Approved Minutes 2023 February 07

Feb 21, 2023 | Minutes

The Approved minutes can be read below or downloaded here: MN_2023_February BPC Approved Minutes

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

Tuesday 7 February 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

Open Forum

  1. Dartmouth Caring

Two representatives of Dartmouth Caring (DC) discussed the operation of DC and the service that it provides. DC serves the parishes around Dartmouth, including Blackawton. On 2 May it will move into the new Dartmouth Health and Well-being Centre. DC serves adults of all ages, not just the elderly. Its services are nearly all free at the point of use. People do pay for lunch club and generally pay for home help, although DC can subsidise basic housekeeping.

Present: Councillors Rake (Chair), Coe, Mallyon, Ougton, and Thomas were present, as were South Hams District Cllr Reeve, Devon County Cllr Brazil (for his report), and A Thom (Clerk). No members of the public.

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Curry and Mewes.

  1. Declarations of Interest

None declared.

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Meetings held on 10 January and 23 January 2023.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

SHDC Cllr Reeve reported that the fencing around the area for the three yet to be built business units has been more securely installed. The business units are not ready for transfer of ownership. A Parish Councillor reported that a piece of the road within French Furze has been replaced which was required prior to the road’s adoption by DCC and that the play area is to be opened at the end of February.

Cllr Reeve reminded the meeting that there is S106 money available.

Cllr Reeve said that if there are problems with private rental conditions SHDC can try to assist. SHDC has cost of living support money available.

Cllr Reeve agreed that the £500 available in her Locality Fund could be used for a £300 grant to support the new gardening club at Blackawton Primary School and a £200 grant to support a trial offering the community lunches in the School funded by donation.

It was agreed that DCC Cllr Brazil would follow up the status of the finalisation of drainage plans within French Furze.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

DCC Cllr Brazil reported that the DCC cabinet would be considering the proposed budget on Friday. DCC’s component of council tax is expected to increase by 5%. Double the number of potholes have been reported compared with this time last year and DCC is trying to catch up. A safety audit has been done regarding whether the reduction or removal of street lighting can be proposed by BPC. DCC Officers are discussing the matter.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. SHDC Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

  • 0067/23/COM The Firs Blackawton TQ9 7DE. Notice of Intent to Install Electronic Communication Apparatus Comprising Three Poles at 10.5 metres high (9 mtrs above ground). Permitted development.
  • 3855/22/FUL Balsam Farm Vicarage Road Blackawton TQ9 7AY.Application to convert an outbuilding to ancillary living accommodation. Conditional Approval.
  • 4274/22/ARC Watsons Farm Park Lane To Millcombe Cross Blackawton Devon TQ9 7AZ. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (Landscaping/Tree Planting Scheme) and 4 (Bats Licence) of planning consent 1709/22/FUL. Discharge of condition Approved.
  • 0054/23/ARC Watsons Farm Blackawton TQ9 7AZ. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 9 (Surface Water Drainage) of planning consent 1709/22/FUL. Discharge of condition Approved.
    1. Review of New Applications

  • 0149/23/AGR Land at SX 81747 50945 Blackawton. Application to determine if prior approval is required for proposed 10m x 4.26m propagation polytunnel & a 50m x 4.26m caterpillar tunnel.

SHDC had made a decision prior to the meeting. Prior Approval is Not Required.

  • 0309/23/COM Middle Wadstray Farm Blackawton Totnes. Notice of Intent to Install Electronic Communication Apparatus Comprising existing EE/H3G 3 No. 4-Port CV65BSX-2X2 Antenna on 2.2m long support poles & Z-brackets fixed to headframe corners to be removed & replaced with 3 x panel antennas mounted on 3 x new MAFI 2.5m long 46.1×2.5mm CHS poles mounted to headframe corners using 6 new MAFI 3274 universal pole mounts, existing 3 x 2100 MHAS installed behind Antennas to be removed & replaced with 3 active routers & 3 x active routers &3 DTMSD installed new MAFI CHS pole using standard pole fixings & associated internal equipment upgrades.

For information. This is Permitted Development.

  1. BPC Tree Planting & Tree Works

It was resolved that the risk assessment Survey would be booked (£420 +VAT). The next meeting will consider the Survey and plan the management of trees which are BPC’s responsibility.

  1. Cemetery Waste Management Plan

It was resolved to approve the proposal circulated with the site to be adjacent to the shed. Posts are required to mark the site and costed proposals for posts will be considered by the March meeting.

  1. Lamp Post in St Michael’s Churchyard

BPC has received correspondence about maintenance of the lamp post near the porch of the Church. The Clerk will check if it is the Church’s responsibility. If it is BPC’s responsibility an estimate will be requested from the new Maintenance contractor.

  1. Blackawton Parish Lengthsman & Maintenance Contract

It was resolved to approve the proposed 2023-26 contract hours, specifications, and contract with the addition of a requirement to report problems or potential problems to BPC, and the inclusion of the wooden benches outside the lychgate and near the War Memorial to the Maintenance contract. It was resolved that if Chapter 8 training is required BPC will pay course costs and for contractor’s time.

  1. BPC Minute Books 1894 to 1997

It was resolved to transfer the books to Devon Archives and to post the electronic copies of the transcripts on the Blackawton community website.

  1. Installation of WiFi in Blackawton Village Hall

It was resolved that BPC supports installation of WiFi in the Village Hall using a broadband only option and would be willing to pay half of the cost.

  1. Grant Request

The application for a grant to support the new gardening club at Blackawton Primary School will be met by SHDC Cllr Reeve’s Locality Budget as described above.

  1. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The Reports showed a total balance of £53,877.30 and unearmarked general fund of £13,470.91.

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments

  • Clerk, Office Expenses Reimbursement, £17.29

  • Society of Local Council Clerks Annual Fee, pro-rata, £64.36

  • Tindle Newspapers Devon Limited, Contracts advert, £118.80

    1. It was resolved to approve the Clerk’s claim for three hours overtime.

  2. Correspondence

The following correspondence was noted and considered:

  • 6/1/22 Fallen tree FPO9 has been referred to DCC and cleared.

  • 8/1/23 Cllr Mewes to South West Water, Request for a reply and asking about the management and environmental consequence of the collapse of the treatment tank foundation in December 2022.
    An invitation to SWW to attend the next Sustainable South Hams Assembly which has the topic ‘Rivers’ was suggested.

  • 30/1/23, Invitation. South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership Annual Forum 22/3/23, 09.15-13.00 via Teams.

  1. Dates for the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Council

The Annual Parish Meeting will be on Tuesday 18 April starting at 7:30 pm. Suggested speakers were representative of Dartmouth Caring, Living Churchyards, and Fraud Protection.

The Annual Meeting of the Council will take place at the start of the monthly meeting in May. The May meeting will be on Tuesday 16 May, delayed because of the Local Council elections on 4 May and a public holiday.

  1. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 7 March 2022 at 7:30 p.m.