WIDECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held on Thursday 4 October 2018 in Church House, Widecombe
Present: Councillor Newbolt-Young (Chairman), Booty, Fenton, Hassell, Lomax, Morley, Routley and Welby
Members of the Public: There were eight members of the public present including members of the Village Hall Steering
Group.
Clerk: Suzanna Hughes
4335 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
• Cllr Southcombe
• District Cllr Jeffery
• County Cllr Gribble
• Robert Steemson (DNPA)
4336 OPEN FORUM
Miles Fursdon, Snow Warden, reminded members of the issues he had experienced last year getting DCC to refill the grit bins. He advised that he has checked them and they have all been refilled ready for the winter. If a parishioner knows of an empty bin, report it to the Snow Warden or report it on line.
4337 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.  As council tax payers in this parish, all members declared an interest in item 4343(a). It was agreed to grant a dispensation to allow them to discuss and vote on, at this meeting and future meetings of Widecombe Parish Council, a possible increase in the precept to support the cost of a loan to help fund the building a new village hall. This dispensation would be valid until the day before the next ordinary elections in May 2019.
There were no other declarations of interest.
4338 RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
Members received the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 6 September 2018 which were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
4339 POLICE REPORT
No report.
Cllr Morley advised that there has been a spate of metal garden gates being stolen.
4340 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report.
4341 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report.
4342 DELEGATES REPORTS
Cllr Welby reported that Widecombe Fair had been extremely successful and considered by some as the best Fair for many years. It was attended by a good number of people and was very lucrative which means that generous charitable donations could be made. There were no issues or problems. Cllr Fenton advised that a stone on the side of the green has become dislodged. Cllr Booty would ask his son to put it back in place and dig it in.
4343 MATTERS ARISING
(a) Widecombe Village
Cllrs Hassell advised that, at the request of the Chairman, he and Cllr Fenton had met with Yvette Elliott, Widecombe Village Hall Steering Group, to discuss a way forward. A report, following that meeting, was considered by members and a series of proposed actions were discussed. Firstly, members considered whether they, in principle, and with the backing of the parishioners, support the proposal to make a grant of £100,000 to the Village Hall Charity (VHC) towards the building of a new village hall by means of raising the parish precept. This was unanimously agreed. Councillor Hassell then suggested that the Village Hall Steering Committee is asked to put together a fact sheet to accompany or precede any voting material. If agreed by the Steering Committee, the document would need to be neutral and set out the facts only, not coming down in favour of any vote and would be from the Parish Council. This was unanimously agreed. Councillor Fenton offered to help with some
investigation on parish precepts. Councillors discussed the wording of a vote which was proposed as ‘Do you support Widecombe Parish Council in increasing the Parish Precept as above [note on precept increases] in order to make a grant to the Village Hall Charity towards the capital costs of building a new village hall in Widecombe as detailed in the feasibility study’. This wording was unanimously agreed. Councillors voted unanimously in favour of a Parish Poll to gauge local opinion but had concerns over the inability to open polling stations for longer than a few hours or to use a postal vote. It was agreed that the clerk would clarify whether the voting hours could be extended and whether there could be a postal vote. It was also agreed to ask whether a poll could run at the same time as the elections in May. It was further agreed that the trigger point of the vote for a ‘YES’ will be 55% of those voting and there will be no minimum number for those turning out to vote. Councillors agreed that the feasibility study is a great piece of work and is fit for their purposes although more information on the business plan was required. The Council will also need to do some work on investigating the logistics of a Public Works Board Loan and how to time the Poll so that it fits with your fund raising and long-term plans. It was agreed that the clerk should establish how long the results of a parish poll remain valid for.
(b) Community Housing Project
Cllr Hassell informed members that the Steering Group have agreed a preferred plan of the proposals giving eight units (though this may be increased to incorporate more one bed dwellings). Teign Housing will also progress on the basis there are two self-build properties. Members were happy with the plan and the consideration being given to more one-bed dwellings and adjusting the position of the first dwelling. An early consultation event will be held in November 2018 in the form of a drop-in evening. Members are also keen to consult directly with the current residents of Brook Lane.
(c) Parish Field
It was agreed that Cllr Hassell and Cllr Booty will meet with Mick Clare next week to look at what further work is necessary in the field.
(d) Consideration of registration of unregistered parcels of land in the parish Cllr Fenton advised that it was the intention of the Land Registry to achieve 100% land registration by 2030. He sought permission from members to carry out land registry searches on around 12 properties in the centre of the village to establish their boundaries and assess which land is not registered. A budget of £50 was agreed.
4344 PLANNING
(a) New applications/appeals
(i) 0489/18 – Replacement windows to rear elevation at Middle Natsworthy, Widecombe-in-the- Moor Members agreed to support this application.
(ii) 0503/18 – Conversion of stables to single storey holiday let at Old Glebe House, Widecombe-inthe-Moor Members agreed to support this application.
(iii) 0499/18 – Repairs, internal alterations and construction of link porch/shower room at Tunhill Farm, Widecombe-in-the-Moor Members agreed to support this application.
(iv) 0512/18 – Extension to existing track at Great Cator Farm, Widecombe-in-the-Moor Members agreed to support this Prior Notification application.
(v) 0521/18 – Erection of oak framed garden room at Bagpark, Widecombe-in-the-Moor Members agreed to support this application.
(vi) 0517/18 – Alterations and change of use of garage to form short stay holiday letting unit including addition of dormer windows and flue at land to the rear of 1 Model Cottages, Lower Town, Poundsgate Members agreed to object to this application on the following grounds: • Concern about removal of the hedge;
• Inappropriate changes to this rural cottage garden; • Concern about parking and access. This is a very narrow and already busy lane and other residents have commented that they currently struggle to get in and out of their own gateways due to parked cars. The net result following changes to the proposed parking arrangements would be a loss of two parking spaces. There are currently two spaces on the road - these will be replaced by the two in the garden. (Residents will not be able to park on the road as you will block the new spaces). The garage is being converted thus losing one car parking space and the creation of a new dwelling will also require a parking space. There are other holiday lets along this lane and it is already very difficult to park. This additional dwelling and reduction in parking will only exacerbate the problem.
(b) Decisions
(i) 0326/18 – Replacement storage/workshop building, Higher Hannaford Farm, Poundsgate Members noted that DNPA has granted conditional planning permission.
4345 FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE
(a) Payments
Members received and approved the following payments:
▪ Cheque no 000992 - Clerk’s salary and disbursements (October) - £233.47
▪ Cheque no 000993 - HMRC (PAYE) - £153.80
▪ Cheque no 000994 - ICO (Data Protection Licence renewal) - £40 (Direct Debit, as agreed last month, was not received by the ICO)
4346 HIGHWAYS
Cllr Fenton advised that the new sign at Cold East Cross has turned 45 degrees and the finger posts are therefore pointing in the wrong direction. He also observed that large boulders have been dumped on tarmac beyond Cold East Cross towards Ashburton. Cllr Routley advised that she will contact Cllr Gribble to request that the Lengthsman digs out the silt where the hedges have been cut by Lake Farm. It was noted that the Ride for Rowcroft cycle event would be passing through the parish on 14 October. An annual motorcycle event was also upcoming.
4347 CORRESPONDENCE
(a) Members received and noted a letter of thanks from Widecombe PCC for the grant awarded by the Parish Council towards the upkeep of the churchyard.
4348 MATTERS OF INFORMATION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN
None.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25pm.
Signed ………………………………………….. Dated ……………………………………….
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 1 November 2018 at 7.30pm.