Rackenford and Creacombe Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting held at Rackenford School

On 10^th September 03

Present were: Miss S Child (Chairman), Mr B Morrison, Mr M Lane, Mr F Phillips, Mr R Aldridge, Mrs C Cranch, Mrs B Kirby, Mr J Lee, Mrs C Hall (Clerk) and members of the public.

282. Apologies were received from Nancy Lewis.

283. Minutes of the last meeting were taken as read and signed by the Chairman.

284. Matters arising.

The Children’s Play Area. Fred was thanked for grading the area. It just remains to bury the last of the builders rubble and have a bonfire. Fred will liase with Richard Lewis about this. The Clerk will do a notice saying that if anyone has anything for the November 5^th bonfire they are to liase with Richard.

Ron Kirby will let the Clerk have the safety certificate for the playground as another inspection is due. The Clerk will find an inspector.

The Council will alter the gate next year to comply with new disabled access law. The expense will have to be budgeted for.

Jim Fraser reported that there had been no further development on the village hall. The use of solar panels is being looked into.

285. The Village Post Office and Shop.

There has been much progress. The roof is going on this week. The move is planned for the weekend of October 9^th/10^th. The official opening will be on Saturday 18^th October at 12 noon. There is still a funding gap of £12,000 or so.

286. Correspondence.

Information has been received on playground equipment. There is a seminar on September 23^rd in Bideford. This was given to Brian who will try to go.

Information from the Rural Transport Forum was given to Michael.

Information on Highways Committees was given to Betty.

A list of interests as reported to the standards committee was signed by members and will be kept by the Clerk.

Various items were received from the DAPC

Information on the Silvanus Project (trees) was given to Fred.

There was information from the Conservative Association.

A list of Nick Harvey’s mobile surgeries was received. The Chairman will write back.

Information on the Winkleigh Biomass project was given to Michael.

The Police Authority report and plan were passed to Michael.

A letter was received from J Wynn Evans who wants to start a local community housing project. The Chairman will write back and say the Councillors would like more information but feel that it’s a good idea. However, his plans for the picnic area are of no interest.

A letter about new planning enforcement officers will be kept by the Clerk.

The Council received a copy of “Who’s Who in Rackenford”.

We received a copy of Devon in touch.

A dog fouling poster was passed to Betty.

Information on a “Fairer North Devon” was given to Carolyn.

A booklet on “Working for a better Devon” will be kept by Sarah.

The Fire Authority report was given to Betty.

Information from NALC regarding the lowering of the voting age was received. The Clerk will write.

A copy of “Junk Mail” was passed to Michael.

A letter was received from Liz Paxton thanking the Council for the £100 grant to the PCC.

An agenda for a DAPC meeting to discuss Quality Parishes was given to Sarah, who will write and ask them to keep us updated.

Minutes of the standards committee were kept by Sarah.

The Clerk will write to PC Ashford to see if he will atttend meetings.

Information from the International Tree Foundation will be filed.

Information on “The Local Channel” was passed to Jim.

A copy of “Village Green” was passed to Jim.

287. Web Site.

The address is rackenford-devon.co.uk . It is now up and running. It cost £58 to set up. Jim is currently looking for sponsors. It was resolved that Jim should own and run the web site while the Council find out if they can own or take income from one. Proposed by Michael Lane, seconded by Brian Morrison and carried unanimously.

288. Footpaths.

ESW have carried out work and been paid. There still remains a lot to do on the lane at Western Common. Brian is to find out the landowners responsibilities as to the upkeep of footpaths.

The Clerk is to write and thank Ros Davey for all her help.

A complaint has been received from R Moore about the gate on a bridge on his land.

289. Financial Matters.

a) The Audit. The Chairman reported that the Clerk’s books were in perfect order but unfortunately do not include the purchase of the church room in February. This was overlooked because the loan money from NDDC had gone straight to the solicitors and not through the PC bank account. It had also been hoped, up to the last moment, that there would be no need to take the loan, in which case the PC would not have needed to own the room even temporarily. The auditor had also pointed out that councillors with a “prejudicial interest” ie those who were now directors of the shop company or who had lent money to it should not vote on resolutions to do with the shop. In fact this had not happened except at an emergency meeting held at the instruction of NDDC to minute the purchase, but this resolution was not in fact necessary as the intention to purchase had been minuted before. Basically it was a terrible tangle which was going to take time to sort out but the Council were in touch with the legal services department at Barnstaple. The internal auditor is also in touch with the district auditor.

b) Filing Cabinet. The Clerk needs another one. The matter will be left with Rick.

c) Noticeboard. The Council have the opportunity to have a noticeboard constructed by a craftsman for the cost of the materials. A decision on payment will be made next meeting. The exsisting board has rotted.

d) VAT. The Clerk has reclaimed £241.31VAT for the Council.

290. Planning Matters.

a) Houses at Prospect. A letter from Jean Watkins was read out by the Chairman. She apologised for not having been in touch before but said the planners are now satisfied..

b) Meadown. We have received a reply. The planners are treating it as a retrospective application.

c) Waste Pit on Willicroft Moor. Herbert Smith, Brian Peace and others brought this subject up in August. There was a fear that it would drain onto neighbouring properties. NDDC decided it was a problem for DCC. Mr Hill, the minerals and waste policy officer, has now written to the chaiman to say that it is not allowed because it is less than 400m from Stonelands farm. Mr Bowman is to enforce this. Mr Williams will not be allowed to carry on. He is not entitled to store human sewage sludge there.

d) DEFRA have written with approval to +the extension to the burial ground.

291. Matters of urgency raised by the Chairman.

a) There is a horsebox parked on the edge of the Common, opposite The Little House. Rick will ask Fergie to move it.

b) There has been a water leak at the end of Meadow View.

c) John Lee will contact the district Council concerning the verges in Creacombe and the dumping of used concrete blocks.

d) There were enquiries about a compost heap. Michael Lane said he had not done any more about it because he hadn’t found anyone willing to collect it and have one on their land.

e) There has been a complaint about deep gratings at Canworthy Lane and just past Bulworthy Knap, on the left towards Tiverton. John Lee will ring.

f) The gate on the footbridge just below the Stag doesn’t shut.

292. The date of the next meeting is 12^th November 2003.