Whitestone Parish Council
Minutes of Whitestone at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 14th November 2024
Attendance: Chair – Cllr T Baird
Councillors M Belt, A Evans, M Frankum, C Lang, P Stott, T Taylor
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council.
District Councillor K Lake, District Councillor J Parrott
Mr A Rose (left at 7.45pm), Mr S Gibbons
Apologies:- Cllr M Baxendale-Nichols, County Councillor A Connett,
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Rose addressed the meeting concerning the funding for the Parish Hall and requesting that the Parish Council consider committing to a longer-term funding programme to support this investment in the community’s most important asset which would prevent the necessity for the Parish Hall to avoid the current “cap in hand” approach. Mr Rose left the meeting at 7.45pm. This will be on the agenda to be discussed at the December meeting.
Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 10th October 2024 having been circulated were taken as read and signed by the Chair.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR / DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
Cllr Connett sent his apologies for tonight’s meeting and offered congratulations to the parish on the Memorial stone and its dedication last week. He has reported mud on the road to highways department. Arising from the last meeting regarding damage on Pound lane, he reported this to highways and asked about 'limited width' warnings or notices and was advised by the county council officer that he had checked the road for safety reasons and taken no action as it does not meet any of their policies.
Cllr Lake reported on various matters he had been dealing with.
Cllr Parrot reported that the Local Plan is progressing and Teignbridge budget is under consideration.
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.
Planning Applications
24/01630/FUL Erection of barn for machinery and hay storage on land at White Horse.
Whitestone Parish Council have considered this application for erection of barn for machinery and hay storage. The application does seem to be a positive step forward for the agricultural business in place with the additional benefit of creating a new hedge across the field helping increase biodiversity in the area. Roof water is also being collected for livestock drinking water. No electricity is proposed and so there will be no lighting to consider. Fencing on the eastern side of the field to enclose and protect the public footpath is acceptable but needs to give sufficient room between the fence and hedgerow to allow for machinery to mow the footpath and cut back/control the hedgerow We would ask that planning advise and request a defined width for the footpath with this concern in mind. In conclusion, bearing in mind the points raised above, Whitestone Parish Council support this application.
Grant of Conditional Planning Permission
24//01460/HUO Installation of a domestic 12kw air source heat pump at Gratton House.
Refusal of Certificate of lawful use or development
24/01563/CLDP Certificate of lawfulness for proposed access at Hill Farm Barn, Hill Lane.
Hackworthy Farm – tipping
Cllr Baird reported on correspondence she had received from Steven Hobbs, the Senior Planning Enforcement Officer regarding the ongoing works at Hackworthy Farm, Nadderwater as follows:-
“I have been in touch with the developer and it seems that the lorries that have been coming and going to the site are to provide materials that are to be used in the construction of the new dwellings. It seems that it relates to the drainage etc. and the approved licences have been obtained from the Environment Agency. However, I have arranged a visit to view the works for myself and as soon as I have any further information I will contact you again.
With regards to the groundworks around the new buildings it is not clear if this fully matches what has been approved. However, it is possible that a larger flat area has been created in front of the buildings to allow access to machinery for the duration of the building works. This is something that would not require planning permission. The issue is that once the building works are completed it is necessary to ensure the landscaping matches what has been approved. This appears to include a bank in front of the new dwellings which will be planted with a new hedgerow. Providing this occurs no planning breach will be occurring.
Although it does not appear that a planning breach is occurring at this time regarding the works to construct the new dwellings if it becomes clear towards the end of the construction that the groundworks / landscaping is not to plan then please do not hesitate to contact the Council and further investigations can be carried out at that time.
As for the access track I note your comments about it being wider than approved. In this instance I note that as part of the planning permission (reference 23/00231/FUL) granted for the temporary track the approved plans show a width of 4.0 metres. In this instance an officer did recently visit the site and it was not obvious that the track was too wide but they were not there to look at this. However, if you believe the track is wider than it should be could you or the person who has contacted you please give an indication as to how wide it is along with some photographs if possible?
I can confirm that following contact with the owner it was confirmed that the track that has been created is temporary using recycled crusher run hardcore. The width appears to be between 3.8 and 4.00 metres as shown on the approved plans. A photograph shows the track that has been laid which does appear to be temporary and the correct width. Based on this information I do not consider a breach is occurring providing it is removed when the planning permission expires on 21 March 2026.
With regards to any issues of damage to the main highway or water running onto the highway you would need to contact Devon County Council as the highway authority to investigate whether they can pursue the matters”.
MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
Request for donation to Devon Air Ambulance for training session for residents held at Parish Hall on 19th October. Discussion took place and it was proposed and seconded that a donation of £150.00 should be made. All in favour. (cheque 771)
Request for donation towards replacement of piano at the Parish Hall which is in the region of £950
Discussion took place and it was proposed and seconded that a donation of £200.00 should be made. All in favour. (cheque 772)
Request for a donation to £300/£400 towards cost of work necessary to fund work on floors at main hall and green room at Parish Hall. Discussion took place and it was proposed and seconded that a donation of £350.00 should be made. All in favour. (cheque 773)
The Council discussed a donation for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and it was proposed and seconded that a grant to the value of £50 should be made. All in favour (cheque 774)
Conformation of grant of £416 awarded to Parish Pals for their weekly meetings for parishioners at the Parish Hall (cheque 768)
2 School Houses – confirmation of new tenant
Pound Lane issues and possibility of new signage or other measures to be discussed at December meeting.
Community Garden and Playground – more information needed. To be discussed at December meeting
It was reported that the Blessing of Memorial Stone at the bus stop area on 6th November had proved very successful and parishioners were thanked for their donations of food which had made the gathering at the Parish Hall very successful..
Cllr Lang asked to discuss improvements to actual interior space, new larger notice board and bench repsray at the bus stop area and she was requested to obtain quotes for the work required.
STAWL Updates for Lower Hare Farm. Proposed Waste Disposal Site in Whitestone.
The meeting discussed the outcomes from the information gathering meeting with STAWL attended by Councillors Stott and Evans regarding the proposed waste disposal site in Whitestone. Councillor Stott summarised the meeting and it was agreed that the Council were happy for Councillors Stott and Evans to continue to take more of an active role in progressing the second Judicial Review. The Parish Council were updated that we are still awaiting the decision from the Judge as to whether or not there is a case to answer.
The Council, after discussion regarding the gov.uk domain have asked Cllr Baxendale-Nichols to obtain a Website Building Plan from Aubergine which will be discussed at the December meeting.
Formation of a Youth Council – Cllr Baird reported that this idea had been raised in order to gain interest from the youth within the Parish and would be discussed again in the New Year. Cllr Stott to action.
FIINANCE
Please note inaccurate calculations/typing errors in the Income section of the September minutes to be amended as follows:-
Minute 60.4 should read 1 School House rental to 2nd October £950 - £114 (includes £29 VAT) = £836.00.
Minute 60.6 should read 2 School Houses rental to 1st April £800.00 - £30.00 insurance/management fee + £96.00 (includes £16.00 VAT) = £674.00.
Income
1 School Houses rental to 2nd November £950.00 - £114.00 (includes £19.00 VAT) = £836.00
1 School House rental to 2nd December £950.00 - £114.00 (includes £19 00 VAT) = £836.00
2 School Houses rental to 7th November £1050.00 - £576.00 (includes £61.00 VAT) = £474.00 (new tenant)
2 School Houses final rental £3853.49 - £492.42 (includes £77.07 VAT) = £3361.07
Refund of invoice payment from Top 2 Bottom £600.00
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillors Baird and Belt.
Mr L Blades £315.30 (Lengthsman £255.30 + Grass cutting £60.00) (cheque 767)
Fry & Son £59.29 (includes £9.88 VAT) (cheque 768)
Devon Association of Local Councils £72.00 (includes £12.00 VAT) (cheque 769)
Fine Memorials (Commemorative Memorial at Bus stop area) £1,114.08 (includes £185.65 VAT) (cheque 770)
G P Roofing and Property Maintenance (Mr G Preston) £321.25 (paid through Winkworth)
A+E Chimney Sweep £55.00 (paid through Winkworth)
Exeter Property Maintenance £72.00 (paid through Winkworth)
REPORTS
Cllr Taylor raised some issues regarding highway matters. It was reported that due to excessive mud on the Rowhorne Road the Post Office van overturned and the driver was not at fault.
Cllr Taylor also raised the matter of CPRE for the continuation of membership. To be discussed at the December meeting.
Clllr Belt asked if it was possible to have a light at the bus stop area and mentioned that the School Houses were in need of painting.
Cllr Lang reported that owing to the flies in the bus shelter this has now been closed to food beIng left there.
Cllr Evans report that the VAS sign at Nadderwater has been temporarily removed for repair.
The meeting closed at 9.30pm