APPROVED Minutes 2025 October 13

Oct 22, 2025 | Minutes

APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on
Monday 13 October 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), Hadow, Luckens, Mardon, and Thomas were present, as were Devon County Cllr Brazil for his report, Clerk A Thom, and one member of the public for the Open Forum.
Absent: Cllr Coe.

a. Open Forum

Blackawton Cemetery

A member of the public discussed their family’s request to inter the ashes of a non-resident whose spouse is interred in the Cemetery into the existing grave.

b. Councillors Forum

BPC’s Policy regarding Notifications to SHDC about Possible Breaches of Planning Legislation

Cllr Rake asked Cllrs to consider whether BPC’s approach (asking those who notice the possible breach to report it themselves directly to SHDC, with technical support from BPC if needed) for possible discussion in a future meeting of BPC. Cllr Rake will later this month discuss with SHDC Officers what Officers preferred approach is.

  1. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Coe.

  1. Declarations of Members’ interests in Agenda items

None declared.

  1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

It was resolved to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 September 2025.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

BPC Cllr Oughton said that adoption of the roads within French Furze by DCC (and the adoption of the sewage system by South West Water) is still two years away. The roads are in a 60mph speed zone now.

DCC Cllr Brazil explained that DCC cannot do a TRO [Traffic Regulation Order] because the roads are not adopted. He said that although it may not be DCC Policy to create a 20 mph zone, if Blackawton wants one this is well worth pursuing. Cllr Brazil noted that the Police still have powers if vehicles drive at dangerous speeds. Local Police could be asked to attend, for example around School drop off times: which were identified as a time when there is a problem. It was suggested by BPC that the School could raise the matter with parents, eg notes in book bags.

Cllr Brazil said that if Blackawton would prefer the village was a 20 mph zone to raise that with DCC now. There will be an advertising process for the speed zone when the French Furze area roads are adopted by DCC. It would save Blackawton money if a change to the village speed limits was advertised at the same time.

Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) were discussed. Communities can go through a SCARF process. It was noted by BPC that a speed survey was done fairly recently, in 2022, and that it showed general compliance with the 30mph zone. The maximum speed measured during the survey was 25mph. So long as VAS don’t cause a safety issue Cllr Brazil hopes that DCC Highways would co-operate. BPC would liaise with Highways. Several suitable sites could be agreed and VAS could be rotated between sites by BPC. Cllr Brazil noted that Strete is also landscaping so that it is obvious to drivers that they are entering a village.

If BPC wants to action a 20 mph zone in the French Furze area the Clerk would write to Cllr Oughton’s DCC contact and copy to the DCC Neighbourhood Officer and to Cllr Brazil. A request for VAS would go to the latter two.

There was some discussion about engineering works to improve visibility at Forces Cross; if works are possible they are likely to be several years away.

Regarding indicative costs to change speed zones, Cllr Rake said that a change is being considered for the road to Newton Abbot, near the Pig and Whistle public house. DCC’s charges will be nearly £20,000: for design, advertising a TRO, and for traffic management.

Cllr Brazil gave his apologies for the 10 November monthly meeting of BPC.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

SHDC Cllr Rake reported that the full Local Government Reform proposals are due with Government by 28 November. DCC have supported ‘New Devon’: all Districts merging to create a new County Authority, with Plymouth and Torbay each separate. SHDC support the 4-5-1 proposal, or the 4-5-1 plus proposal which lets Plymouth expand into the Plymouth urban fringe. In Cllr Rake’s view those two are the only sensible ones proposed. The Government will put its preferred proposal out for public consultation next spring. The May 2027 elections would have been District Council elections. They will now be elections to a shadow authority. The shadow authority will have until 1 April 28 to become operational.

SHDC is working on its 26/27 budget and that budget is under strain. The Fair Funding Review has taken place and SHDC’s settlement will be announced before Christmas. The waste collection grant has been reduced from £1 million to £700,000.

SHDC’s 25/26 budget performance is good. Car Parks receipts are ahead of budget.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. South Hams District Council’s Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

  • 1987/25/FUL Land At Sx 808 527 (Nr West Drayton Farm) Blackawton. Provision of new agricultural access. Conditional Approval.

  • 2823/25/TEX St Michael’s Church, Church Hill, Blackawton, TQ9 7BQ. Removal of dead tree in Churchyard. No Objection Raised.

    1. Review of New Applications

No comments will be made by BPC to SHDC on the following applications:

  • New pavement licence application: Coastal Trail, Riverside Court, South Embankment, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH.

  • New pavement licence application: The Crafty Mussel, South Embankment, Dartmouth TQ6 9BH.

The following applications were noted. No comments are being be made by BPC to SHDC. SHDC’s decision’s will be based on evidence & planing policy.:

  • 2635/25/PDM Land At Sx 801 505, Blackawton, TQ9 7AZ. Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use of agricultural barn to 4no. dwellinghouses (class C3) & for associated development (Class Q (a+b)).

  • 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.

  1. French Furze Development

The assessment of the Business Units by Cllrs Rake and Thomas (in their role as Directors of the Blackawton Business Units CIC) and an SHDC Officer found minor snags. The Units are pretty much ready. A snags list was sent to the developer. There has been no reply yet.

The Units were to be Business Class B1, however that Class no longer exists. The Units will be Business Class E, which is broader.

The meeting was told that the MUGA is unsafe. Cllr Rake will arrange a visit from SHDC’s Environmental Health team.

The Agenda item about receipt of information about DCC’s plan for French Furze was addressed above.

The new drainage system being developed for French Furze includes redirecting and managing water runoff from the farmland above, as well as a drainage solution for the open drain and below.

  1. Devon County Council Highways Matters

BPC agreed to request a 20mph zone for the village, with the 20mph zone to be extended to the ‘Welcome’ signs on the Forces Road and on the Quarry Road entrances to the village, and with limits as existing at the other entrances to the village. A public consultation is part of Devon County Council’s process to respond to BPC’s request.

BPC decided not to progress a project to install Vehicle Activated Signage in the village at this time. This matter will be reviewed depending on feedback from DCC regarding timings of implementation of a 20 mph zone.

BPC will ask the French Furze developer for its support for the 20mph zone and to make a financial contribution.

  1. Management of Trees in the St Michael’s Churchyard

Cllrs Hadow and Thomas reported that there is plenty of interest from Blackawton craftspeople to use the wood from the cherry trees that need to be felled in the Churchyard. Cllr Hadow is keeping a list. The Clerk will pass on the name of an interested Totnes resident. Those outside the Parish would receive second preference.

The proposals to leave cherry tree trunks in situ as habitat deadwood, or if that is not acceptable then stacking any unused cut wood in a series of low piles against the north Church wall were discussed. It was agreed that Cllr Hadow will investigate possible nearby locations, such as the School. There is limited space in the Churchyard and the access to the churchyard wall for maintenance purposes is important.

It was agreed that eight Rowan trees in seven to nine foot containers would be planted before spring to replace the avenue of mature cherry trees. The Clerk will obtain comparison purchase costs. The trees will have protective matting. Planting will be a team effort by Cllrs, ideally into the holes of the Cherry trees being removed. Cllr Luckens agreed to water the planted trees as necessary using the Church’s outside tap.

Cllr Oughton will try to source a heritage Crab-apple, which will replace the dead cherry on the path to School Lane.

  1. Maintenance and Restoration of Gates in the St Michael’s Churchyard

The Report was noted, including the agreed method, grant funds will be sought, a Church Faculty application is required for the lychgates, & suggesting removing the remaining lychgate into the Church to protect it pending the works. Removal of the lychgate was agreed if feasible and with the PCC’s agreement.

  1. Noticeboard

The Clerk will cost the installation in the Main Street bus shelter of a Parish Council noticeboard with two sides of 6A4 size each, made of accoya with a marine ply back if it’s not accoya, self-healing recycled rubber pinboard, polycarbonate glazing, locked doors, and stainless steel hinges. The Parish Council might provide financial support for the extension of community noticeboard space near the Community Shop if that’s required. The current wooden noticeboard is full of community notices, however it’s not managed and many notices are very old.

  1. Draft Blackawton Emergency Plan

This item was deferred.

  1. Wind Turbine Feasibility Grant Application

An Extraordinary Meeting was scheduled for Monday 20 October at 7:30pm to consider Cllr Coe’s proposed application for BPC to apply for a Government grant to pay for a feasibility study for a Community Owned Wind Turbine, and also the Draft Blackawton Emergency Plan.

  1. Blackawton Cemetery

The request from a family to purchase a grave to inter the ashes of a non-resident whose spouse is interred in the Cemetery was discussed. Their preference would be to inter the ashes in the spouse’s existing plot. The Clerk has replied that this is not possible because it’s a single plot and its illegal to disturb human remains, including interred ashes. Cllrs agreed that because the ashes plots in the Blackawton Cemetery are widely spaced it may be possible to place ashes next to those already interred. That approach is acceptable to BPC. The Clerk will assess on-site with Cllr Thomas, and advise the requester. The approved charges schedule will be used.

  1. Notice for the Beacon about the Blackawton Cemetery

The proposed Notice to ask for the community’s to help managing the Blackawton Cemetery (by using stone or similar durable materials for flowers or memorial items but not glass (because glass can break and cause injury)) and noting that items that interfere with maintenance or become unsafe, damaged, or unsightly will need to be removed by the Council, was approved with the addition of some examples about the sorts of items which cause a problem.

  1. Warden Vacancies

The appointment of a new volunteer Tree Warden was confirmed.
Cllr Rake said that he has received an expression of interest in the vacant Footpath Warden role and will be meeting with them soon to discuss the role.

  1. Meeting Action Items

The review of the list was deferred, except to the Clerk’s brief update on the Cemetery safety issues. The Clerk and Cllr Rake will review.

  1. Finance

    1. Annual Governance and Accountability Return Audit 24/25

The Notice of Conclusion of Audit and the External Auditor’s Report were noted. Not matters were raised.

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The Reports were noted, including a Report against the budget to 30 September 2025, and the Bank Reconciliation at 30 September 2025 was signed. The new ‘Churchyard’ Cost Centre, to reflect the new clarification of responsibility, was noted. At 30 September 2025 the total balance was £72,270 and the unearmarked General Fund £26,845 (this balance includes the received second half of precept).

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments:

  • Clerk September Expenses Reimbursement £107.53

  • Parish Lengthsman June 2024 to March 2025 £1,012

  • Grounds Maintenance Churchyard Frequent cuts 2, 16, & 30 September £306.00

  • Grounds Maintenance Cemetery Frequent cuts 2, 16, & 30 September £324.00

  • Blackawton Defibrillator Annual Support £198.00

The following Payments authorised since the last monthly meeting were noted:

  • Parish Lengthsman April to August 2025 £310.50

  • External Audit 2024/25 £252.00

  • Cut flush Churchyard wall vegetation, completion of cut £381.25

  • Bulb grant, four bedding packs October 2024 £15.00

The following Receipts were noted:

  • Precept second half £14971.50

  • VAT Refund 2024/25 Financial Year £1,092.90

  • DCC Public Right of Way Grant Minor Repairs £420

  1. Parish Lengthsman Rate

It was resolved to approve an increase in the hourly rate to £24.

  1. Correspondence

The following correspondence was noted:

  • Better Housing Better Health – https://www.bhbh.org.uk/ A not-for-profit free of charge service to help residents access fuel poverty advice and support.

  • SHDC Invitation – South Hams Energy Assembly Saturday 18 October 9:30-3:30.

  • Primary School, 30/9/25, Sharing correspondence about dog fouling between School and Car Park.
    The Clerk has shared SHDC’s dog fouling information and reporting webpage, and requested SHDC public notices and a visit from the Localities team.

  • Invitation, Dartmouth Caring AGM, Tuesday 21 October 17:00 for 17:30-18:30.

  • Hastoe, Request for help to establish Land Registry boundary.

  • Invitation Annual Slapton Ley Research Seminar on Saturday 15th November 2025, 10:00-16:00.

  1. Next Meeting

The next monthly meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 10 November 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.

  1. Management of Trees in the St Michael’s Churchyard

The decision made by the Clerk in consultation with Cllr Hadow under delegated authority to contract a free-lance contractor to do an initial survey for bats (Ground Level Tree Assessment and a Potential Roost Features Assessment) on trees planned for felling at a cost of £536 was summarised and noted.

  1. Maintenance and Restoration of Gates in the St Michael’s Churchyard

It was resolved to accept the quote of £19,342 from a contractor with the heritage qualifications and experience that BPC now understands is required to carry out the project. The quote does not include the creation of method documents for the Faculty application to the Church of England for the works to the lychgates. The timing of the works will depend on grant funds received and approval of the Faculty application.

The meeting closed at 22:00.