January Newsletter 2024

Questions from the Public and Matters Arising from Previous Meetings

• We were asked to pursue the request made previously to Devon County Council to repaint the yellow zig-zag lines outside the school.
• Light on the Conduit: Discussion is still underway between SHDC planning dept. and the electrical company to agree the best method for undertaking this work without damaging the conduit.
• The blocked drain in Donkey Lane is still causing flooding and we will ask our Lengthsman to deal with this as soon as possible.
• Bus shelter at Wrangaton: we have still not received a reply regarding this matter and the clerk will continue to chase.

Report from County Councillor (Cllr Thomas had sent his apologies)

• Pot holes: In response to a complaint about the condition of the road at Bittaford he offers the following advice: The most effective way to report a pothole is on the DCC website: DCC Pothole Reporting Link. He requests that, if you are not satisfied with the speed at which DCC acts following your reporting of a pothole, please give him the relevant reference number to pursue. Where a road suffers from damage that requires more than just pothole refilling, send him photographs so that he can pursue.
• Devolution: Government has given the green light for Devon County Council and Torbay Council to proceed with plans for a devolution Deal. Devon and Torbay’s Deal would not change the councils’ established democratic structures, and responsibilities for the delivery of local services would remain unchanged. The Deal would see the creation of a Combined County Authority (CCA), a partnership with representation from all the main stakeholder groups who will take on the responsibilities of managing the additional funding from central Government to address local issues across Devon.

Report from South Hams District Councillor Alison Dewynter – the full report and links can be found on our website.

Summary:

• Spilled paint in Ugborough Square: Localities have visited the square and do not feel that the paint requires a team to clean it up.
• Council tax single person occupancy discount review.
• SHDC have 4 thermal cameras for hire.
• Free Skills Training for Residents.
• Police Commissioners Policing Priorities Survey.
• New Planning Software at the Council.
• Support available with Energy Bills.
• 20 minute YouTube Channel film about healthy relationship for parents and carers of teenagers.
• A Reminder about how to make enquiries regarding waste collections.

Planning

We looked at 2 applications made to Dartmoor National Park Planning Authority:

a) 0496/23 Prior Notification Demolition of 14 garages (Turners Park Group) Bittaford Wood Caravan Park, Bittaford, Ivybridge, PL21 0ET. We support this application but have made the comment that we would prefer for there to be at least 2 metres from boundary properties.

b) 0499/23 Cladding to upper walls of existing house Mr Matthew Westmoreland Burrington House, Wrangaton, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9HF. Unfortunately we could not comment on this application as there was insufficient information and so we hope to be provided with further information and to comment in the new year.

We had received the following decisions made by South Hams District Council and Dartmoor National Park

• a) 4254/20/FUL Springfield Filham South Dartmoor Community Energy Proposed development of a redundant commercial nursery to provide 33 new low carbon and energy efficient dwellings for affordable rent. DECISION: Conditional Approval.
• b) 3011/23/PAT National Grid Electricity Distribution Application for prior notification of proposed development for installation of replacement radio equipment housing, a new generator. Air-conditioning units & ancillary development DECISION: Prior Approval Required and Given, Rockdale, Bittaford PL21 0EA Erection of detached garage, Rockdale, Bittaford, Ivybridge, PL21 0EA DECISION: Conditional Approval.

Ugborough West (Cllr Wells had produced an update on Ugborough West issues and this can be seen on the website) – SUMMARY:

• Bus shelter junction of David’s Lane / Exeter Road.
• Parish Council drop-in clinic.
• Parking in and around the rugby club.
• Use of motor vehicles in pedestrian lane between David’s Lane and Godwell Lane.
• Right to further consultation to planning application 4254/20/FUL.

Finance

We discussed the first draft of the budget for 2024-2025 and agreed various recommendations and principals. We have still not received information regarding the tax base for Ugborough from SHDC and so we will agree the final budget and precept demand at the January meeting. We agreed to purchase a new .gov.uk website for UPC as we currently do not comply with domain registry regulations (annual cost £385 ex vat.) As this fee includes our current subscription for domain and email it is essentially only a £165 uplift per annum and we consider this was a best value option given the added advantage of a single body for any technical support we might require.

20mph Scheme

We have published on the website the results of the consultation recently undertaken together with some responses from Devon County Council. This will now progress to the next stage which is the formal consultation process undertaken by DCC. We have been asked to consider the scheme for Bittaford but the introduction of a restriction in Bittaford on a busy B road is a larger and more complicated project that is part of a bigger highways picture and not within our scope or responsibilities. We had also had a request to consider its implementation on Beacon View but cannot consider this as it is a private road.

Climate Emergency and Sustainable Ugborough Update

Just a reminder about the Sustainability Event on 23rd March and that there is a thermal imaging camera available for loan – contact Cllr Holway.

Bittaford Play Park

We considered three quotations for the removal of the shelter and agreed to award the work to MS Contracting. In the light of the frequent and on-going maintenance work needed to play area equipment we have also decided that, given the recommendations from 3 neighbouring parishes for similar work and a very competitive rate of pay, future larger maintenance tasks (and in particular in the Play Areas) would be assigned to MS contracting. In order to assess how to progress repair of the damage to the path we will ask our Lengthsman to remove the vegetation to give a clear view of exactly what path the existing drainage pipe is taking from the culvert to the river below. We will then pursue the issue with DCC. Pending approval from Dartmoor National Park Authority we will fit a self-closing hinge/lock to the gate.

School Field

Work is progressing to secure the S106 funding and we are still working towards a Easter Holiday installation date.

Meeting Dates for 2024

We will continue to hold our meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in 2024 apart from Wednesday 19th June and Wednesday 17th July. Please do come along if you would like to raise any issues with us.

Meetings Attended

Cllrs Fletcher and Hart had met with Cllr Abbott and a South Hams District Council Officer to discuss the future of the public toilets in Bittaford and Ugborough. SHDC wish to transfer responsibility for the toilets but with no funding to refurbish them or for the future running costs and with no provision of cleaning and maintenance staff we could buy into (the running costs alone is estimated to be at least 25% of the Council precept). We have agreed that we cannot take on these assets on these terms and will take this back to South Hams District Council.

Closing Remarks

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2024!