CREDITON HAMLETS PARISH COUNCIL

CREDITON Hamlets Parish Council’s Annual Meeting was held on May 9 in the Council Chamber, Market Street, Crediton.

Councillor Peregrine Leigh was elected as chairman of the council for the forthcoming year and Cllr Richard Scrivener was elected as vice chairman.

The council has two committees with delegated authority in 2016/17, a planning committee chaired by Cllr George Mortimer and a finance committee chaired by Cllr Leigh. Terms of reference for the committees were adopted.

Cllrs P Leigh and Andy Cole were confirmed as representatives for Crediton United Charities. The council reaffirmed its eligibility for the General Power of Competence and adopted it. The council also confirmed its insurance policy and asset register. Dates and times of the meetings for the forthcoming year were agreed and the next Annual Meeting will be held on May 8, 2017.

COUNCIL MEETING

Crediton Hamlets Parish Council met following the Annual Meeting.

One member of the public was present to express concern about the state of the road between Blackdown Cross and Twisted Oak Cross and asked for the council’s support to get Devon County Council (DCC) to resurface the road which is reported to be badly degraded.

Councillors resolved to write to the Leader of DCC about this road and the state of many other roads in the parish. Cllrs referred again to the deterioration in the road between Uton and Folly Bridge. This road had now been closed due to a drainage issue and the council was told that DCC was waiting for a report from the Environment Agency on a potential pollution issue.

Councillor Way (DCC) said that he was doing all he could to press for improvements but that DCC was facing significant budget reductions and this had been confirmed recently by the Leader of the Council.

Priority was being given to roads on the gritting network.

Cllrs also noted that limestone rather than sandstone chippings were in use by DCC with the potential to be slippery when worn and wet. The Clerk was asked to write to DCC about this.

Cllrs were advised that there was an appeal pending in relation to the Erection of a Solar Farm on the land at Dunscombe and councillors confirmed their opposition to the application in principle and that they disputed the grading of the land and opposed the loss of good agricultural land.

Cllrs Heal (MDDC) and Stevens reported on a recent meeting with A Cooke (Mid Devon District Council) at Yeoford Play Area and the subsequent letter received from A Cooke which would be discussed at the Yeoford Community Association.

Cllrs discussed a letter from Crediton Town Council asking the council to consider making a contribution to the ongoing maintenance of the Crediton War Memorial.

Cllrs recognised the importance of this memorial and resolved to contribute £150 annually commencing in November 2016.

The council had received two letters from Mel Stride MP about the broadband issues within the parish and had been advised that the mobile Post Office service based at Cheriton Bishop Post Office was now operational again.

The council considered the Section 106 monies that could be available to the parish and it was resolved that the council would discuss potential projects at the next council meeting.

Crediton Hamlets Parish Council has £3,889 available in the Section 106 public open space fund for the creation and/or improvement of the public open space areas within the parish.

Any resident who has any ideas about how this money should be used should contact the Clerk.

The council agreed that Cllrs Leigh and Scrivener would attend the Service to Celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday and that Cllrs Cole, Wholley and Brimacombe would attend the launch of the Colebrooke Parish Plan on June 17.

Cllrs received a report form PCSO Lisa Crocker identifying 16 calls to the police in March and six reported crimes. In April there had been 12 calls to the police and four reported crimes.

The draft minutes of Crediton Hamlets Parish Council are available on three noticeboards within the parish: Hookway, Westernlea and Yeoford.

The minutes and other information about the council is available on the new Crediton Hamlets Parish Council website: http://www.creditonhamlets.org.uk/ .

If you have any comments or queries the Clerk, Diane Shepherd can be contacted on 01363 85051 or email: [email protected] .

Alan Quick