Doddiscombsleigh Parish Council

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Tuesday 8 July 2025 at 7.30 pm at Woodah Farm

 

 

Present: Cllr R Crocker (Chair), Cllr J Sawyer, Cllr K Salter, Cllr H Brook, Cllr C Wood (from the Open Forum), B Green lengthsman and four members of the public

Clerk: A Miller

 

As the Parish Council’s Chairman, Cllr Hole was not present at the meeting, Cllr Crocker was unanimously elected to chair the meeting.

1         Welcome and Apologies for Absence

Cllr Hole, Cllr Newton-Humes, District Cllr Swain and County Cllr Keeling sent their apologies.

2         Declarations of Interest / Requests for Dispensations

None.

 

The Council decided to discuss item 6.2 first.

 

Open Forum

The following points were raised.

• Rectory Lane – condition of the road surface. The Parish Council responded that Rectory Lane was included on the list of priorities sent to Devon County Council (see item 6.6)
• Teignbridge Local Plan Review – residents’ campaign to reduce the number of houses to be built.
• Internet solutions in the village.

3         County and District Councillors’ Report

County Cllr Keeling’s report has been forwarded to the Parish Council.

4         Ratification of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Resolved The Minutes of the Annual Council meeting of 20 May 2025 was unanimously accepted as a true record.

The Chair signed the Minutes.

 

5         To Discuss Planning Issues

5.1       To Receive a Report about the Planning Forum in June 2025

Cllr Hole attended the event on 11 June 2025, where attendants received an update about the Local Plan Review, local government reorganization and biodiversity net gain regulations. Slides from the meeting were forwarded to the Council. The next Planning Forum will be held in October 2025.

5.2       To Discuss a Possible Consultation Response to the Teignbridge Local Plan Review

The item was not discussed as no consultation was published prior to the meeting.

6         To Discuss Highways Issues

6.1       Lengthsman’s Report

The lengthsman reported that he cut the grass on the raised footpath and at the Triangle.

6.2       To Discuss Possible Improvements at Down Lane and an Infrastructure Delivery Plan

The Down Lane project was discussed after item 2.

 

The Council’s Chairman Cllr Hole, who could not attend the meeting, had asked local expert Mr Crow to find a solution to improve the drainage at Down Lane. Currently after heavy downpours debris is washed down to the Triangle from the Lane. Mr Crow, who was at the meeting, presented the details of the plan to improve the drainage. The estimated cost of the project is around £350. The cost includes a digger hire and a contractor fee to do the work. He recommended Jack Martin, who would be able to do the work during the summer.

Resolved The Council unanimously agreed to carry out the project and to order the work from Jack Martin. The Council also agreed to use CIL money to fund the project.

Clerk to clarify with the District Council if they accept the project for CIL funding. If the application should fail, the Council will apply for a grant from the Locality Budget.

 

The next item was the Open Forum, then the Council discussed the agenda items in the original order. After discussing item 6.1, the Council returned to the question of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

 

The Council discussed the possibility of an Infrastructure Delivery Plan, based on the District Council’s template, but decided not to prepare one due to the amount of work it would have required. The Clerk drew the Council’s attention to the rule, that if the Parish Council cannot use up £5,349.71 of CIL money until April 2027, it is necessary to have an Infrastructure Delivery Plan, or the money must be paid back.

Possible projects were discussed for CIL funding.

Resolved The Parish Council decided to install a second defibrillator for the public outside the fence of Middle Hills, subject to approval for CIL funding.

 

The Council also agreed to investigate the option for a third defibrillator towards Ashton, subject to CIL funding approval.

6.3       To Discuss Overgrown Hedges

The Council received feedback from the public that there are overgrown hedges on the lane between Hereford Cottage and Sexton’s Cross. The lane was well used during the recent road closures in the village. Cllr Brook to report it to Devon Highways, Clerk to email the Neighbourhood Highways Officer.

6.4       To Receive an Update about the Road Warden Scheme

Volunteers started to fill in potholes with the cold tarmac from Devon County Council. Works were carried out mostly on Willhayes Hill and on the lane between Sexton’s Cross and Half Acre, but there were potholes filled towards Sheldon Lane as well. There are only ten tubs of tarmac left.

Resolved The Parish Council agreed to apply for more tarmac within the Road Warden Scheme once the current supply has been exhausted.

One pallet – 52 tubs – at a time, as the tarmac has only six months of use by date.

6.5       To Receive a Parish Path Partnership and Footpath Update

Cllr Crocker reported that she checked footpath 6 and the path is overgrown. She agreed to contact the landowner.

6.6       To Discuss Other Highways Issues

• The Parish Council’s Chairman, Cllr Hole, met with the Neighbourhood Highways Officer at the end of May and they discussed the potholes on Willhayes Hill and between Sexton’s Cross and Half Acre. Devon County Council confirmed that they do not maintain Down Lane, as it is not on their system.
• Devon County Council asked every parish about their highway priorities for the next three financial years. The request came after the May meeting with a short deadline. The Parish Council highlighted the issues with the road surface on Willhayes Hill, on the lane between Sexton’s Cross – Half Acre, and on Rectory Lane. The Parish Council listed drainage issues at Greenacres and at the entrance of Woodah Farm. There is no guarantee that these projects will receive funding.
• It was noted that the surface dressing on Tick Lane is already deteriorating.
• Snow Warden Scheme – Cllr Wood agreed to be the snow warden.

Resolved The Council agreed to re-join the Snow Warden Scheme with Cllr Wood as Snow Warden.

7         To Discuss the Parish Council’s Communication with the Public

It was discussed how to improve the information available to the public on the website, especially road closure information. The Parish Council does not receive any warning about emergency road closures – even Devon County Council does not receive timely information about emergency road closures of other organizations. The best source of information is the one.network website, which is available free of charge for individuals. Clerk to put a link on the website, if it is legally possible.

The Council also agreed to offer the opportunity to the local school to publish its newsletter on the website.

8         To Discuss Parking Situation at the School

The Parish Council discussed that the parking situation at the School was getting worse and noted that an accident had already happened there. The Council agreed to approach the School to try to find a solution that both residents and the School can support.

9         To Discuss Finance

9.1       To Receive a Finance Report and to Approve the Bank Reconciliation

Cllr Crocker reported that she checked the bank reconciliation for 30 June 2025 and found it in order.

Resolved The Council approved the bank reconciliation for 30 June 2025 with £18,805.98 cash book balance and £6,505.45 general reserve.

The Parish Council noted the budget – actual comparison for 30 June 2025.

The Clerk reported that since the last meeting £96.37 of interest was credited to the savings account.

9.2       Approval of Expenditure

Venue hire 8 July 2025 £10.00

Card monthly fee May – Jun 2025 £6.00

Unity Bank account fee Apr – May 2025 £12.00

Office mobile phone top up Jun 2025 £5.00

New councillor courses £144.00

Clerk’s salary and expenses £1,041.52

Resolved The Council unanimously approved the expenditures.

10     To Discuss a Possible Response to the District Council’s Consultation on Local Government Reorganization

The Parish Council agreed not to make a comment regarding the consultation, but the link to the survey had already been published on the website to encourage individual consultation responses.

11     To Note a Police Report for June 2025

The Police report for June 2025 has been noted.

12     Clerk’s Correspondence

The Clerk reported that she contacted the email provider, as there were occasions at the end of May when a resident’s and a councillor’s emails were not delivered to the office’s email address. The service provider did not find any issues and since then no problems were detected.

13     Date of Next Meeting

9 September 2025

14     Chairman’s Remarks

The Chair and all the councillors wished Cllr Hole well. The Chair thanked everybody for their participation and closed the meeting at 9.29pm.

 

 

 

 

Signed…………………………………………………………

Chair

 

Date