Rackenford and Creacombe Parish Council

Minutes of the Meeting held at Rackenford School on

Wednesday 9th July 2008

 

 

Present were: Miss S Child (Chairman), Mr M Lane, Mr F Phillips, Mr S Warne, Mr A Stone, Mr B Morrison, Mrs C Cranch (Minutes) and 3 members of the public.

 

766. Apologies for absence were received from Mrs C Hall; the Chairman thanked Cllr Cranch for kindly agreeing to take the Minutes. A letter of resignation had also been received from Mr John Lee, who is leaving the Council due to ill-health. It was agreed that the Clerk would write a letter of thanks for all he had done over the years. The Clerk has taken steps to advertise the vacancy.

 

767. The Minutes of the last meeting were taken as read and signed by the Chairman. The Clerk had also ascertained that the Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting should be signed now rather than at the next annual meeting; these Minutes were duly taken as read and signed by the Chairman.

 

768. Feedback from Committees.

There was a report from the Hard Court Committee. Jim Fraser had got a price for toughened heavy duty string basketball nets, and it was felt that both should be replaced at a total price of £14.90. This was proposed by Stuart Warne and seconded by Brian Morrison. Jim Fraser will provide an invoice. Stuart Warne was still looking at options for toughened Perspex for the board at the court. Brian Morrison said he had been trying unsuccessfully to contact NDDC regarding advice on spraying the lichen; perhaps it should go ahead using a Mole Valley product. The issue of a fixed honesty box was still pending; Andrew Stone suggested that a box could be put in the shop temporarily for the purpose.

Jim Fraser had also reported that the backfill by the well had covered the end of a soakaway drain that takes water away from the corner of the hard court. Michael Lane and Fred Phillips will deal with this as a matter of urgency.

The next Hard Court meeting will be on Wed 10th September at 7.15pm.

 

769. Matters Arising.

It appeared that there had been no communication from the Police in response to the Clerk’s email. The Clerk/Chairman will email the Police again.

770. Children’s Play Area/Common.

Ron Kirby had inspected the Play Area on 2nd July and found it looking unkempt, with weeds and grass all around inside the fence. This would need to be dealt with, especially with the Best Kept Village judges due in July/August. Brian Morrison will put a notice on the notice board asking for volunteers.

Brian Morrison had also found larch and Douglas fir woodchips at £23.00 per cubic metre which could be suitable as an emergency measure to prevent large chunks on the surface. He will also contact Matt Ranger, who has a huge chipper that would not leave any large chippings.

Fred Phillips reported about the Common. There are trees on the bottom road that will need dealing with at the right time, probably October. He was asked to do this.

 

771. The Post Office/Shop.

A letter had been sent from the Council to the Post Office, copied to Postwatch and Devon County Council. Both Postwatch and DCC have replied saying they are putting forward the same arguments. DCC also said that ten Post Offices should be kept open, and outreach should be on three days per week rather than two.

Michael Lane said the shop is still going through its reorganisation. It may be registering for VAT shortly. The shop is doing very well but has loans to pay off. The issue of whether any payments could be made to volunteer staff is something that will be considered but at least a year's results are needed first. Georgie Blake has contacted Tiverton Volunteer Centre who are willing to provide some volunteers to help. Richard Lewis has kindly turfed the area behind the notice board.

 

772. Footpaths and Trinity Well.

Brian Morrison reported that he has put a footpaths book in the shop for people to note comments/damage.

He has two maps for the walls inside Trinity Well, and Barry Cowell has volunteered to put up the notice boards at cost; he will need exact measurements. Brian Morrison said that up to £1000 of the P3 money could be spent on these and it was suggested that a free standing board could be afforded as well as those inside. Michael and Brian agreed to work out measurements and discuss possibilities with Barry. Michael Lane will notify John Hughes and Eric Puffett, the builder and thatcher, that the work can now go ahead as soon as possible. Sarah Child said that Mark Dean should have a letter of thanks from the Council for doing such a good job on the base and for his £100.00 donation. Sarah also said that she had taken Chairman’s action to ask Fred Phillips to get on with the initial excavation in order to meet a grant deadline. (Fred Phillips signed the book and left the meeting at this point.) One aspect was the cost of the security fence, for which Fred had provided an invoice for £204.45. However, a retrospective resolution was also required to enable his invoice for the digging to be paid when this was received. This was proposed by Brian Morrison, seconded by Andrew Stone. Fred Phillips will be asked for an invoice.

 

773. Report by the District Councillor.

Jeremy Yabsley was not present.

 

774. Boundary Changes.

The Boundaries Committee had recently decided upon the single unitary authority option for Devon, with Plymouth and Torbay remaining as at present. A consultation document will be coming out; the Clerk will distribute this to Councillors. Responses have to be received by 25th September; Sarah would like comments from Councillors and will draft a response to be agreed at the September meeting. It was felt that the single unitary should not be slanted towards Exeter.

 

775. Correspondence.

The correspondence file is being passed around:

1)     CPRE Newsletter.

2)     Devon Countryside Access Forum Annual Report.

3)     DAPC Newsletter.

4)     Countryside Voice.

5)     CCD – Rural Community Buildings.

6)     The Senior Council for Devon.

7)     NDDC – Dogwarden contract.

8)     Devon Talk.

9)     NDDC Member Services information sheets.

Copies of a Devon County Council booklet, ‘A Unitary Council for Devon, Your Questions Answered,’ had also been received and copies were given to Councillors.

Correspondence regarding removal of the phone box was also noted at this point. The Council had written to BT objecting to its removal, and BT had responded saying that the letter should have been sent to Planning (to which it had been copied). A letter was also received from Maitland Walker on behalf of an alternative provider, saying that they would like the opportunity to take over boxes before they are removed and possibly provide additional internet services. The Clerk will write to Maitland Walker, copying our letter of objection, and saying that we do feel some interest in this proposal, and would like to hear more. She will also say that our box would do better if moved to the centre of the village.

 

776. Financial Matters.

a)  Balances:  Lloyds   £6,438.40

                             P3    £2,152

                     A & L    £12,332.30

b)  Cheques to be paid:

             i)      DAPC            £3.00

            ii) Mark Dean  £3, 507.38  

           iii) Clare Hall         £64.50 (for Manual)

           iv) Fred Phillips   £204.45

 

It will be necessary to transfer some funds from the deposit account into the current account, to pay the builder’s and thatcher’s invoices as quickly as possible when they are received. It was agreed unanimously that the Clerk would be directed to do this as required and to raise cheques for the thatcher as the invoices come in.

It was also agreed that, with interest on the A & L deposit account about to reduce from 4.5% to 1.5%, that the Clerk should investigate more suitable alternatives, eg. Nationwide at 2.5%.

The Village Hall Committee will put the £3,000 promised for Trinity Well into the Council’s current account.

Sarah Child said that the costs of the Well are covered apart from the pump, trough and solar lighting; Jeremy Yabsley will see what he can do on this.

 

777. Planning Matters.

1.     Rackenford School: This Council had endorsed the planning application and a letter has been sent to NDDC.

2.     Bickham Moor Wind Farm: A letter has been sent to MDDC stating objections and issues similar to the other wind farm applications.

3.     Clay Park Hill: A certificate of Approval for the erection of an agricultural building has been received from NDDC.

4.     Rackenford Manor: A Certificate of Refusal has been received on this application for alterations above the stables to form a housekeeper’s flat.

5.     Hollyfield Farm: A letter has been received from NDCC saying that planning for agricultural building works is not required in this instance.

6.     Lower Meadown: Sarah Child said that Daniel Rance, Enforcement Officer, had checked in March on the building works taking place and said it does need a planning application. However, no application has as yet been received. The Clerk will contact Daniel Rance on progress.

7.     The Toll House: Sarah Child said that the bank has been put back but not the hedge as yet. The Clerk will write to Planning to remind them.

 

778. Matters of Urgency Raised by the Chairman.

There were none.

 

779. The date of the next meeting is on Wednesday 10th September 2008 at 7.30pm, preceded by a Hard Court Committee meeting at 7.15pm.

 

RackenfordParishCouncilMinutes09.07.08