Parish Council meeting: Tuesday, 3 December 2024

Approved Minutes for the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, 3 December 2024

These minutes were approved on 7 January 2025

Please noteEvery care has been taken to present this accessible copy of the minutes with accuracy, but the formal record of the meeting remains the signed paper copy of the minutes.

1) Open Forum

1. Many thanks to our lengthsman John Widdicombe for his clearance of gullies during the recent heavy rains.
2. Concerns over the recent heavy rains and the excessive amount of water which is running down through the village, there are some drains in the Village which are blocked up and need attention, all roads into Avonwick were flooded.Cllr Grevatt confirmed that DCC clear drains once a year in the Parish, only the main road gets checked every 6 months.   Drains are simply not designed to take the amount of water which is coming down.  DCC will not attend standing water until 24 hours after rain has stopped and then only if its on a 40mph road, their budget is very restricted.  Gullies and gratings get blocked very quickly in heavy rain events with leaves and debris.

   Flood plan for the Village was drawn up but this was mainly for properties affected by River Flooding. Particular drains that have problems need to be reported must be done on the DCC website.

   D Cllr G Pannell will ask at SHDC localities to see if sand and bags can be provided to protect properties in the Parish.

2) Present

Cllr Grevatt (Vice-Chair), Cllr Hunt, Cllr Gabriel, D Cllr Pannell, Cllr Bell, Cllr Snoxall, Cllr Ring

Attended by – 1 member of the Public.

3) Apologies

Cllr Steer (Chairman),  C Cllr D Thomas.

4) Declarations of Interest

5) Previous Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday 5^th November 2024.

The above minutes have been circulated and read.

Proposed by Cllr Hunt and seconded by Cllr Bell with all in agreement. Duly signed by the Vice-Chairman – Cllr Grevatt.

6) Matters Arising

1. Avonwick Pumping Station – no reply to the Parish Councils question about lorries coming and going has been received from SWWA.

7) Reports.

1. County Councillor D Thomas.- reported by e-mail as follows:-
   An update from County after Storm Bert
   Our flood risk team is working closely with the Environment Agency and District Councils to review the communities and properties in Devon which were flooded during Storm Bert. Strong winds and heavy rain battered Devon last weekend and we received reports that approximately 40 properties suffered internal flooding. The results of the investigation, which will be published in the New Year, will help us identify which properties and areas would most benefit from future resilience measures, in line with other priorities, workload and funding opportunities. Our initial investigations, which includes feedback from communities, shows that in the communities where we have delivered flood schemes in recent years, such as Ivybridge, Sidmouth, Axminster, Uplyme and Stokeinteignhead, flooding was prevented. The number of flooded properties across the county would certainly have been much higher without these essential flood improvements. In Modbury for instance, approximately 4 million litres of water (4,000 cubic metres) was held behind a specially constructed dam without which many properties would have been flooded. The dam was part of a £1.1million scheme delivered in 2019 and it helps control the flow of water through the drainage system in Modbury town centre by storing excess water behind it and redirecting the flow of water from certain fieldsCouncillor Roger Croad, Cabinet Member with responsibility for flood resilience said: “We are committed to implementing measures to reduce flood risk to communities across Devon and we will continue to work to maximise funding to make a real difference to our residents.

   Please make sure you have let me know of any areas where homes were flooded so that we make sure not to miss any homes.

   Devolution Latest
   The ‘Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2024“, a ‘statutory instrument’ (SI), has been laid in Parliament, paving the way towards the creation of the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority. The Regulations will be debated in in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. When they are signed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner MP, under powers delegated by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (CCA) will come into being. The CCA will make decisions about the powers and funding devolved from Whitehall to Devon and Torbay through the deal that was agreed in January this year.

   Paul Arnott, Leader of East Devon District Council & Chair of Devon Districts’ Forum, said: “This legislation is an important precursor to the establishment of the Combined County Authority for Devon and Torbay.  All the District Councils in Devon will continue to work together and with our partners to ensure that the benefits for local communities arising from the transfer of powers and resources are maximised, including in relation to the forthcoming Devolution White Paper for England.”

   I have put the last bit in bold as it is probably the most relevant part – devolution is not over just because the CCA is being created, This will very much be the first iteration.

2. District Councillor G Pannell & D Hancock – written report received, finance uncertainties for next year due to a reduction in the Government Finance Settlement grant levels not being known. Bathing Water Regulations Consultation has taken place and the Environment Agency has release results of new classifications of bathing waters in the South Hams. Recycling Centres – DCC centres in Devon only 8 can now accept upholstered furniture – Ivybridge being the only one in the South Hams. Electoral Register Canvass is now in progress. A Rough Sleeping Snapshot count was done on the 11^th November in the South Hams – Seven people were identified. South Hams Community Awards 2025 – Open for nominations on the 13^th January 2025.

1. Play Park – swing repair has been done, gate entrance to be done.
2. Tree Warden – nothing to report.
3. P3 Co-Ordinator – paths wet and some rain erosion.
4. Defibrillator – both in working order.

8) Planning Applications / Matters.

Applications received from South Hams District Council - none

Decisions received from South Hams District Council

1. Refusal – Application no 2001/24/FUL – Avon Inn, Avonwick – Use of two pods in private garden for full time B&B as part of pub business.
2. Prior Approval Given – Application no 3389/24/PAA – Greenslade Farm, Avonwick – Agricultural Greenhouse 25.5m x 7m x 5m to ridge.
3. Discharge of Condition Approved – Application no 3212/24/ARC – Lupridge Chapel, Diptford – Approval of details reserved by condition 3 (hedgerow) to planning consent 1218/23/FUL.

9) Correspondence

1. Community Assets List for SHDC – SHDC are looking to compile a list of community spaces and groups in the Parish, a template will be provided by D Cllr Pannell to help with this.
2. Bathing Water reforms consultation – closes 23^rd
3. Flooding Emergency Plan for Avonwick – the current flood plan needs updating, this would perhaps now need to be a Parish Flood plan. Item for the next Agenda.

10) Highways

1. Traffic Speed Sign – funding for another sign coming from Totnes on the Totnes side of the new bridge. Dan Thomas – DCC will be asked if any funding is available. There also may be some District Cllrs fund.

11) Finances

Payments

BACS 8.11.24  = £139.20 (vat £23.20) – John Widdicombe (Lengthsman October).
BACS 11.11.24 = £22.75 – Avon Vale Tennis (Hall Hire November).
BACS 11.11.24 = £26.34 (vat £4.39) – Jolt (website hosting – Zoe O`Sullivan reimbursed).
BACS 28.11.24 = £435.90 – Sharon Raggett (Clerks Salary Oct, Nov, Dec).

Bank Balances December 2024

Treasurers Account	2525.35
Business Account	8008.97
	10,534.32

Monies held within PC Balance

P3 = £110.00

12) Next Meeting

1. Next Meeting Date 7^th January 2025.
2. Items for next meeting – Budget, Speed Sign & New Noticeboard.

There be no further business the meeting closed 8.16pm