The Minutes can be read below or downloaded here: MN_2024 February DPC Approved Minutes

APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Dittisham Parish Council held in
Dittisham Village Hall on Wednesday 7 February 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

a. Public Forum

  1. Replacement of Guttering on the Village Bus Shelter

A plan was agreed for the guttering to installed.

  1. Letter from a Resident about the proposal to Register The Red Lion Inn as an Asset of Community Value

The letter was read out as requested by the Resident. It was agreed that the Chair will respond with an offer to meet and to advise that a decision has been made to submit an application.

Present: Cllrs Nightingale (Chair), Bond (Vice-Chair), Golding, Green, Neale, Tucker, and Unitt were present as was DCC Cllr Hawkins, A Thom (Clerk). One member of the public was present in the room during the open forum and no-one joined over Zoom. Cllr Tucker left during the meeting.

  1. Apologies:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Hodge and SHDC Cllr McKay.

  1. Declaration of Interests

None declared.

  1. Approval of Minutes

It was resolved to approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 January 2024.

  1. Community Reports

    1. South Hams District Council Councillor

Deferred in the absence of SHDC Cllr McKay.

    1. Devon County Council Councillor

DCC Cllr Hawkins reported that he has been contacted about a proposal for new housing near Lapthorne Dip and has referred the resident to the standard planning channels. It was noted that DPC has also been contacted and the resident invited to speak to a meeting of the PC. There is a consultation about the proposed devolution of DCC and Torbay Councils. Cllr Hawkins advised viewing the consultation details on the government webpage. 3,000 objections to the proposal for parking meters in Dartmouth were delivered to County Hall, and an FOI request has been made to view consultation responses. The Dartmouth Youth Club is operating again, with rollerblading on Friday night. The Youth Club is keen to take over the current RNLI premises in Coronation Park when the RNLI moves to a new site in about 12 months. The foodbank is operating a warm hub and has started to sell sanitary items at cost, which may evolve into a community pantry service.

  1. Financial Matters

    1. Financial Reports

To Reports showed a total balance of £86,329.94 and an unearmarked general fund of £31,810.74.

    1. Payments

It was resolved authorised the following payments:

  • Village Hall Hire, December 23 and Jan 24, £60.00

  • Sutcliffe flat seat swing chains, £135.00

  • Clerk Expenses Reimbursement January £32.57

The payment decisions made since the last monthly meeting were noted:

  • South West Water, The Quay Tap Sep – Dec 2023, £33.29

  • Annual Playground Inspection booked, £155.00+VAT

  • Car Park Attendant October-December 2023, £500.00

    1. NatWest Interest Bearing Accounts

It was resolved to place £25,000 (approximately equivalent to earmarked replacement reserve funds) in a NatWest 95 day notice interest bearing account and £15,000 in a 35 day notice account.

    1. Annual Risk Review

It was noted that the annual review of the Register and statement of Internal Control is taking place.

Decisions regarding DPC’s Tree inspections and additional involvement in defibrillator checks require further consideration and were deferred to the next meeting. It was resolved that the Clerk and Cllr Neale would follow up formal inspection of Old Chapel Burial Ground memorials.

  1. SHDC Planning Decisions

The following decisions were noted:

    1. 3578/23/CLP Yew Tree Cottage, Manor Street, Dittisham, TQ6 0EX. Certificate of lawfulness for proposed single storey outbuilding. Withdrawn.

    2. 3557/23/VAR Yew Tree Cottage, Manor Street, Dittisham, TQ6 0EX. Application for variation of conditions 2 (approved drawings) & 5(privacy screen) of planning consent 3296/22/HHO. Conditional Approval

    3. 3797/23/ARC Dittisham Hideaway, Dittisham, TQ6 0JB. Application for retrospective approval of details reserved by conditions 2 (Landscaping Scheme), 3 (Hut Finishes/Treatments), 7 (Lighting Scheme) and 10 (LEMP) of planning consent 2637/23/VAR. Discharge of Conditions – Split Decision.

    4. 0001/24/ARC Yew Tree Cottage, Manor Street, Dittisham, TQ6 0EX. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 9 (Solar Panels) of planning consent 3557/23/VAR. Discharge of Condition Approved

  1. New planning applications
    1. 0348/24/ARC Dittisham Hideaway, Dittisham, TQ6 0JB. Application for approval of details reserved by condition 7 (Lighting Scheme) of planning consent 2637/23/VAR.

The details of the application were discussed. No comment is being made to SHDC.

    1. 0366/24/ARC Spindlewood, Higher Street, Dittisham, TQ6 0HT. Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 5 (Timber Cladding), 9 (External Lighting), 18 (Roof Slate), 19 (Hard Landscaping) & 20 (Ducts, Flues, Rainwater Goods, Vents & External Attachments) of planning consent 2455/21/FUL.

The details of the application were discussed. No comment is being made to SHDC.

  1. New tree applications
  • 4061/23/TCA Mulberry House, Dittisham, Dartmouth, TQ6 0ER . T1 – T4: Apple trees – remove. T5: Holly – remove. T6: Mulberry – lateral crown reduction of up to 1m on NE and NW sides, crown reduction on upper canopy of up to 50cm. T7 – T9: Birch – remove.

Comments closed 24 January. Assessed. No comment submitted by DPC.

  1. Consultations

  • River Dart Catchment Action Plan. Closes 16/2/24

It was resolved to respond about recording the salt marsh area north of The Ham car park.

  1. Monitoring DPC’s Process to Comment on Planning Applications

No new comments made on the process.

  1. Reports from Councillors’ Working Groups & External Forums

    1. Village Road-marking Repainting

The Report on the maintenance work carried out in 2023 was noted.

    1. Communications

It was resolved to agree the Proposal for the WG Cllrs produce a monthly article on topical activities for the Parish Mag as per the report. Cllrs were asked to check that their entries on the Parish website are current.

    1. Maintenance

It was resolved to agree the Proposal to remove the older bench from near the toilet block on The Ham.

It was resolved pay the contractor as quoted to replace all slats on another bench because the bench is considered dangerous. It was resolved confirm satisfactory completion of 2023 Grounds Maintenance Contract, that an invoice may be paid, and to thank the contractors for the work done.

  1. Installation of Railing at Little Orchard Access Steps

The proposed quote document was agreed.

  1. Installation of Defibrillators

  • DPC is awaiting a revised agreement with SHDC, to give DPC permission to install a defibrillator on The Ham Toilet Block. The Clerk was asked to consult with SHDC regarding action necessary regarding collection of rent.

  • DPC is not applying for Department of Health & Social Care Community Defibrillator match funding Scheme to install a Mindray C1A defibrillator in Capton. It was resolved to cost an alternative defibrillator, to confirm there is an electricity supply to the phone box, and to start to consider fund raising including whether the Parish of Dittisham Charity might support.

  1. Nominations to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

It was resolved to nominate Cllr Tucker to go into the Devon draw to attend the Garden Party in recognition of his long and excellent service to the Parish Council.

  1. Parish Lengthsman Report

The Lengthsman’s Report and invoice of 6/2/24 were noted. The item was deferred to the March meeting.

  1. Car Park Attendant’s Temporary Absence

The advance notice of two weeks absence during the quiet season was noted.

  1. Support of ‘The Melt’ floating art project

It was resolved to make a £50 donation and to help to publicise the event.

  1. Correspondence:

  • Email from Resident, 7/1/24, Concern about water run-off due to earthworks.

  • Email from Resident, 26/1/24, Request for a public meeting to inform residents about ACV before proceeding.

  • Devon Air Ambulance Landing Sites, Visit to move box on 14 February 2024.

  • D-Day 80 Commemoration on 6 June 2024, https://www.d-day80beacons.co.uk/

The meeting was told that the Beacon is in the process of being replaced using local materials and it won’t be ready. There are commemoration suggestions in the online guide. This will be a future item if requested.

  • Sustainable South Hams, 30/1/24, Composting Pilots opportunity.

It was noted that thermal imaging cameras can be borrowed from SHDC and Sustainable South Hams is providing training on their use.

  • SHDC, 31/1/24, Advance notice of public consultation on Public Space Protection Orders.

  • Devolution Deal for Devon. Proposals being considered DCC and Torbay Council Cabinets.

  • Dittisham Charity’s AGM will take place on 8/2/24 at 2.30 pm.

  1. Annual Parish Meeting

The arrangement for the Meeting on 17 April were confirmed including a resolution to authorise a refreshments budget of up to £80.

  1. Next Meeting

It was noted that the next meeting of Dittisham Parish Council will take place on 6 March 2024 at 7:00 pm.

  1. 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(s) because of the confidential nature of the business.

  1. Quotes for works to benches on The Ham

It was resolved to accept the quote to remove the bench from next to the toilet block.

  1. DPC’s responsibilities as the owner of a Freehold.

It was agreed to submit the ACV application and a plan was made on actions to take in accordance with and to manage DPC’s Freehold responsibilities and liabilities, and agreed by resolution.

The meeting ended at 21:40