MINUTES of the Meeting of WESTLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL held in the Village Hall , Westleigh, on Wednesday 4th Jan. 2006 at 7.30 p.m.


Present. Cllrs. P.Fronteras (Chairman) M.Hudson, B.Marshall, A.Samphier, M.Cumiskey and J.May

Also Present. Cllr. L.Brown.NDDC. Cllr R.Cann DCC .

0106/1 Apologies for Absence. Cllrs M.Parks and L.Kenny

0106/2 Police Report.
In the absence of PC.Benbow there was no report

0106/3 Minutes of the Meeting held on 7th December. 2005.
Resolved that the minutes of the Meeting held on 7th December. 2005 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

0106/4 Matters Arising
Memorial Garden / General Maintenance
Nothing to report.

Bus Shelter.
Further quotations have now been received for the re roofing of the Bus Shelter.

Grant application forms have been received from NDDC and the clerk was instructed to make an application for a grant of £1200.00 to re-roof the Westleigh bus shelter.

Westleigh Website Cllr Fronteras reported 29,000 visits and 207.000 hits in the past 11 months.

Undergrounding of Cables Nothing further to report.

0106/5 Parishioners Questions.
There were no questions.


0106/6 District and County Council Reports.
Cllr. L.Brown.NDDC.
With little to report due to the Christmas break, Cllr. Brown presented an appraisal of North Devon District Council’s past year.
Cllr Brown covered a variety of subjects including the council’s achievements on,
1. Recycling of waste.
2. Launching a new Website.
3 Interactive planning.

4. Updating priorities, improving efficiency and services, providing decent affordable housing and regenerating town centres.

New smart cards for use in all main car parks have been introduced and are now available from the Car Parks Office or by applying on Tel no 01271 388279.

The council improvement plan following a 3 year programme is well under way with achievements in, restructuring, resource planning, housing and human resources.

Many other projects will be addressed in 2006.

Cllr R. Cann ( DCC )
The Audit Commission report indicates that Devon county Council is one of Britain’s top performing councils and the only county in the South West to achieve this level.

Cllr Cann reported on the DCC policy regarding the treatment of roads affected by winter weather and provided some of the statistics involved.

Public Footpaths.
Complaints to be investigated by the Footpath Warden in the first instance and appropriate action decided.
Obstructions can be removed.
Litter of a minor amount may be picked up by the FP. Warden.
Fly Tipping or Dumping is a matter for either the NDDC or the Environment agency.

Herton Junction.
Cllr Cann had inspected the road following the recent complaint and has reported the problem to the Local Services Office.
The Highway Dept. have investigated the complaint and an order has been issued to carry out the appropriate remedial work.

0106/7 Parking / Play Area.
Nothing to report

0106/8 Correspondence.
A copy of all correspondence was made available to all Councillors. Resolved that correspondence be noted.

0106/9 Finance.
A copy of expenditure was presented to Councillors. Resolved , that the expenditure totalling £76.54 be approved and accounts be paid accordingly.
It was also resolved by the council that the requested parish precept for 2006 –2007 is to be for £2600.00.and the payment made direct to the clerk, Mr B.J.Baker.
At the request of the clerk, authorisation was granted for the subscription to the Devon Association of Parish Councils to be deducted from the first precept payment due on 30th April 2006.

0106/10 Planning

Application Ref. 41358.

Proposal. 1 Agricultural Workers Dwelling
Location. Wearlands Farm, Westleigh.

Recommendation . Approve.

Comments . None.

NB.
Proposals were considered by the council following the parish meeting on Dec 7th 2005.


0106/11 Any Other Business at Chairman’s Discretion.

Cllr Cann indicated that DCC were keen to promote the network of footpaths within the county and were attempting to encourage parishes to become more involved with the promotion, care and maintenance of the parish paths.
It was suggested that perhaps Cllr Cann would arrange for the local Footpath Warden to attend a parish meeting to discuss the subject.