Minutes from June 2025 meeting

DRAFT

Newton St Cyres Parish Council

Minutes of Newton St Cyres Parish Council Meeting held in the Parish Hall Club Room on Thursday 5 June 2025

 

                   The meeting commenced at 7.00pm

Members present

Cllr L Ouldridge  (Chair)                       Cllr D Harris

Cllr G Barnell                                          Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright

Cllr J Dean                                              Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker

 

In attendance:    D/Cllr M Binks (left 20.50), J Hole Parish Clerk

Public Participation

There was none

Formal Business 

01/06/25    Apologies

                        D/Cllr S Chenore, C/Cllr S Keable

 

02/06/25    Declaration of Interest

                       None noted

 

03/04/25    Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 8 May 2025

                       Agreed and signed as a true record

 

04/06/25    Newton St Cyres Parish Council Issues relevant to Mid Devon District Council

4.1                 Planning Applications 

                       Since the agenda had been circulated the following consultation as a neighbouring parish had been received

                       25/00755/MFUL - Variation of condition (2) of planning permission 18/01800/MFUL (Construction of an on-farm anaerobic digestion plant and associated infrastructure) to allow the substitution of previously approved site plan, to include the addition of CO2 recovery infrastructure Location: Land at NGR 285024 100245 (East of Lords Meadow Industrial Estate) Crediton. 

                       It was resolved: that Cllr G Barnell would check if Crediton Hamlets and Crediton Town Council would be responding and if he thought we should comment then he would circulate draft comments to Cllrs for agreement before the deadline of 25 April.

4.2                 Planning Decisions

                       None

4.3                 Update on Planning Compliance Issues with development at Half Moon

                       MDDC had confirmed that an Enforcement case had been set up on the 5 May to check whether there has been a breach of planning condition on 23/00040/MFUL relating to holiday occupancy.

4.4                 Update on S106 application for new swing at Rec Ground

                       The Clerk reported that MDDC had agreed the S106 grant  for £3,810.08  for a new swing at the Recreation Ground.  After discussion it was resolved:

• The Clerk would confirm the cost with the supplier as it was some time since the quotation had been received.
• The Parish Council would purchase the swing and add it to its asset register
• Cllr L Ouldridge would inform the Rec that the Parish Council will purchase the swing

4.5                 To agree Cllr G Barnell taking forward discussions with MDDC re procedural changes required to the allocation of S106 monies

                       D/Cllr M Binks advised that MDDC Officers interpretation of the S106 legislation did not allow for monies to be spent away from the development area which had generated the S106 contribution  and  challenging this would be difficult.  After discussion it was resolved that Cllr L Ouldridge would email C/Cllr S Keable to open a discussion

                      

4.6                 Report from District Councillors on issues relevant to the parish  

                       D/Cllr M Binks noted that D/Cllr S Chenore was MDDC Vice Chairman

 

05/06/25    Newton St Cyres Parish Council issues relevant to Devon County Council

5.1                 Report from County Councillor on issues relevant to the Parish

                       A report had been circulated earlier today and was noted

5.2                 Report from meeting with C/Cllr S Keable to discuss road issues. 

                       Cllr J Dean gave a report on the meeting he and Cllr L Ouldridge had attended with C/Cllr S Keable which had discussed our four main areas of safety concern:   A crossing at Tytheing Close, an advisory speed sign at Smallbrook together with improvements to the footpath on the north side of the A377; signs/lights for the School and a replacement flashing speed sign for the A377.

                       With regard to an island crossing at Tytheing Close the cost was estimated at £100,000 and had therefore been rejected by DCC as too expensive.  Cllr J Dean was obtaining an informal cost assessment as a comparison.

                       New flashing speed warning sign on the Newton House bridge had been estimated at £3,000.00 for an electric sign or £4,000 for a solar power sign.         

                       It was resolved:

• To create a list for essential safety equipment to be considered in future budgets and to add a flashing speed warning sign
• That Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker would contact the School’s Head Teacher to ask for support with regard to lobbying for road markings and signs and a possible fund raising initiative

06/06/25    Finance

6.1                 To agree Payments and note Receipts

                       These were agreed as:

Expenditure – current account	£	Receipts – current account	£
A Carpenter – removal of bus shelter (already paid)	220.00	Allotment rent	60.00
J Hole – Salary and expenses	419.23	Receipts Car Park Maint acct
HMRC – PAYE and emp’er NI	61.69	Nil

 

6.2                 To approve on-line authorisation for this month’s payments

                       Cllr L Ouldridge and Cllr J Dean

6.3                 Balances (after above transactions)

6.3.1            Parish Council Current Account balance: £14,255.45

6.3.2            Footpath Account: £788.02 (included in Current Account balance)

6.3.3            Parish Hall Car Park maintenance fund balance: £6,741.12 (separate Bank account)

6.4                 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor

                       Noted

6.5                 To sign Unity Bank forms to open a new Saving Account to act as a Footpath Account and to agree transfer of £788.02 from current account to the new savings account

                       Noted and Unity Bank formed signed by Cllr L Ouldridge and Cllr J Dean

07/06/25    Other Parish Council Matters

7.1                 Quarterly Report – Partnership work and volunteering – Cllrs J Rimbon-Whittaker/M Herpoldt-Bright

                       To consider volunteers policy.  Update on progress with Neighbourhood Watch – setting up a Whatsapp group

                       The volunteers policy had been recently circulated and would therefore be considered at the next meeting.

                       Cllr M  Herpoldt-Bright was obtaining mobile numbers to set up a Whattsapp group for NHW and possibly litter pickers to enhance communication and actions.                          

7.2                 To finalise details for the volunteers thank you tea party on 14 June at Sherwood (venue change)

                       There had been 64 acceptances to the tea party.  It was resolved that the Clerk would provide Cllr name badges and a display of village organisations using the Council’s display boards and invite the Crediton Courier to attend

7.3                 To note response from Church (circulated separately) with regard to proposed transfer of land

                       Cllr G Barnell had circulated correspondence from the Church which noted that legal searches would be required before the land could be transferred and asking for the Parish Council to pay the cost of legal searches . 

                       Cllr G Barnell was putting together a volunteer group to work on setting up the Garden of Reflection and remembrance and would be writing an article in the Newton Wonder asking for volunteers.

                       It was resolved:

• Cllr G Barnell would respond to the Church to inform them that the Parish Council does not have any money in its budget to pay for searches
• To suggest that the Church applies to the Parish Council for a grant in the next financial year to fund the searches
• Cllr G Barnell would obtain a quote for a replacement fence with a gate

7.4                 To note that the Parish hall intends to go ahead with damp work to the club room this year and will pass on details of quotes when received.

                       Noted

7.5                 To review progress with regard to updating Risk Assessments

                       The following risk assessments had been updated: Speed Watch, Neighbourhood Watch and Litter pickers.  New risk assessments had been prepared for Snow Wardens and the Flood Group and the Clerk would post on the website 

7.6                 Update on Arboretum and Risk Assessment

                       Cllr L Ouldridge had attended an online training course run by our insurance company regarding risk assessments for trees and noted that regular inspection by a trained arboretus was required.  After discussion it was resolved:

• that the Clerk would send a copy of the arboretum lease to the insurance company for further clarification on insurance cover
• Cllr L Ouldridge would continue to liaise with the arboretum committee with regard to agreeing a risk assessment and appropriate signage.

7.7                 Update on Broadband Voucher scheme

                       There was no update and it was resolved that Cllr Liz Ouldridge would direct enquiries to C/Cllr S Keable

7.8                 Update on the proposal from the Rec for the Parish Council to become trustees

                       Cllr L Ouldridge gave a report on a meeting held with the Rec committee and explained the reasons why the Rec Committee had requested the Parish Council to be trustees.   After discussion it was resolved:

• That the Parish Council did not wish to become Trustees
• To suggest to the Rec Committee that they set up a company limited by guarantee who could act as Trustee.  Cllr G Barnell would be willing to assist the Rec with the process
• Cllr L Ouldridge would inform the Rec committee

7.9                 Update on Britain in Bloom and painting the Village Green bench

                       Britain in Bloom organisers had requested that they be allowed to paint the bench by the Village Green and it was resolved to let them go ahead.  It was noted that grass cutting is scheduled to take place twice in June.

 

08/06/25    Forward Agenda Planner/Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

8.1                 Review of agenda planner for future meetings.  Copy circulated

                       Add Footpaths to July agenda

8.2                 To note  for information only

                       8.2.1            Letters re sewage leak at Smallbrook sent to relevant properties

                       8.2.2            To note consultation from EVMF re Thorverton pre-school – circulated separately

                       8.2.3            To note Annual Report with summary accounts published in June Newton Wonder

                      

09/06/25    Date of next Parish Council meeting:  Thursday 3 July 2025 at 7pm in the Club Room

 

 

End of Formal Business

Public Participation

There was none

 

 

 

The meeting closed at 9pm