Parish Council
Cllr Kevin Sales (Chair), Cllr Derek Moore (Vice-Chair), Cllr Niki Wooldridge, Cllr Kay Loram, , Cllr Jacob Powell, Cllr Robert Sewell.
One member of the public.
Sally Fullwood, Clerk.
Cllr Wooldridge expressed an interest in 10.1. Planning, it was agreed that she could stay in the room, but not participate in the discussion.
Cllr Tracey Bowman sent her apologies, which were accepted.
Cllr McInnes (Devon County Council Councillor) sent his apologies.
A member of the public requested that the Council should publicise the No Mow May
It was agreed that the Council should publicise the initiative on the website, and encourage the member of the public to put it in the Beacon. Action: Clerk
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Powell.
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 3rd March 2025 were considered, agreed and signed as a correct record.
Cllr McInnes had sent an annual report, which was noted.
Cllr Wooldridge reported that Cllr Daniel (WDBC) had applied for a grant, and the CLT will be called The Beacon CLT.
Cllr Sales reported that several people had complained that the tyres and bench on a verge in the village had been removed. The person who had put them there had removed them after a notice from Devon County Council Highways department, as it was a Highways verge and was considered an obstruction. Any residents who are concerned about their removal should contact Highways.
See Item 10.
The Clerk’s report, previously circulated, was noted. The full report is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk.
Cllr Powell reported that he had liaised with the Neighbourhood Highways Officer regarding potholes in the area, but the Highways department are short of money despite the additional funding from the government. The pavement outside The Mount had been cleared by a volunteer. South West Water have investigated leakage in the village which may undermine the roads.
Following the meeting with the Devon Wildlife Trust Ecologist, Tom Parsons, on March 17th, Cllr Sewell reported that the land will be discussed at the Parish Meeting to agree a name, to try to find out who the commoners are and what the community would like to do with it. Action: Cllr Sewell to prepare a presentation. There is a possibility that swayling may be used. The moor is registered as common land and there are 19 commoners who have the right to graze there, Cllr Sewell is attempting to investigate who they are. He has looked in the Parish Council archives and will look in the loft of the hall. The possible grazer has withdrawn.
The Council are legally responsible for securing it from unlawful interference, but do not own it.
It was agreed that the Council will not proceed with any claim of ownership over Sticklepath Moor.
Proposer: Cllr Sewell, Seconder: Cllr Moore.
There is the opportunity to access a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant, which could be used to reduce pollution which has been found. There may also be grants from WDBC. Applications will not proceed until after the Parish Meeting.
Billy Green – It is believed that ownership of Billy Green passed to Sticklepath Parish Council when it split with Sampford Courtney Parish Council in 1987. It is not registered with the Land Registry, but is registered as a Village Green.
Action: Clerk will write to Sampford Courtenay Parish Council to confirm the status of Billy Green.
Cllr Sewell and Cllr Moore are working with the National Trust to provide a permissive route through Finch Foundry, as Billy Green is currently not legally accessible. A public right of way could then be obtained through Billy Green, across the bridge to the bridlepath. This would be pursued with the Devon County Council Public Rights of Way team, who have already been approached.
Cllr Moore had circulated a report on the Work Day which had been held on 9th March. The full report is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk.
It was agreed to arrange other work days on Sunday 5th October and in February or March 2026 to coincide with the Leat Clean.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Powell.
545.5.9.1. Annual Parish Meeting (APM) – Cllr Moore reported that plans were in hand for the Annual Parish Meeting (APM) arranged by Malcolm Harris, and a poster will soon be produced. The Playing Field, Sticklepath Moor and Speeding Initiatives (See 6.2) will be discussed. Action: Cllr Moore will contact Malcolm to ask why the Chair had not been contacted, or the Clerk regarding paying for the hall. The Clerk requested that the previous two years’ of APM signed minutes should be kept in the Parish Council archives. Cllr Moore will request them.
545.5.9.2. Millenium/Oak Tree Green – Cllr Sewell reported that he had spoken to the WDBC employee who was cutting the grass and requested that the cutting was done less frequently and not under the trees. It was hoped that more areas could be left unmown. This topic will be added to the agenda of the next meeting. Action: Clerk.
Cllr Sales reported that he had attempted to circulate the new reduced Community Response Plan but it hadn’t been received by the councillors. He will ensure that it is circulated for consideration at the next meeting. Action: Cllr Sales/Clerk.
It was agreed that the road changes suggested by Cllr Sewell previously should be called the Sticklepath Street Project.
Dartmoor National Park Authority are supportive of the initiative.
Cllr Sewell is able to access speeding data on the OS Hub.
The 20 is Plenty sign will be re-displayed (Action: Cllr Loram/Cllr Moore).
Cllr Wooldridge reported that she had received a response regarding the expiry of the guarantee. As long as regular weekly site checks are carried out, the Council will be covered under the Community Heartbeat Insurance. Ian Duffield has agreed to do the weekly checks, but will require backup for holidays etc. Cllr Sales and Cllr Moore volunteered to assist with the checks and will approach Ian for training. Action: Cllr Moore/Cllr Sales.
Cllr Wooldridge will ask whether the contract can be changed to exclude VETS. Action: Cllr Wooldridge.
The defibrillator has been deployed 3 times in the last month.
Cllr Sewell reported that his training had been completed.
Cllr Wooldridge reported that there had been great enthusiasm about the event, with many volunteers for the tea, displays, creating table arrangements and for recorded discussions with those who had experienced the war. The Phoenix group will lead on wartime songs. It was agreed that the Lindy Hop demonstration should go ahead as they will now do it for only expenses.
Action: The Clerk will email the Village Hall chair to request that the hall fee is waived as it is a community event.
It was agreed that the council would extend the budget if necessary if the hall did not agree. Donations will also be requested on the day.
It was agreed to authorise the following payments:
545.7.1.1. ROSPA Play Safety Playground Inspection £124.80
545.7.1.2. Community Heartbeat Torch for defibrillator £13.14
545.7.1.3. Community Heartbeat VETS System £120.00
545.7.1.4. West Devon Borough Council Bin Collections £312.00
545.7.1.5. Devon Association of Local Councils Annual Membership £165.59
545.7.1.6. Lloyds Bank Bank Charges £4.25
Action: Clerk to set up payments.
Action: Cllr Sewell and Cllr Sales will authorise the bank payments.
To note the receipt of the following payments:
545.7.2.1. 10th March Interest £10.81
The following matters were noted:
545.7.3.1. Current Balance £13,947.25 (including £13,616.15 in savings)
545.7.3.2. The Playground Equipment Fund is still £7,676.44 and another grant of £2,000 will be transferred after the equipment is purchased.
545.7.3.3. £500 was transferred from the savings account to the current account by the Clerk to cover the payments in March and April. The Clerk reported that further funds would need to be transferred
545.7.3.4. The bank took £4.25 in service charges on 18th March. It was reported at the November meeting that this would be introduced.
545.7.3.5. The Work Day expenses came to £16.04; these were approved in the February meeting. All four payments for the Councillor Training of £72, approved at the January meeting, have now been invoiced. The payments for the final training and the Work Day expenses were still awaiting authorisation.
545.7.3.6. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to Cllr Lynn Daniel to complain about the 63% increase in the cost of bin collections from WDBC, which was not notified in advance to facilitate budgeting. Action: Clerk
545.8.1.1. 0109/25 Listed Building Consent – Structural Improvements to the launder balcony at Finch Foundry
It was agreed to submit the following comment – “Sticklepath Parish Council support the application.” Action: Clerk
545.8.1.2. 0123/25 Listed Building Consent – Replace corrugated Perspex roof with corrugated anthracite grey roof and replace garden room back door at Silverlake, Sticklepath, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2NP
It was agreed to submit the following comment – “Sticklepath Parish Council have no objection to the application.” Action: Clerk
There were no planning decisions to note.
Dartmoor National Park Planning Enforcement department are investigating the Hayes Torr Storage site.
It was agreed to approve the Asset Register, as amended by Cllr Sales, as substantially correct and it was signed by Cllr Sales.
It was agreed to add the Playing Field gate and fence to the assets, with a photo, as they had recently been replaced, and to add new photos of the Old Bus Shelter and the Silver Jubilee Seat. Action: Cllr Sales
Cllr Loram reported that the PDF of the Terms of Reference was out of date, although the page was correct. Action: Clerk
Cllr Loram, after discussions with the chair of the Playing Field Committee (Emma Bell), requested that the Terms of Reference should be changed to remove ‘maintenance’ from item 5 of the Terms of Reference. It was also suggested that the word ‘equipment’ could be added as that was what the fund raising had been intended for.
Action: The Clerk will amend the Terms of Reference and circulate them to councillors and the Playing Field Committee, for approval by the Council at the next meeting.
Cllr Loram reported that the RoSPA inspection report had been received and the slide platform needs to be replaced. Emma Bell would approach the contractor who did the fence to give a quote to replace the platform. The Trim Trail had not declined in condition, and could still be used.
The Playing Field Committee are planning to have a meeting in May or June.
Grass cutting could not resume until the mole hills had been removed by harrowing or use of a roller. Emma Bell will obtain prices for this.
Cllr Loram suggested that the Safety Inspection document could be used as the Risk Assessment, or used to update the Playing Field Risk Assessment that Cllr Powell had drafted. Regular inspections would now be recorded. These suggestions will be discussed at the next Council meeting. Action: Clerk.
Cllr Loram and Emma Bell suggested that the Playing Field email should be restricted to Cllr Loram, Cllr Sales and Emma Bell, with Emma Bell forwarding any relevant items to other members of the committee. This suggestion will be discussed at the next Council meeting. Action: Clerk.
James McInnes, Devon County Council Councillor for Hatherleigh and Chagford (the Sticklepath electoral division) will not be standing at the forthcoming election in June. It was agreed to send him a letter of thanks for all his support to Sticklepath Parish Council over the years. Action: Clerk.
This item was postponed to the next meeting.
This item was postponed to the next meeting, but Cllr Wooldridge did mention that anybody giving out a welcome letter should let her know, as she can give the newcomers a voucher to get a free copy of The Beacon at the shop.
The next meeting will be held on Monday 12th May 2025 at Sticklepath Village Hall, 7.30pm.
Items for agenda – Election of Chair and Vice-Chair, Annual Accounts 24-25, Code of Conduct, Playing Field decisions, Devolution, Welcome Letter.
The Meeting ended at 21:35