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A meeting of Stoke Gabriel Parish Council was held on

Monday 24^th May 2004 at 7.50 pm 

Ten minutes were allowed at the beginning of the meeting for members of the public to put matters to the Council

 1 member of the public was present

 Present:            Mr R Tully (chairman), Mr W Deval, Miss P Ellis,

Mr N Hill, Mr I Jones, Mrs R Rowe, Mr B Tarr, Mr C Wigfall 

1          Apologies – Mrs C Hunt

 2          Election of Chairman and Vice-chairman

It was proposed by Miss Ellis and seconded by Mrs Rowe that Richard Tully be nominated as Chairman.  This was agreed unanimously.

It was proposed by Mr Tarr and seconded by Mr Wigfall that Christine Hunt be nominated as Vice-chairman.  This was agreed unanimously.

 Mr Tully thanked the councillors for re-electing him and vowed to do his best to serve the council.

 3          Urgent Business brought forward by the Chairman – none

 4          Reports from County and District Councillors

Cllr Hawkins was not present.

District Councillor Mrs Rowe reported the following:

Noise Action Day to take place on 27^th May.  Anyone wishing to complain about noise e.g. from neighbours or fireworks, should contact Kate Eveleigh, the Council Environmental Noise Officer, on 861281 during office hours.

Budgets – a question was asked as to why councils were using a prime advertising slot on TV if budgets were tight.  Mrs Rowe suggested that this was being paid for by a grant from the government, not from the council tax.

Recycling – 26% of Devon’s waste is now being recycled.  The target is 34%.

Planning – targets in April were met, despite an increase in the number of applications.  Planning assistants are being appointed to help achieve the target of clearing applications within 8 weeks of being received.

Housing – ideally affordable housing should be at 50%, i.e. one affordable house for each new house built.  This may include part rent, part share and right to buy.

5          Planning

Applications

1)  Gabriel Court Hotel – new vehicular access and car park.  Objection.

2)  Gabriel Court Hotel – part demolition of boundary wall.  Objection.

3)  Kings Cottage, Paignton Road – planning consent for extension and alterations to roof.  No objection.

4)  Kings Cottage, Paignton Road – listed building consent for extension and alterations to roof.  No objection.

 Applications approved by SHDC

1)  Pine Cliff, Byter Mill Lane – amendments to plan 1180 for alterations to dwelling.  Approved

2)  Hillmount, Hillfield – extension.  Approved subject to conditions regarding the protection of trees on the site.

3)  Bothy Bakehouse, Aish – dormer window.  Approved.

4)  Hill House, Flood Street – alterations and extension.  Approved subject to the garage remaining in perpetuity for the parking of motor vehicles.  This is to ensure that the off-street parking facilities remain available in the interests of highway safety.

5)  Meadow Lodge, Duncannon Mead – alterations and extension.  Approved.

 Appeal to Secretary of State

1)  Tully’s Mead Farm – storage of 5 holiday/touring caravans.

 Tree Preservation Order

1)  Gabriel Court Hotel – preservation order served on all trees on Gabriel Court site.

Supported unanimously.

6          Accounts

Payment of the following were proposed by Mr Deval and seconded by Mr Wigfall:

            J Hamilton        - clerk’s salary May 04             £171.67

                                    - postages                                            £    7.07           £178.74

            R Teague          - grass cutting May 04                                                  £   75.00

            D Holmes         - maintenance                                                               £   80.00

7          Matters raised by the Clerk

Temporary Road Closure – School Hill will be closed on 1^st June due to the presence of a large crane lifting portakabins in and out of the Primary School.

Litter Bin – Robin Kimmerling had requested a litter bin to be placed outside the Village Hall.  South Hams Council has been monitoring the situation but has concluded that litter is not a problem there, and they will not be providing a bin.

Totnes Caring – AGM 3^rd June.  No councillors were available to attend.

SHDC User Group – maintenance of car parks and open spaces.  No councillors are available to join the group.

Track leading from Hoile Lane – a letter has been received from a solicitor regarding the ownership of some land.  The Parish Council recommended that the solicitor be advised to contact the Land Registry.

Devon Wildlife Trusts – River Dart catchment project.  A speaker from the project will be invited to attend the Parish Council meeting in October 2004.

Dart Forum – invitation to attend a meeting on 27^th May.  As Mrs Rowe will be chairing a meeting it was not felt necessary for anyone else from the council to attend.

8          Minutes of Meeting held on 26^th April 2004

Item 4 line 2 Planning to read: plans are being considered to hold meetings with a smaller committee.

Item 4 Castle Cove, Dartmouth to read: It may cost in excess of £300,000 to make the area safe.

Item 4 Public toilets to read: members of the council are fighting to keep them open.  A new one has been opened at Torcross, near the army tank.

Subject to the above amendments the minutes were agreed and signed.

 9          Matters Arising from the Minutes

Scrap cars near Ham Lane have been removed.

 10        Highway and Hedgerow Matters

Grass cutting – the verges around the Four Cross area are maintained by various teams from South Hams and Devon County Councils.  They have now all been cut.

Ramslade – play equipment has appeared in a field next to the road.  Advice will be sought from SHDC as to whether permission is required for this.

Britain in Bloom – following numerous complaints about the grave-like appearance of some plantings and the digging up of the grass verge in Barn Park/Rydon Cross area, the Britain in Bloom committee have been asked to liaise with the Parish Council about any future plantings.  A meeting will be held shortly to try to come to some arrangement about the excessive number of welcome signs at the entrance to the village.

 11        Matters Raised by Councillors

 Tuberculosis – as three farms in the parish have recently been affected by TB, a letter will be sent Defra highlighting the situation.

Miss Birch’s Wood – work has been continuing on Fridays.  There may be a grant available to develop the new access, which will shortly be formalised via the solicitor.

Website – 3000 visitors so far.  Mr Wigfall reported a technical problem which is being addressed.

Yalberton Stream – there have been reports that this is to be made into a river.  Miss Ellis will obtain details and report back.

The meeting closed at 9.10pm

Date of next meeting

Monday 28^th June 2004 at 7pm in the Village Hall