1 Minutes for meeting of Rockbeare Parish Council 17/10/12
ROCKBEARE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes for a meeting of Rockbeare Parish Council held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17th October 2012 at Rockbeare Village Hall.
Present: Cllrs David Miller (Chairman), David Mason (Vice Chairman), Naomi Allen, Colin Please, Dr Bryan Pepper, Jonathan Allen, Jeremy Honeywill, Cllr Peter Bowden (County and District Councillor) and two members of the public.
ApologiesCllr Derek Button (District Councillor), PC Dave Smith
All councillors were politely reminded of their obligation to declare interests under the Code of Conduct
1.1APOLOGIES: To receive apologies for absence. AS ABOVE
1.2MINUTES: Minutes of the last meeting of Rockbeare Parish Council held on Wednesday 19th September 2012 were signed as a correct record of that meeting.
1.3DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & RISK ASSESSMENT: To receive declarations of interest and to note any additional risks. NONE
2PLANNING
http://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx for details
2.1 DECISIONS (for information)
2.1.1none
2.2APPLICATIONS (for comment, support or objection)
2.2.112/2042/MRES Cranbrook (Parcel 6) - new community 2900 houses, town centre and railway Revisions to the house types as approved under reserved matters 11/0053/MRES. COMMENTS: No comments
2.2.212/1852/ADV Hampton by Hilton, Exeter Airport – Display of 5no internally illuminated facia signs, 2 no internally illuminated totem signs, 1 no internally illuminated direction sign 1 no internally illuminated restaurant sign and 3 no internally illuminated logo signs to restaurant entrance and signage in association with hotel and restaurant approved under application ref. 10/1523/MRES. COMMENTS: The Parish Council would like to ask for the light pollution to be considered and the intensity be considered, this will be visible from Rockbeare and it would be desirable if a curfew be placed on the lights to be switched off 12 –5am.
2.2.312/2108/FUL Marsh Green Farm, Quarter Mile Lane, Marsh Green - Construction of covered yard. COMMENTS: No comments
2.2.412/2102/FUL Broomfield View, London Road – Re-grading and raising of rear garden levels to plots C& D Pursuant to grant of permission 11/1035/FUL. COMMENTS: no objections in principal, however it was noted that this area of the house curtilage falls into the green wedge and the parish council would like to see this area conditioned to prevent any building encroaching on it in the future, there are no sections or details of a planting scheme included in the application but trust any grant of permission will address this.
2.3 Cranbrook Joint Parishes Meetings – report on Senior Officers meeting report on meeting 1st October
2012. This was attended by Cllrs Mason and Miller. Station has now been approved and hoped to open at the need of next year. The developers hope to increase the permission for 2900 houses to 3400 inside the same boundary. It is anticipated that there will be 150 houses completed by the end 2012 and a further 300 in 2013. The affordable housing has been reduced in size with a two bedroom from 65sqm to 55sqm. It was reasserted that the affordable housing will be allocated to local people and the waiting list is quite sufficient to fill the houses. It was agreed to invite EDDCs Sulina Tallack to a joint parishes meeting to discuss Community Infrastructure Levy.
2.3.1The Growth Point and East Devon District Council, invited a member of Rockbeare Parish Council to a naming facilitation exercise for the "West End of East Devon" The area of East Devon where most of the Growth Point developments are located is often referred to as "The West End of East Devon" by East Devon and "East of Exeter Projects" by others. To avoid any confusion or ambiguity we would like to officially give this area a proper name. Cllr Naomi Allen attended and reported on this meeting.
2.3.2Cranbrook Travel Plan Welcome Pack - (copy received) this will be distributed to new residents at Cranbrook.
2.4 East Devon Village – Planning Development Document - Parish Councils should have completed their
consultation work and identified their preferred sites by November 16th. This should enable Parish Councils time to produce a short report setting out the consultation process they have followed and identifying their proposed sites/Built-up Area Boundary amendments by the end of November. This will then enable EDDC to collate the responses and report to the Development Management Committee in December. Open day to be held 2-8pm on 8th November 2012 at the Village Hall.
2.5 Neighbourhood Plan/ Parish Plan/Housing needs survey – nothing to report at present
3 HIGHWAYS, FOOTPATHS
3.1 Highways & Footpaths - to accept items to report
3.2ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14THE COUNTY OF DEVON (TEMPORARY RESTRICTION) (GRIBBLE LANE,ROCKBEARE) ORDER 2012 TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH TRAFFIC NOTICE is hereby given that Devon County Council has made the above titled order. From MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2012 for a maximum of 18 months. Anticipated Finish FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER 2012 and TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2012 for a maximum of 18 months anticipated Finish TUESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2012 No person shall cause or permit any vehicle to proceed on the sections of Affected Roadsexcept for access to land or premises on or adjacent to those length of roads.Roads affected - GRIBBLE LANE, ROCKBEARE The alternative, signed, route for vehicles will be via - C92 MANOR CROSS TO POUND CROSS - C92 MAIN ROAD - LONDON ROAD AND VICE VERSA This temporary restriction is considered necessary to enable - DCC HIGHWAY WORKS - DRAINAGE AND RESURFACING WORKS For additional information contact: SOUTH WEST HIGHWAYS (EXETER) Telephone: 01392 361066
4REPORTS
4.1Community Policing – Cllr Naomi Allen reported on the Police and Crime Commissioners meeting and passed around a summary for the candidates and their interests.
4.2Rockbeare Village Hall/Marsh Green Hall – no report this time.
4.3District Councillor Derek Button – apologies sent.
4.4District & County Councillor Peter Bowden– It was clarified that despite rumours there was no flooding to the centre of Rockbeare in the last few weeks. There is a comprehensive plan being made for changes to the pipe system at the end of Gribble Lane as this is a placewhere water collects. Mud on the road created by Cranbrook works traffic has been a problem again and parishioners, councillors and Cllr Bowden have made complaints. Mr Randall and Cllr Bowden will discuss funding and the possibility of the early warning system. There was a lengthy discussion around the value of localised clearing of problem drains prior to bad weather flood warnings. It was generally agreed that a lengthsman employed by the parish would provide a rapid response as needed. Clerk to persist in discussions with DCC to progress the possibility of taking over this service.
4.5Exeter International Airport Consultative Group – minutes to be circulated.
5BUSINESS & FINANCE
5.1Funding applications – none
5.2Receipts:EDDC Precept (September to March)£10,000.00
Payments:Clerk remuneration (August – October)£1337.90
Clerk expenses (August – October)£230.35
M Bell repair of noticeboard lock£20.00
TMA(play Inspection)£102.00
Remembrance Wreaths£30.00
DALC conference (David Miller)£20.00
Cheques agreed: Balance of account at 1/10/12Co-op account £24,443.83
5.3Youth Club – Devon Youth Service have run sessions through the summer holidays and intend to provide the mobile service for two months on a Wednesday night starting on 12th September 2012. They feel there is definite need for a long term provision and will be producing a report. To accept report & discuss possible long term provision and engagement of youth worker. Clerk to chase report and constitute a steering group, Cllr J Allen to represent the parish council, church, school and hall representatives to be invited to sit with youths on the group. Professional guidance also to be sought.
5.4EDDC Parishes Together Fund – clerk yet to gather information
6ENVIRONMENT/COMMUNITY FACILITIES
6.1Allotments & registration of land –
6.2Health and Safety – To accept items for action
6.3Parish Field/ Playing field/ Play areas/ Bus Shelter/ War memorial – Remembrance wreaths have delivered.
6.4Flood group – Mr Randall is to work with Cllr Bowden to work on funding an early warning system.
6.5Church Graveyard – update David Miller – minutes of recent meeting below for information. The Church supplied their own minutes of the meeting which are also below. The options were discussed at length, Cllr Miller to instigate talks.
6.7EDDC have looked at Stoneylands wall and picked up a couple more of the loose coping stones which were on the grass splay. The wall has a small section which does need repair, but isn’t deemed dangerous as such. The shrub bed is maintained by Streetscene but EDDC mapping system indicates that EDDC don’t own the walled section. However they are checking this and if it is theirs they will arrange for repair as soon as possible. They will be in touch again very shortly to keep us informed of the situation.
6.8Phonebox – needs redecorating and panel is smashed – clerk to report
6.9Hedges – it is now recommended that farmers only cut hedges every other year to maintain habitat, but the hedge from Rockbeare to the second turning to the manor is particularly overhanging the highway.
MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
A Gentleman made the point that he wished to see the parish council support a small amount of development in the parishover the next 20 years and does not agree that the issue should be deferred to the five year review.
Dates of forthcoming meetings:
7.30pm Wednesday 21st November 2012Marsh Green Village Hall
7.30pm Wednesday 12th December 2012Marsh Green Village Hall
MEETING TO DISCUSS ROCKBEARE GRAVEYARD – 2 OCTOBER 2012 ( DAVID MILLERS NOTES)
PRESENT –
Rev Jeremy Clark – Vicar, Gordon Rice – Churchwarden
David Miller – Chairman Parish Council
BACKGROUND
In 2009 there had been discussions between the Vicarage and the Parish Council about the possibility of the graveyard running out of space for burials. No action had been taken by either party at that time. This meeting was held to review the position in October 2012
CURRENT POSITION
Gordon Rice’s view was that there was space for at least 10 – 12 more burials before the graveyard became full. The current rate of burials was one or two every year. In addition there was plenty of space for the internment of ashes post cremation for the next 10 to 15 years.
There has been some recent discussion with the owners of the land at the back of the new vicarage about the possibility of acquiring a quarter acre plot to act as an extension to the graveyard. I was asked whether the Parish Council would be willing to contribute to the cost of acquiring such a plot of land. I replied that I thought it unlikely since there was a view that the land on which the new vicarage had been built had originally been intended for a graveyard extension and that as a consequence the Church, which had benefitted from a different use, should meet all costs.
Gordon Rice was able to confirm that in his professional capacity he had handled the transaction which transferred the plot of land from Mr and Mrs Walter Smith previous owners of Court Farm to the Church for use as an extension to the cemetery. However there was no specification in the legal documentation regarding future use.
In the early 1970s the Old Vicarage was regarded as increasingly unsuitable due to distance from the Church and maintenance costs and a plan was made to sell it and build a modern house next to the church on the land donated by the Walter Smiths. Rockbeare Parish Council was written to asking for its view. Apparently either it gave agreement or declined to comment. At that time, 40 years ago, there was less apparent pressure on graveyard space for burials. On the basis of the lack of objection and lack of burial plot shortage the Church proceeded to utilise the land for a new vicarage and garden.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
When the Rockbeare Church graveyard becomes full, sometime in the next decade, the Church is likely to refuse further burials and pass the problem to the local authority. As the graveyard fills up over time it is possible that money could be raised from a variety of sources to pay for an extension. However no party is willing to take action at present.
As Chairman of Rockbeare PC I will ask the present councillors to discuss the issue at a future meeting and confirm or otherwise their intention not to contribute towards the acquisition of an extension plot for burials. I would like to recover the relevant PC minutes to check how this matter was formally dealt with by the PC at the time. This will not be an easy task.
It seems sensible to review the position annually.
Dave Miller 3 October 2012
NOTES FROM CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES AWAITED