Parish Council meeting: Tuesday, 5 March 2024

Approved Minutes for the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, 5 March 2024

These minutes were approved on 2 April 2024

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.

The meeting was opened at 7.30pm, and there were two members of the public in attendance for this meeting.

1:      Open Forum

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, there were no issues raised at all in the open forum this evening.

2:      Present:

Cllrs Steer (Chair), Cllr Grevatt (Vice Chair), Cllrs Hunt, Ring and Snoxall.

District Cllr Pannell. County Cllr Thomas.

Clerk, Zoe O’Sullivan.

3:  Apologies for absence

Councillor Bell, due to attending a meeting. Apologies were accepted by the council.

4:  Declarations of Interest

The Chairman declared an interest in the matter relating to an email from a parishioner about overgrowth on the Blackhall Lane/Ugborough Rd junction.

5:  Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on the 6^th February 2024 were confirmed as a true record and signed, this was agreed unanimously.

6:  Matters Arising

Training for defibrillator use – The clerk explained that she has worked to design a poster with Cllr Grevatt since the last meeting and this has been posted to the noticeboards and the website and has been forwarded to Diptford Parish Council Clerk to advertise as they see fit. Once numbers of anyone interested are passed to the clerk, we will arrange this with Cllr Snoxall’s colleague, date and venue to be advised in due course.

Dog Fouling – It has been noted that both replacement dog fouling signs near the cobbly walk in Avonwick has been removed again. District Cllr Pannell offered assistance in arranging further replacement signs to be erected, however it was felt this would be a waste of council resources and would just be removed again. No other issues reported this month.

Tender for grass cutting – The Chair advised that the invite to tender will be posted on noticeboards and website very shortly, clerk to action before the next meeting.

North Huish noticeboard – the clerk advised that the glass is detaching away from the external wooden frame in a couple of places, Cllr Grevatt offered to inspect this – updates to follow.

7:  Reports

County Council

County Cllr Thomas attended the meeting, and gave a report on a couple of items:

The devolution consultation is still open if the parish would like to put forward their views.

DCC budget for this year – a council tax rise of 4.99%.

District Council

A report has been circulated to the council prior to the meeting, and District Cllr Pannell asked if the council would like to nominate anyone for the community awards, and to submit any nominations by the end of March. Posters have been put up on the noticeboards and website regarding energy vouchers help for parishioners.

Playpark report

Cllr Grevatt reported no issues this month, except that the entrance is very muddy now with the recent weather.

Tree Warden’s report – Nothing to report this month.

P3 Report – Cllr Ring said that two parishioners have reported that the footpath near Clunkamoor (Footpath no. 5) has been blocked off with electric fencing to keep sheep in. Clerk to report this to the footpath warden, Mr McFadden. 

Cllr Snoxall advised that she has spoken to the previous P3 co-ordinator regarding the P3 paperwork, and he has no records. New surveys of the footpaths need to be carried out by councillors.

Defibrillator Report – Cllr Grevatt reported that we are just waiting on replacement pads for the Avonwick defibrillator currently, and he’s managed to speak to an electrician regarding the North Huish defibrillator - the RCD keeps tripping in the device in the telephone box, although it’s been ok recently. The electrician suggested that the electrics may benefit from being encased in a waterproof casing, Cllr Grevatt asked for a quote on this, update to follow.  

District Cllr Pannell left the meeting. 

8:  Planning

There were no new planning applications this month.

Decisions:

Planning Application references 4255 & 4256/23/ARC  

Description: Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (Facing Materials), 5 (Windows/Doors/Sills), 6 (Eaves/Verges) and 7 (Foul Drainage) of planning consent 2636/22/HHO
Site Address: The Rock, Avonwick. TQ10 9NB.
Decision: Discharge of condition approved.

9:  Correspondence

The clerk has already circulated all correspondence via email to councillors, there were two emails to note this month from parishioners as follows:

An email was received from a parishioner regarding damaged grass verges opposite Jubilee cottages in Avonwick and an allegation of dangerous driving causing this, and a couple of reflectors which have been damaged in the process. This was noted and discussed, and it was agreed to ask Highways for a couple of reflectors to replace these, any allegation of dangerous driving will need to be reported at the time to the police along with any evidence gathered.

Another email was received from a different parishioner raising an issue with the hedging and placement of the Tennis Club sign, at the junction of Blackhall Lane and Ugborough Road, reducing visibility when driving out of this junction. It was discussed and agreed to raise this issue with the landowner of the field. Clerk to action.

10:  Finance

The purchase of replacement adult and child pads for the defibrillator in Avonwick was agreed, costs of £268.80 were discussed in last month’s meeting. Clerk to action as soon as possible.

Two councillors agreed to become signatories for Lloyds bank accounts as follows: Cllr Snoxall and Cllr Steer, due to Cllr Seager-Berry having left the council, and the death of Cllr Gabriel. Clerk to prepare the necessary forms and bring to the next meeting to sign off.

Two invoices were approved for payment as follows:

• Mr Widdicombe’s invoice ref 2207 for £105.60 for clearing drains in January.
• AVTCC invoice for £45.50 for February and March meetings.

 

Opening balances at Bank as at 12th January 2024
Treasurers Account	1,314.21
Business Bank Instant Account	8,927.97
Balance	10,242.18
Receipts:
9th February Interest received	9.75
Payments:
7th February AVTCC	22.75
1st February Clerks salary & expenses	113.90
1st February HMRC PAYE	26.20
Closing balances as at 7th February 2024
Treasurers Account	2,151.36
Business Bank Instant Account	7,937.72
Balance	10,089.08

 

11:  Highways

County Cllr Thomas agreed to arrange for a couple of reflector posts to be replaced, as per the issue raised by a parishioner earlier under correspondence.

Cllr Steer raised an issue regarding a large hole in a patch of tarmac outside a property known as Riverdale in Avonwick, clerk to report this on the interactive map and pass the reference onto highways.

Cllr Grevatt asked the clerk to contact Mr Widdicombe to ask that he clears the ditch by the old bridge in Avonwick as it is continually flooding recently. Clerk to action.

County Cllr Thomas expressed his condolences at the recent death of Cllr Gabriel and then he left the meeting.

12: Next Meeting

The next meeting was agreed to be held on Tuesday 2^nd April 2024 at 7.30pm, at Avon Vale Tennis Club.

The Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Parish Council meeting was agreed to be held on Tuesday 7^th May 2024.

Meeting closed at 8.33pm.