County & District Councillor report for May’18.

District & County Councillor’s Monthly Report          Cllr. Jacqi Hodgson –   Date of Report: 9^thMay 2018

County Councillor for Totnes & Dartington

(incl. Harberton, Harbertonford, Staverton and Landscove & part of Berry Pomeroy)

District Councillor for Dartington & Staverton

Key Issues: DCC         

Highways Issues after the recent storms:

Further to the announcement at the last Cabinet meeting, regarding the additional £2.2M funding made available for the Pothole Action Fund that will increase my budget for this division in the coming year to about £94,500. I AM INVITING YOUR VIEWS ON PRIORITY AREAS FOR HIGHWAY REPAIRS IN EACH PARISH IN MY DIVISION SO THAT I CAN FEED THAT BACK TO OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD HIGHWAYS OFFICER– please let me know at the PC meetings, so that I can understand your collective views.

 COLLAPSED WALL IN MAUDLIN RD: Update. Further to the large section of the old stone and rubble wall in Maudlin Road, Totnes collapsing into the road on March 10^th; the road remained blocked and closed to traffic until Sunday 2^ndApril when the residents took matters into their own hands and cleared the debris from part of the highway. Although DCC still deny responsibility for the clearance and repairs to the wall, they initially agreed to schedule repair works and clear the debris from the road without delay on a “without prejudice” basis (i.e. not accepting liability) so that the wall can be made safe and the road reopened asap.  However DCC are now in dispute about liability.  This has implications for many old walls in the South Hams, including heritage implications.  At HATOC on 20.4.18 where this was discussed it was announced that South Hams Building Control would be carrying out surveys of old walls.

FLOODING ON MAJOR & MINOR ROADS: The persistent problem of flooding on the highways at many places in this division has been exacerbated by recent weather and heavy rains.  I have reported in to DCC a number of well-known flooded areas in this division, please do continue to report in flooded areas on the highways (and post photographs) at this linkhttps://new.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/map/map_src/sw/              If you let me know that you have reported in flooded areas I can support those reports too.

 South Hams HATOC (Highways & Traffic Orders Committee): I raised the issueof a village center approachto planning development and highways and safety measures.  As many of the impacts and subsequent modifications and safety improvements to highways in the wake of new developments are funded by the developer as part of the 106 agreement with the LPA, I researched recent highways investment in Dartington Village Center as an example of where the cumulative impacts of change impact strongly.  There have been four significant new developments in Dartington further to the SHDC 2010 Dpd (development plan); Sawmills Field East (Origins), Webbers Yard, Higher Tweedmill and Ashburton Road (Meadowside).  I compared the 106 agreements that carried highways funding with the original agreements at the Planning Committee decision and found that significant differences existed and perhaps explained why some of the provisions, in particular pedestrian safety measures had not been implements (my document provided at HATOC is attached).  HATOC Committee agreed to have a site visit and discuss further. However I intend this to be just a starting point as safety and quality of life in village centers are critically affected by Highways design, speeds and calming etc.  My request to DCC for consideration of 20mph speed limits where requested by Neighbourhood plans for village and town centers is still ongoing awaiting the final Atkins report from Government.

EDUCATION: West Devon Academy in Dartington.The multi-academy trust in Devon which was commissioned to support children who are unable to attend mainstream school is being replaced due to serious failings. The Schools Company currently run three AP academies in Devon – Central Devon Academy in Exeter, North Devon Academy in Barnstaple, and South and West Devon Academy in Dartington. Devon’s alternative education provision (AP) has been running as a sponsored academy by Schools Company who this week have apologised to parents for its financial mismanagement and not providing a high quality of education.  It has not been confirmed who will take over as new sponsors of Devon’s AP.  I will raise questions on this at the next DCC FC meeting.

Totnes Town Council has written to the Secretary of State for Education in support of The Grove School Headteacher Hillary Priest’s letter to parents regarding the cuts to education budgets and the disparity between funding for pupils in Devon and those in London Boroughs.  I drafted a letter which called for the cuts and disparity to be reconsidered in the light of the considerable potential impacts on the education of children in this area.  Other parishes are welcome to use this letter and support it.

Plastic Clever Dart Project: Update. SHDC AONB Estuaries Officer Nigel Mortimer is making progress with this project and a group has now formed to bring forward some of single use plastic reduction proposals and other smaller waste projects (including Salcombe’s Kids Against Plastic), under the umbrella of Zero Waste Devon.  A plastic clever leaflet for the Dart Estuary is being produced with a launch date target of early June.This will include a recognisable BIG BLUE LOGO (template to allow substitution of local area/parish/town) to encourage environmentally friendly-behaviour changes. All towns and parishes along the Dart are being encouraged to participate in the project.  Being ‘plastic clever’ is all about thinking responsibly about disposable single-use plastics and the impact on waterways that ultimately lead out to the oceans.

Key Issues: SHDC

Joint Local Plan – new dates for further public consultation and estimated approval of final draft.  Further to the Public Examination from January to March’18, the Inspectors found that some modifications to the JLP are required.  These were principally around the Affordable Housing Policies and some of the proposed sites.  At the subsequent SHDC Members workshop in April, it was estimated that a revised draft would be out for consultation during the summer and the final draft possibly ready for approval by November(’18).

S106 MONIES FROM PLANNING DEVELOPMENTS IN DARTINGTON:  Further to the representations made at the South Hams HATOC meeting last month, I attended a meeting on May 8^thwith DCC Highways Officers John Fewings, Richard Jackson and Mike Jones. We discussed the clear discrepancies between the 106 agreements in the Sawmills East (Origins) and Higher Tweedmill developments at the Planning Committee approval and the 106 agreements agreements finally signed between SHDC, DCC, Dartington Hall Trust and Cavanna (as outlined in my previous report to PC).  It came to light at yesterday’s meeting that Richard Jackson in agreement with his superior officer Dave Black stopped the Pedestrian Crossing at Lascaze and the relocation of the bus stop at Shinners bridge.  His argument was that the former would lead to traffic accidents and the latter was not needed as there is another bus stop close by. My response (in brief) to the former was that no zebra crossing leads to less safe streets, more cars, more pollution and increasing climate chaos; i.e. increased risk and to the latter that the bus from Buckfastleigh stops there and no where else nearby.  And how dare they, local authority officers undermine democracy.  There was a combined £5,000 amount in these two planning 106 monies for Traffic Orders, I asked if any of that had been spent and if so on what.  It transpires they may be some of this left and I requested that a further assessment of the need for the provision of a zebra crossing at Lascaze is carried out using this money.  The officers suggested I asked SHDC about these monies! This was a very revealing and shocking meeting.

I gave delegated approval to Alexis Higgins for the £20,250 to be awarded to Totnes and Dartington Cricket club from the Sawmills East s106 – £90,837 for sports projects.

Attendance at meetings etc. as elected public representative:

 Thurs 5^thApril                         Berry Pomeroy PC Meeting

Friday 6^thApril                        Raising of the Suffrage Flag at DCC

                                                     Meeting with TRAYE Youth worker

Mon. 9^thApril                          Totnes TC meeting

Tues 10^thApril                         Harberton & Harbertonford Annual Parish Meeting and  Parish Council Meeting

Weds 11^thApril                       DCC Cabinet Meeting: additional funding for highways etc outlined (see above).Minutes at this link http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=133&MId=2135&Ver=4

                                                     Informal meeting with Cllr John Hart, DCC Leader to discuss options and possibilities regarding the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in South Hams.  He informed me that this would raised at the DCC Lands Committee meeting on 18.4.18

 Thurs 12^thApril                       Breaking The Mould Conference in Frome organised by Frome Town Council.  Truly inspiring and encouraging to realise the passion that motivated us to stand as Councillors.  Slides and other information from the conference will be available at www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/breaking-the-mould

 Tues 17^thApril                         TRAYE project SG meeting with Harberton/Ford & Rattery to discuss expansion of project.  It was agreed to go forward with the expansion into those parishes for 12 months.

                          DRA meeting.  Discussions included the new play park and bike track proposals

Weds 18^thApril                       Totnes TC Councillor Training with DALC

                                                     KEVICCs Foundation Governor’s meeting

                                                     Dartington Annual Parish Meeting & Neighbourhood Plan discussion 

Thurs 19^thApril                       SHDC discussion about Joint Local Plan.  Anticipated new dates lead to possible final document in place by November 2018

 Friday 20^thApril                     South Hams HATOC (Highways & Traffic Orders Committee). Dartington Village Centre was discussed (see attached document I prepared and circulated to attendees).  Representations were made by Jinty Balch on Quiet Lanes and Cllrs Chadwick and Lunk regarding all the key areas.  It was agreed by the Committee to have a site visit to Dartington to look at the key issues raised and the highways elements of expenditure from the £250,000 of 106 monies from Cavanna Homes Developments for measures in Dartington would be provided.

                                                      South Hams County Committee. Discussed the Gypsy and Traveller sites that were raised by myself regarding the JLP and the extensive number of sites in this division.  It was announced that a further officers meeting between SHDC & DCC has been arranged and they are considering various site options.  I raised the National Consultation that DALC are seeking views across the County to collate and reflect (see below).

Sunday 22^ndApril                   Joined Maudlin Road residents taking action on the blockage and reopening their road

 Monday 23^rdApril                 Devon Pension Board Meeting- affirmed their commitment to the Brunel Partnership and the carbon footprint monitoring of their investments they agreed in February.

                                                       Meeting with Totnes Skatepark group – planning their open meeting on 21^stMay to consider design and tender options for the new skatepark facilities 

Tues 24^thApril                         DCC Meeting with Ecology Officers to discuss draft Greater Horseshoe Bat SPD

                                                     SHDC Clever Dart Meeting to discuss project (see overview info above)

                                                     Dartington Parish Council Meeting

Weds 25^thApril                       Meeting with Totnes Cycle Group rep re sustainable transport measures

                                                      SHDC Universal Credit Training

                                                     Totnes & District Transport Forum

Thurs 26^thApril                       TRAYE project Interviews for additional youth workers (very successful)

 Fri 27^thApril                             Meeting on site with SHDC & DCC officers to discuss planning application for brick wall on Ashburton Road

                                                     VIP opening of show home at Great Court Farm

Tues May 2^nd                           DCC workshop (well attended) for Members, Ecologists and Developers regarding draft Greater Horseshoe Bat SPD followed by public consultation event (not so well attended).

                                                     Staverton Neighbourhood Plan – discussed public consultation and housing policies.

Weds May 3^rd                         SHDC DM Committee – no applications in my Staverton or Dartington ward

 

For Information:

Public Consultation:

Draft Supplementary Document (SPD) Monday 16^thApril to 5pm Wednesday 30^thMay 2018.

The new document is at this link https://new.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/other-county-policy-and-guidance/south-hams-sac-spd-consultation  I’d recommend you compare this with the current SAC planning protection zone (as we don’t want to lose any protection!) http://www.devon.gov.uk/core-doc-y1-greater-horseshoes-bat-…. Do it for the bats – our wildlife needs all the help it can get (50% of the UK’s wildlife has disappeared in the last 50 years).               

SHDC Air Quality Management Plan – Clean Air StrategyPublic Consultation (April 20^th– June 20^th– 5pm) https://www.southhams.gov.uk/article/3902/Air-Quality

 National Consultation on Gypsy & Traveller Sites: on powers for dealing with unauthorised developments and encampments. The consultation document can be found here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/697354/Consultation_-_unauthorised_encampments.pdf.

NALC will be responding to the consultation on behalf of the local councils that DALC represent. DALC are inviting local representatives to send in responses to a series of questions on this topic (please email me if you would like this list of questions).                                   

Diary Dates

Thurs May 3^rd                          10am. SHDC Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Weds May 9^th                          DCC Cabinet Meeting

Thurs May 17^th      SHDC Full Council meeting

Sunday May 20^th  Staverton Neighbourhood Plan Open Day at the Courtroom

Thurs May 24^th     DCC Full Council