Minutes from April 2023 meeting
Newton St Cyres Parish Council
Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held in the Parish Hall Club Room on Thursday 4 April 2023
The meeting commenced at 7.30pm
Members present
Cllr J Enright (Chair) Cllr G Scopes
Cllr L Ouldridge Cllr C Southcott
Cllr S Parker Cllr P Taylor
Cllr G Quicke
In attendance: Cllr G Barnell, MDDC (left 8.15pm), 4 members of public, J Hole, Parish Clerk
Public Participation
Was there an update on the missing post box by the Beer Engine? This was thought to be stolen and the Post office were aware and would be providing a replacement although this may take some time.
Discussion took place about whether or not the new council could hold informal meetings and the Clerk would provide some guidance.
Formal Business
01/04/23 Apologies
Cllr D Hodge, Cllr M Squares (DCC)
02/04/23 Declaration of Interest
Item 9.4 – Cllr G Quicke - DPI
03/04/23 Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 2 March 2023
Agreed and signed as a true record
04/04/23 Mid Devon District Council
4.1 Planning Applications:
23/00431/FULL - Variation of Condition 2 of Planning Permission 21/01501/FULL - Demolition of existing school buildings, including adjacent detached classroom buildings and erection of 8 dwellings with garages - for a substitution of plot 5 design with detached garage at Former Primary School Site - no comment
4.2 Planning Decisions:
23/00045/FULL - Installation of 340 ground mounted solar panels (144.5kw) at (Home Farm), Newton St Cyres – grant permission
23/00022/HOUSE - Extension to porch, alterations to doors on South elevation, installation of flue and solar panels at Elmhurst, Church Lane, Newton St Cyres, EX5 5BN – grant permission
4.3 To note date of MDDC Housing Walkabout for Tytheing Close, Court Orchard, Shuttern Close and New Estate – 3 May 2023
Noted
4.4 District Councillor, Cllr G Barnell, to report on MDDC business relevant to the parish
Cllr G Barnell reported on the HATOC meeting he had attended. This had discussed the signage and speed limit outside the primary school and a formal assessment would now be undertaken. A crossing at Tytheing Close would require finance from a development and Cllr G Barnell would pursue this. The speed limits on the A377 by Smallbrook and Quickes straight still required input from SCARF. It had been confirmed that the proposed Crediton to Exeter cycleway could, for the most part, run close to the A377 with minor diversions around Newton St Cyres. However, funding was being used for paths in urban areas rather than rural areas and Cllr G Barnell suggested that sustained and consistent campaigning would be required as well as joining forces with Crediton to make DCC aware of the strength of demand.
With regard to the broken light in the hall Car Park, MDDC maintained that one light is the responsibility of MDDC but the other, broken light, is the responsibility of the hall. Cllr G Barnell would continue to pursue the matter.
The developer at the old school site had rejected the name of “Barn Close”. The PC felt that the name put forward by the Developer, Newton Grove, was not appropriate as there was no grove present. Something with Newton and a suffix such as Newton Field. Newton Heights, Newton View, Newton Close would be acceptable as would “Sand Down” as the first part of the name and Cllr J Enright would contact the developer to discuss.
05/04/23 Finance
5.1 Parish Council Receipts Current Account: Allotment rent: £80.00
5.2 Parish Council Payments Current Account
Since the agenda had been sent out, an invoice for DALC annual subscription had been received for £257.25 and it was resolved to add this to the payment schedule at 5.2.7 below
Payments were agreed as:
|
Item |
Payee |
Purpose |
Amount £ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
5.2.1 |
Unity Bank |
Bank charges (already deducted) |
18.00 |
|
5.2.2 |
Groundworks |
Return of unspent NHP Grant |
9,120.58 |
|
5.2.3 |
Nick Gillon |
RWS Expenses (gloves) |
14.30 |
|
5.2.4 |
Simon Saunders |
Grass cutting (Green £160.00 and Churchyard £100.00) |
260.00 |
|
5.2.5 |
J Hole |
Salary and expenses |
382.26 |
|
5.2.6 |
HMRC |
PAYE |
49.80 |
|
5.2.7 |
DALC |
Annual membership |
257.25 |
5.3 To approve signatures for this month’s payments – online
Cllr J Enright and Cllr G Quicke
5.4 Balances (after above transactions)
5.4.1 Parish Council Current Account balance: £10,833.75
5.4.2 Footpath Account: £268.02
5.4.3 Car Park resurfacing fund balance: £5,742.22
5.4.4 NHP: £0.00
5.5 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor
Noted
06/04/23 Matters raised by the Chair
6.1 To agree presentation of Coronation mementos to school children
Cllrs Quicke, Ouldridge and Scopes would visit the school to make the presentation. The Clerk would make the arrangements and advise accordingly once the medals had been delivered.
07/04/23 Councillor’s Reports
7.1 Areas of Responsibility reports
7.1.1 Allotments – update on entrance works
Cllr S Parker was waiting for a quote and the Road Warden had another contact and would send details
7.1.2 Surgery - Report from March surgery – there were no issues. Next 8 April – Cllr J Enright to attend
7.1.3 Notes from A377 Action Group meeting
These had been circulated separately and were noted.
7.1.4 Footpaths – New fence posts were required on the old school path and Cllr J Enright would speak to the old school site developer to see if he might be able to help with the installation as previously agreed verbally.
08/04/23 Clerk’s Report
8.1 None
09/04/23 Parish Council
9.1 Climate – Report from Climate Officer
A report had been circulated and was noted. Standing orders were suspended and the Climate Office noted that a “Friends of the Exe” group was being formed. Standing orders were reinstated.
9.2 Neighbourhood Plan – update from Steering Group members
Cllr G Barnell updated the meeting: The Group were focused on translating the outcomes from the Community forum into a plan. A lesson was being planned for the school and it was hoped that parents would engage with the process as well. It was noted that there were two new steering Group members.
9.3 Road Warden Scheme – update
The Clerk reported that another volunteer was being Chapter 8 trained, paid for by DCC. The Road Warden had a few items they required and it was agreed that the Clerk could make a grant application to the Community Enhancement fund as and when required.
9.4 To consider correspondence re maintenance of permissive paths
It was agreed that Cllr S Parker would liaise with the landowner and report back to Council
9.5 To consider “hustings” for upcoming elections
It was agreed that this was not necessary
9.6 To note update on installation of mast on church
An update had been circulated and the delay was due to BT.
10/04/23 Devon County Council
10.1 Outstanding Highways issues
There were no updates other than a reply from DCC about Vehicle Activated Signs for the A377:
“This would have to be done in conjunction of the SCARF process proving that there is an issue at the location requiring some intervention. Having just checked the system a speed survey was carried out last year near to Pump Street shows that speeds are within tolerance so the sites would not be considered”
10.2 New Highway issues
Blocked drains near New Estate
10.3 County Councillor, Cllr M Squires, to report on DCC business relevant to the parish, including any report from SCARF
An email from Cllr M Squires had been circulated about a consultation on mobile library vans. This was noted.
11/04/23 Miscellaneous Correspondence
Various newsletters/correspondence circulated.
Consultation proposal for re-federation of Exe Valley Federation and Whimple School – noted
12/04/23 Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda
Request to move DCC up the agenda to follow MDDC
13/04/23 Date of next PC meeting: 18 May 2023 – Annual Meeting at 7pm in the Club Room
End of Formal Business
Public Participation
A parishioner passed on his thanks for the work carried out by the Parish Council
The meeting closed at 8.25pm