Approved Minutes 2024 January 09

Jan 19, 2024 | Minutes

The Minutes can be read below or downloaded here: MN_2024_January BPC Approved Minutes

APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on
Tuesday 9 January 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in St Michael’s Church

a. Open Forum

No Parishioners raised matters.

b. Councillors Forum

Matters discussed:

  • Business Units at French Furze – Installation of solar panels and EV charging have been discussed but further action is premature until ownership has been transferred.
  • Drainage at French Furze – Some work has been done.
  • Adoption of French Furze roads by DCC – It appears the road will be adopted in 2024 with a 30 miles per hour speed limit.
  • Plan for Blackawton to achieve net zero – Consider inviting a speaker to the Annual Parish Meeting. Note DCC and SHDC have a carbon plans.

  • Thermal imaging camera – After training tomorrow the loan camera will be available to survey homes.

  • Phone box restoration – A proposal will be provided to the March meeting of BPC.

Present: Parish & South Hams District Cllr Rake (Chair), Parish Cllrs Oughton (Vice-Chair), Coe, Hadow, Luckens, and Thomas were present, as was Devon County Cllr Brazil (for his report), and A Thom (Clerk). There were no members of the public.

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mardon.

  1. Declarations of Interest

None declared.

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

It was resolved to approve minutes of the Meeting held on 5 December 2023.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

A full Council meeting before Christmas adopted the Task and Finish Group’s report on the Freeport. Two road’s at French Furze recycling waste collections were missed because of staff illness and substitutions. It was collected two days later. The national target is a maximum of 80 out of 100,000 collections missed. SHDC’s are now much reduced, about 200.

  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 decision was noted:

  • 3991/23/AGR Land at SX 808 527, Blackawton. Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed agricultural storage building measuring 18m (length) x 12m (breadth) x 6.1m (height to ridge). Prior Approval Not Required.

    1. Review of New Applications

  • 4086/23/HHO 2 Church Quillet Blackawton TQ9 7BT. Householder application for proposed single vehicle hardstand.

Support (by resolution, Cllr Rake abstained).

  • 3912/23/HHO Seawardstone Lodge, Blackawton, TQ9 7AB. Householder application for alterations & extension to existing property.

Support (by resolution, Cllr Rake abstained).

  • 4178/23/ARC Larcombe Farm, East Allington, TQ9 7QB. Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (Facing Materials), 4 (Windows/Doors/Sills), 5 (Sample Panel), 7 (Flues/Vents), 8 (Rooflights) and 9 (Eaves/Verges) of planning consent 3929/22/FUL.

To respond No comment (by resolution, Cllr Rake abstained).

  • 4179/23/ARC Larcombe Farm, Lane To Larcombe Farm, East Allington, TQ9 7QB. Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (Facing Materials) , 4 (Windows/Doors/Sills), 5 (Sample Panel), 7 (Flues/Vents), 8 (Rooflights) and 9 (Eaves/Verges) of planning consent 3930/22/LBC.

To respond No comment (by resolution, Cllr Rake abstained).

  1. Consultations

No BPC comment submitted on the following consultations.

  • Peninsula Transport, Draft Transport Strategy. Closes 5/2/24.

  • South Devon Rural Housing Association, Proposed Merger with Places for People Group. Closes 7/2/24.

  1. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The Reports, which showed total funds of £55, 796.22 and an unearmarked general fund of £12,929.80, were received.

    1. Proposed Budget 2024/25

It was resolved to approve the 2024/25 Budget and Precept demand as circulated. The Precept will be £23,000.00, an increase of £4,000.00, which equates to a total annual cost of £9.71 per ’Band D equivalent household’. No new transfers made to earmarked reserves. The maintenance of the Cemetery wall will be funded from earmarked reserves.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

Devon County Councillor Brazil reported that the expected council tax increase will be a total of 5 percent. There is a Cabinet meeting tomorrow. The Special Educational Needs budget deficit has increased, currently a £40 million overspend. There is a way for the Government to pay the debt off, but it would need the annual revenue overspend addressed. The Devolution deal for Devon and Torbay is progressing. We don’t know the details, what powers might be devolved, the costs, or who will pay. There will be a special Cabinet meeting on 2 February. It is expected that Cabinet will sign off to proceed to a consultation, starting 9 February. The devolution may be ratified in April and start in May. There is an HS2 funds dividend which is paying for extra pothole crews. Cllr Brazil would welcome feedback on the teams.

  1. Finance

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments

  • Church, Hire of the Narthex, December and January, £40.00

  • Clerk, Expenses reimbursement, £29.43

  1. Planning Repairs to the Cemetery Wall

Repairs are required to the Cemetery wall on Back Lane. It was agreed to obtain quotes for two days work, starting with the most affected areas, and doing as much work as possible in the time available, and providing the approach to take or options. Quotes will also be obtained for the traffic management for the road closure. Aim to obtain quotes for February BPC meeting.

  1. Maintenance of the Closed Churchyard

A discussion meeting was scheduled for 16 January at 7:30 pm in the Church for the purpose of having time for Cllrs to ask questions and discuss the possible options.

  1. Correspondence

The following correspondence was noted:

  • Email, South Devon National Landscapes, South Devon AONB renamed South Devon National Landscapes

  • Slapton Tree Hub, Saturday 20 January, 10am-2pm, Slapton Village Hall

  1. Next Meeting

The February meeting of the Parish Council will be held one week later than usual, on Tuesday 13 February 2023 at 7:30 p.m., due to Cllr absences.

  1. 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 commercial-in-confidence nature of the business.

  1. Cemetery Maintenance Contract

It was resolved to pay an additional charge of £100 to move the timing of cutting the interior face of the hedging around the Cemetery.

The meeting closed at 21:41