STOKE FLEMING PARISH COUNCIL Clerk: Judy Talbot Asherne Lodge, Strete, Dartmouth TQ6 0RW Email: clerk@stokefleming.org Telephone: 01803 770456 A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Wednesday 2 nd August 2017 in the Village Hall at 7.00 pm Present : Councillors Katie Franks Martin Judd Mary Newman Struan Coupar David Harris Hazel Smith Nick Wood County Councillor Julian Brazil District Councillor Michael Hicks Parish Clerk Judy Talbot Five members of the Public 389. APOLOGIES Cllr Bond 390. MINUTES Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 5 th July 2017 had been circulated and read along with the Planning Site Meeting Minutes of 14 th and 27 th July 2017. Cllr Wood proposed and Cllr Smith seconded that the PC minutes be accepted. Cllr Judd proposed and Cllr Harris seconded that the Planning site minutes be accepted. All were in agreement and both PC meeting minutes and planning minutes were signed as a true record. 391. MATTERS ARISING Cllr Franks confirmed that she had written a letter of thanks to Charlie Wreford-Brown further to his resignation. The Clerk confirmed that the new Vacancy for Councillor notice had been posted on boards and the website. The application process will be open until 14 th September. 392. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None. 393. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME A member of the public stated concerns regarding the overgrown path on the main road opposite the Village Hall. The Clerk confirmed that this will be cut back. 394. COUNTY COUNCILLOR S REPORT Cllr Brazil gave details of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and will let Councillors know the date by which highway requests should be submitted (eg. New yellow lines etc). Cllr Franks asked how the Council timetable the works as they are an annual one-off. Cllr Brazil stated that the works will be factored into the overall capital program this financial year. Cllr Brazil also confirmed that the manhole covers on Blackpool Hill have now been highlighted yellow which does enable greater visibility for motorists and cyclists. Cllr Coupar raised the question as to whether the utility companies should be responsible for fixing the depth of the covers. Cllr Brazil informed the PC that planning for the School Road development had been approved based on the Chairman s deciding vote. 395. DISTRICT COUNCILLOR S REPORT Cllr Hicks stated that there was nothing more to say about the School Road planning decision except to say that the previous allocation within the Local Plan had been the main problem. He noted that all three local representatives at the meeting had stated the case well. 1
Cllr Hicks informed the PC that both SHDC and West Devon BC had voted for the merger of the two Councils. This will be subject to consultation and must be thorough and allow members to have a view of and control over questions within the consultation. The Joint Local Plan has now been submitted to the Inspectorate as of Monday 31 st July. We will then await a hearing date. Cllr Franks expressed grave concerns and dissatisfaction on behalf of the PC in relation to the recent lack of consultation regarding Phase 2 of the West Dart development. Cllr Coupar stated that correspondence between SHDC and the developer had only allowed for 8 days consultation in the middle of the main holiday season. Cllr Coupar confirmed that he has written to ask for a meeting between SFPC and representatives from Dartmouth Town Council. The Draft Local Plan has reverted to the previous allocation of 450 dwellings. Cllr Judd stated that any proposed development will impact upon the Parish. Cllr Hicks confirmed that he will look into this. 396. COMMUNITY (a) Reported problems Cllr Newman confirmed that the Bay View hedging had now been cut albeit rather ruthlessly. (b) Police Report Cllr Smith discussed the recent Neighbourhood Policing meeting which she had attended at SHDC. She was rather disappointed as there was very little consultation and proposed changes seem to be a done deal. Dartmouth Police Station will continue to exist but with no front desk. Cllr Franks stated that hopefully our Youth club can be of some help to younger members of the public. Cllr Judd had nothing to report from the Police facebook account for Stoke Fleming. (c) Noticeboard Cllr Newman to confirm the ownership of this piece of land which is possibly within the land boundaries of the Housing Association. (d) Groundwork Community Funding Grant Cllr Coupar stated that the Grant had to be spent within six months of receiving it which gives a deadline of 24 th October. This will be addressed at the forthcoming Neighbourhood Plan meeting. (e) Fresher s Fair The Clerk confirmed that correspondence with the various interested clubs is continuing with regards their requirements for the Fair. The poster will be placed on various boards, the website and within the SF magazine in order to advertise the event. (f) Website Sponsors Cllr Coupar proposed that the next stage of the website would be possibly to appoint someone to organize the Business Directory more fully. Clerk confirmed that revenue for advertising had dropped off over the last 2-3 years and agreed to meet with Cllr Franks to discuss a way forward.. (g) Bird Walk Cllr Coupar stated that the forthcoming meeting with stakeholders will agree to a plan and discuss the type of fencing required. Cllr Newman gave concerns over safety issues to the very poor condition of the existing fencing. It was agreed that the Clerk will write to the owners of Farwell House and Stoke Lodge to ascertain who owns the boundary and to ask if they could mend this part of the fencing as a short-term solution. (h) Dog Show Cllr Franks discussed the success of the recent Dog Show held by Hope Elliot. The event had received a good turn-out and raised over 200. It was confirmed that the 5 fee had been repaid to Hope. 2
(i) Letting Policy Members of the public have expressed concerns regarding the affordable housing criteria. Cllr Coupar proposed that SHDC might receive a report from the management company of the previous School Road development which would show the criteria necessary. Cllr Hicks stated that SHDC do not receive such a report but that Housing Associations do have to follow allocation rules. Cllr Wood asked if anyone checks this and Cllr Hicks said that there is no mandate to check but the HA can be called to report within their Scrutiny meeting. Cllr Judd asked if this meeting is open to the public and minuted. Cllr Hicks confirmed that there is a certain procedure to follow whereby questions can be tabled. Committee members may invite Devon Home Choice to attend and be questioned accordingly. Cllr Coupar agreed that the PC will write to say that SFPC would like to be involved in this process. (j) West Dart Development Cllr Coupar stated that a meeting between Dartmouth Council and SFPC will go ahead. The original reasons for the housing to be reduced still stand and are still relevant. The previous closing date of 24 th July for consultation no longer applies. SFPC will state a case after the joint meeting takes place. 397. ROADS & TRANSPORT (a) Reported problems A five-bar gate is lying on the ground at the top of Blackpool Hill. Cllr Wood is corresponding with Paul McFadden from Coastal Paths. Cllr Harris will monitor the pothole along Blackmore Lane which is circled yellow. (b) Bugford Flooding Charlie Wreford-Smith to progress Clerk to monitor. (c) Blackpool Hill manhole covers Cllr Judd confirmed that he has photographic evidence of a depth greater than two inches regarding the manhole covers. The Clerk to email Highways again with these details. 398. MAINTENANCE (a) Bus shelter Sportsman s Arms Cllr Newman confirmed that John Dunn will quote on the roof works. (b) Reported problems A member of the public reported a broken strut at the Jubilee shelter on the playing field. Clerk to ask Keith Ellis if he can repair. Clerk to ask three local gardeners to tender for the Children s Playpark grass maintenance. Cllr Franks expressed concern over the untidiness along Venn Lane. Cllr Harris asked Cllr Hicks if SHDC have completed their spraying program. Cllr Hicks to find out. 399. PLANNING: APPPLICATIONS Lower Ash Farm, Ash, Stoke Fleming TQ6 0LR 2228/17/FUL Change of use of land for the siting of shepherd's hut for camping/holiday use. Farwell House, Rectory Lane, Stoke Fleming TQ6 0QB 2265/17/LBC Listed building consent for proposed schedule of works to repairs to the roof. 3
Greenswood Barn, Lower Ash Farm, Blackawton TQ6 0LR 2187/17/FUL Application for profiled sheet roof following granted consent for Change of use of agricultural building to dwelling house (Class C3) and for associated operational development (Class Q(a+b)). Church Cottage, Church Road, Stoke Fleming TQ6 0PZ 1936/17/HHO Re advertisement (revised plans) Householder application for installation of window to side elevation. DECISIONS The Barn, Blatchmore Lane, Bugford 0791/17/PDM Prior approval given for proposed change of use of agricultural building. Venn Farm, Venn, Dartmouth TQ6 0LE 1794/17/PDM Prior approval given for proposed change of use of agricultural building to a dwelling house (C3). ENFORCEMENT CASES Current enforcement list update 400. FINANCE a) BANK BALANCES Santander 13,615.45 Statement dated 6 th July 2017 Lloyds Bank 18,997.49 Balance at 28th July 2017 b) RECEIPTS None Cllr Smith proposed and Cllr Newman seconded that the following cheques be approved for signature. All were in agreement. c) ACCOUNTS TO BE PAID Nick Roberts 47.50 Shelter cleaning Barry Morris 40.00 Website administration Hannah Abraham 34.00 Toilet block cleaning Miss J Talbot 330.55 Clerk salary EDF Energy 327.67 Electricity bill Alan Pook 1,500.00 Gardening services Evergreen SW 66.00 Maintenance d) Football Club It was agreed that the Clerk makes a final attempt to contact the Chairman of the Football Club in relation to their outstanding bill. No response has been received from any emails over the last couple of months. Cllrs agreed that matches must be postponed if no payment is received imminently as they are in breach of contract. e) Santander Cllr Franks confirmed that changes need to be made to the Santander account. Cllr Judd to be added as a signatory and Jennie Farmer to be removed. Two Councillors must sign to approve and a set of minutes to be included. 401. Skip Correspondence was received from Mike Simons congratulating the PC on a good job with regards the skip. Cllrs thanked Cllrs Bond, Newman and Smith for their contribution. As the skip was three-quarters full it was agreed that an annual skip would be sufficient. There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.45 pm. The next monthly meeting of the PC will be held on 6 th September 2017 in the Village Hall at 7pm. 4
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