MN_2021 April DPC Approved Minutes
Approved Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Dittisham Parish Council held using public videoconferencing on Wednesday 7 April 2021 at 7:00p.m
Present: Cllrs Tucker (Chair), Anderson (Vice-Chair), Bond, Faulkner, Green, Neale, Nightingale, and Quinn were present, as were South Hams District Councillor McKay, Devon County Councillor Hawkins, and A Thom (Clerk). There was one member of the public.
61/21 Apologies
None received.
62/21 Declaration of Interests
None declared.
63/21 COVID-19 Response
Review of the project to ensure that residents and visitors have access to support and information – No comments were made.
64/21 Approval of Minutes
It was resolved to approve minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2021.
65/21 Public Issues
65/21.1 Sunday School
The new owner of the Sunday School described the request remove from the Sunday School’s Title the covenant for maintenance in The Old Chapel Burial Ground.
Cllr Nightingale joined the meeting during the above item.
65/21.2 Dustbins
A member of the public had raised as an issue dustbins being left out on the street many days before the new Wednesday collection day and suggested asking householders to reconsider the timing of putting out their waste and bins, particularly with the increase in bins which will occur when the new recycling service begins. The Clerk was asked to communicate this request in the Parish Magazine, DPC Facebook page and on the Parish website.
66/21 Community Reports
66/21.1 South Hams District Council Councillor
South Hams District Cllr McKay reported that each council Member has been provided with an extra £3,000 for green projects. Detail is still to follow on a new COVID-19 restart grant which will be administered through SHDC. Localities has been reviewed and more Officers employed over the holiday period. The existing Joint Local Plan forms a buffer to proposals from central government because the Planning Inspectorate requires compliance with the JLP, however the JLP lacks provision for infrastructure.
66/21.2 Devon County Council Councillor
Cllr Hawkins said that the last full meeting of SHDC allocated just under £600,000 to reopening and regeneration post COVID. It is allocated to the five main towns but SHDC might consider requests from smaller communities. A new grant will be available soon to help business reopen and it might be available to small sports clubs. SHDC has allocated £171,000 to help the four leisure centres reopen from 12 April.
DCC has increased spending for highway drainage and public rights of way. There is a huge concern about mental health because of COVID-19. The construction of the Health and Wellbeing Centre has been delayed and Cllr Hawkins is following up the reason. Dartmouth Town Council is looking at using some Norton fields for overflow parking in July and August. The recycling centres are busy and extended hours have been agreed.
Dartmouth has been chosen for the Devon section of the Tour of Britain on 6 September.
67/21 SHDC Decisions planning/tree applications.
67/21.1 0275/21/ARC Gurrow Point Riverside Road Dittisham Devon TQ6 0JH. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (roof finish details) for planning application 3669/20/HHO. Discharge of condition Approved.
67/21.2 3001/20/ARC Downton Farm Dittisham TQ6 0JD. Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 10-15 & 18 of planning consent 1461/19/FUL. Conditional Approval.
67/21.3 3002/20/ARC Downton Farm Dittisham TQ6 0JD. Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 5-10 & 13 of listed building consent 1462/19/LBC Discharge of condition Approved.
67/21.4 4237/20/HHO Sherwood Cottage Riverside Road Dittisham Devon TQ6 0HS. Householder application for removal of utility structure and garage with replacement single storey extension. Works include removal of existing conservatory, removal of extension to chimney pot and replacement windows. Conditional Approval.
67/21.5 0534/21/TCA Dartside, Manor Street, Dittisham, TQ6 0EX.Proposed works: T1: Lawson Cypress – Fell. G1: Lawson Cypress x2 – Fell. G2: Pittosporum, Cherry Laurel, Portuguese Laurel & Bay – Crown height reduction to 6m from ground level. T2: European Larch – Fell. T3: Leyland Cypress – Fell. Raise no objections.
68/21 New planning applications.
68/21.1 0546/21/FUL Little Coombe Cedar Huts Dittisham TQ6 0JB. Installation of 5 new shepherds huts, relocation of Airstream caravan and associated development.
Cllr Green declared a disclosable pecuniary interest and was removed from the meeting.
Object (proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Faulkner, Cllr Quinn abstained).
DPC considers that the proposal is an over intensification of use of the site and that the Tourism Need Report provides insufficient justification for the development in the countryside, because its data is insufficient, particularly in a tourism environment experiencing major short-term variations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DPC considers that the proposed huts would have a negative effect on the character of the landscape. It can be expected to be 5-10 years until they are screened by the proposed planting. DPC will raise concerns about increased traffic associated with the proposed development of five huts. The access road is currently quite busy, being in use by immediate residences and by traffic from the East Cornworthy direction. The road is mainly single lane, its winding nature leads to reduced visibility, and it is in poor condition.
Cllr Hawkins will separately look into whether DCC will improve the surface of the road.
68/21.2 0668/21/FUL Dittisham Sailing Club, The Ham Riverside Road Dittisham TQ6 0JH. Replacement of rotting cedar shingles with natural slate.
Support (proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Neale, unanimous).
68/21.3 0989/21/COM Kingston Farm Bungalow Dittisham TQ6 0JB. Notice of intention to install fixed line broadband electronic communications apparatus comprising 2 x 8m wooden pole (6.2m above ground)
No comment.
68/21.4 1034/21/PDM Barn at Capton Dittisham Dartmouth TQ6 0JE. Prior approval for proposed change of use of agricultural building to 4 dwellings (Class C3) and associated operational development (Class Qa+b)
No comment.
69/21 Consultations
Cllrs Neale and Nightingale will prepare a report for the May meeting.
70/21 Request for removal of Old Chapel Burial Ground maintenance covenant from Sunday School’s Title
It was unanimously resolved to agree to this request (proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Faulkner). The relevant responsibilities for maintenance of the Old Chapel Burial Ground are correctly stated on The Old Chapel’s Land Registry Title.
71/21 DPC Forward Plan
It was resolved to approve the forward plan with the changes discussed, as an evolving document to be posted on the Parish website.
72/21 Reports from Councillors with Specific Responsibilities / External Forums
72/21.1 Maintenance Working Group
The WG’s report on management of private accesses to The Ham was discussed. The meeting agreed to take legal advice from NALC via the SLCC on the appropriate course of action to regularise the accesses. DPC has a responsibility for the safety of all users of The Ham. The meeting agreed to take advice from SHDC Grounds Maintenance before proceeding. DPC will also take steps to ensure that Title map boundaries to match the boundary fences. It was unanimously resolved to move forward with addressing the three aspects as above (proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Faulkner).
72/21.2 Ham Events
Consideration of requests for a booking for a Parish Lunch Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Sunday 5th June 2022, and from South West Gaffers for campervans overnight in the Ham Car Park and tents on the Ham 13 – 16 August 2021 during Dittisham Regatta were deferred while Ham Events Working Group councillors establish further details.
72/21.3 Proposal for an English Oak Memorial Tree on The Ham
It was agreed that an English oak would be planted in the location shown on the circulated map.
72/21.4 Snow Warden Working Group
The Report from Cllrs Green and Lloyd was deferred.
72/21.5 Vehicles parked at junction of Manor Street and The Lane
Cllrs Anderson and Bond’s report on proposed sign and notes for windscreens was deferred to the May meeting.
72/21.6 Dog Fouling Working Group
The consultation recommendations were discussed. The recommendation to contact SHDC to negotiate the repair/replacement and relocation of the dog waste bin in The Level car park to Rectory lane (Manor Street end) was agreed. This location will be reviewed after one year, and in need the bin moved to other end of Rectory Lane. The proposed repair/replacement and relocation of the square litter bin by the phone box to the Higher Street turning bay was agreed in principle, to be adjusted accordingly depending on pending feedback from nearby property.
72/21.7 Footpaths
Updates were noted that the kissing gate at the bottom of Footpath 1 has been removed because it was damaged, unsafe and no longer serves any purpose, and that DCC is addressing a bridleway in the Parish affected by a van being used for accommodation.
73/21 Financial Matters
73/21.1 Financial Report
It was resolved to approve the financial report and bank reconciliation which showed a balance of £63,138.47 and unearmarked reserves of £14,415.15 on 31 March 2021.
73/21.2 Payments
It was resolved to make the following payments:
- St Georges Church Grounds Maintenance Grant £1,000.00
- Landscape Construction & Design maintenance repairs to public footpaths £489.00
- SHDC Payroll 20/21 £120.00
- Dartmoor Tree Surgeons Pollarding of Willow on The Ham £708.00
- Community Heartbeat Trust Annual Support two defibrillators £396.00
- Devon Communities Together Membership renewal £50.00
- Clerk Expenses Reimbursement CE39 £230.12
- Business Rates The Ham Car Park £2,844.30
- Business Rates The Level Car Park £2,694.60
73/21 Car Park Machines
It was resolved to accept the proposed fee of £398+VAT to change tariffs and program VAT number.
74/21 Correspondence
- Member of public, 10/3/21 Safety of access from Binham Cottage to FP14 – referred to DCC
- Dart Harbour Communities Group, 23/3/21 Stoke Gabriel Cycle track – could be an asset to the Parish.
Cllr Anderson will monitor. - DCC Lower Street roadworks, assistance in liaison with contractor and DCC
75/21 Next meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council and the ordinary May meeting are scheduled for 5 May 2021 at 7:00 pm.
76/21 Car Park Supervision Arrangements
It was resolved to close the meeting to members of the public and press.
The meeting closed at 20:54