Parish Council Minutes: January 2025
DRAFT MINUTES
These minutes will be agreed at the Parish Council meeting on 10th February 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 13th January 2025
Present:
Cllr’s G Baylis (Chair), J Cridland, F Cross, L Gould, J Levick, J Mayer, P Potter and V Stevens.
In attendance:
District Cllr C Adcock and the Clerk, Mrs J Larcombe.
120/01/25. To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from County Cllr R Chesterton.
121/01/25. Declarations of Interest.
Cllr Mayer declared a pecuniary interest in item 130/01/25 for her expenses claim.
122/01/25. Public Forum.
No members of the public present.
123/01/25. To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 9th December 2024 as an accurate record of the meeting.
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record and duly signed by the Chair.
124/01/25. Matters arising from the minutes, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
Many thanks were given to Mr & Mrs Olive who provided electricity for the Christmas lights in the village and to Jason Spurway who gave the Christmas tree.
125/01/25. 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.
No update. In his monthly report Cllr Adcock noted that enforcement is still under resourced. Despite tight constraints, additional funding is included in the proposed 2024/25 budget.
d) Any other planning matters.
No other planning matters.
126/01/25. Highways:
a) Any matters to note or report.
A road sweeper is needed in the parish to clear leaves in three areas. Councillors were asked to report this on the DCC Highways problem page.
b) To discuss and prioritise the highway schemes from Melanie Mckenna, DCC Highways Neighbourhood Officer.
Ms Mckenna had provided a map of the parish marked with the schemes she has identified and applied for funding for in yellow. The roads marked in orange have had work carried out. Councillors discussed and agreed the Council’s priorities for the roads marked in yellow.
Priority 1. Reference 234566532 & 244627547 - Oak Top Farm to Esworthy past
Higher Swineham and Oak Top Farm to Esworthy passing North Esworthy Cottage.
Priority 2 - Reference 244624274 Old Police House.
It was noted a pothole needs repairing at South Esworthy Farm.
c) To discuss the placement of flexi verge markers on the Summers Bench verge.
Permission has been obtained from the landowner and Cllr Mayer has purchased the verge flexi-markers. Councillors will arrange to meet to put them in on the edge.
d) Update on flooding issues/blocked drains.
Cllr Potter was thanked for clearing a gully. Highways have cleared the channel by the Summers bench.
There is a blocked drain on the road from Parsonage Farm to Crosspark Hill. The drain is completely covered.
e) Any other highways matters.
It was noted that the fingerposts in the parish are looking tatty. Some of the lettering on the arms cannot be read. Councillors were asked to take photos and bring to the next meeting where there will be further discussion. Highways are unlikely to have the funding to replace or refurbish them.
Action: Councillors to take photos of fingerposts and bring to the next meeting.
127/01/.25. Footpaths:
a) Update on 2024-25 P3 funding.
An email has been received promising the P3 Grant for 2024-25 will be given to the parish.
b) Any other footpath matters.
It was reported that all of the footpaths have been walked and checked for the annual P3 survey.
It was agreed to get a quote from Stanbury Rural Services to remove the fallen tree from Bridleway 5.
There has been some tidying up work on the 100 steps.
Action: ask Stanbury Rural Services for a quote to remove the fallen tree from Bridleway 5.
128/01/25. Reports:
a) County Cllr Report.
No report.
b) District Cllr Report.
A written District Councillors report was circulated by email prior to the meeting. Cllr Adcock reported that the District Councils in Devon are unhappy with DCC’s response to the Government White Paper on Devolution for England. They would like to take a bit longer to discuss it. Parishes could take on a bit more if they wanted to.
MDDC will carry on the best it can.
Work has started on the project to replace council properties in Market Close with 18 affordable homes.
The massive inconvenience caused by the South West Water road closure at the Exeter Inn in December was discussed. It was felt the road could have been reopened when work was not taking place.
Oakford Parish Council has responded to the draft MDDC Community Risk Register.
Cllr Mayer asked for an update on the letting of the properties at St Georges Court, Tiverton. Mid Devon Housing will soon be advertising them.
129/01/25. Community Area:
a) Any points to note from inspections of community area.
Cllr Levick gave copies of his inspection reports to the Clerk.
The sand is settling on the pétanque area.
Cllr Levick reported that the pavilion needs a second coat of Cuprinol on the exterior. The interior is also in need of some work and it was suggested that it would be of benefit to cover with insulation board.
b) Update on cutting back the overhanging branches and chipping them onto the surface at the entrance to the Community Area and on the bridge.
Following the acceptance of the quote from Hampton Maintenance to cut back the overhanging branches in the community the work is due to be carried out this Friday.
c) To discuss the possibilities of creating a footpath from the Village Hall car park to the Community Area.
Cllr Stevens has spoken to a member of the family who own the land over which the footpath would be created. Her father was a benefactor to the village in his lifetime and gave the land for the village hall to be built on. The next step is to talk to the member of the family who is farming it now to find out if he agrees. If he is in agreement a site meeting could then take place. A raised walkway would enable sheep to graze underneath and wouldn’t affect boundaries and applications for agricultural grants and subsidies. Posts would be galvanised rather than wood. Councillors discussed the options and requirements and recognised that this is a long-term project. Cllr Mayer suggested an aerial shot of the area involved would be helpful.
d) Any matters to note.
None.
130/01/25. Finance
a) To approve any invoices or expense claims presented for payment.
It was resolved to make the following payments:
Mrs J Larcombe - £154.34 salary for December (Payment ref: 2425/32)
HM Revenue & Customs - £149.95 PAYE (Payment ref: 2425/33)
Cllr Mayer declared an interests and took no part in the approval of her expense payment.
Cllr J Mayer - repayment for verge flexi markers (Payment ref: 2425/34)
A payment of £36.00 was made to Devon Association of Local Councils for training (Payment ref: 2425/26 - £72.00 added to Invoice 6125)
A service charge of £6.00 was taken from the current account at the end of December. A service charge of £6.00 will be taken from the account at the end of January.
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.
Bank interest of £88.06 has been received since the last meeting. The Current Account
balance is £500.00. The Instant Access Account balance is £12,501.07
c) Bank reconciliation 31.12.24.
This was checked and signed by Cllr Levick.
d) To agree the budget for 2025-26.
A working party of councillors had met before this meeting to discuss the draft budget prepared by the Clerk/RFO. With some small amendments the draft budget was agreed.
e) To agree the precept for 2025-26.
It was resolved to request a precept of £7,000.00.
131/01/25. Update on the relaunch of the Oakford Parish Council Facebook page.
Cllr Cross reported that she is just looking at what she can include. She asked for photos of projects that the Council is looking at or has agreed to do. She would like to build a library of photos so that she can share before and after photos. Permissions were discussed and the need to be careful when considering using photos of children.
Actions: Councillors to send photos of projects to Cllr Cross.
132/01/25. Correspondence.
The following correspondence was noted:
DALC Newsletters
MDDC press releases
MDDC – Lets maximise our recycling this Christmas season – latest side waste statistics. An issue with side waste (Black bags not in bins) was noted.
133/01/25. To confirm the date of the next meeting.
Monday 10th February 2025.
The meeting closed at 8.55pm.