BURRINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes prepared by Angela Snell

DRAFT

BURRINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Council Meeting held on the 27th October 2009

Present Mr. B. Fraser-Smith (Vice chairman), Mr P Bailey Mr M Evans, Mr R Marriott
Mr P Smale, Mrs T Weston, Mrs A Snell (Clerk)
In attendance, Mr R Edgell- County Councillor
Apologies: Mr J Short - Prior commitment
Mrs E Griffiths– Prior Commitment
Mr R Snell- Prior commitment
Mrs S Croft - District Councillor


Mr B Fraser-Smith welcomed Ms Emma Ingle to the meeting being the Customer Service Manger from NDDC listing the services that are carried out by this department. There are three customer service centres located in the Civic Centre in Barnstaple, the Amory Centre in South Molton and the Ilfracombe Centre. The main areas that are dealt with are planning, environmental health, parking, council tax and housing benefit. This department has a page on the NDDC website. The key objective is to handle 80% of concerns promptly and a target of 80% of calls answered within 18 rings, but the reply’s can only be as good as the necessary department deals with the concerns. A new computer and telephone system have been installed. Ms Ingle attended to raise the profile and promote Customer Services and to ask what else they could do for the Parish Council or individuals.
The general enquiries number is: 01271 327711
Small leaflets have been left which are available from the shop or the Parish Council.
Mr Fraser-Smith thanked Ms Ingle for attending

Public Participation

Declaration of Interests – Councillors are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interest,
including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be
considered at this meeting. They are also reminded to consider whether in the light of recent
activities any items within their Register of Interests should be updated.

1.i . The Minutes of the meeting held on 29th September 2009 were agreed and signed
2. Clerks report, i. A letter has been received from Network Rail confirming the siting of the new
telecommunication mast in the Parish. ii. The absence of the light on the school was discussed this
was removed by the builders carrying out the work on the school and has not been replaced this
is to be pursued. The builders are completing various jobs during the half term including the fire
damage, and a new equipment hut has been installed. iii. An update on the Parish council work
was relayed to the meeting, painting has started on the bus shelter, the obelisk maintenance and
fencing contractors are waiting until the grant application has been confirmed, and the electrical work is to commence next week. The school gate has been inspected and a quote received for sand blasting and painting from Right Angle in Torrington for £90, Mr J Short has kindly agreed to
carry out welding repairs and transport the gate to Torrington. It was proposed by Mrs T Weston and seconded by Mr P Bailey to accept the quote, all in favour, with the suggestion of the work to be carried out in the holidays. The issue of the soak away by the school was raised as it is still flooding Mr J Rowlinson from the footpath department is to be contacted as to responsibilities as it is situated on the public footpath.
3. Chairman’s Report. i. The Council discussed training for the members and clerk to evaluate and
identify the need for training by both, the DAPC Spring Summer training programme was relayed
to the council with a need identified in Planning master class, Managing and maintaining your play
areas and recreational grounds for councillors and Finance - risk assessment and preparing for
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audits for a member councillor and the clerk, the new councillor is to be asked if she wishes to
attend new councillor training. ii. Mrs T Western declared a personal interest in the item to be discussed, a Letter from NDDC Housing Options and Operational Manager in relation to a letter sent to DAPC regarding the allocation of social housing was discussed. It was agreed to draft a letter to prospective householders to relay the positive and detrimental aspects of village life, this is to brought to the next meeting for approval. ii. A letter asking for information was circulated to village householders regarding the smell from the sewage system the information has been collected. A formal complaint is to be sent to the Environmental Health department who along with South West Water are aware of the problems, to emphasis the public health issues that this problem is bringing. The problem seems to have been occurring since May of this year when the new development was completed. iii. Mr B Fraser-Smith and Mr P Bailey declared a prejudicial interest in the item to be discussed. A letter of support for grant application was requested from the Parish Hall committee as there was not a quorum to make a decision the item will be discussed at the next meeting.
4. Highways, i. Mrs T Weston reported that the landowner has installed the pipe between the Dole Parks and subsequent connection and road surfacing will now be undertaken. The pipe has also been installed at Nothcote Cross this is to monitored. A pot hole has been reported at South Field and the pavement at Meadow Park was also highlighted due to being covered in moss. ii. An update on the Country Mile Project has been received along with examples of the new signage that is envisaged to be used, after discussion it was felt some of the examples had to much writing on them and would not aid road safety this is to be relayed to the project managers.
5. County and District Councillors items: The draft sustainable construction guide has been received for consultation. ii. Cllr Edgell reported he had been in contact with Burrington Primary school regarding the high cost of the broad band connection and the financial impact of this on the school budget and the subsequent impact on teaching staff. It was also reported that Devon is 148 out of 150 for school funding in the amount it receives from central government being £375 per head less than the national average. But it must be said performance wise Devon is in the top 20% nationally. Funding has been agreed for a new build in Chulmleigh.
6. Finance, Approve and sign the following cheques from 1851:-
705 DAPC Training £28.75
706 Burrington Parish Hall £18.00
707 J and J Bins £8.66

All councillors were in agreement to approve the cheques.
i. Periodic Internal Audit check on bills presented was carried out and agreed.
ii The preferred suppliers list was discussed and updated but the point was highlighted that correct insurance needs to be checked to ensure all are in accordance with requirements, this was then signed. iii. Birmingham Midshires reinvestment was discussed it was proposed by Mr P Bailey seconded by Mr M Evans to reinvest for 3 years at a rate of 2.15% after a vote of 4 for and one against the proposal was carried.
As it was 9.30pm all agreed to continue.
7. Planning
Planning P C recommendations NDDC
44369 Balls Corner Still ongoing
46953 Bedprot Farm, farm mangers dwelling Passed
46996 2 North Parks stables
48937 Jenny Fox Cottage Passed
49009 DAAT @ Eaglescott Airfield, amended plans .
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49117 Langabridge, replacement windows The listing requirements were highlighted but it was felt the proposal would enhance the overall appearance of the farmhouse. It was proposed by Mrs T Weston and seconded by Mr P Smale after a vote 4 for and one against it was agreed to recommend approval

8. Police Report. No police report has been received, but a letter stating that PC Julie Chapman the Neighbourhood Beat Manager has left South Molton Station and a replacement is being sought.
9. Post Office i. A letter of acknowledgment has been received regarding the mobile PO service, we await further information.
ii. The siting of the Parish Notice Board, various sites were discussed after a lengthy discussion it was proposed by Mr B Fraser-Smith and seconded by Mr R Marriott to put the board for now on the wall by the Parish Council Notice Board if Pickards are still in agreement with 3 for 2 against and one abstention the proposal was carried.
10. Correspondence
i). An Empowering Communities in Devon Conference is to be held on the 25th November at the Kenn Centre near Exeter.
ii). A SW Love Food Hate waste leaflet has been received.
iii). The Senior Council of Devon leaflet has also been received.
iv). The Playing Filed was distributed.
It was reported that in the CPRE Best Kept village competition a Pam Parker map competition is also held for school children, with Burrington School doing extremely well being Highly Commended as a whole school entry and Matthew Upright aged 4 being Highly Commended as an individual the prizes are to be presented by CPRE in November.


Date of next meeting Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 24th November 2009, 7.30pm,
Budget meeting
 

BURRINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

ANNUAL REPORT 2009

CHAIRMAN: MR J SHORT 01769 520431
VICE CHAIRMAN: MR B FRASER-SMITH 520241
MR P BAILEY 520413
MR M EVANS 520740
MR R MARRIOT 520437
MR P SMALE 520216
MR R SNELL 520265
MRS T WESTON 520645

CLERK: MRS A SNELL 520265
rjandarsnell@aylescott.fsnet.co.uk


Meetings are normally held on the last Tuesday of the month in the Burrington Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

District Councillor: MRS S CROFT 01769581613
County Councillor: MR J TUCKER 01271850844

The public facilities offered to the Parish by the Parish Council are the Village Square and Oak tree, the Village Green and play equipment, the Sport Area and bus shelter.
The three seats at Red Post, Bircham Hill and Forches Cross along with the Beacon and Millennium Table at Forches Cross.
The Millennium Copse situated between Forches Cross and Red Post.
Three water pumps and flower tubs sited at Town Bridge, Barton Road and the Causeway and two dog bins sited at Balls Corner and opposite the Parish Hall.

Financial Report


Precept Request for 09/10 £7275 £50 decrease from 08/09

CHAIRMANS ANNUAL REPORT

The year seems to have passed very quickly and we would like to thank Brian Fraser-Smith for all his hard work and dedication he has put in over the past 7 years as Chairman of the Parish Council.
I would like to personally add my thanks to Brian and the rest of the Councillors for their support given to me in the first twelve months which has helped me to settle in.
After much deliberation and lobbying concerning the Post Office closure we still have no date as to when or if it is going to close.
The resiting of the Post Box has caused much comment and we are currently arguing with Royal Mail as to the new position which we feel should be in the Square, a meeting is arranged for the 13th May with Royal Mail to discuss the situation.
Yet again roads are a major point of discussion on a monthly basis. We would like to thank Mrs Trudy Weston for all the work she does liaising with the Council on our behalf. There has recently been a road cleaning trial carried out on the main routes through the parish, which we hope you feel has been worthwhile to which we have asked if this could be done on a periodic regular basis, but don’t hold your breath.
With the help of some greatly appreciated finance from our County Councillor Mr Joe Tucker we have agreed with the Highways Department to have advisory height restriction signs placed on the A377 to try and help alleviate the problem of the large lorries coming through the village.
We would also like to thank Joe Tucker for the £240 funding he granted to the parish towards the cost of running the bus service during the road closure, also the £600 for the play equipment repairs and picture framing of archive photos of Burrington and the support he has given Mr Paul Bailey in securing the £4000 grant money towards the Parish Hall improvements.
There has been a lot of discussion on the Unitary Authority proposed for Devon, the decision date has now been extended to July; no doubt some one will make a decision!
The planning for the hanger and pad at Eaglescott finally passed in July and we hope all goes well for the Devon Air Ambulance on its permanent site for the future.
The subject of Wind power came up during the year with George Van Dan Burg giving a report on his ideas for a wind turbine at Bedport, if anyone is interested please contact him.
We would like to thank our Parish Clerk for all the work she has put in to keep us on the straight and narrow; she is actively working towards gaining Quality Status for the Parish Council.
The planning permission for the Balls Corner development has passed with a sum of money available through the Section 106 agreement for the Parish. Councillor Sue Croft and Mr Brian Fraser-Smith have been working hard to secure the money for use in the village; we hope this will bear fruit in the future.
Due to other commitments Mr David Stone has resigned from the Parish Council, we would like to thank him very much for his valued time and contribution he has put in over the past years to the Parish Council it is very much appreciated and it is with sadness that he is resigning, his efforts over the Parish Plan were tremendous.
We would also like to thank Jeff Cox for his continued good work in editing the Parish magazine and Mr Dave Tylcoat for running the Parish website and updating the Parish Council information.
Likewise the ladies from the Women’s Link for tending he flower tubs around the village to keep them looking colourful.
Finally thanks to all the parishioners who have helped with various activities and jobs around the parish which help to keep our great community spirit going.


Mr John Short
Chairman of Burrington Parish Council
 

Parish Clerk, Angela Snell: 01769 520265, rjandarsnell@aylescott.fsnet.co.uk

Minutes prepared by Angela Snell 

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