Ordinary Council Meeting – 11 March 2025
- 1 Welcome and Apologies for Absence
- 2 Declarations of Interest / Requests for Dispensations
- 3 County and District Councillors’ Report
- 4 Ratification of Minutes of Previous Meeting
- 5 To Note Planning Decisions and Consultation Responses Sent Between Meetings
- 6 To Discuss Finance
- 7 To Receive Reports and Updates
- 8 To Discuss the 80th
- 9 To Discuss a Possible Community Litter Pick
- 10 To Discuss Emergency Planning and Community Resilience
- 11 Councillor Vacancy and Co-option
- 12 Clerk’s Correspondence
- 13 Date of Next Meeting
- 14 Chairman’s Remarks
Doddiscombsleigh Parish Council
Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 7.30 pm at Woodah Farm
Present: Cllr W Hole (Chairman), Cllr J Sawyer, Cllr R Crocker, Cllr K Salter, District Cllr A Swain, B Green lengthsman and two members of the public
Clerk: A Miller
1 Welcome and Apologies for Absence
The Chairman welcomed everybody present.
2 Declarations of Interest / Requests for Dispensations
None.
Open Forum
The following topics were raised:
- VE Day Celebrations
- Potholes between Sexton’s Cross and Duckspool.
The Council discussed item 8 then item 7.1.
3 County and District Councillors’ Report
District Cllr Swain reported on devolution and unitary council proposals, and possible difficulties with the boundaries of the proposed new unitary councils were discussed. Clerk asked about the changes regarding the district councillors’ Community Fund – according to an email from Teignbridge, parish councils are not eligible for this grant anymore. Also, the District Council’s planned CIL Spending Guide will make it difficult for small parishes to utilize the fund.
4 Ratification of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Resolved The Minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting of 14 January 2025 was unanimously accepted as a true record.
The Chairman signed the Minutes.
5 To Note Planning Decisions and Consultation Responses Sent Between Meetings
The Clerk sent the following consultation responses to the Planning Authority, after consulting with councillors:
- 24/01898/FUL Spynishlake – support to the proposal. Public footpath needs to remain accessible during the building works.
- 24/02091/HOU Corn And Cobb Cottage Great Leigh Farm – no objection.
The Parish Council noted the responses.
6 To Discuss Finance
6.1 To Receive a Finance Report
The total bank balance on 28 February 2025 was £15,508.34. After deducting the amount of earmarked funds and grants, the general reserve was £4,437.95.
Devon County Council’s Locality Budget grant of £250.00 for a cycle rack was credited to the current account.
The interest rate on the savings account will decrease to 2.25% from 6 May 2025.
6.2 To Appoint an Internal Auditor for the 2024/25 Financial Year
Resolved The Council unanimously appointed Kate Berry, who has done the audit in previous years, to do the internal audit for the 2024/2025 financial year.
6.3 To Note the District Council’s Consultation on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Spending Guide and the Recommendation for an Infrastructure Delivery Plan
Teignbridge District Council ran a consultation on the draft CIL Spending Guide and the deadline for comments was before this meeting. A short draft response was circulated in email to every councillor and sent to Teignbridge District Council, highlighting the difficulties small parish councils could face to apply the planned rules. The Parish Council noted the response.
In the Spending Guide the District Council recommends that every parish has an Infrastructure Delivery Plan. The Parish Council noted the recommendation.
6.4 To Discuss Possible Expenditures from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund
There is a lot of uncertainty regarding what the District Council will accept as an expenditure from CIL money. So far this financial year the Parish Council agreed to pay from CIL:
- Additional drain clearing carried out in April – the part of the cost that was not covered by the grant from Devon County Council – £56.25 (July item 7.3)
- Raised footpath repair between the church and the pub – £125.00 (July item 7.3)
- Bench to the Triangle £290 (September item 7.3)
Resolved The Parish Council decided that depending on the District Council’s agreement, the following expenditures were made from the CIL Fund:
- Bus shelter floor repair £100
- Log benches £200
- Log bench installation £25
- Drain clearing Nov-Dec 2024 £200
- Materials for notice board repair £261.80
- Defibrillator battery and repair to the power supply £370
6.5 Approval of Expenditure
Venue hire 11 March 2025 £10.00
Card monthly fee Jan – Feb 2025 £6.00
Unity Bank account fee Dec 2024 and Jan 2025 £12.00
Cycle rack £65.70
Office mobile top up for two months £10.00
Drain clearing Feb 2025 £50.00
Resolved The Council unanimously approved the expenditures.
7 To Receive Reports and Updates
7.1 To Receive a Highways Update
Resolved The Parish Council agreed to sign the Road Warden Agreement with Devon County Council and to apply for cold tarmac for pothole repairs in the village.
Clerk to ask Neighbourhood Highways Officer about previously reported issues.
Five reflective signs were given to the parish by the Neighbourhood Highways Officer.
The flashing school sign – not working – has been reported to Devon County Council.
The parish asked for a new grit bin for the bottom of Tick Lane.
The lengthsman asked whether he could spread his hours evenly during the year and the Council agreed.
7.2 To Receive a Parish Path Partnership and Footpath Update
Cllr Crocker reported problems with gates on the bridleway leading to Windy Cross. The lengthsman agreed to adjust the gates.
Overhanging tree on footpath 5. Clerk to contact the landowner about the issue.
Clerk and Cllr Crocker to send Parish Path Partnership forms to Devon County Council in March.
7.3 To Receive an Update about Positioning a Cycle Rack in the Centre of the Village
A Locality Budget Grant of £250 has been received for the project which needs to be used up by the end of March. The land use agreement with the pub for positioning a cycle rack in the car park has been signed. The cycle rack has been ordered and delivered to the lengthsman. The lengthsman agreed to install the cycle rack in March and to send the invoice to the Clerk.
7.4 To Receive an Update about the Defibrillator
The defibrillator gave an error message and the volunteer carrying out the weekly checks reported it to the clerk. Defibshop, where the equipment was bought, carried out a diagnostic test on the phone, and it looks like the adult pads are faulty. Defibshop contacted the manufacturer about the issue.
8 To Discuss the 80th
Anniversary Celebrations of VE DayA member of the public informed the Council that a group of volunteers would like to organize an event for the anniversary of VE Day, as this year they are not planning to organize a village fete.
Cllr Salter decided to join the organizing group from the Parish Council.
The lengthsman agreed to provide a suitable metal container for a beacon.
The organizers are looking for a venue and food options.
Resolved The Parish Council agreed to purchase the anniversary flag and to provide insurance for the event when details are clarified.
9 To Discuss a Possible Community Litter Pick
Resolved The Parish Council agreed to organize a community litter pick for Saturday, 7 June 2025 at 10 am starting from the Triangle.
10 To Discuss Emergency Planning and Community Resilience
The Clerk reported that the Parish Council received an email and a questionnaire from Teignbridge District Council regarding emergency readiness in the parish. Doddiscombsleigh has a defibrillator from the listed resources, but no emergency plan. The Council agreed to return to the topic later, when more councillor positions are filled.
11 Councillor Vacancy and Co-option
There was no interest in the vacancies.
12 Clerk’s Correspondence
The District Council is planning an online meeting about the devolution deal and unitary councils in Devon. The meeting was postponed from 12 March, new date will be forwarded to councillors.
The Devon Association of Local Councils is planning an online meeting about devolution on 8 April. The Chairman indicated that he intends to attend it.
There is a new headteacher at school, the Chairman agreed to contact her.
13 Date of Next Meeting
20 May 2025 Annual Parish Meeting, followed by the Annual Council Meeting.
14 Chairman’s Remarks
The Chairman thanked volunteers, Steve Le Marchant, Keith Mitchell, Vic Brook, Ed Brook, James Brook and Malcolm Crow for being available when help was needed.
The Chairman thanked everybody present for their participation and closed the meeting at 9.35pm.
Signed…………………………………………………………
Chair
Date