Minutes from March 2026 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 March 2026
The meeting commenced at 7.00pm
Members present
Cllr L Ouldridge (Chair) Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright
Cllr J Dean Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker
Cllr D Harris
In attendance: C/Cllr S Keable (left 8.05pm), D/Cllr M Binks (left 8.05pm), 3 member of public, J Hole Parish Clerk
Public Participation
There was none
Formal Business
01/03/26 Apologies
D/Cllr S Chenore
02/03/26 Declaration of Interest
None noted
03/03/26 Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 5 February 2026
Agreed and signed as a true record
04/03/26 To consider any applicants for co-option
4.1 Standing orders were suspended
Jock Campbell and Russell Viner were willing to stand as Parish Councillors and both gave a brief explanation of their interest in becoming a Parish Councillor. Both were proposed by Cllr L Ouldridge and seconded by Cllr J Dean and Cllr D Harris respectively and it was resolved unanimously to co-opt. Both candidates duly signed the declaration of acceptance of office form and joined the meeting as a Councillors. Standing orders were reinstated.
4.2 Following co-option to agree training for new Cllrs and agree any updates to areas of responsibility
It was resolved that Cllr J Campbell would take lead responsibility for Development and Planning and Cllr R Vinner would work with Cllr L Ouldridge on Emergency and Resilience.
05/3/26 Newton St Cyres Parish Council Issues relevant to Mid Devon District Council
5.1 Planning Applications
Since the agenda had been circulated the following application had been received:
26/00339/CAT - Notification of intention to reduce Leylandi Hedges to approximately 1.2m in
height within the Conservation Area at Coburg Cottage Pump Street Newton St Cyres. It was resolved to make no comment.
5.2 Planning Decisions
25/01713/HOUSE - Installation of in-ground swimming pool and plant room at Newcombes Newton St Cyres Exeter Devon EX5 5AW – grant permission
5.3 Report from District Councillors on issues relevant to the parish
D/Cllr M Binks gave an update following MDDC Extraordinary meeting to agree next years budget. The average parish council precept increase was 25% with MDDC share of the council tax increasing by 2.99% which represents on average £246.29 for a Band D property
Lords Meadow swimming pool now has a mechanical assistant device to allow swimmers easier access to the pool
Update on holiday lodges at Half Moon and construction of footpath – Enforcement case
C/Cllr S Keable and D/Cllr M Binks were both aware of the enforcement case with regard to the holiday lodges and agreed to keep monitoring to include the construction of a footpath
06/03/26 Newton St Cyres Parish Council issues relevant to Devon County Council
6.1 Report from County Councillor on issues relevant to the parish
A report had been circulated and was noted. The following was highlighted:
DCC council tax increase had been set at 4.99%. Spending on highways maintenance would rise to £32.4 million in 2026/27 with an additional £4 million funding for drainage, gully clearance, ditching, vegetation management and preventative works. There was an additional £15 million capital for preventative maintenance, resurfacing and patching and £0.5 million to strengthen highways inspection, quality assurance and communications. A £10 million matched funding opportunity for town and parish councils was being developed.
22,000 responses to the library consultation had been received and there was £425 million budget to support libraries including £225 million to restore and replace books. The children and families budget would increase to £268 million and the adult social care budget will rise to £395.9 million. Central government would fund much of the SEND deficit built up over recent years. The budget had been supported by all political parties.
C/Cllr S Keable noted that DCC Highways could be contacted on 0345 155 1004 as well as reporting issues online.
With regard to school signs – Two DCC departments were involved and C/Cllr S Keable was liaising with both to progress matters.
6.2 Report from meeting with DCC Highways – Cllr J Dean
A report had been circulated and was noted. The following was highlighted.
The slippery pavement down School Hill would be addressed by DCC as part of a larger project to clear and plough sections of the A377. Once cleared, NSC Road Wardens should be able to maintain it.
Following the formal adoption of Kingfisher Close by DCC, the grit bin will be added to DCC system in due course.
A bank had slumped at the Beer Engine/Creedy view and the sight of the brickwork structure would suggest that there is some breech of the sewer network and this has been reported to SWW.
DCC would now consider and fund depth gauges for along the road by Lower Living
Smallbrook sewage leak – a replacement tank was being arranged by the affected property
6.3 Bus stop at Langford junction – to consider DCC request that the Parish Council initiate a discussion with the land owner re use of verge
It was resolved that Cllr J Dean would contact the land owner to seek agreement to use their verge to install a proper bus stop
6.4 Update on P3 footpaths. To note completion of annual P3 survey and bids for improvements
The Clerk had submitted the annual P3 survey of footpaths. Two bids for grant funding had been submitted for FP 1 and FP 6. DCC had agreed to replace the stile free of charge on FP 8 with a self-closing gate.
07/03/26 Finance
7.1 To agree Payments and note Receipts
These were agreed as:
|
Expenditure – current account |
£ |
Receipts – current account |
£ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Unity Trust Bank Charges (Jan and Feb) |
12.00 |
First Great Western - Station Garden grant |
552.03 |
|
Nick Gillon – tools for RWS |
23.50 |
VAT refund |
1,379.49 |
|
Nick Gillon – Gloves for RWS |
13.92 |
Devon Communities Together (flood signs) |
153.00 |
|
NSC Rec Ground – balance of grant |
735.27 |
|
|
|
4 x road flooded signs (grant funded) |
183.74 |
Receipts Car Park Maintenance Account |
|
|
Reimbursement to Clerk – charger for RW |
61.90 |
Interest |
37.58 |
|
Reimbursement to Clerk – additional groundbolts |
14.50 |
|
|
|
Reimbursement to Clerk – new lock for village green noticeboard |
14.75 |
Footpath Account |
|
|
Reimbursement to Clerk – 6 x hi viz for RWS |
40.93 |
Interest |
3.59 |
|
J Hole – Salary and expenses |
427.12 |
|
|
|
HMRC – PAYE and emp’er NI |
66.59 |
|
|
7.2 To approve on-line authorisation for this month’s payments
Cllr J Dean and Cllr D Harris
7.3 Balances (after above transactions)
7.3.1 Parish Council Current Account balance: £9,301.90
7.3.2 Footpath Account: £655.17 (separate account)
7.3.3 Parish Hall Car Park maintenance fund balance: £6,856.58 (separate account)
7.4 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor
Noted
7.5 To note quarterly Bank Reconciliation
Noted
7.5 To agree a grant application to Devon Communities Together for more drain rods and depth gauge
Following the recent flooding Cllr L Ouldridge suggested that depth poles would be useful and it was resolved to apply for grant funding for additional drain rods and depth poles. The depth gauge would hopefully be supplied by DCC as detailed in 6.2 above
08/03/26 Other Parish Council Matters
8.1 Areas of responsibility reports – to note any Cllr reports
Allotment – a dead tree had fallen on an allotment holder’ss fece. The Clerk had requested a quote for felling all the remaining dead trees. It was resolved to agree to the cost of cutting the strip of grass in between plots and to maintain this yearly.
Neighbourhood Watch – Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright would be organising a meeting with our PCSO to tie in the NHW week starting 1 June
Litter pickers – four new litter pickers had been purchased as there were new volunteers
Exchange with Rots – the earliest this could take place would be 2029.
Resilience – a resilience group meeting had taken place and four additional volunteers had joined the resilience group, including two in Langford. Volunteers for Half Moon were still required. Cllr L Ouldridge had applied for a Resilience box which contained 7 lanyards and instructions for 7 roles that could be utilised in the event of a community disaster and if received the box would be stored in the Church. Communication amongst resilience volunteers worked well using WhatsApp but improved communications with parishioners was required. It was resolved to put updates on the Parish Council’s Facebook page during an emergency/resilience event and to consider producing a booklet for all households explaining what help was available and who to contact in emergencies. Power outages were identified as an area to consider for inclusion in the Resilience plan.
Road Wardens – the Clerk reported that Chapter 8 training was due for renewal this year and two previously trained individuals were not renewing their training. Two new volunteers had been recruited and the training was booked for April. DCC would meet the cost of the training but the Parish Council would need to provide PPE.
8.2 To agree date and format for Annual Parish Meeting to be held between 1 March and 1 June
After discussion it was resolved to hold the Annual Parish Meeting ahead of the May 7 Parish Council meeting, 7pm to 7.30pm
8.3 Update on ideas for new play equipment for S106 application
Discussion took place and various pieces of equipment were suggested including an outdoor table tennis table and adult exercise equipment. It was resolved to canvas opinions of parish teenagers and Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker agreed to do this.
8.4 Feedback from Britain in Bloom meeting
Plans were underway for this year’s entry into the “Village category”
8.5 Feedback from CAALC meeting – Cllr L Ouldridge
Cllr L Ouldridge reported as follows:
- MDDC were working on the Local Plan which they hoped would be in place before Local Government reorganisation.
- There were 1,300 approved development sites where no development was currently taking place.
- Even if the Cullumpton Garden Village project goes ahead there will still be a shortfall in new homes as required by the Governments (target of 6,500 homes)
- Planning objections would mainly be allowed on the grounds of highways (access), flooding and agricultural security
- The HELAA (call for sites) process had not generated enough sites so was running again
- 10% of new homes should be part of small developments
- Priority villages had been identified – these had a pub and transport links. Newton St Cyres was one of the identified villages
8.6 Defib at Belluno – to consider if instructions and better locking are required
It had been reported that it was difficult to shut the defibrillator cabinet and Cllrs would take a look to see if the issue could be resolved. Cllr L Ouldridge noted that a safety notice had been issued by the manufacturer noting that weekly checks were necessary and noted that there were already carried out. It was resolved to put a notice by both defibs with the Clerks contact details.
8.7 To sign NEW agreement for the Village Green and agreements for the Hall, Rec and Church
An updated NEW agreement for the Village Green had been circulated. It was resolved to sign the agreement once the Clerk had confirmed that the grass contractor was able to mow a 1m strip round the beds.
The other three agreements required amendments and would be circulated in due course
09/03/26 Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda /Miscellaneous correspondence
An email from a parishioner noted that the grass at the entrance to Woodlands had been damaged by contractors. It was resolved to spread some grass seed.
10/03/26 Date of next Parish Council meeting: Thursday 2 April 2026 at 7pm in the Club Room
End of Formal Business
Public Participation
The VAT relief on repairs to church buildings had been removed
The meeting closed at 9pm