Held in Gittisham Parish Room
Present:
Village ward: Cllr C Hall (Chair), Cllr D Valentine, Cllr M Walker, Cllr A Rowe
Vale ward: Cllr Adam Powell, Cllr P Orchard
In attendance: Cllr Alasdair Bruce (EDDC), Cllr Phil Twiss (DCC), one member of the public, Fiona Clampin (clerk)
Apologies for absence: Cllr J Twist, PCSO Darren England
1/24 To elect a Chair
Cllr Orchard nominated Cllr Hall for election as Chair for 2024/25. This nomination was seconded by Cllr Walker. A roll call of members present at the meeting was then taken. It was then resolved by a unanimous decision that Cllr Hall be elected Chair for 2024/25 of Gittisham Parish Council.
2/24 To elect a Vice Chair
Cllr Hall nominated Cllr Rowe for election as Vice Chair for 2024/25, Cllr Twist having stood down. This nomination was seconded by Cllr Orchard. A roll call of members present at the meeting was then taken. It was then resolved by a unanimous decision that Cllr Rowe be elected Vice Chair for 2024/25 of Gittisham Parish Council. Members thanked Cllr Twist for her work in the role previously.
3/24 To receive the Chair’s & Vice Chair’s declaration of Acceptance of Office
In accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972, Cllrs Hall & Rowe made a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
4/24 To accept and approve apologies
Apologies were received and accepted.
5/24 To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4th April 2024
The minutes of the meeting held on 4th April 2024 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.
6/24 To receive the Beat Manager’s Report
March 2024: 0 crimes reported. The clerk said the online crime map appeared to be working again.
7/24 To receive declarations of interest
None.
8/24 To consider actions from the last meeting not otherwise on the agenda
Cllr Orchard said he had placed a clipboard inside the village bus shelter to allow passengers to report late-running buses or no-shows. Cllr Rowe reported concern over grass verges towards Gittisham Farm that had been damaged. This was due to Devon Highways digging the hedge to fill in concrete below.
9/24 To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives
Cllr Twiss expressed his pleasure that thanks to hard work and reorganisation at DCC, the council will present a balanced outturn. He reported having found some additional funding which will go towards repair of the highways network, which has taken a battering with the wet weather.
DCC to receive additional funds to support households struggling with higher energy and food costs
Citizens Advice is reporting that average energy costs are as high as last winter for many households, and that despite energy prices falling this month, around 5.3 million people are currently living in households in debt to their energy supplier. So, it’s welcome news that we are able to confirm that Devon County Council have been allocated a little over £5 million from the government to help households struggling to pay higher bills for energy, food, water, and other essential items.
This will be the fifth round of Household Support Funding received from the Department for Work and Pensions, to run between April and September 2024. It will take Devon’s total level of Household Support Funding received so far to just over £30 million. The funding is to support households in most need, but specifically those that may not be eligible for other support that is already available from the government.
Plans must be submitted by mid-May to the Department of Work and Pensions, setting out how DCC, with Devon’s district, city and borough councils and other voluntary and community partners, will make the latest funding available.
Plans are likely to include:
A specific funding allocation to support families in receipt of Free School Meals, to provide food vouchers that can be exchanged at supermarkets to buy food during school holidays. 21,700 children in Devon were eligible for free school meal vouchers during the last holidays
Some funding will also go to provide financial support for food, energy and other essentials to eligible low income households with children and young people, through the County Council’s Early Help service.
Team Devon’s district/city/borough councils will plan to continue helping households that are in greatest financial need and struggling to pay for food, energy and other related essentials. They will publicise further details soon, once plans have been finalised
Citizens Advice Devon will continue to receive funding to support households that are using pre-payment and credit meters, to help with energy costs
Devon Community Foundation will deploy funds to voluntary and community organisations that support specific groups who may struggle to access the help and support they need.
Devon and Torbay Devolution Deal – Combined County Authority
The proposed deal will transfer significant decision-making powers and funding from Whitehall to Devon and Torbay, so that important decisions on local priorities, such as jobs and skills, housing, and the environment, can be made locally. Following a wide ranging consultation, the proposal itself was met with a wide range of views both for and against, although unanimous support is not a prerequisite to moving forward.
One thing is clear; The ‘deal’ may have Devon County and Torbay Councils’ signatures on the paperwork, but for devolution to work well for the one million or so residents across Devon and Torbay, the task in hand will require all levels of local government across the two areas – County and Unitary, city, district and borough, and town and parish councils – to work much more closely together. It will also need the strong influence of advisory groups comprising experts in local industry and the voluntary sector, and geographically representing all parts of Devon and Torbay, working with the Devon and Torbay CCA.
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act as passed by Parliament makes county and unitary councils responsible for leading Combined County Authorities. The responsibility for leading this CCA therefore falls to democratically-led representatives from Devon County Council and Torbay Council. However, it is critically important that Devon’s district councils have a voice in the Devon and Torbay CCA, and the ability to influence its work.
It is proposed that Devon’s city, district and borough councils, the Devon Association of Local Councils representing Devon’s town and parish councils, the County Council and the two National Park Authorities, will all sit as part of a formal ‘Team Devon’ Joint Committee to offer its collective voice in the CCA. District councils and housing associations will also work with Torbay Council’s housing function and the CCA to accelerate delivery of more housing across Devon and Torbay. District councils will also be involved in the formation of a joint strategic transport plan for Devon and Torbay so that land-use and housing plan areas align to transport plans and sustainable transport options.
In addition, advisory groups comprising representatives with experience and expertise in given fields, e.g. health, housing or climate change, will have a role in providing formal advice to the CCA. As will voluntary sector and social enterprise organisations, that will need to work closely with the CCA, making sure that decision-makers are responding to local interests and addressing local priorities.
Through Local Skills Improvement Plans, the proposed CCA will work with business and education leaders to create a stronger, joined-up relationship between employers and schools, colleges and universities to provide the skilled workforce the local economy needs for the future.
Do you have a scheme to benefit the community? Grants are available
If your community group has a project that could improve people’s well-being, reduce hardship, provide a warm safe space to work, learn, or socialise within you area, you can apply for a grant. This is the third year DCC have made funding available to support local schemes through the Growing Communities Fund. Since July 2022, funding has been awarded to hundreds of local projects to help them respond to a specific local need.
This year’s funding allocation will mean that since the fund was launched, DCC has made more than £1.1m available to help communities build self-reliance and resilience.
Groups with schemes that bring communities together, alleviate food poverty or tackle loneliness, isolation and build self-esteem, for example, are invited to apply. This could include offering advice, peer support or guidance on budgeting, cooking low-cost nutritional meals or supporting the recruitment, training and retention of volunteers. Organisers of projects that have a clear and direct community benefit, such as improving the environment, or that use innovation to improve efficiency or proposals that seek to expand the reach of an existing scheme are also encouraged to apply. For further information visit https://www.devon.gov.uk/communities/growing-communities-fund
Cllr Bruce said there was little that’s new on which to update the parish council. EDDC’s planning officers are working through new legislation to understand the detail. On a separate matter, the flood prevention scheme at Feniton has been delayed.
Cllr Twiss encouraged people to register their interest on the Airband website, which appeared to show some Gittisham village postcodes likely to be served by the rollout of superfast broadband at some point in the future. Cllr Powell queried this, as he had intelligence that suggested Airband is reassessing the contracts it has with Connecting Devon and Somerset (the rural broadband programme). The company has just appointed a new managing director. Cllr Twiss said he was waiting for a response from CDS.
Cllrs Bruce & Twiss left the meeting.
ACTION: Cllr Twiss to send the clerk details of how to apply to the Locality Budget and the Growing Communities Fund. Chair to complete and let Cllr Twiss know when done.
10/24 To consider the application for a proposed upgrade to the existing radio base station installation at CS_121551, SWEB Tower EX14 3TZ (NGR: E314620, N096545)
Councillors resolved to have no objection to this application.
11/24 To consider a response to Honiton Town Council’s request to identify projects for the 2nd tranche of S106 funds
ACTION: Chair to draft a reply with suggestion for public consultation on projects.
12/24 To receive reports from councillors on areas of responsibility and actions since the last meeting:
- To note the latest planning decision notices
- To receive an update on Highways
3–20 June 2024 road through Alfington is closed for gas works.
4–5 June 2024 Old A30 by Kings Arms farm, temporary traffic signals for Highways.
- To consider plans for expenditure in the parish under the Community Infrastructure Levy & S106
The clerk said she was awaiting a response from EDDC’s S106 officer as to whether a plaque referring to the district council’s support is necessary. She had not heard from Cllr Arnott regarding the invitation to attend the Father’s Day table tennis tournament in the village play area. Members agreed to take photographs at the event and publicise in the gazette and potentially the Midweek Herald afterwards.
ACTION: Clerk to invite Cllr Bruce to the Father’s Day tournament.
- To receive an update on public transport
Members heard the bus service had been unreliable in recent weeks, but appeared to be back on track. It was agreed to publicise the delays clipboard on the village WhatsApp and in the gazette.
- To consider climate change measures within the parish, including proposals for rewilding land in the parish
Cllr Rowe said EDDC had mown the section of land at Old Elm Road in preparation for laying the grass matting that will go underneath a footpath suitable for pushchairs in the rewilded area. Volunteers will be needed nearer the time, he said, to help lay down the 20m-length rolls of matting and hammer in the staples but it needs a spell of dry weather. Heavy duty grass seed will go on top. ACTION: Cllr Powell to drum up support at the Hayne Farm development.
- To consider limited residential development in the parish
There was no progress to report. Cllr Valentine provided a year overview to the Annual Parish Meeting.
- To consider the creation of a footpath linking Hayne Farm with Gittisham village
The clerk reported that representatives of Baker Estates would be attending the June parish council meeting to discuss the footpath, along with other matters.
ACTION: Clerk to invite Karissa Marker to the June meeting.
- To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area
Councillors agreed to attend to the items highlighted in the annual safety inspection report, and Cllr Walker said she would share the report with Len Abbott.
ACTION: Chair to ask residents near the village play area how use of the ping pong table is shaping up.
- To consider work to be carried out by the lengthsman to maintain ditches and drains in the parish
The Chair reported that Jack Bartlett (farmer) had identified a blocked culvert upstream of Catshayes. He has cleared the blockage and now the water is flowing as it should with far less travelling down the road.
13/24 To receive a report from the Chair
The Chair said some residents of Hayne Farm had drawn up a list of items they would like to see in the play area, with all agreeing it was important to stress that until the ownership of the land had been established on a more permanent footing (likely in two years’ time), the parish council was limited in what support it could provide. Suggestions were made such as a play area committee and a community garden at Hayne Farm.
ACTION: Cllr Powell to investigate whether any Hayne Farm residents would like to attend the June parish council meeting.
Cllr Rowe said he had drawn up a flyer for the Gittisham Fete, and suggested perhaps it could include on one side some information about the parish council.
14/24 To consider and adopt the parish council’s standing orders
Members resolved to adopt the parish council’s standing orders.
15/24 To review the parish council’s fixed asset register
Members noted the fixed asset register.
ACTION: Clerk to add ping pong table and goal posts.
16/24 To approve the May payments and to note the current bank balance
F Clampin £254.34 Clerk’s salary + £16.85 expenses (travel Ottery – Gittisham 7.5-mile round trip x 5 for agendas, minutes & police election notices in March & April @0.45p / mile)
Michael Poll £65 play area grass cutting (inv. ref. 10300)
Michael Poll £65 play area grass cutting (inv. ref. 10303)
Alvian Ltd £102 play area annual safety inspection (inv. 1068)
Community First Trading £420.44 annual insurance policy
DD NEST £26.78 Clerk’s pension
Members were informed that the current bank balance stands at £21,351.62 (which includes approximately £7,000 in the business reserve account). The clerk said the first half of the annual precept had been received, as well as two VAT rebates for 2020-21 and 2021-22 (£224.72 and £608.48). Members resolved to request Bluechip Payroll’s services for the annual internal audit.
17/24 Clerk’s report
There was nothing to report.
18/24 For information only; items for the forward agenda
Hayne Farm update; annual accountability & governance; broadband
19/24 To consider any late entry correspondence
As the Annual Parish Meeting had taken place earlier that day, members discussed Cllr Powell’s suggestion that other meetings focusing on single issues such as climate change could be held in a larger space. Cllr Valentine suggested some meetings could be held at a location on the Hayne Farm development or in Gittisham Vale.
Cllr Valentine said the temporary barriers at Riverside had been there for more than one year.
ACTION: Clerk to ask EDDC when the bridge railings will be repaired.
20/24 Date of next two meetings
Thursday 6th June and Thursday 4th July 2024 at 7.30pm.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2115 hrs.
Chair…………………………………….
6th June 2024
