MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 9th February 2009

Present: Cllr M Smith (Chairman)

Councillors: Mr P Privett, Mrs B Powell, Mr G Preston, Mrs P Blackmore, Mr M Jolly and Mrs K Tonkin.

In Attendance: Cllr R Giles (DCC) DCC, Cllr G Brown (EDDC), Karime Hassam & Keith Steel EDDC, Bob Crow-Swords Environment Agency, Tony Mathews DCC, Phil Simcox Howick Consultants, 4 members of the public and J Masters (FPC Clerk).

128. Questions from the public: -

Steve Upsher who lives in Green Lane asked the Council if it was possible to have a footpath installed between the junction of Green Land and Ottery Road and the old nursery as it is very dangerous for pedestrians walking along the road because a garden wall which obscures the view of both drivers and pedestrians. The Chairman replied that the section of road is actually in the Parish of Ottery Town Council however Roger Giles who is attending the meeting as Feniton’s DCC Councillor is also the EDDC Ottery Town Councillor, Cllr Giles said he would take up the matter on behalf of Mr Upsher.

Mr Chamberlain said that the Blackthorns had previously donated the grass verge for a footpath.

Mr Chamberlain said that he had a copy of the Howick Report and asked where the funding would come from? As he and his neighbour have been flooded three times in the last fourteen weeks.

129. Apologies for absence: - PC Jim Tyrell and Mr Adrian Rushworth Environment Agency.

130. To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 12th January 2009.
Two amendments were made to the minutes from the last meeting:-

The minutes were then agreed and the Chairman initialled each page and signed the last page.

131. Police Officer’s Written Report: -

The January Police Report is as follows: - There were just 2 recorded crimes.
1 x theft from a motor vehicle in Lincoln Close. This remains undetected.
1 x theft-steal in dwelling. There is a named suspect and enquiries are continuing.
There were 8 reported incidents to the Police all of a minor nature.

132. The Howick Report:-

Karime Hassam and Keith Steel EDDC, Bob Crowe-Sword Environment Agency, Tony Matthews DCC and Phil Simcox

The Chairman invited Phil Simcox of Howick Consultants to go through the report on the recent flooding which was commissioned by EDDC.

Mr Simcox started by saying that the Feniton Drainage System is owned by various land owners who are responsible for the drains and ditches on their land.

Flooding in Central Feniton is caused by water overflowing from the head of the drainage system in Station Road opposite Louvigny Close; this in turn flows down the lower lying parts of Central Feniton and accumulating in Salisbury Avenue against the embankment. The capacity of the drainage system downstream of the railway is inadequate and results in deep prolonged flooding of this low lying area.

The system is found to be under capacity, at Sweethans (Ottery Road) we can never get the floodwater level low enough to stop flooding because the property lays lower than the drainage ditch, it is recommended that non-return valves be fitted to the drains to stop water going back up the drains.

The flood water then continues on down past Iron Gate Cottages, Patterson’s Cross and Gosford Pine Cottages causing flooding during its course to the River Otter.

Howick’s have run a Computer Model and have come up with some recommendations to build a new drainage system through Feniton or to build a holding area for excess runoff water. Estimated costs are between £900,000 and £1,300,000.

Karime Hassam EDDC said that this report will go to the EDDC Executive Committee to seek funding for a full appraisal which would be in the region of £25,000 and £30,000.

The Chairman said that the proposed new system is not a lot different from the existing system all be it using larger pipes, what will happen to the water that comes from other parts of the village that flows into the flooded area?

Mr Simcox said that this would be picked up on a full appraisal of the area.

There is differing thoughts on the size of drainage pipes which go under the railway line from 9 inch to 18 inches and the council believe it needs further investigation.

Cllr Blackmore said that she though that on Page 1 of the report 1.2 Catchments were wrongly labelled i.e. Catchment 1c and Catchment 1d should be reversed, Mr Simcox agreed and said it would be corrected.

Cllr Jolly said that this report centred on Feniton Central about Vine Water as that caused flooding in 20 houses in the Fenny Bridges area, Mr Simcox said that a further report would come out in Mid April.

Mr Crow-Swords said that the flooding of Vine Water was from a different catchment area.

The Chairman asked what the next step is.

Mr Hassam said the report will now go to EDDC Executive where they will be asked to provide funding for a full appraisal which in turn will form part of the bid for funding from DEFRA as currently there is no money available.

133. County and District Councillors’ Reports: -

Cllr Giles DCC submitted the following written report to the meeting:-

FENITON CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

Many congratulations to everyone involved with Feniton School (the Headteacher, the staff, the Governors, the parents, and of course, the pupils) on its outstanding OFSTED inspection on 18th November. The vast majority of judgements made are grade 1 (outstanding); all the other judgements are grade 2 (good). The report makes very good reading indeed (to see what an excellent school there is in Feniton: just read the whole report). I cannot, though resist quoting from the section on Overall effectiveness of the school: “in this outstanding school, excellent leadership, high quality teaching and excellent guidance contribute to pupils` outstanding achievement. Parents are wholeheartedly supportive, appreciate all that the school has to offer, and are aware of the difference it makes to their children.”

I am delighted that Devon County Council recently agreed to make a contribution to the improvement scheme at Feniton School (a voluntary aided school) which will remodel the reception/administration areas; improve security; remodel the library and circulation routes; provide a disabled toilet; and replace the boiler. DCC is to contribute 150,000.

RAIL SERVICES: FENITON STATION

The DCC Executive, at my request, recently objected to proposed above-inflation rail fare increases and poor quality rolling stock. Shortly after imposing a 6% fare increase, South West Trains are now proposing to reduce staffing at stations on the Exeter to Salisbury railway line. The ticket office at Feniton Station, which is in the Ottery Rural DCC ward, is to be closed all day on Saturdays and Sundays. Restrictions are also being applied at Honiton Station. Passengers are expected to buy tickets from machines when there are no staff on duty; but the machines will not give advice on cheap tickets. I am also concerned that when there are no staff on duty, passenger facilities such as waiting rooms and toilets may not be available. I believe that this is unacceptable, and have raised the matter with DCC officers who have taken it up with South West Trains.

PRIVATELY OWNED SEWERS

On 15th December 2008 the Government announced that approximately 200,000 kilometres of privately owned sewers will be transferred to water and sewerage companies from 2011. The Government said that the costs of transfer will be met by an increase in the sewerage element of bills across the nine sewerage companies currently estimated to be around 7.5 pence to 23 pence per week.

Cllr Brown EDDC reported that because the Boundary Commission Local Government Report on Unitary Councils would now be delayed until 15th July there is little chance anything can be implemented until at least 2011.

Cllr Brown said that it is with great disappointment that EDDC have decided to take away the right of councillors to comment on planning matters and was disgusted the way that Sara Randall Johnson ridiculed Cllr Giles on his report saying that councillors wanted to keep the right to comment on planning matters, he promised to keep on fighting the new system.

134. Declarations of Interest from Members and Officers.

Cllr P Privett & Cllr M Jolly both said they were flooded in the October flooding.

135. Finance: – To authorise January payments.

136. Correspondence: -

137. East Devon Local Framework- Issues and Options + EDDC Planning for the Future ‘Questionnaire Survey’

This was discussed and it was agreed that Cllr Jolly would complete the questionnaire and return it to EDDC by Friday 13th February.

138. Village Handyman’s Report.

Nothing to report to the council this month.

139. Clerks Report: -

Village Lengthsman; as instructed at the January Parish Council meeting I wrote to Mr Bob Wigley asking that the Village Lengthsman spend more that the three that had been allocated to clear the drains and ditches in January because of the recent devastating flooding throughout Feniton, the proposed dates were Thursday 22nd, Friday 23rd and Monday 26th, my letter also gave examples of ditches that had not been cleared for quite a considerable time. I never received a reply to my Recorded Delivery Letter,

On the Thursday I toured the village but could not find the Lengthsman, I phoned DCC Highways Department and asked for Mr Wigley and was told he would ring me. No return call received.

On Friday I again toured the village and found the Lengthsman working in a country lane to the north of the old village, he told me that on Thursday morning he was working in Talaton and did not start in Feniton until Thursday afternoon and would be working in the village all day Friday but not on Monday.

I phoned DCC Highways Department and finally spoke to Mr Wigley; he was unaware that Feniton was only getting the services of the Lengthsman for 1½ days he said he would ring me back that day. Once again Mr Wigley did not return my call. The two ditches that I brought to the attention of Mr Wigley in my letter and phone conversation were not touched.

As of today the following payments have been received:-

Allotment Rents received since January’s meeting total £50.00, all Allotment Rents for 2009 are now collected and banked.

140. Individual Member responsibilities: -

Cllr Blackmore asked Cllr Giles DCC if it is true that DCC are buying the Sports Field to expand the school. Cllr Giles said that it was not true.

Cllr Preston said he was worried about the water that comes out of a SWW manhole cover in Ottery Road at the junction with The Signals. The Clerk was instructed to write to SWW and ask them about it and report back to the council

141. Date of next full Parish council meeting: - Monday 9th March 2009 at 7.30pm

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2210hrs

Last Updated 6th September 2010