Whitestone Parish Council
PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES - 11TH JULY 2024
Attendance: Chair – Cllr L Fairley
Councillors T Baird, M Belt, A Evans, M Frankum, C Lang, P Stott, M Baxendale-Nichols
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council.
District Councillor Kevin Lake
District Councillor Parrott
Apologies:- Councillor C Galton
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
48. Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 13th June 2024 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chair.
STAWL updates
1. Mr Guy Fielding reported that the Judicial Review that is being sought by the Parish Council regarding the Devon County Council’s approval of the S73 variation of the LHF planning approval (DCC/4293/2022) has been served (i.e. the lawyers have lodged the Statement of Case with the Court) and Devon County Council will have been informed of that and they should respond to this shortly.
2. Devon County Council’s Access to information unit, who handle FOl requests have informed us that they are working on the following FOl:-
I would like to make a FOI request for any information within DCC relating to the decision by DCC to issue a S27 Letter of Approval of Planning Application DCC/4101/2018. This should include any records of discussions, correspondence or communication in written (including emails) or oral form relating to the above Approval. In particular, any communications between representatives of GRS and/or Stewart Gibbons and DCC Planners, Legal Team, advisers and any other DCC staff involved, including any more senior managers relating to discussions concerning the decision to issue the S27 Letter of Approval which has now been found to be unlawful. I would like you to search for any such
information between the 1.11.2023 and 28.05.2024.
At the moment we are trying to find out when they expect to be able to provide this information.
3. There is no further information about the Public Consultation that will be run by the Environment Agency regarding th application by GRS for the Environmental Permit that they require GRS to run LHF as a waste tip. However we should expect this to be announced at any moment.
An immediate task which needs to be addressed by Whitestone Parish Council is to tell as many people as possible about this Consultation and to encourage them to contact the EA to ask to be added to th EA’s list of “concerned people” who the EA will then keep informed of the progress of the Consultation, e.g. when it is launched and how to submit comments/objections to the EA when it is up and running. When it is launched we will only have 30 days in which to respond.
50. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
50.1 District Councillor Lake said that he had reported potholes within the Parish and also comments regarding Halsfordwood Lane.
50.2 District Councillor Parrott informed the meeting that he had nothing specific to report.
51.PLANNING
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.
51.1 24/00938/VAR Variation of condition 2 on planning permission 21/01972/HOU (Single and two storey
extension with glazed link) to allow an external insulation to be applied and new cladding at Hackworthy Farm, Hackworthy Lane.
Whitestone Parish Council have considered this application for the addition of external insulation and new cladding to Hackworthy Farm - 24/00938/VAR. The main effect of this potential addition is to presumably improve the insulation for the old farmhouse, which is being converted and extended as per application 21/01972/HOU, which was granted in September 2021. Consider usage of wood fibre as insulation as it is efficient and ecologically more sound. The additional cladding will also significantly change the appearance of the farmhouse. The red brick of the original structure will be covered and it will now match the modern extension made up of wood and stone cladding. As a complete unit therefore it will be more balanced but it will hide the original, traditional, farm house appearance. The new appearance will also be more in tune with the two barn conversions which are to be developed on the site (Application 21/02059/FUL September 2021).
Whitestone Parish Council support this application
51.2 24/01096/HOU Construction of garage at Hill Farm Barn, Hill Lane
Whitestone Parish Council have discussed and considered this planning application 24/01096/HOU for the construction of a new garage at Hill Farm Barn. This will be a new building in the plot, situated in the area where cars are parked at present, opposite Hill Farm Barn adjacent to the entrance off Hill Lane. The elevations/plans suggest parking for three vehicles, two in a covered area with an open front and a third in a fully enclosed part of the garage on the north aspect of the building with double doors at the front. It is therefore quite a large addition to the plot but there is comfortably sufficient room for it. The materials to be used are similar to those of the Hill Farm Barn itself as is the pitch of the roof. The proposed garage will be visible from the lane but it is partly obscured behind a large hedge and is not on any skyline. It is probably visible from the neighbours, Hill Farm. Moving the oil tank to help accommodate the new garage works well but care must be taken to check safety regulations relating to domestic oil tank storage as related to proximity to buildings. As there is no mention of lighting or utilities to the garage we presume there is no lighting to be introduced. If, however, this is not the case then care should be taken with the lighting to avoid influencing local biodiversity and dark skies. To help maintain the locally rich biodiverse environment and counter any disturbance caused by the new building we would encourage incorporating bat boxes and bird/nest boxes into the structure where appropriate.
Whitestone Parish Council support this application.
51.3 24/01082/CLDE Certificate of Lawfulness for existing use of ground floor of agricultural building as additional residential accommodation at Woodstock Farm, Five Mile Hill.
Whitestone Parish Council have considered this application. The applicants in this case are two daughters of the Mr Douglas Golding who is the owner of Woodstock Farm. Mr Golding is currently in a care home and longer living at Woodstock Farm since March 2024. The building in question has been converted to residential accommodation in two stages. The first floor works were completed in August 2000 and a certificate of lawfulness was issued by Teignbridge District Council in March 2011 (ref: 10/03263/CLDE) This part is lawful. The second stage was to convert the ground floor to residential accommodation. This work was carried out in 2013 and completed in June of that year. It is this part for which the CLDE application has been made.
According to the planning statement prepared for this application Mr Golding has occupied the ground floor accommodation for a continuous period of over ten years, until he moved into a care home in March 2024. He is now unable himself to supply evidence to support the application, i.e. residence amounting to proof of this breach of planning control. The applicants, his two daughters, have lasting power of attorney and can supply first hand knowledge of the history and use of the property having visited their father at Woodstock Farm during this ten year period. As the land and buildings need to be sold to help pay for Mr Golding’s care the lawful use of the property as a whole needs to be regularising. The applicants have provided signed statutory declarations in support of the application
Granting of Conditional Planning Permission
51.4 24/00558/FUL; 24/00559/FUL; 24/0055860/FUL; 24/00561/FUL; 24/00562/FUL; 24/00563/FULConstruction of silage pits with roof over at Upper Kingswell Farm, Longdown.
51.5 23/01566/FUL Siting of two glamping pods/shepherds huts for holiday use at Southlands, Nadderwater
Grant of request for Prior Approval
51.6 24/00800NPA Application for Prior Approval under Part 3 Class Q (a) and (b) and paragraph W of the GDPO for change of use of an agricultural building from >agricultural use to two residential dwelling at Attwells Farm, Rowhorne Road.
52. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
52.1 Community Garden
Discussion took place regarding the state of this area and Cllr Belt had obtained a quote of £250 from Mr Paul Madge to carry out the necessary gardening/tidying required. After discussion it was resolved that this quotation be accepted and Cllr Belt will confirm.
52.2 Annual Playground Inspection
This has been carried out by the Play Inspection Co and their report has been circulated to Councillors. It was noted that Cllr Baxendale Nichols has agreed to take over as Crossway Park Officer from Cllr Fairley and she has noted the work required and will be liaising with Mr Laurence Blades regarding what is necessary.
52.3 CCTV for carpark and play area
Cllr Baird brought two estimates for the installation of a CCTV system around the Parish Hall, i.e. £1,917.61 and £1,128.82. Following discussion the estimate of £1,128.82 which was from Taylor Made Solutions Devon Ltd was resolved to be accepted. Cllr Baird to reply accordingly.
52.4 Bus Stop area
Cllr Belt noted the weeds in this area and it was agreed that Mr Madge be approached to also carry out the necessary work required to remove the weeds to tidy up the area.
52.5 Vehicle Activated Speed Signs
Cllr Evans reported that he will be circulating the results of his survey.
.
FINANCE
53.1 The Clerk noted a request from Whitestone Sports and Social Club for a donation/grant of £50 towards the Whitestone Summer Funday to be held on 21st July and this was discussed with Councillors Lang, Belt and Baird declaring an interest and not taking part in the vote.
Following discussion by remaining Councillors this request was granted. Cheque 751.
Income
53.2 1 School Houses rental to 2nd August £950.00 - £114.00 (includes £19.00 VAT) = £836.00
53.3 Devon County Council Public Rights of Way Grant 2024/25 £170.00
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillors Fairley and Baird.
53.4 Mr L Blades (Cheque 747) (Lengthsman £233.85 + Grass cutting £240.00) £473.85
53.5 Devon Association of Local Councils Cheque 748) (includes £8 VAT) Attendanceof Cllr Baird at Being a Good Councillor Short Course on 26th June £48.00
53.6 Whitestone Parish Hall (Cheque 749) (£101.00 Council Meetings and £290.61 Park Facilities) £391.61
53.7 The Play Inspection Co Ltd (Cheque 750) (includes £16.50 VAT) £99.00
53.8 G P Roofing & Property Maintenance (handrail at 1 School House) includes £100 VAT – paid through Winkworth. £600
District Councillors Lake and Parrot left the meeting at 8.55pm as the Council wished to discuss confidential information.
54. It was reported that the tenant at 2 School Houses will be vacating the property on 16th July and arrangements will be put into place for Winkworths, the Letting Agents, to arrange for new tenants.
The meeting closed at 9.10pm.
The next meeting of the Council takes place on Thursday 12th September 2024