Agenda 2025 November 10

Nov 5, 2025 | Agendas

To all members of Blackawton Parish Council 5 November 2025

You are hereby summoned to attend the monthly meeting of Blackawton Parish Council to be held on Monday 10 November 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall for the purpose of transacting the following business.

a. Open Forum

The Chair invites Questions from Parishioners.

b. Councillors Forum

Cllrs may raise items for attention or for future consideration.

AGENDA

  1. Apologies

To receive apologies for absence from Parish Cllrs Hadow & Mardon, and from DCC Cllr Brazil.

  1. Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of Members’ interests in Agenda items.

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

To approve Minutes of the Meetings held 13 and 20 October 2025.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

  2. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

  3. Planning Applications

    1. South Hams District Council’s Planning Decisions

To note the decisions as follows:

  • 2380/25/CLP The Granary Millcombe Farmhouse Blackawton TQ9 7AE. Certificate of lawfulness for proposed siting of caravan within the domestic garden to provide ancillary accommodation. Cert of Lawfulness (Proposed) Certified.

  • 2657/25/AGR Yonder Parks Bungalow Blackawton TQ9 7DR. Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed general purpose agricultural building measuring 22.86m (L) x 18.28m (B) x 9.14m height to ridge. Prior Approval Deemed Consent.

    1. Review of New Applications

To consider commenting to SHDC on the following applications:

  • 2958/25/FUL Higher Dreyton Farm Blackawton TQ9 7DG. Extension to existing detached garage to form ancillary accommodation & associated works.

  • 2883/25/FUL Land Adjacent 25 French Furze Road, Blackawton. Replacement of existing garage & containers with commercial store & office.

  1. French Furze Development

To receive an update.

  1. Contract to Cut Back Vegetation growing on the Churchyard Wall, Entrance Steps & Pillars

To consider approving the proposed specifications & advertising a contract (1 year/optional 3 year extension).

  1. Contract for Grounds Maintenance in the Churchyard & Cemetery

To consider approving the revised specifications & re-advertising a contract (1 year/optional 3 year extension).

  1. Wind Turbine Feasibility Study Grant Application

To note that an application has been submitted & the Clerk’s report advising that the contract to carry out a study would need to be re-advertised.

  1. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

To receive Report and Bank Reconciliation.

    1. Payments & Receipts

To authorise the following payments

  • Clerk, October Expenses Reimbursement £31.01

  • Parish Online annual subscription fee £58.80

  • Grounds Maintenance – Churchyard Frequent cuts 14 & 28 October £204.00

  • Grounds Maintenance – Cemetery Frequent cuts 14 & 28 October £216.00

Payments authorised since the last monthly meeting

  • Parish Lengthsman September to 4 October £230.00

    1. Accounting Software 26/27 Cost Increase

To note the advice that the annual charge will increase by 40%, due to a review using precept value as an indicator of the size of the council and the level of support and resources used. Next review in three years. No change to Cemetery software charge.

  1. Clerk’s Request for Annual Leave

To consider approving the request.

  1. Church of England Permission to carry out Churchyard Maintenance

To note the Clerk’s report about law creating legal and planning controls for the Church of England: requiring a formal authorisation for some works to church buildings and churchyards.

  1. South Devon National Landscape’s Offer of an Accessible/Wheelchair Friendly Picnic Bench

To consider the offer and an accessible site to locate a bench. Applications close 30/11/25..

  1. Correspondence

To note or consider:

  • Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Annual Precept Survey. Closes 3 December2025

  • SHDC Thermal imaging camera loan scheme for communities

  • ICCM Campaign to change DWP Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility criteria

  1. Next Meeting

To confirm the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 8 December at 7:30 p.m.

  1. Closure of the Meeting

To consider a resolution, in accordance with the 1960 Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, to exclude the public and press during consideration of the following item(s) because of the commercial-in-confidence nature of the business.

  1. Grounds Maintenance Contract

To review the contract.

  1. Noticeboard Quotes

To consider the quotes to install a Parish Council noticeboard in the Main Street bus shelter.

PRESS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE VERY WELCOME TO ATTEND

Annette Thom

Parish Clerk