Doddiscombsleigh Parish Council

Draft Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Tuesday 15 September 2026 at 7.30 pm at Woodah Farm

Present: Cllr C Wood (Chairman), Cllr A Newton-Humes, Cllr R Crocker, Cllr D’Aubney (from item 5), District Cllr A Swain, one member of the public and A Miller (Clerk)

1         Welcome and Apologies for Absence

Cllrs Brook and Salter sent their apologies.

2         Declarations of Interest / Requests for Dispensations

None.

Open Forum

The applicant of the planning application at item 6.2.1 was present and gave further information about the proposal.

The Parish Council discussed item 6 following the open forum.

3         County and District Councillors’ and Police Reports

Item 3 was discussed after item 6.

District Cllr Swain reported about a playpark consultation at Teignbridge, changing national planning rules, the District Council’s efforts to improve bin collections and the pause in local government reorganization in Devon. Currently the plan is to hold district council elections in May 2027.

The police report was sent out to councillors before the meeting.

4         Ratification of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Resolved The Minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting of 14 July 2026 were unanimously accepted as a true record.

The Chair signed the Minutes.

5         Councillor Vacancy and Co-option

Resolved The Parish Council unanimously co-opted Mr John D’Aubney to a parish councillor position.

Mr D’Aubney signed the acceptance of office form and took his place on the Parish Council.

6         Planning

Item 6 was discussed after the Open Forum.

6.1       To Note Planning Decisions

None.

6.2       To Discuss a Planning Application and Planning Appeals

6.2.1     26/01267/FUL Springfield

Erection of one self-build dwelling including access and associated landscaping

Resolved The Parish Council agreed that the proposal was very thoughtful and considerate to the location of the planned dwelling. The Parish Council would like further clarification about the foul sewer and the surface water solution. The Parish Council is concerned, as the mains system in the village is already overwhelmed, and sewer spillage occurs regularly.

6.2.2     26/00037/FAST – Duckspool Cottage

Appeal against the refusal of planning application 25/02082/HOU – Erection of ancillary outbuilding to accommodate Music Room and new carport with associated landscaping works

Planning inspectorate reference: 6015262

Resolved The Parish Council decided not to make changes to its previous comments at the appeal stage.

6.2.3     26/00038/REF – Duckspool Cottage

Appeal against the refusal of Listed Building Consent 25/02083/LBC – Erection of ancillary outbuilding to accommodate Music Room and new carport with associated landscaping works

Planning inspectorate reference: 6015264

Resolved The Parish Council decided not to make changes to its previous comments at the appeal stage.

6.3       To Receive an Update from the Local Plan Working Group

None.

7         To Discuss Highways Issues

7.1       To Receive a Highways Update

7.1.1     Road Warden Scheme – Volunteer Training

Devon County Council agreed to provide the core training video for the Road Warden Scheme volunteers of the Parish, but every volunteer needs to watch it online. The Parish Council needs to send the volunteers’ email addresses to Devon County Council in order to obtain the link for the video. The training may be useful for insurance purposes, if there is a claim from a volunteer.

7.1.2     Lengthsman Work Schedule

In July the lengthsman and several members of the Council (Cllrs Brook, Wood, Crocker, Salter, previous drain warden of the Council Mr Sawyer and the Clerk) met to discuss drain clearing during the winter months. The following locations for drain clearing were agreed:

1 Around the bus shelter

2 End of Down lane and gully at the Triangle

3 Junction and road from Greystones to Hereford Cottage

4 School to Beehive

5 Bottom of Tick Lane from Whitemoor

6 Dip in the road towards Sheldon – to check if it needs clearing

Drain clearing is planned as a monthly job from the middle of November until February. The Council will review the amount of work when the number of hours necessary to complete the job becomes obvious.

Depending on the weather, the Parish Council will review what work to order in March.

Grass cutting was not necessary in August, due to the dry weather.

7.2       To Receive a Parish Path Partnership and Footpath Update

This year’s Parish Path Partnership grant has been received.

8         To Discuss Finance

8.1       To Receive a Finance Report

The total bank balance on 31 August 2026 was £19,084.86. After deducting the amount of earmarked funds and grants, the general reserve was £7,569.05.

Since the last meeting, the Parish Path Partnership grant of £110 was credited to the current account.

The Parish Council noted the finance report.

8.2       To Review the Banking Arrangements

Resolved The Parish Council unanimously agreed to remove from the bank mandate Mr John Sawyer and to add to the bank mandate as a new signatory the newly co-opted Cllr John D’Aubney. Cllr D’Aubney needs access to the online system to view the accounts and to approve payments.

The Clerk reminded the councillors who did not have access to the online platform to contact the bank and restore their access to the system.

8.3       To Approve Payments

Venue hire 15 September 2026 £10.00

Card monthly fee Jul – Aug 2026 £6.00

Unity Bank account fee Jun-Jul 2026 £14.00

Office mobile phone top up Aug – Sep 2026 £10.00

Donation to the South West Ambulance Charity £100.00

Resolved The Council unanimously approved the payments.

9         To Discuss the Replacement of the Notice Board at the Triangle

The Clerk reported that Teignbridge District Council accepted the replacement of the notice board for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding. The Parish Council needs to use up £2,415 in this financial year and a further 1,014 of CIL money in the next financial year or the District Council can claim it back.

Possible notice board solutions were discussed. Clerk to ask for further quotes by the next meeting.

10     Clerk’s Correspondence

The annual general meeting of the Devon Association of Local Councils is at 10am on Wednesday 7 October 2026 at Exeter Racecourse.

Community litter pick is on Saturday, 19 September 2026.

11     Date of Next Meeting

Ordinary Meeting of 13 October 2026

12     Councillors’ and Chairman’s Remarks

The Chairman thanked everybody for their participation and especially welcomed the new member of the Council. The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.11 pm.

Signed…………………………………………………………

Chairman

Date