WIDECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council
held on Thursday 6 July 2017
in Church House, Widecombe
Present: Councillor Newbolt-Young (Chairman), Booty, Fenton, Hassell, Lomax, Morley, Routley, Southcombe & Welby
Also present: County Cllr Gribble, District Cllr Jeffery
Members of the Public: Two
Clerk: Suzanna Hughes
4161 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None
4162 OPEN FORUM
Roger Claxton informed members that the History Group intends to apply for funding under the Parishscapes project to benefit two projects - The Devon Dialect Alphabet Book and The Memorial Garden Project. He advised that it is a requirement that the Parish Council supports the application for funding. Members were not aware of any other applications to Parishscapes and therefore willingly agreed to support the History Group’s application.
4163 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS
Councillors were reminded of their responsibility to continually update their Notice of Registerable Interests and to declare any disclosable interests, including the nature and extent of such interests they have in any items to be considered at this meeting. Unforeseen requests for a Dispensation to be considered at this point only if there was no way a Councillor would have been aware of such before the meeting.
There were no declarations of interest or requests for dispensation.
4164 RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Members received the minutes of the meeting of 8 June 2017 which were approved and signed by the
Chairman as a true and correct record.
4165 POLICE REPORT
No police report received.
The clerk advised that she had been contacted by TDC asking whether the Parish Council had any information about recent vandalism to Widecombe’s public toilets which had occurred on two consecutive evenings. Members were unaware of the problems.
Members were advised that there had been a small blue car parked in various locations in the parish with people sleeping in it. The police had been made aware.
Cllr Fenton advised that there had been three church break-ins recently in Ashburton, Crediton and Teignmouth.
4166 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Cllr Gribble informed members that two different approaches were being investigated to tackle the problems at Deeper Marsh and the recent closure of the car parks by the land owner. At the moment these approaches were confidential. He advised that the otter trail is proving to be a great success. However, the suggestion to install cattle grids in the parish has not been received very well due to the cost.
4167 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Cllr Jeffery advised that a new Chair and Vice Chair of Overview and Scrutiny were elected at a meeting on Monday 3 July followed by a two hour training session.
4168 DELEGATE REPORTS
(a) Cllr Southcombe reported that she has not yet been able to confirm any training dates for the defibrillator and would try again to contact the provider. The clerk also offered to try and make contact.
(b) Cllr Southcombe reported that she had attended a meeting in connection with the Dartmoor National Park Local Plan about which the Parish Council has been consulted (see item 4169 (c)).
(c) Cllr Fenton advised that he had attended the AGM of The Church House at which improvements to the lighting and heating downstairs were discussed.
4169 MATTERS ARISING
(a) Trees on the Village Green
The clerk advised that Brian Beasely, DNPA, would be happy for the canopies to be raised 0.5m without submitting a Section 211 Notice because the work will prevent injury to people walking into low branches. The contractor was in agreement however that 0.5m was insufficient. This was supported by members. An on-site meeting was therefore being arranged with Brian and the contractor to discuss what would be acceptable to DNPA and a Section 211 Notice would have to be submitted.
(b) Widecombe Fair
Members considered a request from Widecombe Fair Committee that the Parish Council continues to support/donate the services of the Town Criers at the Fair. Members believed that all costs relating to the Fair had been transferred to Widecombe Fair Committee and therefore the request that the Parish Council donates the services of the Town Crier was refused. This is something which could be discussed at the first review after the Fair.
(c) Dartmoor Local Plan Consultation
It was agreed to defer this item until September’s meeting to allow members to familiarise themselves with the proposals. The deadline for comments is 15 September.
(d) Communication
After discussion, members agreed that they were happy for Cllr Hassell to progress his proposals for improved electronic communication in the parish using MailChimp. He would liaise with Roger Claxton to progress this further.
(e) Dartmoor Discovery
Cllr Hassell informed members that he had communicated the issues raised in the last meeting with regard to the race and a letter from the race organisers in response had been circulated to members. It was also confirmed that the date of next year’s race has been confirmed as 2 June.
(f) Moor than Meets the Eye
Cllr Fenton advised that the Welcome to Widecombe notices had been put up and leaflets have now been printed. Seven wax rubbing posts have also been made and would be sited around the village. He sought the permission of the Parish Council for three of these posts to be sited on land belonging to the Parish Council. This was agreed. It was suggested that the Council’s insurers are informed.
4170 PLANNING
(a) New applications/appeals
There were no new applications/appeals.
(b) Decisions
No decisions were reported.
4171 FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE
(a) Payments
Members received and approve payments for approval:
 Cheque no 000956 - Clerk’s salary and disbursements (July & August) - £452.82
 Cheque no 000957 - HMRC (PAYE) - £150.60
(b) Parish Council Complaints Procedure
The clerk presented members with a proposed complaints procedure for adoption. The procedure was approved subject to the following additions:
 To include a clause reserving the Parish Council’s right to make a counter-claim;
 To restrict the time in which a complaint can be made to 6 months from the date of the circumstances giving rise to the complaint
4172 HIGHWAYS
It was reported that parking between Spitchwick Manor and Newbridge Hill at night was causing an obstruction
and that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for emergency vehicles to pass through. It was agreed that
the police would be alerted to the problem.
4173 CORRESPONDENCE
(a) Members received a letter of thanks from St Pancras for the grant received towards the upkeep of the churchyard.
(b) Members received a letter of thanks from Widecombe and District Sports Group for the grant received towards the cost of the new floodlights.
(c) A member of the public had complained to a Councillor that the grass in the old churchyard had not been cut and that as the churchyard was now closed, responsibility for its maintenance rested with the Parish Council. However, it was noted that since the complaint had been received the grass had been cut.
4174 MATTERS OF INFORMATION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN
None.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting in Part I at 9.07pm.
PART II
(Contains items which may be taken in the absence of the public and press on grounds that exempt information may be disclosed)
4175 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
Members resolve unanimously that the public and press are excluded from the meeting as the item under discussion contains information exempt under Local Government Act 1972 Section 100A Part 1 and Schedule 12 A & Public Bodies (Admissions to meetings) Act 1960 Section 2(1)
4176 ALLEGED BREACH OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT
Members received and noted advice received regarding an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct.
Signed ………………………………………….. Dated ……………………………………….
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 7 September 2017 at 7.30pm.