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1. A meeting of the Parish Council took place on Wednesday 12th April 2006 at 8.00 p.m. in Bridgerule Parish Hall.
2. Present: Councillors G. Abbott (Vice-chairman) G. Bowler, J. Martyn, J. Giles, R Yendel, M. Lucas J Stoneman P Dymond Mrs L Packer Clerk and RFO. Apologies: Councillor K. James gave apologies as he expected to be late. The meeting opened with the vice-chairman Councillor Abbott in the Chair.
3. Adoption of the minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on 1st March 2006 having been circulated prior to the meeting were adopted and signed as a true record after amendment to include Mr John McDougal as being present.
4. Parish Hall A report was received on meetings with Mr Pinney Planning Consultant, Venessa Saunders, Head of Regeneration at Torridge, Gavin Spillar a Planning Officer and another Planning Officer specialising in Policy Mike Dittman. Vanessa Saunders will provide assistance with obtaining grant funding opportunities. Gavin Spillar will be the point of contact at Torridge Planning and Mike Dittman advice on Policy issues. There was some positive progress achieved and it was felt the next step would be to meet with a Developer who had expressed an interest in the Project. A very constructive meeting was then arranged with David Pinney and Bill Rabbetts of Drew Construction who have an impressive track record of this kind of Project exploring the possible benefits of a Partnership to take the provision of a New Hall for the Community forward on various potential sites. Councillor Ken James then joined the meeting.
5. Play Equipment: carry forward.
6. Correspondence to date was received.
7. Planning 1/0520/2006/FUL 47 Littlebridge Meadow, Conversion of garage into bedroom/living room. After due consideration it was agreed to recommend approval. 1/0542/2006/FUL Plot 3 Canal Rise, Erection of Dwelling. After consideration approval was recommended. 1/0086/2006/COU Bridgerule coalyard, Bridgerule Industrial Estate Merryfield. Change of use of existing building to B!,B2 or B8. Demolition of existing shed and replacement in accordance with drawings for uses B1, B2 or B8. Attendant changes to existing building. Approval was recommended . The potential Jobs for the community would be welcomed on this Industrial Estate.
1/0541/2006/FUL Littlebridge Farm, Erection of 9 Dwellings.
After reading the submission and very careful consideration of this application the Council believe this application would help to provide the family homes needed within this community. This will help secure a healthy population mix for the community's future well-being by encouraging the people needed for employment in the locality which will also help to keep the school viable by helping keep families in the area. The Council believe this application with its proposed mix including social housing and the proposed contribution to the New Village Hall for Bridgerule has the potential to fulfil the DVT2(2) criteria if revised plans are submitted.
To achieve proper control however, it believes practical and easily achievable S.106 agreements are essential . The Council would like the contribution to the Parish increased to £50,000 and in setting this figure are very aware that this would be much higher if the current application did not have the affordable element as offered included within the application. The Parish Council having already seen the contribution of much needed community funding greatly delayed during the unsteady course of this development also wish to see approval conditional upon the Parish Contribution being payable within 3 months of approval being granted and to aid effective local control the Parish Council would like a copy of any S.106 agreement. In order to enable the Parish to secure these sites as being truly "local" the District Council is asked to investigate as to whether a Parish Affordable Housing Trust or as part of the Holsworthy Housing Trust could be set up conditional upon control being transferred to the Parish or Holsworthy Housing Trust.
Continuity of style was raised as being is important on this site through use of similar building materials.
Some concern was expressed as it was noted the plans as submitted do not conform with the proposals outlined in the covering written submission. The Council would therefore like to see any re-submission referred back to the Parish Council in the event of any revised site plan and drawings providing details of the sites anticipated to become semi-detached and design details as there is no indication on the drawings submitted.
8. Finance: Cashbook receipts and payments accounts to 31st March 2006 and the Bank Reconciliation were presented, approved and adopted. The Transfer of £250 had not been carried out as this was not required at this time. The number of band B and C dwellings in the Parish was remarked upon which will have some bearing upon the Precept in due course.
No invoices were presented for payment.
9. Highways: South West Water are anticipated to replace the Water main through to Borough.
10. The date for the next meeting was confirmed for Wednesday 24th May 2006 at 8.00 p.m.
The meeting was closed at 10.15 pm.
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