The approved minutes can be read below or downloaded here: MN_2023 January 04 DPC Approved Minutes
APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Dittisham Parish Council held in Dittisham Village Hall on Wednesday 4 January 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Carbon Savers Course, 7:00 pm – 7:15 pm, Session 1 – Introduction
The meeting discussed the video. The action from the module is to calculate your carbon footprint – Carbon Savvy offers three methods: taking from 5 minutes to a full calculation taking about 45 minutes. The resources will be shared, including on the Parish website. Knowing your carbon footprint allows you to target your efforts where you will have the biggest potential impact.
Present: Cllrs Anderson (Chair), Nightingale (Vice-Chair), Bond, Green, Hodge, Lloyd, Neale, and Unitt were present, as were A Thom (Clerk), Devon County Cllr Hawkins, South Hams District Cllr McKay, and one member of the public.
- Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Tucker.
- Declaration of Interests
Cllr Green declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Item 9 Dart 10K event.
- Approval of Minutes
It was resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2022.
- Public Issues
No matters raised.
- Community Reports
- South Hams District Council Councillor
South Hams District Council Councillor McKay reported that SHDC won £1 million from the Shared Prosperity Fund to help reduce carbon emissions in the District. The Plymouth Freeport has been approved. Work on the 23/24 budget is ongoing. Cllr McKay will follow up DPC’s enquiry about whether SHDC will remove weeds from roads in the village.
- Devon County Council Councillor
Devon County Council Councillor Hawkins reported that the 23/24 budget process is encountering considerable difficulties. The Dartmouth Health and Wellbeing Centre should be open by March or April next year at latest. The Dartmouth Food Bank is open every Friday in Townstal Community Hall, there is also help and advice, and parcels can be delivered in need. There were previously 6 to 12 users of the Food Bank and there are now over 30. The Dartmouth Youth Group is open in Ivy Lane every Tuesday through to mid-July. The Leisure Centre is starting again, on three Fridays this month. 31 children went to the Train of Lights and on 28 July they will go to a theatre in Plymouth. These activities are free to users. Organisers are also trying to organise basketball in the Leisure Centre every Thursday.
- SHDC Planning Decisions
The following decisions were noted:
- 3411/22/TPO The Old Rectory, Rectory Lane Dittisham TQ6 0HD. T1: fell to ground level due to low amenity value and damage to drive & T2: Eucalyptus – fell to ground level due to low amenity value and to create space for other planting. Raise No Objections.
- 3687/22/TCA Bay Cottage Manor Street Dittisham TQ6 0EX. T1: Conifer – dismantle due to heavily shading garden and to allow more beneficial species within garden. Raise No Objections.
- 3683/22/TCA Mill Creek Cottage, Lower Street, Dittisham, TQ6 0HY. T1-8: Ash – Ash coppice stools at East and West end of group of 7 stools to be recoppiced to higher coppice point at circa 2.5m given their advanced dieback conditions. (5 to be reduced and 2 to be recoppiced) Middle 5 ash coppice stools to have 50% crown reduction due to lower levels of Ash dieback than the 2 outer trees. Raise No Objections.
- 2238/22/HHO Overdart House Rectory Lane Dittisham TQ6 0HD. Householder application for alterations & additions to existing dwelling. Withdrawn.
- New Planning Applications
- 3845/22/VAR Downton Farm Dittisham TQ6 0JD. Application for variation of condition 2 (approved drawings) of planning consent 1025/20/FUL (retrospective).
No comment (unanimous resolution).
- 4091/22/VAR Downton Farm Dittisham TQ6 0JD. Application for variation of condition 2 (approved drawings) of planning consent 1462/19/LBC.
Support with a comment raising light pollution concerns about the new glazing in the proposal (unanimous resolution).
- Consultations
- DCC, Local Nature Recovery Strategy – Organisations’ work, Closes 13/1/23
- Devon and Severn IFCA, Proposed new Mobile Fishing Permit Byelaw 2022. Closes 20/01/23
No comment submitted by DPC on the above consultations.
- Application to hire The Ham 1-4 September 2023 for Dart 10K Swim Event
Cllr Green left the meeting.
The application, which includes a different car parking field near Lapthorne dip, was considered. Feedback was given and questions raised. A decision was deferred pending further information.
Cllr Green returned to the meeting.
- Request for a temporary site compound in The Ham car park
The request for a temporary site compound for 5-6 weeks to the end of February in The Ham car park at the end adjacent to the River Dart was approved with the conditions that the central access is kept clear, access to the bins or footpath (depending on the side of the car park chosen) is maintained, and that DPC will be paid for the car park spaces used was approved by resolution. The car park is used at their own risk and DPC after discussion will have the final say on how many spaces are being used.
- Cost of Living – ‘Warm Place’ in The Red Lion Inn
It was resolved to approve a £200 grant towards the trial of the provision of ‘Warm Place’ events in The Red Lion Inn with payment on receipt of an invoice.
- Personnel Committee’s Recommendations
It was resolved to approve the recommendations: to update the sick leave and annual leave provisions in the Clerk’s contract to be consistent with the current NJC Green Book, and for a temporary increase in core hours from 16 to 18 hours per week until 31 March 2023 for completion of core management tasks alongside a review of processes.
- Parish Lengthsman Hours and Role
It was agreed that DPC would pay for the Parish Lengthsman’s time to attend a meeting to review the role.
- Financial Matters
- Financial Reports
It was resolved to approve the Reports which showed a total balance of £73,610.59, unearmarked general fund of £24,979.62, and bank accounts reconciled.
- Payments
It was resolved to authorise the following payments:
- Parish Lengthsman, £88.00
- Pittman Trees, Maintenance tree works, £1,740.00
- Clerk, Reimbursement of December expenses, £17.29
- South West Water, Quay tap, Sep to Dec 2022, £20.16
The Clerk’s claim for December overtime, £126.35, was approved by resolution.
The payments made since the December meeting were noted:
- Clerk, December Salary, November overtime, 22/23 Award back-pay overtime, CiLCA study time £2,955.74
- HMRC, December, £1,434.69
- NEST Pensions, December, £285.34
- Information Commissioner’s Office, Annual Fee direct debit, £35
- 2023/24 Budget and Precept
It was agreed to schedule a discussion meeting and an extraordinary meeting to determine the 2023/24 Budget and Precept demand.
- Correspondence
The following correspondence was noted:
- Invitation – South Devon AONB 2023 Partners Conference on 25th January at Moreleigh Village Hall TQ9 7FH
- Next Meeting
It was confirmed that the next monthly meeting of Dittisham Parish Council would take place on 1 February 2022 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.
- 2023 DPC Grounds Maintenance Contract
The quote received for the 2023 contract was considered. It was resolved to accept the quote and to add to the contract that the contractor confirms that it possesses the certificates of competency and risk assessments relevant to the work.
The meeting closed 22:02.