July 25th 2024
Minutes of Coldridge Parish Council Meeting 19.30 on Thursday July 25th 2024
Present: Councillors Andrew Green, John Smith, Marion Born, John Quick, Malcolm Bedford, Ivan Kriznik, Chris Burrows
MDDC Councillor Natalia Letch DCC Margaret Squires
Clerk Keyth Richardson
Apologies: MDDC Councillors Alex White
There were no members of public for the Open Forum
| 2024/25-18 | Welcome by Chairman | Andrew Green welcomed all to the meeting |
| 2024/25-19 | Recording of meetings | no-one was recording the meeting |
| 2024/25-20 | Apologies | Apologies had been received from MDDC Cllr Alex White |
| 2024/25-21 | Declarations of interest | None reported. |
| 2024/25-22 | To approve of the minutes of the meeting on May 9th 2024 | The minutes of the meeting on May 9th 2024 were approved and signed |
| 2024/25-23 | Matter arising | Review of D-day Commemoration. It was agreed it was good evening which went very well. There was a good turnout and the collection for the Royal British Legion raised £237. There were more than enough pasties and the excess were passed onto the Fete Catering team. The clerk was asked to write to both John Dike and graham Nott thanking them for their help and support. Thanks were also expressed to the Sunshine singers and John Smith offered to pass this on.
Gilscott tree. It was noted this has now been removed |
| 2024/25-24 | Noticeboard repairs | This is in hand, and now there is better weather it is hoped to complete this work before autumn |
| 2024/25-25 | Coldridge Parish Council domain and emails | The clerk circulated pages 56 and 57 from the 2024 JPAG guidance document which states it is expected that Parish Councils will have dedicated .gov.uk emails and website. After much discussion the Clerk was asked to investigate and report back. He will work with Ivan on this. Contacts to be followed up include DALC, Zeal Monachorum PC and to see if we can add link from a Coldridge PC website to the MDDC website, currently run and hosted at no charge to Coldridge PC. |
| 2024/25-26 | On-line banking update | NatWest have made a mess of this. One card reader was sent to the previous PC Clerk’s address, one Councillor has not had the email giving them their number or activation number.
None of the Councillors felt they needed a card and card reader, but simply access to view the account, apart from the Chairman who may need to make payment when the clerk is away. The Clerk was asked to follow this up with Natwest, and seek compensation. |
| 2024/25-27 | Finance | The following payment were agreed. Proposed by Malcolm Bedford, seconded by John Smith
a. Clerk’s wages £335.34 b. Tax on clerk’s wages £67.00 c. Clerk’s expenses £6.65 d. Jays aim for new defib pads £269.94 e. Printer Ink £31.90 |
| 2024/25-28 | Highways | This discussion took a long time.
Margaret Squires informed the meeting that DCC was working on scheme to stop highways flooding but was dependent on the support of the adjoining landowners, some of whom are more helpful than other. A meeting was arranged for August 1st 10.45 in Coldridge Village Hall with Ivan Malcolm Margaret and steve Tucker from DCC Highways. At this meeting it is expected that SCARF reports will be explained and the clerk can then formally raise the issue with Margaret. Other topics for the meeting were can Coldridge PC erect a sign to the west of Frogbury Cross telling HGV drivers there is no access to C&R Construction. The chairman informed the meeting that the hedges which had been trimmed alongside Church Lane were paid for by C&R Construction. The issue of the accuracy of the information regarding drain maintenance was raised as some drains which are recorded on the DC website as being cleaned seemed to have become blocked again very quickly. It was noted that landowners are responsible for the maintenance of the hedges and ditches alongside highways. But that little or no enforcement takes place on this. Margaret reported that DCC is looking to take the contract back in-house in 2027, and all the Parish Council felt this is very desirable as it will give greater accountability and shorter lines of communication. Questions raised included how is the quality of work monitored, who pays for any remedial work required, who owns Blackditch layby and can it be cleared so it is usable again?
Traffic approaching Frogbury Cross from Coldridge have very poor sightlines looking eastwards due to overhanging vegetation which needs trimming. |
| 2024/25-29 | Planning | No update yet from Cllr Natalia Letch MDDC on the possible breach of planning for Green Acres, and this is with the MDDC enforcement officer Heather Nesbitt. Part of the problem is that MDD does not have a Senior Officer to deal with this, and other enforcement issues. There is a possibility of unapproved development not being acted upon before the deadline for such work passes, meaning the unapproved development is automatically declared legal, even if it would not have passed planning.
DC is looking at Green Land, and the Parish Council are asked to identify any specific pieces of land they do not want to see developed. |
| 2024/25-30 | Councillor’s reports | No objections were raised o the change of fascia at the Grange Farm developments
NL informed the meeting that MDDC are looking for social housing in all relevant developments. The Walking Festival is being advertised widely MS The Tarka Line is 170 years old and an exhibition will be at Barnstaple Pannier Market from Aug 1 to 5th to celebrate this. CB the sewage plant at Hobby Moor Cross is a bit smelly. Clerk asked to follow this up with SWW AG The clock is working well. As part of there-vamp and restoration of the tower and the bells he had asked for an indication of the cost of installing an electric winder, which would remove the current weights from the tower. As the cost was in the region of £6,000 it was agreed just to note this. |
| 2024/25-17 | Date of next meeting | The dates are Sept 19th Nov 21st |
The meeting closed at 21.00
Signed: