Doddiscombsleigh Parish Council

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Tuesday 8 October 2024 at 7.30pm at Woodah Farm

 

 

Present: Cllr W Hole (Chairman), Cllr J Sawyer, Cllr R Crocker, Cllr K Salter, District Cllr A Swain (until item 6), Neighbourhood Highways Officer I Pfister (at item 3), and 6 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

Cllr Salter declared an interest in item 8.2, but as there was only an update about the item and no decision was made, she was allowed to stay in the room.

 

Open Forum

Members of the public expressed their views at the appropriate agenda items.

3         Neighbourhood Highways Officer’s Report

The following topics were reported and discussed:

• Patching work at Tick Lane. Members of the public and councillors agreed that there was a huge improvement in the quality of Tick Lane after the patching work. Surface dressing and the drainage on Tick Lane are planned projects for the next financial year.
• Drainage works were carried out at Duckspool. Residents asked why there were no pothole repairs on the road from Duckspool to Sexton’s Cross while the road was closed. The answer was that the Highways budget is limited and works need to be prioritized. If the Parish wants repair work on a stretch of road, the work needs to be indicated as a priority before the Highways budget is finalized. Keep reporting potholes online.
• Drainage works were also carried out on the road from the Nobody Inn to the school, but it was done by the flood defence team, not Highways.
• Water at Greystones – the Parish Council indicated that the wet patch at the junction to Hereford Cottage is a risk and accidents have happened in the past.

• Southwest Water undertook repair work to stop flooding at a resident’s property. The Neighbourhood Highways Officer will ask Southwest Water about the drain at Burnt Meadow, as Highways has no right to work on Southwest Water drains.

• Snow Warden Scheme: the Snow Warden resigned in July and the Parish Council has not found a replacement yet. Doddiscombsleigh is not on a primary gritting route, only a short section between the Nobody Inn and the Teign House Inn is on the secondary gritting route, which is treated if the cold weather persists, and problems are reported.
• Road Warden Scheme: the Parish can receive equipment and 5 tonnes of tarmac to fill smaller potholes if the village joins the Scheme. Devon County Council provides third party public liability insurance for the work carried out by volunteers.
• The Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund does not support contractor costs anymore, only equipment and tarmac via the Road Warden Scheme, while there is still money.
• U1 licence: one of the main costs is the disposal of spoils. If there is a local farmer with an area where Highways can deposit spoils, a lot of the costs can be saved, and more work can be done in the village.

 

Item 8.2 was discussed next.

4         County and District Councillors’ Report

District Cllr Swain gave his report about the Local Plan Review and the Devon-Torbay devolution deal.

5         To Discuss Positioning a Cycle Rack in the Centre of the Village

The need for a cycle rack and possible locations in the centre of the village were discussed.

Resolved It was agreed that the Chairman asks the pub whether it would be possible to position a cycle rack in the car park. If this option does not work, the Parish Council will try to obtain permission from the landowner to store bicycles next to the bus shelter.

 

Items 8.3.1 and 8.3.2 were discussed next.

6         To Elect a Representative to the Teign Valley Community Hall

Resolved The Parish Council agreed to re-nominate Mr Anthony Porter as its representative at the Teign Valley Community Hall.

7         Ratification of Minutes of Previous Meeting

Resolved The Minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting of 10 September 2024 was unanimously accepted as a true record. The Chairman signed the Minutes.

8         To Discuss Planning Matters

8.1       To Note Planning Decisions

None.

8.2       To Receive an Update about the Teignbridge Local Plan Review

The Inspector is holding hearing sessions regarding the Local Plan Review and the site planned at Doddiscombsleigh on 6^th November from 2 pm. The developer would like to change the type of the houses from self-build to development.

8.3       To Discuss Planning Applications

8.3.1     24/01414/FUL Middle Hills

Change of use of stable/barn for storage and haulage, replacement storage building and rebuild of an office/workshop (retrospective)

Resolved No objection.

8.3.2     24/01466/FUL Batts Brook

Ground mounted solar panels

Resolved No objection.

8.3.3     24/01564/LBC Apridge Farm

Replacement windows and doors, installation of three roof windows, installation of new PV array on south facing roof slope, installing of new rainwater good and installation of new apex windows on west elevation of existing single storey outbuilding within the domestic curtilage of a grade II listed building

The application had been withdrawn prior to the meeting.

9         To Discuss Finance

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

The total bank balance on 30 Sep 2024 was £18,478.38. After deducting the amount of earmarked funds and grants, the general reserve was £7,715.05.

The second part of the precept, £4,112.00 was credited to the current account and an interest of £93.37 was credited to the savings account.

Resolved The Parish Council approved the bank reconciliation.

The Parish Council noted the Budget – Actual Receipts and Payments Report.

9.2       Approval of Expenditure

Venue hire 8 October 2024 £10.00

Card monthly fee September 2024 £3.00

Unity bank account fee 04/06/24 – 03/09/2024 £18.00

Bench for the Triangle £290.00

Clerk’s salary and expenses £944.20

Office mobile top up £5.00

Items for notice board repairs £234.95

SLCC membership fee £105.00

Resolved The Council unanimously approved the expenditures.

10     To Receive Reports and Updates

10.1   To Receive an Update about the Triangle

The Triangle was levelled and a rowan tree, donated by Tom French from the Teign Valley nursery, was planted by volunteers, Charles and Victor Brook. The log benches will be installed on 11 October. The notice board has been removed for maintenance and repair.

10.2   To Receive a Highways Update

Cllr Sawyer agreed to discuss with the lengthsman the most critical areas where drain clearing is necessary.

Clerk to write in the Magazine about how important it is that landowners keep the drains clear around their property. Cllr Sawyer to drop leaflets at affected areas.

Resolved The Parish Council agreed to join the Road Warden Scheme and ask for volunteers to repair potholes in the village.

Cllr Salter offered to be the Road Warden.

A resident offered to store tarmac in his barn.

Clerk to ask for volunteers in the Magazine to repair potholes.

10.3   To Receive an Update about the Snow Warden Appeal

The Parish Council asked for a volunteer to take up the Snow Warden position which is vacant since Cllr Moorhouse resigned. There were no applications.

Resolved The Parish Council decided to leave the Snow Warden Scheme.

10.4   To Receive a Parish Path Partnership and Footpath Update

Cllr Crocker reported that gates need adjusting on the bridleway.

Cllr Sawyer added that a gate need adjusting on footpath 1 as well. There is an overhanging tree on footpath 5.

10.5   To Receive an Update about Southwest Water Drainage Issues

Discussed at item 3.

11     To Discuss a Possible Response to the Devon Countywide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Consultation

No comment.

12     Clerk’s Correspondence

The clerk indicated that next month the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) consultation and defibrillator check will be on the agenda.

13     Date of Next Meeting

12 November 2024

14     Chairman’s Remarks

The Chairman thanked everybody for their participation and closed the meeting at 9.32 pm.

 

 

 

Signed…………………………………………………………

Chair

 

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