Draft Minutes 2025 April 01

Apr 9, 2025 | Minutes

DRAFT Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on
Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

Present: Parish & South Hams District Council Cllr Rake (Chair), Parish Cllrs Oughton (Vice-Chair), Hadow, Luckens, Mardon, and Thomas were present, as was Clerk A Thom.
Absent: Cllr Coe.

a. Open Forum

i) Hanging Flower Baskets on the Main Street Bus Shelter

A resident has emailed asking to spend Parish Council funds to refurbish the hanging flower baskets. It was agreed that Cllr Rake will contact the resident.

b. Councillors Forum

No matters raised.

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Parish Cllr Coe and from DCC Cllr Brazil.

  1. Declarations of Interest

None declared.

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

It was resolved to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 March 2025.

The approved Minutes of the Personnel Committee meeting on 19 February 2025 were noted.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

DCC Cllr Brazil was absent.

Cllr Rake noted that we are in in the pre-election period which limits what DCC and SHDC Cllrs can say. The Blackawton Beacon has the timetable for the DCC elections.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

Cllr Rake noted that SHDC may receive negative feedback on the new car parking tariffs and the new double Council Tax regime. These changes were both necessary and integral to preparing a balanced budget for the Council.

  1. French Furze Development Update

Cllr Rake reported that the Blackawton Business Units CIC is in discussion with SHDC about progressing the transfer of the Business Units. Regarding the completion of the remainder of the French Furze development, there has been some progress and it is the drainage scheme which is holding things up. The drainage is sorted as far as the north side of road, but further down it is not.

  1. Review of Meeting Action Items

The list was reviewed briefly.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. South Hams District Council’s Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

  • 0496/25/AGR Broadley Farm Blackawton TQ9 7AJ. Application to determine if prior approval is required for proposed roofing over existing silage store measuring 22.86m (L) x 20m (B) x 7.71m height to ridge. Prior Approval Not Required.

  • 0614/25/ARC Woodford Farm, The Linney, Blackawton, TQ9 7AA. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 12 (CMP) of planning consent 3967/23/FUL. Discharge of Condition Approved.

    1. Review of New Applications

  • 0619/25/HHO Ebenezer Blackawton TQ9 7BN. Householder application to erect external terrace on rear elevation & replace windows.

Support (by resolution, Cllrs Hadow and Rake abstained).

  • 0876/25/PDM Land at SX 801 505, (Woodford Barn), Blackawton, Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use of agricultural buildings/barns to 2No dwellinghouses (class C3) & for associated development (Class Q (a+b)).

This is a permitted development application. BPC is not commenting. The applicant has previously established that the agricultural use criterion is met.

  • New Premises Licence application Anzac Bistro Dartmouth, 2 Anzac Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9DL.

BPC is not commenting on this application.

  1. Planning Appeal Notification of Decision

  2. 222/24/HHO Washwalk Mill Blackawton TQ9 7AE. Householder application for conversion & extension. to the Secretary of State in respect of the above site. The appeal follows the Refusal of Planning Permission of existing outbuildings as ancillary use only & additional parking. Dismissed.

The above decision was noted.

  1. Staffing Arrangements

The Clerk’s plans to resign were discussed. The Personnel Committee can carry out the recruitment process, with its recommendations then considered by the Parish Council. The discussion agreed that a candidate holding a Certificate in Local Council Administration would be preferred but not required, and that the Parish Council will support training, and pay for training in principle subject to safeguards.

BPC might look to work more closely with Dittisham Parish Council using the model used by SHDC: with each Council employing its own staff but staff being shared in some way, e.g. holiday cover, which might then follow on to a more formal arrangement. This would provide the benefit of different skills and preferences, and create efficiencies.

With the local government reorganisation to create unitaries, it is anticipated that the unitaries will do less locally and that if the Parish wants some services to continue we will need to do more ourselves, which will increase the number of staff hours required, and the knowledge and skills required of staff.

  1. Parish Council Landline Phone number

It was agreed to cease to offering the landline number for the Clerk on 8 June 2025. There is now a mobile number.

  1. Finance

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments:

  • Clerk March Expenses Reimbursement £244.30

  • Accounting Software Annual Fee £328.32

  • Cemetery Software Annual Fee £207.36

  • Spring Bus Shelter Cleans £222.00

  • Devon Communities Together Annual Fee £50.00

  • Parish Council Insurance (year three of three year agreement) £510.36

The following payment made since the last monthly meeting was noted:

  • Information Commissioner’s Office Annual Fee (compulsory, paid by direct debit) £35.00

It was noted that Lloyds Bank has taken the new monthly account fee in arrears by direct debit, £4.25 on 18 March, and that the charges were started early on 10 February instead of on 14 February 2025 as advised by Lloyds.

  1. Application to BPC from the Village Hall Committee for Grant Funds

It was resolved to approve the request for 50% of the total audiovisual project cost of £8,470.92, i.e. to make a grant of £4,235.46.

  1. Memorial Safety Inspections

The results of the inspections in the Churchyard and in the Cemetery were discussed. Two memorials were laid flat in each location. BPC will discuss with the Parochial Church Council the possible removal of a residual stone in the Churchyard. The Clerk will follow up whether action is required to fix memorials of approximately 580cm in height which have movement.

  1. Specifications for Work to Maintain the Churchyard Gates

The proposed specifications were agreed. The Clerk will request quotes and also establish whether approval for the maintenance needs to be obtained from the Diocese.

  1. Main Street Phone Box

The current options suggested for the refurbishment or removal of the Phone Box were:

  1. Refurbishment by volunteers: A budget of £300 has already been approved for materials.

  2. Paid refurbishment: An indicative cost for refurbishment by a specialist is £5,000, and by a contractor at least £1,200 plus materials.
  3. Sell the phone box.
  4. Partial restoration: To repair all the glass, then paint the glass black on the inside, screw the door closed, and just renovate the outside. If anyone has a suggestion for the interior in the future, the inside could then be completed.

The fourth option was amended by the Meeting to a picture being placed on the glass. It might be possible to work with the School or with local artists.

It was agreed that Cllr Luckens will proceed to implement the fourth option as amended to use pictures instead of painting the glass black.

  1. Annual Parish Meeting on Tuesday 15 April

The arrangements were confirmed.

  1. Correspondence & Contacts

The following was noted or considered. Meeting discussion is noted in italics:

  • 14/3/25 Report submitted to DCC by the Clerk – Request to reposition School Lane grit bin to make safe. Done by DCC on 18/3/25.

  • 10/3/25 Resident emailed BPC requesting information about ensuring the safe closure of the road while cattle are crossing.

The Meeting noted that this is a DCC matter and that BPC is assisting with local communication.

  • Review of the South Devon National Landscape Management Plan: Introductory meeting with Parish Clerks and Parish Chairs, 22 April at 6:00pm, online.

  • DALC Devolution Update for Smaller Councils 8 April, 10am-11.30am, online.

  • Notice of the Devon County Council Election being held on Thursday 1 May 2025.

  • P3 Footpaths Scheme forms returned to DCC.

The Clerk said they have not yet sent the forms. They will be sent on 2 April 2025.

  1. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 13 May at 7:30p.m.

The meeting closed 9:18 p.m.