Agenda for February 2019

Newton St Cyres Parish Council

Notice of Meeting of Parish Council

Dear Councillors

I hereby give notice that a Meeting of the above named Parish Council will be held in the Parish Hall Club Room on Thursday 7 February 2019 at 7.30pm.

All members of the Council are hereby summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and resolving upon the Business to be transacted at the meeting set out hereunder.

Dated this 1 February 2019

Signed                    Jane Hole

Clerk to the Parish Council        parishclerk@newtonstcyres-pc.gov.uk          01392 851148

Business to be Transacted

Public Participation

• Police Report
• Public Question Time. Members of the public are invited to give their views and ask questions on issues on this agenda or to raise issues for future consideration by the Parish Council.

Formal Business

(Members of the public may not take part in the formal business of the Parish Council except under special circumstances)

01/02/19     Apologies

To receive apologies 

02/02/19     Declaration of Interest

2.1              Register of Interests.  Councillors to update as required

2.2              Personal Interests.  Councillors must declare any personal interest in items on the agenda and their nature.

2.3              Prejudicial Interests.  Councillors must declare any prejudicial interest in items on the agenda and their nature and they must leave the meeting for that agenda item. 

03/02/19     Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 6 December 2018 (previously circulated)

To be agreed and signed as a true record

04/02/19     Mid Devon District Council

4.1              Planning Applications:

19/00151/LBC - Listed Building Consent to replace existing cement render with lime based render on front elevation and replace internal skirting boards with ventilated skirting on the ground floor front elevation at 1 Silks Cottages, Newton St Cyres

4.2              Planning Decisions:

18/01794/FULL - Conversion of barn to two holiday units at Ford Farm – grant permision

4.3              To note any update on excessive agricultural traffic using Langford Road – enquiry to planning.  Letter also received from Langford resident expressing concern

4.4              To note latest results from pollution monitor (see below)

4.5              Report from Cllr P Hare-Scott 

05/02/19     Finance

5.1              To approve signatures for this month’s cheques

5.2              Parish Council Receipts Current Account: DCC Locality grant £50.00 for DAAT sign

5.3              To note that there will be no charge for solicitor’s fees in connection with the proposed new school path in Station Road – to agree repayment of £250.00 Locality Fund grant to DCC

5.4              Parish Council Payment Current Account:

 

Item	Payee	Purpose	Amount £
5.4.1	Simon Saunders	Grass cutting *	80.00
5.4.2	Simon Saunders	Grass cutting – churchyard Dec 18 *	80.00
5.4.3	Dorset, Devon CRC Ltd	Grass cutting – churchyard Oct 18	120.00
5.4.4	DCC	Refund of Locality grant (see 5.3)	250.00
5.4.5	NSC Parish Hall	Room rent October to December 18	52.00
5.4.6	NSC Gardening Club	Surgery (reissued as previous cheque out of date )	4.00
5.4.7	J Hole	Salary and expenses (Dec & Jan)	646.88
			£1,232.88

                        * already paid

5.4             Balances (after above transactions):       

5.4.1          Parish Council Current Account balance: £14,720.20

5.4.2          Footpath Account: £388.02 

5.4.3          Car Park resurfacing fund balance: £3,001.04

5.5              Financial Statement and Budget Monitor (attached)

5.6              To consider request from PCC to pay for hedge cutting at churchyard – details below

5.7              To consider request for Financial Support from Mid Devon Mobility to continue to provide services in the Newton St Cyres area and North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (details circulated separately) 

06/02/19     Matters raised by the Chair

6.1              To note the Local Council National Salary Award as circulated and its application to our Parish Clerk 

07/02/19     Councillor’s Reports    

7.1              Areas of Responsibility reports.  

08/02/19     Clerk’s Report  

8.1              Update on maintenance list 

09/02/19     Parish Council

9.1              Review of new e-mail addresses

9.2              To consider an input to a Rural Mental Health agenda to be discussed by Raddon Hills Group

9.3              To agree final updated version of Community Resilience plan – circulated separately

9.4              To consider the plans for a pedestrian crossing on the A377 – plans available at the meeting

9.5              To consider arrangements for Community Fair on 16 March.  Defibrillator familiarisation training will be provided free of charge by the def supplier - to agree if this should take place at 11am on 16 March

9.6              To consider publicity for the May elections

9.7              To note letter received from A377 action group (see below) and to consider request to produce a Parish Road Safety and Traffic Management Plan 

10/02/19     Devon County Council

10.1            Outstanding Highways issues (see below)

10.2            New DCC issues

10.3            Report from Cllr M Squires 

11/02/19     Miscellaneous Correspondence

MDDC Local plan review – dates of hearing by inspectorate

Review of MDDC by Local Government Boundary Commission

Invitation to apply to become a member of Devon Countryside Access Forum

Consultation by DCC and Exe Valley Federation to lower the age range of Newton St Cyres (Community) Primary, from 4-11 to 2-11 years of age from 1 April 2019.

MDDC notification in reduction of times duty planning officer available for consultations

Query re caravans in Half Moon layby – referred to DCC

12/02/19     Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

Each Councillor is requested to use this opportunity to report minor matters of information not included elsewhere on the agenda and to raise items for future agendas.  Councillors are respectfully reminded that this is not an opportunity for debate or decision making. 

13/02/19     Date of next meeting: Thursday 7 March 2019 in the Clubroom, Parish Hall, 7.30pm

 

End of Formal Business

 Public Participation

 

 

Agenda Item 4.4

Pollution Monitor readings

Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
38.67	34.39	39.53	39.19	35.57	36.91	26.38	33.04	33.74	40.32

 

An annual mean (Bias adjusted) under 40 µg/m3 is acceptable and below the annual mean objective.

 

Agenda item 5.6

Hedge Trimming Along North Wall - Nov 2019 

Whilst I appreciate there remains uncertainty as to the responsibility for the trees overhanging the A377 on the north side of the churchyard, there is clear evidence the land south of the north wall (the wall is still in existence) is part of the churchyard.  As such we engaged a local gardener to severely trim the hedges south of this wall (see the attached picture).

Can I please submit the attached invoice for £160.00 as a claim against this budget for 2018/19.  This payment required two authorised signatories by the PCC.  No VAT was incurred. 

Hedge Trimming Between Church Road and the path leading to the Churchyard - Dec 2019 

Whilst this area is not, in my opinion, within the churchyard,  it would be worthwhile completing the severe trimming exercise for the remaining hedges that extend from the north wall around the corner in the northeast corner of the churchyard and down to the Church Road.

I would estimate this can be done for c£100 by the same local gardener, no VAT will be incurred.

Can you please confirm that the Parish Council would honour a claim for the costs of this work. 

Clerk note – there is £120.00 left in the existing churchyard budget.  An allowance of £130.00 has been made for another cut of the new churchyard. If this is not required there will be £250.00 in the budget churchyard budget overall 

 

Agenda Item 5.5

  

Agenda item 9.6

Dear Jim 

I’m writing on behalf of the newly formed A377 Action Group. We are a network of people who live in the Parish who share concerns about road safety and the impact of traffic on our communities. We are particularly interested in reducing the risks arising from the ever-increasing volumes of traffic on the A377 and in improving the quality of the lives of people who live near to it. 

We are encouraged by the Parish Council Winter Newsletter and news of the work that you are doing to address some of the issues posed by traffic. 

The Newsletter mentions the following items where discussion with Devon County Council is in progress: -

• Average speed cameras in the main village.
• A pedestrian crossing in the main village.
• Traffic calming measures along Station Road. 

In addition, we understand that the list of road safety improvements also being pursued includes: -

• Outstanding road maintenance and repairs
• Pavements in Half Moon
• Road signs and safety features obscured by vegetation
• Moving or removing existing school speed signage. 

We understand that progress on much of this work depends on the goodwill of the Devon County Council Highways Department and that getting real progress can be difficult even when there has been promises, or half-promises, of action. We know that, at a time of continuing cuts in public services, money is tight, and competition is fierce for what little money there is. It will take time and coordinated effort to get the changes we need. 

The Action Group would like to support the Parish council as best we can. We think that the impetus for action depends on involving Parishioners in an open discussion about the proposals that are under consideration. We are happy to support and be involved in such work. 

As a focus for this engagement we propose that a draft Parish Road Safety and Traffic Management Plan is produced. If it helps, we are happy to be involved in drafting such a plan. 

We look forward to hearing from you,

 

Graeme Barnell

On behalf of the A377 Action Group

  

Agenda Item 10.1

Outstanding Highways Issues

Responses by Meg Booth in italics

1. Concrete blocks by Langford Road – Our Engineering Design Group have programmed an inspection of the site with a view to reducing to impact of the blocks or removing them from site.  The inspection will focus on the bank stability and vegetation and any evidence of failure showing on site.
2. Advertising signs on A377 – The removal of advertising signs will be locally sensitive, as we have to be consistent in our approach.  As such, signs which are long established will have to be treated in the same was as any placed more recently.  The local Highways Officer and elected member are discussing the matter to ensure we are content with the approach before removing the signs. 
3. Curb at new school – Confirmed by Ian Sorenson that this will be done
4. Missing bus pole at A377 Crediton to Exeter at Home Farm – The bus flag by Home Farm should be reinstated in the first two weeks of the New Year.
5. Resurfacing of School Hill - Your comments regarding the resurfacing of School Hill on the A377 are correct.  It remains programmed for the current financial years but has been delayed by the gas pipe renewal works.
6. Speed restrictions in Station Road - As you mention, the Speed restrictions by the new Primary school in Station Road are now undergoing a SCARF review.  The next meeting of the forum is due early in the new year.
7. Manhole cover on bridge in Station Road – A notice has been served on the utility company with regard to the condition of the manhole on the bridge in Station Road.  The repair and responsibility remains with the utility company.
8. Moving school flashing signs further down A377 – no date agreed for work to take place
9. Cement pile on soA377 - The repair of the location affected by the cement will be incorporated into the resurfacing works on School Hill
10. Drain at Sand Down Lane – The local Highways Officer has met with the parish council and local member regarding the drainage on Sad Down Lane.  The site has been visited by specialist contractors who have reported that unfortunately the drainage system is not running to capacity where it runs on private land beyond the extent of the highway.  This is therefore the responsibility of the land owner at that point.  We will continue to monitor the situation to minimise the impact of the highway drainage system and liaise with the landowner accordingly.

Outstanding District Councillor Actions

Nil