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Precis of Minutes of 21 November 2006 Parish Council Meeting

Matters Arising.
Among matter discussed at the NCDC Beach User Forum meeting in October it was agreed Widemouth Bay will have a facelift; there are to be no changes to the lifeguard provision; the water quality is excellent and that the dog ban will continue from Whitsun to October.

Correspondence.
Copy letter to County Transport Division from some parents with children living within 3 miles, paying the daily fare to Budehaven Community School on the school bus and the lack of a safe route to walk or cycle.   CCC Modernisation (reorganisation) of the Cornwall Registration Service letter and questionnaire had been circulated and several councillors returned completed questionnaires to the Clerk for onward transmission.   Local Works - Campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill, the Clerk will write to Dan Rogerson to urge him to sign the parliamentary Early Day motion in support of Sustainable Communities Bill and to agree to adopt the Bill if successful in the private Members’ Ballot to be held on 23.11.06.   Countryside Alliance - Post Office role in the community, the Clerk will write to Jim Fitzpatrick MP the minister responsible for Post Offices to impress on him the importance of post offices in general, in particular in rural communities and stress the vital role played in Marhamchurch parish by both post offices.   Commission - Annual Audit year ended 31.03.06, the External Auditor’s certificate has been signed with no matters arising.   NCDC - Parish Local Elections - details of recharging parishes for election costs for 2007/08.   NCDC also advised that if a casual vacancy occurs between 03.11.06 and 03.05.07 an election cannot be held, the parish may wish to co-opt, however there is no obligation to do so.   NCDC advised that following the request for Dog Litter Bins for the Hele Valley Trail, that our request will be considered.   CCC - Road Closure from Leverlake Road to Sharlands Road between Box’s Shop and Woolscroft Farm.   CCC letter of thanks from Bude Fire Station Officer for inviting their personnel to attend the meeting in the spring.   Cornwall Association of Local Councils (CALC) information from the new county-wide Primary Care Trust (PCT) advising that they are keen to hear views of local people and they have organised 7 public “Question Time” events during November, it was noticeable that once again the north has been ignored/forgotten.   Mr R Hockin reported that at the meeting held in the Parkhouse on 21.11.06 this fact had been raised and the PCT have agreed to organise 2 more meetings in the New Year to be held in Launceston and Bude respectively.   Mr Hockin gave a brief report of the meeting that had been attended by approximately 120 people, Dan Rogerson MP and health researcher, Dr Sally Ruane were in attendance both expressed their concerns about current health care provision policy, in particular the use of NHS funds for private organisations.   J Hale, NALC Policy & Parliamentary Affairs Unit, advising that although there is no definite proof, there is widespread speculation that Michael Lyons’ report dealing with radical reforms on council tax bills will be delayed until February 2007.   An envelope containing14 other items of correspondence was circulated

Planning - Decision Notices:
i & ii) Full Planning & Listed Building Consent for Replacement of flat roof on existing first floor extension with pitch roof and the erection of small extension to form utility room. Steart Farm Marhamchurch. Mr & Mrs K Burch. Approved.
iii) Full Planning Erection of stable block and formation of sand school New Meadow Barn Barn Hill S Watkins. Approved Planning Applications.
i) Full Planning: Demolition of old stable block and erection of new stables. Elmsleigh. Mr & Mrs Ford.   Concern was expressed about the dangers of increased traffic especially large vehicles as this part of Pinch Hill is particularly hazardous due to poor visibility.   However, parish council had no objections on the understanding providing highways carry out a detailed safety inspection.
ii) Full Planning: Erection of a replacement sun-room with flat roof patio over. Allybere Helebridge Road, Marhamchurch. Mr J Short. No objections.
iii) Full Planning: Change of use of land to Paintball and Quad Bike Outdoor Centre together with the siting of one portacabin and 2 steel storage containers. Trelay Farm. Mr D Vodden.   The Chariman declared an interest and Vice Chairman took the chair.   The plans that had come before the council in October have been withdrawn; the new plans represent the same proposal but are accompanied with the project brief with details of investigational findings.   Mr D Vodden was invited to speak and he presented the details in a clear and concise manner.   He and other members of the project answered many questions from the councillors and members of the public.   The councillors voted to recommend that NCDC Planning Department refuse the application.   The main reasons for objecting are as follows: disturbance to wildlife, including deer, dormice, owls, bats, badgers and buzzards; disturbance/damage to Trelay Copse which is registered as Ancient Woodland, disturbance to residents in the area due to noise from the quad bikes, increase in people using the area and the noise from people shouting during paintballing games; negative impact on existing tourism in the area due to the fact that visitors select Titson and the vicinity for peace, quiet, clean air and wildlife; pollution and unsuitable access roads.   It was noted that there are 13 letters of objection on the NCDC website and the Clerk had received an additional 8 letters of objection.
iv)The Clerk read a letter from NCDC regarding the Static Caravan at Ball Hill stating that a site visit by the Planning Investigation Officer confirmed a breach of planning and the owner has been supplied with the appropriate application forms.

Parish Plan.
It was noted that of 600 forms distributed, 530 have been returned this represents 88%, additionally there has been an excellent response from primary age children in particular and children aged between 11 - 16.   The forms have gone to an independent person for data input.

Bude Canal Regeneration Stakeholder/Membership.
As Bude Canal runs through part of the parish that Marhamchurch Parish Council is automatically a stakeholder.   The Chairman offered to act as the named representative to attend meetings.

Burial Ground.
The Councillors are pleased that the oak tree grown from an acorn by the late Mrs C Colwill has been planted and seems to be thriving.   Some councillors had visited the burial ground and it was agreed to place a secure area in one corner as a store for spoil that the gravedigger does not remove, grass cuttings and dead flowers.   The charges will be reviewed to take account of the cost implication when the gravedigger does not remove the spoil following a digging or a levelling.   The conditions relating to flat cremation memorials will also be reviewed.

Public Conveniences.
The Chairman has contacted Western Power Area manager, who has agreed to pay the sum of £500 towards the cost of M Vanstone’s charges for re-routing the waste sewer pipe.   The Chairman will make enquiries for the best and quickest remedial work to the coving on the wall that has broken.

CCC Footpath Partnership.
An invoice for work completed in July 06 has been received and the Clerk has requested details of the type of work undertaken, a condition required by CCC.   Mr F Bray advised that due to SWW laying temporary pipes, work on erecting the replace bridge on the Sharlands to Helscott Bridge has been deferred.

Parish Noticeboard.
News about the materials for the new board is awaited and it was agreed that unless an early supply date cannot be given, councillors will investigate other sources.

Land between the Moors.
A Councillor had attended a meeting and had prepared a large set of maps with tracing paper for councillors to identify places in the parish that might be used for various kinds of diversification such as deforestation, fishing ponds, camp sites.   The maps showed the geological and physical aspects.

Hele Valley Trail - Awards for All Grant Application.
The Chairman advised that NCDC Community Services Officer is visiting the site on 22.11.06.

Grants were discussed and it was agreed to award an annual grant to the following groups, organisations and clubs, which in the opinion of the Council is in the interest of the area or its inhabitants who will benefit from them:
Marhamchurch Bray Institute, Titson Churchyard, Marhamchurch Playpark Association, The Samaritans, Bude/Holsworthy Citizens Advice Bureau, Marhamchurch Pre School, Victim Support and a special grant to the Revel Field Trustees for ground maintenance.   A donation to the RBL for a Poppy Wreath had already been allocated.   The total amount of grants for the year is £842.

Precept figures for 2007/08 were discussed and although it was originally hoped to reduce the figure this year, it was agreed that due to the forthcoming expenditure in the burial ground, the increase in general repairs and the fact that reserves had been used as a result of the cost of the re-routing of the public conveniences sewer and the increased grants allocated, that it was prudent to increase the precept by £300.

December meeting. It was agreed not to plan for a meeting in December.

Parish Council Bank Account Balances & Parish Council Income. Details were given.

Cheques for Payment were approved.