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Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Widecombe Parish Council Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting held at Church House, Widecombe on Thursday 23rd Nov. 2000
PRESENT : Mr.N.Smerdon (Chairman), Mr.R.Newbolt-Young (Vice), Mr.S.Booty, Mr.M.Nosworthy, Mr.M.Pascoe, Mrs.M.Phipps, Mr.C.Whale, Mr.M.Yates.
APOLOGIES : Mrs.N.Tempest, Cllr.Mr.H.Whitley
IN ATTENDANCE : the Clerk Mr.P.Roper.
2373 MINUTES : The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 26th October 2000 were signed by the Chairman as being an accurate record of the meeting.
2374 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
(i) TDC Toilet Lighting : the Clerk reported that TDC had mistakenly fitted a solar cell lighting system to the public toilets in the village. This had the effect of turning the lights on at night, the opposite of what had been requested by WPC.
After much consultation with TDC it was agreed that they would fit a timer switch which would turn the lights on at 7 p.m. every morning and off at 5 p.m. in the winter and 8 pm. in the summer.
(ii) Widecombe and District Sports Group : the Clerk had received three replies after seeking help on the matter of third party indemnity in respect of possible claims in connection with the use of the Children's Play Area at North Hall Playing Fields.
(a) Devon Association of Parish Councils had said that this topic was a "minefield" of problems.
(b) DNPA had made clear that, although they owned the land in question it was the responsibility of WPC to keep them 'fully and effectively indemnified'.
(c) Cornhill Insurance, the Parish Council's insurers, had sent a lot of information and made clear that the responsibility of said indemnity rested with those responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Playing Fields. They also suggested that the Children's Play Area should be fenced. Cornhill Insurance were "unable to extend the WPC's insurance policy to cover the liability' of the Sports Groups use or the children's play.
The Parish Council therefore decided to send copies of all this information to the Secretary of the Widecombe and District Sports Group. It was clear that the onus of responsibility passed from DNPA to WPC and then to WDSG. If the status of the Management Committee of the Sports Group was not clear then perhaps some legal advice should be sought.
(iii) Local Needs Housing : three letters of reply concerning the 'finishings' and occupancy of the said Houses have been received.
(a) from DNPA ; the matter of finishings had been agreed at the planning stage and a copy of this was included with the reply. The colour white was indicated for the rendered finish of the six houses. The fencing and landscaping was also shown and Councillors were able to examine the plans showing the detail. It was the responsibility of Hastoe Housing Association's contractors to complete the approved plans.
(b) from Hastoe Housing : Anne Harries has offered to show Councillors around the interior of the Houses before they are occupied. She also informed the Council that due to the adverse weather the Houses would not be painted until the Spring. She agreed to reconsider the colour of the paint to be used. Perhaps a light grey would be more appropriate, this could be discussed at the time of the viewing. The Council wished to express their thanks to Mrs.Harries for her invitation and co-operation.
(c) from Hastoe Housing : Judith Dearlove has sent the list of possible occupants all of whom would be visited in November by representatives from Hastoe. After this process and before the final committee meeting made their decisions Mrs.Dearlove has offered to meet with a sub-committee of the Parish Council to clarify any outstanding questions. This was agreed by the Council and three Councillors nominated to meet with her on a date yet to be arranged at mutual convenience.
(iv) Cattle in the Village of Widecombe : the Clerk reported that Mr. Bell, the Chairman of the Widecombe Commoners Association, had been in touch with him to complain that the account of the discussions held, as written in both the minutes of the Parish Council and the brief summary of this in the Parish Link, were not accurate. The Clerk had therefore consulted with the Chairman and as a result written to the grassiers to explain further. The Clerk apologised that he had not fully understood the implications involved.
(v) Community Groups Inventory : TDC's request for a list of all the organisations in the Parish, their secretaries and addresses was still outstanding and WPC had received a further request for same. Despite the work involved the Clerk will attempt to make this inventory. Hastoe Housing Association had also indicated that most village communities made such an inventory available to new arrivals in the Associations houses.
2375 CORRESPONDENCE
(i) Devon Fire and Rescue Service Questionnaire : this was completed collectively during the meeting. It seemed that the re-organisation proposed would move the controls further afield leading to greater centralisation. This the Council felt was a retrograde step.
(ii) TALC : the agenda for the next meeting was passed to the Chairman.
(iii) The Countryside Agency Questionnaire : this important information seeking document was kindly taken by Mr.Pascoe for completion.
(iv) North Hall Playing Field Charity Commission annual questionnaire and report was taken by the Clerk for further work.
(v) Car Parking Outside Church House : a letter of complaint has been received from Mr. Ensor concerning the blocking of the Lane to Venton, by parked vehicles, during evening meetings at Church House. In particular the recent meeting of the History Group had caused such a problem.
The Clerk was asked to write to the Secretary of the History Group explaining the concern.
(vi) A letter of thanks was received from Nigal and Liz Storrs of Kingshead Farm following the recent Millennium Time Capsule photographs taken by Chris Mayhead. It was felt that this documentation would be a lovely reminder for future generations.
(vii) Devon & Cornwall Constabulary : a letter of request from Inspector Taylor has been received. He informed the Council that in future meetings with the Police Force would be organised into two distinct groups of Councils (a) rural and (b) conurbation. There would be 17 villages included in the rural grouping. Widecombe was asked to send a representative to the next meeting on Sunday 17th December at Middlemoor, Exeter.
Unfortunately this date and venue were not convenient for any of the Councillors.
2376 PLANNING
(i) CH.1/CD/0331/00 & 0332/00 Old Langworthy Farm : the Clerk had written to the planning officer Chris Hart to complain that WPC had not received any details about the amended plans until after they had been approved. Although in this case, there were no serious concerns it was felt that in general the Council should be consulted in future with regard to all amended plans. Mr. Hart felt that the given time scale was usually a problem in this matter.
(ii) 0559/00 : Old Glebe House Amended Plans : discussed and approved
(iii) Greenacres, Leusdon : the question of one remaining corrugated building at this site had been raised with the senior planning officer. The Council was informed that this had been agreed at the planning consent stage.
(iv) 0709/00 Restoration of original stock building at Foxworthy, Poundsgate. : Recommended for approval.
2377 HIGHWAYS
(i) Cattle Grid at Buckland Bridge : Bob Jones of DCC Highways Department (Environment Directorate) has informed the Parish Council that although there is not enough funds in this year's budget to build a Cattle Grid at Buckland Bridge there is sufficient funds to begin a survey and drawing works necessary to prepare a scheme for consultation and detailed estimates. This progress was welcomed.
(ii) Minor Road Repairs within the Parish : increasing concern is being expressed about the sad state of some of the smaller roads within the Parish.
The Clerk was asked to write to Mr. Graham Heath, the Local Service Officer of DCC to express this concern. He has been asked to telephone the Chairman of the WPC to discuss what problems are causing this deterioration in our roads and what the Council can do to improve communication, quality of workmanship and action.
(iii) Local Flooding : the Chairman asked the Council to look out for more storage space for sand bags that could be quickly accessed in the event of any local flooding.
(iv) Grit/Salt Bags : he also informed the Council that DCC Highways no longer supplied such bags for road gritting.
2378 MATTERS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN
(i) Bridle Path Map : Mr.Newbolt-Young reported on a meeting held by Holne PC. to discuss the legal responsibility of maintenance of Foot Paths. This responsibility rested with DNPA but the Parish Council might like to consider walking the Paths to check on their condition. This has not been done for at least five years.
The Clerk was asked to find the map of the footpaths within the Parish.
(ii) A further report was given on the MAFF's plans for ESA status across the Moors.
(iii) A number of Councillors asked about the album of Millennium Photographs that had been made for the Parish Council by Mr. Mayhead. It would appear that the Council has lost control of the circulation of the album. There was concern expressed and remedial action will be quickly made to recover control.
2379 FINANCE
(i) Income Interest on Deposit £36.21
(ii) Expenditure Clerk's Salary and Disbursements £128.43
Water Rates of Sports Group £6.62
(iii) Annual Balance Sheet of Receipts and Payments for the year ended 31st March 2000 was circulated by the Clerk and was signed as an accurate record.
2380 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING 4th January 2001, 7.30pm. at Leusdon
(i) From the New Year Parish Council meetings will in future be held on the FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH
The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.00 p.m.
The information on this page was last modified on September 13 2005 17:46:40.