Parish Council meeting: Tuesday, 3 June 2025

Approved Minutes for the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, 3 June 2025

These minutes were approved on 1 July 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. Letter received from a Parishioner with various points as follows:-
2. Street light dimmed in North Huish – DCC Dan Thomas was made aware of this at a previous Parish Council meeting.
3. Junction at Avonwick and parked cars – the Parish Council are aware of this, however its hard to enforce this apart from making Parishioners aware that it is becoming a problem.
4. Blackhall Hill – Blocked Buddlehole, Banks, Walls & Overhanging Trees – The Parish Council have been in contact with the Land Agent regards Trees, he confirmed that these had been inspected and no action was needed.
5. Gulley at Brookdale & Lupridge – John Widdicombe Lengthsman could look at this.
6. Public Footpath – Top of Combe Lane, stile in poor state of repair – this has been walked by the Parish Councils P3 representative, no action needed.
7. White Lines on the Roads in North Huish and Avonwick – DCC Dan Thomas.
8. Potholes Road from Huish Cross to Brushford & from Manor Farm to Diptford – potholes need to be reported online DCC website.
9. Ash Dieback – Parish Council Tree Warden, trees are the landowners responsibility, they have been made aware that it is their duty to attend to any trees which need removing.
10. Fingers Posts missing on signs – DCC needs to be reported on the website.
11. Bridges – Road Bridges DCC and Network Rail for Railway Bridges.
12. Bickham Bridge – plaque for its history, this is within Diptford Parish.

2) Present

Cllr Steer (Chairman), Cllr Grevatt (Vice-Chair), Cllr Hunt, Cllr Gabriel, Cllr Ring, Cllr Bell, Cllr Snoxall, D Cllr D Hancock, C Cllr D Thomas, D Cllr B Taylor.

Attended by – 2 members of the Public

3) Apologies

– none received.

4) Declarations of Interest

5) Previous Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday 6th May 2025.

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council Tuesday 6th May 2025.

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 Chairman – Cllr Steer.

6) Matters Arising

1. Avonwick Pumping Station – a reply has been received from SWWA as follows:- Tankering is necessary in wet weather in order to protect the environment and to prevent the pub being internally flooded as well as the pump station. The Avonwick pump station has previously suffered from infiltration from pipe defects coming from upstream as well as being affected by land run-off.
   We have investigated this matter and the works to address this infiltration have now been completed. We do still need to tanker during prolonged periods of wet weather, to ensure we protect the environment. We regularly continue to monitor the situation closely, as you would expect.
2. North Huish Notice Board – final quote £590.80 – grants have been received from Cllr D Thomas, Cllr D Hancock & Cllr G Pannell, many thanks to them. The Clerk will now pay for the order.
3. Parish Sports & Recreation Plan – survey to put on the website with a questionnaire asking for Parishioners views on what they would like to see in the Parish.

7) Reports.

1. County Councillor D Thomas – Chairman – Cllr R Steer congratulated Cllr Thomas on his recent South Hams Appointment as Leader. Cllr Thomas reported as follows – I am now the DCC Cabinet member for Highways and Highway Infrastructure, to get roads back in to a decent shape would cost £350 million, the current annual budget is about £60 million, and this gap will continue to grow without more significant funding. Highway items will need to be prioritised within the budget.
2. District Councillor G Pannell & D Hancock – report has been circulated to Cllrs. New Leader of SHDC – Cllr D Thomas and Deputy Leader – Cllr S Rake.  Cllr B Taylor – Chairman of SHDC – trying to visit as many Parishes as I can in the South Hams area, it’s a pleasure to work with the Cllrs for your area.
3. Play Park - Cllr J Snoxall – A loose nail on the step needs to be removed and the holes where the bench feet were needs filling in. Boards at the base of the fence are coming apart. Fruit Trees – 10 mixed trees coming in the Autumn from Devon Wildlife Trust, suitable places for them to be planted will be looked at.
4. Tree Warden – Cllr J Bell – Ash Dieback is still around in certain trees, this can now be seen as most trees are in leaf. Treeworks scheduled at Brookdale has not yet started.
5. P3 Co-Ordinator – Cllr J Snoxall – mostly Knotweed clearance which will need doing, some which is on DCC land has been reported.
6. Defibrillator all in working order – telephone box in North Huish needs repainting at some point.
7. Parish Flood Plan – Cllr L Ring – second open meeting tomorrow at the pub, hoping for some new people to join. Draft plan being currently put together. Signed up for the DRIP project which allows for funding if a plan has been put together. Self help leaflet to go to all Parishioners, and will look at mapping certain drains which are a problem in the Parish.  Yet to decide whether the group would be a sub-committee of the Parish Council or an independent group, this will be discussed.

8) Planning Applications / Matters.

Applications received from South Hams District Council

1. Application no 1442/25/PDM - Information only – no comment required - Charford Farm Diptford TQ9 7LT - Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use of agricultural buildings/barns to 1No dwellinghouse (class C3) & for associated development (Class Q (a+b).

Appeals Lodged

1. Appeal reference APP/K1128/W/25/3365459 – Avon Inn, Avonwick TQ10 9NB – use of two pods in private garden for full time B&B as part of pub business. All in agreement to comment further as follows:- the Flood risk has abated in light of recent works and the flood risk figures produced originally are not accurate.

Decisions received from South Hams District Council

1. Discharge of Condition Approved – Application no 0808/25/ARC – Shadows, Diptford TQ9 7NN – Approval of details reserved by conditions 7, 10, 11, 12 & 16 of planning consent 3616/23/FUL.

9) Correspondence

10) Highways

11) Finances

1. Cllr T Grevatt - Proposed to move the Parish Council Domain Name from 123-reg to Namecheap – current cost £63.90 – Name cheap £39.20 – all in agreement to go ahead.

Payments

6.5.25 – BACS - £139.20 (vat £23.20) – John Widdicombe (Lengthsman).
19.5.25 – BACS - £22.75 - Avon Vale Tennis Club (Room Hire May).
1.6.25 – BACS - £410.70 – Sharon Raggett (Clerks Salary April, May & June 25).

Bank Balances June  2025

Treasurers Account	3856.06
Business Account	6046.01
	9,902.07

Monies held within PC Balance

P3 = £110.00

12) Next Meeting Date & Any Items for Next Meeting.

1. Next Meeting Date 1st July 2025.

There be no further business the meeting closed 8.30pm