Parish Council Meeting Minutes March 2026

                                                           STICKLEPATH PARISH COUNCIL

Draft Minutes of the Meeting of Sticklepath Parish Council held on

2nd March 2026 at 7.30 pm at Sticklepath Village Hall

pdf  downloadable version Draft Minutes Sticklepath Parish Council March 2026

Councillors Present:

Cllr Kevin Sales (Chair), Cllr Derek Moore (Vice-Chair), Cllr Kay Loram, Cllr Rob Sewell, Cllr Beth Hawking, Cllr Jacob Powell (from 556.5.2).

In Attendance:

Cllr Lynn Daniel (West Devon Borough Council), Sally Fullwood (Clerk), One member of the public.

556.1          Declarations of Interest – There were no declarations of interest.
556.2          Apologies for Absence – Cllr Sue Davies (Devon County Council) sent her apologies.
556.3          Public Participation – There was no public participation.
556.4          Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting held 9th February 2026
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 9th February 2026  were considered, agreed and signed as a correct record.

556.5          Reports

556.5.1.      West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) Report and Devon County Council (DCC)
Cllr Daniel had sent a March Report which is available on the website or by application to the clerk. Councillors expressed concern about the increase in price of the Garden Waste Disposal service to £70 and wondered if fly-tipping would increase. Cllr Daniel suggested that the council might like to consider a communal compost bin.

She also mentioned several consultations. She highlighted the Beacon Community Land Trust public meeting on 13th March 7pm, and there were several questions to clarify the situation.

556.5.2.                      Chair’s Report
Cllr Sales reported that there is a large hole in Willey Lane where the flood has been cleared. He had also received complaints about more lorries coming through the village.

556.5.3.                      The Playing Field Committee Report
Cllr Loram reported that the inspection will be done in March, and they have found a volunteer to repair the slide platform.

556.5.4.                      Sticklepath Street Project Committee (SSPC) Report
Cllr Sewell reported that they have a meeting with the Head of Traffic Management at DCC, hopefully in Sticklepath, thanks to Cllr Moore making contact. Cllr Hawking suggested that we consider the community speed watch, which had previously been attempted but only one volunteer came forward.

556.5.5.                      Sticklepath Moor Nature Reserve Committee (SMNRC) Report
Cllr Sewell reported that the next meeting will be on Tuesday March 10th at the Village Hall. There have been some surveys on the reserve, and the WhatsApp group is creating interest. The workday was very successful and the sign has been ordered.

556.5.6.                      Clerk’s Report
The short Clerk’s report, previously circulated, was noted. The Clerk’s Report is available on the website, or by application to the Clerk..

556.5.7.                      Road Warden’s Report
Cllr Powell had circulated a Road Warden’s Report which is available on the website or by application to the clerk. The Council agreed to thank the Neighbourhood Highways Officer for his hard work during the crisis of the Promise School fire.

556.5.8.                      Work Day Report
Cllr Moore had circulated a report on the Work Day  (22nd February) which is available on the website or by application to the clerk. This was noted. The Work Day had no costs for the Council. There were 31 volunteers, but not all tasks were completed.

556.5.9.                      Any Other Reports
556.5.9.1.               Walks Leaflet Report
Cllr Moore had circulated a report on a meeting with NT regarding the Walks Leaflets and the permissive path, which is available on the website or by application to the clerk. This was noted.

556.6          Items brought forward and actions from previous meeting
556.6.1.                      Billy Green
Cllr Sewell reported that he had been researching ownership.

556.6.2.                      Oak Tree/Millenium Green
Cllr Moore reported that there are some weeds that need removing and a volunteer who couldn’t make the WorkDay has agreed to tackle this. Cllr Sewell mentioned that although the bulbs were sparse this year, they had only just been planted and would need time to naturalise.

556.6.3.                      Website Changes
The Clerk reported that Spencer Stallion had created the new website on www.sticklepathparish.gov.uk, but it was currently incomplete, and would require further work by Spencer and the Clerk.

The Clerk had obtained information from Devon Association of Local Councils and Parish Online about non-councillor members of committees having  gov.uk council emails. The advice was that it was permissible, but not recommended for security reasons. Non-councillors will not have signed a code of conduct like councillors.

It was agreed that the non-councillor members of committees should have council emails in the format firstname.surname@. This will enable a group to be made for each committee to automatically forward to them on those accounts.

The recommended format for councillor emails is cllr.firstname.surname@. It was agreed to keep the councillor emails in the format cllr.surname@. The Sticklepath.org emails will be forwarded to the new emails for a period of time.

Action: Clerk to liaise with Spencer to action the website and email changes.

556.6.4.                      Clerk’s Handover
Two people had expressed an interest in the Clerk’s position.

Cllr Sales proposed that the clerk’s duties should be shared between the councillors if there was nobody in position by the end of the month. It was agreed that the following roles would be taken on:

Action: Cllr Sales and Cllr Moore will prepare the agenda for the next meeting.

Action: Cllr Powell will set up any payments.

Action: Cllr Loram will cover the clerk’s emails.

Action: Cllr Moore will maintain the website.

The Councillors will contact the Clerk to arrange training. Action: Clerk to provide training.

The Clerk had agreed to do the end of year accounts. Arrangements will need to be made for the new year’s accounts and the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) when the future of the Clerk role is known.

It was agreed that the clerksticklepathpc@hotmail.com email would be closed, and no longer forward to clerk@sticklepath.org. It has not been the active email for approximately 10 years. Action: Clerk.

It was agreed to retain the current Clerk as an employee for April to do the handover to a new clerk or councillors. She will work at times convenient to her and will be paid for the hours worked through payroll, not for the contracted 5 hours per week. Proposer: Cllr Sales, Seconder: Cllr Powell.

Cllr Moore reported that South Tawton Parish Council are also looking for a Clerk, and the expected start date for a new clerk is June. They are open to sharing advertising for the two positions if the Councils are unsuccessful on their own.

556.6.5.                      Community Response Plan
Cllr Powell had added the suggestions agreed at the last meeting. Cllr Sales signed the new version on behalf of the Council.

After advice from Devon Communities Together it was agreed not to create a list of vulnerable people. Proposer: Cllr Powell, Seconder: Cllr Sales.

It was agreed to promote the Priority Services Register. Proposer: Cllr Powell, Seconder: Cllr Moore. Action: Clerk.

556.6.6.                      Councillor Vacancy
It was agreed not to advertise the councillor vacancy while the Clerk handover was going ahead. However, councillors should continue to have conversations with residents encouraging them to join the council.

556.6.7.                      Councillor Responsibilities
Cllr Sales signed the document with the changes made at the last meeting, which are also on the Councillors Responsibilities website page.

556.7          Finances
556.7.1.                      Payments
It was agreed to authorise the following payments:

556.7.1.1.
Spencer Stallion
Website Hosting and Administration for 26/27
£189.50
556.7.1.2.    
Sally Fullwood
Clerk’s Gross Wages (Jan-Mar)
£736.78
556.7.1.3.    
Lloyds Bank
Service Charges
£4.25
The £600 payment to Spencer Stallion for the website development had already been authorised at the December meeting (Minute 553.8.1.4).

Action: Clerk to set up payments. Action: Cllr Sales and Cllr Sewell to approve payments.

556.7.2.                      Receipts
There were no receipts to note.

556.7.3.                      Other Financial Matters
The following matter was noted:

556.7.3.1.               Current Balance £9,003.80 (including  £5,386.94 in savings).
556.8          Planning
556.8.1.                      Planning Applications
It was agreed to send the following comments in response to the planning application consultation:

26/0020 Works to Trees in conservation area – T1 – Rowan – Fell G2 – 5 stems of Alder on west side of multistem coppice stool – fell to ground level T2 – Birch – Fell. Longacre, Sticklepath, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2NQ

“Sticklepath Parish Council have no comment on this application.”

Proposer: Cllr Sales , Seconder: Cllr  Loram

Action: Clerk to register response.

556.8.2.                      Planning Decisions
There were no planning decisions to note.

556.8.3.                      Planning Matters
The Clerk had not heard anything from the enforcement officers.

556.9          Dog Behaviour
Cllr Sales reported that he had received complaints from residents about the following matters:

556.9.1.                      A dog barking between 6:15am and 6.45am every morning, somewhere in the area of Finch Meadow.
556.9.2.                      Dogs escaping and not being under control in the village.
556.9.3.                      A professional dog walker with 6 dogs, one of which was out of control.
556.9.4.                      Dog waste being left in the Skaigh Lane bridle path.
The Council wished to remind residents that it is the owners’ responsibility to keep their dogs under control and clear up after them.

Action: Cllr Sales will draft an article to go in the Beacon about the 4 problems.

Action: Cllr Moore will review the article and put it on the website.

556.10      Training & Development Policy
Cllr Loram had asked for the Council’s guidance on whether the policy should be more specific, mentioning particular courses that were needed, in line with the policies of other local councils. Cllr Moore had responded that it should be more concise and specific.

It was agreed that the policy should be more concise and specific.

Action: Cllrs Loram and Powell will create a new version for adoption at the next meeting.

556.11      Safeguarding Policy
It was agreed to adopt the Safeguarding Policy as reviewed by Cllr Powell and Cllr Loram. Proposer: Cllr Powell, Seconder: Cllr Loram.

It was agreed that there will not be a specific named Safeguarding Officer. Proposer: Cllr Powell, Seconder: Cllr Loram.

556.12      Bus Stop Policy
It was agreed to adopt the Bus Stop Policy as amended by Cllr Moore. Proposer: Cllr Moore, Seconder: Cllr Sales.

It was agreed that the 3 bus companies who use the West End Stops should be approached to find out whether they are used at all, with a view to closing them to improve the village environment.

Action: Cllr Moore will write to the bus companies.

556.13      Road Warden Risk Assessment
It was agreed to adopt the Road Warden Risk Assessment with no changes, as reviewed by Cllr Powell. Proposer: Cllr Powell, Seconder: Cllr Sales

556.14      Annual Parish Meeting
Arrangements should start to be made for the Annual Parish Meeting on 18th May.

Action: Cllr Hawking agreed to take on the organisation, with help from Cllr Loram and approach people to speak, and write a Beacon article.

556.15      Items for Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Monday 13th April 2026 at Sticklepath Village Hall, 7.30pm.

Items for agenda – Standing Orders, Equipment Loan Policy, Training and Development Policy.

It was agreed that Cllr Sales would review the Equipment Loan Policy, and Cllr Hawking would review the Standing Orders.

 

The Meeting ended at 21:21

 

Parish Clerk: Sally Fullwood, 5 Tor Down, Belstone, Okehampton, EX20 1QU
Tel: 01837 849131             Mobile: 07885 959554       Email: clerk@sticklepath.org