Minutes from December 2022 meeting
Newton St Cyres Parish Council
Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held in the Parish Hall Club Room on Thursday 1 December 2022
The meeting commenced at 7.00pm
Members present
Cllr J Enright (Chair) Cllr G Scopes
Cllr R Cashmore Cllr C Southcott
Cllr D Hodge Cllr P Taylor
Cllr G Quicke
In attendance: Cllr G Barnell, MDDC (left 7.55pm), 1 member of public (left 7.55pm), J Hole, Parish Clerk
Public Participation
The Climate Officer asked if the Parish Council would support bike racks being installed at the Parish Hall? The Clerk reported that the Hall had indicated that they were not required. It was suggested that individuals contact the Parish Hall and request that bike racks be installed.
MDDC were supportive of a proposal by a parishioner to plant trees and wild flowers at Court Orchard and a resident’s consultation carried out by MDDC was also supportive. Cllr G Barnell advised that MDDC would provide a grant of £1,000.00 to the Parish Council and the Clerk would follow this up.
Cllr G Barnell had met with the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and other interested parties to discuss possibilities for natural flood management following the EA designation of NSC as a rapid catchment area. An approach would be made to DCC to discuss options and possible funding
When turning left out of Tytheing Close onto the A377, there were overgrown trees etc making visibility difficult. Clerk to contact MDDC
Footpath 1 required a hand rail and repairs to the steps – Clerk to speak to Cllr S Parker
Formal Business
01/12/22 Apologies
Cllr L Ouldridge, Cllr S Parker
02/12/22 Declaration of Interest
Cllr J Enright - 4.1 PI
03/12/22 Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 3 November 2022
Agreed and signed as a true record
04/12/22 Mid Devon District Council
4.1 Planning Applications:
22/02068/FULL - Change of use from agriculture to equestrian and construction of riding arena at Land at NGR 290248 97597 Langford Road, Langford
Cllr J Enright handed the Chair to Cllr R Cashmore for this item and took no part in the discussion.
After discussion it was agreed to make no comment.
4.2 Planning Decisions:
None
4.3 District Councillor, Cllr G Barnell, to report on MDDC business relevant to the parish
Cllr G Barnell gave an update on the Boniface Trail as discussed at the recent A377 Action Group. The consultant’s report promised at the end of the summer required amendment, but at present there was no funding available. A funding bid had been submitted, the results of which would be known in January. It was suggested that the Quiet Lane approach could be modified to include some road restrictions limiting vehicles. At the same time, it was suggested that the route identified by the Boniface Trail Association could be delivered in phases over a period of time.
HATOC were actively considering the speed limits on the A377 between the Quickes straight and Crediton, following a suggestion that this whole stretch should be 40mph. Consideration was also being given as to how to improve the safety for people using the bus stop at Smallbrooke.
Crossing at Tytheing Close – DCC representatives at the A377 Action Group meeting had agreed that a scheme should be drawn up so that it was ready to go when money was available.
Cllr G Barnell noted his resignation as the Chair of the Flood Group and a replacement chair was required.
The Neighbourhood plan Group would be running a community engagement event on Saturday 25 February which would include lunch.
Pedlars Pool development – this was a concern due to the likely increased traffic on the A377. Cllr G Barnell noted that there was a meeting next week with local Parish Council Chairs and MDDC and the developer, Bellway Homes with a view to requesting Bellway Homes to reconsider the design of the houses and to incorporate environmentally friendly initiatives. A meeting was scheduled for January with MDDC to try and establish protocols for joined up infrastructure planning, to include schools, transport and medical facilities.
05/12/22 Finance
5.1 Parish Council Receipts Current Account: MDDC Precept 2nd instalment £6,715.50
5.2 Parish Council Payments Current Account.
Since the agenda has been circulated, invoices for grass cutting had been received and it was agreed to add these to the payment schedule at 5.2.6 and 5.2.7 below. Payments were agreed as:
|
Item |
Payee |
Purpose |
Amount £ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
5.2.1 |
V Safety |
Hi-Viz jackets for volunteers |
43.04 |
|
5.2.2 |
J Hole |
Reimbursement for Tool for RWS |
44.98 |
|
5.2.3 |
J Hole |
Reimbursement for reflective strips for RWS |
30.92 |
|
5.2.4 |
J Hole |
Salary and expenses (includes backdated pay increase) |
544.50 |
|
5.2.5 |
HMRC |
PAYE |
95.60 |
|
5.2.6 |
Simon Saunders |
Grass cutting parish (parish £80.00, churchyard £150.00) |
230.00 |
|
5.2.7 |
Ron Nethercott |
Grass cutting new churchyard |
120.00 |
5.3 To approve signatures for this month’s payments – online and one cheque
Cllr J Enright and Cllr G Quicke
5.4 Balances (after above transactions)
5.4.1 Parish Council Current Account balance: £18,661.96
5.4.2 Footpath Account: £268.02
5.4.3 Car Park resurfacing fund balance: £9,018.48
5.4.5 NHP: £9,886.00
5.5 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor
Noted
5.6 To consider Vehicle Activated signs to address speeding issues in parish
After discussion it was agreed to pursue this with DCC, via Cllr M Squires and possibly the Raddon Hills Group
5.7 To agree purchase of first aid kit for RW – approx. £40.00
This was agreed
5.8 To agree budget and precept for 2023-2024
A draft budget had been circulated. It was resolved unanimously to keep the precept the same as last year at £13,431.00
06/12/22 Matters raised by the Chair
6.1 None
07/12/22 Councillor’s Reports
7.1 Areas of Responsibility reports
7.1.1 Allotments – to discuss entrance works
A suggested plan of work had been circulated and Cllr R Cashmore agreed to progress this with the Road Wardens
7.1.2 Surgery - Report from November surgery – no issues raised. Noted that church would be running a warm space at the Parish Hall on Wednesday afternoons
7.1.3 CRG – to agree update of CR Plan. To note minutes from CRG Co-ordinators meeting and to consider organisation of volunteers
Jock Campbell was thanked for his continuing work on the CR Plan. The updated CRG Plan had been circulated and there were no comments. It was agreed that discussion with Firewatch should continue.
A maintenance visit for the tipping rain gauge was booked for 5 December
7.1.4 Raddon Hills – notes from last meeting circulated separately
Cllr R Cashmore noted that correspondence from the Group would now be directed through Parish Clerks rather than direct to RH representatives and a call for agenda items would be sent out month in advance to allow member councils to ask for items to go on the agenda.
7.1.5 A377 Action Group – note from last meeting circulated separately
Covered in 4.3 above
7.1.6 Speed Watch – Cllr S Parker had advised the Clerk that he was contacting the PCSO responsible for Speed Watch who was now based in Plymouth
08/12/22 Clerk’s Report
8.1 To agree Christmas card list
Clerk to send to “thank you” Christmas Cards to volunteers
09/12/22 Parish Council
9.1 Climate – Report from Climate Officer
A report had been circulated and was covered in the public session
9.2 Neighbourhood Plan – update from Steering Group members
A meeting was planned for next week.
9.3 Road Warden Scheme – update
The Clerk had applied to DCC for 52 tubs of tarmac and this would be delivered on 7 December at no cost to the Parish.
9.4 To consider election material – circulated
Cllr R Cashmore had drawn up a suggested poster and a flyer. It was agreed to have publicity material available for the parish council surgeries early next year
9.5 To consider the offer of a free landmark tree of 2m height to be planted in a public space
Clerk to liaise with NEW to find out if there were any suitable sites
10/12/22 Devon County Council
10.1 Outstanding Highways issues
There were no updates on the outstanding issues
It was agreed to add A377 speed signs and VAS to the list
10.2 New Highway issues
Blocked drains at Rewe Cross
10.3 County Councillor, Cllr M Squires, to report on DCC business relevant to the parish, including any report from SCARF
There was no report
11/12/22 Miscellaneous Correspondence
Various newsletters/correspondence circulated.
12/12/22 Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda
None noted
13/12/22 Date of next PC meeting: Thursday 2 February 2023, 7pm in the Club Room, Parish Hall
End of Formal Business
Public Participation
There was none
The meeting closed at 8.30pm
Agreed budget and precept calculation