Minutes from October 2024 meeting

Newton St Cyres Parish Council

Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held in the Parish Hall Club Room on Thursday 3 October 2024

 

The meeting commenced at 7.00pm

Members present

Cllr J Browne (Chair)                             Cllr D Harris

Cllr J Dean                                              Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker

 

In attendance:   D/Cllr M Binks (left 7.45pm), J Hole Parish Clerk

 

Public Participation

There was none

Formal Business 

01/10/24    Apologies

                       Cllr L Ouldridge, Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright, Cllr G Barnell, C/Cllr M Squires

 

02/10/24    Declaration of Interest

                       None noted

 

03/10/24    Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 5 September 2024           

                       Agreed and signed as a true record

 

04/10/24    Update on recruitment campaign for Parish Councillors

                       Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker reported that a parishioner had expressed an interest in becoming a Parish Councillor and said they would contact the Clerk.  No other expressions of interest had been received.

                      

05/10/24    Newton St Cyres Parish Council Issues relevant to Mid Devon District Council

5.1                 Planning Applications 

                       24/01282/FULL - Erection for an agricultural storage building at Bidwell Barton Farm, NSC – no comment

                       24/01433/LBC - Listed Building Consent for the creation of 2 ensuite bathrooms on first floor at 1 The Village NSC

                       This application was received after the agenda had been send but was considered at this meeting and no comment was agreed

5.2                 Planning Decisions

                         None

5.3                 Report from District Councillors on issues relevant to the parish  

                       D/Cllr M Binks noted that although Cllr S Chenore was not able to attend meetings due to personal/work commitments, he was in regular contact and kept her up to date with  parish issues.

                       The new government had increased housing targets for MDDC and the process of identifying building areas for the next ten years was underway and consultation would follow. 

                       D/Cllrs were keen to increase the types of items that MDDC collects for recycling such as nappies, soft plastics and pots and pans.

                       A report in the local press stated that by 2027 MDDC would be £4.6 million in debt.  However this was based on costs increasing annually by 7.2% which D/Cllr M Binks thought unlikely

                       Cllr M Binks confirmed he had raised the issue of empty houses with MDDC Cabinet and that Officers were imposing levies more often, although decisions were made on an individual basis and depended on circumstances.

 

06/10/24    Newton St Cyres Parish Council issues relevant to Devon County Council

6.1                 Report from County Councillor on issues relevant to the Parish                      

D/Cllr M Binks reported that he had emailed Cllr G Barnell with suggested avenues for grant funding for a possible purchase of the Rec ground and reported that C/Cllr M Squires had asked him to raise her concerns about the discussion taking place around borrowing by the Parish Council to buy the Rec ground.  These concerns were noted. 

6.2                 Update on school signs and confirmation of priorities as discussed at last months meeting

Cllr J Dean had visited Sandford to look at the signs around the school and had circulated details.  The signs had not been funded by the Parish Council.  Cllr J Dean had emailed the Headteacher at NSC school to request a meeting to discuss what signs NSC school would like.    

It was resolved that the priorities as identified at the last meeting would stand with a crossing at Tytheing Close being the top priority and Cllr J Dean would draft an email for the Clerk to send to  C/Cllr M Squires to confirm this.

 

07/09/24    Finance

7.1                 To agree Payments and note Receipts

                       These were agreed as:

Expenditure – current account	£	Receipts – current account	£
Devon Communities Together Membership*	50.00	None
N Gillon – RWS gloves	25.98
Dan Richards – grass cutting as per schedule	105.00	Receipts Car Park Account
SLCC – Clerks annual membership	112.00
J Hole reimbursement for Battery pack for RWS	249.95	None
J Hole reimbursement for brush cutter/hedge trimmer	326.94
J Hole – Salary and expenses	401.15
HMRC – PAYE	58.40

* Note – previously advised as £24.00

 

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: £6,586.42

7.3.2            Footpath Account: £788.02 (included in Current Account balance)

7.3.3            Car Park resurfacing fund balance: £6,608.56 (separate Bank account)

7.4                 To consider costs of work identified following review of assets – circulated separately

                       After discussion, it was resolved that

i) The Clerk would ask local businesses to sponsor village assets such as the bus shelter at Half Moon and the noticeboard opposite the Beer Engine in return for displaying an advertising sign. 

ii)       Depending on the outcome of the requests, the cost of work would be considered at a future meeting

7.5                 To consider purchase of permissive footpath sign – 6 signs, approx. cost £20.00

                       It was resolved to purchase 6 signs

7.6                 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor

                       Noted

 

08/10/24    Other Parish Council Matters

8.1                 Update on roles and responsibilities

                       The Clerk reported that at the agenda setting meeting with Cllrs G Barnell and L Ouldridge, it was proposed that responsibility for annual risk assessments, litters pickers and Neighbourhood Watch should be assigned to Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright.  It was resolved to accept this proposal and the Clerk would email Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright with the suggestion

8.2                 Update on new trees on Village Green

                       It was noted that the tree Cllr L Ouldridge had planted on the green had died.   The Clerk reported that Cllr L Ouldridge wished to replace the dead tree with two new trees.  It was resolved that Cllr L Ouldridge should inform houses facing the green and then go ahead

8.3                 Update on Service agreement with parish organisations

                       A meeting with the Parish Hall and the Rec Ground had been arranged for later in the month.  The church meeting was yet to be confirmed.

8.4                 Update on Land Owner forum and EV charging point – Cllr D Harris

                       Cllr D Harris was working on the land owner communication and once drafted would send to the Clerk for circulation. 

                       The EV charging point was thought to be a matter for the Parish Hall and not the Parish Council

8.5                 Procedure for applications to PLWB

                       Details had been circulated and were noted.  A public consultation would be required before an application could be submitted.

8.6                 Communicating within the Parish – Cllr J Dean – documents circulated separately

                       A proposal for communication within the Parish had been circulated.  After discussion it was resolved to implement this procedure and to post details on the website. 

                       The Clerk would monitor the amount of extra work this generated 

8.7                 Quarterly Report – Cllr J Browne and Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker - Publicity and Community Engagement

                       The swing at the Rec was broken and a local business had offered sponsorship to replace it.  Cllr J Browne was working towards a S106 application for other pieces of play equipment.

                       A volunteer policy was being actively considered and would be presented at a future meeting.

                       The Parish Hall were holding a Silent disco on 26 October

8.8                 To note Risk Assessments – circulated separately

                       The risk assessment of assets carried out by the Clerk and Cllrs G Barnell and L Ouldridge had been circulated together with the overall risk assessment and these were noted

8.9                 To note re-federation Consultation by Exe Valley Federation

                       A consultation email from the school had been circulated and was noted.

 

09/10/24    Forward Agenda Planner/Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

9.1                 Review of agenda planner for future meetings. 

                       It was noted that DCC had issued a consultation on the Boniface Trail route between Crediton and Exter and this would be added to Novembers agenda.  Cllr J Dean had requested that detailed plans of the routes were made available.  DCC were holding  two online presentations, one for the general public and one for stakeholders in the next few weeks.

                       The old school footpath was being used by dog owners.  It was resolved that the Clerk would put a note in the Newton Wonder to remind dog owners not to walk dogs on the path

                      

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

 

End of Formal Business

Public Participation

There was none

The meeting closed at 8.25pm