Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
Held on Wednesday 10 September 2008
In the Meeting Point, High Bickington at 7.30pm

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

In attendance:
5 members of the public.

Apologies
Mrs Di Carter - Clerk, David Venner - CPT, Cllr James Morrish, PCSO Sandra Brown.

Declarations of Interest
Mike Leatham & David Brown declared an interest in item 6, David Brown declared an interest and left the room in item 10.3.

1. Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on held on 9 July 2008
   The Minutes were agreed and adopted by Councillors and the Chairman signed the Minutes.
   
2. Matters raised by District & County Councillors
   The Chairman reported a message from Cllr James Morrish saying that Torridge District Council has voted not to support the Boundary Commission’s proposals for a single unitary authority for Devon as there was no evidence this would improve services or save money. Next week the District Council will appoint a new head of planning, and consultation on the Torrington New Street car park is being completed. Cllr Des Shadrick has now made a full recovery from illness.
   
3. Matters raised by members of the public
   Residents asked that the wild raspberry bush verges on the junction of Highfield Close and Barton Meadow road (on both sides of the roads) should be cut back. Stan Maskell agreed to take this up with DCC Highways.
   A further discussion about the broken jubilee noticeboard on the Church Hall established that the WI originally paid for it, but it may belong to the church as it is on the hall. The key is held by the post office, although the lock is now broken. Members of the organisations present by general consent asked the Parish Council to get the noticeboard repaired and a new lock installed as it is a community facility. Chairman was asked to get quotes for polycarbonate or similar safety cover, repairs and redesign of doors from Derek Herniman.
   
4. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2008
   
   1. White lines by Doctor’s Surgery: chairman reported that the clerk has had no response to repeated attempts to contact DCC over the difficulty the new white lines are causing for residents of surgery lane who are blocked into their drives and garages by inconsiderate parking by surgery staff and users during the day and pub visitors in the evening. Stan Maskell and clerk to chase up DCC Highways Dept.
   2. Community Orchard: chairman thanked Roger Keen for raising the idea but council agreed that it will be unable to consider this facility until after planning decisions and work has commenced at Little Bickington Farm.
   3. Torridge District Council composter – councillors were not able to say if this has now been delivered to the school for churchyard and nature study use. Peter Tucker to chase.
5. Police Matters
   Stella Burrows has sent apologies to the Neighbourhood Watch meeting in Torrington as it clashed with this Parish Council meeting. She reported from the Police Newsletter for September and warned about doorstep tarmac workers in the area who have attracted the attention of the police and trading standards officers, to whom any approach should be reported. Although it is unclear if any laws have actually been broken the traders are intimidating people to get payment for substandard work. Roger Keen, the Chairman and other residents have been approached. Chairman reported that the Silver Landrover Defender VAO7 NXO left in a great hurry when he took its number. One burglary in the village has been reported, but members present did not know who the victim was or what was taken. Stella warned people again to watch out for fuel and vehicle thefts, to lock fuel caps and stores, and if possible leave minimal fuel in the tanks of vehicles parked out overnight. Peter Tucker said that the advice given in the newsletter is very general and would be more useful if it was much more specific, giving descriptions of suspect vehicles and crimes or trading practices to watch out for.
   
6. Parish Plans
   David Brown reported on the Little Bickington Farm planning application which was submitted by the Community Property Trust in the Parish Council’s name and is now being considered by Torridge District Council. He said that it now depends upon whether government office decides to call it in as a departure from local plans, and he is meeting the TDC planners on 25 September to go through the application and also agree a Section 106 agreement, which will cover the rents to be charged on the affordable housing and other matters. The new application includes 39 homes in a smaller land area than previously, with 16 affordable houses, and 23 open market houses (including 5 barn conversions), plus the school, community building and workshops. The 6 work units will include 2 serviced plots being sold for self-build workshop units, plus the woodchip district heating unit. The roads will be a compromise mixture of adopted and semi-private highway areas due to differences in drainage methods (saving £250,000 in costs). Stan Maskell asked what effect the fall in house and land values would have. David Brown said that the falling housing market was taken into account, in the recent small increase in open market houses applied for, but that the deal with Devon County Council which obliges the development to generate £1m would protect the Community Property Trust, which gets the first £250,000 as seed funding, with the remainder if any going to Devon County Council. He said that we need to be in a position to move forward as soon as we can when the market conditions flatten out, but that building will not start until we can be sure that we have a route out. Ideally the development would start with building at North Road and move into the site laying roads and services, but it may be that some equity share properties will be best to build first instead. In spite of cost restrictions, the building design has achieved the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 (the next to highest), and ‘very good’ on the ‘BREAM’ design level for the school and community buildings. The Community Property Trust still needs to raise another £1m from grants, loans and/or a withdrawable share offer to achieve the development, but much of this has already been lined up. Further funds will be raised through a share issue or loan, which will be repaid from rents. David Brown said that full copies of the plans are available on display at the Meeting Point (Thursdays and Fridays or at other times by appointment) and the Parish Council copy was also lodged there by chairman to provide another set for inspection by councillors and the public. Chairman said that although no-one really wants further housing development in the village, this seems to be the only way that we can get affordable housing for local people, and thanked David Brown especially for all his hard work, and patience in attending so many meetings for years, and other members of the Community Property Trust for their work.
7. Barton Meadow Recreational Play Area
   Chris Brown reported that there are no problems at present.
8. Matters raised by the Chairman
   
   1. Boundary Committee review: Chairman had circulated a draft response before the meeting indicating the split opinions of council with some in favour of a single unitary authority as proposed by the County Council and some in favour of a North Devon rural unitary which might be more locally responsive. After further discussion all councillors agreed that the Devon County Council proposal for a single unitary with locally accountable boards is the most acceptable option on offer, providing that the local boards have proper budgets and executive or delegated powers for planning control and similar functions. Chairman to redraft response for approval by Vice-chair and submission to Boundary Committee, retaining paragraphs listing council’s concerns over the timetable, remit and lack of financial information supplied in support of the review. Vice-chair pointed out that a normal review process is to ask consultees for opinions and options, then choose the best one to put forward, not decide the result then ask for consultation on it, as the Boundary Committee has done.
   2. Standard’s Committee. Chairman has attended two meetings of Torridge committee and considered one complaint case, which was not put forward for further investigation. Cases are reported on the Torridge District Council website.
9. Maintenance
   
   1. Highways – Stan Maskell reported that no-one has contacted him from DCC Highways and he has not seen the road menders, but that white lines have been painted round some holes. Chairman and others reported the serious and dangerous pothole in Kingford Hill near the Bales Ash turning, Stan Maskell to action with Highways. Roger Keen also reported that Deepy Lane, which runs from the Snape entrance at the bottom of Taylor’s Lane to the A377 towards Kingford, although not heavily used as a road, is now seriously eroded at the edge lower down and becoming hazardous. Stan Maskell to report to DCC Highways.
   2. Footpaths and Byways – Roger Keen said that Derek Herniman has installed the green lane signposts, which are an excellent job, and expressed council’s thanks to him. The footpath from Old Park towards Nethergrove Lane is badly overgrown and some of the horses in the field it runs along are getting onto the path, cutting it up due to the wet weather. Roger Keen to get advice from DCC Footpaths and also speak with the owners (who live at Libbaton) as it is the Parish Council’s responsibility to trim the hedgerow, and our main priority is to ensure that walkers and dog owners can use the pathway.
   3. Bus Shelter – Peter Tucker reported that the Bus Shelter has a broken bench, leaking gutter and needs a general repaint and maintenance. Peter Tucker will speak to Copp’s Builders for a quote, and any other general builders interested, chairman will speak to Steve Kinsey to see if he will also quote. Council by general agreement delegated actions and assessment to Peter Tucker and Chris Brown who will liaise with contractors, assess the situation, get quotes and start remedial action as soon as possible.
10. Finance
    
    David Brown declared an interest and left the room while items (1) and (3) were discussed.
    
    1. Accounts as at 31 August 2008. These figures were agreed, after transfer of funds on 29 August from the Parish Council Section 106 monies held by the Community Property Trust on our behalf of £5,000 to cover the Little Bickington Farm planning application costs (less VAT), leaving a bank balance and carry forward figure of £6,988.93 following authorisation for payment of the cheques listed below (proposed Stella Burrows, seconded Stan Maskell, carried by all councillors eligible to vote):
       100210 D Jones – grasscutting £60.00
       100211 Biddulph Architects £5,875.00
       100212 Meeting Point – room hire £60.00
       100213 D Carter – salary and expenses £408.24
       
    2. Grants 2009/10 – Clerk has put a notice on the noticeboards asking for written requests for grants from local organisations, and sent a copy to Ramblings for October 2008, with a closing date of 6 October 2008 for grant applications. Councillors were concerned that this gives short notice to organisations to apply, and asked that all previous recipients of grants should be sent application forms. David Brown copied the poster and will display it at the Meeting Point, Peter Tucker will put one on the school noticeboard in the church porch. All eligible organisations are urged to apply if they want grants for 2010.
    3. Meeting Point – Hire of Hall increase in charges from £10 to £12 per meeting to cover increases in heating and lighting costs. Agreed by all councillors eligible to vote (proposed Peter Tucker, seconded Mike Leatham).
    4. Audit 2008 – this has been completed but not yet signed off by the Audit Commission, which is running 3 months late.
    5. Chairman reported that he passed on the locality grant application forms from DCC Cllr John Rawlinson to the Playing Field Association Secretary, who has submitted an application through the clerk for £2,000-3,000 towards the cost of refurbishing the pavilion following the recent vandalism, and maintaining the Play Area.
11. Planning
    
    1. Applications: Received, circulated to councillors, agreed and responded to since previous meeting (due to August break):
    1. 1/0522/2008/FUL Alterations comprising 1st floor extension over garage and conservatory, Fewings, Mill Road, High Bickington, for Mr & Mrs C Gooding - PC Decision: NO OBJECTION
    2. 1/0906/2008/FUL Proposed general purpose agricultural building, at Ebberley, High Bickington, for Mr Stephen Wright. Stan Maskell again raised his concerns over open fields being covered in small buildings. - PC Decision: NO OBJECTION (by 7-1 majority)
    2. Applications received for discussion at this meeting:
    1. Little Bickington Farm project – revised application. Peter Tucker, David Brown declared interests and took no part in discussion or decision. - PC Decision: This application has been made on behalf of High Bickington Parish Council which continues to support it and recommends that Torridge District Council approves it.
    3. Decisions:
    1. 1/0482/2008/FUL Proposed demolition of existing ground floor extension and erection of ground floor and first floor extension, Broadpark House, High Bickington, for Mr & Mrs Newton-Adair. - PC Decision: Supports the application TDC Decision 15.07.08: Granted
    4. Correspondence
       
       1. DAPC subscription rates for 2009/10 (increase of £6 to £141), agreed unanimously.
       2. High Bickington Community Property Trust AGM on 11 September 2008
       3. High Bickington Community Property Trust exhibition of plans 11 September 2008
       4. DCC Boundary Commission Review – notice of Parish and Town Council events
       5. DAPC information re BT payphone removal & retention of kiosks (decision: not wanted)
       6. TDC proposed changes to draft Regional Spatial Strategy for consultation: Stella Burrows urged councillors to read this and respond as it contains the Secretary of State’s proposal to increase the Torridge residential requirement for 2006-2026 from 4,800 homes to 10,700. Consultation ends on 17 October 2008.
          
    5. Items for information
       
       1. David Brown said that the toddler group provided by Bluecoats at the Meeting Point has effectively ended and the trustees have agreed to host Jill Tucker, a registered childminder who will run the Mother and Toddler Group, once insurance is regularised, which will mean a loss of income for the Meeting Point. Chairman encouraged the Mother & Toddler Group to apply for a Parish Council grant.
       2. Green wheelie bins – following an enquiry from Great Deptford, councillors said that green bins are not provided outside the 30mph area.
       3. Chairman said that Adam Symons, TDC councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats has offered to come and speak at a parish council meeting. Councillors said that we would need to know what he will speak about (not just politics), and will offer up to 10 minutes at some point when we have time available.
       
       
       4. Date of next meeting:
          Wednesday 8 October 2008 at 7.30pm in the Meeting Point, High Bickington.
          

       There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.17pm.