Parish Council
Cllr Kevin Sales (Chair), Cllr Derek Moore (Vice-Chair), Cllr Kay Loram, Cllr Niki Wooldridge, Cllr Jake Powell
Sally Fullwood, Clerk.
Robert Sewell for part of the meeting.
There were no declarations of interest.
Cllr Lynn Daniel of West Devon Borough Council sent her apologies.
There was no public participation.
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 7th October 2024 were considered, agreed and signed as a correct record.
A November report had been received from Cllr Lynn Daniel (WDBC). The full report is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk.
Cllr Sales thanked Cllr Wooldridge for her contributions to the Remembrance Day service.
A resident had complained about the condition of the bridge over the Taw River by Billy Green. This is not the Parish Council’s responsibility. Devon County Council have surveyed it and found that the treads need replacing. The bridge was built by StOC with government funding in 1998, but the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) is not responsible. Action: Cllr Moore will follow it up with Devon County Council.
A resident has requested that the leaf blower is used on slippery areas of Back Lane, which could be done by residents with their own tools.
Cllr Sales reported that the Quiz Night to raise funds for the equipment will be postponed due to clashes with other events. The Committee is expecting £500 of donations to be paid into the Playing Field Equipment Fund in the coming days.
It was agreed that Cllr Loram should be appointed as the second councillor member of the Playing Field Committee. Proposer: Cllr Powell, Seconder: Cllr Moore.
The Clerk’s report, previously circulated, was noted. The full report is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk.
The Clerk also highlighted that Cllr Lynn Daniel had arranged a meeting about the Community Land Trust on Friday 15th November in the Village Hall, 2-4pm. Two officers from WDBC will be attending, and it is hoping that a committee can be formed. The Council expressed disappointment that they hadn’t been informed of the meeting for which they had previously expressed support, and that it hadn’t been well advertised. It was agreed that the Clerk should send a formal email to Cllr Daniel expressing the Council’s disappointment, and requesting continued involvement in future meetings. Action: Clerk.
It was agreed that the Clerk should publish an advert for Beacon Boxes and the Sticklepath Pantry on the website. Action: Clerk.
The Clerk reported that she will be away for the next five days but will still be monitoring her emails.
The Road Warden, Cllr Powell, had circulated a report, which was noted. The full report is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk.
It was agreed that Cllr Powell would produce a draft Generic Risk Assessment and Timetable for actions on the road in the village for discussion at a later meeting. Action: Cllr Powell
It was agreed that the Combined Parish Community Scheme should be discussed at a later meeting.
There were no other reports.
The Leaf Blower had been purchased and used successfully as recorded in the Road Warden’s report.
Cllr Sales could not find where to send an email regarding the safety of the junction. The Clerk will email Highways about it. Action: Clerk & Cllr Sales.
Councillors will look at the plan again and it will be reviewed next month. Action: All.
Cllr Wooldridge reported that there were over 30 people at the ceremony, including more young people. The roll of honour was read out, there was a short service and the Last Post and Reveille were played. The Devonshire Inn had invited them back for refreshments. Cllr Wooldridge will review the roll of honour before next year. Action: Cllr Wooldridge.
It was agreed to find out if the ideas from the presentation at the October meeting could be taken forward, through sharing the presentation and further information with the higher authorities. Action: The Clerk will research the Highways Self-Funded Delivery Scheme. Action: Cllr Powell will speak to Devon Highways via our Neighbourhood Highways Officer, Josh Scillitoe. Action: Cllr Moore will speak to Dartmoor National Park Authority. The author of the presentation gave consent for it to be shared. Action: Cllr Loram will collate the ideas and reasons for the changes; councillors will send them to her by WhatsApp or email.
Cllr Powell indicated that speeding increases degradation of the road. Councillors are aware that residents perceive a danger from traffic, and the main road divides the village in half. It was agreed to collate near misses and incidents as there is no record of the dangers.
Action: The Clerk will find out if there would be any grants available for minor road improvements.
Cllr Moore had not heard any more about the virtual meeting with Moretonhampstead regarding speeding.
It was agreed to authorise the following payments:
| 540.7.1.1. | Cllr Moore (Paid 23/10/24) | Leaf Blower | £240.00 |
| 540.7.1.2. | Community Heartbeat | VETS Emergency Phone Rental | £72.00 |
| 540.7.1.3. | Cllr Moore | Petrol for Leaf Blower | £26.45 |
| 540.7.1.4. | Cllr Powell | Travel Allowance for Training | £24.20 |
| 540.7.1.5. | West Country Grounds Maintenance | Mowing and strimming | £143.70 |
Action: Clerk to set up payments.
Action: Cllr Sales and Cllr Wooldridge will authorise the bank payments.
No funds had been received.
540.7.3.1. The current balance is £16,406.15 (11/11/24) including £15,054.59 in savings.
540.7.3.2. The Playground Equipment Fund is now £7,676.44 and is expecting further donations including a grant of £2,000 after the invoice.
540.7.3.3. £2,000 was transferred into savings on 11th October.
540.7.3.4. StOC have thanked the Council for the donation of £30.
The following planning appeal had been received:
540.8.1.1. 0221-24 Erection of timber storage building, Hayes Torr Storage EX20 2JJ Appeal 3352543.
It was agreed that the Council had not changed their view since the original application, so there was no need to comment on the appeal.
Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sales.
The following Planning Decisions were noted:
540.8.2.1. 24/0058 Works to Trees, Hopedene, Sticklepath, Devon, EX20 2NR – No Objection
540.8.2.2. 24/0060 Works to Trees at Finch Foundry, Sticklepath, Devon, EX20 2NW – No Objection
There were no further planning matters.
Cllr Wooldridge had produced a draft report on VETS and the defibrillator.
The 2016 warranty on the defibrillator has now expired.
The on-going costs of the VETS scheme with Community Heartbeat are high and it has never been used. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) scheme is linked to the 999 system and the administrator would get an email if it the defibrillator had been used.
It was agreed to accept Cllr Wooldridge’s second alternative in her report to “Investigate the recognised British Heart Foundation defibrillator.” Proposer: Cllr Sales, Seconder: Cllr Wooldridge. Action: Cllr Wooldridge.
It was agreed that a third quotation was not required in view of the quality of the BHF system.
Action: Cllr Wooldridge will produce a summary of the full report for the website.
At this point the meeting had reached the 2-hour limit stipulated in Standing Order 2X. It was agreed to suspend the standing orders in order that the meeting could continue. Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sales.
Cllrs Wooldridge, Loram and Powell had met with the Clerk to draft a budget for the next 3 years, which they proposed to the Council.
Due to the shortage of time, the following proposals presented for the budget would be brought back for discussion at the next meeting:
The following proposals were agreed:
540.10.1. The Playing Field Equipment Fund should continue to be funded by donations and the Council should not contribute from the precept.
540.10.2. In view of the fact that the Village Day had donated over £1,000 to the Playing Field Equipment Fund each year over many years, the Council should encourage the reinstatement of the event and seek to find volunteers to take responsibility, but should not directly organise it. (This does not preclude any member of the Council from taking part or organising it in a personal capacity.)
540.10.3. The Village Environment Budget should be kept at the same level as this year, even though it wasn’t fully spent.
540.10.4. Bus shelter repairs, such as the replacement of the window, should be covered by a £100 budget each year, even though there has been no expenditure in recent years.
540.10.5. The Clerk’s overtime allowance should remain at £250 for 2025/26 and include the two-point increment previously agreed. For future years the forecast should include a one-point increment and a 5% rise.
540.10.6. The Training Budget should include the ‘Financial Introduction to Local Council Administration’ (FILCA) for the Clerk in 2025/26, an unspecified Councillor course each year and the DALC Conference in 2025/26 and 2027/28. (It was felt that providing financial training for the clerk demonstrated financial probity by the Council).
540.10.7. There is no need for budgets for the Parish Council Election or Housing Initiative.
Former Councillor Emma Bell had resigned and a Notice of Vacancy posted.
Action: Cllr Sales will write an article for the Beacon to thank former Councillor Bell.
The Councillor Responsibilities which Emma had held will be bought back to the next meeting.
It was agreed that Cllr Sales and Cllr Moore would fill in the Local Transport Plan Consultation. Action: Cllr Sales and Cllr Moore.
It was agreed to promote the consultation on the website and social media. Action: Clerk.
Following the writing of the Clerk’s Report, Cllr Lynn Daniel had informed the clerk that the Beacon Path from South Tawton to Okehampton was being considered as part of the West Devon LCWIP, and a decision would be made soon.
It was agreed that Cllr Moore should respond to the Devon and DNPA Consultations. Action: Cllr Moore.
It was agreed to promote the consultation on the website and social media. Action: Clerk.
It was agreed to postpone this item to the next meeting.
It was agreed not to respond to the consultation. Proposed: Cllr Sales, Seconded: Cllr Moore.
It was agreed to keep the account with Lloyds as the alternatives were more expensive, and it would save a lot of work for the Clerk. Charges for paying in small amounts should be added to the budget. Action: Clerk.
It was agreed that the Clerk should fill out the NHS Survey on behalf of the Council. Action: Clerk.
It was agreed to promote the consultation on the website and social media. Action: Clerk.
The meeting dates for 2025 as presented by the Clerk were agreed.
The next meeting will be held on Monday 2nd December 2024 at Sticklepath Village Hall, 7.30pm.
Items for agenda –Draft Budget 2025/26 and 3-year forecast, Communications/Website Strategy.
The Meeting ended at 22:01