Minutes from March 2019

Newton St Cyres Parish Council

Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held in the

Parish Hall Club Room on Thursday 7 March 2019

The meeting commenced at 7.30pm

Members present

Cllr J Enright (chair)                      Cllr S Parker

Cllr D Baker                                   Cllr G Quicke

Cllr J Baker                                    Cllr A Reeves

Cllr L Ouldridge                             Cllr C Southcott

In attendance: Cllr P Hare-Scott, MDDC (left 8.45pm), 4 members of public, J Hole, Parish Clerk

Business to be Transacted

Public Participation

Police Report

There was no report

Public Question Time.

There was none

01/03/19     Apologies

Cllr P Taylor (unwell), Cllr M Squires, DCC (other meetings)

02/03/19     Declaration of Interest

None noted

03/03/19     Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 7 February 2019  

Agreed and signed as a true record

04/03/19     Mid Devon District Council

4.1              Planning Applications:

None

4.2              Planning Decisions:

None

4.3              To note any update on excessive agricultural traffic using Langford Road – enquiry to planning. 

Cllr J Enright informed the meeting that following investigation by DCC, Bidwell Barton had not been used for grain storage for 18 months.  It appeared that tractors and trailers were going to Hayne Barton and this was currently being followed up by the MDDC Enforcement Officer.  It was confirmed that Winscott Barton was granted planning permission for grain storage with no conditions. 

4.4              Report from Cllr P Hare-Scott

Cllr P Hare-Scott reported that next year’s budget had been approved by full Council and MDCC’s portion of council tax would increase by just under 3%.  MDDC were broadly on budget for this year.  The inspectorate meetings for the local plan had concluded and the report was awaited.  Due to “Purdah” rules, Cllr P Hare-Scott would not be able to give a report at next month’s meeting. 

Cllr C Southcott had received a complaint about rubbish in New Estate and Cllr P Hare-Scott agreed to inform the Housing Officer and request an inspection.

Cllr J Enright proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr P Hare-Scott for his excellent work as a District Councillor over many years and this was seconded by Cllr D Baker.  The Clerk would check the purdah rules as they applied to Parish Councils.

05/03/19     Finance

5.1              To approve signatures for this month’s cheques

Cllr D Baker and Cllr S Parker

5.2              Parish Council Receipts Current Account:

Item	Payer	Purpose	Amount £
5.2.1	MDDC S106 Grant	Work at arboretum	1,000.00
5.2.2	HMRC	VAT refund	206.98

5.3              Parish Council Payment Current Account:

These were agreed as:

Item	Payee	Purpose	Amount £
5.3.1	Mid Devon Mobility	Grant	50.00
5.3.2	North Dartmoor Search & Rescue	Grant	50.00
5.3.3	DCC	CEF grant refund re drains, as work not charged	250.00
5.3.4	Thorverton PCC	Maintenance work	85.95
5.3.4	J Hole	Salary and expenses (includes £110.00 Raddon Hills payment)	423.60
5.3.5	HMRC	PAYE	14.40
			£873.95

It was noted that the shortly after the handyman had cleared the inlets on Station Road, DCC also cleared the inlets. 

5.4             Balances (after above transactions):       

5.4.1          Parish Council Current Account balance: £15,053.23

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

Noted

5.6              Quarterly Bank Reconciliation – available at the meeting for signing

This was duly signed.  Clerk to include note of all outstanding cheques in future reconciliations.

5.7              To agree Cllr J Enright’s attendance at CPRE Seminar – Devon’s New Housing Needs at a cost of £5.00

Approved

06/03/19     Matters raised by the Chair

6.1              Correspondence with A377 Action Group

Details of correspondence between the A377 Action Group and Cllr J Enright had been circulated.  Councillors considered the points as requested.  It was resolved not to post Parish Council updates to the A377 Action Group website or to post updates on the Parish Council Facebook page.  It was agreed however, to reconsider the layout of the Parish Council website to allow for easily identifiable headings such as roads which would make information more readily available without having to read through the minutes of meetings.  It was important to note that the Facebook page represented the public profile of the council and content needed to be moderated to reflect this.  Clerk to check the current settings for Facebook postings.  Clerk to ask for details of location, size and cost for the requested “20 is plenty” signs.  It was not possible to make the Church Lane exit from the A377 one way due to refuse collections and access to the houses in Church Lane.  Councillors were not aware of any reported issues with the A377/Station Road junction and it was understood that the junction continued to be monitored by DCC.  The offer of help from the A377 Action Group was duly noted.

07/03/19     Councillor’s Reports    

7.1              Areas of Responsibility reports.

Raddon Hills meeting – The notes from the last meeting had been circulated.  Most parishes, except Crediton ones received regular Police reports and the Clerk was asked to take this up with Crediton Police.  A debate on communication with highways had taken place and it was suggested that Parishes should charge DCC for work they had not carried out in the same way as DCC change parishioners.

Issues raised at PC surgery - report of brochures dumped in the stream by West Town.  Cllr A Reeves to report to the Flood Group.  A request to cut verge on School Hill – Clerk to add to Handyman list.

Community Speed Watch – Cllr S Parker reported that a new Role Enforcement Officer had checked the sites and discontinued the Station Road and Half Moon sites.  Only one site in Cowley remained.  It was hoped that PSCO Lisa McMillian would attend a meeting with Cllr S Parker and volunteers to discuss the scheme  and the issues further

Footpath – Cllr J Enright suggested that parishioners who regularly waked the footpaths in the parish could be asked to report any issues to Cllr S Parker.  Currently footpaths were allocated to Councillors to check twice a year.

Noticeboard – Cllr D Baker reported that the Smallbrook noticeboard required repair and the Village Green noticeboard was sticking.  Clerk to arrange quote

New churchyard – Cllr D Baker advised a cut was required.  Clerk to arrange. 

Parish Hall – Cllr G Quicke reported recent hall events had been successful and internal repairs were planned for the coming year

Recreation Ground – Cllr C Southcott reported that the Rec had asked the landowners if they could purchase the Rec, but the request had been refused.  A play equipment meeting was scheduled for 24 March.

Defibrillator – Cllr C Southcott advised that new pads were required for the Rec defibrillator and the expected cost was about £50.00.  It was resolved that the Clerk should arrange for purchase.

Litter – Cllr L Ouldridge had received details about a National “Big Litter pick” week.  However, as there was not one particular area that was in need of a litter pick, there was no action to be taken

08/03/19     Clerk’s Report  

8.1              To note Clerk’s holiday – 2 to 16 August 2019

Noted

8.2              To note updated CRP has been published on website (version 2019a)

Noted

8.3              The Clerk has been asked to act as internal auditor for Feniton PC and Thorverton PC. To agree if the PC is willing to invoice Feniton/Thorverton PC for this work so the Clerk can be paid through payroll

Agreed

09/03/19     Parish Council

9.1              To consider nominations for volunteer of the year award

Two nominations had been received and voting slips were passed around for Councillors to vote.  The result would be announced at a later date.  The Clerk would arrange for the shield and certificate to be updated.        

9.2              Due to availability of hall/officers, it’s not possible to hold the APM during w/c 22 April.  To agree APM for April 4, at 6.45pm to 7.30pm.  Ian Sorenson to present from 7pm, with plans displayed to the public from 6.30pm

It was resolved to hold the Annual Parish Meeting on April 4 ahead of the Parish Council meeting starting at 6.45pm.  The Clerk would chase up the availability of online plans with DCC.

9.3              Update on plans for Community Fair on 16 March and Defib training

Cllr J Enright reported an excellent response from clubs and societies and all spaces were now booked.  The Parish Council display would be updated and would include areas where volunteers were required such as litter pickers, snow wardens, Footpath walkers and Community Speed Watch, as well as publicity for Parish Councillors.

9.4              To note closing date for nominations to Parish Council elections is 4pm Wednesday 3 April. To ensure councillors are aware of the actions needed if they wish to stand. To consider publicity for elections

Elections pack were available from the Clerk.  It was agreed that Councillors should deliver their own nominations forms direct to MDDC so that any problems with the form could be dealt with more easily.   

9.5              To note any update on caravans using Half Moon layby

Cllr M Squires had reported this would be discussed with our Neighbourhood Highways Manager but there was no further update. Cllr J Enright agreed to take this up with Cllr M Squires.

10/03/19     Devon County Council

10.1            Outstanding Highways issues

There were no further updates on any of the highway’s issues.  Cllr A Reeves reported that pot holes in West Town up to Woodley Cross had been done.  It was noted that the DCC Highways website reported that the A377 was scheduled for overnight closures in May to July.  Cllr S Parker expressed extreme concern that the school flashing lights had still not been moved, despite an e-mail stating they would be moved.  Many items on the list had been outstanding for a long time and there was no communication to say when they might be done.  It was resolved that Cllr J Enright should request a meeting with Meg Booth, Head of highways to explain our frustrations.  If this did not resolve the issues, Cllr John Heart, Leader of DCC would be contacted.

Cllr C Southcott was very concerned that continued delays to the drain repair on the Station Road bridge would damage the bridges structure

10.2            New DCC issues

Clerk to request a school sign in Station Road.  Cars parked in Station Road blocked visibility for to cars pulling out of the school.  Perhaps there should be zigzag lines?

A stone pillar on the Newton House wall by the A377 was bulging out.  Clerk to contact Newton House Management Committee

10.3            Report from Cllr M Squires

There was no report.  Clerk to request that reports are supplied when Cllr M Squires is absent.

11/03/19     Miscellaneous Correspondence

Request for grant from School PTA – advised to apply in Nov 19

Invitation to apply for Prince of Wales Award – not applicable

12/03/19     Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

None        

13/03/19     Date of next meeting: Thursday 4 April 2019 Annual Parish Meeting in the Clubroom, Parish Hall, 6.45pm followed by Parish Council Meeting at 7.30pm

End of Formal Business

Public Participation

A Half Moon parishioner was willing to let CSW take place at the top of their drive.  However, Cllr S Parker advised the site would not be suitable due to lack of visibility from both directions.

It was noted that the metal work on the Station Road bridge drain cover was sinking below the tarmac

The meeting closed at 9.15pm