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

Members of the public are also invited to attend

Open Forum - there were no members of the public present.

Police Report - there have been no crimes reported since the last meeting. PC Jacqui Hopper is mentoring a new Police Community Support Officer at South Brent.

1. Apologies were received from Cllrs Haddy Preston-Day and Stow, also from District Councillor Steer.
2. Declaration of Interest and update of Members’ Interests - none
3. Minutes of the previous meeting Monday 4 December 2006 were passed and signed.
4. Planning Matters
1. 2944/45/46 The council noted that SHDC had granted permission for 17/2063/06/F Coombeshead Farm solar panels, 17/1943/06/F Little Beeches extension and porch, 17/2013/06/F Etheridge Farm extension.
2. 2947 Notification of appeal by ‘The Workshop’ Little Curtisknowle was received and the council confirmed that their views had been put forward to the Planning Inspectorate.
5. Highways and Paths
1. 2940 Horner ‘No Through Road’ Sign - the council noted the DCC explanation, a parishioner has reported that there was a tractor blocking access to the UCCR leading from Ashwell Farm to Crabadon Lane.
2. Damage in Diptford Square - a quote for £350 to repair the damage to the wall has been received to repair the damage. The clerk was instructed to contact the lorry owners to agree to pay this amount.
3. Tree & lights in Diptford Square - it was agreed that the tree looked good and thanks were voted to all those involved in putting it up and lighting it, also thanks were voted to Doreen Clayden of the Rising Sun for providing the electricity this year and to Gwyneth Welford of Bonneys for the past years. The cost of £20 for the tree was approved and the council sanctioned the buying of a further set of lights for next year. It was also voted that the lights should be on from 8:30am to 10:30pm next year with an extension on special nights.
4. DCC Highways have reorganised their areas and staff.

In future		the public should report potholes by:
phone:		0845 155 1004	Mon to Fri 8 to 8, Sat 9 to 1
email:		southareahm@devon.gov.uk
web:		www.devon.gov.uk
		select Transport & Roads then Roads and then Road Maintenance

5. District Councillor’s Report - Cllr Steer - none.
6. County Councillor’s Report - Cllr Date reported that on the 6 Dec he attended a meeting to discuss the education of the children of Travellers & Gypsies which is generally poor but there is a scheme by which they can do work on laptops but this is only available to a few. He chaired the audit committee and attended the Dartington Trust. On 15 December he complained that the Totnes car park sign said ‘closed’ after 7:30pm giving the impression that parking was not available, this has been changed. During the rest of the month he attended a round table meeting to discuss the crisis regarding the move of the College of Art, and the Standards Committee.
7. Playing Field Group
• The council agreed to the request for £437 towards Insurance and engineer’s costs for the field.
8. Noticeboard
1. The council decided that - if there was room after council notices were displayed - local charities, fund raising events and parish community information could be shown free. They agreed that no commercial notices should appear.
9. Emergency Planning
1. Cllr Hill agreed to deal with the new DCC folder received on community emergency planning.
10. Correspondence and Points of Information
1. Cllrs Foster and Hill volunteered to attend the SHDC Budget Meeting on Thursday 18 January.
2. Cllr Hill agreed to deal with the South Hams Strategic Partnership - Parish Plan how to go forward.
3. The RSS update draft on regional spatial strategy for 2006-2026 was noted.
4. The report on ‘Managing Gypsy & Travellers needs - future sites’ was noted.
5. The council decided against the appeal from Home Start South Hams request for grant aid.
6. The council discussed the Police Liaison meeting leaflet.
11. Additional Items as per the Chairman
• The chairman brought to the council’s attention the request for funds from the Diptford Pre-School group, a local charity and member of the Preschool Learning Alliance. The council voted to donate £250 towards its costs.
12. Finance
1. The report on the current financial position and the budget was made.
2. The council agreed to reallocate the savings made on the 2006/2007 budget by putting £500 in the Playing Field Cyclical Fund and donating £250 to the Diptford Pre-School.
3. Cheques to be agreed and signed
• Diptford Amenity Group (Playing Field) £437.15
13. Date of next meeting
1. Monday 5 February 2007

Signed

Sue Franklin - Vice Chairman to the Diptford Parish Council

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