FOUR members of the public attended Newton St Cyres Parish Council's June meeting and the Council was asked about the availability of allotments? The enquirer was told that he should contact the clerk as there was a vacant allotment at the moment.

Mr Keith Garside and Mr Simon Thornley (Mid Devon District Council Planning Department) attended the first part of the meeting to answer councillors' queries about the process in relation to planning applications.

The council agreed to ensure that they were represented on the Planning Training Day scheduled for September.

The new clerk, Debbie Van Koutrik was introduced to the council and welcomed to the post and a bouquet of flowers and a card was presented to the retiring clerk Juliette Thompson.

Cllr Jill Baker agreed to put together a format for a proposed councillors' reference pack and bring it to the July meeting. The council agreed to place a litter bin the village car park and thanked the village hall committee for their offer to keep it emptied.

The clothes recycling bin had been removed from the car park leaving just the one in the Crown and Sceptre car park.

A new notice board is to be purchased and councillors will make a decision on whether this should be sited on the village green alongside the bus shelter or by the entrance to Court Orchard. The other notice boards in the village are to be tidied up and replaced where necessary.

The council also agreed a price for pruning the trees on the village green and are in ongoing discussions with Devon County Council over the ownership of the Green.

A roster was drawn up of councillors to staff the council's surgery to be held at the Mini Market each month and on June 27 Cllrs James Walters and Chris Southcott will be there to talk to anyone with queries or questions for the council. Cllr Andy Harris will be in attendance on Saturday, July 25.

The annual report and directory is almost complete.

The next parish council meeting will be held in the Clubroom of the Village Hall on Monday, July 6 at 7.30pm. Councillors look forward to seeing as many parishioners as possible.