Agenda and minutes

To receive, note and where requested, approve the reasons for apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Heywood, Mayne, J. Petherick, and L. Petherick.

Resolved that the apologies be noted.

There was no Part II.

To declare any disclosable interests relating to the forthcoming items of business (if any).

·         Councillor James declared an Appendix B interest in relation to the Notice of Motion asking for the Dawlish Minor Injuries Unit being reopened by virtue of being a member of the health trust board.  He advised he would leave the room for the duration of that item.

·         Councillor Wrigley declared an Appendix B interest in relation to the Notice of Motion asking for action on Dawlish Warren Car Park by virtue of being Leader of Teignbridge District Council.  He advised he would remain in the room to hear debate but not speak or vote.

To receive and consider requests for dispensation (if any).

There were no dispensations.

To approve, sign and adopt the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 5 July 2023.

Members considered the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 5 July 2023.

Resolved that the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 5 July 2023 be approved and signed as a correct and accurate record.

To receive the Minutes of the following Committee(s) for adoption (if any) – Members are requested to refer to the Town Council’s website to view said Minutes:

·                                 Human Resources Committee – 22 June 2023

·                                 Planning Committee – 13 July, 3 August 2023

Resolved that the minutes set out below, approved by the relevant Committee and signed by the Chairman as a correct record of that meeting, be adopted:

·         HR Committee – 22 June 2023

·         Planning Committee – 13 July, 3 August 2023

The Neighbourhood Beat Manager advised that reports of children using the Manor Gardens as a public convenience had been raised with him, and this was being monitored.

He further advised that the neighbourhood policing team for Dawlish was comprised of himself, and two PCSOs, one of whom was currently off sick.  The third had been permanently deployed to the Teignmouth team.

It was proposed and seconded that the Town Council write to the Inspector for the area expressing its concern at the diminished levels of policing team in Dawlish.

Resolved that the Town Council write to the Inspector for the area expressing its concern at the diminished levels of policing team in Dawlish.

To receive any updates from the Town Clerk (if any).

The Town Clerk advised Members that:

·         There was to be code of conduct training and register of interests training provided by Teignbridge District Council on 9 November (9 a.m.) and 15 November (5.30 p.m.) with both sessions lasting approximately 2.5 hours, and held online.  Joining details would be sent nearer the time; and

·         It was envisaged staff would return to the main town council office at some point next week following completion of the majority of works in the room above.  Members would be further advised when this return had taken place.

Resolved that the report be noted.

To receive the Town Mayor’s announcements (if any).

It has been an eventful and busy summer in the parish. I have attended many events, met some wonderful people, and supported some vital local organisations. Thank you to Deputy Mayor Cllr Goodman-Bradbury for stepping in where I haven’t been able to attend some events.

I have been honoured to attend:

JULY
3rd Dawlish Carnival volunteer evening
4th Chaired AGM for DAY
5th Full council
6th Lammas procession Exeter
6th Chaired AGM Dawlish Community Transport
10th Coast partnership - fed back concerns re shingle and flooding
18th Dawlish art group exhibition
18th Emergency plan task and finish group
23rd Brass on the grass
26th Launch of the Ditto trail
26th Chaired Assist AGM

AUGUST
2nd Skatepark task and finish group
7th Superhero coffee morning with co-op funeralcare
10th Bridge/link road presentation
10th Visit with residents of Sefton Hall
12-18th daily Dawlish Carnival daily judging, prize-giving etc.
12th Dawlish garden society summer show
20th Back Beach Boyz mayoral event
24th Ukraine Independence Day flag raising

The Back Beach Boyz cream tea afternoon was sold out and wonderful, raising over £600. The next event is 13th October which is the Dawlish history evening at the Shaftesbury Theatre. There are less than 10 tickets left (from 140!), available online.

Thank you as always to the admin team for their support and Bob Simpson (photographer) for his enthusiasm and humour.

Resolved that the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Finance & Administration Officer regards options for reinstating a rural skip service, and resolve appropriate actions.

Members considered the report relating to the provision of a skip service for the Parish.

During discussion, it was proposed that the site at Sandy Lane be replaced with Coronation Avenue car park, or if that were not possible, another location within South West Ward.

Resolved that Contractor B be appointed to deliver the service, with details to be considered at the next meeting of the Town Council.

To receive a verbal update on the progress made towards establishing a banking hub in the town.

The Events, Projects and Tourism Officer provided an update relating to the ongoing negotiations for the bring of a Banking Hub to Dawlish.

It was proposed that the Town Council write to the Chamber of Commerce, local MP Anne Marie Morris, and Sarah Nicks, now Vice Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, for their role in securing a banking hub for Dawlish.

Resolved that the Town Council write to the Chamber of Commerce, local MP Anne Marie Morris, and Sarah Nicks, now Vice Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, for their role in securing a banking hub for Dawlish.

To appoint a new Vice Chair for, and from, the membership of the Civic Amenities Committee.

Resolved that Councillor Graham-Ellis be appointed as Vice Chair of the Civic Amenities Committee.

To consider and approve the following recommendations made to Town Council by the Civic Amenities Committee:

·         That the Council should support the ‘No Mow’ May campaign;

·         That the Council should take the following supportive actions:       

o   Publicity campaign across the Parish around the effects of pesticides, the use of artificial grass and mowing in May on wildlife including producing a short video;

o   Companies who manage the green areas on the new estates should be contacted by the Council to engage them in the campaign;

o   Holiday Parks should also be engaged with the campaign by the Council.

·         That the Council should encourage anyone seeing there is a problem with their local area due to early mowing, use of pesticides etc should contact the Town Council so leaflets could be distributed to residents in the area.

·         That the Council should encourage wildflower planting areas.

Members considered the recommendation of the Civic Amenities Committee.

Resolved that

(a)                That the Council should support the ‘No Mow’ May campaign;

(b)        That the Council should take the following supportive actions:      

(i)                  Publicity campaign across the Parish around the effects of pesticides, the use of artificial grass and mowing in May on wildlife including producing a short video;

(ii)                Companies who manage the green areas on the new estates should be contacted by the Council to engage them in the campaign;

(iii)              Holiday Parks should also be engaged with the campaign by the Council.

(c)               That the Council should encourage anyone seeing there is a problem with their local area due to early mowing, use of pesticides etc should contact the Town Council so leaflets could be distributed to residents in the area.

(d)        That the Council should encourage wildflower planting areas.

To consider supporting the Community Safety Charter and resolving appropriate action.

Members considered supporting the Community Safety Charter which enabled Neighbourhood Watch members, local residents, businesses, and organisations to do whatever they can together to provide an environment that was safer for everyone by committing to its pledge:

·         Promote a culture that does not tolerate antisocial behaviour, harassment, intimidation, and hostility towards others.

·         Enable others to identify against these crimes and incidents.

·         Actively encourage and support those who experience or witness these crimes and incidents to report them to the relevant authorities.

·         Support those affected and signpost those who need further support to agencies who can help them.

Resolved that the Town Council support the Community Safety Charter and its four pledges.

To consider the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Heath in respect of the Minor Injuries Unit at Dawlish Hospital and resolve appropriate action.

Councillor M. James left the meeting at 7.59 p.m.

Members considered a notice of motion which stated that:

·         Representatives of the Clinical Commissioning Group for the coastal area and Torbay NHS acute/community care directors attend our next full council meeting to outline their plan for reopening the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Dawlish Hospital and improving out of hours care for our residents

·         Write to our MP asking her to escalate this prolonged closure at Westminster/Parliament

·         Encourage the public to write to us with their experiences of the MIU and its closure so that we may forward these to the CCG, NHS and MP

At 8.04 p.m. Standing Orders were suspended to enable the Chair of the Friends of Dawlish Hospital to address the meeting.

The Chair of the Friends of Dawlish Hospital provided a brief history as to how the closure of the MIU had arisen, the assurances that had previously been given, and the impact the closure was having on residents and visitors.  He advised he would be able to collate public experiences of the MIU and the impact its closure was having on them, to forward to the relevant persons within the health service.

Standing Orders were reinstated at 8.13 p.m.

Following discussion, it was

Resolved that the Town Council

(a)    Writes to the Chief Executive of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, inviting them to the next meeting of the Town Council to explain their plans for the reopening of the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU),

(b)   Copies the above letter to the Chair of the Integrated Care Board Dr Sarah Wollaston,

(c)    Writes to Teignmouth Town Council formally asking them to consider supporting the motion and applying pressure to Foundation Trust as many Teignmouth residents would benefit from the MIU being reopened, and

(d)   That resident’s experiences of using the MIU and the impact its closure has on them be received and sent on to the Chair of the Friends of Dawlish Hospital for circulation within the Trust.  

To consider a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor A. James to address the issues with overnight parking and its related matters at St Mary’s Car Park, Dawlish Warren.

Councillor M. James rejoined the meeting at 8.24 p.m.

Members considered a notice of motion which requested that the issues with overnight parking at the landward car park at Dawlish Warren be addressed with Teignbridge District Council.

Following discussion, it was

Resolved that the Town Council writes to the Leader, and Managing Director of Teignbridge District Council requesting a meeting with relevant officers and portfolio holders to discuss potential mitigating actions that could be undertaken to alleviate the issues being encountered at the landward car park at Dawlish Warren.

To consider a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Foden requesting that the Town Council calls for a public meeting with leaders of Stagecoach South West and Mike Tucker, Principal Transport Officer and other leaders at Devon County Council to ensure an increased, effective, and efficient bus service for Dawlish.

Members considered a notice of motion which sought to request a public meeting with bosses of Stagecoach South West, and Mike Tucker – Principal Transport Officer and senior management at Devon County Council, calling for an increased, effective, and efficient bus service for Dawlish.

Following discussion, it was

Resolved that the Town Council requests a public meeting with bosses of Stagecoach South West, and Mike Tucker – Principal Transport Officer and senior management at Devon County Council, calling for an increased, effective, and efficient bus service for Dawlish.

To receive and note the conclusion of the External Audit for the 2022/23 financial year.

Resolved that the Conclusion of External Audit for 2022/23 be noted.

To receive the recommendation of the HR Committee to adopt the Staff and Member Training Policy as set out.

Resolved that the Staff and Member Training Policy be adopted.

To note the dates of venues booked within the Parish for the holding of Councillor Surgeries from October 2023, and resolve next steps.

Members reviewed the dates booked for Councillor Surgeries throughout the Parish from October 2023 to March 2024.

It was agreed that Members would email their availability to Councillor Littlewood who collate responses and issue a rota for the various dates.

Resolved that the dates be noted.

Following recent issues at a south west Town Council, Members are asked to review and note the Town Council’s current insurance policy wording, and approach the Town Clerk separately if any of the undermentioned provisions apply to them:

Members reviewed the wording of the Town Council’s insurance policy and were asked to contact the Town Clerk separately if any of the declarations applied to them.

Resolved that the insurance policy wording be noted.

To receive a report from the County Councillor (if any).

Councillor Wrigley confirmed that double yellow lines first applied for in 2021 had now been painted at various locations throughout the parish.

Resolved that the report be noted.

To receive reports of District Councillors (if any).

There were no district councillor reports.

To receive reports of Town Councillors (if any).

Councillor Heath

Cllr. Martin Heath’s report from visit on 21 Aug 23, to the Bam/Network Rail site the left of the Smuggler’s Inn. Along with Scott Williams, the ACT wildlife warden.

We met a representative from Bam who is in charge of the site, along with the main planner from Network Rail who is in charge of the project. The chief environmentalist was not able to arrive as his car broke down on the motorway.

Background: the topsoil from the site where they are making a temporary road over to the cliffs, has been dumped by the side of the hedges and the rabbit burrows by the banks. I have asked for evidence that an eco-survey had been done before starting the work, and network rail said it had been done, but they could not give me any dates when or show me any details.

Therefore, I asked to visit the site. This was arranged by Network Rail in July for us to visit on the Monday 21/08/ 23.

On looking at the soil and how close to the hedges and the Warren’s it had been put, I stated to all, that, ‘they could have put up some shuttering about two meters back from the warrens to stop the earth getting so close and possibly frightening the rabbits away, or even covering up the entrance’s.’ They said, ‘there wasn’t any under the earth.’ This could not be verified, as there was a great deal of earth heaped up. I think they got the hint that they could have done better.

I then also asked them - when they have finished all the work and put the site back to how it was, that when they move this topsoil back, that they are very careful not to over-scoop the earth and damage the warrens any more than they have done already. Bam agreed to this.

Conclusion: They could have been more thoughtful, but they seem to be only interested in animals that are specifically protected. Birds in nesting seasons are checked regularly.

The mitigating circumstance is - they are working in a very tight site.

Councillor Weatherhead

Over the summer I have received queries from residents regarding issues they are facing. These have concerned both Teignbridge District Councils and Devon County Council’s remit and I have forwarded and asked for action on these as required.

As a committee member heavily involved in Dawlish Celebrates Carnival it was good to see the town respond overwhelmingly positively to the event. I would like to thank my fellow town councillors who volunteered to help at the event.

On 7th September I attended the AGM of the Chamber of Trade as one of the organisational representatives of Council. Businesses have had a variable trading summer but are looking forward to seeing having a banking hub in the town following their successful campaign with the local MP and Town Council support. Neil Salter has retired from the chair after four years which have raised the towns  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.