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HELMER’S MEADOW

Affordable Housing for the Local Community

The Helmer’s Meadow development is nearing completion which, I am sure, is good news to all the residents of Stokenham Parish who have been affected by the construction and the increase of heavy traffic. A number of the affordable homes will soon be ready for occupancy with first choice, for a limited time, being offered to residents of the Stokenham Parish or those who have a strong connection to the Parish.

If you are interested in any of these affordable properties you will have to meet certain criteria which are too complicated to be fully covered in this short article. However, guidance on your eligibility is always available from your South Hams Affordable Housing Enabling Officer on 01803 861234 (ext. 1544) who will be able to provide you with any information that you require.

Since the cost of housing in the South Hams is extremely high compared with other parts of the country it will, I am sure, surprise you to know that under certain circumstances, even with a household income of just under £60,000.00 per annum, you may still be entitled to a discounted or shared ownership home. However, most eligible applicants will be on a more modest income in line with average earnings for this area.

There is nothing to be lost and everything to be gained by making an enquiry; remember your council is there to serve you and will welcome your interest. Let us see if we can utilise this development to provide local people with homes in the area thus reducing the need for further building.

Further information on qualification for discounted properties can be found on the HomeBuy website at southwesthomes.org.uk or by calling Devon and Cornwall Housing Marketing and Sales Team on 01752 856037.

Any information relating to the individual properties on the above site or the timescale of completion can be provided by the Taylor Wimpey Sales Executive, Amanda Widlake on 01548 580742 or alternatively call in at the sales office on site.

Leslie Cowley
17/08/2011


COUNCIL ELECTIONS MAY 2011

After 10 applicants being returned unopposed three vacancies were subsequently filled by co-option

Councillors are:

Charles Rogers, Beeson, Chairman

Richard Foss, Start Point, Vice-chairman

Jonathan Godfrey Ansell, Kellaton

Les Cowley, Stokenham

Adrian John Goodman, Stokenham

David Charles Hillier, Stokenham

Angela Denise Lockwood, Stokenham

Christine Pamela Nuttall-Smith, Stokenham

   Danielle Steer, Beesands

 Lesley Ann Winrow, Stokenham

Bill Ireland, Torcross (co-opted)

Anthony Vale, Chillington (co-opted)

Sue Oakman (co-opted)


STOKENHAM PARISH QUALITY COUNCIL STATUS REACCREDITATION

Stokenham Parish one of the first Devon town and parish councils to have been awarded the new local government status of Quality Council has recently received reaccreditation. Satisfying  stringent requirements to acquire this qualification, Stokenham Parish is well placed to play a more prominent partnership role in the administration of matters affecting their parish. In the future and in accordance with a Charter to be agreed with District Council, Stokenham will be better placed to action the results of their recently prepared parish plan, as well as undertaking other responsibilities that may by agreement be devolved. A current example being  participation in the Devolved Services Pilot Excercise.


CONSUMER DIRECT

Consumer Direct South West is the first point of call for consumers in the region and offers clear, practical consumer advice on a range of matters including:

Need help? Contact Consumer Direct on 01209 720 285 or e-mail btwilliams@consumerdirect-southwest.gov.uk


TO BE A COUNCILLOR

PARISH COUNCILS: with particular reference to Stokenham Parish Council

Parish Councillors are often asked two questions about parish councils and their work:

1. What is a parish council for and what does it do?

2. What is 'special' about a parish councillor?

The first question can be summarised in simple term as "a parish council is the custodian of the parish charged to maintain its environment in all aspects for the benefit of the parishioners".

A parish council is elected or should be, by the parishioners to carry out the custodian function as laid out in the Local Government Acts of 1972 and 2000. Under these regulations parish councils have wide ranging powers, these it uses with discretion bearing in mind the views of their parishioners as it deals with items such as: Planning, in this case parish councils are only asked for their observations for each planning application by the Local Planning Authority. This is one area of a council's work which causes the greatest annoyance when opinions differ. Not in the case of every planning application but enough to give rise to some anxiety. Other areas which councils deal with are: Roads and Paths, Public Transport, Housing, Items brought to the attention of the council by parishioners, Parish and Village Plans, Structure Plans both Local and Devon wide, Other official Bodies i.e. The Kingsbridge and Salcombe Area Partnership, South Hams District Council, Devon Association of Parish Councils etc. It is also incumbent upon a parish council to keep parishioners informed of all matters via , the media; newsletters, the website, the council blog, parish magazine and posters etc. It should also encourage residents to be interested in parish matters, and those who may be interested enough to serve as a parish councillor.

Much more information can be found elsewhere on this website.

The second question "What is special about a parish councillor?". Nothing is special except in as much as the individual has a conviction that he/she has something to contribute to the parish council's work to the benefit of the parish. This conviction also means he/she will attend council meetings to which he/she is summoned according to the regulations within the Acts. and actively participate in the work of sub-committees on which they have agreed to serve.

There are rules governing Eligibility For Office (Local Government Acts 1972 and 2001). If any person feels they would like to become a parish councillor they should in the first instance contact their Parish Clerk (For Stokenham Mrs Gill Claydon 01548 581185) to clear eligibility issues. They could then arrange to attend two or three parish council meetings and see at first hand the council at work.

Stokenham Parish Council meets on the 3rd Thursday of each calendar month (except August) at 7.30 pm in the Wesley Smith Room at the Stokenham Parish Hall.

 

Chairman Stokenham Parish Council


MEETINGS

COUNCIL MEETINGS

Council meets every third Thursday of the month except in August when council is in recess and in December when the meeting is held on the second Thursday.

Members of the public are welcome to attend all meetings and have the opportunity to address council on relevant parish matters in Open Forum normally near  the beginning of meetings .

PARISH MEETING

Once a year, before the Annual General Meeting of the council in May, council call a meeting of the parish to review the previous 12 months in the life of the parish, to communicate with parishioners and receive relevant comments and suggestions.
This Annual Parish Meeting is usually held in the Parish Hall and more recently a less formal atmosphere has been adopted to encourage fuller participation by parishioners.

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting (subject to confirmation) may be found on this website at ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Approved minutes of all other meetings may be found on this website at
MEETINGS Copies of plans and various reports and addendums may be inspected on application to the clerk. Tel. 01548 581185 or E-mail clerk@stokenham-pc.gov.uk  


ADVERTISING ON THE PARISH WEBSITE

If you are in business in the the parish why not help your council to help you?

For only £18 for a category, £8 for second and subsequent categories, for 12 months put your advert on this web site under one or more of the following headings: Self-catering, B & B, Hotels, Eating Out, Pubs & Inns, Shops, Caravans & Camping, Post Offices and Services.   Photographs and/or hyperlinks to other web sites £4 each.  Income arising from this service helps to offset the cost of maintaining the web site including domain name registration and ISP fees.  The support of advertisers is appreciated. 

For further information please contact the Web Master c/o The Clerk, Stokenham Parish Council, Highfield, Kiln Lane, Stokenham, Kingsbridge, Devon. TQ7 2SF   Tel. 01548 581185 or  E-mail: clerk@stokenham-pc.gov.uk                                                                                                                          

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