Parish Council Minutes: February 2025
DRAFT MINUTES
These minutes will be agreed at the Parish Council meeting due to be held on 10th March 2025 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 10th February 2025
Present:
Cllr’s G Baylis (Chair), J Cridland, J Levick and L Gould.
In attendance:
District Cllr C Adcock and the Clerk, Mrs J Larcombe.
134/02/25. To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were accepted from Cllr’s F Cross, J Mayer, P Potter and V Stevens. Apologies were received from County Cllr R Chesterton.
135/02/25. Declarations of Interest.
No declarations of interest.
136/02/25. Public Forum.
No members of the public present. Cllr Cross joined the meeting on Zoom but did not participate.
137/02/25. To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 13th January 2025 as an accurate record of the meeting.
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting and they were duly signed by the Chair.
138/02/25. Matters arising from the minutes, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
It was felt the right type of information is going on the Parish Council Facebook page.
139/02/25. Planning
a) To comment on any planning applications received before the meeting.
No applications received.
b) To note any planning decisions made by MDDC.
No decisions received.
c) Update on alleged planning breaches.
John Millar is still progressing the Spurway Barton breaches and there is no further update. Despite tight constraints, additional funding for enforcement is under consideration for the proposed 2024/25 budget not yet finalised.
d) Any other planning matters.
No other planning matters.
140/02/25. Highways:
a) Any matters to note or report.
Cllr Levick put in a request to Highways for a road sweeper to clean Rookery Hill and Warbrightsleigh Hill and after three weeks was advised to contact MDDV. MDDC said it would be actioned and it is now looking tidier.
b) To minute the placement of flexi verge markers on the Summers Bench verge.
Cllr Cridland and her husband were thanked for making a good job of putting in the verge markers.
c) Update on flooding issues/blocked drains
No issues at the moment.
d) To discuss the condition of fingerpost signs in the parish and how they can be improved.
Cllr Gould has been given some information from Melanie Mckenna, DCC Neighbourhood Officer, including some case studies on how other Parish Council’s restored their fingerpost signs. Enquiries need to be made to see if volunteers can help. There will be further discussion at the next meeting.
Action: add improvements to the finger posts signs to the agenda for the next meeting.
e) Any other highways matters.
No other highways matters.
141/02/25. Footpaths:
a) Update on 2024-25 P3 funding.
This funding has still not been received.
b) Update on the removal of the tree on Bridleway 5.
This has been cleared.
c) Any other footpath matters.
For this time of year the majority of the paths are in a fairly good condition. There are a few muddy/wet gateways.The bridge and gatepost on Bridleway 5 will be repaired by DCC. Stuart Howell, DCC Public Rights of Way Warden, has contacted a contractor to arrange for the work to be carried out. He will confirm the date in due course. Several fallen branches across the path have been cleared. Footpath 7 (100 steps). The mesh on the bridge steps has been replaced. The short path between the steps and the bridge has been cleared of branches and brambles. However, the way-marker post still needs replacing. A grant to help with replacing the surface of the steps and the mesh on the bridge deck is being applied for.Hopefully the bank stabilization work at Aldridge Mill will be done in the coming months.
142/02/25. Reports:
a) County Cllr Report.
Cllr Chesterton had emailed to give his apologies and an update. The main update is that the government are continuing with local government reorganisation and Devon's councils are working towards a provisional submission next month to fit the government's very quick timetable. However, Devon itself has not been included in those areas that are being fast tracked, so will have elections in May.
DCC’s budget will be going to full council later this month. Unfortunately, the government has scrapped the Rural Delivery Grant at late notice, to move the money to areas of deprivation. This was a fund to help very rural areas provide services over a wide rural area. This means that we have lost £10m of funding from government at late notice.
b) District Cllr Report.
A written report from Cllr Adcock had been circulated by email prior to the meeting. Washfield Parish Council is planning to hold their Annual Parish Meeting on 25th February focussing on Farming and the Environment, and have invited councillors from other local Parish Council’s including Oakford.
Lack of broadband connectivity is a significant concern in certain local areas,seriously affecting business operation and personal use of the internet. County Councillor Richard Chesterton is arranging a meeting to consider potential opportunities for local projects to extend high speed broadband to these areas. Washfield Parish Council will be hosting the meeting.
All the District Councils in Devon and Exeter City Council have asked for a slower, more considered approach to devolution to help ensure that the right decisions are made for the County.
143/02/25. Community Area:
a) Any points to note from inspections of community area.
Cllr Levick will give a copy of his report to the Clerk. The outside of the pavilion will require a coat of Cuprinol when the weather improves.
b) To report the overhanging branches have been cut back and chipped onto the surface at the entrance to the Community Area and on the bridge.
The overhanging branches have been cut back and this is allowing more light under the trees. The branches that were removed were chipped as planned. Cllr Baylis queried whether more should have been cut back.
c) To discuss the quotes for repairs to the bridge at the entrance to the community area.
Cllr Levick had tried to obtain three quotes but had only been able to get two. Cllr Cridland declared a personal and pecuniary interest as her son works for Hampton Maintenance who had supplied one of the quotes.
d) Update on the possibilities of creating a footpath from the Village Hall car park to the Community Area.
No update. Cllr Stevens has tried to arrange a meeting with the landowners but due to holiday arrangements has not been able to do so.
e) Any matters to note.
It was agreed that Cllr Levick will try to get three quotes to line the pavilion with marine ply. It was suggested that once the work is complete local children could be asked to paint a mural.
Action: Cllr Levick to try to obtain three quotes to line the pavilion with marine ply.
144/02/25. Finance
a) To approve any invoices or expense claims presented for payment.
It was resolved to make the following payment: Mrs J Larcombe - £154.34 Clerk’s salary (Payment ref: 2425/23)
A payment of £252.00 has been made to Hampton Maintenance for cutting back the overhanging branches in the community area and chipping over the entrance (payment ref: 2425/35)
A service charge of £6.00 was taken from the current account at the end of January. A service charge of £6.00 will be taken from the account at the end of February.
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.
There have been no receipts since the last meeting since the last meeting.
The Current Account balance is £550.00 and the Instant Access Account balance is £11,838.78
c) Bank reconciliation 31.01.25.
This was checked by Cllr Levick and the reconciliation and bank statements were signed.
145/02/25. To review the Business Risk Management Document.
This was circulated prior to the meeting for councillors to review. No amendments were suggested and it was approved.
146/02/25. To agree to adopt the new NALC Model Financial Regulations personalised for Oakford Parish Council.
It was agreed to adopt the Financial Regulations from 25th February. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 will then be replaced by the Procurement Act 2023.
147/02/25. To review the Policy Statement of Internal Control and Annual Review of
Effectiveness of Internal Control 2024-25.
This document was circulated prior to the meeting for councillor review. It was approved without any amendments.
148/02/25. To discuss the updated MDDC Community Risk Register.
Lewis Dyson, MDDC Resilience Officer, has updated the risk register discussed at the December 2024 meeting.
149/02/25. Feedback from the 'Smaller Councils' Zoom meeting with DALC.
Cllr Baylis reported that sixty or more people had attended this meeting which had been arranged to inform councils about proposals to merge district and county councils in Devon into a unitary council. There are concerns about losing local contacts and the possibility that there might be gaps. Devon County Council elections will go ahead in May. Future meetings will be organised as plans for devolution become known.
150/02/25. Correspondence:
The following correspondence was noted:
DALC Newsletters
DALC – nominations for tickets for Royal Garden Party. It was agreed to nominate Cllr Mayer because of her work in the community.
MDDC press releases
MDDC – Our Digital Voice project
151/02/25. To confirm the date of the next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Monday 10th March 2025. Cllr Baylis gave his apologies.
The meeting closed at 8.40pm