Minutes of Harberton Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 13 December 2005 at 7.30pm at Harbertonford Primary School.

Present: Cllrs Fearn, G Janes, Williams, Johnson, Stubbings, Beamish, D Cllr Steer and Devon County Cllr G Date.

Apologies: Cllrs Hockings, E Janes and Jeffreys.

Public: 1

Clerk: Mrs D Crann.

In the absence of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman through illness, Cllr Fearn agreed to take the chair for this meeting.

The Chairman opened the meeting, welcomed everyone and invited C Cllr Date to speak first.

He spoke about a recent letter from John Halliday regarding the pedestrian crossing across A381 in Harbertonford. There had been no speed review along this road so far and he hoped to speak to the new inspector at Totnes Police, John Jackson, regarding this matter. Mr Halliday had agreed to attend the next Parish Council meeting on 10/01/06 at Harberton Parish Hall to discuss this matter. Cllr Date referred to the new County Council spending review increase of 2.5% for the coming financial year as less than all surrounding councils, possibly meaning £15m of cuts. After further discussions, Cllr Date left the meeting.

Cllr Beamish then introduced Mr Dave Knight of 3 Marl Park, Harbertonford, who was attending this meeting with a possibility of becoming a parish councillor. He was already known to some councillors.

The minutes of the previous meeting were then considered, and after one amendment, were agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

Matters Arising:

1) Flooding in Harberton. A meeting had been arranged by Bill Lawrence of SHDC at Harberton Parish Hall for 16/12/05 for the contractors to discuss the imminent completion of these works. Unfortunately, neither Cllr Hockings, Cllr E Janes, nor the Clerk will be able to attend.

2) P3 Footpath Scheme. Ongoing.

3) Speed check on A381 in Harbertonford village. As already reported, C Cllr Date will be in touch with Insp John Jackson and this will be backed up by a letter from the Clerk. Proposed by Cllr Stubbings, seconded by Cllr Beamish. All in favour.

4) Illegal parking at the side of the bus stop in Harbertonford. After further discussion of this matter, it was agreed to contact DCC Highways for the installation of bollards at the outer edge of the pavement at the side of the bus shelter.

Planning: Parish Council Recommendations – Decisions at meeting:

23/2153/05/F Belsford Court, Harberton. Extension to swimming pool building – now withdrawn.

23/2182/05/F 2 Riverside Mill Cottages, Harberton. Erection of rear lean-to extension. No objections. Proposed by Cllr Williams, seconded by Cllr Stubbings. 6 in favour, 1 abstention.

23/2237/05/F 3 Marl Park, Harbertonford. Two storey extension with first floor link, etc. Decision deferred for site meeting.

Correspondence:

1) DAPC. Village Green magazine; notification of various training days; Calor Village of the Year competition; newsletters; new salary scales for clerks indicating an increase of £45 pa = total of £1,585 pa. It was proposed by D Cllr Steer, seconded by Cllr Stubbings to accept this. All in favour. The Clerk accepted with thanks.

2) GLEAM report passed to Cllr Stubbings.

3) DCC Waste Local Plan. Letter shown to the meeting. Any representations should be lodged by 31/12/05.

4) DCC Second Homes Council Tax. Letter of explanation of spending 2005/6 was shown to the meeting.

5) A letter had been received from Cllr Jeffreys on behalf of the Harbertonford Playground Association. Now that the lease had been completed, they would welcome a grant from the Parish Council towards equipment and asked councillors to take this into consideration next month when setting the Precept for 2006/7.

6) Copy of a letter from Mr Halliday to see C Cllr Date received re Fork Cross Junction, Harberton, was shown to the meeting. This will be discussed further at the January 2006 meeting.

7) Invoice received from James Miller for grass cutting 2005; 8 cuts at £36.00 + VAT = £338.40 to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Williams, seconded by D Cllr Steer. All in favour. Also received, an estimate for 2006 season. No increase. 10 cuts at £36.00 per cut + VAT. This to be accepted. Proposed by Cllr Beamish, seconded by Cllr Johnson. All in favour.

8) A letter had been received from Mr A Strivens of Harberton regarding any information which the Parish Council could give about the flooding from the field next to Harberton Parish Hall on 01/01/03. The Clerk will research the minutes and reply.

9) SHDC Waste Collection Changes Project. This letter, itemising the next phase of waste collection by SHDC, was passed around the meeting.

Other Items on the Table:

DCC newsletters; SHDC Executive Forward Plan; SHDC Development Control and Conservation User Group minutes 19/09/05; SHDC Minutes of Executive Meeting 17/11/05; Leisure Centres – Future Management No2.

Matters at the Discretion of the Chairman:

1) Cllr Beamish reported that some of the elderly residents of Riverdale, Harbertonford, were being intimidated by local children around midnight.

2) At Beenleigh, the road is collapsing along its outer edge. (Beamish)

3) Cllr Beamish also reported that at the last cut of the grass at Harbertonford Playground, the contractors had made a real mess of the surface. The cut was done when it was too wet. The Clerk will write to the school.

4) Cllr Fearn reported that Screws Lane, Harberton needed resurfacing as edges were breaking up.

5) Cllr Fearn also reported that John Culf had been in correspondence with Tor Homes regarding damage at the entrance to the parking area in front of the new Pendarves houses in Harberton. There were also problems with the trees planted in this area.

Cheques signed:

No 348 – Mrs D Crann - £417.79
No 349 – J T Miller - £339.40

The meeting closed at 9.20pm. The next will be held on Tuesday 10 January 2006 at 7.30pm at Harberton Parish Hall.