Draft Minutes 

MINUTES of a Meeting of Charleton Parish Council, held on Thursday 4^th April 2002, after the Annual Parish Assembly, in the Village Hall, West Charleton.

Present were:-    Mr. D. Hoggart (Chairman, presiding), Wg. Cdr. J. Leigh, Mr. Conboy, Mr. Faulkner,

                            Mr. Burner and Mr. Smith.

Also present:-    Mrs Raymond (Clerk) and 4 members of the public.

1.   Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Lang, Mr. Nash (SHDC) and Mr. Masters (DCC).

 2.   The MINUTES of the previous Meeting, held on 7^th March 2002, had been circulated prior to the Meeting, were approved, and signed as correct.

 3.   MATTERS ARISING:-

 (i) Hazard lights at the school:- Mr. Halliday had said at the recent Open Meeting that cost prohibited the operation of these lights. The school caretaker volunteered to operate the lights, and they are now in use each day.. A police officer was recently observed using a radar speed gun outside the school. 

(ii) Proposed 20 mph speed limit:- Mr. Smith suggested that a flashing light sign showing the new 20 mph speed limit should be used during school hours. Mr. Hoggart will add this suggestion to the views of the villagers who attended the Open Meeting and wrote concerning the measures which might be taken to slow the traffic, and liaise with Mr. Halliday in the matter of the speed limit.

(iii) The Code of Conduct:- Mr Burner said that he dislikes the idea of signing any  forms. All Parish Councillors were given a copy of the NALC Guidelines at the last Meeting, and were now given copies of the requisite forms to study prior to signature. A final decision as to what will be done about these new regulations will be made at the next Meeting, to conform with the District Council’s deadline for advertising the Adoption of the Code of Conduct.

(iv) Play equipment:- At the recent Meeting of the Coleridge Association, all member Parish Councils expressed concern over the question of ownership of and responsibility for play equipment. Mr. Smith said that the question may not arise in this parish, since the playground equipment has now bee dismantled to allow for the erection of the new nursery unit.

(v) Casual Vacancy:- It is hoped that Mr. Ashley Hawks may be able to apply for the position of Parish Councillor, if his Inspector will give permission. If he is not permitted to apply, Mrs Hawks may do so. The Parish Councillors were pleased to hear this, especially as it would also fulfil the need for a representative from East Charleton.

(vi) Tree Preservation Order:- This order concerning the trees at Charleton Court Barns, and the letter sent by Wg. Cdr. Leigh expressing the Parish Council’s advice that this Order should not be lifter, has been passed to the Tree Warden, Dr. Earl. No reply has been received as yet.

 4.   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:- Mr. Hoggart asked if anyone would consider it useful to compile a list of contact addresses to be available for consultation by villagers. The Clerk is occasionally asked for information, and can usually offer help from sources already available. Mr. Smith mentioned that the Benefits Van is to attend at the village hall from time to time, and the CAB is always ready to advise by telephone from the Totnes office, since the Kingsbridge branch has closed. It was felt that a list of useful contacts might prove helpful, and so Mr. Conboy and Wg. Cdr. Leigh will begin to compile one.

 5.   CORRESPONDENCE:-

  Mr. Hoggart asked the Parish Councillors to take special note of the item concerning the Village Plan, to be discussed further at a future Meeting.

 6.   PLANNING:- No Applications.

 7.   REPORTS:-

 (i) School:- Nothing to report.

(ii) Coleridge Association:-  Mr. Hoggart attended the last Meeting, where the main subject for concern was the question of play equipment. All member Councils felt that a collective response should be made to SHDC after all equipment is examined and identified.  There is some funding available to improve, re-open or establish footpaths.

(iii) Parish paths:- Nothing to report.

(iv) Village Hall:- Nothing new to report. The bunting, with 480 pennants on it, has been purchased.

(v) Jubilee Committee:- The next event will be the fashion show. Wg. Cdr. Leigh requested a copy of the Minutes of the meeting on disk for inclusion in the Web site. The next Meeting will be on 15^th April at 8 pm.

(vi) Meeting of Chairmen:- Mr. Hoggart reported that a group of Parish Councils and Kingsbridge Town Council has been formed, to be known as the Saltstone Group.

 8. FINANCE:-

 The following cheques were passed for payment:-

            Cheque no. 100574  £23.12 to F. Raymond for Audit travel            expenses

            Cheque no. 100575 £164.84 to F. Raymond for Clerk’s salary for Jan/Feb/Mar

            Cheque no.100576 £21.20 to PRCDTR for photocopying expenses

            Cheque no. 100577 £20.70 to SH Newspapers for Ad. for Open Meeting.

            Cheque no. 100578 £110.00 to J.M.Leigh for Web site costs.

 9. HIGHWAY AND COMMUNITY MATTERS:-

 (i) Grass trimming:- It was noted that the grass verges have recently been trimmed, and the cut grass was left lying on the road. The  grass in the patch at the top of Sicklemans Close was also trimmed, and the daffodil foliage was unfortunately cut down earlier than it ideally should have been.

(ii) Black bin bags in Saunders Way:- Complaints have been received about a resident putting out household rubbish in bags for the refuse collection some days before the collection date. The bags have been attacked by foxes and rubbish scattered over the neighbouring gardens. It this problem persists, the complainants are advised to report the matter to the Environmental Health Officer.

(iii) Barrier at Lyte Lane steps:- This is still awaiting repair, but Mr. Gallagher assured the Clerk that the work will be carried out as soon as the materials are available.

(iv) Trees opposite the school:- Mr. Gallagher has identified the trees with Mr. Smith’s help, and the work will be carried out in the autumn.

(v) Parish Web site:- Wg. Cdr. Leigh reported that Stokenham Parish Councillors have their photographs on their Web site. After the AGM next month, Wg. Cdr. Leigh will arrange for Charleton Parish Councillors’ pictures to be put onto the Charleton web site.  To recoup the original outlay, commercial outlets must be encouraged to take part. The school will participate, and other entries could be a list of Village Hall activities, and interesting historical notes about the village.

 10. ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING:-

 (i) The Code of Conduct

(ii) The Web site

(iii) The Casual Vacancy

 11. DATE of the NEXT MEETING:- the Annual General Meeting, Thursday 2^nd May 2002, at 7.30 pm.

F.R. 8/4/02

Signed as a true and accurate Record of the Meeting,

 Signature………………………………………………….                       Date……………………….