SHALDON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING 28th June 2011 (following planning meeting)
IN THE METHODIST CHURCH HALL
Present: Cllr Peter Williams (Chair) (PW), Cllr Hugh Davey (Vice) (HD), Cllr Maia Miller (MM),
Cllr Chris Clarance (CC), Cllr Eddie Holden (EH), Cllr Lisa Pash (LP), Cllr D Yates (DY)
In attendance: Barbara Coley (Clerk)
Prayers taken by: Rev G Richardson
1. Apologies:
2. To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of 31st May 2011: Prop LP Sec DY Carried
3. Matters Arising from the minutes of the meeting of 31st May 2011:
CC Item 16: Congregational Church Hall: There has been notice given that villages should come forward if they were interested but none has done so. PW said that the bookable venue survey did not indicate that this Hall would supply any need. He proposed that SPC should not proceed with making an offer for this building but should support any suitable applicants. Sec CC Carried unanimously.
PW suggested that SPC should pursue the provision of an office if this becomes available within the proposals for this building. CC said that plans must go forward and be approved before this old church is demolished. Action: Clerk to write expressing interest in future office space if deemed possible. All agreed.
CC Item 5: Ice cream vending machine: CC noted that Mr R Harburt is in fact trading close to the Beachcomber.
LP Item 12: Mr S Burke at TDC has been checking who is responsible for signage to the toilets at KGV Field and LP will continue to pursue.
4. Declarations of Interest: There were none.
5. Devon & Cornwall Constabulary: There was no report.
6. Chairman’s Report: This month there have been two major issues concerning me, as Chairman of the Parish Council. The first has been to draw attention to the frustration that SPC has in dealing with planning applications, particularly those involving developments converting business properties to residences leading to a loss of our business community and, closely related to this, is the failure of Teignbridge District Council to insist on off-street parking for these developments. The reduction in off-street parking leads to home owners occupying the few available parking slots in the village and making it difficult for both visitors and tourists to shop in the village.
One of the main problems is that local needs for parking are overruled by TDC which uses unsuitable urban guide lines to deal with our requests. The new government is proposing “localism” in decision making. We are asking that the newly elected TDC adopts a community based approach to decision making on this issue.
Local residents, too have a role to play and should, wherever they can, write into TDC to support the Parish Council’s stance on planning issues – local decision powers on local issues.
On an altogether happier note, I am pleased to report that the inauguration of our £8.3 million Flood Defence Scheme will take place on July 1st with the official opening by Lord Smith on behalf of the government and environment agency. One of the special features of the planning and building of the Flood Defence Scheme has been the involvement of Shaldon residents – initially as sandbaggers and then in the Flood Defence Liaison group. Without this community involvement the EA would never have agreed to a 10 gate solution managed by the Parish Council. I must personally thank all those who have come forward as volunteers of the gate operations. Gate operators have been trained, a manual of operations is in the final stages of preparation and this will be followed by a practice to make sure all is up to scratch. This scheme lifts our serious flood vulnerability from 1:50 years to 1:1000. Irrespective of global warming this must be good news.
7. Correspondence: Councillors’ Comments
MM: A10: Re missing neighbourhood watch sign: MM pursuing a replacement with TDC.
HD: A11: West Power Distribution: it will cost £2500 to install an electrical wire into the ferryboat shelter which may not provide sufficient power. Alternative options are being pursued by the Water Carnival. LP questioned whether the cable which was ‘dangling’ in the ferryboat shelter and could it be utilized for these purposes or should it be redirected back into the Beachcomber. HD said that this may not have enough power but he will pursue this with Mr K Stoyle.
A8: Mr J Dopson has written to Mr A Hohl at the EA re his cracked sandstone wall.
PW A5: PW proposed that permission be granted to the over 60’s to hold a Queen’s Jubilee celebration on Sunny Patch next year. All agreed.
A12: Invite to attend Ringmore Village Green party on 9 July: PW has checked and there is no responsibility for this Green by SPC.
PW tabled a letter from the Mr G Ballman, Chair, Shaldon Business Forum, who had Forum have written asking SPC to support the designation of certain areas of the village as not available for street trading. There was a protracted debate and a range of views on this request following which it was decided to place this as an agenda item for the next meeting. Meanwhile, it was proposed to write to Mr Ballman to explain that SPC are mindful to approve the request but would hope that local traders could come to some compromise to accommodate visitors with sales of ice cream out of hours when local businesses are closed. With S/Os suspended Mrs Rowe explained that the Business Forum was making this request to save village businesses on a large scale and not just this one ice cream vendor. She explained that Teignmouth had these conditions in place. Action: Clerk to include on next agenda. Action: Clerk to write to Mr G Ballman.
8. Devon County Council: CC has offered the Victoria Hall £5,000 from his DCC capital fund towards improvements. The new school assembly hall and classrooms are due to be opened on 8 July following the £1470M investment. There is no longer any need for the children to walk down to the old congregational church. He is very proud of the school both academically and building wise. The school playing field has been reseeded and the play areas of softer tarmac are already in full use. He has also donated £2,500 to the Friends of Shaldon School plus £500 from TDC fund towards their target of £11,000 for new play equipment.
9. Teignbridge County Councillor’s Report: CC has costed the netting behind the goal on the KGV field at no more than £5000. He hopes to use the 106 agreement funds from Devonshire Homes. He also explained his initial plans for a 45ft x 15ft changing room facility on the south side of the KGV playing field in conjunction with the police architect with regard to keep down vandalism and the conservation officer at TDC. The costs are estimated at £145K inc VAT. He is hoping to unlock the seed money of £34,500 from the Charity Commissioners to support this project and is pursuing the interest it has earned since its return to TDC in 2002.
10. Parish Councillors’ Reports:
CC: Following his recent meeting with the DDC Highways team CC gave an overview of the highways issues in Shaldon. The unsightly power lines on Bridge Road are being investigated but they are not due to go underground for some years. Mr Les Pym at DCC is suggesting that if the parish were to make a contribution then this issue would move higher up the priority list.
DY League of Friends of Teignmouth Hospital: Gave an overview on latest funding issues and will keep the council informed of future meetings.
HD: Attended Teignmouth Harbour Consultative Committee meeting: Two boats were sunk as a result of the height of the mussel banks due to the lack of people collecting them. The mussels need to be moved up river but a digger was opposed. Movement of sand at Shaldon was constantly being observed.
EH: (i) Shaldon School play equipment: The old play equipment was beyond repair. FOSS were working hard to replace it. The matting beneath this equipment needs further funding.
(ii) Zebra crossing: Hopefully shrubs will be cut back this weekend and crossing will be painted in due course.
LP: (i) Boyces have completed their summer planting and will turn to Sunny Patch in July. Wonderful plantings in the boat on Marine Parade although its present position is not ideal.
(ii) Attended Trustees of Victoria Hall meeting: The proposal to increase rent charges was agreed. Major changes to accommodate user groups are being suggested with advice from a local architect. Funding is being pursued. PW was glad to see comments in the bookable venue survey had been taken on board.
(iii) Attended AGM Village Hall Trustees meeting: LP reported that the value of the original capital sum in Trust is £96,000 with annual interest of £5000 available to spend on how the Trustees see fit on educational projects in the village. 4-25 age group grants being reintroduced and will be available to all residents of Shaldon and Ringmore.
MM: Meeting with EA representative regarding trees in Shaldon. She will be undertaking an independent study of local hedgerows and would be happy to provide the results to SPC.
The Chairman suspended S/Os to allow the public to speak:
Mr P Winchester: Re power supplies: A meter gauge is available for £30 to measure the amount of energy being used by a local trader.
He has taken down the ‘No Ball Games’ sign on the Green and is trying to obtain another from TDC.
Mr J Lord: Asked that Ringmore Village Green should be so called to avoid confusion with Shaldon.
S/Os reinstated
11. Mobile Refreshment Kiosk: Tracey Higgs at TDC had asked whether SPC was in favour of this project to replace the former kiosk on the Ness Beach. PW proposed approval of this kiosk. He suspended S/Os to allow the vendor to give an overview of his proposals. With S/Os reinstated SPC agreed unanimously to support this project. Action: Clerk to advice Tracey Higgs
12. Amphitheatre at the Ness: PW asked for councillors’ views on this proposal which had been submitted by Mr B Aspden. Councillors expressed interest in this project with its support for local businesses especially the Ness Hotel and Vanessa’s café but needed more information. PW summed up that this was an interesting idea but SPC needed further plans and information. Action: Clerk to thank Mr Aspden and ask for more information on his plans.
13. Parking Issues: HD suggested awaiting responses from the planners re recent letters. LP suggested looking at the large area next to the clock tower where there appears to be extra space to be redesigned to accommodate extra parking. HD felt the village should settle after the trauma of the flood defence wall before tackling this issue.
14. Parking at Church Boundary Wall: The Chairman suspended S/Os to allow Mr T Willan to present his case for requesting the council to reverse its earlier decision. Mr Watson and Cdr Edgar presented their case for retaining the decision to move parking the other side of the road in order to protect the wall. S/Os were reinstated. There followed a debate during which EH, LP and MM expressed concern regarding the protection of this Grade I listed wall, CC suggested inflatable bollards against the wall as 4-5 ins more width in the road had been gained from the building of the defence wall. PW proposed that the original decision was overturned and that the present parking arrangements would remain together with arrangements for 3 flexible bollards in order to reduce risk of damage to the church wall. Secondly, he proposed further safeguarding the wall by requesting a sign at the entrance to the road indicating ‘no wide vehicles – max width’. 5 in favour 1 against. Carried. Action: Clerk to write to: Mr D Huxham, Old Rydon Lane Depot, Kingsteignton cc: Richard Elliot
15. Dogs on Main Beach: It was proposed to ask the Legal Dept at TDC to increase the dog ban on the beach from April to October. Clerk to send request to TDC Legal Depart: 4 in favour 2 against. Carried
16. Netting on KGV Field: Proposal to write to Stuart Barker at TDC saying this has been costed and we look forward to seeing this done asap. Cost no more than £5000 with 106 agreement funds available from Oystercatcher Court development. Action: Clerk to write with cc Lesley Tucket, Finance and Simon Barnes, Legal Dept. Enclose cheque for £200 from Mr Hands towards this cost. Sec PW. Carried.
17. Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Coin: To be debated at a later date. Celebration Action Clerk: Next meeting Agenda item: Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations.
18. Planning: Action Clerk to remove this item for future meetings.
19. Accounts
- Request for donation from FOSS: PW proposed £375. Sec CC Carried
- PW proposal to pay £225 rental to Methodist Church Hall: Sec DY Carried.
- Proposal to pay £1574.40 to Kevin Balding at County Hall in respect of cost of Fuji Salt Spreader. PW Prop Sec CC Carried
Accounts taken as read. Prop PW Sec HD Carried
20. Date of next meeting: Tuesday July 26th 2011
21. Public Comment: There was none.
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