Annual Parish Meeting Held Tuesday 3Rd April 2018 at the Village Hall , Scoriton Meeting Commenced Approx 7.30Pm

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held Tuesday 3rd April 2018 at the Village Hall , Scoriton Meeting Commenced approx 7.30pm

Present – Cllrs Brent ( Chairman ), Colwill , Holmes , Le Marchant , Lee , Niering & Thomas Karen Gilbert as Clerk Philip Chandler , Black Bee Project - Laura Colwill - Scoriton Show - Leyton Juste , Scoriton Village Twinning association and 6 Parishioners

The meeting started with a talk and presentation by Philip Chandler , local bee expert and founder of the Black bee project. Philip’s Illustrated talk highlighted the changes and problems faced by the bee population , along with interesting facts and tips to encourage bees into our gardens . He also spoke on the Black Bee project through which it was hoped that bee-keepers would support reintroduction of colonies of the native black bees throughout the South West - especially in the Mardle Vally and up onto the Moor

Questions were presented and answered and Philip was thanked by Simon Brent - Chairman of BWPC for the excellent presentation - which , it was agreed , was enjoyed by all .

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2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Ella Briens - DNPA ranger

3. Report from the Chairman of Buckfastleigh West Parish Council

I’d like to start by welcoming you all to the 2018 Annual Parish Meeting and to again thank Philip for ﬁnding the time to give us his very interesting talk on the Black Bee Project.

The weather has been high on the agenda for some of us recently, in particular during March when we had two substantial downfalls of snow. I would like to thank Russel and Sandy Ashford in particular for their time in clearing snow with their two tractor snow ploughs from Parish roads on two occasions. Cyril Pearce also cleared a section close to his farm, so many thanks go to him too. On both occasions Matthew Holmes and myself immediately followed up the clearance with the Parish gritter which made an excellent job of keeping the roads open and free of ice. Many thanks for your help Matt. This work enabled members of the Public, the school bus and milk lorries to reach and leave the village safely. I will be contacting Highways to order more grit during the summer in preparation for next winter.

Our part time Lengthsman was again employed by the Parish Council a couple of times during the year. He was used at strategic times such as after hedge ﬂailing to clear out the main buddle holes around the Parish. Many thanks to Sue for pointing him to the areas requiring work and also to the few who helped by clearing drains as and when required!

We have again only had a small number of Planning Applications to comment on during the last year and, as in previous years, try to carry out site visits whenever possible. The Parish Council continues to receive monthly Police reports which keep us informed of local crime and incidents. This is an important reminder that, although crime ﬁgures are low in Buckfastleigh West, we should never become complacent. Fireworks - we had another fantastic display this year ! Thanks to all the team who risk life and limb in setting up and letting oﬀ the explosives !!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Smerdon for ﬁnding the time to regularly attend our monthly meetings in order to give us his reports. Also Councillor Hosking who attends whenever he can and hopes to get here tonight in order to give us his report. He is at present at another meeting but hopes to get here in time.

Once again, I’d like to end by saying a big ‘Thank you’ to all those local people who happily volunteer their time in order to make work and events happen in the Parish! Without your contributions Buckfastleigh West would not be the lively and well run Parish it is today! Thank you!!

Simon Brent 3/4/2018

4. Abridged Report from County Councillor Hosking - Full report available from the Clerk Cllr Hosking thanked the Parishioners for voting for him in the May 2017 elections - his patch now covers Parishes of Dean Prior, Diptford, Holne, North Huish, Rattery, South Brent and West Buckfastleigh as well as Ermington, Holbeton, Newton Ferrers & Noss Mayo, Ugborough and Yealmpton. The Budget We received a few pleasant and welcome surprises just before agreeing our Budget for 2018/19. a) The County in partnership with our eight District and two Unitary Authorities has been made a Business Rates Pilot in 2018/19. This is estimated to increase potential funding to the County by £16.6 million, £6.6 million more than anticipated; b) Rural Services Delivery Grant has not been reduced as expected but has been increased by a further £1.5 million to a total of £7.5 million; c) Anticipated changes to the New Homes Bonus Scheme have not been introduced and Devon County Council (DCC) will benefit by an additional £300K to a total of £3.8 million. d) An additional £2.2 million Adult Social Care Support Grant has been allocated to DCC specifically for Adult Social Care; e) The County has received £2.1 million to compensate for a change in the inflationary increase on Business Rates as announced in the Autumn Budget; f) We are permitted if required to increase our Council Tax Precept (excluding the Social Care Precept capped at 2%) by an additional 1% to 3% before triggering a referendum. Before taking these sources of income into account our Core funding had been reduced to £115.2 million. This is a reduction of £13.1 million on 2016/17 (taking into account the additional £10 million from the Improved Better Care Fund Grant for 2018/19 announced in the Spring Budget of 2017(reducing to a final payment of £5 million next year)). Additional Spending We plan to increase spending to meet demand as follows; g) an additional £6.5 million on Children’s Services h) an additional £13 million on Adult Services budgets i) an additional £6.5 million on maintenance and repair of drainage, patching and potholes on our highways. We have not opted to increase our Council Tax Precept by the maximum 5.99% permitted by Central Government in 2018/19, but by 4.99%, leaving the option to make a final additional 1% increase in the Social Care Precept next year. Despite the additional funding it is still going to be challenging to meet our budget in 2018/19 and we will be seeking innovative ways of managing demand for Social Care. Highways Skanska are now operating our Highways Term Maintenance Contract and are reviewing the system relating to treatment of defects and Works Programmes. The objective is to combine the wisdom of Devon County Council Highways with the experience of Skanska and to trial different ways of working in 2018/19, adopting those that are successful in 2019/20. The additional funding announced above will give some flexibility to be innovative. The timely announcement by Central Government of £2.5 million to fund the reinstatement of the A379 along the Slapton Line is very welcome for the County. Cllr Hosking also commented on the continuing roll out of Broadband and mobile phone coverage as well as Libraries , adult and Children’s care and recycling 5. Report from District Councillor Smerdon - NO REPORT

6 . Speakers / reports from Parish organisations

Scoriton Village Hall Management Committee - NO REPORT

Scoriton Show Laura Colwill advised that the 2017 show had been a great success - with excellent weather on the day and a record crowd on approx 1000. This had produced a healthy proﬁt - the beneﬁciaries include Devon Air Ambulance , Scoriton Chapel , assistance for local School’s swimming lessons and also the Buckfastleigh Christmas Day Dinner event amongst others Laura wished to thank the Committee and all Volunteers for their help and assistance in producing a splendid Show . She also commented that the Committee would really welcome more Committee members and Volunteers

The Parish Tree Warden Simon Brent , as Parish Tree warden , reported that the new oak planted at Stumpy Oak was putting on good growth - and enjoying its feed of horse manure . He explained that the growth of the new tree would not be compromised by the older tree and that by the time the older tree had passed its prime , the new oak would be a ﬁne adult tree . Simon also advised the Ash die-back had not yet presented as a major problem in the South West - although trees had been aﬀected in the South East

National Trust - NO REPORT

Methodist Chapel Sue Colwill advised that it had been an exciting year for the Chapel . Since joining a wider circuit , new Ministers and also diﬀerent worshippers had re-vitalised the Chapel . Scoriton had participated in a Prayer Week - again as part of a wider and diverse group . The Annual walk had taken place in August in windy but warm weather - a walk from Venford to Bench Tor followed by a cream tea and songs of Praise . Another walk was planned for the 2nd Saturday in August 2018 - all very very welcome The quinquennial report on the structure had been carried out - with electrics and windows identiﬁed as requiring work . The Chapel wished to record its thanks to the Scoriton Show for the funding it receives

Buckfastleigh West Commoners - NO REPORT Police Report - NO REPORT Dartmoor National Park Ranger - NO REPORT Trade Winds - NO REPORT

Holne Community Shop and Tearoom - Cllr Frank Niering reported on its behalf Frank explained that this year’s trading position had improved over last - although a small overall loss was made . However , the shop and tearoom remains successful in many other ways - providing a valuable asset for the Community . The shop/tearoom is currently searching both ways to increase turnover and also the possibility of employing a Shop Manager through grant funding . Frank encouraged locals and visitors alike to support the Shop - even a few extra pounds per week would make a big diﬀerence

Scoriton Village Twinning association Leyton Juste explained that the Association had existed for 36 years - with alternating exchange visits taking place each year usually in August/school holidays to encourage membership of Family Groups . The Association now also encompasses Buckfastleigh and Buckfast . The exchange visits and twinning events form friendships and gives the opportunity to experience family life from a French perspective as well as giving students the chance to practise their French language . Moreover - it is fun and an excellent way to socialise Mr Juste commented that anyone is able to join in and welcomes more local support