MINUTES OF A MEETING OF NORTH BOVEY PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 17TH OCTOBER 2023

1.1   The Chairman welcomed Councillors to the meeting.

2.1 D C Farrand-Rogers

3.1 None.

4.1 A report from DC Farrand-Rogers: Two major stories from me. One is that the Council is replacing its waste collection vehicles.  We were advised to go for diesel powered ones.  There was a move to go for EV ones, but apparently the technology is not quite there yet, and the new vehicles do need to come into service in the spring.  So we cannot wait until the manufacturers have got their act together.

The waste collection service is a bit erratic at present – all the usual reasons of course – and I have tabled a question about this for this morning’s Council meeting.   They say that our area is not being discriminated against with delays and cancellations, but I am not entirely convinced. The other big issue is the state of the Council’s finances. As you know, our income comes from Council Tax, central government grants and charges for services. As you also know, central government is holding down Council Tax rises …   And they are also severely restricting the grants they make to local government. That leaves local charges as the only flexible part of the budget.   So it is in this area that some charges are having to go up. Not what any of us want to see, of course, but the alternative is insolvency and the administration being taken over by faceless central government accountants.   Like Thurrock, Slough, Woking and several others – and most recently Birmingham. 

Parking charges are the obvious target, of course.  But we have managed to build in some protection for Sunday parking and for blue badge holders.

The sign outside the Co-op in Moreton has been replaced, and is smaller.  It no longer points towards Exeter for those wanting to go to North Bovey. It now points down Pound Street. Good so far, but the Highways Dept have changed the wording. It now says Lustleigh and Bovey, and not North Bovey at all.  I hope you are not experiencing too many misguided tourists.

Please do let me know if there are any issues that you would like me to take up with the District Council.

5.1 The minutes of the meeting on Tuesday 17^th October 2023 were approved and signed.

6.1 None.

7.1 The Clerk presented the payments due being the Clerk’s salary, J Bush, North Bovey Parish Hall fund and British Legion, approved.

7.2 The Clerk presented the accounts to the end of September 2023 and also the budget turnout to date, both were approved by the council. It was suggested that some of the account balance, possibly £10K should be moved to an account to receive interest. The Clerk to ask the bank for details.

8.1 Lettaford emergency services antenna to raise to 15.4 metres. Plus 3 new antennae, a masthead application.

8.2 Moorland View, granted.

8.3 Youlden Farm refused. A reason is needed.

8.4 Greenawell Farm granted

9.1 Now to be agreed later in the week. A photo on site would be good, this could be put in the Moorlander. The site will be live on Friday 20^th October. Thanks to Cllr Sally Button for all her work to achieve this.  

10.1 There are still issues regarding the sewage outlets.

SWW gave a report. Storm overflows, if used, puts raw sewage into the river. The WI is taking this further. The monitoring station did not record any storm overflows. With the high demand from houses this has not been upgraded to take this into account. It is unlikely that the stepping stone site will be suitable for swimming. Overflows going into a meadow, a grid reference. A meeting with the EA was needed to sort this out. The conservation group is also monitoring the situation.

11. Tuesday 12^th December 2023 at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall

12.1 A letter had been received from the Master of the South Devon Hunt to request having a meet on the Green. This was discussed and agreed however the hunt will be asked that horses do not go on the grass.

12.2 Concern was raised regarding dog fouling on the Green.  Signs to be placed around the green to discourage dog fouling.

These minutes remain in draft form until they are approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman below.

Approved by North Bovey Parish Council and signed by the

Chairman …………………………………………………………..