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TALATON PARISH COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
ST
WEDNESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2010
AT 7.30PM AT THE PARISH HALL
Present: Chairman Cllr C Harwood, Cllrs S Brown, M Young, A Spry, B Kingdon and G Hawkins.
In attendance: EDDCllr A Dinnis and later DCC P Bowden and PC Tyrrell.
1. Public fifteen minute open forum - to include neighbourhood watch representatives - regrettably
none of the representatives attended despite receiving a written invite, inviting them to discuss with the
PC any issues they may have regarding the working of the neighbourhood watch scheme and the areas in
which cover is provided in Talaton. We can only assume that the co-ordinators are happy with the
present system. The Clerk informed the PC that Mr Bowyer remained happy with his arrangements and
Cllr Harwood had agreed to cover the Moor.
2. Apologies for absence were accepted from - Cllr M Mitchell (knee problems) Cllr P Bowden gave
apologies in case he did not make it.
3. To confirm minutes of meeting held on 14.07.10 - having been circulated and read the minutes were
approved as a true and correct record. This was proposed by Cllr Young and seconded by Cllr Hawkins.
4. Declaration of interests of items on agenda - there were none.
5. To receive reports from
a. Police - an email was read noting the following: July; There were 4 incidents reported to the Police
which were as follows;1 x report of suspicious persons near farm premises.1 x report of a burglary to
some stables.1 x report of a parking complaint.1 x report of a male threatening suicide.
There were 2 recorded crimes which were as follows;1 x theft of geese, turkeys, animal foodstuff,
equipment etc from a field near Beacon Cross.1 x burglary non-dwelling to the stables where padlocks
were damaged but nothing was stolen.
August; There was just one incident which was the activation of a pendant alarm and there was just one
recorded crime which was the theft of chickens from allotments near Beacon Cross. Later P C Tyrrell
arrived and he informed council of the increased use of bicycles by local police because of a 10% cut back
of the Police car fleet recently imposed upon them. He also mentioned Escot Beautiful Days as being a
success as far as the Police are concerned.
b. County Councillor - no report given at this point, however, arrived later and was able to inform the PC
that letters regarding the deterioration of the wall from Talaton Inn towards Clyst Hydon are now being
looked at by the bridge structure group, and that the DCC enforcement team are now working on the
blocked ditches, road surface issue etc at Lashbrook.
c. District Councillor - EDDC A Dinnis informed the clerk a letter he had requested to go to Cllr S
Hughes regarding the broken down wall in Talaton had failed to arrive - the Clerk would re send. Cllr
Dinnis informed us that Cllr S Hughes is the portfolio holder for DCC and roads and highways are his area
of interest. Cllr Dinnis offered as a point of information a fact that there is a planning application in the
offing in connection with affordable homes at Lees Meadow coming forward from Badger Homes, this
matter was briefly discussed. The PC assured him that they were unaware of this, apart from the fact
that the area had been mentioned as favourable by a group of EDDC officers who had walked the Village
approximately 2 years ago looking at various possible sites. Cllr Dinnis moved to discuss item 9 on the
agenda due to the fact that he needed to leave early - the Clerk informed him that she has 3 names on
the allotment list and the Chairman updated Cllr Dinnis on all the avenues that had been explored in trying
to establish some allotment land for Talaton. After discussion the Chairman informed Cllr Dinnis that the
item is always on the agenda. Item 10 on the agenda - Cllr Dinnis asked to be updated on all
correspondence regarding the Parish Councils position on moving forward with the possible car park idea
at Orchard Close. The Chairman reminded Cllr Dinnis of minute 309/5/e ‘The PC had not received
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sufficient response to the letters sent by the Clerk and DCC had failed to reply at all so far to letters sent in
February. The potential cost to the Village was felt to outweigh the benefits to the whole village.
Councillors therefore agreed to leave this issue pending until such time that sufficient information is
received to warrant the scheme proceeding‘. Cllr Dinnis asked to be copied on the correspondence that
we have received to date. The Clerk informed the meeting that she has been chasing a response from
DCC throughout August and although she has been told that a report has been written a copy has not
been received. Cllr Dinnis asked the PC if they would mind if he pursued this issue, the PC agreed to this
but asked that it comes through them. Cllr Dinnis updated the PC on a recent planning appeal decision
and enforcement that still remains on the Cellar, Talewater. This must return to being a holiday home. Cllr
Dinnis concluded by offering to answer questions.
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d. Parish Hall - no recent meetings to report on, next meeting 19 September.
e. Locality health team rep report - circulated.
f. Clerk on update re: bus shelter/stop, railway bridge - the bus shelter at Woodmans Orchard is to be
made the official bus stop from October half term with a curb and path to the road being installed, also the
surround being enlarged and the footway around the back being improved, also the bus timetable would
be moved to this site. The railway bridge issue in Back Lane remains pending having printed details in the
local newspaper, copies of correspondence sent to MP Hugo Swire who has also written to Network Rail
to try and help our case, the Clerk was able to inform the PC that today a structural engineer had again
visited and would pass the job to the team that deals with vegetation.
6. FINANCE
i. Balances of accounts including Petty Cash - Current Account-£338.38, Business Reserve-£7523.14
and petty cash had been used to buy Wine voucher for internal auditor and a ream of paper.
ii. Cheques received - none.
iii. Cheques to be authorised - Atlas fencing, supply and fit new tiles to shelter roof £669.75(577) Clerks
salary 2nd quarter £900.82(578) to include review of Clerks hours, which averages 19 per month taken
from January. Audit Commission - £141.00(579) Talaton Parish Hall, hire charges £105(580), Clerk-
purchase of colour ink cartridge £20.99(581) Petty cash £30(582) A letter to transfer £2000.00 from the
business reserve to the current account was approved.
iv. To hear report from Cllr Mitchell on review of financial books - in Cllr Mitchell’s absence the Clerk
informed the meeting that Cllr Mitchell had been through all the financial books April to June, Cllr Mitchell
had written out a note which would be attached to the accounts, he had found them to be in order and had
signed the account book.
All the above financial transactions were proposed by Cllr Hawkins and unanimously agreed. The cheques
were signed at the close of the meeting by Cllrs Kingdon, Young and Brown.
7. Correspondence - received from:
a. Audit Commission - completion of audit 2009/10, this was found to be in order and the Clerk was able
to inform the PC that the Annual Return had been displayed on the notice board.
b. Thank you from Nigel Ralph had been received for the wine voucher.
c. St James the Great Talaton - letter re: church grass area attached to Church yard for use as a small
children’s play area, this had been refused, following discussion the Clerk was asked to display the
response from the PCC on the notice board.
d. EDDC - de listing of property notice for Lower Westcott Farm, however the plan attached showed the
wrong building.
e. DCC - new library timetable - this was discussed and the Clerk was asked to respond given the fact
that the overall stopping time for Talaton is to be reduced by 10 minutes and come January the intention is
not to stop at Newtown. The Clerk would also inform those residents at Newtown who may also want to
object personally.
f. CCD - implementation of Community plan - a suggestion that the plan is put onto a central website -
Cllr Harwood was asked to investigate this idea.
g. Items of late correspondence - a letter from the best kept village competition. This year Talaton had
scored high, but unfortunately not high enough for a prize. Issues raised by the judges would be
discussed on the next agenda, the Clerk read an extract from the competition report, the full report was
circulated. Mention was made to the lack of a dog bin, untidiness at start of the footpath by Ivy Cottages,
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prettiness of planting by the pub and the immaculate shop.
h. Items for circulation
8. PLANNING
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EDDC Decisions - 10/0977/COU - Nevada, Talaton - granted 11 August.
Appeal Decisions - 09/0802/FUL - land to east of Hillside - refusal
10/0045/FUL - The Cellar, Talewater - refusal
10/1466/LBC - Bakers Cottage, Talaton - replacement of section of sheet roofing.
Comments forwarded as follows: As a quality Parish and in accordance with our Parish plan the Parish
Council has no objections to the replacement of sheet roofing on the listed building.
10/1667/COU - Millers Farm, Talaton - Change of use of part of site to provide one static caravan pitch
for holiday purposes. This application was discussed fully and many points put together. The PC opposed
the application and raised issues of it being a scenic area, possible future proliferation, a large jump from
touring site to static site, additional traffic, drainage from hard standing and roof area, unsuitable field
entrance, waste disposal facilities. The Chairman would word these comments into a suitable format to be
forwarded to EDDC. The Clerk would read to all Cllrs before submission and was asked to make Cllr
Dinnis aware of the opposition.
9. To discuss allotments - previously covered at 5c.
10. To discuss Orchard Close car parking - revisiting of minute 309/5/e - previously covered at 5c.
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11. Drop in session - Saturday 25 September , 10am - 12 noon - the Chairman asked as many Cllr
to attend as possible.
12. Parish maintenance - including report of overgrown hedges from opposite Ivy cottages all the way
around the boundary of the plantation field to its boundary at the railway line. Hedge opposite chipping
landing to the entrance of the sewage works, hedge from Larkbeare sign towards Talaton Farm Cottage
entrance. Church road is dipping and breaking up, post box at Newtown is leaning over, Back road to
towards Half Moon Farm at Rowdon End breaking up and finally the Talaton Road sign at Rockwell has
become grown in by vegetation. The Clerk would report all the above issues.
13. Items for information only or discussion on the next agenda - notice board door at Newtown is
broken, insurance details and prices would be on the next agenda.
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14. Date of next meeting - Wednesday 6 October
15. Close of meeting - the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25pm.
Signed………………………… Dated……………………………….