Sourton Parish Council Minutes of a Virtual meeting held at 7.30pm on Monday 2nd November 2020 on Zoom.
Councillors present: Cllr A. Horn (Chair), Cllr S. Eberle (Vice Chair), Cllr M. Fogerty, Cllr A. Jewell, Cllr J Leonard.
Also present: A. Braidwood (Clerk), Cllr Southcott (WDBC)
1. Cllr Eberle started as Chairman and began the meeting and welcomed everyone.
2. Apologies for absence. Nil.
2.1 No apologies received.
3. Public Forum – No members of the public spoke.
4. Declarations of Interest in items on the agenda – Cllr Leonard, item 12. Cllr Jewell, Item 7 and Cllr Eberle, item 7.2
5. Minutes of the previous meeting held on the 5th October 2020 were unanimously agreed as a true record and will be signed by the Chairman.
6. Reports from representatives:
6.1 Update from West Devon Borough Council – Noted, Annex A. Cllr Southcott also raised the Speed Watch campaign that it could be considered in Sourton after the lockdown.
Cllr Horn joined the meeting at 1955 hours due to technical difficulties. He resumed as Chairman.
7. Planning –
7.1 3130/20/VAR – It was Proposed by Cllr Leonard, seconded by Cllr Eberle and 3 votes for the proposal, one abstention and was RESOLVED to object to the variation with the following comments:
Design and appearance - due to the size and the amount of glass, the proposed opening is unsympathetic to the appearance and character of the original barn and erodes the genuine authenticity, neither is it line with the limitations on openings for windows and doors in barn conversions as outlined in the JLP Supplementary Planning Document, Traditional Farm Buildings, Page 20. Additionally, there has been a pattern of seeking amendments to initial planning applications at this site. The planning history reveals a disregard for the planning system
7.2 2547/20/FUL – It was proposed by Cllr Eberle and seconded by Cllr Fogerty and RESOLVED by 3 votes for and one abstention to support the readvertisement as nothing materially had changed.
7.3 DNPA Settlement Profile Update – It was proposed by Cllr Horn and seconded by Cllr Fogerty and unanimously RESOLVED that the council accept the completed questionnaire by Cllr Eberle and for her to submit it with additional comments presented.
Cllr Leonard departed the meeting at 20.33 hours
8. Policies.
8.1 Grant Evaluation Form - It was proposed by Cllr Eberle, seconded by Cllr Fogerty and unanimously RESOLVED to adopt this form as part of the Grant Policy.
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8.2 Grass Cutting Tender – It was proposed by Cllr Eberle, seconded by Cllr Fogerty and unanimously RESOLVED to adopt.
9. Councillors reports –
9.1 Neighbourhood Plan - Cllr Eberle reported that the Plan has been recommended to go to referendum subject to minor amendments and parish councils’ acceptance of those amendments.
10. Clerk’s report – Noted, Annex B
11. Finance:
11.1 RFO presented the Financial report and bank reconciliation to 15 October 2020.
Receipts
Total Precept Grant Bank VAT Refund Misc Trf from Interest Interest Bus Reserve 8,377.99 8,095.00 100.00 - 82.99 100.00 - 2.23
Payments Total Clerk's Grants and Admin and Grass Office Insurance Election VAT Salary Donations training Cutting of Costs Costs Green & Churchyard 3,739.28 1,855.84 - 232.84 810.00 370.20 369.51 63.22 37.67
Bank summary from Cash Current A/A Reserve A/C Total Book Balance 01-Apr-20 651.95 4,180.13 4,832.08 Receipts to present 8,377.99 2.23 8,380.22 Payments to present 3,739.28 - 3,739.28 Balance at 5,290.66 4,182.36 9,473.02
Bank Reconciliation Current A/A Reserve A/C Total Balance per statement 15-Oct-20 5,724.18 4,182.36 9,906.54 Outstanding cheques Chq No Amount 920 37.16 921 271.36 922 90.00 DD 35.00
Total Outstanding (433.52) cheques 5,290.66 4,182.36 9,473.02 Difference - -
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11.2 Accounts for Payment – The following payments were proposed by Cllr Eberle, seconded by Cllr Jewell and unanimously approved
Admin expenses for A Braidwood, October 2020 £24.32 A Braidwood salary for November 2020 £271.57 A Manning – Grass cutting 10th cut October £90.00 A Braidwood backdated pay Apr-Sept 2020 £44.16 SLCC accessible documents webinar up to £30 plus VAT
PART 2 - Items which may be taken in the absence of the press & public. The council Resolved that under section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings Act 1960, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item (12), as it involves the likely disclosure of sensitive & confidential information.
12. Enforcement update - Current enforcement notice updates
13. Items for the agenda for next meeting – Neighbourhood Plan – to consider amendments and agree acceptance prior to referendum.
14. Date of next meeting – 7th December
15. Meeting closed at: 2100 hours
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Annex A - WDBC Report – November 2020
- Following an Overview and Scrutiny meeting on 6th October you will be aware there is a new planning search platform which will be live from November 3rd. Details have been sent on how to use. - West Devon, along with South Hams has a dedicated page to make it easier to get updates on common winter events. www.engagement.westdevon.gov.uk/join-our-network - Fusion are working to reopen the centres. Meadowlands Leisure Centre – the dry side gym and exercise studio will re-open on Monday 12 October. The swimming pool is scheduled to re-open again the following week w/c 19 October. - From 12th October, the convenience fee charged across South Hams and West Devon car parks when purchasing parking tickets through the RingGo app will be removed. This brings charges in line with tickets purchased at the meters. South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils hope this will encourage even more motorists to pay to park via the RingGo app. - Clerks will have been sent a copy of the latest Covid-19 Local Outbreak Management Plan. Please advise if there is anything, be it support or information that you would find useful. There will be a cluster group meeting on the 18th November at 4.00pm if you are wanting to join. Invites will be sent to community groups, please advise if you do not get one. Also a WD community support meeting on 29th October at 6.30pm. - Help protect others, including loved ones and the vulnerable, from being the victim of scams by completing an online awareness course. October 21 2020 was the 4th birthday of national campaign Friends Against Scams (FAS) - It’s a National Trading Standards Scams Team initiative, supported by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards. So far over half a million people have completed the free scams awareness session. It aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by spreading awareness of the issue. You can complete the online awareness session on the Friends Against Scams website by clicking https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/elearning/DST
- grants of between £1,000 and £15,000 are available to care providers, personal assistants, and carers themselves who can develop and provide innovative opportunities that will give other carers a break, during COVID-19 and beyond. https://www.devon.gov.uk/economy/business-support/rcif/
- Libraries Unlimited has recently purchased, with the help of Devon County Council, a second-hand van to replace our current Ivybridge Mobile Library and we are seeking to raise funds to refurbish the van.
Purchased at £15,000 from eBay, just a tenth of the cost of a brand-new mobile library, this 6-year old van will improve the reliability of our service for rural communities. It desperately needs to be renovated to meet the needs of our book lending services and the communities who use them. We need to fundraise £15,000 to help get this new mobile library on the road.
I have attached a letter containing more information and an A-Z of the communities visited. You can support by: justgiving.com/campaign/get-mobile-library-on-road
- Fusion are delighted to be open again and are welcoming residents back to their centres in a safe way. We would like to encourage your support of these important facilities and it is hoped that we, as a council, will be able to apply for funding to support them going forward.
- Our partners at Crowdfund will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday 11 November for Town and Parish Councils and Community Groups that are looking to raise funds for a specific project. Crowdfund works by encouraging the local community to pledge money towards a project. When the community have raised a large proportion of the required funding, it may also be supported by our Council, DCC or other public bodies operating in Devon. Topics to be covered:
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• What is crowdfunding? • Benefits of crowdfunding • What makes a good crowdfunding project? • Three steps to success • Accessing advice and support • Extra funding available in Devon The webinar is free to attend, please do pass on to any groups that might be interested in attending. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crowdfund-devon-live-learn-introduction-to-crowdfunding-tickets- 125872428823
- Communities are being encouraged to join together to make the most of internet/connection grants available. Please let us know if you need more information or support.
- As always, if you are aware of any individual or family struggling for any reason please let us know so that support and advice can be given as soon as possible.
Annex B – Clerk Report Nov 2020
• Footpaths East Tor Farm onto the Granite Way. I have emailed the Rights of Way officer again for an update and he responded that “county hall contacted you and the parish with details with claiming a right of way under schedule 14?” I have not been contacted but wanted to check that none of the councillors had been emailed before I respond.
• Grass Cutting tender – I have now received two quotes for the grass cutting tender. – The deadline is 30 November so I will include this in the December agenda for a decision.
• Grants – The information on grants available from Sourton PC has been put in the November issue of the BaSE which has been released. I have not heard yet from anyone.
• Bus shelter at Windard Terrace– I have not received any more comments or suggestions from residents so this is something we could consider at the next meeting regarding repurposing.
• Beaworthy Parish Council have also had a compensation payment regarding the FSCS so they will return the £50 by cheque to Sourton PC.
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