Community Property Trust
Membership of the Community Property Trust currently stands at 181. Anyone wishing to join the Trust can obtain an application form from the Secretary.

Section 106 monies
It might be worth reminding ourselves of the origins and purposes of these funds.

• These funds are contributions from Poltair Homes as a result of a Section 106 agreement (under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) dated 16 th January 2004 in connection with the development at Fountain Fields;

• £100,000 has been provided as "a contribution towards a village/community hall".

• £200,000 has been provided as "a contribution towards the implementation of the High Bickington village plan and the High Bickington Project 2000."

• The money is being held by the Community Property Trust on behalf of the Parish Council to avoid increasing the Parish Council's audit fees.

The money is held in a Charities Aid Foundation Gold Account. It shows a balance of £303,678.69 following the addition of interest on 28th December 2005. The interest rate is currently 3.90%. No payments have been made as yet from the account.

Planning Inquiry
The Inquiry was held in the Church Hall, commencing at 10.00am on 17 th January and finishing at 11.00am on 19 th January. A full report will appear next month.

Little Bickington Farm
As councillors and residents will know the Community Property Trust currently holds a lease on Little Bickington farm house, buildings and 20 acres of land from Devon County Council. Negotiations will be starting soon to extend this temporary lease beyond 25 th March for another 12 months or until such time as the development goes ahead.

As a responsible tenant the Trust intends to carry out essential maintenance work during this period. This will include the restoration of a length of hedge between the farmhouse garden and field immediately to the east, to prevent sheep and cattle getting into the garden. Coppicing and hedge laying will be carried out in February, followed by rebuilding the bank - probably in March - and turfing the sides by means of a training course in the summer, in conjunction with the Devon Rural Skills Trust. Further details of this course, which will be open to anyone, will be available later.

High Bickington CPT Ltd, The Meeting Point, North Road, High Bickington. Telephone 01769 560161, or email david.venner@highbickington.org