ALL nine Newton St Cyres Parish Councillors were joined by Cllr Peter Hare-Scott (Mid Devon District Council) for the December meeting. Fifteen members of the public also filled the Clubroom and eight members stayed until the end of the meeting. Cllr Margaret Squires (Devon County Council) sent her apologies.

Simon Trafford, MDDC Planning Officer, attended to answer queries about planning issues and to clarify planning criteria. This input proved to be helpful to the council in its decision making regarding current planning applications.

Planning: The proposed extension etc. at No 3 Meadowlands was discussed and recommended for refusal by the Parish Council with conditions attached which related to flooding problems, suggested use of materials for cladding, proximity to neighbouring property etc.

Grass cutting in 2018. Four quotes had been received to cut the grass areas in the parish and the council agreed to take up the lowest tender.

Budget. The budget for 2018/19 was discussed and the accounts were found to be in a healthy state. It was agreed that the Parish precept should remain unchanged for next year and any slight increase in the Council Tax would be due to the reduction in grant from MDDC.

Councillors responsibilities. The councillor overseeing the allotments and the litter pickers confirmed he would be holding meetings in the New Year to discuss these aspects and the way forward. A concern over the positioning of the bus shelter outside the Post Office had been raised at a Parish Surgery and it was agreed to check whether this could be turned round in order that people waiting for the bus could see it approaching down the hill. Cllr Jim Enright agreed to look after the Surgery table at the January coffee morning and Cllr Graeme Barnell will be at the coffee morning in February.

Churchyard. The chairman had met with representatives from the Church and arrangements had been put in-hand for the new churchyard to come into being once the old churchyard is full.

Crown and Sceptre. The council had received a notice from MDDC about activating the moratorium for the Community Asset on the Crown and Sceptre. Cllr Barnell had put together a paper on a possible way forward if the need arose and it was agreed to develop these ideas as a possible back-up if a potential buyer did not materialise. The council agreed not to activate its moratorium.

Highways Matters. It was reported that overgrown hedges could be logged on the Devon County Council website in the same manner as potholes and the report of the overgrown hedges in Langford Road had been logged in this way. The website reported that there was no problem with these particular hedges. A parishioner had reported problems with parking outside the Beer Engine and it was agreed to ask Cllr Margaret Squires to add this area to the list for possible yellow lines. The sign had gone up in Half Moon bus lay-by stating that no parking was allowed in the bus lay-by.

The council asked Cllr Margaret Squires to report back on any parking tickets issued. Clarification is to be sought from DCC on the responsibility for keeping verges, ditches and banks clear and cut and where the landowners’ responsibilities lay.

The council agreed to invite Meg Booth, DCC Head of Highways, to the next meeting in February to discuss the crossing in the village for the children attending the new school. The council also agreed to check whether DCC Highways would be prepared to put up a warning sign on the road from the Church to the A377 about the busy junction ahead.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Clubroom of the Parish Hall on Thursday, February 1, starting at 7pm. Everyone is very welcome to attend with any questions or issues they wish to raise.

The next Parish Surgeries will be held on Saturday, January 6 (with the Church Coffee Morning) and Saturday, February 3 (with the Arboretum Coffee Morning) both starting at 10.30am. Come and meet your Councillors with your queries.

Cllr Jill Baker

Press Officer