MEMBERS

Cllr J Foster - Chairman

Cllr S Franklin - Vice Chairman

Cllr V Haddy Cllr S Hill Cllr S Walton

Cllr M Palmer Cllr P Preston-Day Cllr K Stow

District Council Representative - Cllr I Steer

County Council Representative - Cllr G Date

There were 4 members of the public present. Parishioners brought up that the painted ‘Slow’ on Water Lane still had not been repainted and the camellia outside Church House was leaning out and brushing cars; the clerk was instructed to chase highways over the painting and ask for the camellia to be trimmed. The bad condition of the Totnes to Avonwick road was also mentioned, Cllr Date undertook to find out when this was due for maintenance.

1. Apologies:
• Cllrs Haddy, Palmer and Walton
2. Declaration of Interest and update of Members’ Interests:
• Cllr Foster in 4a.
3. Minutes of the previous meeting Thursday 6^th April :
• The minutes were approved.
4. Planning Matters
1. 2838 17_38/0663/06/F Land at Mill House Gara Bridge - provision of hydro-generating plant and associated building. The council voted to support this application.
2. 2839 17_22/0636/06/F Boreston Foot Cottage, Halwell - erection of 2 storey extension and replacement garage. The council had no objection to this application.
5. Highways and Paths
1. Diptford Junction improvement - the council instructed the clerk to write again to Highways and chase the signage, seeding and road markings at the junction. Cllr Franklin had been informed that the drain was only a subservient one to the two higher in the road and should be adequate.
6. District Councillor’s Report - Cllr Steer
• The council has declared that their preferred way forward with Leisure section is to go with Tone Leisure, they run centres around Taunton Deane. The contract is being prepared and if nothing dire happens will take place in the summer.
• Work has started at ‘Bonfire Hill’ Salcombe the 140 units will be a third each affordable housing, rented and ordinary to promote a better community. The SHDC cluster meetings focus on affordable housing .
• Shared services with Teignbridge go forward, sharing ‘back office’ services rather than front line. This is not to be confused with the ‘Local Government Review’ due to be a paper from the government soon. The government say SHDC will be consulted - they have lots of ideas to put forward and are giving it thought but feel they are successful now.
7. County Councillor’s Report - Cllr Date
• Cllr Date had been at a Keviccs meeting and found it pleasant to be part of spending £63,000 on things that are not already funded, a third of this goes to students as grants.
• In May 2005 the new county council was elected with a Lib Dem majority of 4, they decided to run the council but allowed the opposition to elect the chairs of the 3 overview/scrutiny committees. Cllr Date was elected as chair of the audit committee and also is on the community services overview/scrutiny, standards, pension, public right of way and 3 others.
• The County has a population of 1,074,919, there are 409 parishes, the county council’s current revenue budget is £394 million and the capital budget is £125 million. There are 8000 miles of road to maintain - 50% more than any other council. There are 90,000 children in Devon’s 367 schools. The grant from government is £600 per head which is £47 less than the average county council.
8. Parish Plan
1. Emergency Strategy - Cllr Hill has had discussions with people and they are taking this forward.
2. Improvement of Village Features - this was covered in the reports at the AGM by ‘Bloom in Diptford’ and the chairman.
9. Correspondence and Points of Information
1. 2843 SHDC - May Bank Holidays Refuse Collection letter was noted
2. 2844 World Environment Day 5 June letter was passed to the parish magazine.
10. Additional Items as per the Chairman
1. The council’s insurance is due for renewal, it was agreed that it should be renewed with Zurich through the Community First/DAPC scheme at a total cost of £211.69.
11. Finance
1. Cheque was agreed and signed:
12. Date of next meeting
1. Monday 5^th June

 

Signed

 

John Foster - Chairman of Diptford Parish Council

_________________Date