FENITON PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
21 MAY 2007 TO DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VILLAGE PLAN

Present: Cllr M Smyth (Chairman)
Cllrs Mrs B Powell, P Privett, M Jolly
Ms Claire Buffin (DCC)

Apologies: Cllr G Preston, Cllr R Giles

19. Apologies

Apologies were accepted and approved.

20. Introduction of Ms Sarah Buffin

Ms Sarah Buffin was welcomed to the meeting by the Chairman. She introduced herself as the DCC officer responsible for assisting councils in the east of the county to progress their village plans and it was her intention to lead the meeting through the list of Action Points (attached) identifying where appropriate how the Council might begin the process of achieving success. She was particularly well experienced in this area, having worked for DCC for some thirty years.

21. To Discuss and to Formulate a Detailed Plan for the Achievement of the Village Plan Action Points

The meeting then began to work through the 18 points on the Action Plan list;

1. Investigate the possibility of acquiring the Playing Fields. Ms Buffin was briefed on the situation regarding the impending sale of part of the Playing Fields. She advised the Council make DCC Estates (Chris Cooper) aware of the situation in respect of the potentially adverse effect upon the school were development to take place on the site of the current Sports and Social Club. She also advised the three partners (Parish Council, Sports Club and School) forming a joint committee to progress the purchase of the land.

2. Invite EDDC to adopt the Plan. The Clerk briefed that EDDC were well down the track on adopting the Plan but would wish to see some evidence of implementation procedure.

3. Look at Ways to Reduce Dog Fouling. Ms Buffin advised the Council to make the Honiton Community Safety Partnership (Bob Buxton) aware of the problem and strength of feeling of residents. Ms Buffin advised that the solution lay in education of dog owners, and that sometimes it was necessary to “name and shame”.

4. Improve and Appearance and Facilities of the station. Ms Buffin advised the Council to quickly formulate their plan for the improvement of the station and to present this to the Ottery St Mary Hub Group on 10 July 2007. Terry Snow of DCC was also a member of the Rail Users Group and was worth contacting.

5. Seek Adoption of the Sewers. Ms Buffin advised that a similar problem in Cullompton had been resolved and that it was worth contacting John Winson Associates (john@winson.eclipse.co.uk).

6. Address Flooding Issues. The Clerk briefed that EDDC had commissioned consultants to investigate solutions to the surface water flooding problems and that the results are expected this year. Ms Buffin advised deletion of DCC from the Lead column in the Action Plan.

7. Solve Fly Infestation Problem. The Clerk again briefed that EDDC had done a great deal of work over the winter on this problem and that monitoring systems were now in place. It had transpired that there were up to five possible sources of the infestation in the Feniton area, and also many throughout the District.

8. Review of Sports Facilities. This was a matter of undertaking a review and making the results known to parishioners through the website and village magazine.

9. Seek Improved Publicity to Parishioners on Local Facilities. Ms Buffin advised that this was a similar problem to that above and similar action should be taken.

10. Seek Introduction of Evening Classes in Computer Skills. Ms Buffin advised that it was the policy of DCC to allow the use of local school facilities in the evening subject to the agreement of Governors. She also advised it may be worth wile to speak to East Devon College.

11. Raise awareness to all age groups of clubs and activities available. Ms Buffin advised to contact Peter Jeffs at EDDC as she believed EDDC had a website designed to inform the youth sector of what was available locally.

12. Encourage the Development of the Youth Centre. Ms Buffin advised the Council contact Danielle Howlett, the local Youth Leader, who was based at Station House, Ottery St Mary.

13. Consider provision of Skateboarding Facilities. Ms Buffin advised that she was involved in the provision of a skateboarding facility in Ottery St Mary. She advised that one possible way to meet this demand was to form a club of the interested youngsters with the aim of taking them to use local skateboarding facilities. She agreed it was neither practical nor feasible for the village to have its own.

14. Review Parking Arrangements in the New Village. Ms Buffin advised that in the first instance it might be worth inviting Meg Booth (DDC) to walk the area to identify the problem and what might be done.

15. Review Danger Points on Main Access Roads and Consider Traffic Calming Measures. The Council should identify these danger points and raise them with Meg Booth. Ms Buffin agreed it was necessary for the school to produce a Traffic/Transport Plan if the perceived dangers in Station Road were to be dealt with. She agreed to contact DCC to see what stage the school is at in the production of a plan.

16. Make Representations re Frequency of trains, station facilities and timing of level crossing barrier. It was agreed that it was not desirable to press for a reduced barrier closed time.

17. Ensure Parish magazine has Widest Circulation. It may be useful to investigate how the village magazine might be visually improved to attract additional sales.

18. Promote Parish Council Website. The Council has a good website but it requires constant review and expansion for it to meet the needs of users.

19. Social Housing. Ms Buffin advised that Sue Southwell at the Community Council of Devon was the contact if the Council was mindful to seek the provision of social housing.

Date of Next Meeting. This was provisionally set for Monday 18th June 2007 at 7.30pm.

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

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

Last Updated 8th October 2008