Parish Council Minutes: July 2025
DRAFT MINUTES
These minutes will be agreed at the meeting due to be held on 11th August 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 7.50pm on Thursday 17th July 2025
Present:
Cllr’s J Levick (Chair), G Baylis, J Cridland, F Cross and V Stevens.
In attendance:
County Cllr S Lodge and District Cllr M Stratton.
29/07/25. To receive apologies for absence and note the resignation of Paul Potter.
Apologies were accepted from Cllr’s L Gould and J Mayer. Apologies were received from District Cllr C Adcock.
Paul Potter has resigned from the Parish Council due to increased work commitments out of the country.
30/07/25. Declarations of Interest.
Cllr Cridland declared a personal and prejudicial interest as her son is employed by Hampton Maintenance
31/07/25. Public Forum.
No members of the public present.
32/07/25. To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 17th July 2025 as an accurate record of the meeting.
With 23/06/25 a) amended to the Village Hall Committee is looking into this the minutes were agreed as an accurate record and they were duly signed by the Chair.
33/07/25. Matters arising from the minutes, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
None.
34/07/25. Planning
a) To comment on any planning applications received before the meeting.
25/00749/FULL Change of use of storage cabin to short term holiday use.Location: Play Cabin, Bampton, Grid Ref: 291803 / 121769. Comment: no objections.
It was reported that the hedge and trees between the applicant’s property and the road have become overgrown and it is becoming difficult for lorries and tractors and trailers to use the road. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to the applicant to ask if he could cut back the overgrown hedge and trees.
Action: the Clerk would write to the applicant to ask if he could cut back the overgrown hedge and trees between his property and the road.
b) To minute the response made to 25/00802/TPO Application
- to raise the canopies of 5 trees along the Northern boundary by a maximum height of 1.5m; remove single limb from 1 Beech tree; fell 1 Maple tree; remove limb from 1 Oak tree and fell 1 Scots Pine tree, protected by Tree Preservation Order 16/00001/TPO.
No comment.
c) To note any planning decisions made by MDDC.
25/00802/TPO Application to raise the canopies of 5 trees along the Northern boundary by maximum height of 1.5m; remove single limb from 1 Beech tree; fell 1 Maple tree; remove limb from 1 Oak tree. Location: Red Deer House, Oakford.Decision – conditional approval.
25/00802/TPO Application to fell 1 Scots Pine tree, protected by Tree Preservation Order 16/00001/TPO. Location: Red Deer House, Oakford. Decision – refusal.
d) Update on alleged planning breaches.
According to the Clare & Shuttern Ward Report progress was expected on the planning enforcement case at Spurway Barton in the week beginning 7th July. There was no further update on that or any of the cases reported to enforcement.
e) Local Validation Checklist 2025.
Noted.
f) Any other planning matters.
35/07/25. Highways:
a) Any matters to note or report.
None.
b) Update on flooding issues/blocked drains.
No update as the dry weather has continued.
c) Update on improvements to the fingerpost signs.
Carried forward.
d) Any other highways matters.
None.
36/07/25. Footpaths
a) Update on P3 funding.
A response to the Clerk’s complaint is due by 23rd July.
Bampton Town Council and Washfield Parish Council have both received purchase order numbers and have been able to invoice DCC for the funding for 2024-25 and 2025-26.
b) Any other footpath matters.
None.
37/07/25. Reports:
a) District Cllr Report.
The Clare & Shuttern Ward Report was circulated prior to the meeting. In addition to the update on planning and enforcement issues there was information on the State of the District Debate which has been Postponed until the evening of 17th September. This event to be held at Phoenix House, primarily for Town and Parish Councillors, will include the subject of Local Government Reorganisation. MDDC has launched two grant schemes under the Government Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025.
b) County Cllr Report.
A written report from Cllr Lodge was circulated prior to the meeting. The report included information on DCC’s determination to transform its SEND support; its fresh approach to highways including a £83million blitz on potholes in a new pilot scheme; plans for surface dressing on the road between Tiverton and Bampton; a new long term plan to improve the outcomes for Devon’s most vulnerable young people; finance and the Essential Skills Devon Grant Scheme.
38/07/25. Community Area:
a) Any points to note from inspections of community area.
No new points to note from inspections.
The Village Fete had to be called off because of the very hot weather. Hampton Maintenance had cut the field and it looked very good.
Cllr Stevens will look at adjusting the entrance gate. Mr Cridland has offered to take it away and adjust if necessary.
b) To receive quotes for the refurbishment of the pavilion interior.
Cllr Levick has met with Nick Hampton of Hampton Maintenance at the pavilion to show him what is required. His quote is expected soon. Cllr Levick is trying to get three quotes.
c) Update on the possibilities of creating a footpath from the Village Hall car park to the Community Area.
Cllr Stevens has spoken to the landowner again and been carrying out some research on how an elevated path could be constructed. Cllr Lodge told councillors about an elevated path at Hemyock. There is also one at Escot, near Ottery St Mary. Stage 1 is to arrange for Cllr’s Stevens, Levick and Baylis to meet with the landowner. If it is agreed to take it further Stage 2 will be to look at the feasibility.
d) Any matters to note.
None.
39/07/25. Finance
a) To approve any invoices or expense claims presented for payment.
It was resolved to make the following payment: Mrs J Larcombe - £158.54 salary for June plus expenses for printing (Payment ref: 2526/09
Two payments of £180.00 have been made to Hampton Maintenance since the last meeting (Payment reference 2526/07 & 2526/08).
A service charge of £6.00 was taken from the current account at the end of May. A service charge of £6.00 will be taken from the account at the end of June. 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 there have been no receipts. The Current Account balance is £500.00 and the Instant Access Account balance is £16,273.31
c) Bank reconciliation 31.05.25 and 30.06.25.
Cllr Stevens to check.
d) To receive a budget v actual report for quarter 1 of 2025-26.
The report was discussed. There were no areas for concern.
40/07/25. Correspondence.
The following correspondence was noted:
DALC Newsletters
MDDC press releases
MDDC side waste figures.
41/07/25. To confirm the date of the next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Monday 11th August 2025.
The meeting closed at 9.15pm.