WIDECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Draft Minutes of the Parish Council meeting
held on Thursday 1st April 2010
in the Church House, Widecombe
Present: Councillors Newbolt-Young (Chairman), Booty, Morley, Nosworthy, Seale, Tame and Wallace.
Clerk: Suzanna Hughes
Present:  2 members of the public.
OPEN FORUM
  • Prior to the start of the meeting, it was noted that the Grazing Licence for the Parish Field was signed by the tenant Lu Curnock and the Chairman, Rod Newbolt-Young, and witnessed by the clerk. A cheque for £200 was received, as agreed.
  • Charles Godfrey, owner of Blackdown Piper Farm, spoke about his actions is relation to water from his land running-off into the road which was raised in the previous meeting. He has spoken to Highways about flushing it all through but the ultimate solution is to divert the water completely into the Oxbow thus avoiding the road altogether.
  • Tim Jarvis (neighbour of Bagpark) expressed concern that there has been a lot of development at Bagpark over the last 2 years and is particularly worried about the latest planning application for a replacement single storey outbuilding.  He has written to the DNPA about it and has tried to speak with the applicants. He is also concerned about future applications. Having listened to his concerns, the Chairman advised him that the Parish Council would give careful consideration to future applications.
3124; APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Received from Cllr Gribble.  
3125     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were reminded of their responsibility to update their Notice of Registerable Interests and were invited to state whether they have a personal or prejudicial interest in any matter to be discussed during this meeting.    None declared. The clerk advised members of the Widecombe Fair Committee that they should declare a personal interest when this was being discussed in future meetings. Having been sent information from the clerk about Pre-determination, pre-disposition and bias and the Code of Conduct, members confirmed their receipt and understanding.
3126     RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting dated 4th March 2010 were approved all present and duly signed as a true and correct record.
3127     POLICE REPORT
No crime report.
3128     COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report.
3129     DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report.  
3130     MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
(a)        Review of Annual Parish Meeting
The Chairman summarised, for the benefit of members of the public, that the Parish Council is looking to help form of a Steering Group to drive the Parish Plan forward. 
The clerk reported that, to date, she had received only one application for a grant. All applications would be discussed in the meeting in May.
Cllr Tempest gave apologies for Audrey Mortimer for not attending the Annual Parish Meeting.
Cllr Nosworthy thought that the Parish Council should follow up Anthony’s Beard’s comments at the Annual Parish Meeting about the maintenance of hedges and suggested that the clerk obtained some copies of the DCC ‘Roadside hedge and tree management’ leaflet which could be sent to landowners later in the year. It was agreed that this would be discussed again in the July meeting.
(b)        Car park boundary wall and hedge
The Chairman reported that having inspected the Parish Field he was shocked to find that hedge trimmings had been thrown into the field by TDC contractors. TDC has been contacted and these will be cleared away.   Also sheep had been escaping into the Field. The Chairman erected a temporary fence but more permanent repairs to the posts and fencing will be necessary. A quotation of £90 + materials had been obtained and it was agreed that the repairs should go ahead. The boundary wall is also collapsing and bulging in places. Having contacted TDC, the Chairman reported that the deeds show that the boundary wall is shared with the Parish Council. TDC are now obtaining quotes for the repairs and will be sharing the costs with the Parish Council.  
(c)        Rural Aid Scheme 2010/11
It was suggested that the form be given to the History Group for them to make an application for funding with their ‘reading room’ project. The clerk would contact Anthony Beard.
(d)        TETRA Inquiry
The Chairman advised members that he had represented the Parish at the re-opened Inquiry on 24th-25th March. He explained that his address had focused on procedural matters particularly in relation to the seemingly preferential treatment of the appellant. Address attached. A decision can be expected in the next 4 - 5 weeks. The Inspector will also make a decision about costs. The Chairman advised that, usually, each party will pay its own costs unless either side has ‘misbehaved’.
(e)        Leusdon Church Annual Fun Day
A request had been received to use the Village Green for the Fun Day on Tuesday 10th August. This was agreed.
(f)         Predisposition, predetermination or bias and the code
            This item was dealt with at 3125 (b).
(g)        AGM and Walk-about – to confirm date and time
It was agreed that the walk-about would start at 6.45pm on 6th May followed by the Annual General Meeting. The clerk advised members that Ranger Bill Allen, DNPA, was hoping to attend.
(h)        Rural Skip Service
            The clerk advised that the service was planned for Saturday 11th September. However, given the proximity of the date to Widecombe Fair on 14th September, it was agreed that the clerk would ask for this to be re-arranged for Saturday 18th September instead.
3131     PLANNING
(a)        New applications/appeals
                        (i)         0120/10 – Land at Lower Dunstone (Field No 6148), Widecombe
Erection of agricultural building (9m x 6m)
                                    It was agreed that the Parish Council would raise no objections.
            (b)        Decisions
(i)             0539/10 – Blackdown Piper Farm, Widecombe
Construction of an agricultural building and hardstanding
Granted conditionally                
                        (ii)         0019/10 – East Shallowford Farm, Widecombe
                                    Timber conservatory
                                    Granted conditionally
(ii)            0035/10 0 Arqiva Transmitting Station, Blackslade Farm, Widecombe
Installation of one 0.75m VSAT dish antenna and associated feeder cables
Granted conditionally
(c)           Planning concerns –
Parishioners notified the Parish Council that concerns have been expressed to the DNPA over recent applications at Bagpark and Blackdown Piper Farm. The Chairman asked those parishioners to keep the Parish Council informed.            
3132     CORRESPONDENCE
            (a)        TDC - Household Recycling Collection Service   From 6th April, TDC will be collecting unwanted clothes, shoes and textiles for recycling. Residents will be asked to place unwanted textiles in a carrier bag, which then needs to be tied and left alongside their recycling boxes on their usual recycling day.
(b)        Clerk & Councils Direct
(c)        Green Communities – Energy Saving Trust
(d)        DCC – Devon Talk – Spring 2010TDC Council (Budget) Meeting – 22 Feb 2010
            (e)        Energy Saving Trust – Green Communities
            (f)         TDC – Agenda of Council meeting – 6th April
            (g)        Duty of Regard – Natural England
            (h)        DAPC Newsletter – March/April 2010
            (i)         TDC – Development Control Committee – Agenda
3133     HIGHWAYS                 
(a)        Maintenance/Pothole map          Potholes were marked on the map to be sent to DCC.
Clerk also to alert Highways about missing/broken road signs, in particular at Chittleford Cross, Merry Park, Hemsworthy Gate, Sercombe Cross and Ford Bridge.
(b)        No other issues were raised.                                         
3134     DELEGATES REPORTS
Cllr Tempest gave a report following the AGM of the Church House Management Committee where there was a lot of discussion about the damp wall. The Committee received £150 from St Pancras. The numbers
at the Playgroup had dropped significantly to only 9 children and it was therefore agreed that they would pay half rent next term. Cllr Morley reported that there had been a meeting of the Sports Group with changes being made to the tug of war. A more detailed report would be given next month.
            A letter of thanks had been received from Leusdon PCC for the grant of £75 made by the Parish Council.
3135     MATTERS OF INFORMATION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN
            No further matters.       
3136     FINANCE
            (a)        Payments for approval:
§ Cheque no 000695 - Clerk’s salary and disbursements for March - £255.32
§     Cheque no 000696 – R Newbolt-Young – refreshments for APM - £40.88  
§     Cheque no 000697 – Norma Tempest - £7.20
(b)        The following account balances as at 31 March 2010 were noted:
§ Current account - £1731.32
§ Deposit account - £4834.38  
§  
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.07 pm.
Signed     …………………………………………..         Dated     ……………………………………….
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY 6th MAY 2010
PRECEEDED BY A WALK-ABOUT INSEPCTION OF THE VILLAGE AT 6.45pm
Members of the public and press are welcome to attend any Parish Council Meeting and make comment at the start of  the meeting which begins at 7.30 pm.
 
Site at Proposed Airwave TETRA Mast Land At
Widecombe-In-The-Moor.
Widecombe Parish Council
Public Inquiry 24th March 2010.
1.     I am Rod Newbolt-Young, Chairman Widecombe Parish Council, and this Council was elected by the community in May 2007. This planning application was started in June 2007 with many within the community (consisting of some 470 individuals on the latest electoral role), objecting to it and there was no recorded support. I look upon my role here as a democratic voice and I would like to thank the Inspector for the effort and patience he has made in ensuring that the third parties have been fairly represented in this appeal.  
2.     It is obvious that our blue light services must have proper and effective communication and this Parish Council would not object to any application of this nature as long as it is correctly sited and presented. In fact this Council is concerned as there are certain areas of this Parish that are not effectively covered by this new system, as can be seen by the coverage map presented by the Appellant. However there are now reports that the blue light services do have some hand held communication within the Parish, (even in the Rugglestone Inn, which we all know).  
3.     I have questioned the reason why an expensive public inquiry was chosen for this appeal considering the reported urgency surrounding the application and I believe the Planning Inspectorate recommended the appeal to be heard by written submission. I have been informed that the reason is because of public concern over the matter. As I remember it the public concern over the Blackslade Farm mast appeal within this Parish, in November 2003, was greater yet this appeal was considered speedily by written submissions.   I draw notice to the fact that the LPA has sited one of the reasons for their withdrawal was for ‘a genuine desire to save unnecessary expense at the Inquiry’, (item 8 of The DNPA application of costs dated 15th March 2010).  
4.      I find it incomprehensible that in this day of modern digital technology I believe that the Planning Inspectorate still insists of sending out hard copies of evidence despite repeated requests for digital copies. Not only has this put The Inspectorate administration under what would appear to be pressure, which is not surprising considering the volume of documentation submitted by the appellant, but it has in my view hindered communication. Furthermore due to late deliverance of evidence by The Planning Inspectorate in October 2009 an adjournment to this inquiry was caused. Furthermore it appears that the Appellant was receiving ‘special treatment’ by being served by Mr Simon Bliss, a line manager, whereas the third parties were being dealt with by ‘The Case Officer’.   I would appreciate the Inspector’s assurance that all documentation/evidence has now been been correctly circulated and on time by The Planning Inspectorate throughout this Inquiry and that there have been no omissions or delayed submissions. (apart from the known omissions and delays). 
5.      There is no doubt in my mind that the driving issue in connection with the residents resisting this appeal is that of fear of the unknown in connection with health. This fear has been further exacerbated by evidence submitted by an objector in the form of a newspaper report in connection with The Lancashire Constabulary. This report has been discounted by the Appellant who has produced late evidence accordingly. I have urged that this should all be verified and the third parties have not had time to do this. 
6.      The Inspector has declared that he will be deciding for the present. It should be noted that this community are concerned about the future.   I urge the Secretary Of State to take note of this and this is how it will remain. I look forward to any comments The Inspector may have in response to this address. 
Rod Newbolt-Young,
(Chairman Widecombe Parish Council).                                 24th March 2010.