Parish Council
Parish Council Minutes December 2025
Minutes of the Meeting of Sticklepath Parish Council held on 1st December 2025 at 7.30 pm at Sticklepath Village Hall
PDF Downloadable Version of Parish Council Minutes December 2025
Councillors Present:
Cllr Kevin Sales (Chair), Cllr Derek Moore (Vice-Chair), Cllr Kay Loram, Cllr Jacob Powell and Cllr Rob Sewell
In Attendance:
Cllr Lynn Daniel (West Devon Borough Council)
One member of the public.
Sally Fullwood (Clerk)
553.1 Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
553.2 Apologies for Absence
Cllr Sue Davies (Devon County Council) send her apologies and season’s greetings.
553.3 Public Participation
There was no public participation.
553.4 Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting held 3rd November 2025
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 3rd November 2025 were considered, agreed and signed as a correct record.
553.5 Reports
553.5.1. West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) Report and Devon County Council (DCC)
Cllr Daniel (WDBC) had sent a report concerning consultations including a proposed social housing scheme at Wonacott Road , the Christmas Campaign and Village Halls Grant Scheme. She also mentioned the Local Government Reorganisation. The full West Devon Borough Council report is available on the website or by application to the Clerk.
Cllr Daniel also reported that the Beacon Community Land Trust (CLT) have liaised with Dartmoor National Park who are supportive, the site will be revealed when the Heads of Terms have been agreed. Cllr Daniel thanked the council for inviting Middlemarch to their meeting last year, which had inspired the CLT and Middlemarch were very helpful.
Cllr Daniel will be passing on the Beacon Active Travel Scheme funds to the Sticklepath Street Project Reserve for Active Travel.
553.5.2. Chair’s Report
Cllr Sales thanked Nicola Wooldridge for her service with the Council. It was agreed that thanks would be put in the Beacon. Action: Cllr. Moore.
A member of the public had put his walking stick through the bridge across the Taw near Billy Green. The Council are currently trying to establish who had responsibility for the bridge (see 553.6.2).
Cllr Sales reported that the new sign about the cows had received some negative responses as it was quite uninformative and the language used was unhelpful. The Health and Safety Executive are currently working with Dartmoor National Park Authority and The Commoners Associations to resolve the situation. The Council will publicise the resulting report as soon as it is available.
Cllr Sales reported that Remembrance Sunday had good attendance. There may be a need to secure the wreaths more securely in windy weather. Action: Cllr Sales.
553.5.3. The Playing Field Committee Report
Cllr Loram did not have anything to report from the Playing Field Committee.
553.5.4. Sticklepath Street Project Committee Report
Cllr Sewell reported that the next meeting will be in January, and that they are waiting for a response to their proposals from South Tawton Parish Council.
Cllr Moore reported that he had attended a Devon Association of Local Councils/Devon County Council Traffic Management webinar and mentioned the Street Project. The Traffic Management team were interested in the imaginative ideas and requested to talk further. Sticklepath would otherwise be very low on their normal criteria for traffic calming.
553.5.5. Clerk’s Report
The Clerk’s report, previously circulated, was noted. The full Clerk’s Report is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk.
553.5.6. Road Warden’s Report
Cllr Powell, Road Warden, reported that the crack in the road is still growing and he is keeping Highways informed. Highways are currently cutting trees high enough for double-decker buses.
Cllr Loram reported that where the South West Water work had been done in Willey Lane, it had caused subsidence and flooding . It was agreed that Cllr Powell will take a photograph and the Clerk will report it. Action: Cllr Powell/Clerk.
Cllr Loram also reported the pavement in Willey Lane had been left in a bad condition after the work by BT Openreach and Oakway. Action: Cllr Loram will report this (see also 553.14).
553.5.7. Any Other Reports
- The Clerk reported that a member of the public (MOP) had written requesting urgent action because the wildlife in the leat was suffering from the closure of the leat gates. The Clerk replied copying in Cllr Moore and the National Trust Finch Foundry contact Simon Thompson. Both Cllr Moore and Mr Thompson had replied to the MOP explaining that the leat is usually closed from November to March to enable maintenance both on the leat and the launder and waterwheels.
- Cllr Moore reported that the Sticklepath Work day and Leat Clean had been confirmed with the National Trust for 22nd February 2026.
- Cllr Sewell reported that he had purchased bulbs for planting in Oak Tree/Millenium Green, and that a MOP would be contributing some more. Volunteers would be needed in December to plant them. Anyone interested should contact sewell@sticklepath.org.
- Cllr Moore reported that Drewsteignton Parish Council, with whom we currently share a Mobile Vehicle Activated System (MVAS), had brought a new battery for it. We would be charged half of it. They will be buying another one for their own use, so while it is still serviceable the existing MVAS will be in Sticklepath more of the time. Devon County Council Highways Department have also been putting up an MVAS which records speeds in Sticklepath at times. They have many of these and move them around.
553.6 Items brought forward and actions from previous meeting
553.6.1. Sticklepath Moor Nature Reserve
Cllr Sewell reported that he had found some potential committee members, but not anybody willing to chair. He would hope the committee will be able to have an inaugural meeting in January. Action: Cllr Sewell.
He also had some leads for grazing and swayling for February.
It was now too late for FIPL funding for this round. The problem is that the costs have to be taken first and then claimed back. The Clerk confirmed that this could be done for about £5,000 at the moment.
The Clerk reminded Cllr Sewell that he had been authorised to find a sign for the Nature Reserve at the June Parish Council meeting, to be paid for out of the Village Environment Budget. He will come back with quotes at the next meeting. Action: Cllr Sewell.
553.6.2. Billy Green
Cllr Sewell reported that he had sent a large email about land ownership, repair responsibilities and rights of way to Dartmoor National Park Authority on 11th November. If he continued to receive no reply, he would send it on to Devon County Council.
553.7 Website Changes
It was agreed that the website work should go ahead as soon as possible. The payment is not due until after the work is complete, but once authorised the Clerk can pay it on completion. Action: Clerk.
Proposer: Cllr Sales, Seconder: Cllr Moore.
553.8 Finances
553.8.1. Payments
It was agreed to authorise the following payments:
| 553.8.1.1. | West Country Grounds Maintenance | Playing Field Mowing Sept | £145.51 |
| 553.8.1.2. | West Country Grounds Maintenance | Verge Mowing | £84.00 |
| 553.8.1.3. | Sally Fullwood | Clerk’s Wages Sept-Dec 2025(Including overtime agreed in 553.14) | £858.73 |
| 553.8.1.4. | Spencer Stallion | Website Changes | £600.00 |
| 553.8.1.5. | Cllr Sewell | Reimbursement for bulbs(£100 authorised in October) | £104.88 |
| 553.8.1.6. | Drewsteignton Parish Council | Half of MVAS battery (See 553.5.7) | £117.50 |
| 553.8.1.7. | Lloyds Bank | Service Charges | £4.25 |
In addition the invoice for the Community Heartbeat cellular phone rental of £72 authorised in October (Minute No. 551.8.1.5) had now come through, so would be included with these payments.
Action: Clerk to set up payments. Action: Cllr Powell and Cllr Moore to approve payments.
553.8.2. Receipts
To note the receipt of the following payments:
| 553.8.2.1. | Lloyds Bank | Interest |
£2.83 |
| 553.8.2.2. | HMRC | VAT Rebate |
£2,606.23 |
| 553.8.2.3. | Community Church Soup and Roll Group | Donation for Defibrillator |
£280.00 |
Action: Clerk to write to Soup and Roll Group c/o Nicola Wooldridge to thank them.
553.8.3. Other Financial Matters
The following matters were noted:
553.8.3.1. Current Balance £10,515.44 (including £5,379.21 in savings).
553.8.3.2. The Playground Equipment Fund is still -£78.72 but more donations are expected.
553.9 Planning
553.9.1. Planning Applications
There were no planning applications requiring a response.
553.9.2. Planning Decisions
The following planning decision was noted:
0316/25 Replace existing timber storage shed with steel frame timber clad building, Car Park adjacent to Finch Foundry, Sticklepath, Okehampton, EX20 2NW – Granted Conditionally
553.9.3. Planning Matters
The Clerk had contacted the Enforcement Officer and both Skaigh View and Higher Combeshead were being investigated, as detailed in the Clerk’s report.
553.10 Community Response Plan Documents
It was agreed to approve the following documents created by Cllr Powell and Cllr Loram.
- Community Response Plan (Front Page) Version 3.3
- Community Response Plan Risk Assessment Version 3.3
- Community Response Home Emergency Plan Version 3
- Community Response Incident Report Form Version 1.
Proposer: Cllr Powell, Seconder: Cllr Loram
The Chair signed the documents.
The non-confidential parts of the documents are available on the website, or by application to the Clerk
553.11 Flood Contact
Simon Thompson of the National Trust had agreed to be the flood contact for Sticklepath. Action: Clerk to notify the Environment Agency.
553.12 Playing Field Risk Assessment
It was agreed that the Playing Field Risk Assessment as presented by Cllr Powell and Cllr Loram would be adopted.
The Playing Field Risk Assessment is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk.
Proposer: Cllr Powell, Seconder: Cllr Loram
Cllr Moore requested that the Playing Field Committee should meet to review the Risk Assessment to understand their responsibilities within it.
553.13 Safeguarding Policy
It was agreed that the new version of the Safeguarding Policy would be brought back to the January meeting with some clarifying sentences, and the required training should be specified. There was also a need for a named Safeguarding Officer. Cllr Loram and Cllr Powell are also reviewing the Training and Development Policy for the January meeting. Action: Cllr Loram/Cllr Powell.
Proposer: Cllr Loram, Seconder: Cllr Moore.
The draft Safeguarding Policy before revision is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk
553.14 Playing Field Wall Problems
The Clerk explained the actions that she had taken regarding the demolition and subsequent inadequate reinstatement of the Playing Field wall by contractors working on fibre installation.
It was agreed that Kay Loram would take on the complaint Action: Cllr Loram
It was agreed that the Clerk should be paid 3 hours of overtime for the additional work that it had caused.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconded: Cllr Sewell.
553.15 Councillor Vacancies
Following the resignations of former councillors Tracey Bowman and Nicola Wooldridge, there are now two vacancies on the council. The first vacancy did not result in any requests for an election, and can now be filled by co-option. A candidate has come forward who would like to join the council and the first item on the agenda in January will therefore be Co-Option.
It was agreed that the Clerk should advertise the vacancies on the website and invite members of the community to join. Action: Clerk
553.16 2026/27 Budget
The following proposals were considered.
553.16.1. Clerk’s Hours
There was a proposal that the Clerk’s hours should be increased 16 to 20 hours per month, an approximate increase of 11% in the projected Clerk’s budget costs.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Powell
Cllr Sales proposed an amendment that the hours should be increased to 18 hours a month (not 20), as he believed that it was too big an increase for the precept. This would cover the amount currently covered by overtime.
Proposer: Cllr Sales, Seconder: Cllr Loram.
The Council voted against the amendment.
It was agreed to increase the Clerk’s hours from 16 to 20 hours per month from April 2026.
553.16.2. Walks Leaflets
It was agreed to transfer a one-off £200 contribution to the Walks Leaflets Reserve, with other funding coming from the National Trust, the Friends of St. Mary’s and advertising to produce a new Sticklepath leaflet, this could also have a QR code for viewing on the phone.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sales.
553.16.3. Ladywell Reserve
It was agreed to close the Ladywell ear-marked reserve immediately and move the money to the General Reserve.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sales.
553.16.4. Publicity Budget
There was a proposal to reduce the publicity budget to £250 a year.
Proposed Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Loram.
The Clerk had noted in her report that this would not cover the current expenditure on the newsletter printing, website costs and data storage.
Cllr Sales proposed an amendment to reduce the publicity budget to £300 instead. Seconder: Cllr Powell. This was carried.
It was agreed to reduce the publicity budget to £300.
553.16.5. Defibrillator Costs
There had been a £280 donation to the Defibrillator Fund this month.
There was a proposal to contribute towards the Defibrillator costs.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sewell.
Cllr Sales proposed an amendment that the contribution should be £250 a year, to ensure that a replacement defibrillator could be bought. Seconder: Cllr Powell. This was carried.
It was agreed to contribute £250 a year towards the Defibrillator costs.
553.16.6. Speed Awareness
It was agreed to put the Speed Awareness budget line within the Street Project Ear-Marked Reserve.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sales
553.16.7. MVAS
Cllr Moore had proposed that the Council should contribute £250 for their half share of a new Mobile Vehicle Activated Sign (MVAS) battery which would be needed next year. It is hoped that if the Street Project plans come to fruition, there will be no need for a replacement MVAS.
Cllr Moore withdrew the proposal as the battery had already been bought and the Sticklepath contribution of £117.50 would be paid this year.
553.16.8. Sticklepath Moor
It was agreed to create a new Ear-Marked Reserve for Sticklepath Moor.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sales.
553.16.9. Playing Field Wall
It was agreed to increase the contribution to the Playing Field Wall Ear-Marked Reserve to £500 a year.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Loram.
The relevant resolutions will be incorporated into the budget for final approval at the January meeting. Action: Clerk.
553.17 Delegated Powers
It was agreed to adopt the amended Scheme of Delegation as reviewed by Cllr Moore.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sales.
The Scheme of Delegation is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk.
553.18 Items for Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Monday 5th January 2025 at Sticklepath Village Hall, 7.30pm.
Items for agenda – Co-Option, 2026-27 Budget and Precept (Action: Clerk), Councillor Responsibilities, Recording Policy (Action: Cllr Sales), Publication Policy (Action: Cllrs Powell and Moore), Training & Development Policy (Action: Cllr Loram), Safeguarding Policy (Action: Cllrs Loram and Powell) ,Village Newsletter (Action: Cllr Loram).
Action: Clerk will produce a new draft version of the Councillor Responsibilities document, highlighting vacancies, and circulate it. Action: All Councillors will review the Councillor Responsibilities document to see if there are any vacant roles that they could fill.
Action All Councillors should give items for the newsletter to Cllr Loram so that she can bring a draft version to the January meeting.
The Meeting ended at 21:31
Parish Clerk: Sally Fullwood, 5 Tor Down, Belstone, Okehampton, EX20 1QU
Tel: 01837 849131 Mobile: 07885 959554 Email: clerk@sticklepath.org