Council Meeting – 13th June 2022

Mrs A Weekes (Chair), Mr M Bendle, Mr J Blackmore, Mr R Brown, Mr R Drew (Vice Chair), Mr J Kidner, Mrs D Evans (Parish Clerk), District Councillor S Clist and a member of the public.

Apologies Mr N King

None declared.

PROPOSAL:  The council minutes of the meetings of 11^th April & 9^th May are approved.

PROPOSED:  Mr Brown

SECONDED:  Mrs Weekes

DECISION: passed (all in favour)

Nothing to report.

Nothing to report.

The following application was considered:-

6.1       22/00987/LBC.  Listed Building Consent for refurbishment of the existing dwelling, including

conversion of attached barn, and provision of extensions and bat roost within the adjacent barn (amendments to works approved under 21/00592/LBC).  Troakes Farm, Clayhidon

PROPOSAL:  The pc is content with the application.

PROPOSED:   Mr Blackmore

SECONDED:   Mr Drew

DECISION: passed (all in favour)

Prior approval not required noted for:-

6.2       22/00757/PNAG.  Prior notification for the erection of an agricultural building.  Keitch Harbour, Clayhidon.

7.1  Income and expenditure

FINANCE

EXPENDITURE

BANK RECONCILIATION

PROPOSAL:  The expenditure is agreed and the above cheques/payments are paid/agreed.

PROPOSED:   Mr Bendle

SECONDED:   Mr Brown

DECISION: passed (all in favour)

8.1    Online Banking – The clerk to apply to Unity Trust Bank for online banking.  All councillors will have online access to view and authorise payments. The clerk will have access to view and set up payments.

PROPOSAL:  The pc applies to Unity Trust Bank for online banking.

PROPOSED:   Mr Brown

SECONDED:   Mrs Weekes

DECISION: passed (all in favour)

County Councillor Radford send the following report:-

The Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) was announced at the 2020 Spending Review to support communities in order to regenerate town centres, enable investment in cultural facilities or upgrade local transport infrastructure. The LUF will focus on capital investment in local infrastructure thereby building on and consolidating prior funding programmes

There are other criteria, but it works out that each District Council and the County Council can submit one bid as long as it is supported/prioritised by the MP. Where the MPs are supporting District Council bids we have been working closely with the Districts to help them develop their proposals, where there are transport related elements. The County Council can only bid for one transport scheme. Members of Parliament are allowed to back one bid that they see as a priority.

Mid Devon District Council have secured £10 million in funding from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), but it is insufficient taking into account the high cost of land acquisition, mitigation work related to relocation of sports facilities, pedestrian/cycle facilities and construction costs. Whilst the District has been successful in its bid for HIF funding, it may not be recognised under the LUF as local match. DCC are therefore contributing match funding to support this scheme

Annual CPI inflation rose from 7.0% in March to 9.0% in April (the highest for 40 years) compared to just 1.5% back in April 2021. Year-on-year electricity prices are up 54%; gas prices up 96%; heating oil prices up 114%; petrol & diesel prices up 31%; clothing & footwear prices up 8%; and food prices up 7%. The Bank of England currently expects inflation to peak close to 10% in Q4 of 2022. Real household disposable incomes are forecast on average to fall by 3.3% in 2022, the most for 60 years. The squeeze on incomes is likely to be felt most by low-income households dependent solely on benefits or state pensions; rural households with higher transport and heating oil costs; single parent families with 3 or more children; and those households with poor energy efficiency or higher essential energy use. Drops in discretionary spending by households are expected as a result, which will impact some businesses, with Asda already reporting customer spending down by 9.2% in May 2022.

District Councillor Clist reported:-

As part of its decarbonisation drive, the MDDC has secured additional funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of its Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix.  The scheme aims to put the public sector at the forefront of decarbonising buildings in the UK.  The initial funding was used to replace the lighting at the Council’s three leisure centres with modern, energy efficient LED lighting.  Now this additional money will be used to transfer power sources at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, Crediton and Exe Valley Leisure in Tiverton, away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Air source and ground source heating pump technologies will be used as well as the installation of new LED lighting for the outdoor all-weather pitches, and additional solar panels.

Councillor Clist confirmed he is a member of MDDC planning committee, Homes PDG, chair of scrutiny, LibDem rep for peer review and parish boundary review.  He is substitute member for Environment, Economy and Audit committee.

The clerk was asked to report to Highways that the crossroads sign on the top road is obscured by trees.

Mr Drew was asked to liaise with Mr Houghton with regards to strimming beyond the telegraph pole at the junction on the top road.

Councillors discussed a recent email from a parishioner with regard to strimming in the parish.  It was agreed that the pc is happy with its approach.  Clerk will obtain information from Highways on what scheme might be available with regard to DIY potholes.

Clerk

RD

Clerk

DCC is liaising directly with a landowner with regard to signage and a raised boardwalk on one of the footpaths in the parish.

Mr Bendle thanked everyone who helped to organise the events for the jubilee weekend.  They were all well attended.  All invoices to be sent to the clerk who will arrange reimbursement.  Thank you letters to be sent to Mark Broadbent, Chris Upton and Pam Reynolds.

Clerk

The next meeting will be at Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, on Thursday 14 July from 7-9pm.  The evening is free but please book a ticket

The AGM will be held in September.

Clayhidon Charity – nothing to report.

Mary Parsons Gift – the field is for sale via on-line auction.

John Griss Charity – nothing to report.

See 11 above.

The chairman asked if councillors wanted council meetings to start slightly later, at 8pm.  Councillors agreed to keep the start time at 7.30pm.

19.1    Mr Bendle congratulated Mrs Weekes on being elected as chairman of the parish council.  It is believed that she is the first woman to hold the position in the parish council.

19.2    Mr Bendle asked if the pc was content for him to continue to coordinate the cutting of the grass/hay at Garlands Bower field.  The pc confirmed it was happy with this arrangement.

19.3    Mr Brown enquired whether there was a maintenance agreement for Hidon Woods.  Mr Drew suggested there was a plan in place.  Clerk will investigate and report back.

MB

Clerk

Planning meeting (if required) Monday 11^th July or full council meeting Monday 8^th August at 7.30pm Parish Hall.