Buckland Brewer parish

Parish Council Meeting Buckland Brewer Primary School, Wednesday 11 April

All Parish Council members present, PCSO John McGovern and 11 members of the public.

Correspondence: Amongst the correspondence was a letter from Torridge District Council regarding notification of update to the strategic housing market assessment; An invitation from Campaign to Protect Rural England (Devon) to attend a meeting on 17 May, being organised for Parish Councillors re understanding wind power and how to respond to wind turbine applications in your parish; Confirmation that Alison Boyle (County Councillor) is looking at the dropped kerb request and notification that Mr M Harding is given up his allotment (In line with PC policy this vacancy will now be advertised).

Public Speakers: Mr. JG Schofield spoke against the Wind Turbine at Sunderleigh; Mr. WG Heywood spoke against. Mrs. W West informed the Parish Council on possible charges re annual ground rents for communication masts.

Emergency Planning Snow Clearance: The chairman confirmed he had be in touch with Alison Boyle re the outstanding grant of £500.

Parish Plan Review: It was reported the distribution of the review is well underway.

Wind Turbine Thornehillhead Moor: Members have now received a copy of the presentation made at the last meeting. Concerns were expressed by Andrew Hewitt about the special nature of the site. It was agreed as part of the ongoing debate and information gathering to have a public meeting devoted to the proposals within the next four to six weeks.

Communication Mast Thornehillhead: It was now established that Communications masts on average generate some £4682.00 per annum, in rural areas this figure is reduced to between £2,000 and £2,500. It was agreed a letter be sent to Arqiva the masts owners in order to seek a payment re annual ground rent.

Village Hall: David Lloyd reported that they are currently waiting for a new planning application to be submitted. It was also reported the cooker had been repaired.

372 Bus Service: The chairman reported that discussions with the other four parishes is ongoing and that other options were also being looked at including the use of Torridge Community Transport and Taxi services. He also thanked Patrick Finan and Wendy Farr for the donation of benches for the bus shelter.

Diamond Jubilee: Barbara Babb reported that the final fund raising event would be held on Saturday 14th April and further information regarding funds raised would be provided at the next meeting.

Report of the Budget Review Sub –Committee held on 28th March: The Chairman referred to the minutes that had been circulated. It was agreed to write to Hicks & Co the agents for the work being carried out on Thornehillhead Moor to ask for their cooperation in speeding up the payment process re contractors. The lengthy payment process was not help by the fact that VAT payments were resourced from the Parish Council Accounts. Therefore when on receipt of invoices by the Parish Council time would have to be built into the process to allow the Parish Council to claim the VAT.

Parish Community Grants: The Parish Council agreed the following grants: Buckland Brewer Village Hall( maintenance) £200; Buckland Brewer Playing Field Association (upkeep and maintenance) £200.00; Flying Start Federation- Buckland Brewer and Parkham schools-( Federation Band project) £200; Friends of Buckland Brewer School (children’s Cookery Club) £200; Buckland Brewer Methodist Church ( Youth workers and drop in) £200; Buckland Brewer Community Shop project £200; Proms in the Playing Field- Village Hall and Playing Field Association (Sponsorship)£50.

Back Lane: Andrew Hewitt reported that he hoped to present projected costs to repair the lane at the next meeting.

Parish Clerk Remuneration/ Job Description: The meeting agreed to form a sub-committee to review the Parish Clerk’s terms and conditions. It agreed that the Chairman, Trevor Mills, Andrew Hewitt and Kate Slocombe be members of the sub-committee.

Members Reports: Members reported on a number of issues including returning to an 8pm start time during the summer months; It was reported the road had been tidied up on Orleigh Hill and also the road to Catsborough Cross; It was felt the Council should familiarise itself with the Localism Act before wind turbines are discussed. The chair said he would look into this; It was also reported that plans would be submitted for the Chapel/shop re change of use.

Planning: Plans were supported by the Parish council for the erection of a rear extension at East View, New Cottages, Bulkworthy Moor. With reference to the single Wind Turbine on land North of Sunderleigh the Parish Council reaffirmed its position agreed on August 12th last year not to support the application.

Accounts: The Clerk reported that the bank balance stood at £4001.62 in the PC account and £392.16 in the Thornehillhead project account.

The next meeting will take place at the school on Wednesday 9 May starting at 8.00pm

Minutes of the Budget Review Sub Committee of Buckland Brewer Parish Council held on Wednesday, 28 March 2012 at 8.00pm at Buckland Brewer Village Hall

Members Present: Mr Jim Lowe (Chair), Mr David Lloyd, Mrs Shirley Tilley, Mr Trevor Mills, and 3 members of the public.

Apologies for Absence: None

The Chairman explained that firstly the Thornhillhead Account was becoming quite difficult due to delays in funds being transferred to us from RPA and then payments from the Parish Council being sent to Suppliers, and also the fact that the Parish Council has to pay the VAT to the suppliers, whilst waiting for it to be claimed back and placed back into the account.

The Chairman has spoken with Barclays to try and arrange an overdraft facility on the account of which he will pursue.

Mr Trevor Mills suggested that we claim back the VAT first before paying the suppliers the VAT element of an invoice.

It was also suggested that we could pay contractors less the VAT and then pay it to them once we have recovered it.

Income:

At the end of March 2013, the forecasted balance will be £7422.57.

Expenditure:

At the end of March 2013, the forecasted general expenditure is £2128.40.

It was agreed that the following items be placed in the budget as additional expenditure:

• 372 Bus: £150.00
• Back Lane: £500.00
• Salt Spreader: £1000.00

With reference to Salt spreading, the Sub Committee recommended that the £1,000 required for next winter be raised through the annual precept.

The Total Expenditure up to March 2013 is budgeted at £3778.40.

Available Funds:

This leaves £3644.17 of available funds.

Grants:

It was felt by the Sub Committee that a maximum of £1500.00 would be allocated.

Allotments:

The sub committee felt that the allotment rent should be reviewed by the Parish Council and would suggest an annual rent of £10.00 per plot in 2013.

Monthly Report:

It was agreed that a full report be given to the Parish Council at each meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.50pm.

Chairman: Date: