Minutes – April 11th 2023

LYDFORD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Council

Tuesday 11th April 2023 at 7:00pm

Present: Cllrs Grigg (Chair), Blackmore, Squires, Tainsh, MacIntyre, Cook, Skeaping. Cllr Southcott
(Borough Councillor) Paul Brookes. Elected Members K. Lenton, L. Lenton, Hulett.

1. Public Session (15 minutes)
   Nil
2. Apologies for absence
   Cllr Mott – Accepted
3. Declarations of Interest
   Nil
4. Urgent business, by permission of the Chair.
   Clerk advised the Council that discussions have been continuing between Dartmoor National Park
   and St Austell Brewery regarding operation of the car park and toilets opposite the Castle Inn.
   Further to those discussions, he and Cllr Skeaping are to meet with the manager of the Castle Inn
   on Friday 14th April.
5. Minutes of the meeting 14th March 2023
   It was resolved to accept the minutes as a full and accurate record.
   Proposed – Cllr Skeaping, seconded Cllr Blackmore. All in favour.
6. Matters arising from the meeting 14th March 2023
   Nil
7. Beating the Bounds 2023
   Organisers still await approval from Forestry England for walkers to cross their land as part of the
   route, all other approvals are in place. Documents supporting the walk, including certificates, have
   been produced. (AP1 – Clerk to arrange printing). All the walks have now been reconnoitered.
   Evacuation plans have been generated to allow injured or unwell participants to safely gain access
   to transport. Registrations have commenced. Meeting planned 18.4.23.
8. Finances
   The Clerk explained to Councillors the ongoing issue regarding uncertainty of demands for water
   apparently provided, inability to identify the water meter for checking, communications with WDBC
   and a lack of response.
   a. Councillors resolved to approve payments i – viii but declined to pay the invoices from WDBC
   (items ix and x)
   i. J. Bright £340.58 April salary
   ii. HMRC £80.60 PAYE April
   iii. DALC £102.45 Annual subscription
   iv. ROSPA £90.00 Annual inspection fee
   v. J Bright £99.60 Website fees
   vi. J Bright £40.00 Laptop repair
   vii. Nicholls Hall £90.00 Hall hire fees 2022-23
   viii. DM Payroll Services £120.00 Payroll administration 2023-24
   04/2023

• 4 –
  ix. WDBC £230.50 Recharge water & electricity 11/22 – 2/23**
  x. WDBC £760.03 Recharge water & electricity 8/22 – 11/22**
  ** Declined. (AP2 – Clerk to write to WDBC again proposing solution. Cllr Southcott to contact the
  appropriate offices in WDBC).
  Proposed – Cllr Blackmore, seconded Cllr Tainsh. All in favour.
  b. Councillors received the closing reconciliation for financial year 2022-23 and summary of
  income and expenditure, noting the current reduction in reserves of £1476, with a further
  potential reduction of almost £1,000 for invoices from WDBC (above).
  c. Councillors approved the opening of an instant access savings account with Unity Trust Bank.
  The two currently authorised signatories duly signed the application.
  Proposed – Cllr MacIntyre, seconded Cllr Squires. All in favour.

1. Playground (standing item

• Follow up on ROSPA report received. Cllr MacIntyre has received a quote from Jamie who
  installed the original equipment, of £125 plus materials to carry out repairs to the tunnel. The
  stepping stones will be removed rather than replaced as they appear to be of little use. All other
  defects identified in the ROSPA report have been rectified. It was agreed that Cllr MacIntyre
  would forward the estimate to the Clerk to arrange for the tunnel to be repaired. (AP3)

1. Planning
   To respond to applications –

• 0124/23 Bella Mead, Silver Street Two storey replacement dwelling
  Councillors felt that despite a few minor alterations, the present application was in material
  terms exactly the same as the previous application 0392/22. Councillors had received a
  number of representations from parishioners impacted and saw no reason to change their
  opinions with the new application. Councillors voted by a majority to object to the application
  on the grounds that –
  1) The proposed building would overlook and be overbearing to existing neighbouring
  properties.
  2) The proposed removal of a comparatively cheaper two bedroom property to be replaced
  by a larger, more expensive property would reduce the variety of housing stock available
  within the village.
  Support – 1, against – 5, neutral – 1

1. Transition between outgoing and ingoing Councils following election 4.5.23 –
   a. Councillors agreed that the following meetings should be held on May 16th.
   • Parish Council meeting
   • Annual Parish Meeting
   • Annual Council Meeting
     It was suggested that the Annual Parish meeting be roundly advertised and that hot
     drinks and a cold buffet be provided in an attempt to encourage attendance. (AP4 –
     Clerk to arrange)
2. Bank signatories
   Cllrs Grigg and Skeaping to become signatories for the incoming council (form duly signed
   by current authorized signatories).
3. . Induction for new Councillors – Clerk has sent an induction pack to all incoming elected members. An induction meeting to be arranged at the Castle Inn one morning this month. (AP5 – Clerk to arrange meeting).
4. Councillors departing – Cllrs Blackmore, Cook, MacIntyre, Squires, Tainsh
   Cllr Grigg expressed his sadness at the loss of so many experienced Councillors and thanked them all for their efforts on behalf of the village over the previous years. Cllrs – CB, SS, RT, AM, BC and thanked them for their efforts.

Cllr Squires reported that he has a lot of public highways equipment in his garage. Because he is stepping down from the council, he will also be stepping down from the hall committee and will need replacing. (AP6 – Cllr Grigg to take the place of Cllr Squires). Cllr Cook reported that someone will need to take over the running of the Lydford Speedwatch group. Cllr Cook has the names and contact details of the volunteers ready for whoever takes over. Cllr Blackmore stated that he will happily look after the defibrillator even though he’s leaving the council. (AP7 – Clerk to try and find some storage within the village.)

Actions taken under delegated authority.
Councillors noted the following actions taken by the Clerk under the Scheme of Delegation

Payments to Lydford Coronation Celebrations (£350 approved 14.2.23) and Beating the Bounds
Lydford (£150 approved 10.1.23)
Meeting concluded 19.40.

Signed Date

Action points