips – Clerk
Eleven members of the public
OPEN FORUM
Pam Wills enquired about Trand and their proposed development in the centre of the village and asked would there be a public meeting? The Chairman assured the public that there would be. MH outlined the current position stating that no decisions had been made by the PC and no planning application had been made by Trand. Trand’s proposals so far consist of a development containing low cost housing and open market housing, a village green space, parking and they will welcome any other suggestions made by the village. Suggestions have been made to have an entrance by the pub car park with space there for parking but he reiterated that nothing yet is definite. The numbers at the moment are for 12 affordable and 5 open market homes and Trand have been invited to come back with more detailed proposals by the end of August based on part access from the A379 and part access from the Plat.
Several questions were taken from the public as follows:
Who are Trand? They are a team of individuals working together on this project under the name of Trand, in association with the land owner, Mr Toll, and a housing association, possibly Tor Homes but this has not been confirmed.
Mr Clark asked that there are proposals for a large housing development in Dartmouth, some of which could be 2nd homes and we need to bear this in mind, is further development needed? KG replied that the housing needs survey carried out in Strete indicated that 8 local homes were needed in the village but the proposed numbers have been increased on this to make it viable.
Richard Soans said that Trand are a new company with no trading history and previous PC minutes said they were developing in Charleton which is not the case, they are at a similar stage as Strete, therefore these minutes are inaccurate - Trand are indeed a newly formed company but its individuals are experienced in property development with other companies.
The Chairman asked for Pam’s views, being the tenant farmer of the land in question. She replied that she felt it would be developed at some point and this has been discussed and planned for 30 years or so. Trand indicated to her that they were keen to start developing this year but the PC replied that the process would take longer than that, Mr Clark added that highways would need to be consulted before it got much further.
There are no pavements by the car park entrance for an entrance there – MH replied that the whole junction into the car park would need to be re-organised, the pub car park would still be needed for the pub or whatever the Kings Arms was at that time, it is thought that perhaps the entrance would be the other side of the pump but it hasn’t yet been presented to Highways for their input. Trand are to talk to Heavitree Brewery before anything can be planned. The proposed housing may not be accessed from the A379, it could be from the Plat as the developers may not have the funds to create new roads.
JS added that there was absolutely nothing concrete or decided yet it is all just proposals and Trand are exploring the possibilities.
Is it in the interests of the village? Not all councillors may be in favour of it but may agree if it benefits the needs of the village. BS added that if it was acceptable to the village, the PC would back it if the benefits were good for the village.
TC said the original plan from SHDC some years ago had a village green, a car park, small industrial units and toilets, this is much smaller. The PC assisted recently in carrying out a housing needs survey in the village on behalf of the CCD/SHDC and this resulted in 8 homes being requested from local people in the parish.
GS said that this development would need village support; the original development came out of the ten-year plan due to the housing slump at that time.
Trand are to come back to the PC with further designs and ideas and thereafter, when enough information was supplied, it would then go to the public for consultation, it is very early days now, there could be two entrances and exits but they would not be linked through.
TC said that when Trand come back with completed plans, hopefully at the end of August, the plans would then go public.
The PC was asked when the website would be updated? The Clerk replied that unfortunately, the previous website host company had disappeared but just this week, the PC had control back via a new host company, so the details would now be updated as soon as possible.
0712/1 APOLOGIES
None were due.
0712/2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None were declared.
0712/3 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 21 JUNE 2012
The above minutes were AGREED as a true and correct record and were signed by the Chairman.
0712/4 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
JB’s report was postponed.
0712/5 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
RF’s report was postponed.
0712/6 REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORTS ON OUTSIDE BODIES
To receive reports from councillors on their attendance at meetings or reports:
• StreteWise - stretewise@gmail.com – MH – with the grants awarded from SHDC and the PC, the magazine will break even this year. New subs have been received and possible new advertising will help. The next issue is due out just after Village Day and will incorporate pictures from that. Usual high standards will be kept, subs are now in the region of 180.
• Coleridge Association AGM – 27.6.12 – BS reported that there is still no secretary although West Charleton will stand in for now. Meeting dates are to be rearranged for each January, April, July and October, all on the 2nd Wednesday. All PCs were frustrated with SHDC taking no notice of comments made by PCs on planning applications and it is hoped that new legislation may change that.
• Dartmouth & District Transport Group – 18.7.12 – TC was disappointed in that no progress is being made, suggestions made to the bus company are not being investigated on a new route to Torbay Hospital. First say there is no finding available for a new route; Cllr Jonathan Hawkins has suggested that a request is made to Stagecoach instead. Complaints about buses not going right into Totnes train station have not helped to change the route, First said that to do so would interfere with the scheduling and so passengers will still need to walk to and from the main road with luggage. Further complaints are expected to be passed to the MP. Proposals are still being made to have the Park & Ride free to park in the winter and to use the town bus just paying normal bus fares. All very disappointing. BS asked if the Olympics would affect the buses and the answer is yes as some drivers and indeed buses are being transferred to London and with budget cuts, they can’t do anything about it.
0712/7 TREE WARDEN REPORT
IC reported that some lanes are overgrown but county cutting will commence soon. The clerk was asked to add strimming round the bus stop to the strimming schedule.
0712/8 PARISH REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
• Traffic & Highways: (JS) overgrown road side hedges, as above.
• Litter Bins, Street Litter: (DR) No items to report.
• Play Park: (KG) – the grass has just been cut, leftover from previously is still there but SHDC are dealing with it. The quote to replace one side of the play park was discussed, it is in the sum of £2,854.21 plus VAT. If the chainlink can be reused, it will bring the price down to £2,229. The Clerk was asked to obtain two further quotes but for galvanised chain link not plastic covered as SHDC has quoted and to ask SHDC to re-quote for galvanised.
• Public Rights of Way: (IC) – Prideaux Lane has been cut all the way down now, 5 foreign visitors broke through the dense hedgerow into the back of Manor Farm causing some damage and claiming they came through a gate (there is no gate).
• Strete Sands, Strete Gate, Pilchard’s Cove: (IC & KG) – the beach coffee vendor has complained about the long stay visitors using the DCC free parking at the entrance to Strete Gate car park as it deters a turnover of genuine day visitors. This was discussed again and agreed to approach DCC to request appropriate signage. The car park surfacing has been carried out and includes a motor bike bay. Initially the waste bin was tarmacced in jamming the waste bin, but is now free.
RF and JB arrived.
JB added that there was no DCC parking policy in place at Strete Gate and this matter had been discussed before. Any prohibition of overnight parking would deter fishermen who do park overnight on a regular basis and the PC would like this to continue. Suggestions were made for wording, this can be agreed next month as it will take time to get a traffic order in place and therefore not be effective in time for this season.
• Tannen Land (Community Area) & Dog Waste Bin: (BS) – the grass needs cutting, but Mr Dayment has been in hospital. RF could not find out who cuts the fishermen’s path at the back of Strete Gate, but it is now understood that it is done voluntarily by one of them on an ad hoc basis and therefore there is little the PC can do.
• Milestones: (MH) all have been cleaned and gravel placed around the one at Matts Point plus a weed suppressant mat in an attempt to keep the overgrowth down to keep it dry.
• Website: (Editor – Clerk) – the new host company have taken control this week and the whole site will be updated soon.
0712/4 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
JB reported on the TAP fund which is a lump sum available to villages to work together on small projects that will make a difference in the locality. It is worth £1.10 per elector. The total is around £9k and any parish can bid for funds, applications made so far have been for a local replacement bus and for grass cutting and spraying. Strete PC needs to put a bid in for any funding, to be in conjunction with another PC.
Regarding the Tannen Land, the Head of Assets at DCC has been consulted by JB who confirms that there are absolutely no plans whatsoever to develop that land. Furthermore, there are no planning policies within SHDC that would support any application. Heads of Terms for the new Management Agreement have been prepared by DCC and they are just awaiting a few legal loose ends to be tied up. The PC need not concern themselves with this as liability will still remain with DCC as the landowners. There are covenants protecting the land against development which run until 2051. JB can still send the letter to parishioners once the draft has been agreed and it could go into his next newsletter. There has been an assumption by some that the PC have delayed matters and that they are responsible for delays which is not the case. MH reiterated that the PC have never spoken or promoted the Tannen Land in any other way than retaining a green space. The PC doesn’t have to decide whether or not to press ahead for a registered open space, a group of people can do this themselves. In an attempt to speed matters up, the PC has gone to DCC and said we would accept a new Management Agreement with no changes but this hasn’t hastened it. Unfortunately there are great demands on the legal department at DCC and this isn’t a high priority for them. But there is no reason why it can’t be completed soon as there are no hold ups or problems.
0712/5 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
RF reported on possible boundary or ward changes as to comply with government statute, wards need to be even whereas some 30% of wards in the South Hams have more than 10% variances and this will necessitate boundary being redrawn. Presently there are 40 wards, this could be reduced to 30 but there will be a consultation. Members currently have approximately 1,700 electors; this could mean an increase to around 2,000. Some parishes may end up overlapped and have two councillors. Any new system needs to be in place by 2015.
Regarding the Localism Bill and what parishes can do themselves by way of services. Costs are not yet known for each parish, e.g., grass cutting but it is feared that if too many opt out, this could cause problems with centralised resources.
RF looked into the car park surfacing after concerns were raised on drainage and he was assured adequate drainage has been incorporated together with requested motor bike spaces. There are welfare and council tax changes from next April, OAP benefits are not to be changed. This is as a result of £600k shortfall in funding and will mean people aged between 16 and 61 will see a 30% cut in council tax benefit. It is thought there will be a universal benefit which will include jobseekers allowance and housing benefit etc., all in one payment. SHDC now needs to come up with an acceptable scheme.
RF attended the Cluster Meeting and reported on a master planning consultation but it doesn’t affect Strete.
There has been a £150 refund from the Coleridge Association previously reported which was due to unused funds. MH thanked RF for the £100 donation towards StreteWise.
There has been an enquiry to RF concerning an unkempt garden from a neighbour asking if anything can be done about it. RF is to look into this.
0712/9 SOUTH WEST COASTAL FOOTPATH
No update to report.
0712/10 TRAND LIMITED
The PC has nothing to add to the minutes above in the public open forum. JB added that for a housing initiative project, the numbers are 15 with 3 open market but exception sites are 100% affordable unless there are good circumstances or higher than average costs making it unviable. It is an exercise in providing affordable housing rather than making a profit. This could be an excellent scheme but it has to fit the terms of the land owner, the developers and the village by way of benefits in providing homes for young working families. The PC are at this point listening to Trand as the landowner has requested and JB says it is the duty of the PC to investigate the possibility of creating low cost housing but it won’t produce a great profit and this may make it unviable from the landowner’s point of view.
The works on Blackpool Bridge have been completed and resurfacing works are progressing towards Strete.
0712/11 STRETE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
A meeting has been proposed for 9.8.12 to consider updates and additions to the draft and in what form the plan will take.
0712/12 PLANNING & PLANNING MATTERS
New applications to be considered by the PC at this meeting:
• None
Applications brought forward from a previous meeting:
• None
SHDC DECISION NOTICES RECEIVED:
Applications GRANTED:
54/0601/12/F – conversion of existing ground floor flat into 2 no. two-bedroom flats, Start Bay Caravan Park, Strete, TQ6 0RU – conditional Approval
•
Applications REFUSED:
• None received
Applications WITHDRAWN:
• None received.
0712/13 FINANCE
The Clerk supplied the Chairman with the bank balances as follows:
Current Account opening balance £7,750.43
Cheques to be approved for signature:
1176 Strete Parish Hall – hall hire £17.00
1177 Andrea Phillips – Clerk’s salary £207.81
1178 Portway Connections (website) £168.00
Total expenditure £392.81
Balance £7,357.62
Funds received –
none
Petty Cash £10.30
Reserve Account opening balance £10,240.57
Funds received: nil
Reserve account closing balance £10,240.57
It was proposed and AGREED by all present to authorise payments as enumerated above.
It would appear that the cheque issued to the Coleridge Association in September 2011 has not been cashed.
In the absence of an annual budget, MH is to look at creating one for the PC.
i) to discuss maintenance on village benches – some of the PC’s benches are in a poor state, MH is to check them all and see what repairs or maintenance is needed.
0712/14 POINTS OF INFORMATION
The following items will be available in the mail bag to be circulated.
• SHDC – New Code of Conduct – these need to be submitted to SHDC to replace previous versions
• South Hams Connect – Authority publication
• The Clerk – SLCC magazine
• Voluntary Vine – South Hams CVS publication
• Clerks & Councils Direct – publication
• Village Green – CCD publication
• Devon Senior Voice - newsletter
0712/15 CORRESPONDENCE
• None received
0712/16 REPORTS
Several reports have been received concerning the extreme growth on paths and roadside verges this year. It is unlikely SHDC or DCC will do any extra cuts, so the PC need to decide if any areas are desperate enough to undertake this themselves.
Replacement pads have been received for the defibrillator and will be put in place.
0712/17 THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2012 IN STRETE PARISH HALL at 7.30PM.
THE MEETING WAS CLOSED at 9.30 p.m.
Signed: Cllr Tony Crawford (Chairman)
Dated: 20 SEPTEMBER 2012