Parish Council meeting: Tuesday, 4 February 2020

Key information

Meeting location: The Church of St James, Avonwick

Meeting time: 7.30 pm

Sound Recording You can download the audio recording for this meeting or use the player embedded in this page after the download link. Download the audio file here.
Agenda

PDF of the Agenda for the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, 4 February 2020

Download the Agenda (PDF, 48.0 KB)

Approved Minutes

Approved Minutes for the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, 4 February 2020

These minutes were approved on 3 March 2020

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.

Open Forum:

One member of the public was present. The Council was informed of the blocking of a drain at the side of the Bow Hill, Avonwick road. It appeared that the drain had been deliberately blocked. Information concerning this would be appreciated. District Councillor Pannell was thanked for his recent contribution to the SDHC planning consideration of the proposal for development at Newpark Stables.

Declarations of Interest:

None

Present: 

Councillors Bell, Grevatt, Hunt, Luscombe, Seager-Berry, Steer and District Councillor Pannell

Apologies for Absence:

Councillor Gabriel

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held the on 14th January 2020 were confirmed and signed. Proposed Cllr. Hunt, seconded Cllr. Seager-Berry.

Matters Arising:

Cllr Pannell asked for the minutes to show that the District Council tax for 2020/21 will be 3% higher than this year, not 2% as recorded in the minutes.

Reports:

District Councillor Pannell informed the Council of the purchase by SHDC of commercial property. The purchase was governed by strict guidelines. It was enabled by the District Council borrowing funds to then invest them in property in order to make a profit. The profit would be used for District Council expenditure and mean that the demands on the District Council tax would be less than would otherwise be the case.

The Council was told of consultations being undertaken concerning proposals for a new budget hotel in Kingsbridge and a new supermarket in Ivybridge. Cllr Pannell also told the Council of a move to remove planning controls from Councils which do not permit enough new homes to be built. This would not affect SHDC.

Cllr. Pannell was asked about planned expenditure by SHDC for work on climate change. He confirmed that money was being taken from reserves to provide help to those groups/organisations working on projects to alleviate Global Warming. This money would also be used by the Council itself if/when it is deemed appropriate.

Cllr. Pannell was asked if he had any information concerning a community home in Avonwick that had been reported as being empty for the past twelve months. He said that he would investigate this.

Planning:

The Council supported applications for the erection of a single-story extension and a garage at Burnt Pine Cottage, North Huish.  The Council was able to confirm that a storage barn in Penson, North Huish had been there for at least four years.

Finance:

Balance c/f  7,674.94
Income (int)  0.32
Exp. (Sand/bags)  84.75
Balance  7,590.51 

Highways:

It was reported that the road signs in Avonwick had been removed.

Avonwick 'Phone Signal:

A proposed questionnaire to survey the mobile ‘phone signal strength in Avonwick was accepted by the Council. Mr Howell (parishioner) had kindly offered to print this at no cost to the Council. Clerk to arrange for its distribution.

Website Accessibility:

Cllr. Grevatt confirmed that the Website conformed with national requirements. He had circulated a document concerning this to Councillors. This document accepted by the Council. Proposed Cllr. Seager-Berry seconded Cllr. Bell.

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, 3rd March 2020 at 7.30pm at St James’s Church, Avonwick.