MINUTES of the Meeting of WESTLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL held in the Village Hall , Westleigh, on Wednesday 5th JANUARY. 2005 at 7.30 p.m.


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

0105/1 Apologies for Absence.
Cllr. M. Hudson. ( Chairman.) and M.Parks.

0105/2 Police Report.
In the absence of PC J. Parker there was no police report.

0105/3 Minutes of the Meeting held on 1st December. 2004.
Resolved that the minutes of the Meeting held on 1st Dec. 2004 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Vice Chairman.

0105/4 Matters Arising

Memorial Garden / General Maintenance

Cllr B. Marshall reported that although there were a few minor repairs still to be carried out, the Eastleigh notice board had been re-erected and was now in use.

Westleigh Website It was reported by Cllr Fronteras that a “visit” to the Website from Canada had been followed by an e-mail, expressing a particular interest in Westleigh Church.

Undergrounding of Cables Nothing further to report.

Westleigh Parish Heritage Forum Nothing to report this month.


0105/5 Parishioners Questions.
There were none

0105/6 County and District Council Reports.

Cllr L. Brown reported, that at a recent meeting of the various bodies involved with the Taw & Torridge Estuary, the problem of fast leisure craft in the estuary was again a high priority subject .
It was decided that it would be of considerable assistance in communicating with users of fast craft, if owners of the estuary slipways could be encouraged to become involved in publicising a code of conduct and possibly monitoring insurance statistics.

A further meeting was to be arranged for later in the month.

Cllr R. Cann.DCC.

Cllr Cann gave an appraisal of the situation regarding the establishment of Gypsy and Traveller transit sites that had been proposed throughout Devon and which had subsequently been withdrawn. He considered however that the matter would no doubt be resurrected sometime in the future.

The “Greensweep “ programme is continuing to expand.

Cllr Cann was still hopeful that the Westleigh village road marking and signing scheme agreed at the November meeting would be completed within this financial year.

0105/7 Parking / Play Area.
Following an offer by NDDC for a Planning Officer to attend a parish meeting, it was suggested by Cllr Cann, that an informal visit to the Planning Dept. by a small representative sub committee of Westleigh parish council might be more productive.
It was proposed therefore to leave Cllr Cann to try and arrange a meeting with the appropriate planning officers.

0105/8 Correspondence.
A copy of all correspondence was made available to all Councillors. Resolved that correspondence be noted.

0105/9 Finance.
A copy of expenditure was presented to Councillors. Resolved, that the expenditure totalling £74.02 be approved and accounts be paid accordingly.
The Clerk requested the approval of the council to authorize NDDC to make the precept payments to the clerk Mr B.J. Baker as the officer responsible for the administration of financial affairs.
Authorisation was also required to deduct the annual subscription to the DAPC direct from the first precept payment.
It was Resolved to approve both requests.
In accordance with the council’s risk assessment policy, the clerk presented the following items for examination:-
The minute book,
Bank statements to date and current cheque book
Receipt and Payment ledger.
Post book.

0105/10 Planning
County Matter Planning Matter. Torridge District.

Proposed construction of control kiosk to serve new underground storage tanks and pumping station at land adjacent to Country West Trading Ltd , Northgate, Barnstaple St . Bideford.

Conditional Planning Permission has been issued.

0105/11 Any Other Business at Chairman’s Discretion.

Cllr B. Marshall complained to Cllr Cann DCC of a problem of water “ponding” on the public highway in Eastleigh.
Cllr Cann advised that if a formal written complaint could be submitted to him setting out the details of the problem, he would take up the matter with the County Highway Dept.

Cllr Marshall agreed to write to Cllr Cann accordingly.