MINUTES 1st SEPTEMBER 2026

Minutes of the Brampford Speke Parish Council Meeting held on
Tuesday 1st September 2026

Present – Cllr Luxton (Chair), Cllr Bannister, Cllr Hollingsworth, Cllr Tillett, Cllr Wright and Cllr Dawe.
In attendance - No members of the public and the Clerk.

63/26 Apologies - To receive any apologies for absence. Cllrs Ferns, King (EDDC) and Gent (DCC) gave their apologies.These were accepted.

64/26 Declarations of Interest Under the Code of Conduct
Councillors are reminded of the requirement to declare any interest, including the type of interest, and reason for that interest, either at this stage of the meeting or as soon as they become aware of that interest.
None were declared.

65/26 Minutes
The Minutes of the Parish Council meeting on 7th July 2026 to be adopted and signed.

PROPOSED: Cllr Tillett SECONDED: Cllr Luxton RESOLVED. The Minutes were signed by the Chair as a true record.

66/26 Public Question Time
Up to 5 minutes Public Question Time for members of the public to bring forward any issues not on the agenda (where a matter is already on the agenda members of the public will be given an opportunity to speak when that item is considered, within the framework of the Council’s standing orders). Where a decision is required, the issue will be placed on the following agenda.

• MOP has asked about the road closure through Upton Pyne for 25 days in September. Cllr Tillett has spoken to Highways Officer and they have advised there is no choice as 100m of new pipe need to be laid. Cllr Tillett will write back to the Highways Officer and Cllrs Vanstone and Gent to raise concerns.
• Several people have reported that there are five wasp nests in the hedge surrounding the school. Cllr Bannister will contact the Headteacher to report this.

67/26 Affordable Housing
To receive any updates on potential housing initiatives within the Parish.
Legal negotiations are on-going but nothing to report at the moment

68/26 Planning
The following planning consultations have been received since the last meeting:
• 26/1269/FUL – Bramleys, The Orchard Brampford Speke Exeter - Addition of lean-to greenhouse to existing garden room. This application was discussed prior to this meeting due to deadlines for comments on the Planning Portal. The Parish Council has commented that there are no objections.

Cllrs have decided to discuss further all planning applications that come through. Need at least three councillors to attend a planning meeting to be quorate.

All in favour

69/26 Lead Councillor Updates
To receive an update from the Lead Councillors on the following:
• Verges – Cllr Luxton. Branches behind the bus shelter needs to be tidied up. Community Payback team have been doing a brilliant job when they come. Bus shelter will be finished off and do any footpaths and verges that need to be done.
• Trees & Natural Environment – Cllr Hollingsworth – has been asked to look at some ash to see if die back
• Highways and Traffic Management – Cllr Dawe will be taking over once Cllr Tillett has handed over.
• Communications – Cllr Ferns – not present
• Footpaths – Update from the Footpath Warden and Cllr Bannister - nothing to report. Red Rock hill has been cleared.
• Road Warden and Snow Warden – Cllr Dawe will contact DCC to advise he is going to be the Road Warden and will meet with Highways Officer. Cllr Dawe has also agreed to be the Snow Warden.

70/26 Village Hall
To receive an update from Councillor Tillett.
The Clerk confirmed that the Annual Grant has been paid to BSVHT. Cllr Tillett has received the Title Deeds from the Land Registry. It is now confirmed we have absolute title. Thanks to Cllr Tillett for all his work on getting this completed.

71/26 Financial Items
To receive the accounts summary to 31st August 2026 (previously approved by Cllrs Luxton, Tillett and Ferns) in accordance with Financial Regulations:
2 x Payments to Tracy Watkins (July and August salary and expenses).
1 x Payments to BT for Village Hall line rental of £13.09 (paid by DD 06.07.2026). This was a final payment
2 x payments to Santander of £4.99 for bank charges on 21.07.2026 and 20.08.2028
1 x payment of £2000 to BSVHT for annual grant on 21.07.2026
1 x payment to HMRC for NI and PAYE of £211.20 on 23.07.2026
1 x payment of £47 to ICO for data certificate on 14/08/2026

The following credits were received:
1 x receipt of £0.16 from BT as refund for overpayment of service on 31.07.2026
1 x receipt of £372.47 for VAT reclaim on 28.08.2026
The bank balance as at the 31st August 2026 was £9443.75
To approve payment of new insurance policy of £264. Clerk confirmed there has been no increase in the premium from last year.

PROPOSED: Cllr Luxton SECONDED: Cllr Tillett RESOLVED.

72/26 EDDC Update
To receive an update from Cllr F King, East Devon District Council. Clerk has distributed the latest update from Cllr King to the Parish Councillors.

73/26 DCC Update
To receive an update from Cllr Nat Vanstone and Cllr Henry Gent, Devon County Council. Neither were present for the meeting. The Clerk has distributed the latest report to the Parish Councillors.

Cllrs discussed LGR and there are many concerns locally. The Clerk has forwarded a response from a local Parish to ECC. Clerk to send Cllr Tillett any relevant paperwork to help make a response to ECC. Local re-organisation to be added as an agenda item going forwards.

74/26 Other information/correspondence received for possible action/discussion
• Speke Up Submissions. – potholes, work carried out by the Community Payback Scheme.
• Parish council website – Mid Devon will be ceasing their supported Parish websites in April 2028 so BSPC need to source another one. Clerk has sent details of websites and pricing to Councillors to consider. Wait to see if we get a grant from new unitary council.
• Problems with break ins locally- an update with current situation. Nothing further to add at the moment. Cllr Hollingsworth will send crime numbers to Cllr Dawe.
• Litter picking – Cllr Dawe and Wright asked if the Parish Council can organise a litter pick every other month? Put a message out on the village WhatsApp. This includes dog poo bags pick-ups that are being dumped throughout the village.

75/26 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC (Part B)-To agree that the press and public be excluded from the meeting. Pursuant to Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, and having regard to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, to consider and agree that the Press and Public be excluded from the Meeting for the following item(s) of business
• Matters pertaining to the Clerk. Annual leave was approved. Payrise to be discussed in the November meeting.

76/26 Date of the next meeting(s)
Next Meeting scheduled for Tuesday 3rd November 2026 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

Meeting closed at 20:45pm