Minutes of a meeting of the parish council held in the Memorial Hall, St Ann’s Chapel on Wednesday 11th MAY 2011 at 7.30 p.m. after the Annual Parish Meeting (subject to confirmation at next meeting)

PRESENT:  Cllrs T Edgcombe, Cllr. B Carson, J Owen, A Klidjian and S Watts  C Cllr W Mumford and PSCO Stacey Thorn plus two residents also attended.  All councillors signed forms for Acceptance of Office prior to commencement of meeting.

1.0       ELECTIONS: 

Chairman: Cllr Owen proposed that Cllr Edgcombe be elected as chairman. This was seconded by Cllr Watts and all agreed.   Cllr Grace had indicated by letter she would support nomination of Cllr Edgcombe as Chairman.   There being no other nominations, Cllr Edgcombe signed acceptance of office form and took the chair
Vice-Chairman:  Cllr Edgcombe proposed that Cllr Owen be elected as vice-chairman. This was seconded by Cllr Watts and agreed. Again, Cllr Grace had indicated by letter she would support Cllr Owen in this post if he was nominated.  There being no other nominations Cllr Owen was elected vice-chairman 

2.0       APPOINTMENTS O COMMITTEES; The following appointments were made:

a:  Memorial Hall  :  Cllr Grace who had indicated her willingness to fill this role
b:  CPRE:  Cllr Carson
c:  Devon Playing Fields Association:  Cllr Owen
d:  Devon Assocn. of Local Councils:  Cllr Edgcombe

4.0       MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING AND ENSUING PARISH COUNCIL MEETING  were approved and signed after an amendment requested by Cllr Watts

5.0       MATTERS ARISING
5.0       Goal post and netting: no further progress
5.1       Salt bins:  see under C.Cllr’s report
5.2       Speeding Bigbury village: nothing further to report
5.3       Cross Park: Cllr Watts asked if there was any progress regarding this site.  PCSO Thorn reported that the police had visited the site the previous day.
5.4       Cllr Watts asked if councillors were happy with his proposed update of the Parish Plan for insertion in the next Bigbury News.  Councillors confirmed their assent.

6.0       POLICE REPORT:  PCSO Thorn reported that she had visited Cross Park, Dukes Mill and had spoken to two people there who were not the owners.  There was less waste there than the previous visit and in total there were about 13-14 cars.  There were loads of push bikes and she would be visiting the site again within the week.  SHDC were not showing an interest in the matter. She also reported that with current financial cuts she will be patrolling her beat on a pushbike.

7.0       C.CLLR’S REPORT   C Cllr Mumford apologised for not being able to attend the last two parish council meetings.  He reported that DCC are making substantial cuts across the board with £130,000,000 coming out of the budget.  Cuts are being made in three streams – people, place and corporate.  In all about 1,000 jobs will be cut out of which five of the most senior posts have been reduced to three.  DCC have received £9,000,000 from the Government towards the cost of pothole repairs following the last harsh winter.  There is to be a highways team based at Ivybridge again, headed by Jim Morrison and with Nick Coulton also on board.   Cllr Mumford stated that he has been involved with obtaining faster Broadband for rural areas and is awaiting the result due on 27 May.  Cllr Edgcombe asked Cllr Mumford if there is any progress on provision of salt bins for the parish and Cllr Mumford said he will be pursuing this during the summer.  Cllr Carson asked if the parish council bought some salt bins will DCC fill them up with salt.  Cllr Mumford said that this would not be the case but the parish council will be able to purchase salt from DCC for the bins that the parish council purchases.  However, DCC will keep DCC-supplied bins topped up with salt.
Cllr Mumford and PCSO Thorn were thanked for their reports and left the meeting.

8.0       PLANNING     SHDC planning notifications received
8.0       Mr R Smith: The Old Vineyard, Easton: erection of agricultural shed to store animal feed, tools and machinery: GRANTED
8.1       Mr & Mrs R Banks: Seaway, Parker Rd, BoS: partial demolition and partial rebuild with refurbishment of property. GRANTED
8.2       Copy of letter from SHDC to E.Wells regarding unresolved planning enforcement matters on Burgh Island.
8.3       DCC: confirming planning permission granted for below ground slurry store at Highlands Farm, Kingston.

9.0       OPEN SESSION 
9.0       A resident raised his concern at the site of the suggested affordable homes at St Ann’s Chapel as indicated in the preliminary proposal submitted by SHDC on behalf of the parish council in the Bigbury News.  The proposal had been put on paper after he had put his property up for sale and he had been advised by his estate agents that he would have to reduce his property by £50,000.  They had also told him that they considered he would be within his rights to seek compensation from SHDC and the parish council.  Whilst he supports the affordable homes issue, he does question if St Ann’s Chapel is the right place as there is no transport, lack of jobs etc and he felt that small towns would be more appropriate.  He asked if the parish council had proof that there is a need for the homes in the parish.  Another resident stated she shared the views that he had expressed and asked why SHDC had put the “blob” behind the existing houses and if this was the correct proposed location.  Cllr Edgcombe said that he did not feel the site, as depicted in the plan shown in the Bigbury News was the right spot as he felt the location should be on the main road between the Pickwick and, perhaps, Chartridge.  Other councillors shared the chairman’s view.  Cllr Carson said he took responsibility for the map submitted in Bigbury News but it should be borne in mind that the plan was really meant to show just the field involved, which is a very large field, and not a specific area for the houses.  There had been many rumours hitherto amongst residents as to which was the field involved and the idea of the sketch had been to indicate the correct field.   Cllr Watts was doubtful as to the need for affordable homes in the parish but it was pointed out that in the report carried out by the Community Council of Devon it was shown that 100 people had completed forms out of which it was found there were some 24 people eligible for such accommodation.  It was stated there will be a meeting in the Memorial Hall on 13 June with representatives from SHDC Planning Department, DCC Highways, SW Water and other people involved and it was hoped there would be a good turn out of residents to this meeting. The meeting would be held on a Monday afternoon and it was suggested a parish “drop-in” could be held the day before so that people who would be at work the following day would be able to attend.

10.0     CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLOR

Due to insufficient councillors standing for election it was agreed to inform residents of the parish councillors’ intention to co-opt a resident to fill the existing vacancy.  Residents would be able to indicate if they would like to be considered for co-option.  The post must be filled within 35 working days from the date of the election held on 5th May and must therefore be done before 24th June. 

12.0     FINANCIAL    It was proposed by Cllr Owen, seconded by Cllr Watts and agreed that the following cheques be drawn:
i      Community First: insurance                          £170.10
ii     SHDC: repairs to Millennium Steps                £960.00
iii:   A J Knapton: internal audit fee                      £100.00
iv:   SHDC: inspection of playing area fee             £120.00
12.1     The clerk presented the Annual Report as submitted by the Internal Auditor and which is to be sent to District Audit.  This was approved and signed by the chairman.
12.2     A discussion took place on a donation to the Hope Cove Inshore Rescue Boat.  Cllr Owen proposed £500 but this was not seconded.  It was then agreed that £150 donation be sent with an explanation that if more money was required later in the year, their request in writing with a statement of expected costs,  would then be considered. 
12.3     Cllr Owen reported he was obtaining an estimate for costs for renewal of the notice-boards.
12.4     The clerk reported that money for the precept has been banked

13.0     MATTERS OUTSTANDING
13.0     Drain Cleveland Drive – P3 department will be contacted again
13.1     footpaths: Burgh Island FP -no further progress on this matter.  New gate has been fixed at footpath entrance at top of Parker Road.
13.2     Goal posts plus spring on the gate to the football pitch.
13.3     Grit bins/salt bags
13.4     Commemorative tubs Bigbury village green: Cllr Owen reported this is now in hand and the parish council will be asked for a donation.
13.5     Bus lay-by
13.6     Notice boards:  see minute 12.3 above

14.0     DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT:   Cllr Carson reported that SHDC now shared their Chief Executive, Richard Shears.  The number of heads of department has been reduced from 18 to 7.  There are now 2 directors instead of 4 and that the Head of Planning, Stephen Munday, has left. The Monitory Officer, Delyth Jenkins-Evans is sharing her time with West Devon and is no longer head of Legal Department. 

15.0     EMERGENCY PLAN: An Emergency File has now been received and it was agreed to ask in the Bigbury News if anyone would be willing to take on the task of Emergency Officer for the parish.  In the past this had been undertaken by Dane Vanstone but he had not received any co-operation etc from DCC so the parish has not had an Emergency Officer for some time.  However, now, there is an Emergency Officer at SHDC Follaton House.

17.0     ANY OTHER BUSINESS Cllr Watts stated the parish council website needs addressing and was concerned at the image of the parish council with the website coming under that heading.  Cllr Edgcombe felt it would be better headed Bigbury Parish.  It was suggested that Cllr Watts should take over responsibility for the website.   Cllr Owen reported that Phil Shea had talked with him and his wife about the subject and was sure that Mr Shea would guide Cllr Watts on the subject and that the parish council should pay for an hour of Mr Shea’s time.  This to be place on June agenda.

17.1     Cllr Edgcombe proposed that next year there should only be the Annual Parish Meeting in April and not to have a parish council meeting that money unless anything really urgent arose.  This was agreed.

18.0     DATE OF NEXT MEETING   Wednesday 8th JUNE at 7.30 p.m    The clerk reported she would not be at the meeting due to being in hospital for an operation on her foot but that Cllr Grace had kindly volunteered to take the minutes for that meeting.   The clerk said that after her return home she will be in plaster for 12 weeks but will be able to carry out her duties at home.

            Meeting closed 9.20 pm