CHARLETON PARISH COUNCIL.

 MINUTES of a Meeting of Charleton Parish Council, held on Thursday 5^th September 2002, at 7.30 pm., at Charleton Village Hall.

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Present were:-  Mr. D. Hoggart (Chairman, presiding), Mr. Conboy, Mrs Hawkes,

                                    Mr. Smith and  Mr. Faulkner.

Also present:-             Mr. J. Nash (SHDC), Mrs Raymond (Clerk) and one member of the

                                    public, Mr. Rex Brown.

 1.   APOLOGIES for absence were received from Wg Cdr. Leigh and Mr. Masters (DCC).

 2.   The MINUTES of the previous Meeting, held on Thursday 5^th July 2002, had been circulated, were approved, and were signed as correct. 

3.   MATTERS ARISING:- 

(a) Signature of Declaration:- Mrs Hawkes signed the Declaration, and handed her Notice of Registrable Interests to the Clerk.

(b) The proposed 20 mph speed limit:- Mr. Hoggart had written to Mr. Halliday, expressing the wishes of the Parish Council that the proposed limit should be extended so that it would begin on the western edge of the village before Church Park, and that extra warning signs should be provided. However, Mr. Halliday replied that the new speed limit sign will be in the same position as the present sign, that is, just before Church lane, and extra signs would not be considered necessary or desirable. The hatching on the road surface at  East Charleton will not prevent parking there. There will be a limit of 40mph from the cemetery to West Charleton, 20mph through West Charleton and East Charleton, and 40 mph between the settlements. The situation may be  reviewed, and changes may be made if necessary. As at present, police officers who stop drivers exceeding the limits will use their discretion as to whether they issue a fine or a warning.

4.   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:-

Mr. Brown stated that since he has now completed his work with the Millennium and Jubilee Committees, and would therefore be willing to accept co-option on to the Parish Council.

 5.    The CASUAL VACANCY:-

Mr. Smith proposed that Mr. Brown be co-opted to fill the Casual Vacancy, Mrs Hawkes seconded the proposal, which was passed unanimously. Mr. Hoggart therefore invited Mr. Brown to accept co-option to the position of Parish Councillor, which he accepted. The appropriate forms for completion and signature will be forwarded to Mr. Brown by the Clerk in due course.

 6.   CORRESPONDENCE:-

Mr. Hoggart and Mrs Hawkes attended a Meeting about Regional Government. An item in this month’s Correspondence concerns this matter.

The Parish Magazine contacts requested by SHDC to publicise the Farmers’ Markets will be supplied by the Clerk, together with  contact details for the occasional Charleton News Sheet produced by Sally Aldridge.

A letter was received by the Chairman from Mrs Bence expressing concern about the future of Slapton Line. Mr. Nash explained again that the Scoping Study at present being carried out on behalf of SHDC and  DCC will enable all alternatives to0 be considered, since the present road is known to have a limited life of some 5 years. English Nature are known to consider that it would not be desirable or even possible to keep the present line of the road, but this major route will not be abandoned, even if an alternative inland route will eventually have to be considered. The Clerk was instructed to write to Mrs Bence to explain the position.

 7.   PLANNING:-

(i) Application Number:-            1882

Proposal:-                    Work to Tree Preservation Order Trees

Location:-                     Charleton Court Barns, West Charleton.

Applicant:                     Mr. M. Burns, 3 Beechwood Drive, Saffron Park, Kingsbridge TQ7 1RR

This Application is to take off one large branch leaning heavily towards proposed property site, and to reduce the tree crown by 20%.

The Parish Council had no objection to the granting of this Application, but instructed the Clerk to inform the Tree Warden, so that the work can be closely monitored by Dr. Earl.

 (ii) Application Number:-                     09/1581/02/F

Proposal:-                                Conversion of barns to one dwelling and two holiday units

Location:-                                 Charleton Garage, East Charleton, Kingsbridge TQ7 2AP 

The Parish Council had no objections to the granting of CPP to this Application, but recommended that care must be taken to ensure that the visibility at the entrance/exit to the site be improved 

(iii) Notice of a Grant of CPP was received in respect of Application Number 09/1298/02/F, for the construction of a balcony at 18 Lyte Lane. 

(iv) Notice of Refusal of Planning Permission was received in respect of Application Number 09/1113/02/F, for the erection of dwelling and associated landscaping/parking facilities, Charleton Court, West Charleton, TQ7 2AE.

8.   REPORTS:-

(a) School:- Mr. Smith reported that the school now closes at 3.15 pm., so that it does not coincide with the closure of Kingsbridge Community College, in order to ease the traffic congestion.

(b) Coleridge Association:- Nothing to report.

(c) Footpaths:- Nothing to report.

(d)  Village Hall:-  The new Treasurer is sorting out the problems with the insurance. Bookings are now being taken for Autumn 2003.

(e) Saltstone Group:- Mr. Hoggart reported that he attended a Meeting on Community Planning, which did not give him very much information on the matter. However, he has obtained a copy of Salcombe Council’s Community Plan, and so informal meetings of the Parish Councillors will be arranged to discuss this further. 

9.   FINANCE:- 

The new Cheque Signatory Mandate will be dealt with at the next Meeting.

The new arrangements for the Audit mean that further forms must be completed and signed to enable the Audit to be carried out. The Clerk will deal with these as necessary. 

The following cheque was passed for payment:-

Cheque number  100587 £20.00 to WRVS, donation under S137. 

10. HIGHWAY AND COMMUNITY:-

 Mr. Smith reported that the steps to Lyte Lane have become overgrown with brambles, impeding the use of the handrail, so he cut the brambles back. Also the footpath outside Croft Cottage is covered with moss, making it slippery and dangerous. One person has already fallen, so the Clerk will write without delay to Devon Highways requesting immediate action to be taken to alleviate the problem.

Mr. Smith has a small tree suitable for replanting, which will be able to be used as the Village Christmas tree in due course.

A representative of Kingsbridge Transport Information Centre asks to attend a Parish Council Meeting to describe the services available. An invitation will be sent before the next Meeting.

Mr. Hoggart enquired about the facilities for posting notices in East Charleton. Such facilities are available on an open board at Charleton Garage, so any notices posted there are exposed to the weather.

At a recent Meeting concerning the proposed Foyer development, Mr. Hoggart found that the funding for the scheme is available because it involves the provision of affordable housing.

Mr. Brown reported that after paying all expenses, the Jubilee Committee was able to make a donation of £300 to the Hospital League of Friends, and has some £1500 on account for further use. The proposal for providing Village Signs has been reconsidered, in the light of the damage which has been done to existing signs by some irresponsible individual with a shotgun. The provision of an open space for use as a Village playing field will be considered.

Mr. Nash reported that Planning Meetings of SHDC now have a Public Participation slot on the agenda.

11. ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING:-

 (a) Cheque signatory Mandate

(b) Signature of Declaration by Mr. Brown.

(c) Kingsbridge Transport Information Centre.

(d) The Community Plan. 

12. DATE of the next Meeting:-  Thursday 10^th October 2002.

 F.R. 6/9/02

Signed as a true and accurate Record of the Meeting,

Signature………………………………………………                    Date………………………