Minutes from November 2019 meeting

Shobrooke Parish Council

Minutes of Parish Council meeting held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 12 November 2019

The meeting commenced at 7.30pm 

Members Present: 

Cllr C Furse (Chair)                Cllr J Ingham

Cllr C Boult                            Cllr A Jones

Cllr B Curle                            Cllr L Pitts                

In attendance:

Cllr M Squires, DCC (arrived 8.50pm), Cllr G Barnell, MDDC (left 8.30pm), J Hole, Parish Clerk 

Business to be Transacted

Public Participation

There was no public present

Formal Business 

01/11/19     Apologies  

Cllr A Ripper (apology due to work received after meeting) 

02/11/19     Declaration of Interest

None noted 

03/11/19     Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 8 October 2019

Agreed and signed as a true record 

04/11/19     To consider any applicants for co-option – two posts are available

There were no candidates and Cllr C Furse encouraged Councillors to keep approaching potential candidates 

05/11/19     Mid Devon District Council

5.1              Planning Applications

19/01819/HOUSE - Erection of single storey front extension at Brampton, Shobrooke – no comment

5.2              Planning Decisions: None          

5.3              To note a request to allow further time for the grant application for unallocated S106 money of £2,705.00 has been made and also to request future CIL contributions are allocated to playground equipment

Noted.  Queries were raised concerning the difference between unallocated S106 money and CIL contributions and what they could be used for. Unallocated S106 money can be sent on any eligible project.  The CIL allocated money could only be spent on toddler play equipment as the contribution was generated when the regulations stated that contributions from no more than five projects could go towards a named parish project.  The regulations had now changed and a wider project definition, such as playground equipment, was allowed.

5.4              To note the Local Government Association is working on a new model code of conduct

Details had been circulated and it was resolved to wait until further information was available before commenting

5.5              Query re anaerobic digestion plant in Crediton – request for MDDC to confirm they will enforce planning conditions if necessary – with Cllr G Barnell for investigation

Councillors were looking for assurance that once the Crediton anaerobic digestion plant is up and running, MDDC will enforce any planning conditions, especially with regard to traffic movements.  Cllr G Barnell stated that MDDC takes a robust approach towards enforcement and do their best to enforce planning conditions.  However, resources are limited and MDDC were reliant on the information provided by the company, which in some cases did not always match up with residents’ experiences. 

5.6               Climate Change - To consider any action that the PC should be taking.  Proposal from Cllr G Barnell circulated separately and email from DCC

Cllr G Barnell reported that he was trying to set up a local climate change action group for Shobrooke and Newton St Cyres, but he needed someone to run the group.  Councillors agreed it was a good idea to combine the two parishes and asked to be kept informed. When the group is formed, a Shobrooke Councillor would be willing to attend the group.

5.7               20mph speed limit in the parish – Cllr G Barnell suggests that the PC surveys opinion first – copy of a draft letter circulated separately.  Information on AutoSpeedWatch also circulated

Councillors explained that some years ago, they had met with DCC to discuss speeding in the parish but nothing came of it.  Subsequent discussions had been held with the Police but attempts to set up a community speed watch group had failed.  Cllr G Barnell explained that it was difficult to get 20mph speed limits in rural areas as DCC were unwilling to get the necessary traffic regulation orders, which required a resolution to be passed and there was a cost involved. Cllr G Barnell would be arranging a meeting after Christmas with two DCC officers to discuss the issue in Newton St Cyres and would be willing to add Shobrooke to the discussion. He would be giving this issue priority as he felt strongly about safety issues. Cllr L Pitts volunteered to attend the meeting.  Cllr G Barnell noted that in his experience it is necessary to be persistent with issues and gathering local evidence of existing rural 20mph zones helped.

It was resolved to purchase two additional “twenty is plenty” signs.

It was noted that the hedges on the Crediton to Shobrooke side of the road either side of Church Lane could do with cutting and the Clerk would write to the land owner to enquire if this was possible.

5.8               Report from MDDC Councillor, Cllr Graeme Barnell on MDDC business relevant to the parish – to include any update on broadband and mobile phone signal

Cllr G Barnell explained that DCC have a contract with Connecting Devon and Somerset but over the past 18 months there have been contractual issues with Giglaclear, the company responsible for connecting people.   He suggested asking the DCC officers responsible for project delivery to attend the next Raddon Hills meeting as it made sense if parishes worked together on this issue.   With regard to mobile phone signal, this was likely to be due to a lack of masts, which were often opposed by residents due to health fears.  It was suggested that the Clerk should contact the PCC and pub to enquire if they would be willing to host a mast. 

06/11/19     Road and Footpaths

6.1              Outstanding Road and Footpath issues

Various pot holes – the pot hole in School Close had been filled

6.2              New issues identified

None noted 

07/11/19     Finance

7.1              Parish Council receipts Current Account.  Cllr C Furse passed a cheque for £250.00 from the Allotment Association to the Clerk

7.2              Parish Council payments current account

These were agreed as:                

Item	Payer	Purpose	Amount £
7.2.1	MDDC	Parish Election	147.35
7.2.2	J Hill	Hire of mower and petrol	700.00
7.2.3	J Hole	Salary and expenses	277.67
7.2.4	HMRC	PAYE	12.00

                                                                                                                                      

7.3              To approve signatures for this month’s cheques

7.4              Balances:

7.4.1           Parish Council Current Account balance: £1,867.94 plus £250.00

7.4.2           Parish Council Footpath balance (in above current account figure): £311.74

7.4.3           Parish Council Reserve Account balance: £7,793.69 (£3,000.00 ringfenced for play equipment)

7.5              Financial Statement and Budget Monitor

Noted

7.6              To consider grant request from Citizens Advice Bureau

Details had been circulated.  It was not clear exactly how many parishioners had benefitted from CAB advice and it was resolved not to agree a grant. 

08/11/19     Councillor’s Reports                                    

8.1              To consider any Councillor reports for areas of responsibility

8.1.1           Report from Raddon Hills meeting held on 28 October

Notes had been circulated

8.1.2           Report from Policing meeting held on 30 October

Cllr L Pitts gave a brief update on the meeting which had included an update on the local policing team.  Meetings were planned every month alternating between Crediton, Cullompton and Tiverton.  The police prioritised calls using a “Threat, Harm, Risk” approach.  Common incidents included highway issues, welfare issues, suspicious activity and nuisance.  Recent crimes included theft and common assault. It was confirmed that county lines were operating in the Mid Devon area

8.1.3           Snow Warden report – Cllr C Boult reported that most grit bins were low to empty and given the rate of usage last time, there was only about three days supply.  A request to fill up the bins made in March to DCC had still not been actioned.  The Clerk confirmed that she had also reported online that the bins were empty.  The Clerk would email DCC again and copy Cllr M Squires. Ideally, 80 bags of salt were required.

Cllr C Boult noted that the grit bin by the war memorial which had been relocated by the Parish Council is not recognised by DCC’s system as being at the war memorial. 

8.2              Playing Fields report

Cllr C Boult confirmed that inspections were being carried out and the paperwork would be forwarded to the Clerk shortly.  There had been a delay in the delivery of the poles to repair the basket swing.  The wood on the zip wire was rotting and required some attention.  There had been reports of a youth using a knife in the park to damage the wood and the Clerk would report to our PCSO. 

09/11/19     Clerk’s Report

9.1              To note requirement to ensure that website is accessible – need to upload files in a different format – presentation circulated separately

The Clerk had attended the MDDC Clerks update where it was noted that websites needed to comply with the Public Sector Bodies Act (Websites and Mobile Applications) Regulations 2018.  The Clerk would contact MDDC for further support and advice  

10/11/19     Parish Council

10.1            To consider any training needs for new co-opted councillors

Deferred

10.2            To consider toddler play equipment – brochures will be available at the meeting

Brochures from five different companies were passed around.  Other options for toddler equipment included springers and maybe seating.  After discussion it was resolved to hold a separate meeting to consider options in more detail.  This would take place on Wednesday 27 November at 7.30pm with as many Councillors as possible to attend.  It was noted that once three options had been selected, it would be necessary to obtain full quotes to include cost of installation and delivery which would require each company to undertake a site visit.  Cllr C Boult noted that the safety matting was still down from the old monkey bars and it might be possible to use this.

10.3            To consider a table tennis table for the play park

Information had been circulated and while the idea was considered to be a good one, it was felt that the costs were prohibitive at this point in time

10.4            Update on reports of shooting

There had been no further reports and no further action was required.                  

11/11/19     Devon County Council

11.1            Report from DCC Councillor, Cllr M Squires on DCC business relevant to the parish

A report had been circulated

11.2            Update on grit bins

The Clerk had obtained two quotes for grit bins and it was resolved to order two 400 litre bins which would be £5.78 over the grant awarded by MDDC.  These would be delivered direct to Cllr C Boult who would arrange installation.  Cllr M Squires had no update on the possibility of DCC replacing the grit bin by Exeter Hill Cross which had been removed at some point in the past.

11.3            Devon County Council (Traffic Management) Permit Scheme Order

Details had been circulated and were noted. 

12/11/19     Miscellaneous Correspondence

DCC Highways Winter Newsletter – circulated separately

 DCC Carbon Plan process – call for residents to have input

Campaign for Local Democracy, meeting 14 November – email circulated separately

MDDC Budget Setting Survey – details circulated separately                     

13/11/19     Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

Clerk to put details of the January road closure notice for sewer lining in the Brooke and the advert for new councillors

14/11/19     Date of next meeting: Tuesday 10 December 2019 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall 

End of formal business 

The meeting closed at 9.30pm