Whitestone Parish Council
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 9th May 2024 to be ratified on 13th June 2024
Attendance: Councillors T Baird, M Belt, A Evans, L Fairley, M Frankum, C Galton, C Lang, P Stott
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council.
District Councillor John Parrott
Ms M Baxendale Nichols
Mr R Fielding – left the meeting at 8.50pm
Mrs T Miles – left the meeting at 8.50pm Apologies:- District Councillor Kevin Lake
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Fielding explained the current situation regarding the Lower Hare site which is currently still under consideration and Mrs Miles also added some further information.
- ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Cllr Linda Fairley retiring Chair, declared the Annual General Meeting open and called for nominations for Chair for the coming year.
32.1 Election of Chair
Cllr Fairley was proposed and seconded . All in favour.
Cllr Fairley was thereby elected and signed her declaration of office as Chair and called for nominations for Vice Chair
32.2 Election of Vice Chair
Cllr Tracey Baird was proposed and seconded. All in favour. Cllr Baird was thereby elected and signed her declaration of acceptance of office of the role of Vice Chair..
The Chair then proceeded to the business of the Parish Council Meeting
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
- Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 11th April and the Annual Parish Meeting held on 25th April 2024 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chair.
Co-option of a new Councillor
- An application having been received from Ms Michelle Baxendale Nichols to become a member of the Council she subsequently signed the necessary declaration of acceptance of office and then joined the meeting.
- Election of officers for 2024/25 took place as follows:-
35.1 Asset Group
Councillors Belt, Baird and Galton proposed and seconded. All in favour
35.2 Footpath Warden
Councillor Frankum was proposed and seconded. All in favour.
35.3 Church House Foundation Member
Councillors Galton/Belt were proposed and seconded. All in favour
35.4 Crossway Park Officer
Councillor Fairley was proposed and seconded. All in favour.
35.5 Parish Hall Committee
Proposed and seconded that Councillors Belt, Baird, Evans and Lang be elected en bloc.
All in favour.
35.6 Parish Hall Liaison Member
Councillor Belt was proposed and seconded. All in favour.
35.7 Liaison with Parish Lengthsman
Councillor Belt was proposed and seconded. All in favour
35.8 Responsible Financial Officer
Mrs P Vaughan proposed and seconded. All in favour.
35.9 Internal Independent Auditor
Mr R Cox. All in favour.
- REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR / DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
36.1 County Councillor Connett commented on the Lower Hare Farm application which is still ongoing.
36.2 District Councillor Parrott also had some input into the Lower Hare Farm application.
36.3 District Councillor Lake had sent apologies for non attendance at this meeting but had sent a report on various issues he had investigated throughout the parish which had been distributed to Councillors.
37 PLANNING – TEIGNBRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL
These applications can be viewed on line by going into the public access system at Teignbridge Planning following the directions giving the application reference. The following applications having been received from Teignbridge District Council with a request for comments were examined and responses were sent which can be viewed on Teignbridge District Council Planning site:-
37.1 24/00558/FUL; 24/00559/FUL; 24/0055860/FUL; 24/00561/FUL; 24/00562/FUL; 24/00563/FUL Construction of silage pit with roof over at Upper Kingswell Farm, Longdown.
This application for the construction of silage pit with roof over is the first of six applications from the same applicant who is seeking permission for the construction of six silage pits with roof over at the above-named farm. Applications 24/00558/FUL, 24/00559/FUL, 24/00560/FUL, 24/00561/FUL, 24/00562/FUL and 24/00563/FUL need to be considered together and not as separate unrelated applications. These silage pits are to replace those approved in planning applications 23/02274/FUL, 23/02275/FUL, 23/02276/FUL, 23/02278/FUL and 23/02277/FUL.
This particular application 24/00558/FUL refers to silage clamp A on the Location and Block Plan document provided. The walls are to be constructed using steel uprights leaving open elevations in all but the east elevation which will have concrete panel infill between the steels and green box profile sheets above with every 4th sheet of clear polycarbonate to allow for daylight. The roofing is to be natural grey fibre cement corrugated roof sheets. This silage clamp A is identical to silage clamps B (24/00559/FUL), C (24/00560/FUL), D (24/00561/FUL), E (24/00562/FUL) and F (24/00563/FUL) as shown on the proposed Floor Plan and Elevations document provided. A potential improvement on the application would be to consider different more eco-friendly building material alternatives such as Glulam or Cross Laminated Timber, and Hempcrete as examples of low impact materials.
One question raised by Whitestone Parish Council concerns the six silage pits all having their own separate roof and whether this is necessary. Could some silage pits have a shared roof? We are seeking Teignbridge District Council’s expertise here.
Whitestone Parish Council support this application in principle and agree that this design of this silage clamp will reduce wastage of old silage and reduce the frequency of change of silage for the cattle fed here which in turn improves milk production efficiency. The roofing is required to reduce water pollution/contamination by reducing rainfall seeping through and carrying contaminants from the silage. It is also encouraged by DEFRA and is aimed to make the establishment compliant with the Farming Rules for Water and the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution {England} Regulations 2018.
If permission is granted by Teignbridge District Council, we would like to see the following conditions applied:
- Strict restrictions on external and internal lighting to protect the biodiversity of the
surrounding area and to keep light pollution/spillage to a minimum in an area of dark skies.
- Upper Kingswell Farm is situated on the ridge where the farm buildings are very visible to many properties in Whitestone. This is an AGLV and open countryside so consideration in minimising the visual impact would be greatly appreciated when considering the roofs on the silage pits. Using neutral colours may help to minimise visual impact.
- Not to change the use of these silage pits once roofed and if and when they are no longer required for silage to be considered as temporary and removed.
- To incorporate bird and bat boxes into the build.
37.2 24/00547/FUL Erection of one polytunnel and one greenhouse and change of use to horticulture at Southlands, Nadderwater.
Whitestone Parish Council have discussed and considered this planning application
for the erection of a polytunnel and greenhouse and change of use to horticulture.
This site is within the planning unit of a residential dwellinghouse, at some distance
from the main building. In principle, WPC approves of land being used for horticultural purposes, especially growing vegetables in an effort to drive down food miles. However very little information is supplied with the application concerning the business aims of this
proposed horticultural enterprise and so it is difficult to give an informed response.
Southlands is situated at the top of a hill above Nadder Brook. A concern WPC has is how surface water run-off will be discharged. South West Water has requested the
applicant to demonstrate the drainage proposals, as the application does not clarify this. Although the applicant has responded that disposal would involve water re-use, such as water butts, there is no evidence of this in the plans.
Nadder Brook collects water from several sources before it reaches the area below
Southlands. Drainage that would minimise the run-off down the hill would be welcomed.
The location plans show a screening of trees and bushes which should serve to conceal the polytunnel and greenhouse. WPC would like to see an assurance that any lighting is kept to a minimum and at a low level.
Although there appears to be no suggestion that sale of produce would happen on site, WPC is concerned that there may be an increase in traffic to and from the site, whose entrance lies on a section of the highway that has national speed limit, and which has limited visibility.
Whitestone Parish Council supports this application in principle, although more
information about the nature of the business enterprise would be welcome. If permission is granted by Teignbridge District Council, we would like to see the following conditions applied:
- Strict restrictions on external lighting to protect the biodiversity of the surrounding area and to keep light pollution/spillage to a minimum in an area of dark skies.
- Southlands lies in an AGLV and open countryside so consideration in minimising the visual impact would be highly desirable.
- A clear plan for surface water disposal to be supplied including methods for water capture.
- An assurance that there will be limited increase in traffic
37.3 24/00503/FUL Installation of four glamping pods for overnight guest use, associated decking, footpaths, parking & turning area, storage hut, secure bicycle storage and recyling/refuse storage and associated works at Oak Tree Farm
Whitestone Parish Council has considered this application which it would broadly like to
support. The application is well-presented in terms of Teignbridge local plan, and the need for sustainable transport (Policy S9), and sustainability in general. However, there are some considerations which WPC would like addressed.
The situation and scale of the site is well considered and minimises visual impact and impact on the neighbouring properties. Four pods are within the scope of what WPC would deem to be a maximum, so would like a limit to be placed on this. This would represent an acceptable diversification on a working family farm.
WPC supports the use of local companies, the off-site construction of the pods, and the
attempts to maintain or increase biodiversity. Mention is made of low-level lighting, which we would like to see adhered to. Screening from neighbouring properties is important, as well as ensuring minimising noise impact. The plans indicate hedging will be put around the top but don’t mention a formal boundary around the East side (bottom of the hill) as the field wraps around two neighbouring properties. WPC would like to see a physical boundary around the glamping site. The access track is a concern as it is narrow and requires constant maintenance. As this would effectively double the capacity of the current housing who use this track, a solution would be to request two passing places along here. WPC notes that the drainage of the proposed site’s waste treatment is on the border of a neighbouring property’s garden and therefore consideration should be given to the impact of drainage water on the property. A great deal of research has gone into looking at how this enterprise would benefit the local economy. It needs to be pointed out that ‘local’ in this sense means Exeter and Devon. Whitestone itself has no businesses to benefit from this. A concern for residents is always the impact on traffic resulting from new developments. Despite claims for sustainable transport, in reality the bus service is extremely limited, particularly on weekends, and is more than a ten-minute walk away. No hiking paths or country parks are accessible without transport, and the hilly nature of the countryside makes cycling hard work, even with electric bikes. Car use is unavoidable to access local amenities
Grant of Conditional Planning Permission
37.4 24/00171/FUL Proposed dwelling at Apple Orchard Barn, Styles Barton
37.5 24/01306/HOU Replacement of existing walls with concrete block walls. Front extensions and conversion of garage into living accommodation, including raising of roof at north and south ends for use as living accommodation, addition of dormer and two balconies, and associated alterations at Acorns.
37.5 23/01871/FUL A building for the storage of machinery and feed in associate with equine use (retrospective) at Glebe Farm
Certificate of Lawful Use or Development
37.6 23/01873/HOU Certificate of Lawfulness for proposed siting of a mobile home as a residential annexe at Southlands, Nadderwater
Refusal of Planning Permission
37.7 Two storey side extension, single storey front extension and single storey rear extension at Amonija, Nadderwater
- MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
38.1 Completion of Internal Audit
The Annual Audit Accounting statements were presented to the meeting for authorisation and it was resolved by the Council that they were approved and they were signed by Cllr Fairley as Chair and the Clerk in her role as Responsible Financial Officer. All necessary documents and paperwork will now be examined for an internal audit which will be completed by Mr R Cox. The Clerk was thanked for her work on the preparation of the detailed accounts.
38.2 Crossways Park
Cllr Fairley brought up the subject of the entrances to the Crossway Park area being altered to enhance the accessibility.
38.3 School Houses
It was noted that the occupants of No 1 need to be more careful when putting out their bins for collection and No 2 needs to clear weeds from the front of the property. Cllr Belt will be in touch with both households.
38.4 CCTV for carpark and play area
This item is still under consideration
38.5 Bus Stop area
It was reported that this area was still in need of improvement regarding a tarmac pathway being installed before the installation of the memorial.
38.6 STAWL updates
Cllr Fairley thanked Mr Fielding and Mrs Miles for all their input into the judicial agreement and the Council now await the outcome. Mr Fielding gave further explanations regarding the issues raised at the commencement of the meeting and he and Mrs Miles left the meeting at 8.50pm.
38.7 Vehicle Activated Speed Signs
Cllr Evans reported that all the signs are now working and he noted that one sign had registered a speed of 80mph.
38.8 Councillor Training
Following correspondence from the Training Officer at DALC the date of Monday 20th May was fixed for Councillors to attend at the Parish Hall at 7.30pm for the training and eight Councillors were identified for attendance and the Billiard Room was booked for the purpose.
39 FINANCE
39.1 Bank balances at Nat West Bank as at 31st March 2024
|
Current Account |
£200.00 |
|
Business Reserve Account 1 |
£27,060.65 |
|
Business Reserve Account 2 |
£3,478.51 |
|
£30,739.16 |
39.2 Authorisation of Grant to Parochial Church Council for inclusion of minutes in the Church Magazine £200.00
Income
39.3 Teignbridge District Council Half Year Precept £3,050.00
39.4 2 School Houses rental to 1st March £1,000.00 - £150.00 (which includes £20.00 VAT) = £850.00.
39.4 1 School Houses rental to 2nd June £950.00 - £114.00 (includes £19.00 VAT) = £836.00
Expenditure
39.5 Arthur Gallagher (Parish Council Insurance) £2,165.81
39.6 Mr L Blades £569 (Lengthsman £249.30 Grass cutting £320.00)
39.7 Flowers for presentation to Cllr Belt for 30 years service as a Parish Councillor £15.00
REPORTS
A number of Councillors brought matters to the attention of the meeting.
The meeting concluded at 9.20pm