Report for the Year 2023/24

About the general operation of the Council:

In 2023-24 the Parish Council held ten meetings, including one extraordinary planning meeting in December.

There are two vacancies now, which need to be filled by co-option.

It was with great sadness that the Parish Council learned about the passing of a former councillor, Mr Ernest Davis, who was a very much appreciated member of the community.

The Parish Council acquired a new website which complies with accessibility regulations and decided to move the online presence to a gov.uk domain, which is safer in the long term. The new website has been funded by grants from our two district councillors’ Community Funds.

Regarding planning:

Last year eleven planning applications (including appeals) were discussed at the meetings. In July 2023 the Council decided to delegate power to the Clerk to respond to planning applications if the consultation period ends before the next meeting takes place, after consulting with three councillors about the proposals. The Clerk responded to three applications in this way.

The Parish Council commented on the Teignbridge Local Plan Proposed Submission Addendum, objecting the proposal.

The Parish Council welcomes the District Council’s efforts to communicate more efficiently with parish councils on planning issues. The Parish Council believes that part of the reason why the District Council realized that there was a problem, was a letter from the Parishes Planning Forum. The Forum was organized by Doddiscombsleigh in January 2023 and seventeen parishes attended. Since then, further meetings have been taken place about planning issues between the District Council and the parishes.

Triangle:

Following the removal of the fir tree from the Triangle, the Parish Council decided to improve the area. It was agreed to plant a rowan tree and to install two benches, made from the trunk of the fir tree. As the area is Devon Highways responsibility, the Parish Council needs to obtain permissions for the work. The permission for tree planting has been obtained, the bench application process is in progress, but it is delayed by the lack of suitable contractor to install the benches. So far, the Parish Council ordered the removal of the tree stumps – beech tree and fir tree – to level the surface. The work was funded by a grant from the Tidy Teignbridge Fund. The Parish Council is also looking into replacing or repairing the notice board on the Triangle.

Bus shelter:

Following a couple of incidents when the bus shelter walls have been vandalized, the Foodbank removed non-perishable supplies form the bus shelter. Currently fresh produce is available.

The Parish Council has ordered the repair of the bus shelter floor, which will be done shortly.

Highways:

The Parish Council carried on with the Annual Plan for Drain Clearing, which was approved in the previous year. Due to his other commitments, the former lengthsman, Mr Elliott Fairs stopped providing the service in February. The Parish Council would like to thank Mr Fairs for his work.

Following a tender, the Parish Council engaged another contractor, Mr Barry Green, to do the work, who finished the annual drain clearing program. The drain clearing was partly (25%) funded by a grant from the Highways Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund and partly from the Parish Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund.

Potholes has been reported to the Highways, but the condition of the roads deteriorated significantly. Last December the Parish Council sent an email to Devon County Council and to the local MP, highlighting the dangerous situation. Since then, there have been some improvements on Tick Lane.

The Parish Council formally joined the 20’s Plenty for Us Campaign to make 20mph the default speed limit in built in areas and sent lobbying emails to Devon County Council, but the County Council rejected the proposal.

Finance:

The Parish Council needed to increase the precept to cover the increasing costs and maintain suitable level of reserves.

The Parish Council thanks the parishioners who help the community and spend time to work for it.