MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 12th January 2009

Present: Cllr M Smith (Chairman)

Councillors: Mrs B Powell, G Preston and Mrs P Blackmore.
In Attendance: Cllr R Giles (DCC) DCC, Cllr G Brown (EDDC), 13 members of the public Richard Horne DCC, Jane Tancock EDDC, Adele Needham Environment Agency and J Masters (FPC Clerk).

112. Questions from the public: - Mr Ted Pyle addressed the meeting saying that water never ran along the former cutting on his land as mentioned at the previous council meeting and that he had the appropriate licence to fill the cutting with non hazardous waste, the flooding problem came from run off water from Otter Nurseries land at the top of the village, this never ran through the old cutting.

The Chairman said that the council never said that the filling of the cutting stopped water from draining away, this was an Email received by the council that was read out to the meeting.

Terry Stoneham wanted to know if the council had details of the unadopted drain on the estate or where he could obtain them from, it was suggested that he contacted Eagle Investments who were the developers.

Mrs Wright said they had never flooded before but has since been told that kids skated on frozen water here in past winters.

Alan, asked has anybody been on to South West Water about increasing the pumping capacity since The Signals, the Burlands and Ackland Park were built?

David Baker asked who will pay in the future if the homes in Salisbury Close are flooded again. His bungalow was flooded to a depth of 6 -7 feet and flooded again a few weeks latter.

Mr Francis Pyle quoted some figures about the volume of water that a 9 inch pipe like the one that goes under the railway line can cope with if it is not blocked and it was never going to cope with the volume that came down on the 30th October last year.

Mr Blackmore said when he contacted SWW they did not know about the drains that were blocked by concrete and tried his best to clear what he could.

Cllr Roger Giles said that the Government are putting a Bill through Parliament saying that all unadopted drains will be taken on by the local water companies.

Mr Blackmore complained that dog owners are picking up their dog waste and depositing the bags in Salisbury Close where currently there are about 20 bags.

Somebody said that the Trees growing in Salisbury Avenue are a problem with their roots growing into the drains causing them to block.

Mr Ted Pyle said that problem of flooding will carry on unless the water that comes off Otter Nurseries land is held back in some kind of lagoon, he believes that there was once plans to have a lagoon where Louvigny Close is now situated, when that area was built on there was no alternative are proposed.

The Clerk was instructed to write to South West Water to find out if the Sewage Pumping Station had been update since The Burlands, The Signals and Ackland Park were built.

113. Apologies for absence: - P Privett, Mrs K Tomkins and M Jolly.

114. To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 8th December 2008.

Two amendments were made to the minutes from the last meeting:-

These were agreed and the Chairman initialled each page and signed the last page.

115. Police Officer’s Report: -
In total there were 7 recorded crimes. Making off without payment from the Spar Shop, Winchester Close. A male offender has been interviewed but no further action is now being taken. Criminal damage to a motor vehicle in Ely Close. No suspects for this offence.
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a domestic dispute. However, the aggrieved party did not wish to pursue a complaint and no further action was taken. Criminal damage to a motor vehicle in Lincoln Close. No suspects for this offence. Theft of a mobile phone at an address in Wells Avenue. No suspects for this offence. Dangerous driving preceding a road traffic accident which occurred at the junction of Green Lane and Ottery Road. A female has been interviewed in respect of this offence.

In total 12 incidents were reported to the Police.

116. Emergency Planning: - This part of the meeting was given over to Richard Horne DCC Emergency Planning Manager, Jane Tancock EDDC Deputy Emergency Planning Officer and Adele Needham from the Environment Agency.

Richard Horne (DCC) expressed his sympathies to everyone in Feniton saying that he also lived in a flood risk area and was very worried on the night of the 30th October.

His job is to encourage parishes to assess the potential risk in their parish and listed some suggestions:-

All of these should have a Risk Assessment carried out.

The 999 services will usually respond in an emergency but what will happen if there is a county wide emergency, plans need to be in place to cope whilst waiting for a response from these services.

The council needs to set up a Council Emergency Committee which should list men with shovels, 4x4 vehicles, power saws etc.

The Plan should have a list of Doctors, Medics, qualified First Aide people, key holders to halls and club houses that can be used in an emergency.

Insurance should also be considered.

DCC will give guidance to set up an Emergency Plan.

The Chairman said that about 10 years ago the council had some sand bags but they were the wrong end of the village and he drove his Land Rover through some very deep water to try and deliver them but it was too late for many people. Sand Bags tend to only last about a year before they start to rot through and deposit the sand.

Jane Tancock (EDDC) said that you need to watch the weather forecast for severe weather warning then get the sand bags filled.

Several members of the public said that the water came up through the floor boards and within 10 minutes their houses were flooded to 2-3 feet and did not think sand bags would have been any use.

Richard Horne said there are things called Smart Bricks to replace Airbricks but are very costly

Adele Needham (EA) said that ‘in an emergency please do not put yourself at risk’.

The Council agreed to call a Public Meeting on Monday 16th or Tuesday 17th March 2009 in the Main Village Hall to discuss and to set up an Emergency Plan for Feniton.

The Chairman thanked Richard Horne, Jane Tancock and Adele Needham for coming to the meeting; several documents on Emergency Planning were left for the councillors and the public to read they then left meeting along with the majority of the public.

116. County and District Councillors’ Reports: -

Cllr G Brown said that he felt that he had already given his Report during the previous sessions and asked to be excused and left the meeting.

Cllr Roger Giles report:-

FLOODING GENERAL

Multi-agency meetings on the flooding event of 30th October (and, sadly, on 13th December) took place at County Hall on Monday 3rd December, and at Knowle, on 9th January. I emailed reports resulting from the 3.12.2008 meeting to the Parish Clerk recently. Some of the more major initiatives – including flood defence work in Feniton – do take a frustratingly long time to implement. I do quite understand why flood victims are disappointed by the apparently slow pace. I am someone who wants things done yesterday. At the session on 9th January it was said that “the soil is very mobile” – whenever there is any rain it washes yet more soil off the land.

SCHOOL TRAVEL PLANS

School Travel plans are designed to achieve reduced car congestion around the school, and reduce the number of cars used by parents who live near the school. The benefits include safer journeys by cyclists and pedestrians, lower vehicle emissions concentrated around the school, and more opportunities for children to exercise. Measures which benefit the whole community – such as lower speed limits, pedestrian crossings, cycle racks, and pavement provision – can result from a school travel plan. I believe it is a pity that Feniton School has not carried out a School Travel Plan – only about 5% of Devon schools have not done so – as the school, and Feniton generally would benefit greatly from this.
________

The Parish Council are very disappointed that Feniton Primary School have declined to take part in the School Travel Plans as there is a finical benefit to the area around the school with money available for traffic calming, parking restrictions and speed restrictions etc.

There has already been an accident outside the school and traffic problems for quite some time, it is hoped that DCC will do something.

117. Declarations of Interest from Members and Officers.

None were declared

118. Finance: – To authorise January payments.

119. Correspondence: -

120. Planning:-
a) 08/2755/FUL 5 York Crescent, Feniton EX14 ‘Planning Permission Granted’

121. Village Handyman’s Report.
When the new All Weather surface was put in the QE11 one set of goal posts were removed and are bent beyond use, would the council like them deposed of?
The Council agreed that the old goal posts should be removed by the Handyman.

122. Clerks Report: -

The order has been placed New Public Notice Board Purchase Order No 151208, the expected deliver date is some time in March.

Allotment Holders have formed the Feniton Allotment Association so that they will have a responsible body to talk to the Parish Council.

It was agreed to hold another meeting on Tuesday 24th February to encourage the other 8 Allotment Holders to come along and join the new association. It was also agreed to invite the two councillors who look after the Allotment Portfolio Brenda Powell and Peggy Blackmore to address the next meeting

Audit Commission Certificate of Completion.
The Annual Accounts are now available for members of the public to inspect if they so wish at a mutual convenient time with the Clerk.
Note advising that the deadline for the current year is 30th June 2009 one month earlier.

As of today the following payments have been received:-

Allotment Rents £226.00
Five Allotment Holders have still to renew their tenancy.

Feniton Bowling Club £100.00 for use of Car Park

123. Lengthsman visiting the Village

The Clerk was instructed to write to DCC saying that three days would not be long enough to put all the ditches and culverts back into working order following the recent flooding.

124. Confirm Precept application:-

As agreed a precept of £14,000 for 2009-20010 will be submitted to EDDC, this is the same level as the current year.

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

The Chairman has read this very complicated document twice and at the meeting passed on to the other councillors for their comments. It was agreed to put this item near the top of the agenda of the February meeting on Monday 9th February for full discussion, the deadline for the survey is Friday 13th February.

126. Individual Member responsibilities: -

Cllr G Preston was concerned the pedestrians walking along around the corner of the junction of Ottery road and Green Lane are forced to walk on a very muddy surface outside Tool Gate Cottage to avoid cars and would like DCC to do something about this.

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

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.55hrs

………………………………………………………………Chairman 10h February 2009

Last Updated 6th September 2010