Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chairman for the municipal year 2022/23.

The Chairman of the Council invited nominations for the election of a Chairman for the municipal year 2022/23.

Cllr S J Clist MOVED, seconded by Cllr D R Coren that Cllr L D Taylor be elected Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year 2022/23.

It was therefore:

RESOLVED that Cllr L D Taylor be elected Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year 2022/23.

To elect a Vice Chairman for the municipal year 2022/23.

Cllr D R Coren MOVED, seconded by Cllr B G J Warren that Cllr J Wright be elected Vice Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year 2022/23.

It was therefore:

RESOLVED that Cllr J Wright be elected Vice Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year 2022/23.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs R M Deed and Mrs F J Colthorpe (who was substituted by Cllr Mrs M E Squires).

To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Cllr Batchelor (Halberton Parish Council) referring to Item 7 on the agenda emphasised the fact that the Parish Council served the residents of the parish no matter where the boundaries lay, Halberton was not just about the village but about the whole of the parish.  It was agreed that Lucombe Park should move into the parish of Uffculme as had been agreed with Culm Valley Way as that area was very close to the village of Uffculme.  There was a need to work together and that land grabbing should not take place.

Mr Hugill (representing Halberton Parish Council) stated that it made perfect sense for the new Lucombe Park to move to the parish of Uffculme and that this was the only property change that met the tests and objectives of the boundary review.  Issues raised with regard to polling stations could be overcome with the provision of an additional polling station, this may not be within the scope of the committee but it could be requested.  He referred to the village of Halberton and the surrounding area and that residents relied on services provided from neighbouring communities but there was no need for land grabbing.  The M5 was not the natural boundary, Halberton Parish Council had not forgotten residents to the east of the M5, it communicated with everyone.  He spoke of communication with regard to planning, highways and other matters and about the parish precept and the inclusion of business parks.

He then asked the following question, please can the District Council set up the level of guidance and leadership which they give to parishes to provide a better working relationship between parishes in Mid Devon and persuade some of them not to have such insular attitudes and make them aware that they have a duty to host services for the use by the wider community beyond their own parish boundary.  He added that apart from the exception of Lucombe Park, Halberton Parish boundary should not change.

The Chairman indicated that consideration would be given to the views expressed during discussions on that item.

To record any interest on agenda matters.

Cllr B G J Warren declared a personal interest as the Chairman of Willand Parish Council and also that he had been instrumental in the preparation of submission 23.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report enabling Members to reach a decision in respect of any recommended proposals for consideration for the 2^nd Consultation Stage. 

The Committee had before it a *report of the Returning Officer/Director of Business Improvement and Operations requesting members to reach a decision in respect of any recommended proposals for consideration for the second stage consultation.

The Consultant outlined the contents of the report stating that notification of the first consultation had been widespread and that all parishes and local residents had been invited to submit representations.  The Committee had considered all of the representations informally and the outcome of those meetings was presented in appendices 1a and 1b of the report.  He also intended to address the number of Councillors for each parish council at this meeting.

Members then walked through the appendices and agreed formally their initial considerations with further discussion taking place on the following:

·         Submission 33 -  Hittisleigh/Cheriton Bishop, the movement of some properties to Hittisleigh

·         Halberton/Willand and Uffculme – the issues surrounding land east of the M5 and its association with Uffculme and Willand rather than Halberton; whether Lucombe Park had a closer association with Uffculme and that Halberton Parish were in agreement that this parcel of land should move to Uffculme parish.  Whether the Mid Devon Business Park should be placed within Willand parish, where Bidwell Avenue should sit as well as Hitchcocks and Langlands Business Parks.  It was felt that the views of the residents should be considered as they had been with all the other submissions.  It was agreed that several options were available and that those options should form part of the second consultation process.

(Proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Cllr S J Clist)

Note: Cllrs R F Radford and B G J Warren requested that their vote against (b) be recorded