Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
Held on Wednesday 8 April 2009
In the Meeting Point, High Bickington at 7.30pm

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

In attendance:
David Venner – Community Property Trust; 2 members of the public; Mrs Di Carter, Clerk

Neither the County Councillor nor the District Councillor was in attendance and there were no representatives present from the Police. There were no matters raised by the public.

The formal meeting was convened at 7.35pm.

1. Apologies
   Apologies were received from County Councillor John Rawlinson and PCSO Sandra Brown.
   


2. Declarations of Interest
   David Brown and Mike Leatham declared an interest in item 7 – Parish Plans.
   


3. Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on held on 11th March 2009
   Subject to the following amendments the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2009 were agreed and adopted by Councillors:
   1. Item 1 - apologies from District Councillor James Morrish to be recorded.
   2. Item 10(a) to read “David Brown declared an interest in the payments to Biddulph Architects and The Meeting Point”.
   The Chairman signed the Minutes.
   


4. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2009
   
   1. Devon Bank at Barton Meadow – remedial work has not yet been carried out. The Clerk was asked to follow this up.
   2. Application for grant for Play Area at the Playing Field – this application has been successful.
   3. Bus shelter – local publicity for grant funding. A draft report for the North Devon Journal was read out to Councillors; this was agreed subject to the addition of the names of Nik and Simon Copp as the local builders responsible for carrying out the work.
   
   
5. Police Matters
   No Police representatives were in attendance but PCSO Sandra Brown sent a newsletter. Stella Burrows reported the contents which included information about the Community Messaging System. A copy of the details for applying to join this service will be placed in Ramblings and on the noticeboards. In the period of 30 days from 8 February 2009 High Bickington had been virtually crime free.
   


6. North Devon and Torridge District Councils – Settlement Assessment
   Peter Tucker had collated responses from Councillors to the questionnaire and presented a report. The Clerk will transfer these to the assessment form for submission to Torridge District Council. The Chairman thanked Peter Tucker for undertaking this work.
   


7. Parish Plans
   David Venner gave a verbal report for April and he will let the Clerk have updated figures, to include interest accrued, for the funds held by the CPT on behalf of the Parish Council, for inclusion in the annual accounts. Progress on the project is being made and it is hoped work will start on phase 1 in October 2009. Discussions are under way on design work and costings etc. A public consultation will be held at the earliest opportunity, possibly July 2009.
   David Brown reported that he is meeting with the County Council at the end of April to discuss the implementation of the whole scheme and how the new school might fit into the programme.


8. Barton Meadow Recreational Play Area
   Noticeboard – Derek Herniman has completed the repairs. The Chairman will arrange for three new keys to be cut.
   Chris Brown reported the need for a new waste bin and the Clerk was asked to approach Torridge District Council for a replacement.
   


9. Matters raised by the Chairman
   
   1. The Chairman read a report from Sue Williamson following the recent litter pick around the village. The centre of the village was relatively litter and dog mess free but 10 bags of rubbish were collected from other areas. Quarry Wood was litter free but there was a large amount of dog mess on the pathways. The Chairman said this was probably due to a small number of irresponsible dog owners and he found it totally unacceptable in view of the fact that dog bins were provided at each end of the wood. It would be sad if it became necessary to ban dogs from this area but in the interests of health and safety this will be considered if the situation does not improve. The Clerk was asked to arrange for the trees opposite the entrance to Wardens Close to be cut back as they are a litter trap and collection is difficult.
      The playing field and play area had a lot of litter including 4 bags of household rubbish which were removed. There were also some dangerous pieces of glass by the Pavilion. Peter Tucker will deal with this.
      The Chairman thanked Sue Williamson and her team of helpers for the work they had done on behalf of the village; he understood that before they embark on the litter pick they enjoy a breakfast at the Old George and he proposed that the Parish Council fund this breakfast in future for Sue and her regular helpers as a token of thanks for their hard work. All Councillors endorsed this proposal and the Clerk was asked to write to Sue thanking her and informing her of this decision.
      
   2. The Chairman reported a letter from Burrington Parish Council regarding their continuing concerns about the increasing work being carried out at Eaglescott Airfield. They are trying to arrange a meeting with North Devon District Council to discuss the airfield and are asking Chairmen of neighbouring Parish Councils to attend. The Chairman said he would attend if the date arranged is convenient.
      
   3. Annual Parish Council meetings – The Chairman reminded everyone that the next meeting on May 13th is the Annual Parish and Annual Parish Council Meeting.
      


10. Maintenance
    
    1. Highways – Repairs: Stan Maskell reported that very few repairs have been carried out. Urgent work is still required at Pound Lane, Taylors Lane and Deepy Lane. The Clerk will follow this up again.
       
    2. Footpaths and Byways – Roger Keen reported that he is still awaiting a response from one landowner about the proposed installation of kissing gates.
       Bridleway at Old Park – no work has yet been carried out..
       Roger Keen has completed and sent off the return for 2008/09.
11. Finance
    
    1. Accounts as at 30 March 2009. These were agreed, accepted by Councillors present and showed a bank carry forward figure of £9,639.49 following authorisation for payment of the April cheques listed below:
       100244 Derek Herniman – noticeboard repairs £163.00
       100245 Devon Playing Fields Association – subscription £15.00
       100246 D Carter – salary and expenses £294.54
       100247 Play Safety – inspection of Barton Meadow play area £82.80
       
    2. High Bickington Directory – The Clerk reported that County Councillor John Rawlinson is awaiting a decision on the grant funding.
    3. Council insurance – the renewal schedule from Community First has been received and shows an increase of £38 to £1,014. A second quotation is awaited from Norwich Union
    4. End of year accounts 31 March 2009. The Clerk presented draft accounts for the year to 31 March 2009 showing a year end carry forward figure of £10,193.79. Councillors were asked to let the Clerk have any amendments before the May meeting in order that final accounts can be adopted.


12. Planning
    
    1. Applications:
    No applications were received for decision at this meeting.
    2. Decisions:
    No decisions had been received.


13. Correspondence
    
    1. Devon Association of Parish Councils e-mail - Appointments to Local Councils – Re Section 76 of Local Government Act 2007 – request for information. The information requested was agreed and the Clerk asked to send this to DAPC.
    2. DCC – Boundary Commission – consultation on further proposals for Devon. In circulation pack for information – it was not felt a further response was necessary.
    3. Bishops Tawton Parish Council – letter to Country Mile Project re rush hour traffic congestion between the Tesco and Chestwood roundabouts on A361 – request for support. Councillors endorsed the concerns of Bishops Tawton Parish Council and supported their suggestions for the addition of a further near side slip road at the Chestwood roundabout for traffic going to Bishops Tawton, Atherington and High Bickington. The Clerk was asked to send a response.
    4. Devon NHS – information on public meetings being held re the future of oesophago-gastric cancer services in Devon and Cornwall – in information pack
    5. BT Community Connections – information re grant available for laptop and broadband connection – in information pack.
    6. Esmee Fairbairn Foundation – information re grant available to small groups – in information pack.
    7. Community Council of Devon – notice of seminar “Financing and Sustaining Growth” – in information pack.
    8. Community Council of Devon – notice of surgery on Friday 24 April covering Parish plans, affordable housing and Renewable energy – in information pack.


14. Items for information
    David Brown reported that High Bickington has received two national mentions – one in The Guardian and one in the Conservative Green Paper on Housing.
    Stella Burrows reported biodegradable lanterns which have been found on farm land locally contain wire and warned that they constitute a danger to animals. Efforts will be made to establish where these lanterns come from.
    The Clerk was asked to contact the Clerk to Atherington Parish Council and request copies of their minutes.


15. Date of next meeting:
    Annual Parish and Annual Parish Council Meetings - Wednesday 13 May 2009 at 7.30pm in the Meeting Point, High Bickington.
    

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.57pm.