WIDECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
           Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held on Thursday 5 June 2014 in Church House, Widecombe
Present: Councillors Newbolt-Young (Chairman), Booty, Morley, Nosworthy, Routley and Tempest
In attendance: PC Andy Dudley
Members of the Public: 2
Clerk: Suzanna Hughes
OPEN FORUM
Anthony Beard informed members that he had contacted DCC about the large pothole on Stonehill. They have examined it today and have decided it will be expensive and extensive to repair. Safety barriers have been erected and it will be repaired when funding becomes available. Everything in the Parish Chest has been digitised and there are 4 copies in existence. A copy has also been uploaded to the website though this copy has been stamped ‘Widecombe History Group’ to prevent them from being copied. Copies, however, can be purchased. The History Group is now checking it to ensure everything has been digitised correctly. A list of the items in the chest has been compiled showing 79 items. There is also a list of documents which have been sent to the Devon Record Office. A copy of each of these lists was given to the clerk for the Parish Council records. Once the History Group has completed the checking process, the Parish Council will then need to decide whether to deposit the contents with the Devon Records Office.  Cllr Nosworthy reminded members that he has a spare set of keys for the Parish Chest.
3709 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
• Cllr Fenton  • Cllr Tame   • District Cllr Jeffrey
Members asked the clerk to pass on their congratulations to County Cllr George Gribble on his recent election as Chairman of Devon County Council.
3710 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.
3711 REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS
No requests were received.
3712 RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
(a) The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council on 1 May 2014 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
(b) The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 19 March 2014 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
3713 POLICE REPORT
PC Andy Dudley reported that there had been five incidents in the parish last month – two of which concerned congestion at New Bridge in May. There had been one crime, that of criminal damage to a car window in Jordan. There were no reported thefts from vehicles in the last month in this parish He further advised that the Dartmooor Discovery running race is coming through the village on Sunday.
3714 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report.
3715 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report.
3716 DELEGATE REPORTS
Cllr Tempest apologised for not attending the AGM of the Educational Trust. She advised, however, that she would obtain a copy of the minutes for members.  Cllr Morley advised that Widecombe and District Sports Group’s AGM is on 13 June and he would give a report at the next meeting.
3717 MATTERS ARISING
(a) Widecombe Fair 2014
The clerk confirmed that she had gained permission from DNPA to use North Hall field for traders’ parking, that three portable toilets had been ordered, permission has been gained from Matthew Way to use the kiosk car park (at the same cost as last year - £532) and the town criers have confirmed their attendance. Members also agreed that the Parish Council would make the following contributions:
• Traffic and pedestrian management costs - 25% contribution
• Town Criers - 50% contribution
• Village PA link - 50% contribution
• Medical/first aid cover - 25% contribution
• Manning of public toilets in car park - 100% contribution
• Hiring of three portable toilets - 100% contribution The clerk informed members that Tony Hodgkiss and Roger Foord- Evans from the Widecombe Fair Committee would be attending the meeting in July to confirm arrangements for this year’s Fair.
(b) Walkabout The clerk reported on actions taken following the walkabout:
• DCC highways have been informed that the edging stones running alongside the right hand edge of the highway/stream below Manor Cottage in the direction of the school have collapsed and need reinstating to prevent a blockage of the stream.
• The 12ft branch/half sapling the left of the bridge which leads to the play area has been cleared by DNPA Ranger, Bill Allen.
• DCC Highways will look at the overgrown hedge belonging to Teign Housing which abuts the highway
(c) Sandbag Store The clerk advised that Teignbridge District Council do not wish to hold a set of keys to the sandbag store. Keyholders would therefore be Cllr Fenton, Cllr Newbolt-Young and Cllr Tame.
The cost of insuring the sandbag store against damage is £19.13 per annum. Members agreed to pay this premium.
(d) DNPA - Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Review 2014
Members received and noted a request for sites. As the Parish Field had already been nominated previously, no further no sites were proposed.
(e) Parish Chest  The clerk informed members that following their request for advice from the Parish Council’s insurers about insuring the Parish Chest and its contents, she advised that the insurers would need them to provide a figure for which they would like to insure plus a description of the type of container in which they are stored and the address at which it is stored. They also advised that in order to arrive at the figure they should be professionally valued. It was agreed that as the contents of the chest had now been digitised, insurance was not necessary. In any case it would be impossible to replace the original documents if they were damaged.
3718 FINANCE
(a) The following payments were approved:
Cheque no 000850 – Clerk’s salary and disbursements - £254.80
Cheque no 000851 – Paul Edworthy (fencing in Parish Field) - £300
Cheque no 000852 – South West Internal Audit (fee) - £125
3719 PLANNING
(a) New applications/appeals
(i) 14/0023 - Proposed tree works, Widecombe Green
Members agreed to support this application which was being made by the Parish Council following a recent tree report.
(ii) 0263/14 – Replacement of 13 timber windows on the rear and sides elevations at Southcombe House, Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Members had no objections to this application.
(iii) 0255/14 – Erection of timber framed agricultural livestock building at land adjacent to Bonehill Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Members agreed to support this application.
(b) Decisions
(i) 00194/14 – Create new access from road to farm land and existing farm buildings, Lower Dunstone Farm, Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Members noted that DNPA has granted conditional planning permission
3720 HIGHWAYS
(a) New Bridge – members were informed that DCC are planning to install a gate with 3 posts in a line, creating a wide gap and a narrow gap, with the wide gap being wide enough to allow normal traffic, and a locked gate in the narrow gap. They are planning to issue licenses to anyone who has a bigger vehicle but can get it across the bridge. To get across you will have to unlock the gate and drop the middle post. License holders will have a key. DCC advised that they had tried all other options:
1. They have done as much signage as they sensibly can
2. He wanted to put electronic signs up that flash if an oversize vehicle approaches, but DNP won’t let them.
3. English Heritage won’t let them widen the bridge
4. The idea of bollards as been discarded because they are immovable and therefore won’t be as good as the above option. Timescale wise, they are planning to repair the bridge now, then leave it for the summer. He’s expecting to have to repair it again in Autumn, and they will probably do the gates then. They will re-consult with affected parties, including the Parish Council, first.
(b) Members noted a Temporary Traffic Order relating to the road from Lower Dunstone Cross to Ponsworthy Cross, Widecombe-In-The-Moor from 30 June to 11 July in order for drainage works to take place.
(c) Members were informed that the telephone number to report potholes has changed to 0345 155 1004 (from 0845 155 1004) and that potholes and other road defects should be reported directly using the following methods:
Telephone: 0345 155 1004
Email: customer@devon.gov.uk
Online: http://www.devon.gov.uk/road_maintenance.htm
3721 CORRESPONDENCE
(i) Members received a letter from a parishioner complaining about highways defects in and around the parish. The clerk advised that she had sent a copy of the letter to DCC Highways Officer, Scott Riddell and County Cllr George Gribble for their attention.
Other items for information only were placed in the circulation folder or emailed direct to members.
3722 MATTERS OF INFORMATION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN
None.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.25pm.
Signed ………………………………………….. Dated ……………………………………….
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON
THURSDAY 3 JULY 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.