Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting
Held on Wednesday 14 May 2008
In the Meeting Point, High Bickington atat 9.10pm

Present:
Myc Riggulsford (Chairman), Chris Brown, David Brown, Stella Burrows, Roger Keen, Mike Leatham, Stan Maskell, Peter Tucker.

In attendance:
Mr David Venner – CPT Ltd, 5 Members of the public, Mrs Di Carter - Clerk

1. Election of Chairman
   Proposed by Roger Keen and seconded by Peter Tucker, Myc Riggulsford was unanimously elected to continue as Chairman of the Parish Council. There were no other nominations.
   
   
2. Apologies
   There were no apologies for absence from Councillors.
   
   
3. Declarations of Interest
   David Brown declared an interest as Chairman of Torrington MCTA and did not take part in the business to elect a Council representative.
   David Brown and Mike Leatham declared an interest in agenda items 6 and 15 and did not take part in any decision making on these items.
   
   
4. Election of Vice-Chairman
   Proposed by Myc Riggulsford and seconded by Stella Burrows, Mike Leatham was unanimously elected to continue as Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council.
   
   
5. Election of Finance Committee
   It was suggested that the Finance Committee retains the same membership as in the previous year, ie Peter Tucker, Mike Leatham and Myc Riggulsford but felt additional cheque signatories would be advantageous. Stan Maskell and Chris Brown expressed their willingness to accept this role and the Clerk was asked to follow this up with the Bank. It was further recommended that the Finance Committee draw up Terms of Reference. Any Councillor is welcome to attend meetings of the Finance Committee.
   
   Decision: Proposed by David Brown, seconded by Chris Brown, the Finance Committee membership will be Myc Riggulsford, Mike Leatham and Peter Tucker with the addition of Stan Maskell and Chris Brown as cheque signatories. Terms of Reference will be drawn up for the Committee.
   
   
6. Appointment of Tree and Footpath Warden
   Councillors unanimously agreed that Roger Keen be asked to continue as Tree and Footpath Warden. Roger Keen accepted this appointment.
   
   
7. Appointment of Highways representative
   Councillors unanimously agreed that Stan Maskell be asked to continue as Highways representative. Stan Maskell accepted this appointment.
   
   
8. Council Representative to High Bickington Community Property Trust
   Proposed by Roger Keen, seconded by Chris Brown, Councillors unanimously agreed that Mike Leatham be asked to continue as the Parish Council’s representative on the High Bickington Community Property Trust. Mike Leatham accepted this appointment.
   
   
9. Council Representative to Torrington MCTA
   David Brown reported that he will be resigning from the MCTA and will therefore not be able to represent the Council. Myc Riggulsford volunteered to take on this role and this was unanimously supported by Councillors.
   
   
10. Confirmation of Clerk’s Salary
    Proposed by David Brown, seconded by Roger Keen, it was unanimously agreed that as from 1 May 2007 the Clerk be paid for 302 hours p.a. (5.5 hours per week + 16 hours holiday) on spinal point 20 = £9.496 per hour = £2867 p.a. = £238.98 per month. This is based on an estimated 2.75% annual increase, national negotiations are currently under way and a decision is expected in the next few months.
    
    
11. Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 17 May 2007
    The Minutes of this meeting were approved and adopted at the Parish Council meeting held on 13 June 2007. There were no matters arising from these minutes.
    
    
12. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 9 April 2008
    The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2008 were agreed and adopted by Councillors. The Chairman signed the minutes.
    
    
13. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2008
    There were no matters arising.
    
    
14. Police Matters
    Stella Burrows had nothing further to report but wished to reiterate her comments at the previous meeting in April when she warned of the need to be aware of the lighter evenings and longer days and possible nuisance being caused to other residents by noisy social events. She also reminded everyone to report anything suspicious immediately on 08452 777444.
    
    
15. Parish Plans
    The Chairman invited David Venner to report on his monthly update. Copies of the report were circulated. The ‘sign off’ meeting arranged for 5 May was cancelled. There will be a delay in submitting the revised plans, due to there being a need to address some of the design and cost issues which were higher than anticipated. The community woodland continues to be well used and there have been no further reports of vandalism.
    
    David Brown reported that the project is fortunate to have been awarded a grant of £50,430 from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Grant.
    
    
16. Barton Meadow Recreational Play Area
    ROSPA Play area inspection. The Inspector had unfortunately inspected the Playing Field play equipment in error but was due to inspect Barton Meadow week ending 9 May 2008 at no additional cost to the Council. A report and invoice is awaited.
    
    
17. Matters raised by the Chairman
    There were no matters raised.
    
    
18. Maintenance
    
    1. Highways – Stan Maskell reported a lack of contact from DCC Highways. The Clerk was asked to follow this up to ensure Highways work with Stan Maskell and keep him informed of their schedules.
    2. Footpaths and Byways – Roger Keen reported that Roy Brown has quoted £150.00 plus VAT to skim off the mud in Taylors Lane. David Brown reported that members of the public had queried the reason for this work. It was pointed out that Taylors Lane is a bridleway and removal of the mud makes it safer for riders and walkers.
       
       The Chairman will arrange for Derek Herniman to supply the five wooden posts at £50 per post for the following paths: Taylors Lane, Deptford Lane, Ridgeway Green, Laxford Bridge and Scribbins Hill Wood.
       
       
19. Finance
    
    1. Little Bickington Farm Project – planning application fee.
       Following a discussion earlier Councillors agreed that to enable the project to benefit from a 50% reduction in planning fees they would be prepared in principle to agree that the Parish Council submits the application. The Chairman pointed out that, as with the previous application, the Council will not be entitled to comment on the application. This was not felt to be a problem.
       
       Resolution: The Parish Council agrees in principle to submit the revised Planning application for the Little Bickington Farm project on behalf of the Parish.
       
    2. The Finance statement at 29 April 2008 was agreed and accepted by the Council.
       Issue of the following cheques was agreed:
       100198 – D Jones – grasscutting £90.00
       100199 - D Carter salary & Expenses £280.92
       
       
    3. Statement of Income and Expenditure.
       Proposed by Peter Tucker, seconded by David Brown, Councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the accounts as presented (attached cum pages 627/628/629). The Chairman signed the accounts. Copies will be displayed on the noticeboards.
       
       
20. Planning
    
    1. Applications: No applications received before the meeting.
    2. Decisions:
       1/0221/2008/FUL
       Extending existing rear porch for single storey utility room
       Shuteley House, High Bickington. Mr & Mrs C MacKinnnon
       TDC DECISION: Granted 18.4.08
       PC DECISION: Supports 12.3.08
       
       
21. Correspondence
    
    1. TDC – Consultation on BT’s current programme of public payphone removals – comments by 20.6.08 – the payphone at Ebberley Arms is listed for removal. In circulation pack for information.
    2. Vacancies for Parish representatives on TDC Standards Committee. Proposed by Peter Tucker, seconded by David Brown Councillors unanimously agreed that the Chairman be asked to put his name forward to be a Parish representative on the Standards Committee.
    3. TDC – Licensing Act 2003 – Review of policy. In circulation pack.
    4. DCC/Devon NHS – Joint Strategic Review of health and social care in Devon – questionnaire – in circulation pack.
       
    5. Chulmleigh Green Festival – June 29th - 11am – 4pm – posters to go on noticeboards.
       
    6. Land Registry – registration of Parish Council owned land. The Clerk was asked to ascertain with the Solicitor whether Parish owned land is registered.
       
    7. Vitalise – providing holidays for disabled people - Request for support. The Clerk was asked to write stating that it is Council policy to support and give grants to local organisations only.
       
    8. Draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document: Torridge District Local Development Framework. Following circulation a decision was made not to comments.
       
       
22. Items for information
    David Brown reminded members of the MCTA AGM on Thursday 29 May 2008.
    
    
23. Date of next meeting:
    Date of next meeting: Wednesday 11 June 2008 at 7.30 pm in the Meeting Point.
    

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.00pm.