Minutes held on Monday 13th June 2011

Present: - Cllr M Smith (Chairman)

Councillors Present: - Mr P Privett, Mr G Preston, Mrs P Blackmore & Miss P Valentine

Also in attendance: Cllr R Giles (DCC), Cllr G Brown (EDDC), Cllr Clare Wright (EDDC and Ottery Town Council member), 68 members of the public and J Masters (FPC Clerk).

Due to the number of people who turned up at the meeting it was agreed to transfer the meeting into the larger village hall.

33. Questions from the public: -
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked if anyone had a question other than the proposed development in Ottery Road.
A number of questions were asked: - Mr D Brain from the Foot Path P3 Group asked if it was possible to obtain some Dog Fouling warning notices for the Parish Footpaths.
Broad Hill Gully needs cleaning as it is blocked after the heavy rains.
Why is there a lack of visible Policing in Feniton?
Cars Parked on the Pavement, many said to be un-taxed.
The Clerk was instructed to look into these and report back.
The Chairman made a statement on the 2007 Parish Plan which talks about future planning in Feniton, 75% of the residents in Feniton do not wish to see any further large scale development in Feniton. Planning policies are now changing and without and clear direction it is hard to predict, the field along Ottery Road where the proposed development will take place is outside the Feniton development area, approximately one third of the site is in Ottery Town Council Rural area.
Any further development within Feniton will make the flooding and sewerage problems even worse, it would also cause problems further down stream to the River Otter. The local primary school is already over subscribed and could not cope with an extra influx of children.
The Parish Council does not and will not support this application.
Cllr Clare Wright (EDDC and Ottery Town Council) said she had come along to the meeting as an observer but was unable to make a comment as it would prejudice her position on the EDDC committee. Cllr Brown (EDDC) spoke about current changes and Localism and planning. Cllr Giles (DCC) spoke as a County Councillor and said that he has good news on the school. At the moment the County Council was going to spend a total of £80k sending the 6 children who could not get into Feniton School taxiing them to Awliscombe School, last week the CC agreed to give Feniton enough money to employ a part time teacher so these children could attend Feniton School. Mr Lanning the Chair of Governors at the school said the funding would help them put mixed age classes to overcome the problem.
The Clerk was instructed to write to Neil Parish MP to gain his support.
Having allowed the 15 minute Public Questions go on for 1 hour the Chairman closed this part of the meeting, at this point most of the public left the meeting.

34. Apologies for absence: - PCSO Maria Clapp

35. To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 13th May 2011
The minutes were agreed and the Chairman initialled each page and singed the last page.

36. Declarations of Interest from Members and Officers: -
None were declared.

37. Selection of two people to fill the two Temporary Vacancies
The Clerk told the meeting that three people had applied for the two Temporary Vacancies, Mr M Jolly, Mr G Broom & Mr N Spence. A secret ballot took place; Mr Broom and Mr Spence were co-opted onto the Parish Council. Mr Broom & Mr Spence signed their declaration papers and joined the meeting.

38. Police Officer’s Report: - The following Police Report was read out by the Chairman:-
There has not been another crime for the second month running. We are getting reports re the Coventry Close playing field re youths/noise. We are patrolling in this area where ever possible. We also received a report of a male dumping garden waste over onto the railway line.

39. County and District Councillors’ Reports: - Cllr Roger Giles (DCC) as already reported DCC have come up with the money to enable the 6 Feniton children to attend the local school instead of being taxied to Awliscombe School.

FENITON STATION The December 2009 railway timetable changes resulted in an improved rail service to London Waterloo from Honiton and Axminster stations, following the provision of a 3-mile passing loop at Axminster. Unfortunately there was a reduction in services from Pinhoe, Whimple and Feniton stations, and inconvenience was caused to Feniton people travelling to Exeter. I raised this with DCC at the time.
DCC subsequently commissioned a passenger survey carried out by Power Marketing to understand the impact of those changes. The results of the survey work are expected to be reported to DCC and South West Trains in the next few weeks. I hope to share the information with Feniton Parish Council when it is available. Meanwhile I continue to press for the early provision of the 3-mile passing loop between Broadclyst and Whimple which would allow a half hourly service to Exeter.

Cllr Graham Brown (EDDC) said that he had already spoken earlier and had nothing more to say.

40. Finance: – Cllr Spence declared that Devotec Ltd was one his tenants.

The following June payments were authorised: -

41. Correspondence: -

42. Planning Applications:-

43. To approve the 2010-2011 Accounts: -
The Clerk explained that the bank statements had only arrived on Friday and there has not been enough time to balance the books. This item was deferred to Monday 27th June.

44. Allocation of Councillors responsibilities: -
This was deferred to the next full Parish Council meeting.

45. Charter of Fraternity with Bertea Romania: -
The Clerk was instructed to write to Bertea thanking them for their letter.

46. Agenda’s to be sent to Councillors by Email: -
The following additional Councillors agreed to receive the Parish Council Agenda’s by Email: - Cllr’s M Smith, G Broom & N Spence.

47. Replacement Play Equipment for Ely Close:-
It was agreed that the children from Feniton Primary School should vote on which pieces of new play equipment should go into Ely Close play area. A decision will be taken at the next Full Parish Council meeting.

48. Village Handyman’s Report: -
I have already reported to the Clerk that the base plate of the Spring Horse at the QEII had cracked. The Clerk told the meeting that this was now repaired.

49. Clerks Report: -
The staff PAYE forms for 2010-2011 have been completed on-line and acknowledgement of receipt has been received.
Village Car Park Light, I have distributed the correspondence I have recently had with DCC over this matter, Cllr Giles asked if the Parish Council would make a contribution to the repairs, It was agreed to do so, Cllr Giles said he would talk to the Highways Department to try and get this sorted.

50. Individual member responsibilities:-
Cllr Valentine said that along with problems of cars being parked on the pavement hedges were also overgrowing the pavement making them even narrower.
Cllr Broom is concerned over the state of a couple of trees in Salisbury Avenue as several branches have fallen over the road with one landing on the pavement, hedge and garden opposite the tree. The Clerk was instructed to let Cllr Giles have the full information and he would take it up with DCC Highways.
Cllr Spence was concerned about the amount of grass growing out of the pavement in the Ely Close area.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.30hrs

51. Date for Finance meeting of the Parish Council: - Monday 27th June 2011

52. Date of next full Parish council meeting: - 7.30pm Monday 11th July 2011

Last Updated 10th May 2012