Approved Minutes 2023 July 04

The minutes can be read below or downloaded here: MN_2023_July 04 BPC Approved Minutes

Approved Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on Tuesday 4 July 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

Open Forum

1. 1393/23/OPA Land At Sx 808 511 Blackawton.

The applicants described the application and invited questions about it.

2. 1789/23/HHO Woodcott Blackawton TQ9 7AA.

The applicants described the application and invited questions about it.

3. Management of the Avenue of Cherry Trees in the Churchyard – Consultation

A member of the public discussed the consultation, calling for members of the public’s ideas for options available for management, and their response to it.

Present: Parish Cllrs Ougton (Vice-Chair & meeting Chair), Coe, Hadow, Mardon, and Thomas were present, as were A Thom (Clerk), and six members of the public.

1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Parish & South Hams District Cllr Rake (BPC Chair).

2. Declarations of Interests

It was resolved to approve Cllr Coe’s request for a dispensation to speak to the meeting about the 1998/23/HHO Oakleigh Cottage planning application.

It was resolved to approve Cllr Coe’s request for a four year dispensation to speak about the application to register The George Inn as an Asset of Community Value.

3. Minutes of Previous Meetings

It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Meeting held on 6 June 2023.

4. Management of the Avenue of Cherry Trees in the Churchyard – Consultation

This item was moved up the Agenda at the Chair’s discretion. Limited feedback has been received from members of the public. Councillors planned how to advertise more widely from September to obtain ideas from members of the public on management options.

5. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

SHDC Cllr Rake’s written report was read.

The new-look South Hams District Council is now starting to get into its work. The leadership team has been looking at ways to achieve the goals set out in the manifesto that we published prior to the election, and the Executive is pressing forward with these. We are setting up panels of Councillors to support Executive members in key areas and these will also be able to call on expert support as needed.

The Parish Council has received an invitation to an online Town and Parish Forum on 26 July at 6pm. I will be taking part in this as a District Councillor. So there is the opportunity for one or two representatives from Blackawton to attend. It will be a chance for Julian to set out our vision for the next four years and for District Councillors and officers alike to listen to our concerns and priorities.

6. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

DCC Cllr Brazil was absent.

7. Planning Applications

   1. Review of New Applications

• 1677/23/HHO 3 Greenslade Road Blackawton TQ9 7BP. Householder application for external landscaping works including extended balcony area, new balcony balustrading & ramped access from rear elevation.

It was unanimously resolved to Support.

• 1789/23/HHO Woodcott Blackawton TQ9 7AA. Householder application for demolition of lean-to, erection of kitchen, dinning room & living extension.

It was unanimously resolved to Support.

• 1998/23/HHO Oakleigh Cottage Main Street Blackawton TQ9 7BG. Householder application for demolition of an existing outbuilding & construct a new outbuilding with ancillary accommodation along with landscaping to the garden.

Cllr Coe described the application. Cllr Coe left the meeting. It was unanimously resolved to Support. Cllr Coe returned to the meeting.

• 1393/23/OPA Land At Sx 808 511 Blackawton. Application for outline planning application with some matters reserved (access & layout) for demolition of existing dwelling (formerPark Home), workshop, greenhouse, three small outbuildings and polytunnel & construction of two semi-detached single storey dwellings& two detached two storey dwellings with associated vehicular access improvements & landscaping.

It was unanimously resolved to Support.

• 1883/23/FUL Newstone Blackawton TQ9 7DR. Erection of agricultural building.
  Neighbouring Parish Consultee.

It was unanimously resolved to respond No comment.

• 2052/23/ARC Proposed Development At Sx 8074 5071 Land at Greenslade Road, Blackawton TQ9 7BP. Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 10 (Facing Materials), 11 (Slates), 12 (Stonework Panel) and 16 (Boundary Treatment) of planning consent 1972/17/FUL

It was unanimously resolved to respond No comment.

• 1960/23/AGR Valley View Blackawton TQ9 7DH. Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed general purpose agricultural building measuring 18.2 mtrs (length) x 13.7 mtrs (breadth) x 6.41 mtrs (height to ridge).

It was unanimously resolved to respond No comment.

8. Consultations

• SHDC, Cycling and walking behaviour change project, Interviews & survey to mid July.

Cllrs may comment as individuals.

9. “20’s Plenty” Campaign

A verbal report was received on responses from members of the public to date following the two Beacon articles and on learning points from the 20’s Plenty webinar attended. Limited feedback has been received from members of the public. Councillors planned how to advertise more widely from September to seek the views of members of the public. A door knock in the village in September was discussed.

10. ‘Blackawton’ Sign

It was agreed that the historical metal sign (70mm*330 mm) will be brought to the September meeting. Two installation sites proposed in the meeting were above the noticeboard on Main Street and on the Normandy Arms bus stop.

11. Maintenance of Bench in the Cemetery

This item was moved up the Agenda at the Chair’s discretion. It was unanimously resolved to approve the proposal to replace remaining slats with an estimated total cost £115.00.

12. BPC IT System

This item was moved up the Agenda at the Chair’s discretion. It was unanimously resolved to confirm BPC’s Jottacloud subscription and payment for it and the IT system in described in the Report.

13. Registration of The George Inn as an Asset of Community Value

The proposal to apply to register The George Inn as an Asset of Community Value was discussed. Cllr Coe left the meeting. It was resolved to ask SHDC Officers to review the current draft application form and to submit the form. Evidence of community support is required by SHDC. A door knock in September was proposed.

14. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The Reports, which showed a total balance of £56,042.25 and a general unearmarked reserve of £12,370.86 on 28 June 2023, were received.

1. 2. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments

• DALC, Being a Good Councillor #1, £18.00

• Maintenance Contractor, attendance training course, repair of bench, materials £279.50

• Clerk, June Expenses Reimbursement, £19.01

The following payments made since the June meeting were noted:

• Judge’s Web Design, Annual Hosting Fee, £80.00

• Maintenance Contractor, Contracted first cut of churchyard wall vegetation, bus shelter cleans, & annual wood preserver application, £750.00

• Clerk, June Salary and approved April overtime, £625.44

• HMRC, June PAYE, £161.80

• NEST, June Pension, £56.67

1. 3. Grant for 50% of Village Hall WiFi

It was resolved to authorise a payment of £437.25, being 50% of the cost of the initial 24 month contract. A second payment can be made at the end of the contract for the inflationary changes to the contract.

15. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 7:30 p.m. If the Hall is closed for works to the roof the meeting will be in St Michael’s Church Blackawton.

16. 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 employment nature of the business.

17. Annual Leave

The requested booking of annual leave was approved by resolution.

The meeting closed at 21:29.