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MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF STRETE PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT STRETE PARISH HALL ON THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2006 AT 7.30 PM
1627 Present; Cllr Wills (Chairman), Cllrs Buckler, Crawford, Goldring, Howell, Pound, County Cllr Brazil, District Cllr Longrigg, Mrs Phillips (Clerk) and one parishioner. 1628 Apologies; were received from Cllr Phillips The meeting was closed to offer members of the public a chance to raise any points they wish. The meeting was reconvened. 1629 To approve minutes of previous meeting; After a short discussion it was decided by a majority vote to accept the minutes of the last meeting held on 19 October with the word ‘rightly’ deleted from the 12th line of the 8th para of section 1619. Regarding this matter, the Chairman declared there would be no further comments and the matter is now closed. The remainder of the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 19 October 2006 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman. . 1630 To note Declarations of Interest; none were declared. 1631 To deal with Matters Arising from the minutes of the previous meeting; Cllr Howell expressed a view that he felt the question and answer session held at the beginning of the last PC meeting raised more questions than were answered, although no other councillors agreed with this. A discussion was held on the topic of the additional bus stops / flags / improvements and the clerk was requested to reply to Mike Jones, DCC, to ask for a definite proposal for consideration in the usual way, as there may be some confusion as to the number of additional stops. The PC is grateful to Mike Friend and the MCTi for their help and input into the matter. It was noted that no reply or update has been received by SHDC regarding covenants on Severns Cottages, the clerk is to chase. It was reported that the sign on Strete Gate beach has been recovered and re-sited, hopefully more securely. Cllr Brazil gave an update report on the new proposed Children’s’ Centre for Dartmouth which is to cover all aspects of childcare from birth upwards. It is hoped it will be sited adjacent to the Humpty Dumpty premises as part of one new facility and currently SHDC are considering which body is to run the centre. Cllr Brazil also reported on the reorganisation of Devon Property Services, the DCC department which handles all aspects of premises on behalf of DCC. It is to be sold to Norfolk Property Services, with DCC remaining as major stakeholders, and it is hoped this will provide a more cost effective management and service. The reorganisation of the local police force was also discussed together with the Speedwatch scheme. Cllr Howell reported on the DAPC AGM which involved various workshops during the day, these covered support for local post offices, local government review, IT, Quality Councils and the White Paper. The clerk reported on the Alliance & Leicester who are offering a slightly better rate of interest than we are currently earning with NatWest. The clerk suggested writing to NatWest to see if they can offer an improved rate before making a decision on whether to change accounts, which was agreed by all. 1632 Agenda Items There were none. 1633 Planning Matters There were no new planning applications. There were three planning consents; 54/1778/06/CU Mrs A Clarke, Strete Lodge – change of use from former residential home for 9 persons with owners accommodation to single dwelling with holiday apartment. 54/1788/06/F Mr & Mrs D Dugdall, Fairfields – extension to dwelling to provide disabled accommodation. 54/1751/06/F Mr & Mrs S Mould, Hyne Town House – amendments to approved application 54/1522/04/F for the demolition of store and erection of accommodation for residential home. 1634 Accounts; Cheque 857 £35.00 Parish Hall – hall hire Cheque 858 £169.99 clerk’s salary Cheque 859 £101.85 Chairman’s expenses including £45 fee for course 1) Charity Donations – The Chair proposed an increase from £100 to £150 in the donation for St Michaels Church, which is given towards churchyard maintenance, as this has not been increased for many years. A vote was taken and the chairman’s casting vote made it 4:3 in agreement. It was further proposed to repeat charity payments as last year which was agreed by 5:1. 2) To fix a date for 2007/08 budget and precept meeting – this is to be held before the next PC meeting on 14 December at 7pm. It was unanimously agreed to fund a Christmas tree for the village from the surplus donations in hand from last year. As previously, the tree is to be given FOC to the PC in return for a donation to Cancer Research. A local electrician kindly fitted FOC an outside electrical socket for the tree lights, the materials were paid for from donations given last year. The donation box is to be placed again in the PO this year. 1635 Correspondence; Mike Jones DCC update on bus stops LCR White Paper special SD AONB newsletter SHDC mins Executive meeting 9.11.06 Planning consents x 3 Junk Mail magazine Mrs Rhodes & Ms Strong re; play park Mrs Rhodes / Hall committee re; Parish Hall improvements SHDC public space consultation Alliance & Leicester bank account information Co-Op Bank “ SHDC agenda & mins 16.11.06 Mr Hacon copy letter to SHDC Tree Officer SH CAB appeal letter Totnes Ring & Ride “ SH CVS Voluntary Vine Clerks & Councils Direct Executive Forward Plan Playing Field Magazine SHDC mins Executive meeting 19.10.06 SHDC planning department changes Slapton Line Partnership notes on meeting 5.10.06 SD AONB newsletter LCR magazine
A letter from Mrs Rhodes and Ms Strong regarding the play park was read out, in which it requested the PC to be the official applicant for grant applications as the play park committee is not a registered group. It was agreed that the PC will head the forms, but all paperwork is to be seen by the PC. A letter was read out from Mrs Rhodes on behalf of the Parish Hall Committee, which states the total of funding applied for and received so far from various sources. There is still a shortfall of circa £10,000, for which the committee have appealed to the PC for consideration of a grant towards this amount from next year’s precept. Further grant applications are to be made to cover the remainder of the shortfall. A decision is to be made at the budget meeting and subsequent PC meeting, both to be held on 14 December. An invitation on a climate change seminar was passed to Cllr Buckler, who might be able to attend. 1636 Matters to be Raised; Cllr Crawford has arranged for the MCTi to have a reciprocal link to our website. The newly appointed MCTi co-ordinator, Mrs Wendy Jones, is to come to a PC meeting, hopefully in January or February, to give a short talk on MCTi activities and update on on-going projects. There is to be an exhibition at the Guildhall on 16 February by the MCTi. It was confirmed that any complaints about First bus company should be passed to Mike Friend, who represents the travel committee of the MCTi and has links with First. Regarding the section of the coastal footpath still to be completed, it is thought that perhaps Natural England have insufficient funding at present to finish this part from Asherne to Strete Gate Beach and if this is correct, it is obviously on hold until such time as funding is obtained. Cllr Howell is to enquire as to the latest position. Cllr Howell raised concerns and reported on an incident concerning the ambulance service, no complaints have been received by the PC in either Strete or Stoke Fleming, who are happy with the service. Cllr Pound is to enquire as to what cover Dartmouth has at present. Cllr Pound declared a prejudicial interest in the following item and left the meeting. It was reported that the Tea Shop in Torcross has been forced to close because they are unable to offer a disabled toilet, despite being situated close to the public toilets at Torcross. It was agreed that it did seem unfair that some businesses are exempt from this requirement, but it would seem that others are not. It was further agreed that there should be room for dispensations to be applied, especially in a rural area, as this now represents a loss of amenity and service to the holiday trade, as well as a possible loss of employment. It was agreed by 4:1 that the clerk should write to Stokenham PC, Anthony Steen MP, SHDC, DCC and copy to our local District and County Councillors for their comments and observations. 1637 The date of the next meeting is confirmed as Thursday 14 December at 7.30 pm with the budget talks being held prior to this at 7pm. 1638 The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.05pm. _____________________________ Chairman 14 December 2006
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