WIDECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
                                                              Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council
                                                                   held on Thursday 5 March 2015
                                                                    in Church House, Widecombe
Present: Councillor Newbolt-Young (Chairman), Booty, Fenton, Morley, Nosworthy, Routley, Tame, Tempest and Whale
In attendance: District Cllr Jeffery
Members of the Public: 3
Clerk: Suzanna Hughes
OPEN FORUM
Anthony Beard informed members that the Wednesday bus service (672) is now running on Thursdays instead without any explanation. This means that passengers are no longer able to travel to Newton Abbot on market day and some of those passengers who used the service on Wednesdays can’t use it on Thursdays due to other commitments. It was agreed that the clerk would make some enquires.
Mr Beard then gave a presentation about the History Group’s research into the history of World War I and their wish to recreate the Roll of Honour which once existed but fell into disrepair and was not replaced. The Roll of Honour listed the names of parishioners who went to war during World War I and returned. After two years of very intense, difficult research, the History Group is requesting that the Parish Council and the Parochial Church Council jointly discusses and decides what form the Roll of Honour should take, where it should be sited and how it can be funded.
3808 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
• County Cllr Gribble
• PC A Dudley
3809 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.
Cllr Tempest declared an interest in item 3816 (c) and (d).
Cllr Routley declared an interest in item 3826 (d).
3810 REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS
No requests were received.
3811 RATIFICATION OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council on 5 February 2015 were approved and signed by the
Chairman as a true and correct record.
3812 POLICE REPORT
No report.
3813 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report.
3814 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Cllr Jeffery reported that TDC has agreed not to increase council tax following its budget meeting in February. Similarly, car parking charges will not be increasing and parking will continue to be free on Sundays The Rural Aid budget has been cut from £55,000 to £40,000. £15,000 will be given to DNPA for distribution under a different scheme to those parishes within the National Park.
3815 DELEGATE REPORTS
No reports
3816 MATTERS ARISING
(a) Roll of Honour
Members thanked Anthony Beard, Peter Reynells and other members of the History Group for their research into the names of WW1 survivors in Widecombe. Cllr Fenton’s personal view was that this Roll of Honour should be less significant than the plaque listing those who had fallen. He further suggested that it could go under the war memorial itself. He informed members, however, that the Parochial Church Council, has not yet discussed it yet.
(b) Tug of War
Members received a request to use the Village Green for an event on 5 June. Following the success of last year’s event, members agreed to allow this event to take place subject to the following conditions:
(i) That they carry out a risk assessment prior to the event and supply a copy for the Parish Council’s records;
(ii) That a copy of their insurance policy is provided for the Parish Council’s records.
(iii) That they repair all damage to the green immediately after the event.
(c) Grant request – St John the Baptist, Leusdon
Members received and considered a request for a grant from St John the Baptist, Leusdon for a grant to assist with the cost of scaffolding which was needed to make urgent repairs to the roof. A request was also made for a contribution towards the annual maintenance of the churchyard. After a discussion it was agreed to grant £100 towards the cost of maintaining the churchyard and £1,000 towards the cost of scaffolding (cheque 877).
(d) Grant request – Leusdon Memorial Hall
Members were informed that Leusdon Memorial Hall are obtaining quotations to create a drive around the hall to improve disabled access and to replace the chairs following this Council’s request for a breakdown of the costs at the last meeting before it considers awarding a grant.
(e) Defibrillators
Cllr Nosworthy suggested that this Council considers the purchase of a defibrillator for use within the parish. Members agreed that this was a good idea and after a discussion, it was agreed that the clerk would research the costs of purchasing the equipment together with the best ways of operating and managing it.
(f) Vodafone Open Femto Trials
The Parish Council was informed that an approach has been made to the Council by a parishioner informing it of the Rural Open Sure Signal (ROSS) programme - a community-led initiative which brings reliable 3G mobile coverage to rural communities. In rural and remote locations across the UK, networks can struggle to deliver coverage via traditional means. Vodafone Open Sure Signal uses ‘femtocell’ technology to provide a Vodafone 3G signal in areas where traditional mobile coverage has been unable to reach. About the size of a domestic broadband box and with a reach of about 500 metres each, the units use existing broadband services to deliver the Vodafone 3G mobile signal (a broadband connection of at least 4MBps at each box location is recommended). The units can be installed on a number of buildings homes across the community. The original programme saw 12 villages from across the UK trial the technology. These included communities such as Witherslack & Caldbeck in the Lake District. Last year, the programme was extended to include an additional 100 UK rural communities. Applications have now closed and Vodafone has shortlisted their 100 communities, however they are still taking email addresses of communities who are interested in taking part in any future activity. After a discussion, it was agreed that Widecombe should be added to the list. However, Cllr Fenton suggested that the clerk establishes from BT what is available in terms of maximum band width and whether there is sufficient capability in the parish of Widecombe to deliver 3G signal using the technology being proposed by Vodafone through this programme.
(g) Annual Meeting of the Council
It was agreed that this would be held on Thursday 14th May following the elections on 7th May.
(h) Standing Orders
Members received an amendment to Standing Order 1 (m) following legislative changes. The amendment related to the filming and recording of Parish Council meetings. It was proposed and agreed that this Standing Order should now read:
A person may not orally report or comment about a meeting as it takes place if he is present at the meeting of a parish council or its committees but otherwise may:
(a) film, photograph or make an audio recording of a meeting;
(b) use any other means for enabling persons not present to see or hear proceedings at a meeting as it takes place or later;
(c) report or comment o the proceedings in writing during or after a meeting or orally report or comment after the meeting.
It was also agreed to accept and adopt a proposed protocol for the filming and recording of meetings which should be displayed at all future meetings of the Parish Council and its Committees.
3817 FINANCE
(a) The following payment was approved:
Cheque no 000876 - Clerk’s salary and disbursements - £227.90
3818 PLANNING
(a) New applications/appeals
(i) Mobile Infrastructure Project – Pre-application consultation request – Proposed installation of 22.5m High Lattice Tower Mobile Phone Base at Land 290 metres north-west of Drywell Farm, Ponsworthy Widecombe-in-the-Moor, TQ13 7PN  Pre-application comments on the above proposal were invited. After a discussion, members agreed that, as stated previously, they are keen that the village of Widecombe is given priority for mobile phone coverage. This is important for residents and visitors alike. Members, however, were unclear from the information provided whether the proposed mast at the new site at Drywell Farm would provide such coverage, as a coverage map had not been supplied.
Also, as stated previously, members were keen to find out if other masts in the parish are planned and, if so, whether the locations for these have already been identified.
(ii) 0070/15 – Extension to the existing car park at The Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Members agreed to support this application.
(iii) 0032/15 & 0033/15 - Internal and external alterations to the site and buildings, including restoration of the barn to provide interpretation space in association with programmed heritage visits at Higher Uppacott, Poundsgate
After a discussion, members agreed that they had no objections to this application in principle. However, they do have concerns about lack of parking and would therefore urge DNPA’s Development Management Committee to ensure that there is adequate parking provision prior to this application being approved.
Having being copied into a letter to Stephen Belli from John Milverton, the Parish Council also sought confirmation as to whether a change of use application was required.
Finally, the Parish Council also sought advice on the process for DNPA deciding its own applications. Cllr Jeffery believed that the correct procedure is that members of the Committee should stand down and the decision should be made by the public.
(b) Decisions
(i) 0704/14 – Create new access from highway to farmland and existing farm buildings as a modification to existing approval at Lower Dunstone Farm, Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Members noted that DNPA has granted conditional planning consent.
(ii) 0712/14 – Construction of farm track to aid the movement of stock and machinery across the holding at Blackdown Piper Farm, Widecombe-in-the-Moor Members noted that DNPA has granted conditional planning consent.
(c) Correspondence from John Milverton
Members were copied into a letter to DNPA from John Milverton with regard to whether a change of use application should have been submitted for Higher Uppacott, Poundsgate. It was agreed that the Parish Council should also ask the same question to DNPA. It was further agreed to thank Mr Milverton for his letter.
3819 HIGHWAYS
(a) Cllr Routley informed members that the double yellow lines at Newbridge are fading. Clarification was also sought on whether parking on the other side (i.e. the inside) of double yellow lines is an offence. [There is an area at Newbridge where there is space to park on the inside of the yellow lines but it is unclear whether this is legal].
To report a pothole:
Telephone: 0345 155 1004
Email: customer@devon.gov.uk
Online: http://www.devon.gov.uk/road_maintenance.htm
3820 CORRESPONDENCE
There were no items of correspondence.
Other items for information only were placed in the circulation folder or emailed direct to members.
3821 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 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING WILL BE HELD ON 12 MARCH 2015 AT 7.00pm.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON
THURSDAY 2 APRIL 2015 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.