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

1. Apologies were received from Cllrs Haddy, Palmer, Stow, Walton, Date and Steer
2. Declaration of Interest and update of Members’ Interests: Cllr Franklin declared an interest in 5a.
3. Minutes of the previous meeting Monday 5 February were agreed and signed.
4. Planning Matters
1. 2971 SHDC 17_22/0198/07/F Boreston Foot Cottage Halwell, the council had no objection to the plans for extensions to rear and side of property and erection of a replacement garage.
2. 2972 SHDC 17/0342/07/F Field at SX7351 5639 Holsome Park, construction of an earth bank silage pit/clamp. The council objected to this plan on environmental grounds.
3. 2973 SHDC 17/0343/07/F Field at SX7351 5649 Holsome Park, the council had no objection to these plans for the erection of an agricultural livestock building
4. 2974 SHDC Tree Preservation order The Copse Curtisknowle - the council noted the confirmation of the modified order.
5. Regarding the agricultural tie on Ashwell Farmhouse the council has been informed by SHDC that the tenant has been given notice. The council noted that there were agricultural ties on some of the surrounding buildings.
5. Highways and Paths
1. Following the meeting Cllr Franklin had with the police, DCC, Rights of Way Warden and a journalist regarding the unauthorised use of 4x4s on bridleways and footpaths an article appeared in the newspaper stating enforcement will take place if vehicles are found using them.
2. 2966 DCC - campaign ‘Devon welcomes carful drivers’ this information was welcomed by the council.
6. District Councillor’s Report - Cllr Steer: none
7. County Councillor’s Report - Cllr Date attended many meetings in February including judging an inter-schools public speaking competition, and a joint DCC/SHDC meeting to discuss the situation when police no longer have traffic wardens to enforce parking rules. This means that DCC will have to employ someone to enforce these next year. At the DCC budget meeting Cllr Date informed us that a 4.75% rate rise was agreed.
8. Election Planning
• Nominations papers will be sent to the existing council members and anyone else who requests them. These have to be returned to Follaton House by midday on the 4 April.
9. Playing Field Group
1. Cllr Foster reported that at the group meeting he stood down as chairman, Cllr Walton is the new chairman, the vice chairman is Mike Cox, the secretary Charlie Wynne and Cllr Foster will be the treasurer. Concerns were voiced by the group over the number of parish councillors and their positions on the committee. Cllrs Foster and Walton agreed to amend the current constitution reflecting the change of name and alleviating the problems. The draft will then be presented to the parish council.
2. It was also noted that the insurance company would be happy to accept a ROSPA engineering report and that the group were considering a sports day in July.
10. Correspondence and Points of Information
1. 2962 PCC request for help with money for the spire, weathervane, clock restoration. The council discussed this letter but as a relatively substantial amount of its funds already go to church maintenance they decided that they could not justify any more.
2. 2963 DCC re: budget for next year and the implication if Exeter is made a unitary council - this letter was noted with some concern.
3. 2965 Audit commission regarding the auditor for next year, the council agreed on the auditor suggested.
4. 2967 The ‘Communities & local government draft of the revised model code of conduct for local authority members’ was noted.
5. 2970 DAPC letter regarding ‘ Transforming Public Services in Devon’ asking for suggestions for future priorities was discussed but the council had no further priorities to suggest.
11. Transition Town Totnes and impact of future oil shortage on our lives
• Cllr Franklin reported on this well attended meeting at Schumacher College where councillors and our MP formed groups to give a round robin of ideas estimating the impact that drastic fuel shortage would have and how to plan the future of local communities so they are free to deal with these problems in the best way possible.
12. Voluntary Registration of Playing Field
• Forms have been obtained and the clerk was authorised to pay for a certified copy of the conveyance agreement, fill the forms in and return them to the Land Registry.
13. Additional Items as per the Chairman
• Cllr Foster reported on the Forward Strategic Planning meeting he attended with Cllr Hill. For this interesting meeting SHDC had gathered together various groups both private and voluntary. There was interesting input from Transition Town Totnes, DEEM, DARE, Kingsbridge Groundworks and Agenda 21 among others. Subjects included peak oil, growing food in towns & cities (80% of all food eaten in Havana is produced in the city), and renewable energy.
• Inspired by these meetings the council discussed the merits of evaluating local energy generation (especially by windmills) for the parish.
• The chairman and council noted the excellent repair to the wall for the garden at Diptford Cross and there was a vote of thanks to Ham Sampford and Dave Perkins for this work.
14. Finance
1. The monthly report & end of year prediction was considered.
2. Cheques were agreed and signed.
15. Date of next meeting
1. Monday 2^nd April 2007.

Signed

John Foster - Chairman of the Diptford Parish Council

Date