All Minutes are to be considered draft until approved at the next meeting. All meeting papers can be downloaded as PDF's from the links on the right of this page once available

Minutes of Halwill parish council's November meeting

Held on 16 November 2023 at 7.30pm In the Parish Hall

The meeting started at 7:30pm

Present:

Cllrs J Wilson (Chair), R Cristofoli (RC), J Lawlor (JL) R Livermore(RL) and B Mason-Walshaw (B M-W) and R Groocock(RG)

In Attendance:

Ward Councillors P Hackett (PH) and S Gibson (SG), 6 members of the public (MoP) and the clerk

2023/Nov/1 To receive apologies for absence

Apologies were received from County Councillor J Morrish

2023/Nov/2 Declarations of Interest

Councillor Livermore declared an interest in the planning application 1/1108/2023/OUT

2023/Nov/3 Clerk's and Councillors' announcements

Ward Councillors

Councillor Gibson introduced himself as it was his first time attending a meeting of Halwill Parish Council. He asked the group what they thought the District Council should be doing more of.

In response JL Said that there should be an integrated transport policy; the bus service runs once every 3 hours which is not ideal for the ongoing train to Exeter. There is a division of responsibilities between government, district, county and the private transport companies so there is no one in overall control.

Councillor Hackett said the bus issue has been raised at the Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC).

PH Reported that rural drink driving is an issue and there will be increased police enforcement in December.

County Councillor

Report from Councillor Morrish:

"Over the last 2 months I have had 144 emails and phone calls on Council issues from those who live and work in the Holsworthy rural ward,

12 of these have come from your parish on issues such as Speeding, Hunt meet in Holsworthy square and homeless people.

I was pleased to see that your football club had received a grant from my locality budget. I also have had a few talks regarding white lines outside the school and am pleased that the process is well underway and is on the agenda for the next HATOC meeting. So good news.

I hope all is well at Halwill and will do my level best to be with you in December but as always please do contact me if you need anything."

2023/Nov/4 To confirm minutes for the September 2023 Parish Council Meeting.

The minutes were signed as a correct record by Cllr J Wilson

2023/Nov/5 Finances

1 Bills for payment

It was resolved to pay the following bills

Table : Table of bills to pay and cheques to be raised at the November meeting

Current Account Total For month inc VAT: £976.00

Current Account Total for month ex VAT £976.00

VAT for month: £0.00

Clerks total: £412.00

2 Grant Applications

• Match funding for playing field maintenance projects - annual various

A representative from the football club was pleased to report that the football club had received grants from the Football Association for new grass maintenance equipment and a grant for pitch maintenance. However there is a 25% match funding requirement the football club hopes that this can be found from section 106 grant money but if it can't they request that the parish council underwrite the 25% shortfall. Carried over.

• Grant Request for Jubilee suit roof - £1,000

An investigation by a building surveyor has shown that the Jubilee Suit may not need to be re roofed but may just need passive ventilation fitting. A second opinion will be sought. Carried over pending more information.

• Holsworthy Community Transport (HCT)- £500 p/a

Councillor Lawlor declared an interest in this as he is a trustee of HCT. It was resolvedto award a grant of £150 for this year only the decision will be reviewed next November

Section 137 of the Local Government Act (1972) grants

• Royal British Legion (RBL) poppy appeal

It was resolved to award a grant of £50 to the RBL Poppy Appeal

• Torridge, North, Mid and West Devon Citizens Advice (TNMWDCA)

It was resolvedto award a grant of £50 to TNMWDCA

2023/Nov/6 Budget preparation

Future capital projects including defibrillators

2023/Nov/7 Action List / Matters arising for the Minutes

• Boundary fence behind the Old Garage

So far we have failed to get any contractors to quote for fencing behind the garage. Four contractors have been asked to quote so far. It may be that volunteers will be needed to put up a temporary fence.

• Boundary fence behind changing rooms/broken gate post

Carried over.

• Ash dieback

The Council has received additional quotes to remove the ash trees should it become necessary. The largest, multi trunk tree will cost between £1,500 and £2,500 to remove depending on the method used but it has so far shown no signs of disease. The 2 trees near the pedestrian gate to Somerslea need removing, the Clerk will arrange for this to be done.

• Policy documents

Carried over.

• Measures identified in the Hall disability audit:

◦ Contrasting paint for the edges of the steps to the playing field.

◦ Disabled parking signs need repainting

Road markings and step nosings are not expensive. The clerk will order.

• Gazebo

Weather and time permitting the football club will help.

2023/Nov/8 Planning/Consultations

Torridge District Council (TDC), the determining authority, has asked for comments on the following applications:

Reference 1/1036/2023/REM

Address Land Adjacent To Byways Halwill Devon

Proposal Reserved matters application for Access, Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale for 4no. dwellings pursuant to application 1/0551/2021/OUT

Halwill Parish Council has no comment on this matter

Reference 1/1108/2023/OUT

Address Land Off Station Road, Halwill, Devon,

Proposal Outline application with all matters reserved for 3no. Dwellings

Halwill Parish Council resolved to object to this application for the following reason:-

• The development is outside the development boundary.

The Council further agreed to ask PH to call-in the application to the plans committee of TDC

2023/Nov/8 Correspondence

Letter from Sir Geoffrey Cox Regarding the parish council's priorities for the levelling up partnership.

Sir Geoffrey Cox KC MP asked what the priorities should be regarding the use of the levelling up money allocated to the region.

2023/Nov/9 Matters to be raised for information only

none

2023/Nov/10 To confirm December 14th as the date of the next meeting

The next ordinary meeting will be on December 14th 2023 at 19:30 in the Parish Hall

The meeting ended at 21:00