Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Tuesday 12 November 2024 at 7.30 pm at Woodah Farm

 

Present: Cllr W Hole (Chairman), Cllr J Sawyer, Cllr R Crocker, County Cllr J Brook (at item 3), B Green Lengthsman, and one member of the public

Clerk: A Miller

1         Welcome and Apologies for Absence

The Chairman welcomed everybody present.

Cllr Salter sent her apologies which was accepted by the Council.

District Cllr Swain sent his apologies.

2         Declarations of Interest / Requests for Dispensations

None.

 

Next item 5.2. was discussed.

 

Open Forum

None.

3         County and District Councillors’ Report

County Cllr Brook gave his report about the financial situation at Devon County Council.

4         Ratification of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Resolved The Minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting of 8 October 2024 was unanimously accepted as a true record. The Chairman signed the Minutes.

5         To Discuss Planning Matters

5.1       To Note Planning Decisions and To Discuss Other Planning Related Issues

The following decisions were noted:

• 24/00361/COND1 Mistleigh Copse Woodland Store – Discharge of condition 2 (foul and surface water management) on planning permission 24/00361/FUL for retention of existing cabin to provide rest facilities in association with the agricultural use of the land – approved
• 24/01413/CLDE Middle Hills – Certificate of lawfulness for existing use as storage and haulage – approved

5.2       To Receive an Update About the Teignbridge Local Plan Review

A member of the public informed the Council about the Inspector’s Hearing. The developer argued to change the type of housing from self-build to development. The Parish Council sent a written statement to the Inspector prior to the hearing.

 

Next item 8.3 was discussed.

5.3       To Discuss Planning Applications

5.3.1     24/01700/HOU Batts Brook

Erection of lower ground floor extension, internal alterations and conversion of garage to additional accommodation

Resolved No objection.

5.3.2     24/01701/LBC Batts Brook

Erection of lower ground floor extension, internal alterations and conversion of garage to additional accommodation

Resolved No objection.

5.3.3     24/01733/VAR Eastern Hill Farm

Variation of condition 2 on planning application 22/01443/NPA (Application for Prior Approval under Part 3 Class Q (a) & (b) and paragraph W of the GPDO for change of use of an agricultural building from agricultural use to a dwelling) to amend the design

Resolved No objection.

6         To Discuss Defibrillator Maintenance / Replacement

The Parish Council considered options for maintaining the current equipment with buying a new battery or replacing the current defibrillator with a new one.

Resolved The Parish Council decided to keep the current defibrillator and replace the battery.

The Clerk informed the Council that the heating does not work in the cabinet and in cold weather the battery may be depleted. The heating and lighting in the cabinet runs from the main electricity supply of the school and the connection needs a repair. Clerk to organize the repair.

7         To Discuss Finance

7.1       To Receive a Finance Report and to Review Received Grants

The total bank balance on 31 October 2024 was £17,677.89. After deducting the amount of earmarked funds and grants, the general reserve was £6,407.50.

7.2       To Agree Updating Details in Unity Trust Bank

Resolved The Council agreed to update the office email address and phone number and include Cllr Salter as authorizer of payments on the bank mandate.

7.3       To Discuss Possible Project Ideas for Next Year’s Budget

Drainage improvements at Down Lane were considered. Chairman to contact a resident with engineering experience about possible solutions.

7.4       Approval of Expenditure

Venue hire 12 November 2024 £10.00

Card monthly fee October 2024 £3.00

Unity bank account fee 04/09/2024 – 30/09/2024 £5.40

Log benches for the Triangle £480.00

Office mobile top up £5.00

Log benches installation £25.00

Resolved The Council unanimously approved the expenditures.

8         To Receive Reports and Updates

8.1       To Receive an Update about the Triangle

The log benches made from the trunk of the atlas cedar tree had been delivered by Sawmills Devon and were installed by the lengthsman.

Part of the Tidy Teignbridge grant, that had been received for works at the Triangle and bus shelter, remains.

8.2       To Receive an Update about Positioning a Cycle Rack in the Centre of the Village

The owner of the pub agreed to install a cycle rack in the car park which can be used by the community. Clerk to clarify insurance implications.

8.3       To Receive a Highways Update and an Update about the Road Warden Scheme

8.3.1     Lengthsman’s Report

The lengthsman gave his report about the meeting with Cllr Sawyer to identify drains which need more attention and about the work that had been done so far.

8.3.2     Road Warden Scheme

There are no volunteers so far, only one resident indicated that he would join other volunteers for pothole repairs.

The condition of the Parish Council’s tools, suitable for pothole repair, will be checked.

The Parish Council decided to postpone signing the Road Warden Agreement until there will be enough volunteers to join the Scheme.

8.3.3     Consultation on Road Closure on the B3193 on 25-26 November 2024

Road closure was proposed to allow cutting down diseased ash trees.

Resolved The Parish Council had no objection.

8.3.4     U1 licence

Cllr Crocker was interested in the possibility of obtaining a licence. Clerk to ask for more information from the Neighbourhood Highways Officer.

 

Next item 3 was discussed, as County Cllr Brook arrived.

8.4       To Receive a Parish Path Partnership and Footpath Update

None.

9         To Discuss a Possible Response to the Consultation on Remote Meetings and Proxy Voting

Resolved The Parish Council supported the option for holding remote meetings, but it did not support proxy voting.

10     To Discuss a Possible Response to the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 4

Resolved The Parish Council agreed to send a consultation response highlighting that the criteria for 20 mph speed limit needs to be reconsidered to allow parishes with single lane roads and no suitable pavements to be included in the scheme.

11     Clerk’s Correspondence

None.

12     Date of Next Meeting

14 January 2025

13     Chairman’s Remarks

The Chairman thanked everybody for their participation and closed the meeting at 10.08 pm.

 

 

 

Signed…………………………………………………………

Chair

 

Date