Minutes for November 2019

Newton St Cyres Parish Council

Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held in the

Parish Hall Club Room on Thursday 7 November 2019

The meeting commenced at 7.00pm

Members present

Cllr J Enright (Chair)                      Cllr S Parker

Cllr R Cashmore                            Cllr G Quicke

Cllr D Hodge                                 Cllr G Scopes

Cllr C Southcott                            Cllr P Taylor

Cllr L Ouldridge                            

In attendance:  Cllr Squires, DCC (arrived 7.20pm, left 8.10pm), Cllr G Barnell, MDDC, (arrived 7.15pm), 1 member of public, J Hole, Parish Clerk

Business to be Transacted

Public Participation

Cllr S Parker expressed concern about how long five vehicles would be parking in the Half Moon layby overnight.  Clerk to contact DDC/MDDC 

Formal Business

Councillors passed on their condolences to James Walters and family following the death of his wife, Margaret.

01/11/19     Apologies           

None

02/11/19     Declaration of Interest

None noted

03/11/19     Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 3 October 2019

Agreed and signed as a true record

04/11/19     Mid Devon District Council

4.1              Planning Applications:

None        

4.2              Planning Decisions

19/01389/FUL and 19/01390/LBC - Conversion of a barn to dwelling and erection of extension (Revised Scheme) at Hayne Farm, Newton St Cyres – grant permission

4.3              To note list of potential CIL projects sent to Cllr G Barnell for advice    Noted.  Reply awaited

4.4              To note application for new waste bin in Church Lane has been submitted to MDDC

Noted

Minuted here but taken after 6.3

4.5              District Councillor, Cllr G Barnell, to report on MDDC business relevant to the Parish

With regard to the climate change agenda, Cllr G Barnell reported that he was trying to set up a local group who could take some action to apply best practice and he would hope that the Parish Council would nominate Councillors to join the group.

05/11/19     Finance

5.1              Parish Council Receipts Current Account:               

Item	Payee	Purpose	Amount £
5.1.1	MDDC	Precept 2nd instalment	6.384.00
5.1.2	MDDC	S106 grant	2,705.00
5.1.3	DCC	Grant towards defibrillator	265.00

                                                                                                                                      5.2              Parish Council Payment Current Account:

  These were agreed as:

Item	Payee	Purpose	Amount £
5.2.1	Simon Saunders	Grass cutting parish	320.00
5.2.2	Simon Saunders	Grass cutting churchyard	240.00
5.2.3	Ian Salter	Bus Shelter Cleaning	32.00
5.2.4	MDDC	Election costs	147.35
5.2.5	NSC Recreation Club	S106 grant	2,705.00
5.2.6	NSC Recreation Club	Grant for play equipment	500.00
5.2.7	J Hole	Salary and expenses	359.35
5.2.8	HMRC	PAYE	33.60

 

The Clerk reported that an invoice for £120.00 had been received today for work carried out to clear fallen trees on Footpath 1.  It was resolved to pay this amount from the Footpath account

5.3              To approve signatures for this month’s cheques

Cllr G Quicke and Cllr S Parker

5.4              Balances (after above transactions):      

5.4.1   Parish Council Current Account balance: £15,939.85

5.4.2   Footpath Account: £388.02 (£268.02 after above transaction)

5.4.3   Car Park resurfacing fund balance: £4,505.50

5.5     Financial Statement and Budget Monitor

Noted

5.6              To note there is no resolution to complaint made to bank and no bank statement has been received since June 2019

Noted

06/11/19     Matters raised by the Chair

6.1              Update on 125 years anniversary for Parish Council

Jean Wilkins had carried out some initial research and advised that the actual 125 anniversary was in 2020.  She would write an article for the Newton wonder for publication next year

6.2              To consider Autospeedwatch

Details had been circulated of a device that could be put on a lamp post to record details of speeding vehicles during daylight for follow up action. The cost of the unit was £295.00 with £85.00 annual charge.  It was not clear if this device was police approved.  It was resolved to re-consider in another six months after some further enquiries had been made to find out, for example, where it had already been installed.

6.3              Climate Change.  To consider any actions the PC should be taking – should we declare a climate emergency and endorse DCC and MDDC pledge? 

An e-mail from DCC had been circulated which amongst other things asked Parish Councils to declare a climate emergency.  Councillors were reluctant to declare an emergency without deciding on actions to take that would back the declaration up and it was resolved to take no action at this time and to keep under review.

07/11/19     Councillor’s Reports    

7.1              Areas of Responsibility reports.

Footpaths – Cllr S Parker reported that FP1 was now cleared.  Cllr C Southcott enquired about the reinstatement of the permissive path which had been closed due to the new houses in Kingfisher Close.  He reported that a new stile was required to allow access.  It was thought that the builders were required to reinstate the path. 

Cllr R Cashmore noted that Highway had added their data to the Parish online mapping software which would allow accurate reporting of defects.

Community Speed watch – a meeting had taken place with the Police and Crediton Speed watch.  The CSW sites would be inspected and consideration would be given to whether the Half Moon Layby could be used.  It was hoped CSW would be up and running after Christmas.

Boniface Trail – Cllr P Taylor reported that the final agreement was being sent out for signature by the first land owner in the new few days.

Defibrillator – the Clerk was waiting for the electrician to fit the new defibrillator

7.1.1           Arboretum – to note damage to fence caused by fallen tree

Cllr R Cashmore would inspect this at his review of the churchyard meeting scheduled for 27 November.         

7.1.2           Snow Wardens – Cllr G Scopes had contacted DCC to discuss training requirements. It was noted that the resilience sheds had supplies of salt as did Home Farm.  It was suggested that grit bins should be checked and any requirements sent to the Clerk.

7.1.3           Raddon Hills report – verbal report from meeting held on 28 October

Cllr J Enright gave a brief verbal report.  Upton Pyne Parish Council had withdrawn from the group.  Crediton Police Station would remain as a Police Station.  Vouchers were available for households/businesses that were currently not able to receive superfast broadband.  

7.1.4           Issues raised at PC surgery on 5 October and 2 November

Cllr D Hodge reported from 5 October on two issues raised: i) a request for an electric car charging point at the Parish Hall – this had previously been referred to the Parish Hall for consideration but they had decided not to proceed; ii) cars parking outside the Beer Engine especially on Friday and Saturday nights and potentially blocking access for emergency vehicles.  Cllr D Hodge had spoken to the landlord.  It was noted that cars were parking on yellow lines and Cllr M Squires advised that a request for enforcement could be made on line to DCC.  Councillors questioned if there should a sign advising that there were parking restrictions?  Cllr M Squires agreed to take this up with Highways.

Cllr J Enright reported on three issues raised on 2 November: i) weeds up School Hill restricting the width of the path.  It was noted that DCC had recently cut the hedge.  Cllr M Squires would take the issue of the weeds up with Highways; ii) Buses not stopping in the Village due to the roadworks – now resolved and iii) a land owner who was keen to sign up to the Boniface Trail. 

Updated bus and train timetable were required and Cllr C Southcott would supply these.

Cllr P Taylor would attend the surgery on 7 December, Cllr R Cashmore on 4 January and Cllr G Quicke on 8 February

7.1.5           Report from DALC Conference and AGM – circulated separately

A written report of the meeting had been circulated by Cllr J Enright and Cllr R Cashmore and was noted

7.1.6           Update on CRG – updated list of wardens and to agree grant application for Hi-Viz jackets

It was resolved to apply for a grant for Hi-Viz jackets and possibly additional aqua sacks and Cllr R Cashmore would liaise with the Clerk.  Hard copies of the CRP plan would be put in the Parish Hall, Recreation Ground, School and in each of the three resilience sheds.

7.1.7           To consider costs for maintenance of tipping rain gauge                   Costs had been circulated and it was noted that there was a considerable increase to the maintenance cost originally suggested back in 2014.  When tripped, emails and texts were sent to the list of contacts but due to the poor mobile signal in the parish, not all communications were received in a timely manner.  Cllr R Cashmore said he would investigate a system that could convert text messages to voice messages and ring a phone until it was answered.   Standing Orders were suspended and Cllr G Barnell explained how the tipping rain gauge worked and stressed the importance of having one, even if not all messages were received.  Maintenance could be undertaken by volunteers who would ensure the funnel was clear of leaves at least twice each winter and Cllr G Barnell and Cllr R Casemore were willing to do this.  Standing Orders were reinstated.   It was resolved not to agree to take on maintenance costs until Cllr R Cashmore had made further enquiries regarding communication issues.

7.1.8           Report from Policing meeting held in Crediton on 30 October.

Cllr D Hodge and Cllr G Scopes had attended and gave a brief report.  Regular Police meetings were planned alternating between Crediton, Tiverton and Cullompton            

08/11/19     Clerk’s Report

8.1              Bank opposite Parish Hall – parishioner has advised that the land is not theirs but they will cut, as and when time permits

Noted and thanks passed to parishioner

8.2              To note changes required to website to ensure accessibility

Details had been circulated.  Changes would take some time

09/11/19     Parish Council

9.1              Update on progress with Post Office and Community Shop – survey update

The results of the community survey showed support for a community shop and the project would be taken forward by the Steering Group.  The Parish Hall had agreed in principle to locating a shop in the Parish Hall grounds.  It was thought that BT had put the line in for the Post Office to operate from the hall.  The Clerk reported that the Post Box should be installed in the next two weeks.

9.2              Update on proposed Community Land Trust (CLT)

Following the public meeting on October 17, a number of parishioners had expressed an interest in setting up a CLT and a further meeting had been arranged for 27 November at 6pm to take the project forward

Cllr J Enright and Cllr R Cashmore had met with a Housing Association who had contacted the Parish Council to discuss the Parish Council’s intentions for affordable housing on the old school site. The Housing Association were interested in the buying the site and would consider working with the Parish Council to develop houses for rental and shared ownership, allowing for a local priority.  MDDC had sent a notification today stating that the Parish Council application for the old school site to be listed as an asset of community value had been declined.  A request for the reason why had been received this afternoon.  Standing orders were suspended and Cllr G Barnell stated that he thought the interpretation of the relevant act was incorrect and he had asked for the decision to be reviewed.  Standing orders were reinstated.

9.3              Update on Pedestrian crossing

Details of the new plan had been circulated and publicised in the Newton Wonder and on the website.

9.4              To note concern expressed by parishioner that Tree Preservation Orders on the old school site have not been confirmed

Standing orders were suspended and Cllr G Barnell noted that the process to list a tree required the individual to contact MDDC with details.  Standing orders were reinstated.

9.5              To agree sign for Church Lane

A draft of the proposed sign had been circulated and it was resolved to agree this.

Minited here but taken after item 7

10/11/19     Devon County Council

10.1            Outstanding Highways issues

-Curb at new school – waiting for 278 legal agreement sign off

-Speed restrictions in Station Road – SCARF re test requested

-Manhole cover on bridge in Station Road – DCC have passed to Enforcement, however highways would not allow the work to be carried out until after 12 December

-Request for a School sign in Station Road and possible zig-zag lines outside the school – declined - requested this is re-considered

-Uncollected road signs

-Lowered drain cover on A377 Crediton to Exeter near The Lodge

-Tar on School Hill footpath

-Request for a Road Safety audit on A377 in centre of village

-Request for bollards on pavement by old school to be removed due to safety issue

-Request for consideration of a crossing at Tytheing Close

-Footpath from Layby to bus stop in Half Moon – request to DCC to improve surface/land owner re hedge.

Standing orders were suspended and Cllr G Barnell noted that following the recent meeting with Highways, this area had been agreed as the second priority after a pedestrian crossing.  Enquiries were being made to Hanlons to find when they may be starting their development and consideration was being given to a pavement beyond PR Cars.  Cllr G Barnell noted he would keep this firmly on his agenda as it was an important health and safety issue.  Standing orders were reinstated.

It was noted that some cars were parking in the bus stop and Cllr M Squires suggested reporting on the DCC website

-Bus stop at Langford Road junction – waiting for response from Stagecoach

10.2            New DCC issues

                   None noted

10.3            Devon County Council (Traffic Management) Permit Scheme Order

Details had been circulated and were noted.

10.4            County Councillor, Cllr M Squires, to report on DCC business relevant to the parish   

A copy of Cllr M Squires report had been circulated.  Cllr M Squires reported she had attended a recent Devon Rail Forum and better trains on the Tarka line were planned.  Consideration was also being given to trains stopping later on Saturday nights.  Cllr M Squires left the meeting

11/11/19     Miscellaneous Correspondence

Various Road closure notices – being added to Facebook

Devon Communities Together AGM 14 November 2019

Devon Carbon Plan process – call for residents to have input

To note the grant application for NSC Tennis Club has been successful

Campaign for Local Democracy, meeting 14 November – email circulated separately

MDDC Budget Setting Survey – details circulated separately                 

12/11/19     Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

Consultation on new model code of conduct               

13/11/19     Date of next meeting: Thursday 5 December 2019 in the Clubroom, Parish Hall, 7.00pm.  

End of Formal Business

Public Participation

There was none

The meeting closed at 8.30pm