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

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

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

1005/1 Apologies for Absence. Cllr J.May.

1005/2 Police Report.
PC J. Benbow attended for the first time and reported that Westleigh parish had been crime free over the past month.
PC Benbow then gave his appraisal of the future policing arrangements in the area which included the possibility of Police Community Support Officers being used locally.
This is currently under review and the proposals are still at a very early stage.


1005/3 Minutes of the Meeting held on 7th Sept. 2005.
Resolved that the minutes of the Meeting held on 7th Sept. 2005 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.


1005/4 Matters Arising
Memorial Garden / General Maintenance
The clerk was requested to approach Mr Souster regarding additional work required in the village.
Mr. Souster to be asked to contact either Cllr. Fronteras or Cllr Hudson for details.

Bus Shelter.
The clerk has written to three contractors for quotations and is awaiting for the response which is due mid November.

Meeting on Licensed Premises
As the Westleigh village hall now holds a Premises License, under current legislation the parish council may only continue to use the hall providing there is no reasonable alternative.
It was resolved therefore that as there is no obvious alternative, the council will continue with the present arrangement until another suitable venue is found.

Westleigh Website
The chairman Cllr P. Fronteras again proposed that with the increasing costs of the Website, additional contributors should be sought.
Clerk to write to past contributors to seek donations.

Undergrounding of Cables Nothing further to report.

Westleigh Parish Heritage Forum Nothing further to report.

1005/5 Parishioners Questions.
There were none.

1005/6 District and County Council Reports.
Cllr L. Brown (NDDC.) reported on the Audit Commission Inspection. ( Affordable housing)
The Commission had assessed the council’s work in balancing the housing market as “Weak”
At the last inspection in June 2005 the council’s was judged to be “Fair “ with promising prospects for improving.

Public consultation is to proceed with regard to the Barnstaple Square and the Strand enhancement..

Marine car park Instow.
There will be a report to the executive in the Autumn outlining the feasibility of the development of flats on the Marine car park site with alternative toilet and car parking facilities also under consideration.

Cllr R. Cann ( DCC )
Cllr Cann outlined the “Free of charge “ service offered by the Devon Fire and Rescue Service to provide a Home Fire Safety Check visit and to issue advice on fire risk and the installation of smoke alarms
Further help and information can be obtained on Freephone 0800 73 11 822
Or Text info line 078 00 00 2476

OUR DEVON, Devon’s biggest ever public consultation campaign was launched on October the 3rd inviting people to have a real say in shaping the county’s future.
Questionnaires will be delivered in a random survey of resident’s views.

The “Greensweep” recycling service is improving slowly but there remains much to be done.

Cllr Cann received a complaint from Cllr Hudson on the service generally and in particular the unsatisfactory response he received from the Greensweep office. Cllr Cann invited Cllr Hudson to confirm the complaint in writing and he would investigate the issue.

New bus routes and timetables are to be implemented. This will probably result in the reduction of services.


1005/7 Parking /Play Area.
Nothing further to report. Await meeting with Planning Dept.


1005/8 Correspondence.
A copy of all correspondence was made available to all Councillors. Resolved that correspondence be noted.


1005/9 Finance.
Income received this month - £272.00 Grant from NDDC and £1250 also from NDDC as the second and final precept payment for 2005.
A copy of expenditure was presented to Councillors. Resolved, that the expenditure totalling £84.73 be approved and accounts be paid accordingly.

1005/10 Planning

Application Ref. 40621.
Proposal, Extension to dwelling
Location, 1 Barton Cottages, Eastleigh Planning permission granted.


Application Ref. 40806.
Proposal Conversion of barn into one unit of holiday accommodation
( amended plan )
Location . Weach Barton.
Parish response / recommendation. APPROVE / NO COMMENT.

During the August recess the following planning applications were received and the decisions and comments of the parish council are recorded below.

Ref. 40621 Extension to dwelling. 1 Barton Cottages, Eastleigh

Parish response. APPROVE / NO COMMENT.
Cllr. J.May declared an interest in this application and was not involved in the decision.

Ref No. 40622. Conversion of 3 Barns to form 2 Units of accommodation , together with annex accommodation

Parish response APPROVE / NO COMMENT
Cllr. J. May declared an interest in this application and was not involved in the decision.

Ref No.40698 Extension / alteration to Dwelling
Home Park, Mount Pleasant.

Parish response APPROVE / NO COMMENT


1005/11 Any Other Business at Chairman’s Discretion.
Clerk to contact Bus Company concerning timetables being attached to shelters and the irresponsible manner in which the unwanted post was disposed.