Doddiscombsleigh Parish Council

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Tuesday 11 November 2025 at 7.30 pm at Woodah Farm

 

Present: Cllr A Newton-Humes (Chairman), Cllr K Salter, Cllr J Sawyer, Cllr H Brook, Cllr C Wood, District Cllr A Swain (until item 4) and A Miller (Clerk)

1         Welcome and Apologies for Absence

Cllr Crocker sent her apologies.

2         Declarations of Interest / Requests for Dispensations

None.

Open Forum

None.

3         County and District Councillors’ and Police Reports

District Cllr Swain added to his written report that the District Councill does not own any property in the village. Previously the Parish Council had asked Teignbridge to clarify this point before the local government reorganization takes place.

The Clerk reported that the County Council has no Doddiscombsleigh assets listed in their system either.

The County Councillor’s and the Police Report was noted.

4         Ratification of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Resolved The Minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting of 14 October 2025 was unanimously accepted as a true record.

The Chair signed the Minutes.

5         Councillor Vacancy and Co-option

No applications were received.

6         To Receive an Update About a Bus Shelter Incident in September 2025

The Clerk reported that the signed form of authority has been sent to the solicitor.

Quote from Ruby Heritage was sent to the insurance company and they agreed to pay the quoted amount apart from the excess. (£100 excess to be recovered by the solicitor from the driver’s insurance).

Ruby Heritage intends to start the work on 26 February 2026, weather depending. If the Parish Council insist on carrying out the repair work in November, the builder would not provide guarantee for the work, as the cob repair can be damaged in winter.

Resolved The Parish Council agreed to order the work from Ruby Heritage for the recommended date in 2026. The Council agreed to inform the insurance company that the repair is scheduled for early spring and to send the bank details for the settlement payment after the work has been done.

The Parish Council also agreed to buy a heavy-duty tarpaulin to cover the cracks until the repair can be done.

7         To Receive an Update About Installing a Second Defibrillator in the Parish

The Clerk reported that the ZOLL AED 3 defibrillator and the sign had been delivered and the cabinet was delivered on the day of the meeting. The defibrillator, sign and cabinet was handed over to Cllr Brook.

The landowner can provide a temporary electricity supply for the installation, which will be replaced by a permanent supply later.

Resolved The Parish Council agreed to ask for a quote for defibrillator installation from Steve King, who previously repaired the electricity supply for the existing defibrillator at the school.

8         To Discuss Highways Issues

8.1       Lengthsman’s Report

The lengthsman sent his invoice with details of the jobs carried out in September – October.

8.2       To Receive an Update about the Road Warden Scheme

None.

8.3       To Receive an Update about a 20 Is Plenty Campaign

The clerk reported that the average cost of an official 20mph speed limit scheme in Devon was £25,000 (information from a document on DCC website). The Parish Council was of the opinion that this route was too expensive for the village.

County Cllr Keeling indicated that his Locality Budget had run out and he cannot support financially the Parish Council’s efforts until spring 2026.

The Parish Council explored other traffic calming options.

• Signs measuring and displaying speed – Clerk to ask for feedback from parishes where these signs had been installed. Clerk to ask the District Council if Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL money) can be used for installing these signs.
• 20 Is Plenty signs – Clerk to ask Christow Parish Council if they have any signs left from their campaign.
• Further signs with children’s drawings to display at private properties – Cllr Salter to ask the School if they would participate in the campaign.

8.4       To Receive a Parish Path Partnership and Footpath Update

None.

8.5       To Discuss Other Highways Issues

Invoice for rubble removal was sent to the Council, and it can be found at item 9.4.

The Clerk drew the Parish Council’s attention to the Roadmap Newsletter from Devon County Council, which was sent to councillors prior to the meeting. There is a section about winter preparations and filling up grit bins.

9         To Discuss Finance

9.1       To Receive a Finance Report

The total bank balance on 31 October 2025 was £19,020.21. After deducting the amount of earmarked funds and grants, the general reserve was £7,919.54. In October £975.14 of Community Infrastructure Levy was credited to the bank account.

9.2       To Discuss Possible Ideas for the 2025/26 Budget

The unpredictable cost of the parish council elections in May 2027 was discussed. The Parish Council clarified that they do not want to declare general power of competence in 2027 and that is why they did not support qualification training for the Clerk.

9.3       To Receive a Feedback About the Bank Mandate Update

The Clerk reported that at last Unity Trust Bank updated the Parish Council’s contact details and the list of signatories.

9.4       Approval of Expenditure

Venue hire 11 November 2025 £10.00

Card monthly fee Oct 2025 £3.00

Unity Bank account fee Sep 2025 £6.00

Lengthsman fee £100.00

Rubble removal from the Triangle £864.00

Printer paper for office £7.50

Resolved The Council unanimously approved the expenditures.

10     Clerk’s Correspondence

The Clerk reported that the Parish Council received an email from the administrator of the previous WIX website regarding the deletion of Doddiscombsleigh’s data that can be found in the administrator’s system. The Parish Council had no objection. The Clerk informed the Council that the previous website still exists in WIX, but it is unpublished. The Parish Council agreed that all the data and the previous website can be deleted.

11     Date of Next Meeting

13 January 2026

12     Chairman’s Remarks

The Chairman thanked everybody for their participation and closed the meeting at 8.39 pm.

 

Signed…………………………………………………………

Chairman

 

 

Date