High Bickington Project 2000 and Parish Plans

Outline Planning Application: We understand that Torridge District Council's Plans Committee is to consider the outline Planning application on Monday 29th March 2004. If approved by that Committee then the application will be re-advertised and referred to Government Office for the South West for a decision to be made on whether the application should be 'called in' by the Secretary of State for determination as a departure from the provisions of the District Plan.

Appointment of Project Co-ordinator/Administrator: David Venner has now been appointed to this post. He is working on a part-time basis during March and will begin full-time working in April. Amongst other things David will be co-ordinating the work of a number of new 'working groups' who will be helping draw up detailed proposals on a number of aspects of the proposals contained within the Parish Plan. If you would like to get involved then please let David know.

Appointment of Project Management Consultants: Six firms submitted competitive tenders for this area of work and also work relating to the Construction, Design and Management Regulations under the Health and Safety Acts. Four short-listed firms were invited to make presentations to an Appointments Panel on 23rd February and Head Projects, based in Bristol, have been appointed. The firm's Managing Director, Bob Head, will be our principal contact. A meeting held earlier today (10th March) has agreed an initial work programme.

Legal Matters: A revised draft of the 'Joint Venture Heads of Terms' has now been produced and is being considered by the various parties involved. It will be necessary, in due course, for the Parish Council to consider and sign up to this document. Draft rules for the proposed High Bickington Community Property Trust are also being worked up and it is hoped that it might be possible for the setting up of the new trust to be formally agreed at the AGM of Project 2000 in May 2004

The Overall Design for Little Bickington Farm: Architects employed by Devon County Council are continuing to work on the overall design scheme for Little Bickington Farm. It had been hoped to carry out further public consultation on these plans during March but delays in consideration of the Outline Planning Application means that this was not appropriate and new dates will be fixed as soon as possible.

David Brown Chairman High Bickington Project 2000