Minutes from September 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 3 September 2026
The meeting commenced at 7.00pm
Members present
Cllr L Ouldridge (Chair) Cllr D Harris
Cllr J Campbell Cllr I Marshall
Cllr J Dean Cllr J Rimbon-Whittaker
In attendance: D/Cllr M Binks (left 7.50pm), D/Cllr S Chenore (left 7.50pm) C/Cllr S Keable (left 7.50pm), 7 members of public (1 stayed to end)
Public Participation
Tytheing Close residents remained concerned about the lack of a crossing at Tytheing Close and the speed of traffic on the A377 in general. Some residents were unable to cross the road safely so could not catch buses and were effectively isolated. Cllr I Marshall reported the petition had 45 signatures. C/Cllr S Keable agreed to present the petition at a DCC full Council meeting – this would give a platform for parishioners to attend and may gain some publicity. It was suggested that recordings of individuals talking about the issues they face when trying to cross the road and the effect it is having on their lives could also be presented to full council. C/Cllr S Keable suggested that the Parish Council should make a formal request that S106 money from developments outside of Newton St Cyres be used in the Parish.
Formal Business
01/09/26 Apologies
Cllr M Herpoldt-Bright
02/09/26 Declaration of Interest
None noted
Cllrs were requested to complete the new ROI forms asap and return to the Clerk as soon as possible
03/09/26 Minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 2 July 2026
Agreed and signed as a true record
04/09/26 Newton St Cyres Parish Council Issues relevant to Mid Devon District Council
4.1 Planning Applications
26/00869/HOUSE/26/00870/LBC - Erection of a rear extension; reroofing works; replacement of windows and guttering and ground drainage works at Venny Cleave Newton St Cyres Exeter – no comment submitted
26/00762/HOUSE|Erection of single store extension following demolition of existing extension and alterations to external appearance (fenestration) at Langford Bridge House, Langford Newton St Cyres Exeter Devon EX5 5AQ – no comment submitted
26/01152/HOUSE - Erection of single storey extension and formation of hardstanding for the
parking of vehicles at 8 Kingfisher Close Newton St Cyres – no comment
4.2 Planning Decisions
26/00796/FULL - Variation of condition 2 of planning permission 23/00431/ to allow substitution of approved plans relating to Plot 5, including reinstatement of the originally approved dwelling design with attached garage and office/study at Former Primary School Site Newton St Cyres Devon – grant permission
26/00869/HOUSE/26/00870/LBC - as listed in 4.1 – grant permission
4.3 Report from District Councillors on issues relevant to the parish
A report from D/Cllr S Chenore had been circulated and was noted. Although the potholes in Tytheing Close had mostly been filled by Community Volunteers, D/Cllr S Chenore would continue to pursue the matter with MDDC to ensure that MDDC responsibility for maintenance was agreed and documented
4.4 Local Government re-organisation
4.4.1 To agree new version of Community planning framework
4.4.2 HELAA – Update and discussions
4.4.3 Local Government reorganisation (LGR) – Notes from CAALC meeting and the teams meeting with Exeter City Council circulated
4.4.4 New government policy on planning https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework (NPPF)
Items in 4.4 were considered together. Cllr L Ouldridge reported as follows:
As well as the CAALC meeting and the teams meeting with Exeter City Council, Cllr L Ouldridge had met with C/Cllr S Keable and Cllr J Campbell. C/Cllr S Keable had suggested the Council may like to consider inviting a planning professional to give a presentation and possibly an open event for parishioners to discuss planning issues.
It is very likely that there will be new housing in Newton St Cyres. MDDC are working to get their new local plan in place before LGR. The Parish needs to provide evidence to show why areas in the HELAA plan are not suitable for development. For example, they are in a flood plain or they are high-quality farmland, both of which are stated in the NPPF as not being suitable for development. In addition, West Town is designated by the Environment Agency as a rapid catchment area.
The Community Planning framework document brings together previous Parish consultations and will form a main part of Newton’s evidence against over development.
It was noted that under the reforms, planning applications will mostly be decided by officers, who may not have local knowledge. Areas with railway stations that have well connected services were likely to be more developed.
It was resolved:
- To adopt the revised Community Planning framework document.
Cllr J Campbell and D/Cllr S Chenore would liaise to ensure that the document reaches the correct people at MDDC. In addition, D/Cllr S Chenore would ask MDDC planning team for a meeting with representatives from the Parish Council either on teams or at Tiverton.
- To decide whether to hold an open public consultation event after talking to volunteers at the Thank you lunch on Saturday
- Not to employ a planning professional to give a talk
05/09/26 Newton St Cyres Parish Council issues relevant to Devon County Council
5.1 Report from County Councillor on issues relevant to the parish
C/Cllr S Keable requested the Clerk apply for the locality grant money towards the cost of school signs.
A copy of a monthly report was circulated and noted.
C/Cllr S Keable noted under LGR, warding arrangements for Newton would remain unchanged with two representatives. Elections for the new unitary authority would take place in May 2027 and the new authority would run as a shadow authority for one year.
Boniface Trail update – it was noted that a scoping exercise was taking place over the next two weeks on the A377 between Crediton and Newton St Cyres.
It was resolved that Cllr J Dean would liaise with C/Cllrs S Keable and J Cairney to arrange a meeting about the Boniface Trail with all interested parties including representatives from Exeter City Council.
5.2 Update on PROW
A footpath volunteer had asked if the muddy section on FP8 could be addressed and Cllr I Marshall had emailed the PROW team who had advised that the field did not meet criteria for action to be taken.
Signs stating private property had been placed on a path the other side of Ashfields and Cllr I Marshall was contacting the Forestry Commission to find out ownership.
It was resolved:
- To add Permissive Paths to the Parish online mapping software and the Clerk would assign Cllr I Marshall a login.
- To investigate options for a new PROW map for the back of the village green noticeboard.
- That Cllr L Ouldridge would email the PROW team/DCC Finance to chase up the grant money which had still not been received despite several chasing emails.
06/09/26 Finance
6.1 To agree Payments and note Receipts
Since the agenda had been sent two invoices had been received: one from Greenleaf Garden Services for £390.00 and another from Nick Gillon for Road Warden equipment for £28.00. It was resolved to add these payments to the schedule below.
Payments were ratified for August and agreed for September as:
|
Expenditure – current account – paid in August |
£ |
Receipts – current account |
£ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Unity Trust Bank Charges DD (July) |
7.00 |
Boniface Trail – Parish online contribution |
37.50 |
|
|
A Sproul – BIB (grant funded) |
434.82 |
|
|
|
|
C Fraser – BIB (grant funded) |
125.58 |
|
|
|
|
NSC Parish Hall – Room hire (May to July) |
60.00 |
|
|
|
|
Nick Gillon – RW expenses (mileage) |
38.50 |
Receipts Car Park Maintenance Account |
|
|
|
Nick Gillow – RW Gloves |
10.00 |
Nil |
|
|
|
DALC – Cllr training |
90.00 |
|
|
|
|
J Hole – reimbursement or paediatric pads |
110.15 |
|
|
|
|
J Hole – reimbursement for drain rods (funded) |
180.99 |
Footpath Account |
|
|
|
J Hole – Salary and expenses |
419.93 |
Nil |
|
|
|
HMRC – PAYE and emp’er NI |
66.79 |
|
|
|
|
September Payments |
|
|
|
|
|
Devon Communities Together membership |
50.00 |
|
|
|
|
Membership of community rail network |
30.00 |
|
|
|
|
Unity Trust Bank Charges DD (August) |
7.00 |
|
|
|
|
J Hole – Salary and expenses |
491.37 |
|
|
|
|
HMRC – PAYE and emp’er NI |
97.74 |
|
|
|
|
Simon Saunders – Grass Cutting |
390.00 |
|
|
|
|
Nick Gillion – RW Brooms |
28.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
6.2 To approve on-line authorisation for this month’s payments
Cllr D Harris and Cllr J Dean
6.3 Balances (after above transactions)
6.3.1 Parish Council Current Account balance: £7,674.54
6.3.2 Footpath Account: £581.75 (separate account)
6.3.3 Parish Hall Car Park maintenance fund balance: £7,928.71 (separate account)
6.4 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor and Bank Reconciliation
Noted
6.5 To note increase in Clerks hourly rate from £16.08 to £16.61 backdated to 1 April 2026
Noted
6.6 To note grant from DCT for 2 x wading poles (£163.00)
Noted
07/09/26 Other Parish Council Matters
7.1 Areas of responsibility reports – to note any Cllr reports including:
Allotments – update on pedestrian access and quote for dead tree removal
Cllr L Ouldridge had established that the owner of the bank by the proposed new pedestrian access was DCC who had stated that various licences and permissions might be required. A photo would be sent to show that the works were minor so hopefully lengthy permissions would not be required.
It was resolved:
- to accept the revised quote of £350.00 which would remove the dead trees that were most likely to cause damage if they fell.
- To meet with the previous contractor as soon as possible to agree the work to be completed up to £100.00 for which payment had already been made.
Community Resilience especially wildfires
Following two wildfires in the parish, it was resolved to update the wildfire guidance in the Community Resilience Plan. The Fire Brigade had provided some information, and Cllr L Ouldridge would combine this with information and advice available online.
7.2 To consider an agreement for the Arboretum “triangle” and to note updated Code of Conduct It was resolved
- That Cllr L Ouldridge would draft an agreement between the Parish Council and the Friends of the Arboretum for the management of the Arboretum “triangle”
- To agree the updated Code of Conduct to be posted on the new arboretum noticeboards.
7.3 Welcome Leaflet – to agree suggested revision by Cllr I Marshall and agree method of distribution
It was resolved
- To agree the updated version of the leaflet
- That distribution methods would include printed copies at coffee mornings, PC website/Facebook page, QR code on noticeboards and a small supply of copies for each Cllrs
7.4 Volunteers celebration event – 5 September – to confirm arrangements
Approximately 36 volunteers would be attending and final arrangements were agreed.
08/09/26 Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda /Miscellaneous correspondence
Belluno hedge – needs cutting. It was resolved to contact the owner of Belluno. There was also an issue with a collapsing bank at the back of Belluno/Goldolphin Close
Parish Hall Centenary Celebration: Saturday 19 September – several Cllrs would be attending.
N.E.W had asked if the Parish Council could pay for the hire of the hall for an event next year. After discussion it was resolved that N.E.W should apply for a grant
09/09/26 Date of next Parish Council meeting: Thursday 1 October 2026 at 7pm in the Club Room
End of Formal Business
Public Participation
There was none
The meeting closed at 8.40pm