Parish Council
Cllr. Kevin Sales (Chair), Cllr. Derek Moore (Vice-Chair), Cllr Lois Rowlands, Cllr Niki Wooldridge, Cllr Michelle Westcott, Cllr Ian Duffield, Cllr Emma Bell.
Sally Fullwood (Clerk), Cllr Lynn Daniel (West Devon Borough Council WDBC)
There were no declarations of interest.
There were no apologies for absence.
There was no public participation.
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 3rd October 2022 were considered, agreed and signed as a correct record.
Cllr Lynn Daniel’s report, (previously circulated) was noted. She highlighted the electoral register canvassing; this is required by the government. Although she is not aware of any rough sleepers, it is a requirement to report them. She handed out paper copies of the South Zeal Post Office questionnaire, which can be distributed at the coffee morning. There will be a public meeting when the questionnaires have been collected.
Anti-social behaviour was discussed. The anti-social behaviour hub in Okehampton only meet twice a year.
Cllr Sales had circulated a report, regarding issues raised from members of the public. The councillors will speak to the owner of one hedge requesting it be cut.
It was agreed that the council owned hedge was not an immediate hazard, and would be cut when a volunteer could be found, rather than incurring contractor costs. Action: Cllr Sales will respond to the complainant.
Cllr Moore had met with Simon Thompson, the new Operations Manager for National Trust West Dartmoor, who would like to discuss items with the Parish Council; the bridge and footpath, the drainage into Billy Green and Criminal Damage. He has put in a budget for lighting and CCTV at the back of Finch Foundry. Action: Cllr Moore will invite him to the December meeting.
Cllr Sales had tried to get hold of Stagecoach Buses to raise a concern, but had not been able to get through. Cllr Moore had raised the issue of reducing bus services at the Eastern Links meeting. There will be a Super Links meeting in December, which Cllr Moore and Cllr Duffield will attend.
Ian Brooker is retiring as the local Dartmoor National Park Ranger; Rob Taylor will be incorporating the local area into his existing area.
There will be a presentation from StOC next week to which individuals can contribute. There will be a leaving party in the Kings Arms on Thursday 24th November.
Cllr Moore proposed that we write to DNPA to acknowledge the support that Ian Brooker has given to the area, and send a thank you from the Council to him. This was agreed.
Action: Cllr Moore will start two documents in the shared folder, which can be edited by all members over the next week.
Cllr Moore reported that a survey has been done of the Billy Green bridge, and he will be in contact with DNPA and DCC Highways, to find out what progress has been made. Action: Cllr Moore.
Playing Field Committee – Cllr Bell reported that £165 was raised from the Quiz Night.
Hardship Fund Committee – Cllr Rowlands reported that £75 in grants had been agreed following applications to the fund, and a meeting prior to the council meeting.
Proposal: Due to the confidential nature of the committee and the need for anonymity, minutes are not necessary for the Hardship Fund Committee, so Standing Order 12(e) and the advice from the Internal Auditor will be over-turned by this proposal.
Proposer: Cllr Moore. Seconder: Cllr Wooldridge, all agreed.
The Clerk’s report, previously circulated, was noted.
Action: Cllr Moore will report a tree to DCC because it is hanging over the road in a dangerous position.
The Clerk had not published the Covid information, it was agreed to wait for further advice before publishing new information.
Cllr Wooldridge could not find the article which she had seen about Ash Die Back.
Cllr Bell had distributed the newsletter; she will send a copy to the Clerk for the records. Action: Cllr Bell.
There had not been any applications for the role of Road Warden.
Since Cllr Duffield had not had a response from Drewsteignton or South Tawton Parish Councils on other matters, he had not approached them about sharing a Road Warden.
Cllr Westcott reported that she had tried to contact Matt Hawke at the local police, without success. The talk at an Okehampton school had been initiated by the police.
Cllr Wooldridge proposed that the council should speak to the children at the school council, and raise speeding issues as well as Parish Council business. This was agreed. Action: Cllr Wooldridge to take up the opportunity.
Cllr Duffield had forwarded a report regarding options for signs to prevent speeding in the village. Cllr Moore had forwarded an example of a sponsored ’20 is plenty’ sign.
The following actions were agreed:
Action: Cllr Moore will approach Godfrey, Short and Squire and Stags regarding ’20 is plenty’ signs. These would be moved around the gardens of householders willing to host them.
Action: Cllr Duffield will get costs for metal sign holders to go on lampposts in which children’s signs could be placed. All signs would be changed/moved every 3 months.
This was covered by Cllr Daniel’s WDBC report and discussion.
Cllr Wooldridge had completed all her courses; Cllr Sales will be attending the chairman’s course on 19th December.
Cllr Rowlands had forwarded a report regarding options for collections of dog bins. Cllr Rowlands is awaiting a reply from WDBC on the cost for weekly collections and whether they could be collected on alternate weeks.
It was proposed that Option 1 from Cllr Rowland’s report (Leave collections as they are and monitor bin usage. Future discussion by Parish Council on a date to be agreed.) was actioned, with the discussion scheduled for January. This was agreed.
Cllr Moore proposed that Option 2 (Increase signage by bins requesting people to take dog poo bags home (and info on cost of bin collections?) was added, but this was not agreed.
It was agreed that the size of the bins and the frequency of collection would not be changed at the moment.
It was agreed that the bin that had been removed from the park would be inspected for suitability and size as a possible replacement for other bins. . Action: Cllr Westcott.
Cllr Duffield had forwarded a report regarding the re-painting of the phone box. Following information about a possible grant for the paint, he had written to Community Heartbeat and was awaiting a response. There is a possibility that Jewsons could also provide paint.
Action: Cllr Sales will approach a possible volunteer to do the painting.
Action: Cllr Duffield will check the people on the VETS list for possible updating.
It was resolved to approve the following payments:
517.7.1.1. |
DALC Training for Cllr Wooldridge (3rd course) (paid 10/10/22) | £15 + £3 VAT |
517.7.1.2. |
Printing for Parish Newsletter | £48.82 |
517.7.1.3. |
DALC Training for Cllr Wooldridge (4th course) | £15 + £3 VAT |
517.7.1.4. |
Community Heartbeat Emergency Phone Cellular Rental | £60 + £12 VAT |
517.7.1.5. |
Hardship Payment | £75 |
Action: Clerk to set up and Cllr Moore to approve.
The following receipts were noted
517.7.2.1. |
24/10/22 | Proceeds from Quiz Night | £165 |
Current Balance (07/11/22) £11,621.54
There were no planning applications.
The following decision was noted:
The Ash trees at Finch Foundry have not been protected with a Tree Preservation Order. Cllr Moore had contacted Finch Foundry and they were being felled because of safety concerns.
Tree Works Application at Sycamore House – the had Council recorded no objection after email discussion – this was noted.
A photo was taken of the council for use on the website.
The list of dates previously forwarded by the Clerk was agreed, apart from the May meeting which was moved to Wednesday 10th May due to the new bank holiday.
Cllr Sales had previously forwarded a new draft Code of Conduct, and he went through some highlighted items which were in the old Sticklepath Code of Conduct, but were not included in the new WDBC code.
It was agreed to adopt the new Code of Conduct, based on the WDBC one.
Action: Cllr Sales will make the final changes.
Cllr Bell had previously forwarded the plan; the names and businesses may be out of date.
Action: All councillors will amend the document as necessary. It will be put on the shared drive.
The Clerk had previously forwarded an amended Publication Scheme.
It was agreed to adopt the new version, which was signed by the Chair.
The next meeting will be held on Monday 5th December at Sticklepath Village Hall.
Action: Cllr Wooldridge will review the Training and Development Policy for Members for the next meeting.
Action: Cllr Sales will create a Bus Stop Policy and present quotes for a noticeboard at the next meeting.
Action: The Clerk will prepare a draft 2023/24 Budget in consultation with Cllr Sales and Cllr Moore.
Action: Cllr Sales and Cllr Moore will present the results of the Green Spaces Consultation.
The Meeting ended at approximately 21:50 pm.