Charleton Parish Council.

MINUTES of a Meeting of Charleton Parish Council, held on Thursday 3^rd June 2004, at 7.30 pm., in Charleton Village Hall.

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

                                Mr. Faulkner and Mr. Brown

Also present were:-    Mr. Halliday (Local Service Officer), Mr. Brazil (SHDC), Mrs Gross  (Village press correspondent),  and Mrs Raymond (Clerk).

1. APOLOGIES for absence were received from Inspector Antill and Mr. Masters (DCC). 

2. Mr. Halliday- TRAFFIC MATTERS:-

In response to the items concerning traffic matters in the Wish Lists returned by the residents, Mr. Halliday suggested that the Parish Council should begin to compile a Parish Transport Plan, which would in turn help with the design of a Devon Local Transport Plan.  He advised that many of the concerns expressed by the residents could be addressed in this way.  The 9 Policy Objectives of the Devon Local Transport Plan are as follows:- 

Integration,

Safety,

Accessibility for all

Economy

Environment

Health

Lifelong Learning

Social Inclusion and

Tourism.

The first stage would be led by the Parish, who would invite the local community to identify transport and travel issues, (as partly addressed in the Wish Lists) and to suggest schemes to improve them.  Parish priorities would then be agreed,  and the favoured schemes would be indicated on blank plans provided.  After this has been done, the Local Services Group would be able to assess the Parish schemes against the DLTP Objectives and other Community Transport Plans, and consider the priorities and costs before producing bids for funding from the capital fund available for the DLTP.  As the Plan is put into operation the Parish would be involved in agreeing with or recommending changes to the Plan,  keeping the local community informed, and generally liaising with the Local Services Group in the development of the CTP. 

Mr. Halliday recommended that the Parish Transport Plan should include consideration of safety outside and on route to schools, walking schemes, cycle schemes, public transport infrastructure, traffic schemes and parking schemes.  Once the suggestions of the local community have been forwarded to the Local Services Group, they will be assessed against the DLTP Objectives and against the priorities if the wider community.

 It cannot be expected that all the wishes of the community will be met, but the exercise will give a clear picture of the wishes of the community and so help to direct resources towards the issues about which the community feels most strongly.  At all stages, the Parish, District and County Councils will be consulted. 

Mr. Halliday was then questioned by the Parish Councillors about many of the issues raised in the Wish Lists.  Wg. Cdr. Leigh asked what measures could be taken to encourage the observation of the 20 mph speed limit, since he had promised at an earlier Parish Council Meeting that he would investigate further speed calming measures which could be used in the village.  Unfortunately, due to shortage of staff, Mr. Halliday had not been able to consider further measures.  Mrs Hawkes asked about the promised street signs in East Charleton, and was told by Mr. Halliday that the contractor was running behind in the provision of such signs.  Mrs Hawkes said that she was extremely concerned about this, and declared that the long delay in providing such warning signs constituted a failure in the duty of care which the District Council had towards the community. 

The desirability of  priority signs in the narrow stretch of road between the Rectory and Weymouth Cottages, the absence of unbroken double lines in the centre of the highway, and the need for a safe walkway between the Village Hall and the foot of Church Lane, as well as the difficulties associated with a great shortage of safe parking places, were all items which the Parish Councillors felt to be immediate priorities for inclusion in the Travel Plan.  Open sessions on several occasions will be organised by the Parish Council, when residents will be invited to come and offer their suggestions for the Parish Travel Plan, and a further open meeting will follow, when Mr. Halliday and/or Mr. Hubbard, of Ivybridge Local Services Group, will be able to discuss the Plan further with the residents. 

3. The MINUTES of the AGM and of the May Meeting, held on Thursday 6^th May, had been circulated prior to this meeting.  A minor amendment, which was the recording of Mr. Conboy’s apology for absence, was made, and the Minutes were approved and signed as correct. 

4. MATTERS ARISING:-  

a) Appointment of Footpaths Warden:- Mr. Conboy expressed his regret at not having been able to walk all the footpaths as often as he would have liked, but said that he was willing to accept the post of Warden for a further year.  Mr. Hoggart assured him that other Parish Councillors use the footpaths, and will report any matter which they feel requires his attention.

 b) The telephone kiosk:- The Clerk reported that she had spoken to the appropriate department of BT about the need to paint and clean the kiosk.  Initially there was a problem in identifying the kiosk, but once it was established that it was listed as being at Weymouth Cottages, Kingsbridge, the Clerk was assured that the necessary work has been put into the schedules of the maintenance contractors, and will be carried out in due course. 

c) The Bottle Bank:- The Clerk has received several complaints about the noise associated with the use of the bottle bank.  Thoughtless persons have been depositing quantities of bottles very late at night, and the noise is most disturbing.  Although the matter is the responsibility of the Village hall Committee as it is sited on Village hall property, the Parish Council fully supports the provision of the bottle bank and deplores the thoughtlessness of those who use it after 8 pm.  A notice will be put on the bank reminding users that the bank should not be used between the hours of 8 pm and 8 am.  Mr. Smith said that he will try to ensure that the gate is locked each evening after the Village Hall closes.  Mrs Gross will also mention it in her column in the Gazette, asking for users to be considerate and not to use this bottle bank if they are able to take bottles into the Kingsbridge bottle bank.

 5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:-

Mrs Gross said that she had been asked by someone why a sign had been put at the end of Marsh Lane stating that it is a private road.  The Clerk explained that although the lane is an unadopted byway, it is a designated footpath and right-of-way for pedestrians, and a vehicular right-of-way for residents and the water board, the residents of the properties bordering the lane are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the surface, and some of them have been concerned that the wildlife hide may encourage extra use of the lane, including increased vehicular use and parking.

 6. CORRESPONDENCE:- 

In response to Ruth Bagley’s letter inviting representatives to attend a meeting to hear about the plans for the future management of the Leisure Centre, it was decided that Mr. Hoggart and one other Councillor will attend.

7. PLANNING:-

Applicant:                     Mr G Harris

Application number:      09/0874/04/F

Proposal:                      Erection of summer house

Location:                      Herondyke, Curlew Drive, TQ7 2AA

 This Application, received on 24^th May, was subsequently withdrawn.

 Applicant:                     Mr G Harris

Application number:      09/0981/04/F

Proposal:                      Erection of garden summer house

Location:                      Herondyke, Curlew Drive, TQ7 2AA 

There were no objections to the granting of this Application.

 Applicant:                     Mr & Mrs Hart

Application number:      09/0887/04/F

Proposal:                      Erection of dwelling, associated landscaping and parking facilities

Location:                      Charleton Court, West Charleton. TQ7 2AE 

Mr. Hoggart, Wg. Cdr. Leigh and Mr. Faulkner each declared an  interest in this Application, as they are all immediate neighbours of the proposed development.  A previous, very unsuitable proposal was refused CPP, and while this proposal was for a far less intrusive building, it was felt that this Application should be considered by a special sub-committee after a site visit.   

Following the site visit, Mr. Brown had returned the appropriate form stating that the Parish Council recommended refusal of CPP due to the intrusive nature of the design, and the inadequate access road.  A letter of protest against the Application was received from the Parochial Church Council. 

Notice of the granting of CPP was received in respect of Application Number 09/0523/04/F, Conversion of garage, etc., Sandwood, West Charleton TQ7 2AA. 

8. REPORTS:- 

a) School:- Nothing to report 

b) Footpaths:- Mr. Conboy reported that he has not yet received a reply to his letter to Mr. Malek concerning the re- aligning of the footpath along the foreshore, and there has been no action on the signage at New Bridge.  He noted that the stile in Church Lane is still impassable for dogs because of the wire across the gap.  The Clerk was asked to pass copies of all the correspondence about this stile to the Chairman for further action to be taken. 

c) Village Hall:- Mr. Smith reported that the Hall will be used on Thursday 10^th June for the election for the European parliament. 

d) Coleridge Association:- Mr. Hoggart reported that he will be completing his year of office as Chairman at the next Meeting of the Association next week. 

e) Saltstone Group:- Mr. Hoggart and Mrs Hawkes attended the recent Meeting of the Group, at which helicopter noise nuisance at Thurlestone, the possible change of management of the Sports Centre, and the preservation of red telephone kiosks was discussed. 

9. FINANCE:- 

The Clerk reported that the Internal Audit will be carried out on Friday 11^th June in Kingsbridge. 

The following cheques were passed for payment:-

            Cheque number 100623, £165.48 to F. Raymond for Clerk’s salary, Apr/May/Jun04

            Cheque number 100624,  £25.49 to F. Raymond for stationery

            Cheque number 100625, £69.18 to PRCDTR for photocopying April 2003 to May 2004 

 10. HIGHWAY AND COMMUNITY:- 

Mr. Smith said that some residents had worked on some of the village flower beds, and asked that the thanks of the Parish Council be recorded.  Mrs Gross offered to mention it in the Village news column in the Gazette.  The Clerk suggested that it may be desirable for the Parish council to purchase further supplies of bark chippings to neaten the beds. 

Mr. Smith asked that the Clerk should arrange for the trimming of the cherry trees below Saunders Way, and so a letter will be sent to the appropriate section of SHDC. 

A rumour has been noted, indicating that the bus shelter at Sicklemans Close may be removed, apparently because the pavement is unsuitable in some way.  The need for this shelter will be addressed in the Travel Plan. 

11. MATTERS OF URGENCY:- None. 

12. ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING:- 

The Travel Plan- consultation meetings 

13. DATE of the next Meeting:- Thursday 1^st July 2004 

Signed as a true and accurate record of the Meeting,