Minutes for the meeting of the

Diptford Parish Council

held at the Parish Hall, Diptford on Monday 5 November 2007 at 7:30pm

MEMBERS

Cllr J Foster - Chairman

Cllr S Franklin - Vice Chairman

Cllr V Haddy Cllr S Hill Cllr P Preston-Day

Cllr K Stow Cllr A Savery Cllr S Walton

District Council Representative - Cllr R Steer

County Council Representative - Cllr G Date

Open Forum - 5 members of the public were present, matters raised were the CLA for a scrap yard at Larcombe Quarry, building work at Larcombe Corner, and the public telephone box no longer taking coins. There was also a complaint that the tree in the village garden was blocking the view of drivers, Cllr Franklin assured the parishioner that this was soon to be thinned out to improve visibility.

  1. Apologies - Cllrs Haddy, Preston-Day, Savery and Walton. Also County Cllr Date.
  2. Declaration of Interest and update of Members’ Interests - Cllr Foster in 4b and 4g.
  3. Minutes of the previous meetings Monday 1 October and Planning meeting 5 October were passed.
  4. Planning Matters
    5.
    1. 3108/3109 17/2137/07/F 17/2132/07/LB Broadmead Diptford extension to dwelling also Listed Building permission for extension. The council had no objection to this application.
    2. 3110 17/2163/07/CU Wheeldon Farm Barns, Halwell retrospective application for change of use of existing agricultural buildings to use as indoor motorcycle training facility with associated workshop; change of use of upper floor of barn to kitchen/dining room/kit store/changing area/ablutions/drying area; creation of access track through fields and use of existing outdoor tracks for motorcycle training. The council supported this retrospective application.
    3. 3111 Larcombe Lane SX748581 Diptford - Certificate of Lawfulness for existing use of land for vehicle breaking & Car & Commercial repairs, scrap yard. The husband of one of the councillors was aware that it had been used for this purpose for the past 40 - 50 years but could not comment specifically on the last 10 years use.
    4. 3112 Greenpark, Westmoore, Diptford - Certificate of Lawfulness seeking to establish property has been occupied as a permanent residential unit for the last 10 years. This is not in Diptford Parish and the councillors present could not comment on the claim from their knowledge.
    5. Planning permissions SHDC refused; 17/1723/07/F Fairview Diptford, 17/1996/07/F Gara Lodge, Gara Bridge and 17/1881/07/F barn in field northwest of Honeywell Wood Halwell.
    6. Larcombe Corner - District Cllr Steer reported that the building work here does need planning..
    7. 17/0176/06/F Field Higher Farleigh - possible unauthorised business use and building of ménage without planning permission - reported early October but so far there has been no feedback.
  5. Highways and Paths
    6.
    1. Mount Zion traffic danger - the council were very dissatisfied with the situation at this site and it was agreed they would like a full site meeting with planning and highways. District Cllr Steer agreed to be part of this and the clerk was instructed to contact County Cllr Date to help arrange the meeting.
  6. District Councillor’s Report - Cllr R C Steer said that currently the budget had high priority and views were being taken, SHDC had a survey on their website but had only 115 results. The £750,000 gap then has to be closed at an executive meeting, the 3% reduction the government requires year on year whilst they are capping increases makes this difficult. Free bus travel is underfunded also waste is expensive so a new executive has been brought in to look into the refuse problem. Cllr Steer attended an impressive exhibition of Sherford new town.
  7. County Councillor’s Report - Cllr G Date - none.
  8. Parish Plan
    9.
    1. Emergency plans - Cllr Stow looked into this and reported that there needs to be a special detailed committee to co-ordinate so wide a spectrum. He suggest that the council draw up notes and full disaster scenarios to see what could be done. Cllr Franklin suggested working together with other local parishes to come up with a joint more meaningful result. The clerk was instructed to contact neighbouring parishes to ask if they have a representative that they would send to a meeting to discuss forming such a group. Cllr Hill agreed to be the contact.
  9. Village Christmas
    10.
  10. Reports
  11. Correspondence and Points of Information
    12.
    1. 3106 SHDC Community Regeneration focus group meeting is on 13 November.
    2. 3107 The council agreed to display the TRESOC launch poster.
  12. Additional Items as per the Chairman - none
    1. Finance
      2.
      1. The Audit for 2006/2007 has been returned approved.
      2. The cheque was agreed and signed.
    2. Date of next meetings
      1. Monday 3 December 2007
      2. Monday 7 January 2008

      Signed

      John Foster - Chairman of the Diptford Parish Council

      3 December 2007