MINUTES of the Meeting of WESTLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL held in the Village Hall , Westleigh, on Wednesday 3rd Nov. 2004 at 7.30 p.m.

Present. Cllrs. M. Hudson ( Chairman ) P.Fronteras,. B.Marshall,
M.Parks, A.Samphier and L.Kenny.

1104/1 Apologies for Absence. Cllr. J. May.

1104/2 Police Report. In the absence of P.C. J. Parker, there was no police report.

1104/3 Minutes of the Meeting held on 6th Oct. 2004.
Resolved that the minutes of the Meeting held on 6th Oct. 2004 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

1104/4 Matters Arising
Memorial Garden / General Maintenance
Mr M.Harris has given the Memorial Garden an initial cleaning and would complete the tidying up, prior to the Remembrance Sunday service. .

Westleigh Website It was reported by Cllr Fronteras that the Website was receiving on average 88 hits /visits per day.

Undergrounding of Cables Nothing further to report.

Parish Alliance. Date of next meeting. ( Provisional ) Wednesday 12th January 2005 at 7.00 pm. At Westleigh Village Hall.
The clerk was asked to check the booking arrangements for the hall at the appropriate time.

Westleigh Parish Heritage Forum
In the absence of Cllr. Cumiskey (Forum secretary ) there was no report.
Discussion on matters arising, deferred to a later date.

1104/5Parishioners Questions.
Cllr R. Cann responded to questions over the Wheelie bin system.
A complaint was received over the continuing problem of dogs fouling the public highway.
1104/6 County & District Reports.
Cllr L.Brown NDDC. has been appointed to the NDDC / Torridge joint committee to look into the problem of speeding boats in the Taw/Torr. Estuary.
Sandy Lane toilets at Instow have been demolished and the new building will be commencing shortly.
Although Instow PC.voted unanimously in favour for the new toilets in the Marine car park, there have been numerous objections from local residents.
The application has now been called in to give objectors time and opportunity to put their case directly to the planning committee.
CPA ( Comprehensive Performance Assessment )
Inspectors from the Audit Commission will be visiting NDDC in the near future and meeting with senior managers to check efficiency and progress in becoming a better council.

Cllr R. Cann.DCC.

Cllr Cann outlined the facts concerning the sand moving activities on Instow beach. At an estimated cost of £7,000-£10,000 the scheme is to lower beach levels adjoining the sea wall and use the sand to re-establish dune areas at north end of the beach.

Wheelie bins. Various means are being employed to alleviate complaints and iron out teething problems.
Additional wardens are being employed to deal sympathetically with complaints.

Cllr Cann presented a series of photographs showing signing and road markings which could be employed to encourage motorists to reduce their speed through Westleigh village.
Following a debate on the subject it was resolved to implement some of the proposals and Cllr Cann was asked to proceed with the following.

A. New village nameplate including “please drive slowly”, on the approach road to the village in the vicinity of the cricket ground.

B. A similar sign on the approach road to the village above Langmead.

C. Renewal of road markings at the existing Westleigh gateway.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Cann for his patience and assistance on this matter.


1104/7 Parking / Play Area.
Following a discussion on the subject the meeting was unsure how to proceed with the matter at this particular stage.
In conclusion, it was resolved to write to NDDC planning department to clarify the situation regarding current planning policy and how it would influence the type and scale of any proposed development in Westleigh.
The clerk to write to NDDC accordingly.

1104/8Correspondence.
A copy of all correspondence was made available to all Councillors. Resolved that correspondence be noted.

1104/9 Finance.
A copy of expenditure was presented to Councillors. Resolved, that the expenditure totalling £1255.70 be approved and accounts be paid accordingly..
Following the request for a contribution, it was resolved to donate £80.00 to the Instow and Westleigh Parish News
Cllr A. Samphier thanked the parish council on behalf of the Village Hall Committee for the grant / donation of £500.00.

1104/10 Planning
Weach Barton Westleigh. Barn Conversion. Ref 38672.
A Planning application has been re submitted following a previous refusal

Parish Council decision – Approve / No comment.


1104/11 Any Other Business at Chairman’s Discretion.

There was none.