The Approved minutes can be read below or downloaded here: MN_2023_May 16 BPC Approved Minutes

APPROVED Minutes of the Meetings of Blackawton Parish Council held on
Tuesday 16 May 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

Carbon Savvy Session 2 – Home Energy

It was decided to defer the screening of the video.

Open Forum

No matters raised.

Present: Parish & South Hams District Councillor Rake (Chair), Parish Cllrs Ougton(Vice-Chair), Coe, and Thomas were present, as was Devon County Cllr Brazil (for his report), A Thom (Clerk), and one member of the public during the AMPC.

Annual Meeting of the Parish Council

1. Election of Chair

It was resolved unanimously to re-elect Cllr Rake as Chair.

2. Chair’s Signature of Declaration of Acceptance of Office

Cllr Rake signed the Declaration.

3. Election of Vice-Chair

It was resolved unanimously to elect Cllr Oughton as Vice-Chair.
Cllr Oughton signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

4. Apologies for absence

None received. All Parish Councillors present.

5. To declare any interests in items on the Agenda

None declared.

6. Receipt of Councillors’ Declarations of Acceptance of Office

All Parish Councillors signed Declarations of Acceptance of Office.

7. Councillors’ signature of agreement to receive Agenda & Summons by email

All Parish Councillors signed to confirm their agreement.

8. Ordinary Meetings of the Parish Council

It was agreed that ordinary meetings of the full council will continue to take place in the Village Hall at 7:30 pm on the first Tuesday of each month except August, unless that Tuesday follows a Public Holiday, in which case the meeting will be moved to the following Tuesday.

9. Appointments to Special Areas of Responsibility

The current appointments for a Footpath Warden (Cllr Coe) and a Tree Warden (member of the public) were confirmed.

It was agreed to suspend the Health Representative role. BPC is seeking a new Snow Warden.

10. Delegations of Authority

It was resolved to approve the updated Delegations document.

11. BPC Standing Orders

It was resolved to approve updated Standing Orders which include a new Model Standing Order covering financial controls and procurement.

12. BPC Financial Regulations

The Regulations approved 4/10/22 and that there are no later Model Regulations were noted.

13. BPC Asset Register

The Asset Register as at 31/03/23 was noted

14. Confirmation of arrangements for insurance cover in respect of all insurable risks

The three year agreement which ends 3/5/26 was noted.

15. Review of the Council’s Subscriptions to other bodies

The list of subscriptions was noted.

16. Review of the Council’s Contracts

The list of contracts and agreements was noted.

17. Review of the Council’s Direct Debit mandates

The list of direct debit mandates was noted.

18. Review of the Council’s Bank mandates

It was resolved to authorise for the mandate to be changed to remove former councillors and to add Cllr Coe. All signatories will have online user access.

19. Approval of the list of due payments which arise on a regular basis as the result of a continuing contract , statutory duty, or obligation, and which can be authorised by the Clerk

It was resolved to authorise the list.

20. Review of the list of the Council’s policies and procedures

The list was noted.

21. Approval of the 2023 Statement of Internal Controls

The Statement was noted.

22. Approval of the 2023 Risk Register Review

The Risk Register was noted. Cllr Rake will work with other Cllrs to convey how to test memorials for safety. BPC will seek a new Snow Warden.

Ordinary Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council

1. Declarations of Interest

None declared.

2. Co-option to fill vacancies for Parish Councillors

It was resolved to co-opt Charlotte Mardon as a Blackawton Parish Councillor. Cllr Mardon signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

3. Minutes of Previous Meetings

It was resolved to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 April 2023.

4. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

Councillor Brazil reported that not a lot has been happening because of the pre-election period. £9 million of extra funds have been made available by the Government for pothole repairs. A Highways engineer has said that £180 million would be required to bring the roads up to specifications. The DCC Neighbourhood Officer will be consulted about the state of repair of the road in Abbotsleigh.

5. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

Councillor Rake reported that he is delighted to have been elected as Blackawton’s South Hams District Councillor and thanked the previous SHDC Councillor for their hard work. He said the majority Liberal Democrat Council will be working with all SHDC Councillors to deliver the Liberal Democrat manifesto which includes housing and environmental objectives.

6. Planning Applications

   1. SHDC Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

• 3929/22/FUL & 3930/22/LBC Larcombe Farm East Allington TQ9 7QB. Application for planning approval and listed building consent for conversion of existing listed barn (part of which was historically built as a house) into additional self contained domestic accommodation ancillary to the existing farmhouse to which it is attached. Along with erection of an outbuilding for storage and bat roost. Conditional Approval.
• 0591/23/HHO 4 Cheavestone Lea Blackawton TQ9 7AU. Householder application for conversion of garage to recreational/quietspace. Conditional Approval.
• 4163/22/CLE The Brake Blackawton TQ9 7DE. Certificate for lawfulness for existing use of: The workshop as a furniture making workshop, Jackson’s Cabin and Jake’s place as independent unit of residential units. Use of buildings have been undertaken for a period of 10yrs. Certificate of lawfulness also sought for the development of: The Workshop, Jackson’s Cabin, Jake’s Place, The Studio & the Bakehouse. Buildings have been complete for in excess of four years. Cert of Lawfulness (Existing) Certified.

1. 2. Planning Inspectorate Decision

The following decision was noted:

• APP/K1128/W/22/3305440 Land adjacent Two Gates, Blackawton to Oldstone Cross, Blackawton TQ9 7BL. DISMISSED – 3691/21/OPA

1. 1. Review of New Applications

• 1447/23/FUL Land at SX 830 514 Blatchmore Lane Bugford. Provision for a Temporary Agricultural Worker’s Dwelling (mobile home/log cabin). Neighbouring Parish Consultee.

It was resolved that the response of No comment will be made.

• Application for full variation of a premises licence for The Old Sorting Office, Hauley Road, Dartmouth, TQ6 9AA known as Bar 1620.

No comment made by BPC.

7. Consultations

• Government consultation, new Infrastructure Levy to reform S106 and CIL system of development contributions. Closes 9 June 2023.

This will be an item on the June Agenda.

8. Sewage in Rivers

A decision regarding whether to write to ask Blackawton’s MP to take action to make storm event overflows illegal was deferred.

9. 20’s Plenty for Devon Campaign

It was resolved to formally decide to support this campaign and for a statement of support to be in the next Beacon. A decision regarding whether to spend funds on promotional materials will be an item on the 6 June Agenda.

10. Churchyard Wall Repair

It was noted the School has reported a problem with the wall, and a quote obtained by BPC for the repair of the area reported as well as other sections of the wall.

11. French Furze – Transfer of the ownership of the ‘School Land’

It was noted that a meeting was held by Vistry with DCC, SHDC, and BPC in April 2023. Vistry plans to submit a section 73 planning application to address all outstanding issues. A site meeting, follow-up report, and two month follow up meeting were planned by Vistry.

Cllr Rake will, in his role as SHDC Cllr, follow up issues including the unsecured and unfinished playground and an unsafe footpath in common area accessible to the public.

12. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The financial Reports were noted. They showed a total balance of £59,993.61 and unearmarked general fund of £15,463.72.

1. 2. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments:

• Society of Local Council Clerk’s membership, Annual Membership Fee pro-rata, £73.26

• ICCM, Annual membership Fee, £95.00

• DALC Annual Membership Fee, £237.88

• ARCAAS Cemetery 18 April & 2 May £108.00 each visit

• ARCAAS Churchyard 18 April & 2 May, £96.000 each visit

• Blackawton Community Shop, Annual Parish Meeting Refreshments, £44.60

• Clerk, April Expenses Reimbursement, £36.83

The following payments made since the last meeting were noted:

• ICO, Annual Fee, £35.00

• • Clerk, April Salary, £474.49

  • HMRC, April, £122.20

  • NEST Pensions, April, £42.77

1. 3. Receipts

The following receipts were noted:

• DCC, Highways CMEF Lengthsman grant, £300.00

• HMRC, VAT Claim 21/22, £885.80

13. Clerk’s Core Hours and Overtime Claim

It was resolved to approved the Clerk’s claim for four hours of overtime. The consideration of whether to increase the core hours allocation was deferred to the closed part of the meeting.

14. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 6 June 2023 at 7:30 p.m.

15. 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(s) because of the commercial-in-confidence or employment nature of the business.

16. Quotes for Tree Works

The quotes requested by BPC for the removal of three trees in the Cemetery and two options for the avenue cherry trees in the Churchyard (either doing the advisory work as listed in the tree survey or to fell and replant with fruiting cherries) were discussed. The option of planting other fruit trees was raised. The permission of the Diocese and of the Planning Authority would be required for work to the cherry trees. It also remains to review BPC’s legal responsibility for the maintenance of the Churchyard. BPC would plan to carry out a community consultation prior to deciding on works to trees in the Churchyard. This will be an item on the 6 June Agenda.

17. Churchyard Wall Repair Quote

It was resolved to accept the quote of £588.50 and the £50 charge for the repairs to be separated in time, and to make arrangements for the work to be done as soon as possible.

18. Clerk’s Core Hours Allocation

It was resolved to increase the core hours by 2 hours per week with a review in six months along with the Performance Appraisal, with the estimated cost to BPC in 23/24 of £1,537 funded by vire from the sick leave reserve.

The meeting closed at 21:28.