Parish Council
Sticklepath Chair’s Report to the Annual Parish Meeting May 2024
Playing field equipment and wall
The playing field committee met in April. The findings of the annual Play Safety Report showed all items to fall into the low and medium risk categories (no immediate action needed) and no items were listed in the ‘red’ zone. The red zone is considered to be high risk and urgent action necessary to reduce risks. The main item flagged as requiring attention was the Trim Trail that is highlighted for replacement previously. The Report confirmed that it’s at the end of its useful working life and we should programme for early replacement. It will be checked on a routine basis with a view to decommissioning it in the Summer. It was decided the new equipment will be made of recycled plastic instead of timber, although recycled plastic is three times as expensive as similar items made from timber it will better survive the Dartmoor climate. Initially a small selection of trim trail equipment will be purchased to suit the ages 4-10 year olds and a small toddler tower giving the park appeal for both age groups. The full committee were in attendance along with 4 members of the general public which was very encouraging especially as they were very enthusiastic to get involved in future fundraising activities and also having very positive ideas as to future items of play equipment for the park with specific input from their children. So far the committee has raised £5k. All the proceeds from Open Gardens on 2nd June will be going to the Playing Field Fund this year and the committee will hold a Quiz night in late June/early July to raise further funds. With grant funding we will apply for we hope this should give us a funding pot of around £11k which will hopefully be enough to get the equipment ordered. Various items require repair as and when the Parish Council budgets allow but there are a couple of items (gate and slide platform) which could possibly be repaired by willing volunteers with woodwork skills. This year repairs to the playing field wall were also required and exceeded the previous Playing Field Wall Fund. This is a separate that to the Playing Field Fund (which is for equipment). The playing field fund is only for the equipment and does not cover the maintenance. Future fund raising will focus on replenishing the Playing Field Wall fund.
Defibrillator
This year a volunteer painted the phone box housing the defibrillator and we would like to thank them for this. We will review look into the Volunteer Emergency Telephone System (VETS) list and will report back to the council in the Autumn if she identifies any changes to our procedures. VETS is a community-run system that enables up 10-15 volunteers to assist pending the arrival of the emergency services. A local number is used as a single point of contact using “Hunting-Group” technology to ring all volunteers phone numbers simultaneously. We also hope at that point to promote the VETS number more widely as the existing signs have been unchanged for several years.
Speeding
Last summer Cllr Moore took delivery of the signs from Steven’s Estate Agents with the “20’s plenty” slogan. We now have several volunteers; three/four will be used at a time, one at each end and one in Willey Lane, to be reviewed every three months. Moving the signs around should help prevent “sign blindness” so anyone on the main roads through the village who would like to host the sign please get in touch with the clerk or Cllr Moore.
Housing
At our meeting in November Alex Rehaag (Principle Affordable Housing Officer) gave a presentation to the council following the West Devon borough Council (WDBC) housing needs survey. This has revealed that Sticklepath needs 7 new homes. Although Dartmoor National Park Authority is the planning authority, WDBC is responsible for housing need. Alex explained that Housing Associations do not grant the right to buy, but are disposing of properties. We discussed how a Community Land Trust (CLTs), would prevent any right to buy or mutual exchanges. The council felt it was important to find out more and asked Alison Ward of Middlemarch Community Led Housing to our April meeting. She explained the role of Community Land Trusts and their relationships with Housing Associations, builders and financiers. Government grants will only go to Registered Providers of housing (such as Housing Associations), who buy the land and transfer it to the CLT. The first step would be to identify sites for potential housing. There was concern that Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) would block housing because Sticklepath as a settlement is not designated for new houses. This would take time and money although grants could be sought from by WDBC. The whole process usually takes about six years from conception to build finished. Most Housing Associations do not consider developments of less than 10 homes. It was agreed that the SPC would investigate these housing initiatives further. However, it is also clear that this role is going to need a bigger group than the council and so will hold an open meeting to seek support in this. If none if forthcoming, we may have to wait until there is more interest.
Open Gardens
Last year’s open Gardens was a huge success with a total raised of £1,045. £645 of which was donated to the village funds (£500 Playing Field Fund and £145 to the Defibrillator Fund). The organisers donated the balance to other charities. We would like to thank Malcolm Brewer for his work on the Plant Sale and Jed Fitzgibbon for arranging such a successful day. This year they hand the day on and I hope that includes the weather from last year. Open Gardens this year 2 June with a Scarecrow trail for the younger members of the village to enjoy.
Councillors
We currently have a vacancy and anyone interested should speak to the Clerk. clerk@sticklepath.org Kevin Sales Chair Sticklepath Parish Council 22 May 2024