Minutes 2nd September 2025

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held on
Wednesday 2nd September 2025
at 7.30pm at the Village Hall

Present: Cllrs Luxton, Honan, Hollingsworth, Bannister and Cllr Tillett and Cllr Fabian King (EDDC)
In Attendance: The Clerk and 1 member of the public were present

69/25 Apologies
Cllr Lisa Langdon and Cllr Henry Gent (DCC) and Cllr Nat Vanstone (DCC) have all tendered their apologies. These were accepted.

70/25 Declarations of interest
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 to declare

71/25 Co-option of new Councillor
To formally co-opt Ian Bannister and a Councillor. PROPOSED: Cllr Stuart Luxton SECONDED: Cllr Hollingsworth RESOLVED. Ian Bannister was welcomed to the Council.

72/25 Minutes
The Minutes of the APCM held on 14th May 2025 and the Ordinary and Closed Parish Council meetings on 8th July 2025 to be adopted and signed. PROPOSED: Cllr Tillett SECONDED: Cllr Honan RESOLVED

73/25 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.
Email question from a member of the public. Lakeside hedges are very overgrown. All in hand with the landowner. Cllr Tillett will feed back.

Member of the public asked if a road narrows could a sign be put up warning of this. The consensus is unless there is a white line in the road you cannot do this.

74/25 Affordable Housing
To receive any updates on potential housing initiatives within the Parish.
There is nothing to report at the moment.

75/25 Planning
The following planning consultations have been received since the last meeting:
• 25/1653/FUL and 25/1654/LBC – Thyme Cottage – original plans were rejected. This one only ground floor. Cantilever part of plan not there now. No objections. Clerk to update the portal.

Councillors have the option to discuss any applications received after the agenda has been published

76/25 Lead Councillor updates
• Verges – Cllr Luxton could the bus stop verge be cut back to the hedge? Is very untidy. Cllr Luxton will contact contractor
• Trees & Natural Environment – Cllr Hollingsworth. Late nesting kingfishers on the river.
• Highways and Traffic Management – Cllr Tillett – nothing to report
• Communications – Cllr Langdon – not here so no report. Cllr Hollingsworth will take over putting the agenda in the noticeboard.
• Footpaths – No report. Cllr Bannister will now be the liaison between the footpath warden and the Parish Council.

77/25 Village Hall
To receive an update from Councillors Tillett and Honan. See above for details regarding report from EDDC Planning department.

Nothing to report at the moment. Steps repainted and repaired.

78/25 Financial items

To receive the accounts summary to 31st July 2025(previously approved by Cllrs Luxton, Tillett and Hillson).

To NOTE the following payments were approved remotely in accordance with Financial Regulations:
2 x Payments to Tracy Watkins (July and August salary and expenses) 2 x Payments to HMRC (July and August)
1 x Payment to BT for Village Hall line rental only (paid by DD on 28.07.2025 - £12.09)
1 x payment to CloudNext for new email accounts £59.98 (21.07.2025)
Note: Payments approved by Councillors S Luxton, B Hillson and R Tillett in accordance with the Financial Regulations.
Council to NOTE that the following payments have been received:
Payment of £1758.06 received from HMRC for VAT refund (08.07.2025)
Payment of £600 from DCC for locality funding (31.07.2025)
Approval sought for payment of grant to BSVHT and for Insurance renewal £264.50. All above to be approved.
PROPOSED: Cllr Tillett SECONDED: Cllr Hollingsworth RESOLVED.

79/25 Bank Account
No updates.

80/25 EDDC Update
To receive an update from East Devon District Council.
Cllr Fabian Kings report which has been distributed to Councillors.

81/25 DCC Update
To receive an update from Cllr Nat Vanstone and Cllr Henry Gent, Devon County Council. Neither were present and no reports received.

82/25 Other information/correspondence received for possible action/discussion
• Speke Up Submissions – new emails for councillors and clerk.
• Welcome Ian Bannister to the council as a co-opted Councillor.
• The NJC have agreed a pay rise for local government workers. To approve this (backdated to 1st April) for the Clerk. PROPOSED: Cllr Tillett SECONDED: Cllr Bannister RESOLVED.
• New .gov email accounts for Councillors and the Clerk – has everyone activated theirs? Yes
• Notice board and bench - Cllr Hollingsworth to give an update if available. Funding has been received from DCC. Delivery for bench can go to Cllr Tillett. Cllr Hollingsworth - Noticeboard not started yet.
• Cllrs Vanstone and Gent have agreed to fund a new heated cabinet for the defib. Clerk to complete funding request. Awaiting decision from DCC grants team.
• Community payback team - Do we want to go ahead? Cllr Hollingsworth is happy to complete all the forms. Councillors all supported this proposal. Cllr Hollingsworth to proceed.

83/25 Date of the next meeting
Meeting closed at 20:31pm
Next Meeting on Tuesday 4th November @ 7.30pm in the Village Hall.