Charleton Parish Council.

MINUTES of a Meeting of Charleton Parish Council, held on Thursday 5^th February 2004, at 7.30 pm., in Charleton Village Hall.

PRESENT were:- Mr. Hoggart (Chairman, presiding), Wg. Cdr. Leigh, Mrs Hawkes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Faulkner, Mr. Conboy     and Mr. Brown.

Also present was:-     Mrs Gross (Village Press Officer), Mr. Brazil (SHDC) and Mrs Raymond (Clerk).

1. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. Masters (DCC).

2. The Minutes of the previous Meeting, held on Thursday 8^th January, had been circulated, and were approved and signed as correct.

3. Matters arising:-

(i) The Adventure Playground is still under consideration to determine areas of responsibility.

(ii) The Parish Plan:- No one has expressed a desire to pursue this matter, but the Parish Council will produce and distribute fliers to every household to build up a “wish list” from the people. The Clerk will arrange for the printing of the fliers, which will be distributed next month.

(iii) Street lights in East Charleton:- Following a request from one resident for the Parish Council to ask for the provision of a small number of street lights in East Charleton, it was felt that the opinions of the other residents of dwellings along the main road should be sought. The Clerk will devise and print letters asking for the wishes of the residents, after which further action will be taken if that should be the wish of the majority.

(iv) Traffic calming:- The question of the provision of priority signs on the road between the Ashburton Arms and the Rectory will be investigated with Mr. Halliday.

Mr. Smith suggested that narrow speed bumps may also be considered, should residents still feel that traffic speeds are excessive.

4. Public Participation:- None.

5. Correspondence:-

Mr. Brown proposed that a copy of the Golden Jubilee Book be purchased for presentation to the school. The proposal was seconded by Mr. Smith, and passed unanimously. The Clerk will therefore arrange this, and then inscribe the book appropriately.

Copies of the advertising flier will be enlarged, and displayed in the village hall and notice boards.

The request by Victim Support for financial aid will be considered at next month’s meeting.

6. Planning:-

The following Planning Applications were received this month:-

Applicant:-                   Ms White

Application  no:            09/0089/04/F

Proposal:                      Erection of garden room

Location:                      31 Saunders Way, West Charleton, TQ7 2BS

The Parish Councillors felt unable to advise on this Application on the evidence of the plans, and so a site visit will be arranged, and the Planning Sub-Committee will return the reply form with comments.

Applicant:                     Mr AD Bell

Application no: 09/0092/04/F

Proposal:                      Erection of raised deck, side extension and replacement garage

Location:                      28 Charleton Way, West Charleton, TQ7 2AN

There were no objections.

Applicant:                     Mr G R Shove

Application no: 09/0141/04/F

Proposal:                      Repairs to lean-to barn store

Location:                      The Creek, West Charleton, TQ7 2AW

The Parish Council support this application.

7. Reports:-

(i) School:-  Mr. Smith read the written report of activities submitted by the Head teacher. This included information about a Travel Plan being formulated with the assistance of the parents, and a request that the Parish Council should support the school’s plan for a grant towards alterations at the school entrance, including perhaps a new bus bay. The Clerk will therefore write to the Head Teacher to assure her that the Council will be pleased to support in any way possible, and is willing to liaise with the working party.

(ii) Footpaths:- Steve Malec is off sick at present, so Mr. Conboy was unable to get an update on the progress of the Definitive Map changes to Footpath 2, or to question him about the car-parking problems associated with the new hide on Charleton marsh. The need for parking was not apparently addressed prior to the planning of the hide.

(iii) Village Hall:- Mr. Smith reported that the damaged wall was repaired by Mr. Rogers for less than £100, for which the Committee is very grateful.

(iv) Coleridge Association:- Mr. Hoggart attended the recent meeting of the Association, when the speaker was Verity Palk, on the subject of waste management. The question of lack of ambulance cover in the area was brought up by one of the Councillors, who claimed that there is little or no cover between 8 pm and 8 am in the outlying villages.

(v) Saltstone Group:- The following issues were brought up at the recent meeting:-

a) Are Parishes adequately supported by SHDC?

b) Camping issues.

c) Recycling

d) Lack of policing in outlying villages.

There are at present no Beat Managers between Kingsbridge and Torcross. Ashley Hawkes, a Special Constable living in East Charleton, has obtained permission to patrol Charleton occasionally, in an unpaid voluntary capacity, to try to compensate for the lack of a Beat Manager. The Parish Councillors expressed their gratitude for this work.

f) Car parking charges- especially for handicapped drivers- which were very unpopular.

8. Finance:-

The Parish received notice that election expenses of £132.59 for the uncontested election in 2003, will be payable upon receipt of the invoice next month.

There was one cheque presented for approval:-

Cheque no. 100615, £25.00 to F. Raymond for petty cash to cover postages, etc.

9. Highway and Community Matters:-

(i) Holes at the bus stop;- These holes, left when DCC Highways removed posts, have not been repaired, but covered with cones.

(ii) Dog fouling in Lyte Lane:- An irresponsible dog owner is allowing his animal to foul the highway at the top of Lyte Lane. Further notices will be posted to warn against this antisocial behaviour, which apparently occurs after dark most evenings.

(iii) Road salt:- A small supply of road salt is to be requested for the school, to make access to the playground safer when there is a frost.

10. Matters of urgency, at the Chairman’s discretion:-

(i) Domain name renewal:- Wg. Cdr. Leigh said that the Domain name for the parish Web site is due for renewal.  Mr. Smith proposed that this be done. Mrs Hawkes seconded the proposal, which was passed unanimously. Wg. Cdr. Leigh will therefore arrange this.

Wg. Cdr. Leigh reminded the Meeting that Both Minutes of Meetings and the Gazette article can be sent out by e-mail.

(ii) Bicentenary of Trafagar:- Mr. Brown said that the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar will be on 21^st October 2004, and celebrations including the lighting of beacons are to be planned. Further information will be available at a later date.

11. Items for next Meeting:-

a) Victims Support Group request for funding.

12. Date of the next Meeting:-  Thursday 4^th March 2004.

F.R. 7/2/04

Signed as a true and accurate record of the Meeting,

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

Copies to:              Parish Councillors (7 copies)

                             Mr. Masters (DCC)

                             Mr. Brazil (SHDC)

                             Mr. Ball (School)

                             Mrs Gross (Press)

                             Inspector Antill

                             Notice board

                             Minutes Book

                             (14 copies)