EIGHT councillors attended the May meeting of Newton St Cyres Parish Council and they were joined by Cllr Peter Hare-Scott (Mid Devon District Council) and Cllr Margaret Squires (Devon County Council), plus 12 members of the public.

This meeting started at 7pm with the Annual Parish Meeting (APM) when the Chairman, David Baker, welcomed everyone and gave a verbal report on the past year.

The full report will be in the Annual Report and Directory which will be delivered to all parishioners at the end of May/beginning of June.

The parish council meeting commenced with the public session when a parishioner thanked the council for calling the meeting to discuss the Half Moon lay-by parking and the possibility of a footpath from the lay-by to the bus stop.

Progress on the Boniface Cycle Trail was offered in response to a question and it was reported that plans are going well with regard to landowners consents and the future planning application. It is planned to develop the Trail in three stages, from Crediton to Smallbrook, from Smallbrook to Langford Road and finally from Cowley to Exeter.

The Annual General Meeting of the council followed the APM and elections and responsibilities for councillors were agreed.

Cllr David Baker retired as chairman of the council after nine years in the role and Cllr Jim Enright was elected as chairman.

Cllr Graeme Barnell was elected as vice-chairman for the coming year. The list of councillors’ responsibilities was updated and all the councillors accepted roles and tasks to fulfill for the coming year.

Planning. The application by Hanlons Brewery for additional restaurant/bar area, amended entrance, outdoor dining area and 11 holiday lodges was discussed and the council agreed to recommend the application with the condition that provision was made for a footpath from the Half Moon lay-by to the bus stop as a safety consideration.

No comment was made for the application to erect an artist’s studio at Ash View Cottage.

Permission had been granted for the following applications: Alterations/extensions to Southay; Closing of drive through to Plot 22 at East of Station Road; Retention of four static caravans for staff living accommodation at Langford Nursing Home; Variation of conditions to allow the demolition of the existing house etc at Woodley Farm.

Review of Standing Orders etc. The council reviewed the list of policies etc. and the chairman agreed to check through them all in more detail and it was agreed to change our insurers. The Friends of the Arboretum are to be informed that they could apply to the Parish Council for a grant to pay for the insurance of their new mower.

New School. It was noted that the councillors had been officially invited to attend the opening of the new school. Progress was reported on the provision of a new footpath from the new school to the river bridge.

Reports from councillors on areas of responsibility. Cllr Graeme Barnell reported he is actively recruiting volunteer litter pickers and will call a meeting of the volunteers shortly. Cllr Adam Reeves reported that the school crossing patrol would move down into the village but discussions were still being held about moving the flashing lights into the village also. It was also noted that the SLOW sign on School Hill was now obscured by the excessive ivy growth on the telephone pole in front of it.

Council Elections. It was noted that elections for the Parish Council would be held in May 2019 and it was agreed to encourage more people to stand for election as there would be vacancies on the council. The council decided to hold a special event at a Parish Surgery in early 2019 to answer questions about the role of a local councillor etc.

General Matters. Cllr Graeme Barnell agreed to press on with raising the problems of more housing being built north of the village and the consequent extra traffic this will bring and will attend a meeting of Crediton Town Council in the first instance.

It was reported that some pothole repairs had taken place on School Hill but the road was scheduled for proper repair in the future. The problem of access by wheelchair users and pushchairs on the new footpath in Station Road was raised and it was agreed that a dropped kerb at the entrance to the new school was essential.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday, June 7 at 7.30pm in the Clubroom of the Parish Hall. Everyone is invited to attend to bring questions and queries. The next Parish Surgery will be held on Saturday, June 2 in the Parish Hall in conjunction with the coffee morning. Please come along and meet the councillor on duty with any queries you may have.

Cllr Jill Baker

Press Officer