DRAFT Minutes 2026 March 09

Mar 16, 2026 | Minutes

DRAFT Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on

Monday 9 March 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

Present: BPC & SHDC Cllr Rake (Chair), BPC Cllrs Oughton (Vice-Chair), Coe, Hadow, Luckens, and Thomas were present, as were Clerk A Thom. There were two members of the public present for the first part of the meeting.
Absent: BPC Cllr Mardon.

a. Open Forum

i. Inadequate Capacity of Blackawton Sewage Works

A resident said that there are five lorries a day to empty the sewage works and that the road is trashed. They asked what would happen if the lorries can’t get in, eg another ‘beast from the east’ weather event. They said that when they moved here 30 years ago they had to have their own sewage tank because there was insufficient processing capacity. Since then lots of residences have been added and there might be more.

Cllr Rake said that Blackawton sewage spills more often any other in the South Hams which is unacceptable. However he questioned what can be done because South West Water is answerable to Ofwat and the Environment Agency, not to DCC and SHDC. Cllr Rake also said that because of changes made by the Government last year to the National Planning Policy Framework SHDC now doesn’t have a 5 year housing supply, which makes it much harder turn down development applications.

The meeting asked the Clerk to write to:

  • Ofwat, Environment Agency, and SWW regarding current concerns and how future housing development would be served (cc Blue Rivers).

  • DCC and SWW to ask what will happen when resurfacing is done on Greenslades Road in May and the road closed.

ii. Blackawton Allotments Association Grant Application

A member of the Association described its current grant application to BPC, and also works the Association would like to do in the near future.

b. Councillors Forum

Cllr Coe reported that BPC’s application for a grant to carry out a Wind Turbine Feasibility Study was successful.

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from BPC Cllr Mardon and DCC Cllr Brazil.

  1. Declarations of Interest

None declared.

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

It was resolved to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 February 2026.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

SHDC Cllr Rake reported that SHDC has passed a balanced budget. SHDC received a dire financial settlement from the Government. Its finances are just about alright this year [26/27] with transitional arrangements, but over the next two years the deficit will go up and up, which it can’t. This year SHDC has protected core services and the delivery of the Council Plan, and increased new money for economic development. £850,000 is expected from the double council tax on second homes. That money will be used for housing initiatives and temporary housing for homelessness, as promised. There will be in-year pressures on the budget. For example, on Slapton Line SHDC teams have worked with the County Council and the local community.

Cllr Rake has shared a proposed response to the Government’s Local Government Reform consultation. Cllrs are welcome to share it.

SHDC has completed an eviction from informal accommodation at the top of the hill above Totnes. This was necessary because some of the people living there were causing problems.

In response to a question about changes to business rates, Cllr Rake noted that SHDC has a register of businesses which are holiday let homes. They are all required to have and pay for commercial waste collection.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

In Cllr Brazil’s absence, Cllr Rake reported that DCC has passed balanced budget. There are increases in spending on Children’s Services and a capital investment programme; including roads maintenance (applies to works on areas greater than a square meter), drainage, white lines, and clearing vegetation.

The proposed £650,000 reduction in the libraries budget has been reversed. The funds are part ring-fenced to buy books and the rest for libraries during the transformation project. A £1 million reserve has been created to help fund libraries transformation. There may be reductions in opening hours in some libraries in some places, but it is hoped that the transformation project will avoid that.

  1. Improving Road Safety at Forces Cross

There are currently no s106 funds available to fund works to improve the visibility splay. If there was more housing in Blackawton it is expected s106 funds would be allocated for that work. BPC will explore asking the Blackawton Parish Lengthsman to cut the grass to help to maintain visibility, that contract is currently being re-advertised. It was agreed that BPC will keep a log of collisions at Forces Cross and any other problem black spot areas in the Parish that BPC might currently not be aware of, including retrospective data.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. South Hams District Council’s Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

  • 3266/25/HHO The Anchorage Main Street Blackawton TQ9 7BG. Householder application for extension of existing dwelling & associated works. Conditional Approval.

  • 0211/26/AGR Wild Bank Farm Blackawton TQ9 7AA. Application to determine if prior approval is required for five polytunnels. Four measuring 20.12m (L) x 6.1m (B) x 2.84m height to ridge and one measuring 14m (L) x 7.1m (B) x 2.9m height to ridge. Refused.

    1. Review of New Applications

The meeting noted the following applications and agreed that BPC does not need to comment to SHDC on them:

  • 0375/26/ARC Bow Cottage, Blackawton, TQ9 7AH. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 6 (Historic Building Record) of planning consent 1800/25/LBC.

  • 0378/26/ARC Bow Cottage, Blackawton, TQ9 7AH. Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 6 (CEMP) & 8 (Historic Building Record) of planning consent 1799/25/HHO.

  • New premises licence application Bayards Court Care Dartmouth TQ6 0FF. Supply of Alcohol On premises Monday to Sunday 12:00-22:00 & Opening Hours Monday to Sunday 06:00-23:00.

  • 0551/26/AGR Grimpstone Farm Blackawton TQ9 7DW. Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed agricultural storage building measuring 13.1m (L) x 6.7m (B) x 6.8m height to ridge.

  1. Devon County Council Decision

The following decision was noted:

  • Public Path Diversion Order 2026 – Footpath No.4, Blackawton. Order made.

  1. Consultations

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government public consultation on the proposals relating to the Government’s programme of local government reorganisation in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. Closes Thursday 26th March.

It was resolved to submit Cllr Rake’s draft response as circulated. Cllr Rake summarised that the response favours a version of SHDC’s 4-5-1 proposal, raises issues with one Devon, and is against the proposals from Torbay, Plymouth and Exeter Councils. The Clerk will add the draft response to the consultation post on the Blackawton community website.

  1. French Furze Development

Cllr Oughton reported on the public meeting held on 24 February. The developer returned. There was no progress to report and they don’t want to remove the stairs. The SHDC Officer said that would not be a desirable outcome. The developer said that it would look into problems with documented property boundaries. The soakaway pit in the Business Units’ car park needs inspecting. Cllr Rake and Thomas have been told that the Business Units’ snagging is complete and they are re-inspecting the Units next week.

  1. Creation of a Blackawton Community Emergency Hub

The meeting decided to adopt this initiative and that BPC’s choice of meeting location is the Village Hall. This needs to be discussed with the Village Hall Committee and advertised. The Hub kit is small box with a simple set of instructions which provide a structure to run a response hub pending the arrival of emergency services.

  1. Felling of Trees in the Blackawton Churchyard

The planned felling of the six mature dead/declining cherry trees, the large conifer near the lychgate, and another dead cherry tree is planned for Monday 23 March. It was resolved that a deadwood habitat site will be located in the churchyard next to School Lane as proposed by Cllrs. Brash will be chipped and removed from site as per the agreed works description. Cllr Coe said chips can be placed on the community compost site. There are local craftspeople who will use the cherry wood. The Clerk was delegated responsibility in consultation with Cllr Hadow to finalised the practical organisation details.

  1. Churchyard Wall Maintenance

The Clerk said that grants haven’t been located and are unlikely. It was agreed to try to schedule the works in school holidays, initially the week commencing Monday 13 April, then next available school holiday dates.

  1. Cemetery Tree Maintenance

It was noted that quotes are being obtained for works to remove the Monterey Cypress’ broken limbs. The Clerk’s recommendations were accepted to remove in the autumn the conifer which is growing on a grave, to also obtain quotes for that, and to try to discuss the felling with relatives of those interred in that grave. It was resolved that the Clerk is delegated responsibility to choose the treeworks contractor in consultation with BPC.

  1. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The meeting noted the Bank Reconciliation and the Reports, which showed total funds of £62,399.15 and an unearmarked General Fund of £18,706.03.

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments:

  • Clerk February Expenses Reimbursement £29.41

  • Website updates and Accessibility Check £113.00

  • Parish Lengthsman 15 November 2025 to 18 February 2026 £408

  • Parish Council Noticeboard £1,056.04

  1. Requests Grants from BPC

The following requests were considered:

    1. Crimestoppers

For a presentation to a Parish meeting & provision of digital, social and print media. £50.00

This request was approved and Crimestoppers will be invited to talk to the Annual Parish Meeting.

    1. Blackawton Allotments Association

To replace windows in the communal shed which are in disrepair. £1,200.

The Clerk reported that SHDC has s.106 funds available which the SHDC Officer has said are suitable subject to Cllr Rake’s support (as SHDC member for Blackawton) which he has given. This approach was agreed. It was also resolved that BPC will provide a grant if the s.106 application is not successful.

  1. Clerk Hours Allocation

It was resolved to approve the Clerk’s proposal for a core allocation of 15 hours per week from February 2026 to March 2027, as has been budgeted for, subject to monitoring with the Personnel Committee.

  1. BPC Policies and Procedures

It was resolved to approve all of the reviewed BPC documents:

    1. Information Management System Policy

    2. Publication Scheme

    3. Record Retention and Disposal Schedule

    4. Terms of Reference for Personnel Committee & Subcommittee

  2. Contracted Work

It was noted that BPC is currently inviting quotes for the following work. Closing date 31 March 2026:

    1. Parish Lengthsman

Clearing drainage grips and channels that carry water off Parish lanes. About 60 hours annually.

    1. Vegetation growing on St Michael’s Churchyard’s Walls and Gate Pillars

Cutting back the vegetation twice a year.

  1. Transfer of Documents to Devon Archives

The plan to transfer historical Minutes was noted. Cllr Rake offered to deliver them.

  1. Public Paths Partnerships Scheme & Annual Forms

Cllr Rake reported on a meeting he has had in his role as a DCC Cllr about problems with the current functioning of the Scheme and the changes that have been made to the forms. It was noted that no decision has been received on the major maintenance bid BPC made last year. The Clerk’s suggestion that they return only the Finance return this year was agreed.

  1. Correspondence

The correspondence was noted:

  • Invitation South Devon National Landscape Partnership Meeting, 13/03/2026, Hybrid: Repton Room at Follaton House and online via Zoom, 10am – 12:30pm

  • Invitation SHDC : ‘The National Planning Policy Framework and its Relationship with Neighbourhood Plans Town and Parish Council Briefing 12/3/26 4:00pm to 5:00pm, online

  • Invitation SHDC ‘Policy for the Transfer of Community Assets’ Briefing 19/3/26 5:45pm to 6:45pm, online

  • The Department for Transport has announced an increase in Funding for Installing EV Chargers for renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways and businesses

  1. Scheduling of Annual Meetings

  • The Annual Parish Meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 13 May. If no topics have already been suggested BPC will invite Crimestoppers, the Primary School, and Community Power Solutions (who will do the Wind Turbine Feasibility Study).

  • It was confirmed that the Annual Meeting of the Council will take place at the start of the monthly meeting on 11 May 2026.

  1. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 13 April at 7:30 p.m. Cllr Coe gave her apologies for that meeting.

  1. Closure of the Meeting

It was resolved, in accordance with the 1960 Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, to exclude the public and press during consideration of the following item because of the commercial-in-confidence nature of the business.

  1. Churchyard Wall Maintenance Project

It was resolved to accept as proposed the lowest cost quote received for the Traffic Management during the works and to also find the next lowest cost quote provided also suitable.

The meeting closed at 21:33.