These minutes are provisional until they are agreed and signed by the chairman at the next meeting of the parish council
Lifton Parish Council
Minutes of the Lifton Parish CouncilMeeting at the Pavilion, Leat Rd
Thursday 26th June 2014
14/17 Present Mr C Edmonds (chairman), Mr B Moore Vice-chairman,
Mr S Parsons,Mr T Sutton-Woodhouse,Mrs R Willing,
Mr M Hall, Ms G Elias, Dr M Sparrow, Mr D Measey,
Mr L Showell.
The chairman opened the meeting by thanking those present for attending
14/18 New councillor: The Chairman introduced Mr D Measey and asked him to say a few words about himself and why he wished to be a Councillor;
Mr. Measey said he has lived in Lifton since 1976 and his children went to school here.
He has an interest in the Parish and feels he could contribute to the Council and Parish.
After a unanimous vote,it was agreed that Mr D Measey should become a parish councillor.
14/19 Apologies Cllr D Horn (Borough Councillor)
14/20 Minutes The minutes of the meeting on 11th June 2014 and May 22nd 2014 were accepted by the Council as a true record and were duly adopted and signed by the Chairman.
14/21 Declarations of Interest:
Declarations of items on the agenda:Cllr B Moore declared a personal interest with regard to application 01865/2011- being a nearneighbour to the applicant and a consultee.
Gifts of over £25: None
14/22 Dispensations: None
14/23 Public Participation
A member of the public spoke on application 01865/2011,Arundell Arms.
The public member said she had asked if the piece of land owned by WDBC was going to go on the open market. She felt that if it is to be sold, it should go on the open market. The public member also sought assurance that this piece of land would not be encroached upon by the application 01865/2011. There is concern that the conditions attached to the application for a bio-mass boiler had not been fulfilled and there had been no submission for re-planting/ screening. A further concern is that no contribution towards affordable housing is required. Note: The original decision of the Parish Council in 2011, was that it did not support this application due to access and parking.
A second member of the public spoke on the proposed site for a bus stop at Lifton Down.
He said it would be better to have a see- through material, not solid and mentioned that it was originally sited at the end of the by- way but was moved 3yrs ago and that the location may be dangerous for school children.
14/24 Lifton/Lyd Valley Action Group- no up date
14/25 Recreation Field – The new play equipment has now been fitted and is being used by the Parish. A new bench will be considered at a later date.
It was mentioned that a complaint has been received about a dog walker; this complaint has been passed to the police, so they can make a visit to the person to discuss matters further.
14/26 Community Centre- Cllr Hall informed the meeting that a car boot sale, held on 21st June, had not been very well attended but hopes that the next car boot on 19th July 2014 will be better attended.
14/27 Team Lifton: See Weed Clearance 14/28.
14/28 Weed Clearance:
The small triangular piece of land at the top of the wall opposite the shop was discussed and the Chairman has been given permission by the land owner to access this area from their property, to carry out an assessment of the work required. The Chairman has obtained permission from Highways to clear the site.
It was agreed by Councillors that we should consider making an application to the TAP fund for weed clearance. The Chairman is to meet a representative of the Milton Abbot grouped Parish Council to explore the possibilities of collaboration between the councils.
14/29 General Items
Turbine matters:
Lifton Farm shop possible community offer: It was discussed and agreed that the Clerk and Chairman will write to the Farm shop to enquire if the offer of a Community Benefit payment is still open.
Otterpower – Wortham-It was further agreed that the Clerk shouldwrite to the developer to enquire if they would consider makinga Community Benefit payment.
Highways and Roads:
Highways have confirmed to accept the proposed type of speed sign and an application is in the process of being submitted to WDBC and County Councillor Kevin Ball for funding towards the quoted cost of £3,200.00p.
The proposed siting for the speed sign is at Crossroads Lifton Down and at the front of New Road, Tinhay, Darkey Lane.
The machine is battery operated, can be placed at other locations and would be added to the Parish Council Insurance.
It was noted that a vehicle had crashed into a lamppost in Lifton. This was attended by the Police and Fire Brigade who cleared and made safe the area. Highways are aware of the damaged lamppost and will repair this.
It was noted that an order was read from Highways, informing that Darkey Lane would be closed from Friday 27th June to Monday 30th June 2014.
14/30 To delegateCllr Edmonds to view on Bank Accounts:-It would be a good idea to delegate Cllr Edmonds to apply for online banking delegate; this would allow him to view and print the Bank account statements when required, As at present Lloyds are taking a longtime to get the Clerk registered as a delegate so she unable to view the statements currently.
14/32Bus shelter :Request for oneat Lifton Down. Highways need tocarry out a Risk Assessment at the proposed site before agreeing to the proposed shelter.Ina phonecall with the Chairman, they expressed concern about school children crossing the road and the danger of the oncoming traffic. This issue has been put on hold and will be looked at further at a later date.
Rail Resilience: It was said that there is support for the Tavistock-Exeter-Okehampton route to Plymouth for an alternative rail route. It would be sensible to envisage the possible impact any rail service would have on Lifton Parish.
14/33Electoral Review WDBC; consultation closes on July 21st 2014.
14/34Reports
Website The website is now up to date with NH Plan report, Councillorcontact details and other information.
Business Plan: 2014- 2015
Cllr Edmonds read out the report for the 2014-15 Business Plan.
The main Plan included, over the next year, to continue to develop the Neighbourhood Plan, weed Clearance, speed signs, northern rail route and effect, Faster Broad band, Renewable Energy projects and becoming a disabled- friendly Parish.
Cllr Edmonds suggested inviting The Community Energy Partnership to the August meeting to discuss energy saving ideas for Lifton Community.
If anyone has ideas for the coming year, you would be welcome to contact the Chairman or Clerk to put forward the ideas.
Neighbourhood Plan:
Cllr B Moore informed the meeting that the questionnaires which were handed out have now mostly come back in from Businesses within the Parish.
A Community questionnaire will be discussed at the July 7th meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan.
There are eight main topics on the Neighbourhood Plan including; transport, housing, Community and facilities, which will be helped with some sources from Cornwall for input into each topic.
A land availability assessment has been carried out and published on the West Devon Borough Council website. The LAA is in the public domain and any one can view it and comment on the plan by the 15thAugust. It was noted that WDBC have named their local plan Our Plan.
There is going to be a meeting on July 7th at 4.30pm at the Pavilion, Leat Road., with the Planning consultant present.
14/34Finance
For payment
Perfect Pastures (May) £300.00p/ VAT £50 LGA 1972
Amazon voucher (retired Clerk, reimburse CE) £75.00p no VAT LGA S.137
Sandisk USB’S Argos (Reimburse CE) £27.98p no VAT LGA 1972
Clerk’s Expenses (stationery)/unit files £29.99p /£11.15p no VAT LGA 1972
Clerk’s Phone,Bband, Heat, light, (£4 wk) £16.00p no VAT LGA 1972
Clerk’s Salary £310.08p no VAT LGA 1972 s112
Springtide £138.00p VAT of £23 LGA 1972
Hodgsons Accountants PAYE £84.00p VAT of £14 LGA 1972
S Moore £90.00p no VAT LGA 1972 s143
M Woodhouse (pay T whouse) £21.60p VAT of £3.60 LGA 1972
Pro RW, sec MH, it was resolved that all the above should be paid.
Receipts: G F Gubbin internment fee £100
Interest received as per Bank statements.
General matters relating to finance:None
14/35 Planning
Applications Ref: 00688/2014 Ridgecombe Farm Cow shed
It was agreed to support the application but it was felt that appropriate screening should be carried out.
Ref: 01865/2011 Land rear of Arundell Arms.
It was agreed that as no decision was being made on this application, Cllr Moore could stay in the room whilst discussion on the subject took place.
The Chairman reported that Ward Councillor Horn has requested that this application should be considered by the Planning Committee at West Devon Borough Council, in order that the plot of land adjacent to the development site in the ownership of WDBC and the affordable housing contribution could be considered by the Planning Committee.
Approval 00588/2014 Wooladon- Conditional Consent
Refusal:None
General matters relating to Planning:
Cllr Edmonds handed out sheets to the Councillors which gave material and non-material suggestions for planning matters.
Cllr Moore said how important it is to view applications online to get an insight into the applications before the meetings.
14/36 Correspondence
Gidleigh Parish update, letter.
14/37 Questions and Statements fromCouncillors, notice of Parish events, reports and items for future agenda, exchange of information relevant to the Parish:
Fore St
Energy projects, TAP funding, community income response, Neighbourhood Plan update.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.00 p.m.
Signed ...... date ......
Next meetingThursday 24th July 2014 at the School Hall, North Road, 7 p.m.
1