Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 8th October 2007

Minutes of a meeting of Zeal Monachorum Parish Council held on Monday 8th October 2007 at Zeal Monachorum Village Hall starting at 7:30 pm

Present

Mr J Welsby [Chairman], Mr M Bostock, Dr N Burgess, Rev H Castle, Mrs E Eden, Mr B Hollingsworth, Mr L H G Livingstone-Learmonth

Members of the public together with speakers from Devon and Cornwall Police Service and Mid Devon District Council

Open Forum

A speaker from Mid Devon District Council explained the current position with recycling and future developments. Speakers from Devon and Cornwall Police Service dealt with current policing issues.

The Parish Council is grateful for the time spent by these people in attending the meeting.

1.  Apologies for absence

None.

2.  Minutes of last meeting on Tuesday 18th September 2007

Had previously been circulated to Councillors, were assumed to have been read and were approved and signed as an accurate record.

3.  Reminder to Councillors as to declarations of interest

None were declared at this point.

4.  To receive an update on Mid Devon District Council’s view that the village is not sustainable.

Clerk had had an explanatory letter which stated that while Mid Devon District Council recognised that Zeal Monachorum had many facilities including an hourly bus service within the Parish boundaries it did not have a school and thus was regarded as not sustainable and development would not normally be permitted.

5.  Ongoing matters:

a.  Zeal Monachorum Disaster Plan - report Councillor Burgess.

Reported that the matter was well in hand and that questionnaires to establish needs and resources would be prepared for sending out shortly.

b.  "Best Kept Village" - how can the village approaches be improved and how can the Parish Council improve the chances of success in 2008?

Resolved that initially an eye would be kept on problem areas to establish whether there was much of a problem and a report made to the next meeting.

6.  To consider planning applications from Mid Devon District Council

07/01766/FULL and 07/01767/LBC - Lower Burston Farm - Replacement extension.

Resolved: that the Council had no objection to the proposals and recommended to Mid Devon District Council that in view of the Government’s commitment to energy saving the use of suitable double glazed windows should be encouraged.

7.  To note planning applications approved or refused by Mid Devon District Council

None.

8.  To approve Financial Standing Orders

A new draft was available for Councillors at the meeting. To allow time for study it is suggested that this be deferred to next meeting.

Resolved - That this be deferred to next meeting.

9.  Financial report from clerk

The clerk explained that the bank accounts were currently £1700.73 in credit with £4121.04 in the deposit account. £3000 of that amount was reserved for the Village Hall refurbishment and would be released when work started. The VAT claim of £50.58 had been paid into the bank.

Resolved that in addition to any payments to be made £1000 be transferred from Current to Deposit.

10.  Accounts for payment

Clerks salary and expenses for half-year to 30th Sept 2007 - £497.68

Crediton Courier payment for advert Code of Conduct - £ 18.51

Resolved that these items be paid and cheques were raised.

11.  Other Correspondence

None.

12.  Consultation documents

Devon County Council Annual Report 2006/7.

13.  To consider dates of next meetings

Agreed at 19th November 2007 and Councillor Mrs M Squires hoped to attend.