Parish Council
Sticklepath Parish Council Minutes October 2022
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on 3rd October 2022 at 7.30 pm at Sticklepath Village Hall.
COUNCILLORS PRESENT:
Cllr. Kevin Sales (Chair), Cllr. Derek Moore (Vice-Chair), Cllr Lois Rowlands and Cllr Niki Wooldridge, Cllr Emma Bell.
IN ATTENDANCE:
Sally Fullwood (Clerk)
516.1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest
516.2 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr Duffield sent his apologies as he was unwell, Cllr Westcott sent her apologies as she is unwell. Both were accepted.
Cllr Lynn Daniel (West Devon Borough Council WDBC) sent her apologies.
516.3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There was no public participation.
516.4 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 5th September 2022
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 5th September 2022 were considered, agreed and signed as a correct record.
516.5 Reports
516.5.1. WDBC and or DCC Reports
Cllr Lynn Daniel’s report, (previously circulated) was noted. Action: Cllr Sales will contact Cllr Daniel to check if the Household Support Fund is still open.
516.5.2. Chairman’s Report
Cllr Sales had spoken to a member of the public who was tidying some weeds between Ladywell and the old School. The Council would like to thank them. Some bushes in the area will be trimmed on the next work day.
516.5.3. Committee Reports
Playing Field Committee – The Council would like to thank Mr S. Matthews for his work on the benches. The Quiz night, which had to be moved after the Queen’s Death, will now occur on 21st October
Hardship Fund Committee – Cllr Rowlands reported that there had been no applications. The advert is in the October and November Beacons, on Facebook and the Website. If there is a need for the fund over the winter, Cllr Rowlands will apply to Devon Communities Together Growing Communities Fund for further funds.
516.5.4. Green Spaces Consultation Report
Cllr Sales thanked Cllr Moore for his work on the Green Spaces project. Cllr Moore reported that 25 responses had been made, with a wide variety of views. Cllr Moore will scan the forms as a record of the consultation.
It was agreed that the consultation should be extended for another month, forms for further responses will be left in the Heritage Centre. Action: Cllr Moore.
It was agreed that details including telephone numbers should be put in the newsletter. Action: Cllr Bell
It was agreed that after reviewing the responses a report and proposal will be circulated in November for decision in the December meeting. Action: Cllr Moore and Cllr Sales
516.5.5. Operation London Bridge (Death of the Queen) report
Cllr Sales thanked the Clerk for her work in researching and advising, and the whole Council in implementing the response to the Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He also thanked Cllr Wooldridge for donating and organising the Condolence Book; a response is awaited from the church as to the storage of the book. No flowers had been left at Oak Tree Green. The notices were being removed.
516.5.6. Clerk’s Report
The Clerk’s report, previously circulated, was noted.
It was agreed that the list of emails and website contributions should be dropped from the report, and that the Healthwatch email was not applicable to the parish; WDBC would forward health items for consideration.
It was agreed that the details from the WDBC Covid email should be put on the website. Action: Clerk
The Council was concerned about the Stagecoach buses being cut. Cllr Moore proposed that a representation should be made to Devon County Council on this issue. This was agreed. Action: Cllr Sales.
516.5.7. Any other reports
516.5.7.1. Anti-Social Behaviour
The report forwarded by Cllr Moore regarding anti-social behaviour was noted. Cllr Wooldridge had encountered a member of the public who considered that WDBC leaving cuttings on Oak Tree Green after cutting was an excuse for leaving theirs there. The Council will continue to monitor the situation.
516.5.7.2. Village Hall
Cllr Bell reported that the Village Hall had obtained grants to boost morale. They were using the grants to provide a Comedy Horror performance on Friday 4th Nov, with free food, drinks and tickets for Sticklepath residents on a first come first served basis.
516.5.7.2. Dog Bins
Cllr Rowlands reported that the dog bin at Finch Foundry was overflowing. A bag has been put beside it for overflow. Cllr Rowlands will monitor and chase collections by WDBC.
516.6 Items brought forward and actions from previous meeting
516.6.1. Parish Newsletter
Cllr Bell has prepared the newsletter, apart from the Chairman’s report. She will get it printed and give to other councillors for distribution.
516.6.2. Road Warden Scheme
Cllr Moore reported that various adverts had gone out for the Road Warden position, but there have been no responses, even though there were 480 views on the Facebook page. It was agreed that Councillors need to talk to people in order to get a volunteer. The possibilities of joining with other councils or using it as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme were raised.
516.6.3. Travel Safety Scheme
Cllr Westcott was absent, so there was no update on the travel safety scheme.
516.6.4. Speeding Signs
Cllr Duffield had forwarded a report regarding options for signs to prevent speeding in the village. It was agreed to delay action on this until Cllr Duffield could present it in person. Councillors were encouraged to contact him with any questions or suggestions before the next meeting.
516.6.5. Post Office
Cllr Moore had forwarded a report of his strategy and actions, which was accepted. Since the report, Post Office Ltd had noted the Council’s concern, but they cannot do anything until the current contract has finished.
516.6.6. Councillor Training
Cllr Wooldridge had completed her second course, and has some ideas from it on community engagement which will be discussed at a later date. Cllr Sales has not yet found a suitable date for the chairman’s course.
516.6.7. Bank Account Mandate
The Clerk reported that all Councillors who wanted to now had access, although those new to Lloyds internet banking had not yet tried to log in. Lynn Daniel had been removed from the account. There had been a problem with the request to remove Vera Loader, but it was now in progress. Cllr Moore is still trying to change his pin number.
516.6.8. Village Day
Cllr Bell reported that £1,411 had been taken on Village Day. The Circus people had increased their fee, and Cllr Bell proposed that they were not used next year. This was agreed. The Tombola had done particularly well, and it was considered an “All round success”. It was agreed that the Council would like to thank Dale Snowden of BP Whitehouse Services for his continued support in donating to the village. Taw River Inn had also donated the coconuts. The Council thanked Cllr Bell for all her work on Village Day.
516.6.9. Internal Auditor Actions
The Clerk had reported progress with the actions in the Clerk’s Report. This was noted. The policies mentioned by the auditor should get done in the financial year, although some of the others due for review might need to be delayed.
516.6.10. Second Homes/Holiday Lets
There was no update on second home/holiday lets.
516.7 Finances
516.7.1. Payments
It was resolved to approve the following payments:
| 516.7.1.1. | DALC Training for Cllr Wooldridge (2nd course) | £15 + £3 VAT |
| 516.7.1.2. | For materials for benches to S. Matthews (paid 23/09/22) | £120 + £24 VAT |
| 516.7.1.3. | Clerk’s Wages | £699.23 |
| 516.7.1.4. | Bin Emptying | £278.46 + £55.70 VAT |
Action: Clerk to set up and Cllr Bell to approve.
516.7.2. Receipts
The following receipts were noted
| 516.7.2.1. | 01/09/22 | Proceeds from Village Day | £1,411.65 |
| 516.7.2.2. | 16/09/22 | Precept Second Payment | £2,866.00 |
516.7.3. Other Financial Matters
516.7.3.1. Current Balance (03/10/22) £12,530.93
516.8 HALF-YEARLY BUDGET
It was agreed to approve the half-yearly budget, and the new format.
The Playing Field Fund is for capital expenditure on the Playing Field, inspection and maintenance should come out of general funds. Action: Clerk to update accounts.
The Council marquees had been sold in the previous financial year, so the apparently un-budgeted expenditure was a replacement using mostly the funds from that sale.
It was agreed to merge the two leaflet funds – Two Museums Way Leaflet and Walks Leaflet, which would improve the deficit on the Sticklepath Walks. The money for the Two Museums Way Leaflet had originally come from a Devon County Council Locality Fund grant and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council. Action: Clerk to update accounts.
It was agreed that the Transparency Fund should be closed at the end of the year, as maintenance for the website was now considered a running cost of the council.
516.9 Planning
516.9.1. Planning Applications
516.9.1.1. 22/0032 Three Ash Trees to be felled in the grounds of Finch Foundry
The Council felt unqualified to comment on this application, due to lack of knowledge about ash dieback. Action: Cllr Wooldridge will circulate an article about the issue. Action: Cllr Moore will find out more information about the tree felling.
516.9.2. Planning Decisions
The following decision was noted:
0326/22 Taw River House – Change of use on annex had been approved.
516.9.3. Planning Matters
The Clerk reminded the Council that the current Standing Orders prevented the Council taking action on possible planning breaches.
516.10 COUNCIL PHOTOS
This was delayed until more councillors were present.
516.11 BUS STOPS
Action: Cllr Sales will prepare a Bus Stop policy for the next meeting.
516.12 CODE OF CONDUCT
Cllr Sales will review the policy before the next meeting.
516.13 COMMUNICATIONS
It was agreed that the Council needed another noticeboard for community topics, and that the best place for this would be on the bus stop, which would also prevent other notices damaging the wood. Action: Cllr Sales will research the cost of a noticeboard on the bus stop.
It was agreed to continue with the use of polls in the WhatsApp group to determine if topics should be promoted.
516.14 DEFIBRILLATOR
It was agreed that Cllr Duffield should research the repainting of the phone box, including grants and volunteers as well as quotes. Action: Cllr Duffield
516.15 Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Monday 7th November at Sticklepath Village Hall.
Action: The Clerk will review the Publication (Freedom of Information) Policy for the next meeting.
Action: Cllr Sales will review the Code of Conduct for the next meeting.
Action: Cllr Wooldridge will review the Training and Development Policy for Members for the next meeting. Action: Clerk will send her examples.
Action: Cllr Bell will review the Emergency Plan for the next meeting.
The Meeting ended at approximately 9.35 pm.