Draft Minutes 2026 February 09

Feb 18, 2026 | Minutes

DRAFT Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blackawton Parish Council held on
Monday 9 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in Blackawton Village Hall

Present: Parish and SHDC Cllr Rake (Chair), Parish Cllrs Oughton (Vice-Chair), Coe, Hadow, Luckens, and Thomas were present, as were Clerk A Thom, and DCC Cllr Brazil for his report. There were no members of the public.
Absent: Cllr Mardon.

a. Open Forum

No matters raised.

b. Councillors Forum

No matters raised.

  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 the Minutes of the Meetings held on 12 January and on 26 January 2026.

  1. Report from Devon County Council Councillor

DCC Cllr Brazil reported on the storm damage to the Slapton Line area. Work is being done do sure up so that the Ley won’t be breached across the Torcross car park. The village has been visited by the Environment Agency and assessed as habitable. DCC doesn’t have funds to repair the A379 Road over Slapton Line. The area is a site of Special Scientific Interest so Natural England does not want to place foreign materials there. Caroline Voaden, MP, has a meeting with Ministers on Wednesday with cost estimates.

DCC is carrying out its Budget setting process now. Cllr Brazil was very pleased to report that the Government will make a generous SEND settlement, so DCC is no longer technically bankrupt. The SEND deficit was off balance sheet but it was still affecting cash flow. DCC revenue is under pressure. DCC was notified of of its final central Government settlement today. Any cuts will happen in year 2 and year 3, not in 26/27. In its strategic plan DCC has increased the revenue stream for Children’s Services and for road maintenance, subject to approval in the Budget Meeting on 24 February (the Liberal Democrats are a minority government). 80% of the budget is spent on Adult Social Care and Children’s Services.

DCC is improving fostering support and encouragement for individuals, and information for local business to be a fostering friendly employer. Children are better off in a family than in alternative provision, which may be outside the County. Cllr Brazil said that fostering children is incredibly worthwhile. The two main changes which have been made are that the money paid to foster has been increased and wrap around support is provided.

Cllr Brazil encourages residents to respond to the current consultation about the delivery of the Library service. Libraries Unlimited, who run service, are running at a loss. Its main cost is staff. There are archaic laws relating to the provision of a universal library service across the area with designated open hours and a need to have a librarian there. Libraries Unlimited is aware of other models where libraries are kept open by, for example, groups running a class and the library is also open. Services will be reduced if changes aren’t made to make the methods of service delivery sustainable. This particular consultation is about opening hours at different libraries.

The meeting discussed improving safety at the Forces Cross road intersection. BPC is aware that there has been another crash. It seems that not all incidents are on the official record. Cllrs Rake will liaise with Cllr Brazil.

Cllr Brazil gave his apologies for the next monthly BPC meeting on 9 March.

  1. Report from South Hams District Council Councillor

Cllr Rake reported that SHDC also received its final budget settlement from the Government today. It was not a good settlement for SHDC. 26/27 is OK. In the subsequent next two years SHDC loses £145,000 and then £356,000 off the settlement. There is already a decrease because the Government made an error in the Business Rates calculation.

Recent changes in the National Planning Policy Framework mean that if Council’s can’t demonstrate a five year housing supply it tilts the balance [of the planing application process] in favour of building houses. A January meeting of the Development Management Committee found that a proposed building in Modbury couldn’t be rejected because it was outside Neighbourhood Plan’s parameters.

After the full council meeting on Thursday SHDC will have new Arts and Culture and Community Engagement policies.

  1. Planning Applications

    1. South Hams District Council’s Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

  • 2889/25/HHO Brocks Down 13 Dartmouth Green Blackawton TQ9 7FE. Householder application for replacement of existing single storey garden room with oak framed garden room. Conditional Approval.

  • 3452/25/VAR Hingston Farm Lane To Hingston Farm East Allington TQ9 7QA. Application for variation of condition 2 (Approved Plans) of planning consent 1299/25/FUL (Proposed demolition of barns & replacement with residential dwelling in lieu of Class Q consent 2639/24/PDM). Conditional Approval.

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

  • 0163/26/TEX Wadstray House Blackawton TQ9 7DE. T1: Beech – storm damaged, hung tree within adjacent sycamore over driveway, risk to tenants and property. No Objection Raised.

    1. Review of New Applications

  • 0140/26/HHO Householder application for retrospective permission for a timber summerhouse built within 2m of the boundary. Lower Abbotsleigh Blackawton TQ9 7AF.

No comment (by resolution, Cllr Rake abstained).

The following applications were noted. No response is being made by BPC.

  • 0192/26/CLE The Linhay Higher Wood Farm Blackawton TQ9 7AB. Certificate of lawfulness for non compliance with occupancy condition.
    The decision will be made by SHDC based on evidence and the application of specific legal criteria.

  • 0211/26/AGR Wild Bank Farm Blackawton TQ9 7AA. Application to determine if prior approval is required for five polytunnels. Four measuring 20.12m (L) x 6.1m (B) x 2.84m height to ridge and one measuring 14m (L) x 7.1m (B) x 2.9m height to ridge.

  1. Consultations

  • DCC, Proposed changes to Devon Library Service. Closes 22/2/26.
    Cllr Rake encouraged participation. He also commented that he is querying with the DCC Officer the method for banding for Dartmouth. He said that it is necessary to review how the service is delivered rather than make sequential slices.

  • Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Feedback from residents about what the risks are within the local community: Closes 12:00 on 9/4/26.

  • Local government reorganisation in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
    It was noted that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s public consultation on the proposals received has just gone live. Closes Thursday 26th March. Consultation website: devonlgr.co.uk
    The Clerk will ask for a block notice in the Beacon to advertise the consultation. Cllr Rake will draft a BPC response to be considered by the 9 March monthly meeting of BPC.

  1. French Furze Development

There will be a second public residents’ meeting in two weeks: Tuesday 24th Feb at 19:00 in the Village Hall.

  1. Improving Safety at Forces Cross

The item to note that there has been another crash and to revisit what action can be taken by BPC was addressed above.

  1. Churchyard Wall Maintenance

The project to carry out the maintenance to areas of wall on Park Lane and on Main Street, as recommended by a specialist structural engineer, was discussed. A road closure is needed for the Park Lane works. The Main Street works can be carried out with the road open and a ‘give and take’ traffic management system. The work can be done in two separate stages. If road closures are requested of DCC without a three month notice period the cost is much higher. The ‘give and take’ traffic management system Licence only needs 21 days notice. The engineer’s advice is that the works be carried out as soon as practical as funds permit. A List B approval for the work is required from the Church. The Clerk will submit a request once BPC has chosen a stonemason (an item later on the Agenda for this Meeting). The Clerk will look into options for grant funding and hopes to schedule to fell the conifer in the southeast corner before the end of March (felling required before the work to maintain the wall can be done). This project will be an Agenda item for the 9 March Meeting of BPC.

  1. Felling of Trees in the Blackawton Churchyard

The List B request to the Church was decided on 4 February: conditional approval was granted. The approval allows the requested felling of the dead/declining avenue of cherry trees, the large conifer in the southeast corner, and a dead cherry tree located on the path to School Lane (but not the two younger cherry trees in the avenue).

Cllrs Hadow and Coe will look for a location where some wood can be left on-site to provide deadwood habitat.

  1. BPC’s Policy for Notifications to SHDC about Possible Breaches of Planning Legislation

It was resolved to adopt the proposal that BPC Policy be that it will signpost Parishioners to report their concerns about potential breaches of planning legislation directly to SHDC.

  1. Aluminium Can Recycling Point in the Village

It was noted that residents have bought a can crusher and created a recycling point at the car park between the shop and the pub. This will be promoted. Parishioners were asked to please use it.

  1. Greenslades Circuit Footpath

Cllr Rake reported that a SHDC s106 Officer has visited with a Landscape Officer. They don’t think the footpath has been finished to an acceptable standard and will see if there are any improvements which can be made.

  1. Installation of a Public EV Charging Point Within the Village

A decision regarding whether the Blackawton Parish Council wants to be involved in/carry out a project to reinvestigate installation of a public EV charging point within the Village was deferred pending notification of whether the Wind Turbine Feasibility grant application has been successful.

  1. Nominations for the ticket draw to attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

BPC decided not to make a nomination for this draw.

  1. BPC’s Gritter and Blackawton Snow Warden

Cllr Rake described the Ashprington Parish Council Chair’s idea for a tractor towed grit spreader route through Cornworthy, Dittisham, Blackawton, and Harberton. Representatives of the Parishes have discussed the idea, and thought it was broadly a good idea but there are issues to address. Cllr Rake will ask DCC if this could be done using the Snow Warden Scheme. Blackawton would still want a local Snow Warden to coordinate locally, for example the refilling of grit. The meeting agreed that BPC’s gritter will be stored where it is for now. The Clerk reported that DCC has said that the Snow Warden scheme doesn’t have a formal agreement regarding activities carried out by volunteers.  BPC’s proposed basic role is acceptable. DCC does expect that the short online Snow Warden Scheme training is done.

  1. Finance

    1. Update on Current Financial Position

The Report and Bank Reconciliation were received, and showed total funds of £63,874.25 and unearmarked general fund of £20,181.13.

    1. Payments & Receipts

It was resolved to authorise the following payments:

  • Clerk January Expenses Reimbursement £30.39

  • January cut of the internal face of the Cemetery hedge £120.00

  • Autumn clean of bus shelters £210.00

    1. 25/26 Internal Audit

It was resolved to appoint the same internal auditor as for the 24/25 internal audit.

  1. Correspondence

The following correspondence was noted:

  • Thanks from the Beacon editor for the grant from BPC

  • Thanks from South Hams Citizens Advice for the grant from BPC

  • 2/2/26 To DCC From a resident re. terrible condition of the road outside Newton Farm in the Parish of Blackawton. Follow up of correspondence started January 2025. Road has not been repaired by DCC.

  1. Next Meeting

It was confirmed that the next monthly meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 9 March 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 item because of the commercial-in-confidence nature of the business.

  1. Churchyard Wall Maintenance

It was resolved that the stonemason which provided the least costly quote was suitable to do the work as recommended. The choice of traffic management provider was deferred pending further information.

The meeting closed at 21:14.