Approved Minutes 2022 December 06

Dec 17, 2022 | Minutes

The Approved minutes can be read below or downloaded here: MN_2022_December BPC Approved Minutes

APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on Tuesday 6 December 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

Open Forum

No matters raised.

Present: Councillors Rake (Chair), Coe, Mallyon, Ougton, and Thomas were present, as were South Hams District Cllr Reeve, Devon County Cllr Brazil, A Thom (Clerk), and one member of the public

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mewes and Curry.

  1. Declarations of Interest

Cllrs Rake and Thomas have declared an other registerable interest as founding directors of the Blackawton Business Units CIC and have a current dispensation to speak and vote.

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of the Meeting held 1 November 2022 were approved with Cllrs Rake and Thomas’ interests amended to other registerable interests.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

Councillor Helen Reeve said there is cost of living help available, including for those who think they’re not eligible. If you are struggling please go online on SHDC’s website or contact Councillor Reeve for assistance.

The Reception in Follaton House will not be staffed again, however the foyer is open.

Cllr Reeve is disappointed with progress with the Business Units at French Furze. Cllr Oughton said the attenuation tank at French Furze has been emptied and was full of mud. Cllr Reeve will confirm that the drainage work undertaken has planning approval.

Cllr Coe will work with Sustainable South Hams regarding establishing a community compost site in Blackawton.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

Deferred pending the arrival of Cllr Brazil from another meeting.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. SHDC Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

  • 954/21/OPA Dartmouth Golf and Country Club Blackawton TQ9 7DE: Outline application with some matters reserved for proposed extension to hotel accommodation including ancillary and office accommodation, landscaping and parking facilities and repositioned golf buggy store. Conditional Approval.
  • 2757/22/FUL Development Site at SX 793 508 Blackawton. Erection of stable block and change of use to equestrian. Refusal.
  • 3201/22/FUL Field at SX 815 647 Blackawton. Erection of agricultural building. Withdrawn.
    1. Review of New Applications

  • 3855/22/FUL Balsam Farm Vicarage Road Blackawton TQ9 7AY. Application to convert an outbuilding to ancillary living accommodation.

Support, resolved unanimously.

  • 4166/22/ARC Woodfin Cottage Blackawton TQ9 7BW. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 4 (schedule of materials) of planning consent 2099/22/HHO.

No comment made by BPC.

  • 4095/21/CLP Certificate of Lawfulness for commencement of planning permission 2531/18/FUL. Greenslade House Greenslade Road Blackawton TQ9 7BP

No comment made by BPC.

  • Variation to premises licence application from Dartmouth Town Council for Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth. The application is for 7 performance related items.

No comment made by BPC.

No comment was made by BPC on the following application processed in November:

  • 3172/22/TPO Wadstray House Blackawton TQ9 7DE. T1: Beech – remove to prevent tree failure onto property due to Ganoderma, T2: Beech – pollard to 10m from ground level to prevent tree failure onto road due to Ganoderma.

  1. Consultations
  • DCC Devon Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy. Closes 16 December 2022.

No comment made by BPC.

  1. Blackawton Cost of Living Response

BPC discussed a project to provide a ‘warm space’ in The George Inn from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm one to two days per week commencing Thursday 15 December, then Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd, and continuing on Wednesdays and Thursdays from Wednesday 4 January 2023.

Safeguarding was considered. Children will need to be accompanied. No alcohol to be consumed. There will be a minimum of two volunteers. Councillors will coordinate the project and responsibilities were allocated.

Further discussions will take place to co-ordinate with the PCC, Community Shop, and TGI.

The project to provide community meals in the Hall was discussed. It was also suggested to look into using the West Dart Bus to access the events in Dartmouth.

It was agreed that an application will be submitted to SHDC for grant funding.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

Devon County Council Councillor Brazil reported that the planning application to move the memorial to Strete Gate will be considered by DCC tomorrow. Children’s Services remains a problem. DCC has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, who is commencing in February. DCC’s finances are a great worry and residents should expect a council tax increase of about 5 percent next year.

  1. Home Energy Efficiency

Cllr Coe’s proposal to send information and a letter to those residences in Blackawton with the lowest energy efficiency ratings on the public register was agreed. Initially letters will be delivered to those with a ‘G’ energy efficiency rating. They will be hand delivered by Cllr Coe and Cllr Rake will print them. The Clerk will do a data protection impact assessment. The residents are most likely eligible to receive a free energy efficiency assessment from South Dartmoor Community Energy and to be eligible for grants and other assistance.

  1. Blackawton Business Units CIC

The consideration of the request for a grant of £4,000 was deferred.

  1. Cemetery Hedge

It was resolved to request the hedge be cut back at a cost of £75+VAT, faced on the roadside and topped higher than previously, especially near where the Cyprus stump is located.

  1. Churchyard and Cemetery Tree Planting Plan and Tree Works

Cllr Coe will ask a member of the public about assisting with a project to plan management of the trees in the Cemetery & Churchyard. It may be possible to plant the offered landmark tree in the Cemetery. Additional hedging planting near the Cyprus stump, where there is a gap, was suggested. The Tree Warden will be consulted.

  1. Scheme of Delegations

Consideration of the revised Scheme was deferred.

  1. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The Reports showed a total balance of £56,678.50 and a General Fund of £15,299.61. The Bank Reconciliation did not reconcile due to the website domain invoices VAT which has not yet been reimbursed to the Clerk.

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments:

  • Cllr Coe, Yellow rattle and Cemetery Seeds, £121.27

  • ARCCAS, Cemetery Biodiversity Zone, 2/11/22, £15.00+VAT

  • Clerk, Reimbursement of November Expenses, £27.51

It was resolved to authorise the Clerk’s claim for five hours overtime.

The payments made since the November meeting were noted:

  • ARCCAS, Churchyard all areas, 25/10/22, £816

  • ARCCAS, Cemetery, frequent cuts 5/10 & 19/10/22, £204

  • Flaming Torch School Sign (replacement for stolen), £404.95

  • NEST, October Pension, £35.35

  • Clerk, November Salary & 22/23 Award backpay, £638.57

  • HMRC, November, £165.40

    1. 2022/23 National Salary Award

The implementation of the Award rate of pay was noted.

    1. Cemetery Records

It was resolved to agree to the proposal for a project to transfer the Cemetery records to cemetery management software with initial allocation of 10 hours of the Clerk’s time.

    1. Draft 2023/24 Budget

The cost of living projects were suggested for inclusion in the budget.

  1. Correspondence

  • 8/11/22 Cllr Mews to South West Water, Ongoing correspondence, Requested consideration of reed beds.

  • 11/22 Arrangements for War Memorial Clean-up.
    The Clerk was asked to write to thank the resident who assisted.

  1. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 10 January 2023 at 7:30 p.m.

  1. It was resolved to close the meeting to members of the public and the press as permitted by the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 because of the confidential contractual nature & terms of employment nature of the business.

  2. Grounds Maintenance Contract 2023

It was resolved to request an extension of the Contract in 2023 with the proposed charges as circulated to BPC Councillors.

  1. Clerk’s Rate of Pay

It was resolved to approve that the Clerk’s role is re-evaluated to be paid at the LC2 Below substantive range and the Clerk’s pay point increased to SCP23 commencing 1 December 2022.

The meeting closed at 21:44.