The minutes of Harberton Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 08 April 2008 at Harbertonford Primary School at 7.30pm.

Present: Cllrs. Knight, Hockings, Steer, Janes, Hill, Johnson, Beamish, Hoddinott, Hookway, Williams.

Also Present: District Cllr R Steer.

Apologies: Cllrs Fearn, Jeffries & County Councillor G Date.

Clerk: Mrs D Crann.

In the absence of Cllr Fearn the Chair was taken by Cllr Knight. He opened the meeting, welcomed everyone and invited District Cllr Steer to give his report. He commenced by reporting that SHDC was very involved at present with the Structural Review of Devon and were recommending any and everyone to write to Alan Robinson of SHDC with their views. The option recommended by SHDC was a new South Devon and Dartmoor Authority. This would cover Teignbridge, SHDC and West Devon Councils, Dartmoor National Park and part of DCC. D Cllr Steer also mentioned the Planning Application 39/2605/07/F – Channerhead Plantation, Webland Lane, South Brent which, although considered on 19/03/08, was to go back before the next meeting of SHDC Planning Committee on 16/04/08. The minutes of the previous meeting were then considered, agreed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

Matters Arising:

1) Harbertonford Allotment Society (HAS). The Clerk had written to Michelmore Hughes of Totnes to enquire about the possibility of leasing one acre of land just above the Harbertonford Primary School to be sub-let to the HAS. The reply from Mr. Wiseman of Michelmore Hughes indicated that, at present, probate was progressing on this land following the death of Mrs Yates and it would be some time before he could give any answer. He also enclosed a copy of his letter to HAS. These letters were passed around the meeting.

2) Harbertonford Village Hall Loan. An email received from Cllr Fearn was read out reporting on Cllr Fearn’s friendly conversation with Mr Monaghan of the Hall Committee when he reported to him that the Parish Council was unable to arrange for the proposed Loan to the Hall. Mr. Monaghan indicated they had now obtained alternative funding.

3) The plaque for the bench in memory of Edmund Janes was shown to the meeting and will be attached to the bench by Cllr Knight.

4) Bottle Bank at Harberton Parish Hall. Cllr Fearn reported by email that after having canvassed Harberton residents, there has been nearly 3:1 against a bottle bank in the upper car park. So, the matter will be deferred until there is more support, including a textile bank.

5) HSSG. The letter from Geoff Broom was discussed again. Councillors still feel that there is no Councillor free to attend their meetings, but would welcome periodic reports to be read out at the Parish Council meetings.

6) Pedestrian Crossing in Harbertonford. The Clerk had written to Anthony Steen MP for support and action in this matter, but there had been a disappointing reply which was read out to the meeting.

Planning: Parish Council recommendations -

Decisions at the meeting

23/0531/08/F Maryland, Harbertonford. Conservatory/garden room.

23/0521/08/F Blacklands, Moreleigh Road. Harbertonford. Amendment to

23/1698/07/F There will be a short delay in decisions on these plans which will be announced at the next meeting.

23/0575/08/F Larks Rise, Harberton. Installation of flue, alterations to doors & provision of windows. No objections. Proposed by Cllr Williams, seconded by Cllr Steer. All in favour.

23/0631/08/F The Dairy, Tristford Barns, Harberton. Retrospective application for addition of roof over parking area. No objections Proposed by Cllr Hoddinott. Amendment - Objections as contrary to original permission after appeal dismissed. Proposed by Cllr Hockings, seconded by Cllr Johnson. Voting - on amendment 8 in favour, 1 against and 1 abstention.

23/0361/08/F Gosworthy Barn, Harberton. Erection of double garage. Application withdrawn. For Information -

39/2605/07/F Channer Head Plantation, Webland Lane, South Brent. To be reconsidered at SHDC Planning meeting 16/04/08.

Correspondence:

1) SHDC Local Government Review & Boundary Commission Structural Review of Devon. Both letters were read out and considered by councillors. D Cllr Steer’s comments were taken into consideration. Cllr Williams said he would wish to hold judgement until further information became available from DCC. This was agreed by all councillors so the matter will be further discussed at a later meeting.

2) DAPC & DPFA subs now due. DAPC - £214.00 - and DPFA - £15.00. Both to be paid. Proposed by Cllr Steer, seconded by Cllr Beamish. All in favour.

3) Broadband Direct Debit due £9.99.

4) Invoice received from Andrew Hockings for installation of the computer and Broadband etc. £43.00 + printer £60.00 - total £103.00. To be paid, proposed by Cllr Beamish, seconded Cllr Williams. All in favour.

5) Letter received from Audit Commission notifying the Parish Council that Mr Alun Williams has been appointed as Auditor to Harberton Parish Council from 2007/8 to 2011/12.

6) Further update re Listening Events received. There will now be a meeting with DCC at the Town Hall, Ivybridge 10/04/08 at 7.00pm.

7) SHDC Village Website. This letter to be passed on to John Culf in order that a photo be supplied for the website.

8) Letter received from Mr C Lund of Feoffees. Cllr Steer’s term has come to an end. Cllr Steer agreed to be reappointed. Proposed by Cllr Hockings, seconded by Cllr Janes. All in favour.

9) An email received from Mrs Padfield of Harbertonford was read out. She had noticed an error in the minutes of the February meeting re Planning. This was discussed by councillors who had all agreed these minutes which had been signed off. Her comments were duly noted. Also, regarding Parish Council procedures with planning applications the Parish Council were normally restricted to three weeks to consider applications so these went to the meeting or else had to be decided between meetings. Any member of the public who wished to make objections was advised to write to the South Hams District Council Planning Officer in charge of the application in question.

10) SHDC Concessionary Bus Passes. Letter received from SHDC apologising for late issuing of bus passes.

11) SHDC Development Control + Conservation User Group meeting held 2/04/08 at Follation House.

12) DCC Temporary Road Closure. Moreleigh Road, Harbertonford, 24/04/08.

13) D&C Police Liaison meeting 24/04/08 Ivybridge Town Hall at 7.30pm. Also on the table: South Hams Society AGM, DAPC Newsletter, DCC Newsletters, SHDC Minutes of Executive meeting

Matters at the Discretion of the Chairman:

1) A letter had been received from Mr Monaghan of Harbertonford, together with several photos of his broken garden fence. He asked if the Parish Council were responsible for fencing the Playing Field as we lease it from the Diocese. Some discussion followed and the Clerk will look into the matter and reply to the letter.

2) Cllr Steer reported there had been a tree blown down in the storms into her back garden across the Green Lane leading to Englebourne. DCC contractors had cleared it away without delay, but had entered her property to remove some of the tree, but had done a great deal of damage, cutting in half a prefectly good Bramley apple tree in the process. The Parish Council will write a letter of complaint to DCC.

3 Cllr Janes reported that Mrs Widger had telephoned the Clerk to report that part of the hedge along the upper part of Old Road, Harbertonford, needed clearing out. The Clerk had attended to this matter having reprted this to DCC but had been unable to contact Mrs. Widger back by phone on at least three occasions.

Cheques signed between meetings:

No 416 - Brixham Trophy & Locksmiths - £51.00-

No 417 - Harberton Parish Hall Committee - £30.00

No 418 – DCC - £25.00

Cheques signed at meeting:

No 419 - Andrew Hockings - £103.00

No 420 – DAPC - £214.00

No 421 - DPFA - £15.00

Direct Debit - PlusNet - £9.99

The meeting closed at 10.00pm. The next, on 13 May 2008, at Harberton Parish Hall, at 7.30pm will be the Annual Meeting followed by the monthly Parish Council meeting.