WIDECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council
held on Thursday 2 October 2014 in Church House, Widecombe
Present: Councillors Newbolt-Young (Chairman), Booty, Morley, Nosworthy, Routley and Tempest
In attendance: County Cllr Gribble, Bill Allen (DNPA)
Members of the Public: 2
Clerk: Suzanna Hughes
OPEN FORUM
Bill Allen informed members that it had been a busy year for the Rangers. There has been a lot of vegetation growth which has had to be cleared and they were still involved with clearing up after last autumn/winter’s storm damage. The DNPA has gone through a public rights of way review and it will remain the delivering body. The DNPA is still awaiting DEFRA’s decision on funding. The issues associated with litter and barbeques at Deeper Marsh continue. The painting of the double yellow lines is awaited. There have been some volunteer events to help clear rubbish etc. Finally, he informed members that he spent a fantastic day with Widecombe Pre-School a couple of months ago.
3751 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
• Cllr Fenton • Cllr Tame
The Chairman informed members that just before the start of the meeting he had received the resignation of Cllr Rob Wallace who was no longer residing in the parish. Accepting his resignation, members agreed that the Chairman writes to thank Cllr Wallace for his contributions whilst a councillor. A vacancy now exists and the Parish Council invites applications.
3752 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were reminded of their responsibility to update their Notice of Registerable Interests and were invited to state whether they have any interests in the items to be discussed during this meeting in accordance with the council’s Code of Conduct.
No interests were declared.
3753 REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS
No requests were received.
3754 RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council on 4 September 2014 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
3755 POLICE REPORT
No report.
3756 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Cllr Gribble reported that he was still working to reduce the number of potholes in the parishes and was still investigating the parking situation at the school. He stated that he had attended Widecombe Fair which he had enjoyed.
3757 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report.
3758 DELEGATE REPORTS
No reports.
3759 MATTERS ARISING
(a) Widecombe Fair 2014
It was agreed that this year’s Fair had been a success which had been helped by the good weather. Members raised a couple of concerns relating to the one-way system, the signage for which was still ambiguous. There were also problems at Ponsworthy Bridge with horse boxes and the one-way system. It was agreed that members should raise these concerns with the Widecombe Fair Committee.
(b) Mobile Infrastruture Project
Members received a response from Harlequin Group in answer to questions raised at the last meeting with regard the proposed siting of a mobile phone mast at Drywell Farm, including coverage map, indicating the extent of the coverage that a mast at Drywell Farm would give. It was noted that Widecombe (Natsworthy/East Webburn) Valley including the village centre is not included in the proposed coverage. The clerk was asked to confirm with Harlequin whether additional masts would be required or that perhaps an alternative site might be more appropriate. [Members believe that coverage of the village centre is a priority and are therefore concerned that there would be no coverage in this area with this proposed mast].
(c) Widecombe Archive Digitising Project
Members received and considered a letter from Widecombe History Group informing them that the Group have now completed the first stage of the overall digitising project and therefore now request the Parish Council’s approval to deposit various items with Devon Heritage Services. After a short discussion, members agreed that the items, as listed in the History Group’s letter of 17 September, should be deposited with Devon Heritage Services for safe-keeping. Further, members wished to convey their thanks to Roger Claxton and his team for the incredible amount of work being undertaken to complete this project.
(d) Elector Fund
Members were informed that funding was available to Town and Parish Councils working together and involving the community to solve local issues. The available grant is £1.84 per elector in each parish in Teignbridge based on the electoral register as it stood in February 2014 [Widecombe: 445 electors].
(e) Neighbourhood Watch
Members received and noted details of a volunteer recruitment campaign for the Teignbridge Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.
3760 FINANCE
(a) The following payments were approved:
Cheque no 000861- Clerk’s salary and disbursements - £248.01
Cheque no 000862 - Information Commissioner - £35 (renewal of data protection licence)
Cheque no 000863 - Event Hire Solutions - £229.20
Cheque no 000864 - Cheque no 000863 - Widecombe Fair Committee Ltd - £503.33
[50% share of Town Criers £115.00; 50% share of village relay link £200.83, 25% share of first aid cover £187.50]
Cheque 000865 - Matthew Way - £532
Cheque 000866 - G Partridge (strimming around the village) - £300
Cheque 000867 - HMRC - £144.60
(b) Internal Audit Contract Renewal
Members agreed to renew the internal audit contract with South West Internal Audit (Ken Abraham).
3761 PLANNING
(a) New applications/appeals
(i) 0472/14 – Conservatory to front of house at Smoothmoor, Widecombe-in-the-Moor (amended plans) Members had no objections to this application.
(ii) 0512/14 – Replacement lintels and windows to south elevation of barn cottage and lower parlour wing at Higher Uppacott, Poundsgate  Members had no objections to this application.
(b) Decisions
(i) 0425/14 – Removal of existing defective steel tube bridge deck repair installation of two granite clapper beams, Lower Cator Bridge, Lower Cator, Widecombe-in-the-Moor  Members noted that DNPA has granted listed building consent
(ii) 0349/14 – Improvement and creation of hard track, Great Cator Farm, Widecombe-in-the-Moor Members noted that DNPA has approved the work described in the notification
(iii) 0381/14 – Change of use to blacksmith’s forge including installation of flue pipe, The Old Forge, Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Members noted that DNPA has granted conditional planning consent.
(iv) 0432/14 – Erection of timber framed agricultural livestock building (12 x 7.4m), land adjacent to Bonehill, Widecombe-in-the-Moor Members noted that DNPA has granted conditional planning consent.
3762 HIGHWAYS
(a) The clerk informed members that DCC Highways Officer, Scott Riddell, was looking into the suggestion made at the last meeting regarding the installation of a repeater ‘No wide vehicles’ sign on the approach to Ponsworthy from Widecombe.
(b) Cllr Nosworthy informed members that he was grateful that the road to Lower Town had been repaired. It was acknowledged that Chittleford Hill, however, was in a very poor condition.
(c) Members questioned why it was necessary to close the road in order to paint the railings on Century Hill bridge over the East Webburn.
To report a pothole:
Telephone: 0345 155 1004
Email: customer@devon.gov.uk
Online: http://www.devon.gov.uk/road_maintenance.htm
3763 CORRESPONDENCE
There were no items of correspondence requiring attention.
Other items for information only were placed in the circulation folder or emailed direct to members.
3764 MATTERS OF INFORMATION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN
None.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.35pm.
Signed ………………………………………….. Dated ……………………………………….
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2014 AT 7.30pm
Members of the public and press are welcome to attend any Parish Council Meeting
and make comment before the start of the meeting.