APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Dittisham Parish Council held in
Dittisham Village Hall on Wednesday 5 March 2025 at 7:00p.m.
a. Public Forum
i) Longlands Workshops in Cornworthy
Carpenter Oak has moved and its former premises in Cornworthy are being redeveloped as a place of work for craftsmen and makers of all kinds. They are currently looking for new tenants.
ii) Parish Lengthsman
The Lengthsman described their work in Dittisham and some obstacles to making progress. The meeting noted the benefit to the Parish of the work.
Present: Parish Cllrs Bond (Chair), Golding, Green, Hawkes, Neale, and Nightingale were present, as were Devon County Cllr Hawkins, South Hams District Cllr McKay, and A Thom, Clerk. There were two members of the public present for the Open Forum.
Absent: Cllrs Pope and Unitt.
Resignation of the Chair
Cllr Nightingale opened the meeting and discussed his resignation from the role of Chair, which had been received in writing before the meeting. It was resolved to elect Cllr Bond as Chair.
Cllr Bond signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
The meeting decided to defer the election of Vice Chair until all Cllrs were present.
Apologies:
Apologies for absence received from Cllrs Pope and Unitt were noted.
Declaration of Interests
None declared.
Approval of Minutes
It was resolved to approve the Minutes of the Meetings held on 15 January, 29 January 2025, and 5 February 2025 with the 5 February 2025 Minutes amended to include the cost of £215(exVAT) for the approved treeworks in Capton.
Community Reports
South Hams District Council Councillor
SHDC Cllr McKay discussed the devolution proposal that SHDC has submitted to the Secretary of State: the 1-4-5 proposal to create three unitaries in Devon. He said that Exeter wants to become a unitary itself and it doesn’t support the 1-4-5 proposal. Cllr McKay said that Town and Parish Councils are hardly mentioned in the Devolution White Paper. They may get more responsibilities.
Cllr McKay said that he has been very involved with food hub distribution and aggregation to shorten supply chains. He is talking to community bus services about how to integrate more and would like to create an overarching strategy for the District. The CVS has been asked to carry out a survey about community transport. It was noted that DPC hasn’t yet received the survey. Cllr McKay said that this is important. This work is part of Cllr McKay’s overarching theme of transportation and delivery. There are restrictions on how SHDC can use the information that it already holds. DPC can expect to receive an email about local food production. It might be possible to based this project at Baltic Wharf.
Cllr McKay is waiting for the SHDC Assets Team’s response about correcting its incorrect record of ownership trees in The Level Car Park.
In preparing for devolution SHDC is considering the use of the reserves that it holds. The reserves have been sourced locally and SHDC wants to keep their use local, for local capital investment eg playparks. Cllr McKay said that the Jubilee Steps handrail might be a suitable project. The Clerk was asked to submit a request for funds within the next one to two months.
A study is being done to look at the installation of photovoltaic panels on the Dartmouth car park to feed the Wellbeing Hub.
Devon County Council Councillor
DCC Cllr Hawkins thanked Cllr Nightingale for his support over the past few years and congratulated him on his work as the Chair.
Cllr Hawkins confirmed that the CVS transport survey also hasn’t contacted Dartmouth Cllrs. SHDC and DCC have set their next budget. Adult Social Care, Community Services, and Highways have had bigger than inflation increases. There is much to be discussed regarding devolution but it is ‘above our payscale’. DCC doesn’t yet have a proposed way forward. DCC has committed to having the required work done to Warfleet Road and will be charging the landowner for the work. The Dartmouth Foodbank usage has increased, there are 40-50 users per week and it has been up over 12 18 months. The Dartmouth Youth Club hopes to have the RNLI hut on Coronation Park.
Cllr McKay left the meeting.
Review of Meeting Action Items
The list of meeting action items was briefly noted.
Financial Matters
Financial Reports
The Financial Reports, which showed a total balance of £83,347.13 and an unearmarked general fund £28,351.20 at 28 February 2025 were noted.
It was resolved to approve the proposed revised schedule for providing Financial Reports with a corresponding January date added to the schedule.
Payments
It was resolved to authorise the following payments:
RingGo Car Parks Service fees for 1st October 2024 to 31st December 2024 £104.58
Annual Website Hosting Fee £140.00
DALC Being a Good Councillor 2 £18.00
DALC Being a Good Councillor 3 £18.00
Clerk Expenses Reimbursement February £124.09
The following payments authorised and paid since the last monthly meeting were noted:
Dittisham Sailing Club 2025-26 Permits £180.00
Treeworks The Ham £456.00
Treeworks Capton £258.00
DPC Bank Mandates
It was resolved to confirm the changes proposed in the Report.
Replacement for the use of the Clerk’s Personal Credit Card
It was resolved to approve opening a Zempler Bank account to obtain a Mastercard as described in the Report.
Purchase of a Mobile Phone for the Clerk Role
It was resolved to approve the recommendations in the Report to authorise the Clerk to spend up to £200 on a mobile phone for the Clerk role and to purchase a SIM only mobile phone number for Dittisham Parish Council at a cost of up to £5/month amended to also accept the offer of surplus phone and to see first if that phone will meet the need, and to cease offering the landline number for the Clerk three months after a mobile phone is successfully set up.
Extra Emptying of Bins on The Ham
It was resolved to approve again requesting of SHDC extra emptying of the three general waste bins on The Ham during the tourist season from Wednesday 09 July to Wednesday 29 October 2025, 17 visits, at a cost of £255.
- South Hams District Council’s Planning Decisions
The following decisions were noted:
4015/24/TCA Dittisham Court Dittisham TQ6 0HS. T 3210: Copper Beech – Crown raise to give clearance of 4m to protect tree from passing traffic. T 3212 : 2 x Tulip trees – Crown raise to 1.75m to improve access for mowing. G2 – Beech hedge – remove approximately 7 stems protruding into orchard to improve usability of space. T1 – Magnolia – Reduce crown by approximately 1-1.5 metres & to suitable pruning points to improve crown symmetry & reduce risk of failure. Raise No Objections.
4084/24/TCA The Ham Ham Lane Dittisham Dartmouth TQ6 0HS. T1: Willow (Salix Alba) – re- pollard, cutting back to previous growth points. T2: Ash (Fraxinus Excelsior) – use the willow wood chippings to spread around base of this ash tree. The above numbers refer to the sketch plan. These two trees are T19 and T27 on the Tree Survey Plan. Raise No Objections.
4093/24/ARC Land Adjacent Fairholme Riverside Road Dittisham. Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 6 (Arboricultural Method Statement & Tree Protection Plan) & 9 (CEMP) to planning consent 1476/24/FUL. Discharge of Condition Refused
- New Planning Applications
0445/25/ARC Shearwater, Riverside Road, Dittisham, TQ6 0HS. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (Windows/Doors) of planning consent 3571/24/HHO.
Renewal application Pavement Licence The Broadstone Cafe, 16 Broadstone , Dartmouth TQ6 9NR.
New Premises Licence application 1 Foss Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9DW.
Variation of Premises Licence SHPL0099 Dudleys, 33 Lower Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9AN.
DPC is not commenting on the above applications.
- New Tree Applications
0379/25/TCA Barton Cottage The Lane Dittisham TQ6 0HB. T1: Silver Birch – Fell & Remove tree, the tree is dead/ nearly dead due to a bad attack from Honey Fungus.
0397/25/TCA Barton Cottage The Lane Dittisham TQ6 0HB. T1 & T2: Fir trees – Crown height reduction by 6 metres – due to the trees growing very large & disproportionate to the garden & surrounds & are significantly restricting light.
The above two applications closed for comments before the monthly meeting.
It was noted that the applications were considered and the decision made to request a site-visit by the SHDC Tree Officer.
Co-option of a Parish Councillor
The Clerk said they would advertise that the current invitation for applications for the vacancy for a Parish Councillor will close on Thursday 20 March 2025. An extra meeting of the Parish Council was scheduled for Wednesday 26 March at 6:00 pm if required to interview applicants.
Reports from Councillors’ Working Groups and External Forums
Village Hall Management Committee
The Reports from DPC to the VHMC and from the VHMC to DPC were noted.
Personnel Committee and Subcommittee
It was resolved to approve a revision to the Terms of Reference with the Subcommittee meeting location changed from the proposal such that the location must be in the Dittisham Village Hall if the Clerk is present and can be the private home of a Subcommittee member by agreement if the Clerk is not present.
It was resolved to appoint the Cllr Neale to be the Chair of the Personnel Committee.
Requirement for a Temporary Second Clerk
It was resolved to approve the recommendations in the Report regarding Cllr Neale ceasing to act as the Temporary Clerk and resetting the passwords, and that DPC will retain the appointments to the roles of Temporary Clerk and Temporary RFO repurposed and renamed as Reserve Clerk and Reserve RFO, in order to improve the Council’s resilience and business continuity arrangements.
Annual Parish Meeting Arrangements
The arrangements for speakers and refreshments were confirmed. It was resolved to approve a refreshment budget of up to £50. There will be one guest speaker – to discuss Neighbourhood Plans.
Councillor Training Feedback
Cllr Hawkes said that the webinar he has attended on Parish Council Powers and Duties was good. He has shared the materials by email. It was noted that DPC Policy is that in general Councillors participating on DPC working groups or nominated to represent DPC in external forums are expected to complete the ‘Being a Good Councillor’ training within six months of election or co-option.
Jubilee Steps Handrail Project
It was noted that the Parish of Dittisham Charity’s has agreed to part fund the Jubilee Steps railing project.
As discussed above the Clerk will apply to SHDC for funds for the project.
Correspondence and Contacts
The following was noted or considered (discussion added in italics):
14/2/25 Residents informed about South West Water (SWW) surveys in the village
15/2/25 Enquiry from a resident about SWW tanker on the Level for extended periods of time. The SWW contact for the survey was asked about it. No reply received to date.
Cllr Bond said that his understanding is that the tankers were standing by to put water into the system. This was because of works elsewhere that may have affected the supply. That isn’t an official response from SWW.
18/2/25 Response from DCC that no assets owned by DCC were located in Dittisham.
24/2/25 Response from SHDC that its records show it owns the trees in The Level Car Park. This error will be raised by Cllr McKay with the Assets Team.
As discussed earlier in the meeting SHDC Cllr McKay will confirm if there are other assets.
Problems with the Barrier between Higher Street – Shute Lane Re-reported to DCC
DCC Cllr Hawkins was asked to liaise with DCC on Dittisham’s behalf regarding this matter.
SHDC Invitation Town & Parish Council Briefing – National Planning Guidance online, 12/3/25.
Next Meeting
It was confirmed that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on 2 April 2025 at 7:00 pm.
Closure of the Meeting
It was resolved, in accordance with the 1960 Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act to exclude the public and press during consideration of the following item because of the commercial-in-confidence nature of the business.
Car Park Machine Attendant Contract
Cllr Green declared an interest and left the meeting.
It was resolved employ a new Car Park Machine Attendant contractor at an annual cost of £1,800.
The meeting closed at 9:40.