Parish Council meeting: Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Key information

Meeting location: The Church of St James, Avonwick

Meeting time: 7.30 pm

The agenda for this meeting will be published at least three days before the meeting.

Approved Minutes

Approved Minutes for the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, 3 December 2013

These minutes were approved on 7 January 2014

Please noteEvery care has been taken to present this accessible copy of the minutes with accuracy, but the formal record of the meeting remains the signed paper copy of the minutes.

OPEN FORUM

There were 6 members of the public present.

Representatives of the Village Hall group updated the Council on the progress being made by the group. Minutes of the group’s meetings can be found on the Avonwick and North Huish website. The Council was able to inform the group’s representatives that no funding earmarked for the hall project was held by the Parish. The Council remains committed to providing whatever support it could whenever this need becomes apparent.

The play park subcommittee has agreed on a provider for the equipment to be erected in the park. Negotiations are ongoing over the details

Various concerns were raised over the roadworks being undertaken on the South Brent road. (NB Highways for details of the traffic calming that is to take place.)  Once again concern was raised over what many see as the inconsiderate parking of a coach on the highway near the Avon Inn.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cllr. Seager-Berry Playpark. Cllr Cooper Short Mat Bowls request

PRESENT

Councillors Childs, Cooper, Hunt, Luscombe, Pearse, Seager-Berry and District and Parish Councillor Steer.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

County Councillor Vint

MINUTES

The MINUTES of the meeting held on 5th November 2013 were confirmed and signed.

MATTERS ARISING

None.

REPORTS

District Councillor Steer informed the Council that the Chief Executive of the District Council was to retire. It was felt that he had carried out a difficult job well.  Councillor Steer told the Council of possible development sites for housing within the South Hams – he felt that there would be a number of major developments of such sites over the region during the next few years.

There was no Police report. The clerk was asked to request a report for the next meeting. He was also asked to discover if the police surgeries were to be continued. Three road accidents had occurred since the last meeting.

PLANNING:

Approval had been given to the application for a single storey timber framed garage to Hepburn House, Diptford.

CORRESPONDENCE

Specific items of CORRESPONDENCE were noted as follows:

  1. The Council refused requests for grants from Totnes and Dartington Ring and Ride, The South Hams Citizens Advice Bureau and Victim Support.
  2. SHDC Barn Guide, noted.
  3. Avonwick and North Huish Community Newsletter, noted.
  4. SHDC Registers of Interest. The Council agreed to adopt the South Hams Parish and Town Council’s members Code of Conduct. Councillors will now prepare their own register of interests.
  5. Luscombe Maye 14th  anniversary tree. Action Clerk.
  6. TAP funding. The Council agreed to support the request from Diptford Short Mat Bowls Club for TAP funding.
  7. SHDC Avonwick Play Park. Action Clerk.

FINANCE:

 

Balance c/f 7408.04
Income (interest) 0.27
Balance c/f 7408.31

 

This balance is made up as follows:

 

P3 money 149.40
Jubilee fund 1685.45
Council funds 5573.46
Total 7408.31

 

It was agreed to make a grant of £200 to Avonwick Church Council in recognition of the use the Council makes of the Church facilities.

HIGHWAYS

The Council had received the following email from Devon County Highways concerning the planned traffic calming measures for Avonwick:

Stage 1 (while the road to South Brent is closed).

The junction improvements to be made permanent at Old Bridge Cross including improvements to the drainage.    Two road narrowings to be constructed either side at Rivendale.

Move the “Avonwick” name plate sign from its current location to the location of the first build out.

The centreline to be blacked out permanently where the line has been removed in the vicinity of the build outs outside Rivendale.   The centreline to be blacked out permanently where the line has been removed in the narrow section between Old Bridge Cross and the Avon Inn and to add edge of carriageway markings.

The original junction markings in front of the Avon Inn to be re-instated as per pre trail.

Stage 2 (In the new financial year)

Remark the Avon Inn junction similar to the trial arrangement. This work  needs to be carried out in the new year as we need to totally remove all lines by surface dressing (or similar) and it is not possible to surface dress at this time of year.

The only change to the trial layout would be to move the junction line out on the Village (garage) side by approximately 0.5m. This would improve visibility to the left when exiting this junction.

Because of this it will be necessary to move the trial centreline and edge line (cones) 0.5 m nearer the Inn. This will soften the line of vehicles approaching from Totnes and stop vehicles overrunning the centreline.

Because of BT covers it would not be possible to have a build out up to the bus stop outside the Inn. The build out would only extend up to the first BT cover and an edge line would have to be used from here up to the bus stop. Also an additional gully may be required.

Depending on funding availability seek to overcome drainage concerns and construct build outs in the narrows.

Depending on funding availability, replace direction signs at the Avon Inn junction with a Finger Post Assembly.

NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 7th January 2014 at 7.30pm at St James Church, Avonwick.