FENITON PARISH COUNCIL Annual General Meeting

Minutes held on Monday 16th May 2011

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

Also in attendance: Cllr G Brown (EDDC), Mr P Chapman from South West Water, Ray from May-Gurney, 6 members of the public and J Masters (FPC Clerk).

13. Election of a Chairman
Cllr Blackmore proposed Cllr Smith, Cllr Preston seconded the proposal, all agreed and Cllr Martyn Smith was elected Chairman in his absence.

14. Election of a Vice Chairman
Cllr Blackmore proposed Cllr Privett, Cllr Preston seconded the proposal, all agreed and Cllr
Cllr Pete Privett was elected Vice Chairman.

15. Questions from the public: -
Mr Broom said that he had come to the meeting to represent several local people who had problems resulting in excess water pressure during maintenance work by South West Water’s contractors May Gurney.

Mr Chapman from SWW was present and explained that he knew of 7 people who had experienced problems and thought they had all been dealt with, it was pointed out that not everything was yet sorted, Mr Chapman made notes and said he would personally sort it.
Mr Simic told the meeting that he had come along to make the Parish Council aware of the recent problems that local parents are having getting their children in the local school.

Cllr Brown (EDDC) said that he was doing everything he could to help the parents, Cllr Giles (DCC) had something to say in his report.
The Vice Chairman said that he would read out Cllr Giles report later in the meeting.

16. Apologies for absence: - Cllr Roger Giles (DCC), Cllr Martyn Smith and PCSO Maria Clapp

17. To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 4th April 2011
The minutes were agreed and the Vice Chairman initialled each page and singed the last page.

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

19. Police Officer’s Report: -
The following Police Report was read out by the Vice Chairman:-
There are no crimes recorded for the month of April for Feniton.
The Primary School now has a bay for the bus to pull in which is also easing the pressure at either end of the day.

20. South West Water: - Mr Pete Chapman from SWW and Ray from May-Gurney
Mr Chapman explained that SWW water was in the process of carrying out a large scale replacement of water pipes in East Devon, unfortunately they had a few problems along the way but hopefully they will be sorted to everyone’s satisfaction.
Mr Chapman answered some more queries and again assured everyone that he will get things sorted out.
Cllr Brown (EDDC) said it was good to see that SWW acknowledged there was a problem and are trying to sort it all out.

21. County and District Councillors’ Reports: - Cllr Roger Giles (DCC) submitted the following written report,

FENITON SCHOOL

Members of the Parish Council will be aware that some pupils due to start school in September have not been offered places at Feniton School because this would result in the official Planned Admission Number of 30 for the school being exceeded. DCC made arrangements for the affected pupils to be accommodated at other schools including Awliscombe. Understandably the parents of the children were very upset at the prospect of their children being transported to other schools. I completely understand their anger about what would be a very damaging decision. Apart from the impact on the families concerned, it would have a very adverse impact on community cohesion in Feniton, and also in Buckerell and Gittisham which are also in the Feniton (and Kings School) catchment.

I have been doing everything I can to try to get the children accommodated in Feniton School – something which the school would wish to see. In response to my question DCC advised me that the cost of providing taxis to take the children to Awliscombe and other schools for a year would probably be between £300 and £400 a week; times 40 weeks = £12,000 to £16,000. DCC has estimated the cost of this transport for the whole time it might be needed as £80,000! I believe that this would be more than the cost of educating the children at Feniton School!

The situation appears a little more encouraging than it did three weeks ago as the school is to make a case to the Financial Intervention Panel, and hopefully the FIP Panel will recognize the damaging outcome of the proposal and agree to make the necessary financial and other arrangements for the children to be accommodated at Feniton School. However it is necessary to continue to oppose this decision in the meantime.

I informed Gittisham Parish Council about the DCC decision at their meeting on 12 May. They were very concerned, and agreed to write expressing their concern. I hope that Feniton Parish Council will do likewise.

Cllr Graham Brown (EDDC) said that he would like to thank the people of Feniton for returning him for a second term of office at EDDC; he went on to say that he will continue to serve the best interests of everyone in Feniton at district council level. Cllr Brown told the meeting that as a result of the election he now has a new portfolio but will continue to look after Feniton’s environment interests i.e. the flood prevention work.

22. Finance: – The following payments were authorised, it was agreed that the Vice Chairman and the Clerk should sign the cheques being the only two present authorised to sign the cheque’s: -

23. Correspondence: -

24. Planning Applications:-

25. Charter of Fraternity with Bertea Romania: -
This item was deferred until the next meeting.

26. Public Sector Mapping Agreement:-
The Clerk explained to the meeting that he had attended a presentation on this subject in March. The Government had agreed that local councils should have access to free maps with in their parish, this is being facilitated by a company called Landmark, whilst the Maps are free, Landmark will charge a fee (still to be agreed) of around £50.00 per year.
It was agreed that for the little use the Parish Council would make of this service it would not be cost effective.

27. Agenda’s to be sent to Councillors by Email: -
The following Councillors agreed to receive the Parish Council Agenda’s by Email:- Privett, Preston and Valentine.

28. Replacement Play Equipment for Ely Close:-
It was agreed to defer this to the next meeting when it is hoped to have all councillors present.

29. Village Handyman’s Report: -
The handyman reported his various activities for last month, he advises the council that they may like to look at replacing some of the benches in the village as many have been repaired several times and are getting to the end of their life. The fence/gate post is broken at Ely Play area. The Clerk was instructed to contact Atlas Fencing for an estimate.

30. Clerks Report: -
On the 14th April I attended a presentation by HMR&C on PAYE.
I’ve written to the Bank asking for forms to set up replacement signators.
Allotments, Mrs Ruth Carroll wrote to me and said they could not cope with their Allotment, plot No 17b, I have re-let the Plot to Mr Jon Madge, as the years rent had been paid I collected a Cheque for £3.00 to cover the SWCAA Insurance.
South West Counties Allotment Association has put up the £5M Public Liability Insurance from £2.00 to £3.00 per year.

31. Allocation of individual member responsibilities:-
It was agreed to defer this to the next meeting when it is hoped to have all councillors present.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.00hrs

32. Date of next full Parish council meeting: - Monday 13th June 2011

Last Updated 10th May 2012