Minutes from September 2018 Meeting

Shobrooke Parish Council

Minutes of Parish Council meeting held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 11 September 2018 

The meeting commenced at 7.30pm 

Members Present: 

Cllr R Ayre (Chairman)                       Cllr J Ingham

Cllr C Boult                                         Cllr A Jones

Cllr B Curle                                         Cllr J Lee

Cllr B C Furse                                     Cllr L Pitts                                                                         

In attendance:

Footpath Warden (left 8.07pm), 1 member of public (left 8.15pm), Cllr M Squires, DCC (left 8.15pm), J Hole, Parish Clerk                  

Business to be Transacted

Public Participation

There was none

Formal Business 

01/09/18     Apologies

Cllr A Ripper (working), Cllr P Hare-Scott, MDDC (another meeting)

 

02/09/18     Declaration of Interest

Item 4.1 – Cllr R Ayre (DPI) 

03/09/18     Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 10 July 2018

Signed as a true record 

04/09/18     Mid Devon District Council

4.1              Planning Applications

Cllr R Ayre left the room and Cllr C Furse took the Chair

18/01184/FULL- Change of use of land for the siting of a temporary agricultural worker's dwelling at West of Shute Cross, Shute

18/01183/MFUL - Erection of an agricultural building for free range egg laying, clean and dirty water handling facilities, control room/packing area, 2 feed bins and creation of new access at West of Shute Cross, Shute

18/01184 and 18/00183 were considered together.  An e-mail from a parishioner objecting to the applications had been circulated to Councillors and comments from another parishioner were circulated at the meeting.  After discussion it was agreed to ask planning to take account of the comments and points made by parishioners on the planning portal.  Also, to note that it is strongly recommended that an enterprise is located 400m from any residential property.  This application is 300m, so could a different location be considered?  If permission is granted could a screen of trees/hedges be a planning condition?

New premises licence application - Harefield Barn, Shute, Shobrooke, Crediton EX17 1BW – no comment

              Cllr R Ayre returned to the room

18/01379/FULL- Formation of new access track at West Efford Lane, Shobrooke – no comment

4.2              Planning Decisions:

18/00781/HOUSE - Erection of first floor extension to garage at Shobrooke Mill – permission granted

18/00843/FULL - Removal of agricultural occupancy Condition (f) of planning permission 4/44/87/1850 at Oaklea, Shobrooke – permission refused

4.3              To consider request from Crediton Town Council (CTC) Clerk to write to MDDC to oppose the decision to sell CTC offices to a private buyer – e-mail circulated separately

Cllr M Squires was asked to comment.  She explained that the decision to sell the offices was taken in June and went to cabinet twice as well as to the scrutiny committee. CTC had been offered a lease by the new owner but had turned it down.  They were paying MDDC a low rent and the cost to MDDC to maintain the building was high.  As the decision to sell had already been taken it was too late to oppose it.  Councillors resolved to make no comment.

4.4              To note visit by MDDC Chairman to October meeting – Any questions to be forwarded in advance

Clerk to forward the issue of parking at the playpark and the unfinished work to the playpark wall.  Councillors to let the Clerk know of any further questions.

4.5              Report from Cllr P Hare-Scott

There was no report 

05/09/18     Road and Footpaths

5.1              Outstanding Road and Footpath issues – drain by bus stop and potholes

The drain by the bus stop continued to cause problems.  Clerk to re-report

5.2              New issues identified

Clerk to report i) drain opposite the village hall, ii) Poor road surface by Creedy Court, iii) Damaged bridge by Lower Coombe Cottages and iv) junction at Church lane where the road surface needs to be finished properly

5.3              To note Risk Assessment for steps etc on allotment path and to consider any actions

 A Risk Assessment had been circulated and it was resolved that Cllr B Curle would discuss the assessment with the land owner.  Clerk to send the land owner a copy of the risk assessment

5.4              To note various works to Footpaths to be carried out and funded by DCC

Details of various works which had been identified by DCC’s warden who had walked all the Shobrooke paths had been circulated and were noted.  The Footpath Warden reported that three jobs were still outstanding on FP8 and FP3 and he hoped these would be completed by October.  The annual paths survey was coming up.  Councillors thanked the Footpath Warden for his continued work and he left the meeting. 

06/09/18     Finance

6.1              To approve signatures for this month’s cheques

Cllr C Furse and Cllr J Lee

6.2              Parish Council receipts Current Account: £250.00 – grant from Cllr M Squires

6.3              Parish Council payments current account:

                   To ratify payment made in August                 

Item	Payee	Purpose	Amount £
6.3.1	Phil Keen	Re-print of Shobrooke Walk leaflet	264.00

                                                                                                                                       

New payments

These were agreed as:

Item	Payee	Purpose	Amount £
6.3.2	Sign Express	Sign for playing fields	38.40
6.3.3	J Hole	Salary and expenses	292.07

                                                                                                                                         

Since the agenda had been sent, two invoices had been received and it was resolved to pay both.

Shobrooke Village Hall – hire of hall for 2018 for £126.00 and Nick Cann Pest Control Ltd – removal of wasp’s nest at the playpark for £60.00

6.4              Balances:

6.4a            Parish Council Current Account balance: £4,373.08

6.4b           Parish Council Footpath balance (in above current account figure): £361.74

6.4c            Parish Council Reserve Account balance: £5,790.27

6.5              Financial Statement and Budget Monitor

Noted 

07/09/18     Councillor’s Reports                                    

7.1              To consider any Councillor reports for areas of responsibility

Cllr C Boult reported that the salt bins had been re-filled and the Snow Warden contact information confirmed with DCC.  Clerk to find out when the towable gritter would be delivered. 

08/09/18     Clerk’s Report

None             

09/09/18     Parish Council

9.1              To agree updated Standing orders and Financial Regulations previously circulated

It was resolved to adopt both and the Clerk would produce a final version for signing at the next meeting.  Cllr B Curle was thanked for his work on updating the orders.

9.2              Playing Field - To note inspection Report/repairs to monkey bars/wasp nest

No inspection report had been received.  Cllr C Boult reported that the monkey bars had been removed due to split wood and damage to the bolts which had been badly bent and the foundations damaged.  It was not clear how this damage had occurred.  The wasp nest had been removed.

9.2.1           Update on new maintenance schedules/maintenance weekend

A maintenance day was planned for Saturday 29 September starting at 10am. Work would include paint on the swings, repairs to the rope bridge and lowering the grass around wooden legs to prevent strimmer damage.  The roundabout bearing had been reset.  It was estimated that materials would cost £60.00 to £80.00 and it was resolved to go ahead with purchase.  Cllr C Boult was thanked for his continued work at the playpark

9.3              Update on Maintenance of BT Kiosk

Some painting was still outstanding.  The Clerk had sent photos of the kiosk to the company who had supplied the defibrillator who had asked if they could use the photos in social media.  Cllr A Jones reported that he could not access the site to make the weekly defibrillator report.  Clerk to send him contact details

9.4              Update on defibrillator awareness session

Some expressions of interest had been received.  Clerk to supply a sign-up sheet for the Harvest celebrations to see if more people might be interested.

9.5              To note e-mail from parishioner re parking on road – circulated separately, and to consider any action

 Cars parking by the post box were preventing easy access to the post box and causing a hazard for cars pulling out.  As the matter had already been referred to DCC who were unable to taken any action, unfortunately there was little the Parish Council could do.  It was suggested a sign asking cars not to obstruct might help.  Clerk to reply to parishioner

9.6              To note grant application for £150.00 for a salt bin has been successful

Cllr C Boult to supply the Clerk with details of the type of bin to be purchased.  Clerk to pass Cllr C Boult’s contact details to Cllr M Squires so that a site visit could be arranged to agree the location.

9.7              To consider an application to Communities Together Fund for two salt bins at the crossroads between Newton St Cyres and Shute and Shobrooke and Thorverton.

It was resolved to apply for a salt bin at Raddon Cross and at Shute Cross.  Bins in these locations would provide a place for the towable gritter to fill up.  Clerk to ask Newton St Cyres and Thorverton Parish Council’s to support the application.        

Minited here but taken after item 4

10/09/18     Devon County Council

10.1            Report from Cllr M Squires

August had been quiet, although some scrutiny training had been undertaken.  Children’s services were trying to improve the transition to adult services for children with disabilities and Cllr M Squires had undertaken some visits to review recent improvements.

Cllr M Squires explained that there were two sources of money for pot holes, one that the County Councillors could direct spending from and one that officers could direct spending from.  Although more money for pothole repairs had been funded by the government highways overall budget was going down.  Clearing out gully’s may help lesson potholes and this would be undertaken where possible. 

11/09/18     Miscellaneous Correspondence

Letter from W Ayre re application for a free-range poultry unit at Summerhay Farm –circulated separately

Invitation to Local Neighbourhood Police team meeting – 19 September – Clerk to forward details to Cllrs L Pitts and A Jones

A3072 at Exhibition Road, closed 8th October for 4 nights, 1900 – 0600

Peddlerspool development going to committee on 19 September                  

12/09/18     Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

None 

13/09/18     Date of next meeting: Tuesday 9 October 2018 in the Village Hall at 7.30 pm. 

 

Part II

(Members of the press and public will be excluded from Part II in order that commercially sensitive information can be considered confidentially)

 

14/09/18     To consider three quotes for fencing at the Play park

Three quotes had been circulated.   Cllr B Curle agreed to contact the contractor with the lowers quote to discuss the gate requirement.  It was resolved that the Clerk should apply for S106 funding for the quote as it stood at the present time with additional costs of the gate being funded by the Parish Council.  Cllr A Jones reported he may be able to obtain a suitable gate.

End of formal business 

The meeting finished at 9.14pm