FENITON PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 13th July 2009

Present: Cllr M Smith (Chairman)

Councillors: Mr Pete Privett, Mrs B Powell, Mr G Preston and Mrs P Blackmore

In Attendance: Cllr Roger Giles (DCC), Cllr Graham Brown (EDDC), PCSO Steve Trail, 6 members of the public and J Masters (FPC Clerk).

49. Questions from the public:-

Mr Pardey informed the council that the drain grid that goes across the entrance to the Allotment/QEII playing field Car Park was blocked and needs clearing.

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had discussed this with the Village Handyman, who said that the Drain Grid did not go any where although it was only a matter of a few feet from the culvert.

Mr Broom asked the council if it could be arranged for the bank and hedge could be reinstated along the east fence of the QEII playing field that is adjacent to the field as this would hold back any surface water running off the field and running through the allotments and further on through the village.

The chairman agreed it would be ideal but we would have to get expert advice, Mr Broom offered to put together a group of local residents to help build the bank if the council provided the funds for the materials etc.

Cllr Brown (EDDC) said that this is exactly what was needed in Feniton ‘Self Help Schemes’ he went on to say he would arrange to get an ‘expert’ from EDDC to look at the proposal.

Mr Broom asked if the council were going to order any Sand Bags from EDDC this year and offered to store them if storage was a problem like last year. The council instructed the Clerk to order 1,000 Sand Bags from EDDC. It was also agreed to order 2 X 1 tons of sand to be stored in two different locations in the village for use in an emergency, Mr Broom offered to mix a dye in the sand so it could not be used in building work and also he said he would construct a box cover for the sand.

It was suggested that the surface water that runs off the Ottery Nurseries land behind Mount View should diverted around the top of the village via ditches and pipes to the River Tail instead of through the village and on to the River Otter.

Cllr Brown said that he was looking to get some money for small jobs around the village that would go a long way to helping everyone in the future but without substantial amounts of money the larger schemes will have to wait until funding is provided.

Mr Pardey said he and his wife had received a 30 day notices to clean up their allotments and shed, he asked the council to extend the deadline as their allotments were severely flooded and showed pictures of the flooding that took place after the major flooding in October last year, also they had only just moved back into their home which was also flooded, they had already done a lot of work on the site to get it back into order. The council agreed in the circumstances to extent the deadline to the end of September.

Mr Pardey asked that as the council were applying for permission from EDDC for allotment sheds could he leave his shed up until the permission was given. It was agreed his shed could also stay until the end of September when it would have to be removed or replaced with an officially approved shed subject to a satisfactory decision from EDDC.

Mr Partridge (Feniton Youth Centre Management Committee) said he wanted to know who owned the land that the Youth Centre was built on. The Clerk was instructed to find out from the solicitors and let Mr Partridge know.

50. Apologies for absence: - Cllr’s K Tomkins and M Jolly

51. Confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 8th June 2009:-

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

52. Confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 15th June 2009:-

The minutes were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

53. Declarations of Interest from Members and Officers:-

No declarations were made

54. Police Officer’s Report:-

In May there was just one recorded crime which was a non dwelling burglary at Talewater Industrial Estate in which scrap metal, plumbing equipment and padlocks were stolen.

There were 11 incidents reported to the Police.

In June there were 4 recorded crimes which were as follows;
1 x criminal damage to a non dwelling, 2 x criminal damage to motor vehicles in Westminster Close and the theft of a Boys Pedal Cycle also from Westminster Close.

55. County and District Councilors’ Reports:-

Cllr Brown EDDC told the meeting that DEFRA had awarded East Devon £97,000 to be used toward certain projects within East Devon. DEFRA are listening to Feniton, and now recognize there is a problem in Feniton. £10,000 will be spent in the Old Village on various projects; Cllr Brown went on to say he would be pushing for a further £30,000 at a meeting on Wednesday 15th July.

Cllr Giles DCC told the meeting there will be a Flood Fair at Kings School on Saturday 18th July. As previously advised the three test soakaways in Station Road vicinity were disappointing. DCC remains committed to spending £100,000 on increased capacity during 2009/10 financial year, and is actively considering other solutions. As stated by Cllr Brown the joint application by DCC & EDDC have been awarded £97,000 from DFRA.

DCC is carrying out a review of its mobile library service. The mobile service is greatly appreciated by the people who use it, Cllr Giles urged Feniton Parish Councilors to use and promote the service.

56. Finance: – The following July payments were authorized:-

57. Finance: - The following August Payments were authorized:-

58. Late entry Finance: - The following July payment was authorized: -

59. Correspondence:-

The Clerk has ordered two maroons from EDDC and these will be let off on Wednesday 11th November at a suitable location within the village.

60. Late entry correspondence: -

The Council expressed their regret that Cllr Tomkins has decided to resign and publically thanked her for her contribution to the councils work, she will be missed.

61. Planning:-

For information only, EDDC Network Rail, installation of Railway Communications System Equipment on railway property to the east of the village

62. Village Handyman’s Report: -

Report from allotment holders that allotment tap nearest Youth Centre was hard to work and turn on.
Gland nut adjusted and tap checked all working OK now (no extra charge).
Cut grass & strim Green Lane seat area and Village Green and other side of road (3 hours extra).

63. Clerks Report: -

As instructed at the previous council meeting three 30 day notices to Allotment Holders whose plots were un-kept were issued, as agreed in item 49 of these minutes two allotment holders were given extra time due to the flooding of their plots, the third Allotment Holder will be contacted on Wednesday to see if they wish to surrender their plot.

On the 1st July I attended the Environment Agency Emergency Planning Workshop at Escot with Cllr Privett where we picked up a number of sand bags to give away to Feniton residents.

On Sunday 5th July the Emergency Planning Committee took a stall at ‘Feniton Fun Day’ where we signed up just one person to help us which was very disappointing.

The next Emergency Planning Committee meeting is on Wednesday 29th July at Rev. Cate Edmonds house.

The sunken drain cover at the junction of Station Road and Colestocks Road was again reported to DDC who say it has now been referred to the appropriate Utility Company.

The Clerk was again instructed to chase this up with DCC.

The drain cover which was covered up on the road between Old Feniton and Fenny Bridges near the junction of turning towards Buckerell was located and reported to DCC who have now cleared it.

The Clerk received a phone call from DCC referring to the councils request for signs to be erected identifying the various hamlets within the village; DCC refused our request because the hamlets are too small and will not allow the Parish Council to pay for them.

The Clerk requested permission to place adverts in the Parish Magazine for Organisations who would like to apply for S137 Grants in 2010/11 and for the position of Village Handyman for three years from 1st April 2010 to 31st March 2013. It was agreed that the adverts in the Parish Magazine and notices be displayed around the village.

64. Chestnut Tree in Old Feniton:-

So far two estimates have been received to remove the Chestnut Tree in Old Feniton and to stump grind the base and large roots, a further name was given to the Clerk to obtain a third estimate

It was agreed to wait until the September Parish Council meeting before giving to go-ahead for the removal of the tree.

65. Outstanding S137 Applications:-

Feniton Youth Centre
Following receipt of estimate for replacement windows it was agreed to award £1,000.00 S137 grant to Feniton Youth Centre, matching the funds they have already raised towards the cost of new windows.

Scallywags Preschool
Unfortunately despite several requests no estimate of the work for which the grant request was for, the Council decided that this year they could not make an S137 grant to them.

Feniton Toddlergroup
Following receipt of estimates of various items that were needed for the Toddlergroup the Council decided to award £350.00 S137 grant for Safety Mats

T.R.I.P. Community Transport Association, Honiton Ring & Ride
Following receipt of details on how TRIP spend their money it was agreed to award a £50.00 S137 grant to TRIP.

66. Individual Member responsibilities:-

Cllr Powell agreed to attend the Flower Show and award the Cups.

Cllr Privett said he would attend the next East Devon Flood Recovery Group meeting at EDDC Sidmouth offices on the 24th July.

62. Date of next full Parish council meeting: - Monday 14th September 2009

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.10 hrs

Last Updated 6th September 2010