APPROVED Minutes 2025 June 09

Jun 13, 2025 | Minutes

APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on
Monday 9 June 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

Present: Parish & South Hams District Council Cllr Rake (Chair), and Parish Cllrs Coe, Hadow, Mardon, and Thomas were present, as were two members of the public (until the item addressing planning application 1299/25/FUL), and Clerk A Thom.
Absent: Cllrs Luckens and Oughton.

a. Open Forum

  1. 1299/25/FUL Hingston Farm East Allington

Two members of the public were present to describe the application and answer questions.

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Parish Cllrs Luckens and Oughton, 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 13 May 2025.

  1. Review of New Planning Applications

This item was moved up the Agenda at the Chair’s discretion.

  • 1299/25/FUL Hingston Farm East Allington TQ9 7QA. Proposed demolition of barns & replacement with residential dwelling in lieu of Class Q consent 2639/24/PDM.

Support (by resolution, Cllr Rake abstained).

  1. Councillors Forum

i. Accessing Grant Funding for a Blackawton Community Composting Site

Cllr Coe asked about accessing SHDC and DCC Cllrs’ Locality Funds to support the creation of the Blackawton Community Composting Site. It was agreed that in the first instance any grant funds would be towards the construction of the Site, rather than the tools and high-viz vests.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

Cllr Rake reported that a new Leader and Deputy Leader have been elected at SHDC. Cllr Rake was elected Deputy Leader.

SHDC is about to have a follow-up peer challenge process. Feedback from the initial challenge, about a year ago, was positive. There were seven or eight recommendations, which will now be re-assessed.

SHDC is responding to Government about its proposal to increase, from £2 million a year to about £3 million, the cut-off above which SHDC retains locally collected business tax revenue. More information is expected in the next Government Local Government Finance Spending Review.

The SHDC Executive has recommended adopting a local cycling and walking infrastructure plan. It is an evidence-based plan which recommends that infrastructure is put where it’s most useful to connect communities.

SHDC is trying to introduce Devon-wide blister pack recycling. This is currently only done by some pharmacies.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

Cllr Rake reported on Devon matters in Cllr Brazil’s absence. The full Council met just over a fortnight ago. Cllr Brazil was elected as Leader. The Liberal Democrats don’t have a majority or a formal coalition agreement. However the party will govern with the support of Green and Independent members. DCC has 27 Liberal Democrats members, 18 Reform UK, seven Conservative Party, and six Green Party and Independent members. A new cabinet has been appointed.

Regarding Devolution, the Minister for Housing Communities and Local Government has replied asking for more detail. The Government hasn’t expressed a preferred approach. It has softened its view on the minimum size of a unitary. On 18 June there is a meeting of SHDC and the 13 Parish Councils affected by Plymouth’s wish to include them in its unitary council, to which they are opposed.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. South Hams District Council’s Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

  • 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)). Prior Approval Required and Refused.

  • 0971/25/ARC Woodford Farm, The Linney Blackawton TQ9 7AA. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 6 (Drainage) to planning consent 3967/23/FUL. Discharge of Condition Approved

  • 0906/25/HHO Myrtle Cottage Eastdown Blackawton TQ9 7AP. Householder application for single storey extension to side & rear. Conditional Approval.

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

    1. Review of New Planning Applications

The following applications were noted, for information:

    • 1647/25/ARC Woodford Farm, The Linney, Blackawton, TQ9 7AA. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (roofing materials, timber & stone) to planning consent 3967/23/FUL.

    • 1505/25/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 building to 2No dwellinghouse (class C3) & for associated development (Class Q (a+b)).

    • 1520/25/PDM Land At Sx 801 505 (Woodford Barn), Blackawton. Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use of agriculturalbuildings/barns to 2No dwellinghouse (class C3) & for associated development (Class Q (a+b))

    • New premises licence application from McCarthy & Stone Limited, Mewstone Place (Retirement Living) for their communal lounge at Barton Way, Dartmouth, TQ6 0GN.

  1. Consultations

  • Law Commission: New Funerary Methods: legal structure for regulating new funerary methods, which are alternatives to burial, cremation and burial at sea. Closes 4/09/2025
    The consultation was noted. No BPC response will be made.

  1. Blackawton Community Owned Wind Turbine

Cllrs considered whether to apply for grant funds for a feasibility study by Community Power Solutions Ltd. It is understood that there would be no net cost to BPC for the feasibility study.

A visit was suggested to the site of Community Power Solutions Ltd’s completed project in Lawrence Weston, Bristol: to see the turbine, to learn more about the project and about the community’s experience and views.
It was resolved to contact Community Power Solutions Ltd to establish if a first stage assessment has been carried out, and if yes, to find out what the results were.
It was agreed that BPC will arrange a public meeting about a Blackawton Neighbourhood Plan, to take place in September. Cllrs want to find out if there is community interest and support for a community wind turbine, which will be discussed in that meeting. If a Neighbourhood Plan is created a wind turbine could be included.

  1. Zero Hour Campaign for the Climate and Nature Bill

No BPC response will be made. It was noted that as it’s a parliamentary bill Blackawton’s MP would have a vote and would already be expected to support the Bill.

  1. Finance

    1. 24/25 Annual Governance and Accountability Return

      1. 24/25 Internal Audit

The Auditor’s report states that all objective have been met. It suggests expanding the business continuity section of the risk register. It notes that from 24th February 2025 both above and below threshold notices for new UK procurements will need to be published on Find a Tender. The Clerk will seek more information about what this means in practice. Both of these comments will be actioned by BPC.

      1. 24/25 Audit Annual Governance Statement

It was resolved to approve the Statement.

      1. Signature of the Audit Annual Governance Statement

The Statement was signed.

      1. 24/25 Audit Accounting Statements

The Accounting Statements were considered.

      1. 24/25 Audit Accounting Statements

It was resolved to approve the Statements.

      1. 24/25 Audit Accounting Statements

The Statements document was signed by the Chair of the Meeting.

      1. Publication of Notice of Public Rights & Publication of Annual Governance & Accountability Return

It was noted that the Return & Notice will be published, with revised inspection dates of Monday 16 June 2025 to Friday 18 July 2025.

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The monthly Reports and Bank Reconciliation were received. The £1 error in the reconciliation is caused by a test transfer to a new payee. Total funds were £64,983.80 with an unearmarked general fund of £15,864.83.

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments:

  • Clerk May Expenses Reimbursement £29.77

  • Society of Local Council Clerk’s Annual membership fee, £150.00

  • Hedge Cemetery Roadside face and top cut 2025, £90.00

  • Grounds Maintenance 13 and 27 May, Cemetery Frequent cuts, £216.00

  • Grounds Maintenance13 and 27 May, Churchyard Frequent cuts, £204.00

The following receipt was noted:

  • Good will refund of first bank fee paid to Lloyd Bank, because of Lloyds’ start date error, £4.25

  1. French Furze Development

Cllr Rake reported that the CIC’s inspection of the Business Units with SHDC will take place once it has the Building Regulations Completion Certificates which the developer has not provided and SHDC has not been able to locate.

It was agreed that Cllr Rake will write to Caroline Voaden MP and to the developer’s CEO with a view to raising awareness of the problems and generating action towards the project’s completion.

  1. Tree Risk Assessment Survey

It was noted that the same surveyor has been been booked to inspect Parish Council, Playing Fields, and Village Hall trees on 10 June 2025 at a cost of £520 exVAT.

  1. BPC Bus Shelter Cleans

It was confirmed to re-contract for the autumn and spring cleans at a cost of £210 per visit.

  1. Purchase of a Printer

The purchase of a printer/scanner and a shredder was noted (£108.96 including printer paper, delivery, and VAT). It was noted that the old BPC printer is no longer supported and will be properly disposed of.

  1. Correspondence and Contacts

The following were noted:

  • South West Community Energy Conference 15.05.25 Topics & Slides have been shared

  • 23/5/25 SHDC Newsletter: Council secures prosecution for illegal tree felling

  • 30/5/25 Ivybridge & District Community Transport Association: Thanks to the Blackawton Parish Councillors on behalf of the Trustees.

  • 04/06/2025 DCC: A379 Torcross and A381 West Alvington Surface Dressing Update

  1. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next monthly meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 14 July at 7:30 p.m., and noted that the public meeting about making a Blackawton Community Emergency Plan will be on Monday 23 June at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting action items list was briefly reviewed at the end of the meeting. The item about whether to change hedge cutting arrangements in the Cemetery was closed.
BPC is seeking a local handyman to repair the back of the wooden noticeboard on Main Street (opposite the Community Shop), and a Footpath Warden. The discussion ended at 21:17.