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A meeting of Stoke Gabriel Parish Council was held on

Monday 25^th September 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), Mrs C Hunt, Mr W Deval, Miss P Ellis,

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

1          Apologies:  Cllr T Pennington 

2          Urgent Business brought forward by the Chairman

PC John Hodgson gave the following report:

Regrettably PC Hodgson stated that this would be his last report from this parish as he would be taking up his new post in Dartmouth at the end of the week.  There will still be a Neighbourhood Beat Manager but he or she would cover a much wider area.  PC Hodgson thanked everyone in Stoke Gabriel for making him so welcome during his time here.  The chairman thanked PC Hodgson for his support. 

3          Reports from County & District Councillors

No report from Cllr Pennington

Mrs R Rowe reported the following:

Benefits - the council is urging those eligible for benefits to take them up, as many do not claim all to which they are entitled.

Leisure Centres – Tone Leisure should be operating by 1^st November

Refuse collection – the change to wheeled bins means a long period of non-collection before the scheme falls into its new routine of alternate grey/brown bin collection. 

4)         Planning

Mrs Rowe declared an interest and took no part in discussions on planning.

Applications

1)  Broadleigh Farm, Coombe House Lane – renewal of change of use of redundant barn to rural working.  Mrs Hunt declared a personal interest and took no part in this item.  No objection 

2)  The Garth, Vicarage Road – single storey extension to provide additional accommodation.  No objection

3)  Yarde, Paignton Road – demolition of existing garage, construction of new garage/storage area and widening of existing access.  No objection

4)  Yarde, Paignton Road – listed building consent for 3) above.  No objection

5)  Yarde, Paignton Road – listed building consent for construction of new entrance canopy.  No objection

6)  Glenhaven, Paignton Road – alterations and extension to rear (No.1506). No objection

7)  Dartside Quay, Galmpton – renewal of application for construction of slipway.  No objection

8)  Borrowdale, Mill Hill – new garden room and decked area.  No objection

9)  Ramslade, Paignton Road – change of use of former poultry building from caravan storage to B2 general industrial use.  Demolition of existing building with subsequent clearance and levelling of land to allow resumption of approved outdoor caravan storage.  One objection was received from a member of the public.  No objection

10) 3 Long Rydon – block built shed.  No objection

11) 1 Stokeleigh, Flood Street – reconstruction of extension and formation of car parking area.  No objection

12) Southlands, Vicarage Road – retrospective application for preservation of two wooden huts.  No objection

13) Ramslade, Paignton Road – demolition of existing toilet block and erection of new toilet blocks with ancillary work.  No objection

14) Glenhaven, Paignton Road – alteration and extension to dwelling (No.1746).  No objection

Applications Granted by SHDC

1)  Alicia, Flood Street – rear extension

2)  The Garth, Vicarage Road – single storey extension to provide additional accommodation

3)  Land off Flood Street – erection of stables

4)  The Round House, Hr Well Farm – proposed conversions to form 2 self-contained units + garage and additional ancillary accommodation

5)  Salmon’s Leap, Paignton Road – installation of velux roof light

6)  Glenhaven, Paignton Road- alterations and extensions to rear (No.1506)

7)  Broadleigh Farm, Coombe House Lane – renewal of change of use of redundant barn to rural workshop

8)  35 Barn Park – outline application for erection of dwelling

Applications Refused by SHDC

1)  Southlands, Vicarage Road – change of use of land from agricultural to residential

2)  5 Darton Grove – re-submission of application for dormer extension

3)  6 Darton Grove – re-submission of application for dormer extension and pitch roof over kitchen

Other Planning Matters

A site meeting was held with SHDC re steps at 2 School Hill Cottages.  No objection but health & safety issues are to be taken into account

5          Accounts

Payment of Accounts

Payment of the following accounts were proposed by Mr Tarr and seconded by Mrs Hunt:

J Hamilton        – clerk’s salary & expenses Sept 06                 £283.34

                        - postages                                                        £  11.37           £294.71

I Jones – expenses re Hoyle Copse                                                                   £  62.30

Retrospective payments for August

J Hamilton        Clerk’s salary August 06                                                           £283.34

Staples – office requisites                                                                                  £  11.37

ER Teague – grass cutting                                                                                 £  62.30

Bank balances:

The clerk reported the following:

Current Account                       £4911.29

Deposit Account                       £      7.65

National Savings                       £4826.03

Website                                    £  350.00                     Total   £10094.97 

Mr Wigfall asked that the clerk should provide a list of the council’s assets.  He also proposed that £2000 be transferred to the deposit account.  Mr Wigfall also stated that the Finance Committee would meet in October.

It was agreed that Stoke Gabriel in Bloom be funded by the council for the next entry into the Best Kept Village competition. 

6          Matters raised by the Clerk

Apple tree – a fallen apple tree in the orchard has still not been removed from the play area, as requested by SHDC.  Mr Tully agreed to look into this.

Stoke Gabriel in Bloom – a request was made for the council to make a contribution towards a knapsack weed sprayer.  The council agreed to fully fund this item at a cost of £50.  The council also congratulated the team on their silver gilt award in the Britain in Bloom competition.

Road closure – Vicarage Road will be closed near River Cottage for up to 5 days from 2^nd November 2006 as a result of works on behalf of South West Water.

Leisure Centres – a letter was received from SHDC explaining the future management by Tone Leisure.

Cllr Bryan Carson – the Chairman of South Hams District Council expressed thanks from himself and his wife for the parish council’s hospitality on carnival evening and stated how impressed he was with the procession.

Sherford Area Action Plan – Mrs Hunt offered to complete a questionnaire on the council’s behalf.

Safe Place Scheme – a scheme is proposed to offer safe houses to vulnerable adults.  It was agreed that this be passed to the vicar.

Hoyle Copse – a letter was received from a parishioner who was injured while walking near Hoyle Copse.  Mr Jones offered to reply.

Weather Station – the weather station is now fully operational, with a link into the village website.

Parish Plan – DCC are offering to assist councils with their Parish Plans.  Mr Wigfall will contact the officer concerned.

Clerk’s training – the Clerk attended a SLCC (Society of Local Council Clerks) meeting at which the president gave a useful presentation on bullying in the workplace. 

7          Minutes of last meeting 24^th July 2006

It was proposed by Miss Ellis and seconded by Mr Wigfall that he minutes be accepted as a true record and they were duly signed by the chairman. 

8          Matters arising from the minutes

Emergency Plan – Mr Wigfall has requested an updated copy of the model plan.

Street naming – Mr Jones offered to attend to the naming of the lane off Vicarage Road as Millers Lane.

Conservation Officer’s questionnaire – 50 forms were returned and his report is awaited.

Odour from drains – this has become more widespread and the clerk will contact South West Water.

Trees – Mr Tarr has spoken to the Tree Warden about forming a list of trees worthy of a TPO. This will take some time to complete.

Bullying – the chairman admitted making a statement that he wanted it minuted that the clerk had been bullied by some councillors, but then stated that he did not agree that it had happened.  A separate meeting will be arranged to discuss this. 

9          Highway & Hedgerow matters

Sign at slipway – this needs to be repainted

Barn Park – some councillors have met with DCC highways regarding the proposed tarmac.  Mr Halliday will be contacted to determine who owns the land.

Hoyle Lane - the lower part of the lane is overgrown and impassable.  Mr Hill will mention this to the landowner.

Fly tipping – an armchair has been dumped in the millpond.  Tony Pook will be instructed to remove this.

Byter Mill Lane – the clerk will contact a house owner whose brambles are overhanging the road.

Orchard play area – it was agreed to spread some bark chippings around the play equipment to make it safer.

Fleet Mill Lane – Mr Jones met with Mr Morrison from DCC highways, who needs the approval of the landowner to tip flint chippings in the dip.  This is in hand.

Byter Mill Lane – it was noted that heavy lorries used for current building work may be damaging the road, which is liable to subsidence.

Coombe Shute – builders at the V & A are damaging the highway, and the council agreed to ensure that it is made good at the end of the project. 

10        Matters raised by Councillors

Hoyle Copse – the council congratulated Mr Jones and his team of volunteers on achieving an Award of Merit Certificate from the RHS, which will be displayed in the village hall.  Mr Jones reported that the meadow has been cut and that it is hoped to develop a new footpath up the ramp to make it more accessible.

Britain in Bloom – it was also agreed that these certificates should be displayed in the village hall for the public to see.

Stoke Gabriel in Bloom – Mrs Rowe attended their meeting as parish council representative.  They intend to replace the barrels on the war memorial with hayracks.  They are also disappointed with their Silver Gilt award and intend to query with the judges why they were not awarded a Gold award.

Seats – two benches donated by Mr Hamment-Arnold will be placed shortly, as will the one donated by Mr Richardson for the quayside.

River Dart Non-Beneficiary Group – Mr Tarr has resigned from this group and invited the council to appoint another representative to attend 3 or 4 meetings a year.  There are no volunteers at present.

Website – 18165 visitors so far. 

The meeting closed at 9.20pm

Next meetings: 

Monday 30^th October 2006 at 7pm in the village hall