MN_2021 July DPC Draft Minutes
APPROVED Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Dittisham Parish Council held in Dittisham Village Hall with audio Zoom conferencing, on Wednesday 7 July 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
- Present: Cllrs Tucker (Chair), Anderson (Vice-Chair), Bond, Neale, and Nightingale were present, as were Devon County Councillor Hawkins, A Thom (Clerk) and one member of the public.
- On Zoom audio: One member of the public joined briefly.
135/21 Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Green, Lloyd, and Quinn, and South Hams District Cllr McKay.
136/21 Declaration of Interests
Cllr Tucker declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Item 11.2 Dart 10K 2022 event.
137/21 COVID-19 Response
No comments were made on the project to ensure that residents and visitors have access to support and information.
138/21 Approval of Minutes
It was resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2021.
139/21 Public Issues
139/21.1 Copy of letter to SHDC regarding effect on residential amenity of quantity of building in the village
Cllr Anderson will respond to the author.
140/21 Community Reports
140/21.1 South Hams District Council Councillor
Deferred in the absence of Cllr McKay.
140/21.2 Devon County Council Councillor
Cllr Hawkins reported that the construction of the Health and Wellbeing Centre has started and the Centre will open at the end of next summer. The Park and Ride will be extended over unused playing field land. The double yellow lines opposite The Level Car Park have been repainted. Cllr Hawkins visited Lower Street and saw the good road resurfacing result.
141/21 SHDC Planning Decisions
141/21.1 1183/21/HHO Herons Flight Riverside Road Dittisham TQ6 0HS. Householder application for replacement of conservatory with new extension. Extension of existing balcony to front elevation over proposed stone clad ground floor extension. Alterations to fenestration and balustrading. Installation of natural timber cladding to first floor of front elevation and to gable end of rear elevation. Conditional Approval.
141/21.2 1416/21/HHO Little Coombe Farm Dittisham TQ6 0JB. Retrospective householder application for retention of studio workshop and erection of greenhouse. Conditional Approval.
141/21.3 1446/21/HHO Greenslades Higher Street Dittisham TQ6 0HT. Householder application for alterations and extension to existing dwelling. Conditional Approval.
141/21.4 1413/21/FUL Newlands Farm Blackawton TQ9 7DR. Extension of existing agricultural building for dry storage. Conditional Approval.
141/21.5 0546/21/FUL Little Coombe Cedar Huts Dittisham TQ6 0JB. READVERTISEMENT (revised plans received 17.05.21) Installation of 5 new shepherds huts, relocation of Airstream caravan and associated development. Conditional Approval.
141/21.6 1900/21/CCN Newlands Farm Blackawton TQ9 7DR. Caravan Club notification to operate a certificated location for proposed exempted camp site. No objection Recommend Approval
142/21 New planning applications
142/21.1 1843/21/HHO 8 Meadow Cottages The Level Dittisham TQ6 0EU. Householder application for first-storey extension over existing conservatory and extension of existing first floor balcony.
Support (resolution proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Neale, unanimous).
142/21.2 0763/21/HHO Low Dolphin Lower Street Dittisham TQ6 0HY READVERTISEMENT (Revised plans received) Householder application for new rear extension with internal alterations to existing building and the removal of garage door.
Support (resolution proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Bond, unanimous).
142/21.3 2101/21/HHO Sunbeams Riverside Road Dittisham TQ6 0HS. Householder application for free standing PV panels.
Support (resolution proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Nightingale, unanimous).
142/21.4 2099/21/VAR Sunbeams Riverside Road Dittisham TQ6 0HS. Variation of conditions 2 (approved plans) and 3 (privacy screen approved drawings) of planning consent 4101/20/VAR.
Support with comment that drawing numbers don’t correspond which made the assessment of the application more difficult (resolution proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Bond, unanimous).
142/21.5 1760/21/LBC & 1759/21/HHO The Cider Cottage Manor Street Dittisham TQ6 0EX. Listed building consent and householder application for new boat/garden store and workshop in existing garden.
Object: The proposed building is considered overly large and dominant in its Conservation Area setting, the expected final use is unclear because the submitted description is inconsistent, the siting and design doesn’t address its setting (resolution proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Bond, Cllr Neale abstained).
142/21.6 2455/21/FUL Spindlewood Higher Street Dittisham TQ6 0HT. Demolition of existing dwelling and provision of replacement dwelling with associated landscaping.
Support with strengthened version of DPC’s standard comment on light pollution and comment that the application refers to use of natural materials therefore timber boarding or slate boarding would be preferable to the proposed weatherboarding which is plastic and not a natural material (resolution proposed Cllr Anderson, seconded Cllr Bond, unanimous).
142/21.7 2578/21/LBC & 2577/21/HHO Dunedin Cottage The Quay Dittisham TQ6 0EZ. Listed Building consent and householder application for an air source heat pump.
The properties in this area are very close together and air source heat pumps have a noisy hum like an air conditioner unit, therefore a noise impact assessment addressing the effect on the adjacent property and/or noise mitigation measures should be available for DPC to reach a view.
Defer. The Clerk was asked to request further information.
142/21.8 1407/21/ARC River Farm Cottage Dittisham TQ6 0HE. Application for approval of details reserved by Conditions 6 and 7 of Planning Application 3079/20/FUL. For information.
Support (resolution proposed Cllr Neale, seconded Cllr Anderson).
143/21 Consultations
- Boundary Commission Consultation – To consider supporting a proposal to the 2023 review for the constituency name to be changed from Totnes to South Devon. Closes 2 August.
It was resolved to write in Support. The Clerk will also reshare the consultation.
144/21 Tree Warden
The proposed appointment of Cllr Bond was approved
145/21 Reports from Councillors’ Working Groups & External Forums
145/21.1 Maintenance Working Group
The overall assessment of Parish Council assets and proposed maintenance works was noted.
It was resolved to approve the specifications for priority projects – grass protection mesh & railings near Binham Cottage and new segment of railing on path to DSC, and OCBG wall and railings, that the Parish Lengthsman will remove vegetation which results in damage to the wall and repoint as required and will charge the standard rate plus expenses, and expenditure of £75 to buy mulch mats for newly planted trees on the Ham.
145/21.2 Ham Events
It was resolved to confirm the Dart 10K event to be held on 3 and 4 September 2022 with existing conditions, including use of Cott Farm parking and Football field disabled parking, and to agree the request to defer payment of the deposit to November 2021. Cllr Tucker left the room while this item was addressed.
145/21.3 Tree Survey
The recommendations of the June 2021 survey were noted. It has three low risk general management recommendations. The Clerk was asked to arrange for the recommended crown rise of the lime tree in The Level car park, and the removal of the dead rowan on the Ham Triangle, in the autumn.
145/21.4 Playground Signs & Ambulance Sign for Turning Bay
The ‘Ambulance’ sign for the Manor Street turning bay was agreed as drafted. The overall format and content of the playground signs was agreed and it was agreed to retain the ‘no fires or BBQs’ message. Cllr Nightingale recommended adjustment of the colour to improve readability. Punctuation details remain to be finalised.
146/21 Ditsum Players’ section on the Parish Website
It was resolved to approve the proposal to expand the Players presence on the website as detailed in the request received. DPC will pay half of the cost, which has been estimated by Kingsbridge Websites at £100. The meeting supported the same approach being taken with the Village Hall Management Committee’s more recent request to similarly expand the VHMC presence on the website as detailed in its written request. Cost also estimated at £100. This can be approved by the Clerk and Chair under the Financial Regulations to allow the VHMC’s preferred deadline to be met. DPC will pay half the cost up to £50.
147/21 Vegetation on Roads in the Village
Cllr Tucker explained that Devon County Council is responsible for green vegetation on the roads and South Hams District Council for dead vegetation. DPC does not have a responsibility. However, as a topic of interest to parishioners, it was agreed to form a Task and Finish Group of Cllrs Neale, Bond and Anderson to assess the issue, consider options for management, and consider a public consultation. The Group will commence in September to report to the October meeting.
148/21 Parish Council Policy on Use of Herbicides or Pesticides
DPC will look further into the proposal to adopt a policy of no use of herbicides or pesticides unless it’s in response to an exceptional circumstance like a dangerous invasive species: which would be the same approach as that taken by DCC. The Clerk will look into a previous resolution on this matter. Herbicides or pesticides will not be used in the interim.
149/21 Proposal to form a Climate & Environment Working Group
Cllr Nightingale will suggest a remit to the next meeting.
150/21 Process to fill the Vacancy for a Parish Councillor
It was agreed to advertise in September, closing date 24 September, and interview in the last week in September.
151/21 Financial Matters
151/21.1 Financial Report & Bank Reconciliation
The Report, which showed a total balance of £65,017.18, unearmarked reserves of £12,246.19, and reconciled, was approved.
151/21.2 Payments Due
The following payments were approved:
- Metric, Software, £477.60
- SWW, Pontoon Tap, 19/3-7/6, £39.29
- Dart Forrest Trees, Survey, £540.00
- SHDC, £491.22, part of maintenance contract in arrears. It was agreed that the invoice would be paid once the item description on the invoice has been corrected.
151/21.3 Approval of Clerk Expenses Reimbursement Claim CE40
The claim of £123.78 was approved.
151/21.4 Invoice for work on document review and disposal
Deferred.
151/21.5 Bank Mandate
It was resolved to update the NatWest mandate, removing Cllr Faulkner and adding Cllr Anderson.
152/21 Parish Online
DPC approved a trial of a subscription to the service. There will be no cost to DPC as it is included in the new insurance policy.
153/21 Correspondence
- South Devon Rural Housing Association Management of a gulley which drains from The Level
Noted. No payment will be offered to SDRHA by DPC.
- Closure of public footpath 16 at Dittisham Pier – communication with DCC and residents
- Village Hall Management Committee Annual General Meeting 14 July at 6.00 p.m.
- Broadband Booster Scheme, Connecting Devon and Somerset, Businesses and households with poor indoor mobile £800 voucher for mobile signal booster from a registered scheme supplier.
- Citizens Advice South Hams, 28/6/21, Ways to Contact
- Devon Communities Together, Updating your Community Emergency Plan, Virtual Devon Community Resilience Forum event, 9/7/21
154/21 Next Meeting
It was confirmed that the of Dittisham Parish Council will be held on 1 September 2021 at 7:00 pm.
155/21 Closure of the Meeting
It was resolved to close the meeting because of the commercial-in-confidence nature of the business.
156/21 Quotes
156/21.1 Playground Signs & Ambulance Sign for Manor Street Turning Bay
The least expensive quote was selected as the first choice, £422.84, and the middle price will be used if copyright is an issue.
156/21.2 Grass protection mesh & railings near Binham Cottage, new segment of railing on path to DSC
It was resolved to purchase materials as per specifications at a cost of £155. It was resolved to approve labour costs up to £200. No contractors with availability have been located to date.
156/21.3 Old Chapel Burial Ground wall and railings.
Enquiries are being pursued. DPC will try to have quotes for the September meeting.
157/21 Performance Appraisal
Cllr Tucker said the appraisal document needs to be updated to provide a more meaningful appraisal.
The meeting closed at 20:59.