Parish Council meeting: Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Key information

Meeting location: Avon Vale Tennis and Croquet Club

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

Agenda for the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, 7 July 2026

1) Open Forum

For Parishioners to raise matters of concern relevant to the work of the Parish Council. (Matters concerning other bodies e.g SWW, SHDC, DCC should normally be referred directly. The Parish Council would try to assist where difficulties arise after such a referral has taken place)

2) Present

3) Apologies for Absence

4) Declarations of Interest

5) Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday 2nd June 2026.

6) Matters Arising

  1. Parish/Neighbourhood Plans – meeting attended on 11th
  2. Post Box at North Huish.
  3. Beating the Bounds.

7) Reports

  1. County Councillor D Thomas.
  2. District Councillor G Pannell & D Hancock.
  3. Play Park
    1. Timber replacement around the edge of the fence.
    2. Annual Playpark Safety Inspection - £274 quote from ROSPA Play Safety.
  4. Tree Warden.
  5. P3 Co-Ordinator.
    1. Gate on Path Lupridge to Coarsewell.
  6. Defibrillators

8) Planning Applications / Matters.

Applications received from South Hams District Council

  1. Application no 1471/26/FUL – Manor FarmTQ10 9NN – Erection of agricultural manure store.
  2. Application no 1468/26/CLE – Land at SX705570 – Newbrook, Ugborough – Certificate of lawfulness for existing use of building as C3 dwelling.

Decisions/Appeals received from South Hams District Council

  1. Discharge of Condition Approved – Application no 1115/26/ARC – Bickham Farm TQ9 7NJ – Approval of details reserved by conditions 6 (copings/capstones) & 9 (eaves/verges) of planning consent 1022/25/LBC.
  2. Prior Approval Required and Refused – Application no 1101/26/PDM – Land at SX 705531 Colmer Farm, Modbury – Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to a residential dwelling (class C3) & for associated development (class Q a&c).
  3. Conditional Approval – Application no 0857/26/LBC – Hollymount Cottage TQ10 9NA – Listed building consent for internal works to relocate existing ground floor bathroom to first floor to create new family bathroom.

9) Correspondence

10) Highways

  1. Church Cross – Signs for the Junction.

11) Finances

Payments

1.6.26 – BACS - £139.20 (vat £23.20) – J Widdicombe (Lengthsman May).
5.6.26 – BACS - £22.75 - Avon Vale Tennis Club (Room Hire June).
11.6.26 – BACS - £138.00 (vat £23.00) – Lee Accounting (Internal Audit).
22.6.26 – BACS - £33.39 (vat £5.57) – Battery Station (Defib Batteries).
1.7.26 – BACS - £144.00 (vat £24.00) – J Widdicombe (Lengthsman June).

Bank Balances July 2026

Treasurers Account 4,377.37
Business Account 6,085.61
10,462.98

Monies held within PC Balance

P3 = £220.00
DCC = £400 – Grant for Playpark Timber.

12) Any Items to go onto the next Parish Council meeting Agenda.

  1. Next Meeting Date – 1st September 2026
Draft Minutes

Draft Minutes for the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, 7 July 2026

1) Open Forum

  1. Would the Parish Council support fundraising by Parishioners to provide some play equipment on the New Village Hall Land which would be moveable, things such as some Goal Posts, Outdoor Table Tennis, Boules.
    The Parish Council are in agreement in principle with this. The item will be placed on the next Agenda to be discussed further as the title deeds on the land need to be looked at.

2) Present

Cllr Hunt (Chairman), Cllr Grevatt (Vice-Chair), Cllr Gabriel, Cllr Bell, Cllr Steer, Cllr Ring, Cllr Snoxall, D Cllr G Pannell.

Attended by – 2 members of the Public

3) Apologies – C Cllr D Thomas.

4) Declarations of Interest

Item 8a) Cllr Hunt has declared an interest.

5) Previous Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday 2nd June 2026,

The above minutes have been circulated and read - Proposed by Cllr Gabriel and seconded by Cllr Snoxall with all in agreement. Duly signed by the Chairman – Cllr Hunt.

6) Matters Arising

  1. Parish/Neighbourhood Plans – Richard Howells attend the meeting attended on 11th June – Richard reported to the Parish Council that the meeting briefly touched on Neighbourhood Plans but mostly covered second homes and LGR and the effect it may have on planning going forward.
  2. Post Box at North Huish – Cllr Ring reported that she had sent some details to Spotlight and ready to be sent to the newspaper. C Cllr Dan Thomas had copied Cllr Ring into a letter from Royal Mail who had identified a piece of land which was not privately owned, this had been surveyed and was deemed unsuitable. Suggestion was put forward that the Parish Council purchases a square foot of land just for use of the Post Box. The Clerk to write to Rendells and ask if they would consider donating a square foot of land to site the post box.
    Cllr Ring will ask Royal Mail if the land used can be Parish Council owned and will also ask C Cllr D Thomas if there is any room to site it beside the Grit Box in North Huish as this Land is owned by DCC.
  3. Beating the Bounds – Cllr Snoxall reported that South Brent are doing September 2027 so it would be good to join up with them. This matter to be discussed again next year.

7) Reports.

  1. County Councillor D Thomas – no report given.
  2. District Councillor G Pannell & D Hancock – report has been circulated by email. LGR still awaiting details from main government. Changes to planning decisions and the way they go to committee, most will be decided by officers working to planning policies.
  3. Play Park
    1. Timber replacement around the edge of the fence – one quote has been received and 2 more are required.
    2. Annual Playpark Safety Inspection - £274 quote from ROSPA Play Safety – proposed by Cllr Grevatt & seconded by Cllr Snoxall that the inspection is carried out as soon as possible, all Cllrs in agreement.
    3. Cllr Grevatt reported that the post which holds the net is pulling through the timber as the posts are rotten.
  4. Tree Warden – Cllr Bell reported – trees may be affected by drought and ash dieback trees in particular will be very brittle.
  5. P3 Co-Ordinator.
    1. Gate on Path Lupridge to Coarsewell – The Clerk to write to PROW the Parish Council to make a formal request that the gate is locked open for use by the land owners only when needed.
    2. Cobbly way bollard has not been replaced, this will be reported again on the DCC website
  6. Defibrillator – 2 sets of batteries have been ordered for both Defibs.
    The defib at the shop can be moved at any time to the garage.

8) Planning Applications / Matters

Applications received from South Hams District Council

  1. Application no 1471/26/FUL – Manor FarmTQ10 9NN – Erection of agricultural manure store. Cllr Hunt has declared an interest and left the room. Vice-Chairman – Cllr Grevatt took the meeting. The Parish Council support the application - proposed by Cllr Bell and seconded by Cllr Snoxall with all in agreement.
  2. Application no 1468/26/CLE – Land at SX705570 – Newbrook, Ugborough – Certificate of lawfulness for existing use of building as C3 dwelling. No comment from the Parish Council.
  3. Neighbouring Parish Consultation – Application no 1754/26/LBC – Broadmead, Diptford TQ9 7LX – Consent to replace the roof covering of the main house from asbestos slates to natural slates. The Parish Council support the application – proposed by Cllr Steer and seconded by Cllr Bell with all in agreement.

Decisions received from South Hams District Council

  1. a) Discharge of Condition Approved – Application no 1115/26/ARC – Bickham Farm TQ9 7NJ – Approval of details reserved by conditions 6 (copings/capstones) & 9 (eaves/verges) of planning consent 1022/25/LBC.
  2. Prior Approval Required and Refused – Application no 1101/26/PDM – Land at SX 705531 Colmer Farm, Modbury – Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to a residential dwelling (class C3) & for associated development (class Q a&c).
  3. Conditional Approval – Application no 0857/26/LBC – Hollymount Cottage TQ10 9NA – Listed building consent for internal works to relocate existing ground floor bathroom to first floor to create new family bathroom.

9) Correspondence

10) Highways

11) Finances

Payments

1.6.26 – BACS - £139.20 (vat £23.20) – J Widdicombe (Lengthsman May).
5.6.26 – BACS - £22.75 - Avon Vale Tennis Club (Room Hire June).
11.6.26 – BACS - £138.00 (vat £23.00) – Lee Accounting (Internal Audit).
22.6.26 – BACS - £33.39 (vat £5.57) – Battery Station (Defib Batteries).
1.7.26 – BACS - £144.00 (vat £24.00) – J Widdicombe (Lengthsman June).

Bank Balances July 2026

Treasurers Account 4,377.37
Business Account 6,085.61
10,462.98

Monies held within PC Balance

P3 = £220.00
DCC = £400 – Grant for Playpark Timber.

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

  1. Next Meeting Date – 1st September 2026.

There be no further business the meeting closed 8.44pm

District Council Report

District Councillor's Report July 2026

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government intends to announce its decision on the shape of Local Government Reform in Devon before the Summer Parliamentary Recess, which begins on 17th July. We wait with interest.

It seems likely that the Town and Parish Councillors elected in May next year will hold their seats for five years. This is so future elections can continue to be synchronised with elections for the Unitary Councils.

This will save Officer time and considerable expenditure. The Unitaries will also sit for five years for their first term, as for the first year (2027-28) they will be Shadow Authorities, setting up the new bodies ready to take over in April 2028. From 2032 elections for these and for Town and Parish Councils will revert to a four-yearly pattern.

Planning changes

The Government is making changes to the way in which planning applications are to be determined after 31 October. After that date Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 introduce a national scheme of delegation for all planning decisions.

The Government’s objective is to introduce greater clarity and consistency in the role of planning committees in development management decision-taking. The intended effect is that there will be fewer applications decided by planning committees and more delegated to officers.

The 2026 Regulations adopt a two-schedule structure. Schedule 1 applications must be delegated to officers unless the application is one that is being made by the Council, or by an officer or member of the Council.

Schedule 2 applications, which are the more significant applications, are subject to a presumption of officer determination but may be referred to committee where the nominated officer and nominated member agree that the statutory criteria for referral are met.

The Council is taking time to work through the regulations and how it should adopt its processes to comply with them.

We will then have all member briefing sessions to ensure that members are fully up to speed with their role in the new decision-making process. This is a fundamental change to how planning operates which we have no choice but to implement.

Town and parish councils remain consultees and their comments on applications will remain relevant considerations.

Crisis and Resilience Fund

Councillors are encouraged to help raise awareness of the Crisis and Resilience Fund with residents who may be struggling financially.

The fund is designed to support low-income households in the South Hams who are facing an unexpected financial shock, such as a sudden loss of income, the breakdown of an essential household item, or another urgent cost they cannot afford.

  • The fund can also provide housing support, financial advice and wider services to help people avoid future crises and build longer-term resilience.
  • Residents must be aged 16 or over and live in the South Hams as their main home.
  • If councillors are contacted by residents in need of support, they can encourage them to check the eligibility criteria and apply online using this link southhams.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/other-available-support/crisis-and-resilience-fund

The team understands that not all residents are able to complete online applications. We can provide support by telephone and, longer term, we hope to develop a face-to-face offering.

If Members have any general questions or queries, please email the team on CrisisandResilienceFund@swdevon.gov.uk

Land transfer - Hope Wood

We have approved the freehold transfer of a seven-acre field at Hope Wood in South Brent to Sustainable South Brent. This will help to secure the long-term future of community food growing and orchard management at the site.

The decision builds on the success of Hope Wood since we bought the 65-acre site in 2024. Since then, nearly 25,000 trees have been planted, with grassland restoration under way, a habitat bank has been established, new public access has been created and a community orchard has taken shape with strong local involvement.

Volunteers from the South Brent community have played a major role in shaping the site, with more than 1,000 people of all ages getting involved.

The transfer will allow Sustainable South Brent to develop its plans for a thriving market garden and orchard within the field, building on work already under way and supporting local food production, biodiversity and community wellbeing.

The project is part of the wider vision for Hope Wood as a place where community wellbeing, nature and environmental improvements come together.

Community Engagement Round-Up

  • Local Plan - 16 July to 24 September 2026: Scoping consultation to understand the challenges and opportunities that the next local plan will need to consider.