Parish Council Minutes: April 2025
DRAFT MINUTES
These minutes will be agreed at the meeting to be held on 12th May and might be subject to slight amendment
The minutes of a meeting of Oakford Parish Council held in the Committee Room at Oakford Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 14th April 2025
Present:
Cllr’s G Baylis (Chair), J Cridland, L Gould, J Levick, J Mayer and P Potter.
In attendance:
District Cllr C Adcock, 2 members of the public and the Clerk, Mrs J Larcombe.
167/04/25. To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were accepted from Cllr F Cross and Cllr V Stevens.
168/04/25. Declarations of Interest.
Cllr Mayer declared an interest regarding Spurway Barton as she does some work for the owners. Cllr Cridland declared a personal and prejudicial interest as her son is employed by Hampton Maintenance.
169/04/25. Public Forum.
The members of the public introduced themselves. One was a candidate for the Tiverton West Division in the County Council elections. The other was a candidate in the By Election for the Clare and Shuttern Ward.
170/04/25. To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 10th March 2025 as an accurate record of the meeting.
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record and were duly signed by the Chair.
171/04/25. Matters arising from the minutes, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
No matters arising.
172/04/25. Planning
a) To comment on any planning applications received before the meeting.
25/00351/Full Erection of agricultural machinery store/covered yard extension.
Location: Land and Buildings at NGR 287461 122025 South Esworthy Farm,
Oakford. No comment.
b) To note any planning decisions made by MDDC.
25/00244/PNAG Prior notification for the erection of a covered silage pit. Location:
Land at NGR 289756 123340 East Tapps Farm, Oakford. Decision: prior approval
not required.
25/00262/CAT Notification of intention to fell 1 Ash tree in a Conservation Area.
Location: The Old Smithy, Bampton, Tiverton. Decision: no objection.
c) Update on alleged planning breaches.
No update on alleged breaches at
Spurway. Cllr Adcock was asked if there was any update on an alleged planning
breach at Rainbow Wood where someone is running a business which hosts
retreats, nature immersions and promotes wellness through reconnecting. It was
reported that there has been more clearance in the woods above Bellbook
Fisheries. MDDC is still finding it difficult to recruit enforcement officers.
d) MDDC Call for Sites – possible site in Oakford.
Councillors discussed a possible site near the sewage works. There was a lot of opposition when the owner submitted planning applications in the past. A plan of the site will be submitted to MDDC.
Action: the Clerk to scan the plan and send to MDDC as a possible site.
e) Any other planning matters.
Alleged planning breaches were reported in the field on the edge of the village which is owned by the 2 people who attended the last meeting to raise a query over the line of a footpath crossing the field. There is a yurt on a platform, a second tent and a compost toilet. It was also reported that some of a Devon stone wall has been removed. Following discussion, it was agreed this should be reported to MDDC planning enforcement. The Clerk advised that the Council should be consistent and report all alleged breaches. The owners want to move the path to what they consider is the correct line of the footpath but that would mean it is moved to the steepest part of the field. The previous owners allowed members of the public to walk their dogs across the field and they are upset that the new owners want to fence the route of the path. The Clerk will contact Tania Weeks, DCC Definitive Rights of Way Officer, to check what the correct route of the path is.
Action: the Clerk to report the alleged planning breaches to MDDC and find out what the correct line of the footpath is.
The Planning Team at Mid-Devon District Council would like to offer training/updates to all Town and Parish Council’s in the District. The topics would include: - New Housing Targets for Local Planning Authorities; Planning & Infrastructure Bill and the preparation of a new Plan for Mid Devon. This training could be given in person or via teams sometime in late June or July and would be available to all Councillors and Clerks. The alternative to the training could be a briefing note which would be send to all Town and Parish Council’s if there was not enough interest in attending in person. The Clerk will contact MDDC to say that the Clerk and three or more councillors would be interested in attending the training and would prefer Teams.
Action: The Clerk will contact MDDC to say that the Clerk and three or more councillors would be interested in attending the training and would prefer Teams.
Councillors noted that the property by the bridge at the bottom of Stoodleigh Drive is becoming dilapidated now it is empty. Cllr Adcock will find out what MDDC’s policy is on empty homes.
Action: Cllr Adcock will find out what MDDC’s policy is on empty homes.
173/04/25. Highways:
a) Any matters to note or report.
One of the flexi markers installed recently hasbeen driven over but has bounced back.
b) Update on flooding issues/blocked drains.
No issues as it has been dry. It was reported that the septic tank at Strawberry Cottage is overflowing onto the road.
c) To discuss improvements to the fingerpost signs.
More of the signs in Oakford are the newer type and not the older type of fingerpost signs. It was agreed one finger post sign could be repaired as costs are believed to be minimal. A response will be obtained from the community before doing any more.
d) Any other highways matters.
No other highways matters.
174/04/25. Footpaths:
a) Update on 2024-25 P3 funding.
This funding has still not been received even though the Clerk has provided the Council’s bank details as requested.
b) To note the submission of the P3 forms for 2024-25.
The Clerk confirmed the forms have been submitted.
c) Any other footpath matters.
The bridge has been repaired and a fallen tree removed on Footpath 5.
175/04/25. Reports:
District Cllr Report.
A written report from Cllr Adcock was circulated by email prior to the meeting. Rachel Gilmour MP resigned from her position as a District Councillor on 14th March 2025. There will be a by-election in Clare and Shuttern Ward in parallel with the DCC Election on May 1st.
The report also included an update on Local Government Reorganisation
176/04/25. Community Area:
a) Any points to note from inspections of community area.
The first cut of the grass has taken place. Unfortunately, a stone was thrown up by the mower and it broke a pane of glass in the pavilion. Nick Hampton will replace the glass.
b) To discuss the Rospa annual inspection report for the play area.
There were no high-level risks. Medium risks were decayed timber on the bridge; some spacings of less than 12mm through the range of the gate; decayed timber on a picnic table and exposed geo-textile on the Pétanque piste. Repairs to the bridge are about to start and arrangements will be made to deal with the other points.
c) Refurbishment of pavilion interior.
Two more quotes are required. It was suggested that an application for funding from the County Councillors’ Locality Grant Fund could be made when that is opened up after the elections.
d) To agree a date for a community area maintenance/clean-up day.
This will be arranged for Saturday May 10th.
e) Update on repairs to the bridge to the community area (Due to take place on 14th &15th April). Due to a delay in the delivery of the materials this work will now take place on 15th and 16th
f) To discuss the stabilisation of the grass immediately beyond the
community area gates.
This area is a lot lighter now the branches have been removed. The weather has been dry and the Council will be able to get a better idea if any further work is required after there has been some rain.
g) Update on the possibilities of creating a footpath from the Village Hall car park to the Community Area.
No update.
h) Any matters to note.
No matters to note.
177/04/25. Finance
a) To approve any invoices or expense claims presented for payment.
It was resolved to make the following payments:
Devon Association of Local Councils - £165.61 annual affiliation fee (Payment ref: 2526/01)
Hampton Maintenance - £180.00 grass cutting (Payment ref: 2526/02)
Mrs J Larcombe - £154.34 Clerk’s salary for March (Payment ref; 2526/03)
Since the last meeting a payment of £1,704.00 has been made to Andrew Deptford (aadefib.com) for the new defibrillator and cabinet. A service charge of £6.00 was taken from the current account at the end of March and a service charge of £6.00 will be taken from the account at the end of April
An internal transfer will be made from the Instant Access Account to the Current Account to return the balance to £500.00
b) To note any receipts since the last meeting and the bank balance.
Since the last meeting bank interest of £75.56 and the precept of £7,000 has been received.The Current Account balance is £7500.00 and the Instant Access Account balance is £9,779.26.
c) Bank reconciliation 31.03.25.
The bank reconciliation was checked and signed by Cllr Levick.
178/04/25. To report that the defibrillator has been purchased.
The defibrillator has been purchased and delivered. Arrangements will be made for it to be installed before the existing contract ends. The cabinet has a lock but arrangements will be made to ensure it is simple to open.
179/04/25. VE Day 80th celebration.
There are no plans for an event in Oakford. MDDC has invited Councillors to the raising of the VE Day 80 Flag on Thursday 8th May 2025 at 9.00am at the Mid Devon District Council Offices, Phoenix House , Tiverton.
180/04/25. Correspondence.
The following correspondence was noted:
DALC Newsletters
MDDC press releases
MDDC - latest side waste data
Citizens Advice - Mid Devon service: dedicated debt and energy team based in Mid Devon
181/04/25. To agree arrangements for the Annual Parish Meeting.
The APM will be held at 7pm on May 12th in the main hall of the Village Hall. Local groups will be asked to give a report. If no one is available to attend and read out the group’s report they can supply a written report and this will be read out for them. Cllr Baylis will contact the groups and invite them to give a report. The Parish Council meeting will follow the APM.
Action: Cllr Baylis to invite groups in the parish to give a report at the APM
182/04/25. Succession planning for 2025-26 as a new Chair will be required.
The next meeting will be the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council when the Chair has to be elected. Cllr Baylis made it quite clear at the last Annual Meeting that he would not be prepared to be nominated for Chair in May 2025. A list of the duties of the Chair was circulated prior to the meeting. Although there was discussion there was no firm commitment to be nominated for Chair at the Annual Meeting.
183/04/25. To confirm the date of the next meeting.
The meeting will be held on Monday 12th May 2025. This will be the Annual Parish Council Meeting.
The meeting closed at 9.07pm