MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 14TH APRIL 2008 IN FENITON VILLAGE HALL ANNEXE AT 7.30PM

Present: Cllr M Smith (Chairman)

Councillors: Mrs B Powell, M Jolly, Mrs K Tomkins, P Privett, G Preston, Cllr Mrs P Blackmore

In Attendance: Cllr R Giles (DCC) AND 9 members of the public

Apologies: PC Jim Tyrrell, Cllr Graham Brown (EDDC)

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies were accepted and approved.

2. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 16th April 2007 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

3. Report by the Chairman

Cllr Martyn Smith praised the efforts of the Parish Council over the year. He highlighted the progress being made by the council to address the many issues raised as priorities by residents in the village plan. These issues were being addressed, some immediately, for example the issue of the playing fields, and some in the long term as aspirations for the village, for example the problems with sewerage. The village plan is a guide for taking the village forward as a community. Cllr Smith explained the document has been officially adopted by EDDC.
Cllr Smith also praised the working relationship between DCC representative, Cllr Roger Giles, and EDDC Cllr Graham Brown.

4. Police Officer’s Report

The chairman stated PC James Tyrrell had sent his apologies and explained that during the year, due to administrative restructuring, policing Feniton Parish would now fall under the Ottery St Mary Police Station. PC Jim Tyrrell and PCSO Maria Clapp who are to take over the roles previously held by PC Vickery and PCSO Phil Anning.

5. Reports by the County and District Councillors

Cllr Graham Brown, EDDC was not present.

Cllr Roger Giles detailed the success of his bid for a passing loop on the Axminster section of the railway which should enable hourly services between Exeter and London Waterloo by December 2009. He also said King’s School, Ottery St Mary was to be awarded a £1m grant for new buildings.
Cllr Giles said the next elections for DCC would be in May 2009, although this depended on the results of the boundary commission review, which may alter the structure of local government. The results of the current review should be available by December 2008.
Cllr Giles indicated support at DCC regarding the purchase of the playing fields, but this depended on the amount of land in question.
Cllr Giles said the Feniton to Sidmouth Cycleway bid he had developed had been submitted two weeks ago. Mr John Partridge raised a question regarding the attitude of local landowners to the scheme and Cllr Giles responded that he hoped the matter could be settled with negotiation, agreement and compensation.

6. Finance - Income and Expenditure Accounts

The Chairman provided explanations for the figures of the Council’s income and expenditure accounts which are shown on an attached sheet. Mr David Lanning queried the need for a surplus of money held by the Council. Cllr Smith said there had been a reduction in the precept the Council set but that a reserve of money was necessary to enable the Council to respond in a timely fashion to matters arising during the year and said it was not a practice of the Council to build a large reserve of money.
Cllr Smith also said the rest of the financial documentation would be available once the annual audit had been completed by Mr Phil Higginson, the previous clerk to the council.

7. Reports from Local Organisations

The meeting was pleased to receive reports from:

Written reports are attached as appropriate.

8. Matters raised by the Public

Mrs Pat Roy questioned the security of the Church and its environs, to which Mr David Lanning reported all possible precautions, were being taken.
Mr John Partridge highlighted a need for volunteers to run the Youth Club, which is a separate entity to the newly formed Youth Centre Management Committee.

The meeting closed at 8.35pm

These minutes were confirmed at the 2009 Annual Parish Meeting

………………………………………………………………….Presiding Chairman

Last Updated 8th October 2008