Parish Council Draft Minutes
Minutes of a meeting of Horwood, Lovacott and Newton Tracey Parish Council held in Horwood and Newton Tracey Primary School, Lovacott, on Tuesday 6 December 2005 beginning at 7.30pm.
- Acceptance of apologies for absence
An apology was received from Clr Williams, and after the meeting from Clr Furseman. Also present were County Clr Cann and six members of the public. Clr Davies took the chair; he reported that Clr Tilbury has resigned.
Clr Burton declared an interest (pe+pr) in item 10 as her family had responded to the survey. Clr Ford also declared an interest (pe+pr) in item 10 because affordable housing could be sited on his land.
- Approval of minutes of the meeting of 9 November 2005
The minutes were approved.
- Matters arising from the minutes of previous meetings (for information only)
(item 9.2, 9 November 2005): Chairman reported that he has ordered a new sign for the gate to Lovacott Village Field.
- Reports on Devon County Council and North Devon District Council business relevant to the Parish
County Clr Cann reported:
- DCC is reminding landowners to cut roadside hedges, trees and shrubs to prevent them becoming a safety hazard.
- DCC is conducting a review of the Devon Library Service: expenditure is very low relative to other counties and it fails to meet many standards.
- DCC will provide free school transport to primary pupils who live more than two miles from their designated school. The service will be phased in over three years.
- He had attended a conducted tour of the Western Bypass and Bridge site recently. Sticklepath Hill will be closed next spring with a new road providing access into Barnstaple. The two former railway bridges will then be demolished.
- Fly tipping is increasingly becoming a problem. It costs DCC at least £700 to prepare for a prosecution. Six prosecutions have been successful this year.
- The increase in the government grant to DCC for 2006/7 is 2.5% which compares unfavourably with neighbouring counties.
- Parish planning matters:
- To note any recent planning decisions
- Application 40848: listed building application for replacement and refurbished windows, East Woodlands Farmhouse: approved.
- Application 41055: Demolition of existing and erection of new extension to dwelling, Kirklea, Horwood: approved.
- Financial matters:
- To agree application to NDDC for parish grant and precept for 2006/7
Clerk suggested that the requested parish grant should be unchanged at £850, and that the requested precept should be £1850 which includes clerk’s salary of £850 and £400 to go part way to replacing the expected £700 cost of the recent Lovacott ward election. It was agreed that if a further election is requested for the present Lovacott ward vacancy, Chairman and Clerk should revise upwards the amount included for election costs; otherwise the proposed application was approved.
- To approve payment of clerk’s salary for quarters ending 30 Jun, 30 September and 31 December 2005 (£187.50*3=£562.50)
This was approved.
- To approve a request for a donation of £100 to The Woodcott News
This was approved.
- Parish highway matters:
- To review progress on previous requests for work and to note any work to be requested (next Lengthmen visit 2 and 6 February 2006)
- It was noted that drains have not been cleared through Newton Tracey
- Potholes in the B3232 around Tennacott on Belladown Hill were noted.
Clerk will report these items.
- To agree co-option procedure to fill the vacancy for a Lovacott ward parish councillor if NDDC do not receive a request for an election
If a request for an election is not made, the Parish Council has the duty to co-opt. Clerk suggested a procedure to consult Lovacott ward residents by post if more than one candidate offers his/her services. The procedure incorporated safeguards to minimise the chance of forged forms but also to maintain secrecy, and it met with the approval of Councillors. Council agreed it would co-opt the ward’s preferred candidate. Chairman asked for the public’s comments and a view was expressed that the proposed procedure was not acceptable and that an in-person ballot should be held in Lovacott Village Hall, otherwise an election would be requested. In the circumstances the Council agreed to a ballot. It was agreed that balloting should be held between midday and 8pm and that two people would be needed to man the ballot at all times.
- To consider preliminary findings of parish housing needs survey
The Council did not have a quorum to consider the report. Clerk will ask the author to attend the next meeting to present her full report and outline the next steps.
- To consider a request from residents for a parish emergency plan
It was agreed to ask Mr Barrow to prepare a plan. County Clr Cann had given him a copy of the Westleigh plan, and Clerk provided a copy of the DCC guide plan. Matters such as insurance cover will be addressed in due course.
- Opportunity for the public to raise matters not on the agenda appropriate to the Parish Council
No matters were raised.
- To agree dates of meetings for 2006. Suggested dates: 11 Jan (accept precept); 8 Feb; 8 Mar; 12 Apr; 10 May (Annual Meeting); 14 Jun; 12 Jul; 13 Sep; 11 Oct; 8 Nov; 13 Dec (agree application for grant/precept)
The suggested dates were agreed. The meeting closed at 8.40pm.
J Page
Clerk to the Council
17 February 2006
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