Approved Minutes 2025 November 10

Nov 13, 2025 | Minutes

APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on
Monday 10 November 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

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

a. Open Forum

No matters raised.

b. Councillors Forum

Parish Lengthsman Report
Cllrs confirmed their support for work being done on the Strete road at the intersection with the entrance to Quarry Road (near the A3122) if the Lengthsman judges that the works can be done safely, but not for works further down the Strete road.

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Parish Cllrs Hadow, Lucken, & Mardon, and from DCC Cllr Brazil.

  1. Declarations of Interest

Cllr Oughton declared an interest in 2883/25/FUL Land Adjacent 25 French Furze Road, Blackawton.

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

It was resolved approve the Minutes of the Meetings held on 13 October 2025 and 20 October 2025.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

South Hams District Council Cllr Rake discussed SHDC’s Local Government Reform proposal, which will be submitted in November in response to the Government’s request, and those being submitted by other Local Authorities. The Government will in late winter or early spring publish its response to the proposals received, and then carry out a public consultation.

Cllr Rake’s meeting with SHDC Planning Officers has had to be deferred (about Officers’ preferred approaches to receiving notifications about possible breaches of planning legislation).

Cllr Rake has visited Hope Wood at South Brent. This community woodland was purchased by SHDC (with SHDC paying 10% and DEFRA paying the balance). Cllr Rake described a fantastic outcome for the £60,000 investment: Sustainable South Brent have a large community garden and orchard. A woodland has been planted. As well as providing an amenity space, the Wood will provide carbon credit or biodiversity net gain credits with a total value close to £1 million, and also move SHDC closer to its goal to plant a tree for every resident in the South Hams.

The member of the public commented on the Government Warm Homes grant which is available to improve homes. It is being delivered by SHDC in partnership with South Dartmoor Community Energy.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

Deferred in Cllr Brazil’s absence.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. South Hams District Council’s Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

  • 2380/25/CLP The Granary Millcombe Farmhouse Blackawton TQ9 7AE. Certificate of lawfulness for proposed siting of caravan within the domestic garden to provide ancillary accommodation. Cert of Lawfulness (Proposed) Certified.

  • 2657/25/AGR Yonder Parks Bungalow Blackawton TQ9 7DR. Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed general purpose agricultural building measuring 22.86m (L) x 18.28m (B) x 9.14m height to ridge. Prior Approval Deemed Consent.

    1. Review of New Applications

  • 2958/25/FUL Higher Dreyton Farm Blackawton TQ9 7DG. Extension to existing detached garage to form ancillary accommodation & associated works.

Support (by resolution, Cllr Rake abstained).

  • 2883/25/FUL Land Adjacent 25 French Furze Road, Blackawton. Replacement of existing garage & containers with commercial store & office.

Support: BPC is supportive of development of this site but asks that particular attention is paid to assess the impact of the proposed development on neighbouring residential properties. BPC notes that the scale of vehicles on the planning documents does not appear to be correct. The vehicles appear to be shown as being much smaller than an actual vehicle would be. (By resolution, Cllrs Rake and Oughton abstained.)

  1. French Furze Development

Cllr Rake reported that the developer has acknowledged receipt of the list of works required to complete the Business Units but no action has yet been taken to do those works.

There will be a public meeting on 10 December 2025 in the Village Hall to discuss the incomplete MUGA, play area, and drainage scheme. The developer may attend to provide information and then leave the meeting. There is currently one member of the SHDC Development Management Committee (DMC) attending. Cllr Rake suggested that all members of the DMC be invited to attend, because this is an instructive example of what can happen when developers don’t comply with S106 agreements.

  1. Contract to Cut Back Vegetation growing on the Churchyard Wall, Entrance Steps & Pillars
    Contract for Grounds Maintenance in the Churchyard & Cemetery

Two Agenda Items were considered together. BPC supported the proposed specifications for work to cut back vegetation growing on the churchyard wall and gate pillars, and advertising a contract (1 year/optional 3 year extension). BPC supported the proposed revised specifications for Grounds Maintenance in the Churchyard & Cemetery.

  1. Wind Turbine Feasibility Study Grant Application

The meeting noted that an application has been submitted, and discussed Clerk’s report advising that the contract to carry out a study would require a new procurement process. A response to the grant application is expected in January 2026.

  1. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The Report and Bank Reconciliation were noted. At 31 October 2025 total funds were £69,404.50 and the unearmarked general fund £23,757.11. The Clerk noted the preparation of the 26/27 budget which will be approved in January and invited items.

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments:

  • Clerk, October Expenses Reimbursement £31.01

  • Parish Online annual subscription fee £58.80

  • Grounds Maintenance – Churchyard Frequent cuts 14 & 28 October £204.00

  • Grounds Maintenance – Cemetery Frequent cuts 14 & 28 October £216.00

Payments authorised since the last monthly meeting:

  • Parish Lengthsman September to 4 October £230.00

    1. Accounting Software 26/27 Cost Increase

The meeting discussed the advice that the annual charge will increase by 40%, due to a review using precept value as an indicator of the size of the council and the level of support and resources used, with the next review in three years. There is no change to the Cemetery software annual charge.

  1. Clerk’s Request for Annual Leave

BPC approved the Clerk’s request for leave 14 to 21 November 2025. Other dates requested to be considered by the Personnel Committee meeting on 26 November 2025.

  1. Church of England Permission to carry out Churchyard Maintenance

The Clerk’s report about law creating legal and planning controls for the Church of England (requiring a formal authorisation for some works to church buildings and churchyards) was noted.

  1. South Devon National Landscape’s Offer of an Accessible/Wheelchair Friendly Picnic Bench

BPC will accept the offer requesting a bench to be used to replace the existing bench in the Cemetery if that site is acceptable. Alternative sites in order of preference are the community meadow (possibly with some hard standing installed to access it) and the play-park.

  1. Correspondence

The following correspondence was noted:

  • Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Annual Precept Survey. Closes 3 December 2025

  • SHDC Thermal imaging camera loan scheme for communities

  • ICCM Campaign to change DWP Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility criteria

  1. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 8 December at 7:30 p.m.

  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 items because of the commercial-in-confidence nature of the business.

SHDC Chair left

  1. Grounds Maintenance Contract

BPC resolved to take up the optional extension to extend the contract, with the adjustments to the works as discussed above. The contractor will submit a revised price which would need to be acceptable to BPC.

  1. Noticeboard Quotes

No quotes have been received from carpenters. The Clerk was asked to cost commercial options, including a noticeboard similar to the noticeboard outside the Community Shop.

The meeting closed at 20:50.