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PPresent: - Councillors, P Cook, N Crombie, M Green (Vice Chairman), C Harper,
G May (Part), B Thomas, S White (Chairman) and Mr R Jacob (Parish Clerk).
In Attendance: Cllr R Cann (Part) (DCC/NDC), Cllr B Moores (Part) (NDC) and 18
parishioners.
2006E/1 APOLOGIES
Cllr Mrs Dipper and A Johns.
2006E/2 WELCOME and INTRODUCTION
(i) The Chairman, Cllr White, welcomed everybody to the meeting and explained
that its purpose was to discuss the possibility of purchasing some
agricultural land that had become available in Instow (Marsh Lane). He
identified the exact location of the land and said it was approximately 2.8
acres in size. He then asked the Clerk to explain the full rationale for this
purchase and of the financing arrangements. (Noted)
(ii) The Clerk then spoke of the Parish Plan consultation process that had
been adopted by IPC since 1998 and of the main findings that included the
provision of projects such as allotments, a children’s play area and such
like. He explained that the parish council had appeared to have exhausted all
possibilities of acquiring land by freehold or leasehold within the parish and
that where some private land (DCC or PCC) had previously been identified there
had been valid reason(s) why the identified project(s) could not be
established at those locations; he gave examples. (Noted)
(iii) The Clerk then spoke of the “Ransom Strip” monies (approximately
£70,000) that had been set aside by NDC for suitable community projects within
the parish of Instow and added that the purchase of this agricultural land and
its subsequent use for allotments (or play area) was in line with the relevant
funding criteria and that NDC would be willing to finance the project up to a
ceiling of £35,000. He reported that the Estate Agents’, acting for the owner
of the agricultural land, had agreed to seriously consider an offer in this
region; the Clerk added, however, that he had received a communication earlier
that day (unconfirmed) that a higher offer was now on the table and being
seriously considered by the owner. The Clerk told the meeting that NDC had had
the land valued by its District Valuer and that as a consequence £35,000 was
the maximum figure it was prepared to pay. (Noted)
(iii) The Clerk then advised the meeting that the above action(s) had been
taken by him following a RESOLUTION passed by IPC at its meeting of Thursday
17th June at which time a Sub Committee of Cllrs had been set up to urgently
consider all local implications, including consultation with parishioners most
affected, and Cllrs Moores (NDC) and Cann (NDC/DCC) had agreed to research the
“Ransom Strip“implications including funding. (Noted)
(iv) At the request of the Chairman, Cllr Harper then addressed the meeting as
regards the land in question and of his thoughts as regards to using it as
allotments. He proposed that IPC’s bid for the land should be raised to
£40,000. He also added that in 2005, 11 parishioners had written to the parish
council (under S 23 Allotments Act 1908) requesting the provision of
allotments and that the current number of parishioner requiring allotments was
14. (Noted)
(iv) The Clerk confirmed to the meeting that in 2005 IPC had fulfilled its
legal obligations (under S 23 Allotments Act 1908) and ascertained from local
enquiries that there were spare allotments in the parish of Westleigh and the
relevant parishioners were advised accordingly. (Noted)
2006E/3 COUNCILLOR DECLARATION OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest. (Noted)
2006E/4 PARISHIONERS
(i) A number of parishioners then addressed Council citing their various
reason(s) for objecting to the purchase of this land and its intended usage
including “Land over-priced”, “Not suitable for allotments” (sloping land,
poor soil, subject to flooding etc), “Private access (Marsh Lane – upkeep at
residents expense) to site”, “Parking congestion/obstruction issues”,
“Nuisance/Noise/Mess/Damage issues in Marsh Lane”, “Eye-sore” and a “Very
small percentage of parishioners wanting an allotment”. (Noted)
(ii) A parishioner enquired why more parishioners had not turned up to the
meeting; the Clerk said it was an extraordinary meeting (in view of the land
purchase time constraints), it had to be advertised throughout the parish for
three clear working days, not normally including weekends, notices had been
placed on all parish councils notice boards (x4) and at the post office/Instow
Website and all households directly affected by this purchase had been
leafleted. (Noted)
(iii) A parishioner then suggested there were other more suitable plots of
land within the parish that could be used for allotments and named two in
particular that belonged to Devon Christie Estates (DCE). The Chairman advised
the meeting that IPC had recently written to DCE asking whether there was any
DCE land within the parish that could be purchased/leased by IPC with the
financial support of the NDC’s Ransom Strip monies and it had been advised in
the negative. (Noted)
(iv) A “show of hands” vote then took place (other than Cllrs) on the
acquisition of this land “for the benefit of the community of Instow –
unspecified usage”; 9 parishioners voted in favour. (Noted)
(v) A “show of hands” vote then took place (other than Cllrs) on the
acquisition of this land “for allotment use”; 1 parishioner voted in favour.
(Noted)
(vi) A discussion then ensued on the acquisition of this land for a “Nature
Reserve” but no clear consensus of opinion could be reached to enable a vote
to be taken. (Noted)
2006E/5 NDC REPRESENTATIVES
(i) Cllr Moores (NDC) said NDC was keen to support “Community Initiatives”
such as was being discussed and confirmed that NDC was prepared to finance
this agricultural land (allotments, play area, nature reserve) project up to
the tune of £35,000 but no more and that this was on the advice of its
District Valuer. Cllr Moores added, however, that NDC would be very keen to
ensure that parishioners were generally in agreement with any project before
releasing any necessary monies and supporting said scheme. Cllr Moores
finalised by saying he had doubts whether NDC would support an un-specified
project (e.g. purchase of agricultural land – non specified use). (Noted)
(ii) Cllr Cann (NDC/DCC) said he was of a view that there was no added benefit
to the parish of Instow by the acquisition of this particular plot of land
despite the fact he was reluctant to adopt that view. (Noted)
2006E/6 INSTOW PARISH COUNCILLORS
(i) A general discussion then ensued at the conclusion of which Cllr Green
summarised what he felt was the view of Council; land practically never comes
up for sale in Instow and if it does, it should be seriously considered; NDC
holds money for community projects in Instow that could finance such a
purchase; however, what could the land be used for if purchased?; there was
some demand for allotments; a nature reserve was appealing; it would involve a
great deal of hard work and expense to set any project up even after this
agricultural land had been purchased; there were significant access and
parking problems; the site is very steep – a flatter field would be more
attractive; parishioners in neighbouring properties were not generally in
favour. (Noted)
(ii) IPC RESOLVED to adopt this summary as a true refection of its current
feelings on the matter. (Noted)
(iii) After a further discussion IPC RESOLVED to ask the Clerk to check with
the relevant Estate Agent asap as regards the current state of IPC’s offer for
the agricultural land and to double-check with NDC that £35,000 was its
financial ceiling.
(Action: The Clerk)
(iv) The Chairman then closed the meeting and thanked all attendees for their
presence. He said the meeting had been extremely useful and that any further
discussion would undoubtedly take place at IPC’s next meeting that would take
place at 7.30 pm on Thursday 15th July 2010.
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