Agenda 2025 July 14

Jul 9, 2025 | Agendas

PRESS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE VERY WELCOME TO ATTEND

To all members of Blackawton Parish Council 9 July 2025

You are hereby summoned to attend the monthly meeting of Blackawton Parish Council to be held on Monday 14 July 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

  1. Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of Members’ interests in Agenda items.

  1. Blackawton Emergency Plan

To decide how to progress the work from the public meeting and workshop on 23/6 to create a Plan.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

  2. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

  • Update on Improving visibility at Forces Cross, Blackawton

  • To enquire about the request for a Major Maintenance Grant for works to a footpath

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held 9 June 2025.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. SHDC Planning Decisions

To note the decisions as follows:

  • 1647/25/ARC Woodford Farm, The Linney, Blackawton, TQ9 7AA. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (roofing materials, timber & stone) to planning consent 3967/23/FUL. Discharge of Condition Approved.

  • 1748/25/TEX Wadstray House Blackawton TQ9 7DE T1: Beech – Reduce to 10m monolith and retain for habitat. Evidence of Ganoderma fungal brackets within base of trunk. Potential large scale damage to property if failure occurs. Grant Exemption.

    1. Review of New Applications

To comment to SHDC on the following applications:

  • 1604/25/HHO 8 Cheavestone LeaBlackawtonTQ9 7AU. Householder application for proposed single storey rear extension.

  • 1712/25/HHO The Anchorage Main StreetBlackawtonTQ9 7BG. Householder application for extension of existing dwelling & associated works.

  • 1852/25/FUL Newstone, Blackawton, TQ9 7DR. Agricultural Building extending to 27.43 x 6.09m, 4.58m to ridge and 3.22m to ridge.

  • 1799/25/HHO & 1800/25/LBC Development Site Formerly known as Bow Cottage, Blackawton. Householder and Listed building application for refurbishment of existing dilapidated cottage and associated works.

  • 1987/25/FUL Land At Sx 808 527 (Nr West Drayton Farm) Blackawton. Provision of new agricultural access.

  • 1876/25/AGR Land at SX 780 509 Blackawton. Application to determine if prior approval is required for proposed excavations or deposits of waste material reasonably necessary for the purposes of agriculture; to create a small car park in the paddock.

  1. Consultations

To consider responding:

  • SHDC, Survey for Local Government Reorganisation. To inform a more detailed business case for SHDC’s final proposal.
  • DCC, Alcohol and drug services in Devon. Closes 25/7/25
  • Government. The Fair Funding Review 2.0. Local authority funding reform, through the Settlement from 2026-27. Closes 15/8/25.
  • Government, Consulting on Changes to Council Tax Billing. Closes 12/9/25

  1. Community Owned Wind Turbine

To consider BPC’s response to the proposal for a feasibility study.

  1. Legal Responsibility for the Maintenance of the St Michael’s Churchyard

To confirm that BPC will now write to the PCC, sending the letter approved by NALC legal advice.

  1. Movement of the Churchyard Wall on Park Lane

To consider the Report and its Recommendations.

  1. Tree Risk Assessment Survey

To consider the survey Report and its Recommendations, and the Clerk’s Report.

  1. Churchyard Gates Maintenance

To consider the Report and its Recommendations.

  1. Parish Council Grounds Maintenance Work

To consider the Report and its Recommendations.

  1. Parish Council Maintenance Contractor Work

To consider the Report.

  1. Parish Lengthsman Work

To note the update.

  1. Proposal to use Budgeted Staff Hours

To consider approval of the proposal.

  1. Community Renewable Energy Projects

To consider engagement with the community, distribution of information about projects and their possible benefits to the community’s resilience and prosperity.

  1. Tree Warden – SHDC ‘The South Hams Tree, Woodland & Hedge Plan 2024-2029

To note the Plan.

  1. Blackawton Neighbourhood Plan

To review BPC’s planned September meeting, in response to loss of grant funding to produce Neighbourhood Plans.

  1. French Furze Development

To receive an update.

  1. Meeting Action Items

To briefly review the list.

  1. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

To receive Reports and Bank Reconciliation, and to sign the Bank Reconciliation.

    1. Payments & Receipts

To authorise the following payments

  • Clerk June Expenses Reimbursement £368.74

  • Tree Risk Assessment Survey £624

  • 24/25 Internal Audit £165

  • Grounds Maintenance Churchyard Frequent cuts 10 & 24 June £204

  • Grounds Maintenance Cemetery Frequent cuts 10 & 24 June £216

Payments authorised since the last monthly meeting

  • Website Hosting Annual Fee, £90.00

    1. Change to Lloyds Bank’s System to change Contact Details

To note that two signatories can now make a change, and that it is requested that this will only initiated by the Clerk/RFO.

    1. Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023

To note that this legislation places a new positive obligation on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment and that BPC’s obligations, such as training or policy, will be reviewed.

  1. Correspondence

To note or consider:

  • SHDC: e-bikes will be available to hire from eight “bases” around the town 20 June.

  • DALC: DALC Councillor Development Framework

  • Invitation. SHDC to PCs, South Hams Local Government Reorganisation: 23/07/25 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Online

  • Enquiry, Middleton Community Power: exporting surplus energy via the grid. We are looking at selling surplus energy via the grid to the local council using a sleeved PPA.

  • Invitation. SHDC to community groups and parish/town councillors: Development of a South Hams-wide ‘Rally for Nature’ in summer 2026, 15/07/25 11am–1pm, Follaton House

  • Invitation. Commercial: Community Batteries, 16/07/25 11:00. Online

  • Enquiry: paid adverts in newsletter for service to support householders in the area install heat pumps, solar panels and batteries.

  • Resident, Village Concerns: High Speed of Traffic in the Village, French Furze public space Grounds Maintenance. Dog Fouling.

  • Ivybridge CDTA: Enquiry about EV charging for an electric West Dart Bus

  • Invitation, SDNL: Coastal Farm Walk Invitation Weds 9th July 6-8pm

  1. Next Meeting

To confirm the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 8 September 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. Churchyard Gates Maintenance

To consider the quotes received.

Annette Thom

Parish Clerk