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A meeting of Stoke Gabriel Parish Council was held on

Monday 24^th April 2006 at 7.00 pm in the Village Hall

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

6 members of the public were present

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

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

1          Apologies: Mrs C Hunt, Mr B Tarr,

2          Urgent Business brought forward by the Chairman

PC Hodgson sent the following report:

Changes in Policing – 150 Neighbourhood Beat Managers are to be axed, but there are no details yet as to whether this includes PC Hodgson’s area.

Crime – there have been 8 recorded crimes in the parish, including a worrying trend of street signs and street furniture going missing or being destroyed, and graffiti.

Yellow lines – he is still awaiting news of whether the lines will be removed.

Neighbourhood Watch – there has been an increase in the number of co-ordinators.

M8s – the Youth Club has been well attended, and future activities have been planned. 

3          Reports from County & District Councillors

Mrs Rowe reported the following:

The River Shack, Mill Quay – a licence has been granted to serve drinks until 10.30pm, to close at 11.00pm.

Leisure Centres – Tone Leisure has won the tender to run the leisure centres in the South Hams.

Refuse Collection – residents are urged not to leave their bins out in the road after they have been emptied, as this causes obstruction and looks unsightly.

Parish Cluster Meetings – it was disappointing to see no representative from Stoke Gabriel Parish Council at any of the meetings.

Older People – Mrs Rowe attended a meeting in Torbay about the treatment of older people in the area.

Dart Estuary – the Management Plan for 2006/2010 has been published.

School Hill Cottages – Mrs Rowe urged the council to pursue a complaint made by a resident about unauthorised building work at these premises.

Cllr Pennington reported the following:

Residential Homes – DCC will be transferring their homes for the elderly to the private sector in 12-18 months, as this will enable them to be run more cheaply.

Pensions – after negotiation it has been agreed that all local government employees will be able to retire on Final Salary pensions.

Libraries – there is a possibility that 12 local libraries will close, and this will be going to public consultation.

Small Rural Schools – schools with rolls of under 30 may be closed, or amalgamated with other small schools.  Stoke Gabriel, with 84 pupils, is not affected.

DCC Logo – Cllr Pennington is opposing the change in logo, which was agreed without consultation.  He feels that the new one lacks dignity and the cost of changing it would be better spent on improving services.

Standards Board for England – Cllr Pennington feels that the proposed changes in legislation regarding prejudicial interest restrains councillors from representing the views of the electorate, and that it is unfair to put councillors under pressure for trivial complaints.

 4          Planning

Applications

1)  Conway, Hoyle Lane – demolition of existing timber garage/store and rebuild in block work.  No objection.

2)  Tamberley, New Road – erection of detached double garage.  No objection.

Applications granted by SHDC

1)  Crownley, Lembury Road – demolition of existing bungalow and erection of new dwelling

2)  Silver Springs, Paignton Road – alterations and extension to dwelling

3)  Wickendon, Byter Mill Lane – alterations and extension to provide 1^st floor bedroom

4)  8 Body Hayes Close – erection of extension to rear to form additional accommodation

5)  Northam, School Hill – alterations and extension to roof and new detached garage

Applications withdrawn

1)  Adams Orchard, Mill Hill – alterations to include porch, additional rooflight, alterations to 2 windows and amended pedestrian access.  It was noted that much of this work has already been carried out, and the Planning Officer will be informed.

 5          Accounts

Payment of Accounts

Payment of the following was proposed by Miss Ellis and seconded by Mr Hill:

J Hamilton – clerk’s salary & expenses Apr 2006                                 £283.34

Stoke Gabriel Village Hall – hire of hall                                                    £  44.00

Allianz Cornhill – insurance                                                                        £667.20 

Neill White – computer                                                                               £175.00

 The clerk pointed out that there would be amendments to the insurance, owing to the addition of office equipment and benches.  The Finance Committee agreed to investigate other insurance companies for next year.

 6          Matters raised by the Clerk

Weather Station – the Parish Council has been asked to make a one-off donation of £100 towards a weather station to be located at The River Shack.  A vote was taken, 3 for and 3 against, and the Chairman made a casting vote in favour of the proposal, on condition that two other organisations named also made a contribution.  The Parish Council does not agree at this point to fund the project any further.

Totnes Charter 800 – the chairman and his partner have been invited to a Civic Service at Totnes to celebrate the 800^th anniversary of the signing of the King John Charter on 14^th May.

Parking in Aish Road – another letter from a resident was read out about parking on the corner of Aish Road, but with one possible exception, it was concluded that none of these motorists is committing an offence.

Road closure – Aish Road will be closed for approximately one month while telecommunications work is carried out from 27^th April.

Light Pollution – Mr Tully, Miss Ellis and Miss Hamilton attended an event at Follaton House at which it was explained that light pollution will become an offence from 6^th April 2006, with fines of up to £5000.  This includes household exterior lights which cause nuisance to neighbours.  The clerk’s notes from the meeting will be displayed on the notice boards.

7          Minutes of last meeting 27^th March 2006

Mr Wigfall proposed the following amendments:

Item 2 Stoke Gabriel in Bloom report – last line – add the word “beds”.

Item 5 Detailed Budgeting of Precept – para 1. line 2 to read “....explained that the major expense is Hoyle Copse, but it is hoped that some of this expense would be recovered through grants.  There is little room for change in the other expenses.”

Item 5 para 3 line 7 to read “After discussion it was agreed that the expenses be £200 a year to cover telephone costs and using the clerk’s home as an office.”

Line 9 to read “He has also commissioned a computer to be built ....”

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

8          Matters arising from the minutes

Benches – the council will advise the clerk of the number of benches now owned by the council so that the new ones can be added to the insurance.

Rydon Acres – the search is in hand to establish an owner of the paved area.

9          Highway & Hedgerow matters

Brambles – overhanging brambles near Sundial Cottage will be dealt with by Stoke Gabriel in Bloom.

Aish Road – the road between Rowes Farm and Splatt Lodge is in need of repair, but should be resurfaced after the telecom work.

Southlands – the unnamed lane between Vicarage Road and Southlands is to be named Southlands Lane.

Broadley Lane – Mr Deval will contact SHDC regarding the potholes.

Barn Park – a pothole outside No 6 needs repair.  The grass verge needs cutting.

Paignton Road – it was noticed that reflective posts outside Sundial Cottage have been knocked down.

Village sign – the pictorial sign needs to be varnished.  Mr Jones will look into this in conjunction with Stoke Gabriel in Bloom.

10        Matters raised by Councillors

Pre-School and Toddler Group – the chairman has received complaints that these groups are being ousted out of the Old Schoolroom, and have no other accommodation from which to operate, and are therefore in danger of closing.  Mr Wigfall stated that this is not so, but only that they had been asked to tidy up equipment and remove pictures from the walls.

Stoke Gabriel in Bloom – Mrs Rowe has attended their meetings.  It was agreed that the fence at the bus stop is an improvement, but that some of the plantings are out of character with a rural village, in an attempt to make it too tidy and more suburban.

Vandalism – the council is concerned about PC Hodgson’s report regarding the rising number of assaults and acts of vandalism, and parents are urged to make sure they know where their youngsters are, especially at night.

Website – 14,350 visitors.  Mr Wigfall will put information on the website about Affordable Housing, and offered to do a presentation about a possible Parish Plan, to be included on the website at a later date.

Hoyle Copse – SHDC & Devon Wildlife Trust have agreed that the £2652 Grant is safe, and will be paid when the agreed work is finished.  The gates have been fitted at Aish Road, and repairs done to the lime kiln and stone pillars.  The ragwort will be removed in summer, and it is hoped to develop a circular route footpath through the wood.  Unfortunately the National Lottery Grant has now expired and Devon Wildlife may lay off its helpers for the wood.  The Chairman gave thanks to Mr Jones, Mr Deval and their team for the excellent voluntary work they carry out.

11        Annual Parish Meeting 22^nd May 2006

Agenda items will include Barn Park, development of grass verges; Parish Plan presentation; Hoyle Copse.

The meeting closed at 9.40pm

Next Meetings:

Annual Parish Meeting – Monday 22^nd May 2006 at 7pm in the Village Hall