Minutes from May 2020 meeting
Shobrooke Parish Council
Minutes of Parish Council meeting held remotely via Zoom on Tuesday 12 May 2020
The meeting commenced at 7.30pm
Members Present
Cllr J Ingham (Chair) Cllr A Jones
Cllr C Boult (part of meeting) Cllr L Pitts
Cllr M Boult Cllr A Ripper
Cllr B Curle
In attendance:
Cllr M Squires, DCC (left 8.15pm), Cllr G Barnell, MDDC (left 7.50pm), J Hole, Parish Clerk
Formal Business
01/05/20 Coronavirus
To resolve to adopt supplementary Standing Orders (as advised by DALC) to meet the statutory requirements for the holding of remote meetings. These last until 7 May 2021 or the repeal of legislation whichever is the earlier
Supplementary orders had been circulated and adoption was proposed by Cllr L Pitts and seconded by Cllr A Jones and agreed unanimously
Public Participation
There was no pubic present
02/05/20 Apologies
Cllr C Boult (attended part of the meeting)
03/05/20 Declaration of Interest
Item 5.1 re 20/00628/FULL – Cllrs C and M Boult - PI
04/05/20 Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 10 March 2020
Agreed as a true record and to be signed by the Chair at a later date
05/03/20 Mid Devon District Council
5.1 Planning Applications
20/00642/FULL - Erection of an agricultural building for grain storage at Shute Farm Shute – no comment
20/00628/FULL - Change of use of Woodleigh from dwelling to care home (C2) to form part of Creedy Court Care Home, Shobrooke.
Discussion took place about the speed limit on this stretch of road which was 60mph. Given the fact that this was a care home and, on a bend, it was felt the speed limit was high. Councillor Cllr M Squires advised that the road would not meet the criteria for a review of the speed limit but maybe some traffic calming could be considered? Clerk to ask MDDC to consider, for example marking “slow” on the road and additional road signs.
5.2 Planning Decisions:
None
5.3 Report from MDDC Councillor, Cllr Graeme Barnell on MDDC business relevant to the parish
A report from Cllr G Barnell had been circulated with an update on MDDC actions in the current coronavirus crisis. In summary MDDC had processed £60 million of business grants from 1300 applications. A discretionary fund would also be up and running once government guidance had been received and this should cover small businesses that did not qualify for the business grant scheme. MDDC were signposting people to other agencies where applicable. MDDC were part of the shielding hub and arranging emergency food packages. They were working with all voluntary groups to ensure everyone was covered. There was also a hardship fund for those who fell through the state benefit net. Plans were beginning to be made for the recovery period and the regeneration that would be necessary following the end of the pandemic. A Government scheme for self-employed people who could not work due to the pandemic should be open for applications next week.
Cllr J Ingham asked for an update on the Creedy Bridge planning application. Cllr G Barnell stated that the S106 agreement was still outstanding and discussions were ongoing.
06/03/20 Finance
6.1 Parish Council receipts Current Account:
|
Item |
Payee |
Purpose |
Amount £ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
6.1.1 |
MDDC |
Precept |
5,518.00 |
6.2 Parish Council payments current account:
The following payment was agreed via email and paid in April:
|
Item |
Payee |
Purpose |
Amount £ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
6.2.1 |
Playsafety Limited |
Playground annual inspection |
157.80 |
Payments to be made in May were agreed as:
|
Item |
Payee |
Purpose |
Amount £ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
6.2.2 |
DALC |
Annual Membership |
124.37 |
|
6.2.3 |
Information Commissioner |
Data Protection Registration Fee |
40.00 |
|
6.2.4 |
BHIB |
Insurance |
236.69 |
|
6.2.5 |
J Hole |
Salary and expenses (March/April) |
440.25 |
|
6.2.6 |
HMRC |
PAYE |
24.00 |
6.3 To approve signatures for this month’s cheques
Clerk to post cheques to Cllr C Furse for signature
6.4 Balances:
6.4.1 Parish Council Current Account balance: £5,522.69
6.4.2 Parish Council Footpath balance (in above current account figure): £311.74
6.4.3 Parish Council Reserve Account balance: £7,796.64 (£3,250.00 ringfenced for play equipment)
6.5 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor - attached and Receipts and Payments summary for year ending 31 March 2020
Noted
6.6 Annul Return
Annual Return documents were available on the website. The internal audit had been completed satisfactorily.
6.6.1 To approve Section 1 Annual Governance Statement 2019/20
Noted and approved
6.6.2 Annual Return – to approve Section 2 Accounting Statements 2019/20
Noted and approved
6.6.3 To sign Certificate of Exemption stating that during 2019/20 the higher of the authority’s income for the year or gross annual expenditure did not excel £25,000 and declare the PC exempt for a limited assurance review
It was resolved to sign the Exemption. Clerk to post Annual Return documents to the Chairman for signature
07/05/20 Road and Footpaths
7.1 Outstanding Road and Footpath issues
Various pot holes/ Damaged drain opposite old Post Office/ Standing water on bend by Shobrooke Park/Bus stop trip hazard/salt bins/hedge slippage
There was no update on any outstanding issues
7.2 New issues identified
A parishioner had advised that part of the safety rail was missing on the steps opposite the Village Hall. Cllr B Curle had inspected the steps and confirmed that there was approximately 15ft of missing railing. Clerk to contact DCC footpath warden and request the work is undertaken
7.3 Update on location of 20 is plenty signs
Cllr A Jones had installed posts to fix the “20 is plenty” signs on and will install the signs in due course
08/05/20 Councillor’s Reports
8.1 To consider any Councillor reports for areas of responsibility
Defibrillator – South West Ambulance Trust required another phone number and it was agreed to give the Clerk’s number.
8.2 Playing Field
The planning field remained closed and would continue to be closed as it could not be guaranteed that the play equipment would not be used. Some remedial work had been carried out.
09/05/20 Clerk’s Report
9.1 None
10/05/20 Parish Council
10.1 Update on Coronavirus and any Parish actions required.
Cllr C Boult reported that he had helped 19 people in the village with shopping and prescription collections and referred some to the pub. In addition, 17 people outside of the parish had also been helped. He had recruited additional village volunteers to answer phone calls and collect prescriptions and newspapers for parishioners as required. Cllr C Boult felt that all parishioners who required help were able to receive it at the current time. Thanks were passed to Cllr C Boult for all his work. Cllr C Boult reported that Exeter City Council were very efficient in responding to requests for help but MDDC were very slow to respond to requests. This was at odds with the report received from Cllr G Barnell and Cllr C Boult agreed to report the issues direct to Cllr G Barnell.
Cllr A Jones had been helping with maintenance of the war memorial grass area as the parishioner who usually cuts the grass was no longer able to cut it. It was agreed to put this on the next agenda to discuss a longer-term solution
10.2 Update on Community Emergency Plan
Deferred to a future agenda
11/05/20 Devon County Council
11.1 Report from DCC Councillor, Cllr M Squires on DCC business relevant to the parish
Cllr M Squires reported that stocks of PPE remained stable across Devon. Hospitals, community and GP practices were working together to share stock and this meant there was enough for the time being.
Highways would be resuming planned work in the next few weeks.
12/05/20 Miscellaneous Correspondence
The Local Government Boundary Commission Review has been paused
DCC Climate Emergency Newsletter
DCC consultation on local bus services
13/05/20 Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda
A car parked in the village had been hit overnight. Cllr C Boult noted that when the A377 is blocked, sat navs show Shobrooke as an alternative route. Cllr C Boult suggested a sign saying “Unsuitable for HGV’s”. Clerk to put on a future agenda.
14/05/20 Date of next meeting: Tuesday 9 June 2020, at 7.30 pm to be held remotely
The meeting closed at 8.30pm