COMBE MARTIN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Highways, Property and Planning Committee held at
Seacott, Cross Street, Combe Martin, on Wednesday, 22 January, 2014 at 7.39pm.
Present: Cllrs Nigel Brettle (In the Chair) Julia Clark, Yvette Gubb, Jill Sidebottom,
Celia Withers.
In Attendance: 1 member of the public, Parish Clerk.
1Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Graeme Coombs and Trevor Kibble.
2Declarations of Interest
Cllr Yvette Gubb declared an interest in the Village Hall lease, as her husband is
treasurer for the Judo Club and an interest in the Bowls Club as this Council’s representative to the Bowls Club.
3Planning
3.1Application
56631 - RETROSPECTIVE APPLICATION FOR CREATION OF HARDSTANDING,
ALTERATION OF ACCESS AND TRENCHES FOR WATER PIPES
TOGETHER WITH PROPOSED ERECTION OF POLYTUNNEL AND BARN
AT LAND AT GOOSEDOWN, WITHYCOMBE, COMBE MARTIN (Additional
information)
Applicant – Ms Kerrie White
RESOLVED to advise the planning authority that, as there seems to be no
material change from the original application, this Council is still concerned
about the access from a busy road and the safety issues, so continues to
recommend that the application be REFUSED.
This Council also has concerns about the works being carried on at the site.
The planning authority is to be asked if these works will affect the proposed
access, and will the applicant be submitting amended plans for the access?
3.2Correspondence
It was NOTED that an appeal has been lodged against the planning decision for Rock Farm. RESOLVED that there was no need to comment further on the application to the Planning Inspectorate.
4Highways
The lack of maintenance and poor condition of the C460 (Rectory Road to Berry Down)
was discussed. RESOLVED to write to Devon and Cornwall Constabulary asking for
the accident statistics for the C460 over the last five years.
5Consideration of matters relating to Lighting
5.1Street light repairs
5.1.1Outside The Grove, rear of Woodlands
Cllr Yvette Gubb will speak to the property owner about the issues raised over the
objections which have prevented the repairing of this light.
5.1.2Sunnyside, near 1 Sunnyside
It was AGREED to replace the lantern, bracket and control box.
5.1.3Genesis Lane
No quotation has yet been received for light at Genesis Lane –this is to be chased.
5.1.4Rews Close, outside Rest-a-while
This light had been repaired, but needs a lantern and control box. RESOLVED not to
do this in line with Council’s previous decision not to carry out works on private roads where members of the public are not permitted.
5.1.5It was NOTED that there appears to be gaps in the lighting of the main street, especially
near the junction of Shute Lane and High Street, near Cranleigh Terrace, and near
Richards TV. The light at the junction of Genesis Lane and Shute Lane is also not
working.
5.2Replacement of bulbs on fairy lights at Seaside and straining wires/ties
Some of the festoon lights at Seaside Hill are loosened and hanging down. RESOLVED to hire a cherry picker or lift hoist to overhaul the lights, and to enable all the ties etc to be checked and replaced as necessary, and the bulbs replaced as required. There are currently 27 bulbs not working. At the same time, the steel poles supporting the lights on Seaside Hill are to be painted.
6Community Centre
6.1Management Group
Mrs Nicky Tossell had expressed an interest in joining the management group.
RESOLVED to arrange a meeting of the Community Centre management group on Monday, 24 February, 2014 at 6.30pm, and invite Nicky Tossell to the meeting.
6.2Broadband
Information was awaited from NDC regarding the installation of broadband.
7Correspondence – North Devon and Torridge Councils - Local Plan
Parishioners have been advised of the meeting to consider this Council’s response to
North Devon and Torridge Councils.
8EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS AND RESTRICTION OF DOCUMENTS
a RESOLVEDthat, under section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items as they involve the likely disclosure of sensitive and confidential information, and the items contain exempt information as defined by the Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12a Part 1.
b That all reports and documents relating to the items be confirmed as ‘Not for publication’.
Cllr Yvette Gubb declared an interest in the following item.
9Village Hall lease
The letter to accompany the lease, covering minor details, was checked and amended,
and the copy of the lease for signing was checked.
Cllr Nigel Brettle and the Clerk will meet Louise Jenkins on Friday to go through the
paperwork associated with the lease, to establish if anything else is required.
10Bowls Club request for meeting and topics for discussion.
RESOLVED to hold a meeting with members of the Bowls Club on Monday,
17 February, 2014 at 7pm to discuss the insurance of the building and any matters
raised by the Bowls Club.
11Lease of building at Parade
11.1The Committee Chairman’s report on interested parties was NOTED.
11.2It was AGREED to recommend that the Parish Council selects a date on which to close
the advertising through Stags, notifies the interested parties and then arranges to meet all interested parties so that a decision can be made about to whom the building should be leased.