FENITON PARISH COUNCIL DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 8th February 2010

Present: Cllr P Privett (Vice Chairman)

Councillors: B Powell, G Preston, P Blackmore, and M Jolly.

In Attendance: Cllr Roger Giles (DCC) (from 7.50pm), 2 members of the public and J Masters (FPC Clerk).

155. Questions from the public: -
Mr Partridge asked if the Clerk had received a letter from the Youth Centre Management Committee asking if the Parish Council would send a representative to their EGM on Monday 1st March. The Clerk confirmed receipt of the letter which is on the Agenda. Mr Partridge brought to the attention of the council the Fir Trees which are growing over the pavement next to the bus stop in Station Road which is causing an obstruction for motorists pulling out from the side road. The Clerk was instructed to ask the Village Handyman to cut back the Fir Trees

Mr Edmonds is concerned about the recent flooding in the Allotments next to his property and is worried that the Devon Bank would collapse into his garden; he believed that the rain water was coming down from the field to the east of the QEII play area. It is believed the field that had wheat planted last year and now looked very compacted. The Clerk was instructed to contact the Environment Agency to find out if this field has been de-compacted or is waiting to be done.

156. Apologies for absence: - Cllr M Smith, Cllr G Broom and Cllr G Brown (EDDC)

157. Confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 11th January 2010:-
The minutes were agreed and the Vice Chairman initialled each page and signed the last page.

158. Declarations of Interest from Members and Officers:-
No declarations of interest were made.

159. Police Officer’s Report:-
Police Report received via Email
Herewith the January report. Just one recorded crime which was the theft of milk in Exeter Close.
There were just 7 incidents reported to the Police- 1x abandoned motor vehicle, 1 x report of low level anti social behaviour, 1 x death message, 1x parking dispute,1 x concern for a neighbour,1 x report of drink driving. All in all fairly quiet.

160. Colin Butler Head Teacher Feniton C of E Primary School:-
The Vice Chairman welcomed Mr Butler to the meeting. Mr Butler brought the Council up to date on school activities. The remodeling of the main entrance is now completed. Funding has been secured for the new Bike Shed. They still have issues with drains and trees; a classroom has been flooded twice; there is a drain on school property that takes water from the road which is continuing to cause problems. Despite the recent bad weather the school only closed for one day when it reopened 73% of pupils did manage to attend. Reception year welcomed 29 new starters on Jan 5th with only 1 spare place. School numbers are very healthy with a total of 238 children. The School Travel Plan will be applied for in March. The school could do with some help from local volunteers to help with reading, sharing a hobby/skill for a club, help with activities like sewing, cooking garden club etc.
The Vice Chairman thanked Mr Butler for bringing the Council up to date on the school activities, Mr Butler then left the meeting.

161. Mr Paul Deakin, EDDC New Waste & Recycling Collections
The Vice Chairman welcomed Mr Deakin from EDDC who spoke about the new Waste and Recycling collections that will start on Wednesday 24th March when food waste and plastic bottles will be added to the new weekly collections, the land fill wheelie bin will be empted that day then fortnightly thereafter. Currently EDDC are collecting 20-25 tons of food waste on the Monday and Tuesday collection days which would normally to go land fill causing methane gas and contributing to CO2 emissions this is now composted and used to produce electricity.
Recycling is currently around 33%, it is expected to reach over 50% as the scheme rolls out. Families with 5 or more members can apply to EDDC for a larger land fill bin should they need it.
Leaflets will be sent to every house with information on dates of collections etc.
The Vice Chairman thanked Mr Deakin for coming to the meeting, Mr Deakin then left the meeting.

162. County and District Councilors’ Reports:-
During the bad weather it became apparent that there are insufficient Grit Bins, if the Parish Council supply a list of locations where a bin would be of use DCC will try and install more in the village.
Street lights will be converted to part night lighting from the end of February/beginning of March as part of DCC cost saving & cutting CO2 emissions.

163. Finance: – The following December payments were authorized:-

164. Finance Income received: - from Allotment Holders and Public Liability insurance collected
£275.00 collected from 22 Allotment Tenants which includes £44.00 Public Liability Insurance to be passed on to South West Counties Allotment Association (see 163 item g)

165 Correspondence received:-

It was agreed that the Clerk and possibly two Councillors will attend this meeting.

166. Planning:-

167. S137 Money Allocation:-
After a lengthy discussion it was agreed by all members of the Council present that the following S137 Payments would be made in the 2010/2011 financial year using some of the surplus from 2009/2010 financial year, they are:-
East Devon CAB £50.00
Feniton Parish Church £500.00
Feniton Village Hall £300.00
Feniton Youth Centre £1000.00
This is subject to the Youth Centre Management Committee submitting details of a project for the money to be spent on.
Honiton Library £15.00
Honiton Ring & Ride £50.00
Tale Valley Trust £30.00
Feniton Toddler Group £200.00
Wednesday Club £50.00
Devon Wheels £50.00

168. Village Handyman’s Report: -
Nothing to report for January

169. Clerks Report: -
The Lengthsman visited Feniton on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd February and cleared several drains that were silted up since his previous visit three months ago.
The Red Cross have offered to carry out Community Based First Aid Projects training up to 12 people with a certificate at the end with no cost involved all the Parish Council has to do is provide a venue within the village. This was agreed and the Clerk will put the matter before the Emergency Planning Committee who have a meeting on Thursday 11th February to arrange.
Allotments: - six vacant half plots are available to the first six people on the waiting list, unfortunately one person has not responded. The Clerk was instructed to give that person one more week to respond if they fail to do so the plot will be given to the next person on the waiting list.

170. Individual Member responsibilities:-
Cllr Preston asked if the Clerk could find out how often the EDDC sweeper came to Feniton as Station Road between Rutts Lane & Green Lane junctions needs sweeping.

Cllr Blackmore issued the latest Allotment Tennant list. Due to the hassle the Clerk has received over Allotments the Council should in future allocate Allotments. It was agreed the Councillors would take on responsibility for allocating Allotments when they become available it was also agreed that any vacant Allotments should not be automatically allocated to the person at the top of the list if they already have an Allotment as priority will be given to new people however if at any time an Allotment becomes available and there is no one on the waiting list it will only then be offered to an existing Allotment holder. The Clerk was instructed to ask the Village Handyman to clear the rubbish left by the previous tenants of Plot 16 & 17.

171. Date of next full Parish Council Meeting: - 7.30pm on Monday 8th March 2010

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.50rs

Last Updated 6th September 2010