YARCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES
Held in The Jubilee Hall, Yarcombe, Monday 4th November 2019 at 8.00 pm
In Attendance:
Cllrs C Stone (Chair), S Horner, T Long, L Pidgeon, S Vining, D Little, C Ford, S-J Martin (Clerk & RFO)
Members of the Public present – 0
Cllr Stone welcomed everyone to the meeting gave apologies as per the below:
1. Apologies for Absence:
• Cllrs C Vining, D Key and C Brown
2. Declarations of Interest
• No Declarations of Interest were declared.
3. Minutes.
• The Councillors were asked if they were happy that the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 7th October, received by email were a true and accurate record. Cllr Stone just wanted us to clarify on the Minutes that with reference to the Crowdfunding Scheme, to raise funds for the Marsh Defibrillator, this is the EDDC match funded Crowdfunding Scheme. The Minutes were amended and then signed by the Chair.
4. Reports
To receive the following Reports
a. County Councillor
b. District Councillor
c. Police
d. Yarcombe Community Land Trust
Cllr Horner advised a draft report from the Ecologists has been received and the Trust are meeting on Wednesday with the Architects and key parties.
e. Reports from Individual Councillors
• Cllr Vining has received a Newsletter about the footpaths and that many of the footpath walkers have been walking the paths and some work that needs doing has been highlighted. Footpath P3 is a bit overgrown above Shorthayne and Cllr Horner recommended Phil Holness and also it was mentioned that George Pidgeon helps with the larger jobs of installing gates etc. It was clarified that EDDC usually clear the entrance to the paths.
Cllr Ford asked whose responsibility, EDDC or YPC if a path is blocked by a tree. Cllr Horner advised this was usually the responsibility of the landowner.
It was confirmed that whatever work is required to be undertaken, quotes must be obtained.
• Cllr Stone told the Councillors we haven’t made a statement about recording or taking photos in the meeting. Going forward, if we anyone is to take photos, the public must be told and asked if anyone has any objections.
5. Parish Council Priorities
Cllr Stone added that concerning Parish Council Priorities, specific items will stay on the Agenda until they have been resolved.
• Village Facilities / Amenities
Update on a Defibrillator in Marsh
• Cllr Stone recommended that one person overseas the Defibrillator project in Marsh
Yarcombe Defibrillator – next stage was to ascertain if there was power available
• Cllr Little has had a look at the Yarcombe Defibrillator and advised the pads are out of date, the battery is 2 years old, there are electric leads to the cabinet but no power. David advised the system should be on an RCD (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) to protect against electric shocks. David had spoken to Cllr Paul Hayward who advised that is the system reaches 7-10 degrees for more than a couple of hours, then the pads will not work as they won’t adhere to the body. Cllr Little has also verified with Brian Smith that the Church paid for the system and the village hall were happy for the system to be placed outside, but reports haven’t been submitted for it for 2 years.
Costs for replacement pads would be £45.00 and 2 sets are required and when a battery is due, it will be £220.00.
Cllr Stone summed up the above proposal and proposed that the Parish Council takes the Yarcombe Defibrillator on board which Cllr Pidgeon agreed with and Cllr Little seconded.
The next stage is to verify through the hall where the power is. Cllr Ford asked if it is our responsibility and it was verified that no, not until the system is back up and running. Cllr Horner asked if we could ask the village hall caretaker to submit the weekly reports, but Cllr Little very kindly stated he could check the device and submit the reports on one of the mornings a week he does the church clock.
Cllr Pidgeon proposed that whatever needs doing with the device to get it back up and running is done and decisions as to the congoing support of it can be made later. This was unanimously agreed.
Update on proposal for planters in layby
• Cllr Stone has a quote for a large planter at £50.00 which is twice as big as one which is there. Cllr Long enquired whether a bollard would be more suitable, but it was decided as the land wasn’t ours, it needed to be something which isn’t permanent. It was decided to leave it on the Agenda for future consideration should the need arise.
• Cllr Long advised there are some trees overhanging the road just before the bend, opposite the grass area and he will try to establish whose trees they belong to.
Update on Streetscene grass cutting
• Cllr Stone has been in touch with Streetscene who say they cut the grass in the village 8-12 times a year(?!) and as Phil Holness has been cutting the grass on the layby, Cllr Stone thought it may be an idea to enquire if we took the layby on, they could maintain another area such as the work on the bank. Cllr Long said it was a good idea so long as they don’t stop doing anything at all.
• Highways
Options for speed indicator signage including hire
This was discussed and the cost would be circa £1800.00 plus installation and it was decided that the Defibrillator is more important plus in the past, when Devon County Council had one installed in the village, stones were thrown at it.
Update on contact details from Police re repairs to damaged fencing after vehicle accident
• An email was received to advise that the Officer who could obtain the details for the person responsible for damaging the post and rail fence in the village, is currently off sick.
Flooding
• Cllr Long mentioned there was flooding affecting the road near Stoneshelves, just below Tony Long’s property. This is were the drains were damaged and tarmacked over when the re-surfacing was done. It was felt this was now a safety issue when it freezes.
6. Open Session for Public Participation
No members of the public were in attendance.
7. Finance
• The Councillors received the Clerks report on the current Financial Position by email.
• The payments within the schedule in the Clerks Report were approved for payment and a breakdown of the remaining Yarcombe Inn project monies cascaded.
Cllr Stone thought the illustrated history of the Yarcombe Inn could be a pamphlet/brochure which was handed out to newcomers to the village. Cllr Pidgeon suggested we do a book and see what money is left over.
8. Clerk and Correspondence – Discussion / Decisions and Actions required:
• There were no items for discussion this month as covered in the Priorities.
9. Planning
To receive and endorse the Planning Decisions of the Council taken since last meeting under delegated authority.
• Cllr Stone raised the issue that we ought to consider formally delegating the making and submission of comments on planning applications to the Councillors who attend the site meeting as there is insufficient time before the subsequent meeting and they are not brought back to the Council for a full formal vote.
This was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Long reported on the current planning applications and that the Planning Portal still doesn’t work.
With no more comments or questions from the Councillors, Cllr Stone called the meeting to a close at 8.55pm.
To confirm the date of the next meeting being Monday 6th January at 8pm at the Village Hall, Yarcombe