Minutes from March 2023 meeting

Newton St Cyres Parish Council

Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held in the Parish Hall Club Room on Thursday 2 March 2023

The meeting commenced at 7.00pm 

Members present

Cllr D Hodge                                           Cllr G Scopes   

Cllr L Ouldridge (Chair)                          Cllr C Southcott

Cllr S Parker                                            Cllr P Taylor

Cllr G Quicke                                                    

In attendance:  Cllr G Barnell, MDDC, 2 members of public, J Hole, Parish Clerk

Public Participation

Formal Business

A parishioner explained his reasons for objecting to a Tree Protection Order affecting trees on his land

A parishioner thanked the Parish Council for all the work they do

 

01/03/23      Apologies

Cllr J Enright, Cllr M Squires, DCC

 

02/03/23      Declaration of Interest

Item 4.1 22/00004/TPO for Marsh Lane and 23/00345/Full – Cllr G Quicke - DPI

Item 9.4 – Cllr G Quicke - DPI

 

03/03/23      Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 2 February 2023

Agreed and signed as a true record

 

04/03/23      Mid Devon District Council

4.1                 Planning Applications:

                       Cllr G Quicke left the room

Tree Preservation Order – 22/00004/TPO for Marsh Lane

Tree Preservation Order – 22/00005/TPO for Station Road

After discussion it was agreed to comment that the Parish Council largely agreed with the TPO’s but have concerns about the extra burden of maintenance imposed on tree owners.  Also to suggest that the TPO process should involve a community consultation especially when trees are listed based on amenity value

23/00045/FULL - Installation of 340 ground mounted solar panels (144.5kw) at (Home Farm), Newton St Cyres – After discussion it was agreed to strongly support this application

Cllr G Quicke returned to the meeting

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 – no comment

23/00235/FULL - Erection of an agricultural building and formation of hardstanding with associated works at Bidwell Barton Farm, Newton St Cyres – no comment

4.2                 Planning Decisions:

None

4.3                 District Councillor, Cllr G Barnell, to report on MDDC business relevant to the parish         

A meeting of the A377 Action Group was scheduled for 15 March to follow up on the proposed Exeter to Crediton cycleway.  DCC had been awarded an extra grant of £20,000.00 and were continuing to pursue the quiet lane route.   There was a possibility of a public meeting in Crediton and or Newton St Cyres to ensure support for the cycleway remains public.

The next HATOC Meeting was 17 March and Cllr G Barnell had requested that signs and speed limits in Station Road and A377 speed limits be placed on the agenda.

The Neighbourhood Planning Forum had taken place on 25 February and around 60 people had attended.  Comments had been invited on six areas and contributions were being analysed and would be published in the Newton Wonder.  A separate engagement exercise was taking place with the school.

Mid Devon had sent a consultation on the road name for the old school site and the developer suggested name of Newton Grove.  Based on historical reasons, Cllr G Barnell favoured Barn Close and it was resolved to support this suggestion

Cllr G Barnell had received a petition from residents in New Estate requesting speed bumps and a meeting would be arranged with interested parties to discuss further.

Parking issues in Tytheing Close which were affecting refuse collections would be addressed via letters to residents

Site security at the old school site.  The Clerk had emailed the developer to express concerns.  The developer had replied that additional signage was being added together with weekend visits. Cllrs did not feel that this was an adequate response and it was resolved that the Clerk should contact the HSE

There was a new leader of MDDC following the resignation of Cllr B Deed due to ill health.  Cllr G Barnell was Deputy Leader.

                      

05/03/23      Finance

5.1                 Parish Council Receipts Current Account: VAT refund - £1,667.43

5.2                 Parish Council Payments Current Account

                       These were agreed as:

Item	Payee	Purpose	Amount £
5.2.1	NW Community Magazine	Delivery of NW to all houses in parish - NHP	457.87
5.2.2	J Hole	Reimbursement for zoom subscription	143.88
5.2.3	G Barnell	Reimbursement for pinboard for NHP	87.46
5.2.4	J Hole	Salary and expenses	528.44
5.2.5	HMRC	PAYE (cheque payment)	89.80

 

5.3                 To approve signatures for this month’s payments – online

Cllr P Taylor and Cllr S Parker (cheque) and Cllr G Quicke and Cllr G Scopes online

5.4                 Balances (after above transactions)

5.4.1   Parish Council Current Account balance: £17,583.54

5.4.2   Footpath Account: £268.02

5.4.3   Car Park resurfacing fund balance: £5,742.22                

5.4.4   NHP: £9,120.58 (incl in 5.4.1 above)

5.5                 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor

Noted 

06/03/23      Matters raised by the Chair

6.1                 To agree Coronation mementos for school children

Quotes had been circulated

It was resolved to purchase medals at £2.99 each for 132 school children

6.2                 To vote on nominations for Community Volunteer of the Year 2022 

Two nominations had been received and a secret vote was taken

6.3                 To agree agenda for Annual Parish Meeting to be held at 7pm on 6 April

The draft agenda had been circulated and was agreed.  It was resolved not to have a discussion topic

 

07/03/23      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

7.1.2              Surgery - Report from February surgery – There was no report. 

March surgery will promote PC elections and Cllrs who can attend were requested to do so

April surgery – Cllr J Enright to attend

7.1.3              Notes from January Raddon Hills meeting

These had been circulated and were noted 

08/03/23      Clerk’s Report        

8.1                 None

                      

09/03/23      Parish Council

9.1                 Climate – Report from Climate Officer

A report had been circulated and was noted.   The Climate Officer had emailed to report that by completing a short questionnaire for SWW, a number of devices aimed at saving water were available including a water butt, although supply may be limited

There would be an opening ceremony for the newly planted Orchard in Court Orchard next week.

9.2                 Neighbourhood Plan – update from Steering Group members (Cllr G Quicke)

This was covered under 4.3 above

9.3                 Road Warden Scheme – update.  To note request for an additional volunteer to be Chapter 8 trained and to note procedure for reporting issues to RW

Any issues for the road wardens must be reported online rather than by phone as this allowed for all information to be recorded.  It was agreed that a request from another parish to buy some tarmac would not be allowed.  It was noted that another volunteer would be Chapter 8 trained.

9.4                 To consider request to fund maintenance of permissive paths in the parish (approx. £1,800 pa) due to withdrawal of funding by DEFRA

Cllr G Quicke left the meeting

It was agreed to discuss the issue further with the landowner with a view to considering financial support dependant on a maintenance agreement.

Cllr G Quicke returned to the meeting. 

10/03/23      Devon County Council

10.1               Outstanding Highways issues

Several emails had been received from Kingfisher Close residents about the outstanding grit bin for Kingfisher Close.  The Clerk would continue to chase Cllr M Squires

The light in the Parish Hall car park was not working – MDDC had advised that this was not their responsibility and would either be the halls or the Parish Councils.  Cllr G Barnell would take this up with MDDC as the light was important to residents in Shuttern Close

10.2               New Highway issues  

To request via Cllr M Squires support for a Vehicle Activated speeding sign

It was agreed that the Clerk would advise Cllr M Squires that possible locations were by the 30mph signs on Quickes straight and by the old school stie.

A parishioner had emailed to note the poor state of the A377 and the Clerk would pass these comments on to Cllr M Squires.

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                       

11/03/23      Miscellaneous Correspondence

Various newsletters/correspondence circulated. 

Clerk to find out when the mast on the church tower would be operational following an enquiry for a parishioner                      

12/03/23      Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

None noted 

13/02/23      Date of next PC meeting: Thursday 6 April 2023, 7pm in the Club Room, Parish Hall – Annual Parish Meeting to be followed by Parish Council meeting at 7.30pm 

End of Formal Business

Public Participation

It was noted that the NSC Flood Group no longer had a chair and various actions points were outstanding.

It was agreed to add this to the Cllr responsible for Resilience under the new council

Would hustings be held for district councillor candidates?  Clerk to book hall and publicise date once candidates are known.

 

The meeting closed at 8.30pm.