Minutes from November 2020 meeting

Newton St Cyres Parish Council

Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held remotely via Zoom on Thursday 5 November 2020

The meeting commenced at 7.00pm 

Members present via Zoom

Cllr J Enright (Chair)                      Cllr G Quicke

Cllr R Cashmore                            Cllr G Scopes

Cllr D Hodge                                  Cllr C Southcott

Cllr L Ouldridge                             Cllr P Taylor
Cllr S Parker                                 

In attendance:  Cllr M Squires, DCC (left after item 10), Cllr G Barnell, MDDC, 3 member of public (not present for whole of meeting), J Hole, Parish Clerk 

Public Participation

A parishioner checked that, given the correspondence with the Penninsular Safety Partnership, it was unlikely that Newton St Cyres would get Average Speed Cameras installed and this was confirmed by the Chair. With regard to double white lines, the parishioner felt DCC were being selective with their answers and there were other roads locally where there were double white lines in 30mph areas.  Cllr J Enright replied that DCC had stated that they would correct anomalies when possible and this is what happened when the A377 was resurfaced and the double white lines were removed.

A parishioner noted that 10,000 miles of footpaths had been lost in the UK – had any been lost in Newton St Cyres? Cllr S Parker confirmed none had been lost in our parish.

A representative from the PCC explained that the church wanted to undertake a parish survey to find out how the community could use the church more and discussions with the Diocesan were taking place to try and increase the number of parking places near the church which would facilitate its increased use.  If the Parish Council send out a broadband survey, could the two surveys be combined?

Old school site - it was noted that the developer had put in a new entrance on Sand Down Lane without permission, stating this was for Western Power Distribution to gain access to their substation.  MDDC Planning Enforcement Officer had visited the site and informed the developer that this entrance must only be used for substation access.  Highways also had some concerns around visibility issues.   Residents on Sand Down Lane had received notification that the old school will be demolished and it was noted that as Building Control had been informed no further permissions were required.  Cllr G Barnell asked residents to be vigilant and monitor the use of the entrance.  No planning application for the site had been submitted and Cllr G Barnell noted that he would ask that reinstatement of the hedge was a condition of any planning permission.

Formal Business 

01/11/20     Apologies

There was none 

02/11/20     Declaration of Interest

None noted 

03/11/20     Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 1 October 2020

Agreed and signed as a true record 

04/11/20     Mid Devon District Council

4.1              Planning Applications:

20/01554/FULL - Erection of 4 dwellings and associated works following demolition and removal of agricultural buildings at Bidwell Barton Farm, Newton St Cyres.

It was noted that Highways had objected and there are objections that the proposed new buildings will not meet the “betterment” clause and were not in keeping.  After discussion, it was resolved to make no comment.

20/01584/MOUT - Outline for the erection of a 50 bedroom nursing home at Langford Park Nursing Home, Langford Road, Langford

Cllr G Barnell was considering calling in the application so it would be decided by committee rather than a Planning Officer and he had a meeting with residents scheduled for next week.  After discussion it was resolved to support the application as additional care home spaces were required and would also provide jobs in the parish.

20/01678/FULL - Conversion of barn to dwelling and erection of extension to side at Bodley Farm, Newton St Cyres – no comment

East Devon District Council 20/1517/FULL - Construction of digestate storage lagoon, with associated hardstanding and 2.4 metre high security fencing at Land South of Rixenford Lane, Upton Pyne – NSC PC are not consultees. However the issues are with regard to accuracy of planning applications and how traffic implications can affect parishes outside the consultation area

It was noted that the original planning application stated there would be 2 to 3 traffic movements per day.  However, investigations had shown it was more likely to be 70 to 80 trips per day by large tankers.  Highways had initially objected on the basis that the road were unsuitable but a change to tractors and trailers may remove their objection. The route from Ottery St Mary would be through Exeter, along the A377 and up Langford Road to Shute.  Cllr M Squires commented that tractor and trailers may result in more trips.  In Nomansland, which has an anaerobic digestion plant, the roads have been damaged by large lorries.  Cllr G Barnell was working with Cllr Fabian King from East Devon to object to the application and suggested that an independent transport assessment was required.  The Clerk noted that the Parish Council had not been officially consulted, although MDDC were notified of the application by East Devon.  Cllr G Barnell said that MDDC did not reply to the initial consultation as it was out of their jurisdiction, however, it was thought that MDDC should inform parishes who would be affected and he was following this up to ensure that in future parishes would be notified.

A vote was taken in favour of objecting on the grounds of volume of traffic and to ask for an independent traffic assessment.

4.2              Planning Decisions

None

4.3              To note the Local Government Boundary review have accepted the proposals put forward by Cllr G Barnell and are now consulting on this amendment – details at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-west/devon/mid-devon

Noted

4.4              District Councillor, Cllr G Barnell, to report on MDDC business relevant to the Parish   Cllr G Barnell informed the meeting that he was in discussion with residents in Kingfisher Close with regard to the land north of the close and its use as required under the S06 agreement.

The petition calling for DCC and MDDC to work together to produce a joint transport assessment for the A377 was being supported by Shobrooke and Upton Pyne parishes and support would now be requested from the relevant county councillors – Cllrs N Way, M Squires and R Bloxham.  25 signatures were required to get it on MDDC agenda.  Cllr M Squires noted that Cllr S Randall-Jones should also be included and if there were enough signatures, it would be possible to get it on DCC’s agenda as well.

Residents from Smallbrook had contacted Cllr G Barnell about broadband issues and he was keen to try and find a solution.

MDDC were holding a consultation on the Councils Governance arrangements and anyone interested could attend virtually                       

05/11/20     Finance

5.1              Parish Council Receipts Current Account:

MDDC £6,715.50 – second instalment of precept

Shobrooke Parish Council £12.50 – Shobrooke portion of training course for Clerk

5.2              Parish Council Payment Current Account

These were agreed as:

Item	Payee	Purpose	Amount £
5.2.1	DALC	Planning course x 2 places	36.00
5.2.2	Ian Salter	Bus Shelter cleaning	32.00
5.2.3	AET Flood Defence Ltd	135 aqua sacs (grant received)	600.00
5.2.4	R Nethercott	Grass cutting for new graveyard	135.00
5.2.5	J Hole	Salary and expenses	308.63
5.2.6	HMRC	PAYE	36.40

                                                           

5.3              To approve signatures for this month’s cheques

Cllr G Quicke and Cllr P Taylor

5.4              Balances (after above transactions)

5.4.1           Parish Council Current Account balance: £16,291.28

5.4.2           Footpath Account: £268.02 

5.4.3   Car Park resurfacing fund balance: £6,013.93

5.5              Financial Statement and Budget Monitor

Noted 

06/11/20     Matters raised by the Chair 

6.1              None 

07/11/20     Councillor’s Reports    

7.1              Update on Coronavirus and NSC PC response

Cllr D Hodge confirmed that help and support was available if required

7.2              Areas of Responsibility reports

Boniface Trail – Cllr P Taylor noted that DCC were voting to adopt the Exeter Transport Strategy at their meeting on November 11 and this included a commitment to conduct a feasibility study of the trail within the next 5 years.

Churchyard – Cllr R Cashmore noted that Thorverton Church were in discussion with the diocesan regarding the installation of a communication mask on their church tower and he was working with NSC PCC to allow one here.

CRG – a meeting of the flood group had taken place and a Co-ordinators meeting would be organised soon.

Footpaths – Cllr S Parker reported that bicycles were being used on footpaths which was not allowed, although they could be ridden on bridleways. Signs had been posted to this effect.  The Forest Ranger was concerned about groups of cyclists/motorcyclists who used footpaths especially at weekends and were causing damage. It was agreed to put a note in the Newton Wonder

7.2.1           Report from Raddon Hills meeting

Cllr J Enright gave a brief report of the meeting which included discussions on traffic monitoring on the A377, the government planning consultation and the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan.  Cllr G Barnell noted that Teignbridge had now opted out of the plan.

7.2.2           To note Arboretum Risk Assessment

The Risk Assessment had been circulated and was noted                  

08/11/20     Clerk’s Report

8.1              To resolve that criteria are in place for application to Local Council Award Scheme – Quality level

Details of the application had been circulated and it was resolved unanimously that the criteria were in place for an application to be made                  

09/11/20     Parish Council

9.1              Update on progress with Community Shop

An email from a parishioner had been circulated.  This suggested that the Community shop should not go ahead as there would not be the demand or support for its use.  Cllr J Enright noted that no decision had yet been taken on whether to progress with the project, but the parishioners comments were noted.

9.2              To note response below from Peninsula Road Safety Partnership - it is not possible to have the raw data from the recent speed monitoring on the A377.  To consider the PC strategy to ensure that speeding on the A377 is addressed. To note email sent to DCC to enquire when work on the pedestrian crossing will start.

Councillors were disappointed that the raw data was not being made available and the Clerk was asked to request the name of the software and the .dat file.

9.3              To note DCC further clarification on double white lines on the A377

Some Councillors felt that double white lines would not help to improve driver behaviour.  It was agreed however, to ask Cllr M Squires to purse this issue.

9.4              To consider a parish Broadband survey.

A draft survey had been circulated and Cllr R Cashmore asked Councillors to complete this.  Overall Councillors felt the survey should concentrate on Broadband only and not combined with a PCC survey.  It was agreed to set up a working party consisting of Cllr J Enright, Cllr R Cashmore and the Clerk to bring a proposal to the next meeting to include methods and costs of distribution and collection of a survey. 

Minuted here but taken after item 4

10/11/20     Devon County Council

10.1            Outstanding Highways issues

• Speed restrictions in Station Road – SCARF re test requested – with Cllr M Squires to chase
• Request for a School sign in Station Road and possible zig-zag lines outside the school – declined - requested this is re-considered. Cllr L Ouldridge asked if the Parish Council could put a sign up?  Cllr M Squires would enquire
• Request for a Road Safety audit on A377 in centre of village
• Overgrown hedge/grass at Layby bus stop in Half Moon – some work has taken place, with more still to do
• Chapter 8 training for volunteers – not taking place at present due to COVID-19
• Drain cover on A377 – passed to BT as a fault

10.2            New Highway issues

Broken depth marker gauge in Langford (PC not DCC responsibility) – Clerk to obtain quote to replace.

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

Cllr M Squires said Matt Barrow from CDS would attend a meeting to talk about broadband issues and give advice on providers.  It would be better to have information from the survey available to give to him before the meeting. 

Cllr M Squires had been informed that the installation of the Pedestrian crossing had been put back to June 2021 due to delays caused by covid-19.

Cllr M Squires had money in her locality budget if there were any suitable projects in the parish looking for funding?  Could School Hill be cleared of vegetation?  Cllr M Squires would enquire further.

Cllr G Barnell noted the unsafe wall by the arboretum and above the A377 and Cllr M Squires would follow this up. 

11/11/20     Miscellaneous Correspondence

Devon Climate Emergency Newsletter

MDDC Invitation to participate in Governance Review

Various DALC newsletters

Notification from Exe Valley Federation of intention to consult with Sandford Primary School to join the Federation effective from February 2021    

12/11/20     Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

Cllr G Scopes asked if locality funding could be used to finance work required at the allotments?  Cllr J Enright suggested everyone considers projects for discussion at the next meeting.

 Clerk to put the deadline for applying for PC grants on the website and Facebook page 

13/11/20     Date of next meeting: Thursday 3 December 2020, 7pm – via zoom 

End of Formal Business

Public Participation

Cllr G Barnell asked Councillors to notify him of any issues with regard to Council housing as there was a MDDC estate walk about later in the month. 

The meeting closed at 9.20pm