Minutes from July 2024 meeting

Newton St Cyres Parish Council

Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held in the Parish Hall on Thursday 4 July 2024

The meeting commenced at 7.00pm

Members present

Cllr J Barnell (Chair)                                Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright

Cllr J Browne (left 8.30pm)                     Cllr L Ouldridge

Cllr J Dean                                              Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker

Cllr D Harris                                            Cllr P Stephenson

 

In attendance: C/Cllr M Squires (left at 7.30pm), 1 member of public (left after public participation), J Hole, Parish Clerk

 

Public Participation

A parishioner asked for an update on the Boniface Trail and Cllr G Barnell provided a brief update.

 

Formal Business 

01/07/24    Apologies

There were none.

 

02/07/24    Declaration of Interest

                       Item 5.1 Planning for Elmhurst – Cllr P Stephenson – DPI

                       Item 8.2.1 – Cllrs M Herpoldt-Bright and J Browne – PI (members of PH Committee)

 

03/07/24    Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 6 June 2024

                       Agreed and signed as a true record.

 

04/07/24    To consider any applicants for co-option - one post is available

                   No firm interest had been received to date.   It was resolved to advertise in the Newton Wonder and noticeboards.              

                      

05/07/24    Newton St Cyres Parish Council Issues relevant to Mid Devon District Council

5.1                 Planning Applications 

                       24/00875/HOUSE - Erection of extension and conversion of existing garage to living space at Elmhurst, Church Lane, Newton St Cyres. 

                       Cllr P Stephenson left the room.  It was resolved to make no comment.  Cllr P Stephenson returned to the room.

                       Revised plans for 24/00696/MFUL- Erection of an agricultural building for free range egg laying unit, including control room/packing area, office, clean and dirty water handling facilities, concrete yard areas, feed bins and creation of an access track at Summerhay Farm, Shobrooke

Cllr G Barnell had circulated suggested comments, and it was resolved to submit these comments as follows:

“The NSC PC is disappointed that the revised site plan does not include improved screening of the site with native trees, preferably with associated landscaping, to mitigate the industrial profile of the new unit and the cumulative impact of the new and old units on the rural landscape. Natural boundary screening would also significantly improve the environmental impact of the development and provide a good brand enhancement and reputational opportunity for the applicants. We also ask that the PROW crossing the site is kept open during construction. This can be done by providing a temporary diversion for a short section of the path adjacent to the road “

5.2                 Planning Decisions

                       None

5.3                 Report from District Councillors on issues relevant to the parish

                       There was no report.  It was resolved that the Clerk would email the District Councillors to express disappointment that they did not regularly attend meetings or provide reports.

                       Cllr J Dean noted that training presentation slides received from MDDC on Planning Enforcement and Class Q were perplexing and not written in an easy to understand format.

 

06/07/24    Newton St Cyres Parish Council issues relevant to Devon County Council

6.1                 Report from County Councillor on issues relevant to the Parish                      

         Update on School Hill path and response from DCC to engagement re road issues.

The pavement up School Hill was becoming overgrown again and this was an annual issue.  C/Cllr M Squires agreed to speak to our Neighbourhood Highways Officer (NHO)

Despite chasing, no response had been received from DCC Neighbourhood Highways Manager with regard to our request for engagement on three identified areas where we are looking for a costed plan. (School, Smallbrook and Tytheing Close).  C/Cllr M Squires agreed to discuss with our NHO and to arrange a meeting with the NHO and Cllr J Dean as soon as possible.

 

07/07/24    Finance

7.1                 To agree Payments and note Receipts

                       These were agreed as:

Expenditure – current account	£	Receipts – current account	£
DALC – Cllr Training D Harris	36.00	None
DALC – Cllr Training M Herpoldt-Bright	48.00
Senior Internet Ltd – email service and domains	288.00	Receipts Car Park Account
Dan Richards – grass cutting on green, parish hall and woodlands	115.00	Interest as at 31/3/24	50.09
J Hole reimbursement for 6 x throw ropes and 8 x batteries	188.04
J Hole – Salary and expenses	390.95
HMRC – PAYE	58.40

 

7.2                 To approve on-line authorisation for this month’s payments

                       Cllr J Dean and Cllr J Browne

7.3                 Balances (after above transactions)

7.3.1            Parish Council Current Account balance: £12,052,43

7.3.2            Footpath Account: £88.02 (included in Current Account balance)

7.3.3            Car Park resurfacing fund balance: £6,559.27 (separate Bank account)

7.3.4            Neighbourhood Plan grant: £0.00

7.5                 Update on changes to bank mandate

Cllr D Harris ID had been confirmed with the bank and Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker had sent a copy of her ID tonight and this would be forwarded to the bank for confirmation

7.6                 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor

                       Noted

7.7                 To agree virement from underspent budgets to overspent budgets

                       It was resolved that the Clerk would make the necessary adjustments

7.8                 Review of Financial Regulations – defer to next meeting

                       Noted

7.9                 Depth gauges – to note it is not against DCC policy to install.  To consider cost for two gauges at Langford Road

                       This was for Camps Bridge not Langford Road.  Cllr J Dean would check the location and the number required with the Road Warden.  It was resolved to purchase two aluminium signs

 

08/07/24    Other Parish Council Matters

8.1                 Update on Roles and Responsibilities and amendments to quarterly reports timetable

                       It was resolved that:

• Footpaths would be included in the Travel and Road Safety portfolio
• The new co-opted Cllr, when appointed, would work with Cllr J Dean on Travel and Road Safety
• Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright would work with Cllr D Harris on Environment and Climate
• The Clerk would amend the quarterly reports timetable to reflect these changes

8.2                 Service agreement with parish organisations

8.2.1              Report on service agreement for Parish Hall

                       Cllr G Barnell reported on the latest meeting that had taken place with the Parish Hall committee and a draft service agreement had been circulated to Cllrs.   The Parish Hall was happy to sign the agreement and it was resolved:

• That the grant would be paid once both parties had signed the agreement.
• That Cllrs G Barnell, L Ouldridge, J Rimbon-Whittaker and J Browne would meet in September ahead of the next meeting with the Parish Hall committee which would take place before the December budget meeting.

8.2.2              Report on service agreement for Church

                       Cllr G Barnell reported on the recent meeting that had taken place with the Church reps and a draft service agreement had been circulated to Cllrs.  The Church were happy to sign the agreement and it was resolved that:

• the grant would be paid once both parties had signed the agreement
• the Clerk would forward the estimated solicitor costs of drawing up the legal agreement to transfer the land for the proposed new churchyard to the Church with a proposal that each party pays half.

8.2.3              Report on service agreement for the Rec Ground

                       A service agreement had yet to be agreed.  There was a desire that the Rec Ground should be designated as a green space.  This could be achieved via a Neighbourhood Plan or via the local plan which first meant the Rec needed to be included in the MDDC Playing Pitch strategy.  Cllr G Barnell had forwarded emails from MDDC, with suggestions on how to proceed,  to the Rec Committee and it was hoped the Rec Committee could make some progress with getting the Rec included in the Playing Pitch Strategy.

                       It was resolved:

• that Cllr G Barnell would draw up and circulate a holding/in principal service agreement until such time as a formal service agreement could be agreed and once signed by both parties, the grant would be paid.
• The Clerk would forward the estimated estate agents fees for valuation to the Rec Committee with a proposal that each party pays half

8.3                 Quarterly Report – Development and Planning – Cllr G Barnell

8.3.1              Update from Crediton Cluster Group

No update had been received from QE on their future plans.  If no update was received a freedom of information request to Ted Wragg Trust could be considered.

Local Plan – the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) (call for land) had been completed and it was hoped that MDDC would consult early in 2025.

Boniface Trail – a sub group of the Crediton Cluster had been formed made up of two reps from each member council plus county and district Cllrs and two reps for the BT group.  It was resolved that Cllr J Dean and Cllr J Browne would be Newton St Cyres Parish Council representatives for the Boniface Trail.  The next meeting was being arranged for early September.

8.3.2              To note East Devon Planning application and its potential effect on Langford Road. 24/1034/DOC - Discharge of condition for 20/1517/FUL: Condition 4 (Landscaping) and Condition 5 (Landscape management plan) at Land at Haynes Burton Upton Pyne

                                           Cllr G Barnell had circulated draft comments and it was resolved that Cllr G Barnell would submit these to East Devon District Council as follows:

                                           “I’m am writing to you as Chairman of Newton St Cyres Parish Council. You will be aware that Stuart Partners Limited (SPL) have now started the development of the proposed lagoon in Rixenford Lane. The work has started before EDDC has approved SPL’s new plans for the site. This is clearly in breach of the requirement in its previous planning permission to obtain approval before commencement of the proposed development.

                                           The new plans also involve major changes to the design and engineering of the lagoon and, therefore, present a new set of environmental and safety concerns that must be assessed by the Planning Authority. This is of particular importance given the pre-existing drainage problems of the site.

                                           Newton St Cyres Parish Council is asking that EDDC puts an immediate stop to any further work on the site and asks SPL to submit a new and full planning application”

8.4                 Quarterly Report – Environment and Climate – Cllr D Harris

8.4.1              To include management of biodiversity, hedgerows, verges and mowing. To include  weed killing in Station Road, hanging baskets in Pump Street, hedge trimming on Station Road

                       A report had been circulated and was noted.

                                           Discussion took place on the problem of the overgrown hedge on the A377 by Belluno which was reducing visibility when pulling out and turning towards Crediton and the weed killing that had taken place on Station Road by the Rec.  It was resolved that:

• Cllr D Harris would draft a letter to landowners to raise awareness of the hedging plants available from the Woodland Trust
• the rising on the village green did not need to be collected
• Cllr J Dean would speak to the Road Wardens to find out if they had any solutions such as who could cut the hedge along the A377 or if the verge in Station Road could be strimmed in future years. The Parish Council was keen to help find solutions.
• Cllr D Harris would draft a letter to the allotment landowner to ask if water could be extended to the allotments via farm water pipes.
• There would be no hanging baskets on Pump Street
• Cllrs would provide Cllr D Harris with land owner details to allow a community conversation regarding hedgerows etc

8.5                 To agree delegated authority to the Clerk to respond to planning applications over the summer that cannot be granted an extension following consultation with Cllrs and the Chair/Vice Chair

                       This was resolved

8.6                 Update on Annual report and arrangements for distribution over the summer

        Clerk to ask Cllr J Browne for an update and to arrange distribution of the report to Cllrs when printed.

09/07/24    Forward Agenda Planner/Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

9.1                 Review of agenda planner for future meetings. 

                       The Forward planner was updated

                      

10/07/24    Date of next Parish Council meeting:  Thursday 5 September 2024 at 7pm in the Club Room

 

End of Formal Business

Public Participation

 

There was none

The meeting closed at 8.50pm