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Minutes of meetings

FENITON PARISH COUNCILMINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
23 JULY 2007 TO DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VILLAGE PLAN

Present: Cllr M Smyth (Chairman), Cllrs Mrs B Powell, G Preston, Cllr R Giles (DCC)

Apologies: Cllr M Jolly, Cllr P Privett

In Attendance: Mrs Val Jones

57. Apologies

Apologies were accepted and approved.

58. Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25th June 2007 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

59. To progress through minutes 40 dated 25th June with a view to achieving progress on the Plan recommendations

• a. Ensure the Village magazine has the widest circulation. The Clerk reported that the idea of having a free copy of the magazine delivered to each household would cost the Council in the region of £5500 per year. This was not considered to be a cost effective means of increasing the readership. Mrs Val Jones gave the meeting a briefing on the magazine production and the plans for improving the content. After considerable discussion it was agreed that the Council would pay for it’s monthly page as if it were an advert (approximately £120 per annum), this would provide for an increase in the number of copies available for sale in the Spar shop. It was also agreed that the Council could publish important parts of the magazine on its website paying due regard to copyright. Mrs Jones then left the meeting.
• b. Investigate the possibility of acquiring the Playing Fields. The Chairman and Clerk had attended two meetings under the chairmanship of Mr G Phillips, the Sports Club Chairman, since the last Plan meeting. A Group, consisting of representatives from the Sports Club, the School, and the Parish Council, Cllr G Brown (EDDC), and Cllr R Giles (DCC), had been formed with the aim of thwarting the sale of the land. As a first step the aim was to have Savills suspend the sale and to this end a media campaign would begin with the 25th July edition of the Midweek Herald and it was hoped this would extend into national coverage.
• c. Adoption of the Plan by EDDC. The Clerk reported EDDC has now endorsed the Plan.
• d. Look at ways to reduce dog fouling. The clerk reported he was still awaiting details of the Beer posters from Beer Parish Clerk. After reports from Cllr Preston it was agreed to place a notice in the magazine and on the website to remind parishioners that dog mess should be bagged before it is placed in litter/dog bins.
• e. Improve the appearance and Facilities of the Station. Cllr Giles has asked the authorities for a second shelter at the station.
• f. Seek adoption of the Sewers. There had been two movements on this matter. The Government had announced that they intended to place legislation before Parliament that would compel all water companies to adopt currently unadopted sewage systems but there was no introduction time identified. The Clerk had also obtained information from John Winsom, an ex-EDDC sewage engineer now a consultant, which suggested that there was a possibility that the Feniton sewers in question were already “public”. It was agreed the Clerk write to Mr Winsom to ask him to undertake investigative work to a maximum of 10 hours to see what the true situation was.
• g. Address Flooding Issues. EDDC had stated that the interim report by their consultants had suggested that an improvement would be possible but that this would only create a problem at Sweethams Cottage and that further work needed to be done. At the behest of Cllr Giles it was agreed to remind EDDC that the flooding issue had begun with an all party meeting and that this point should not be lost.
• h. Solve Fly Infestation problem. The weather pattern had not produced the same fly problem as 2006. The Chairman reported EDDC and owners of local possible sources of infestation were working well to solve this problem.
• i. Review of Sports Facilities. It was intended to place contact details in the village magazine.
• j. Seek Improved Publicity to Parishioners on Local Facilities. Cllr Mrs Powell stated the magazine would gradually begin to reflect more contact details of organisers of local events.
• k. Seek Introduction of Evening Classes in Computer Skills. In the absence of Cllr Mrs Tomkins this item was stood over.
• l. Raise awareness to all age groups of clubs and activities available. Details of the EDDC website for children’s activities in the summer holidays would appear in the August edition of the village magazine.
• m. Encourage the development of the Youth Centre. The Clerk stated he had written to the Chairman of the Youth Centre Management Committee offering the financial support of the Parish Council if it was necessary.
• n. Consider the Provision of Skateboarding Facilities. Cllr Giles reported that a planning application for the provision of a skateboarding facility off Cadhay Lane in Ottery St Mary was about to be submitted, and if successful, this would be available for the children of Feniton to use.
• o. Review parking Arrangements in the New Village. No further action was necessary.
• p. Review Danger Points on Access Roads and Consider Traffic Calming Measures. Cllr Giles reported more money was coming on stream for traffic calming measures as a result of school traffic plans. It was agreed the Clerk write to the Chairman of the Governors at Feniton School to stress the need for the School to produce a traffic/travel plan in order to unlock funds to have traffic calming measures in that area of Station Road carried out.
• q. Make representations re frequency of trains, station facilities and timing of level crossing barrier. Cllr Mrs Powell reported that Mr Powell had written to her suggesting that the Council should approach Network Rail to have the method of closing the barrier reviewed. In view of the Council’s decision at the last meeting that matters would be left as they were, Cllr Mrs Powell was advised that she should raise the matter again for consideration in 6 months time.
• r. Promote Parish Council Website. It was agreed that the website should have a dedicated Village magazine extracts page (see Minute 59a above), and the Chairman stated he intended to begin the review of the site after the summer holidays.

60. Late Entry Correspondence.

There was none.

61. Date of next meeting. This was set for Monday 24th September 2007 at 7.30pm.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 2055 hrs.

……………………………………………………………Presiding Chairman

Last Updated 8th October 2008