Minutes of the Meeting of Marldon Parish Couuncil

MARLDON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Wednesday 22rd April 2015 at 7.30pm.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Cllrs. Pennington, Veasey, Mrs Cox, Mrs Clarke, Thorp, Joinson. Mrs Smith

ALSO PRESENT: Clerk to the Parish Council David Eeles, and 34 members of the public.

Apologies were received from: Cllrs Rowe, Webber, Bygraves and Palk; Mrs Armstrong, Mrs Pennington.

1 (apm.15). WELCOME and Address by Police representative Insp. Andy Tomlinson.The Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Trevor Pennington, welcomed members of the public and the guest speakers to the meeting.

Inspector Tomlinson began by explaining that both PCSO Frain and PC Nick Talbot aave moved on and our new PC is Gary Addelsee. When she returns from maternity leave PCSO Kirsty Powell will be our local meighbourhood officer but before then PCSO Gemma Finch is standing in. He then revealed that the crime figures for Marldon had increased by 50% last year but this was partly a statistical quirk caused by the low numbers involved. In fact the figures had risen to 69 from 46, but were still low overall. He detailed some of the categories which include a break into a farm office where somebody was charged, problems at a campsite, and 11 vehicle crimes. Questions to Inspector Tomlinson included: - From Robin Cox a suggestion that there should be blanket speed limit of 20mph in Marldon. Hereplied that this was for DCC to impose, but he warned that the police were not in strong position to be able to enforce it. Such measues usually had to be accompanied by other traffic calmimg measures to make it self-enforceable. Not sure if it does slow traffic down otherwise. The Chairman said the PC could apply for this. Vivarage Hill was another place where traffic was speeding dangerously. - John Noble asked what was happening to Paignton Police Station. Although not in his area, the Inspector said the station there was being demolished due to concrete cancer and Brixham or Torquay will take up the strain. - A Compton resident complained about the speed bumps in that village which evidently had not been restored properly. The clerk said that Lisa Edmonds had said that she was going to meet Mrs Oliphant who had similar complaints soon so the two should liaise. The use of speed guns and lit up signs was also discussed. - The Chairman thanked Inspector Tomlinson for coming and speaking. 2(apm15) GUEST SPEAKER ROSS KENNERLEY

The Chairman introduced Mr Ross Kennerly who is the SHDC Environment and Recreation Manager. Mr Kennerly has done this job for 20 years and is responsible for the parks and leisure provision in the South Hams. He understood that his main task was look at alternatives for the Broomhill Meadow area in the village. This was established as an environmental area but had become something of a dogs’ toilet and fresh ideas are being sought. He remarked that it was a pleasant tranquil area which was clearly well used by dog walkers. He revealed that the Sect 106 agreement relating to the new housing development at Moorview meant that £45,000 would be available for play and facility development, a figure which could be doubled where matched funding grants were available. There was now an opportunity to look at all the possibilities and make a plan. This should be based on the facilities that the village already had and those what were missing, bearing in mind that the location ruled out most ball games probably including tennis. He suggested the Council look at what was being done at Stoke Gabliel, Yealmpton, Totnes and Ivybridge. Funding agencies liked to see a planned approach, a competent authority and matched funding. Cllr Thorp remarked that something was needed for the teenagers in the area, while Mr Harrington wondered if a new questionnaire along the lines of the original one by the Marldon Recreation Group, followed by a public meeting, would be appropriate. The Chairman thanked Mr Kennerley for his advice.

3(apm.15) APPROVAL OF MINUTES of 2015 meeting– Unanimously approved

4(apm.15) 4MATTERS ARISING

5(apm.15) PARISH COUNCIL TREASURERS REPORT

Cllr Pennington reported that the Parish Council main account remains in a very healthy state viz. £21,464.47 p. Our investment account is £20,640.40p. Marldon was one of the few of the 62 S. Hams Parish Councils that for the third year in succession did not raise Council Tax. Precept was set at £11,163 giving a parish Council tax of just £13.55 p which equates to 26p a week -good housekeeping.

6(apm.14) MARLDON LAND CHARITY REPORT Cllr Joinson

This charity has a land in Kiln Road near the motor car works and exist to give help to deserving and needy Marldon young people although originally it was for the sick and poor. Unfortunately Mr Chidlow is away ad had not forwarded a report. This iten was therefore held over to the next Parish Council meeting.

7(apm.14) PARISH COUNCIL REPORT (incorporating Parish, District and Chairmans’ Report- Parish Council by Cllr T. Pennington. David’s role is administrative and we thank him for that valuable work. David’s role is administrative and we thank him for that valuable work. Each member has a special responsibilities for parish activities or adding value to village activities. Apart from myself with overall duties of supervision are: Cllr Stephen Veasey my Vice Chairman who is additionally responsible for planning and planning applications- sometimes a daunting job; Councillor Derek Webber- highway issues and street cleansing shared also with Counsellors Bob Thorp and Gerry Smith; Cllr Jenny Clarke has responsibility for leisure and recreation facilities and issues e.g. grant aid; Councillor Bob Joinson- the Church cemetery extension and responsibility for planning and activating the proposed new access in Church Hill and also for administering the Maldon Land Charity; Cllr. Keith Bygraves using his previous professional activity on building regulations and construction procedure very useful when we have to evaluate large-scale planning applications; Cllr Frank Palk- with his agricultural experience is responsible for the supervision and administration of the Parish Council allotments; and finally Councillor Angela Cox with responsibility for environmental issues and Chairman of the Marldon Environment Group (MEG) over many years and also tree warden and Parish Council representative on the Village Hall committee. As can be seen we work as a team under division of labour. Main issues this year and into the next coming financial year is the new entrance into the graveyard extension in Church Hill. I obtained a grant of £1985 from the South Hams Council locality fund towards the cost of that project which will cost over £2000. Recreational uses on Broomhill Meadow were discussed earlier. The bridleway issue alongside Broomhill Meadow from five lanes to monks Avon is now in effect resolved. When the menu Torbay Ring Road was constructed in 1990 it was agreed by both South Hams Council and Devon County Council at the old highway would become a bridleway. However unfortunately Devon County Council highway department did not place and extinguishing order on the old road way. This has led to recent controversy and therefore the Parish Council, supported by C. Cllr Rowe, requested the issue to be placed earlier this month as an agenda item on the South Devon county highways and transport committee (HATOC). I went along and gave evidence to the committee and I am pleased to report that it was agreed to make a traffic regulation order (TRO). The status of the highway would remain unclassified but would be legally binding so as to prohibit use by motor vehicles. It will be advertised and pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders will legally have the rights of use. Devon County Council Torbay Council and Marldon Parish Council last year jointly agreed that it could become used officially as a cycleway. One vitally important issue is the urgent need for Maldon to convene a new “neighbourhood plan” to replace the old Maldon village plan. A new up to date plan would be of great importance in shaping and protecting our parish over the years and contribute to the new South Hams local plan known as “our plan.” This is now being worked upon and will become active later in the year. A new plan would show clearly areas within the parish which are considered to be of environmental importance and which must not be developed but perhaps also any small areas where small-scale affordable houses for local young Marldon people would be considered. Therefore as in the past when we had an up-to-date local plan in addition to the Parish Council it is vital, as we did in the past, to have local volunteers to become part of the process and we would be delighted at the conclusion of this meeting or before if volunteers would come forward and give their names to David Eeles. In conclusion many thanks to the Marldon Environment Group made of local volunteers who give freely of their time in keeping our village so attractive headed by Robin Cox and also in assisting in the heavier work by our local farmer David Berlyn. .

South Hams District Council report D. Cllr. Pennington reported that: The Council like all councils is having to find many savings and make greater efficiencies where possible arising from government reductions in the revenue support grant. I serve on the South Hams Development Management Committee (planning), the Economy and Environment Committee and I am currently the Chairman of the Audit Committee – involved a great deal with the overall finance of the Council. The Council for the coming financial year 2015 to 16 has frozen the Council Tax to its present level at £145.42 for a band D property which equates to £2.79 a week. But in addition to that must be added £1161 to Devon County Council, the Fire Authority £78, and the Police £169 to bring the total up to £1568.13. South Hams will receive a government freeze grant of £5.4 million to bring total expenditure up to £8.6 million for next year. South Hams Council is working in partnership with West Devon Council -sharing staff has made savings of £2 million. As the Chairman of South Hams Council audit committee I was pleased and gratified to receive the report from the Councils’ independent auditors Grant Thornton which has commended South Hams Council on its “efficiency, economy and effectiveness” and I hope all council tax payers will get some satisfaction from that. I provided a £370 grant for a defibrillator for the Village Hall. The council has made a considerable number of redundancy of officers mostly voluntary but in one respect I do have concerns that we are losing valuable experience the planning officers and replacing them with agency and part time planning officers and I and other councillors feel that this needs to be closely monitored. Despite having to make changes they have not been any significant cuts in the council services to the electorate.

.8 (apm15) Westerland Green Planning Application for approval for 37 dwellings.

The Chairman reported that this site has been sold by Linden Homes to a new developer named Peter Salter (without the knowledge of South Hams planning department). Mr Salter has entered into discussions with the Parish Council and would like to take away the proposed dangerous pedestrian access. The Council originally opposed this application due to the road dangers, possible loss of protected trees, the impact on neighbouring properties 9the ground level being higher) and drainage problems as well as other matters. Linden Homes did not follow the pre-application consultation process and refused to work with both the Parish Council and South Hams. The council has registered three strong letters protesting at the procedures followed by South Hams Council itself. The next stage would be to take the matter up with the Local Government Ombudsman and we will consider this after May.

9 (apm14) Any other business at Chairmans’ Discretion Finally members of the public asked about progress on the Downalong issue, and the Chairman said he had received a thank-you letter from the local residents for his efforts to deal with this problem. At this point there were no further contributions from the floor or from Councillors and the Chairman declared the meeting closed

Signed…………………………………………………………………………………………………. April 2016 ( Chairman)