Parish Council Minutes: November 2025
DRAFT MINUTES
These minutes will be agreed at the meeting due to be held on December 8th 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 November 2025.
Present:
Cllr’s J Levick (Chair), G Baylis, J Cridland, F Cross, L Gould, J Mayer and V Stevens.
In attendance:
District Cllrs C Adcock and M Stratton, two members of the public and the Clerk, Mrs J Larcombe.
86/11/25. To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from County Cllr S Lodge.
87/11/25. Declarations of Interest.
Cllr Cridland declared a personal and prejudicial interest as her son is employed by Hampton Maintenance. Cllr Mayer declared a personal and prejudicial interest regarding Spurway Barton as she does some work for the owners.
88/11/25. Public Forum.
The members of the public did not wish to speak.
89/11/25. To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 13th October 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.
89/11/25. Matters arising from the minutes, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
None.
90/11/25. Planning
a) To comment on any planning applications received before the meeting.
25/01450/Full Variation of condition 2 of planning permission 20/00814/FULL (Erection of dwelling) to allow substitution of approved plans relating to the design of the dwelling. Location: Barn Pinkworthy, Oakford. No comment.
b) To note any planning decisions made by MDDC.
No decisions received.
c) Update on alleged planning breaches.
No update.
d) To note the arrangements for a meeting with MDDC Enforcement Officer and agree the topics to be discussed.
The meeting is arranged for Friday 12th December, 3pm at Phoenix House. Cllr’s J Levick, J Cridland, F Cross, G Baylis, L Gould and V Stevens. Cllr Baylis will circulate the list of issues he has complied and councillors were asked to approve this by 21st Cllr Adcock was thanked for attending the meeting.
Action: Cllr Baylis to circulate the list of issues he has complied and councillors to approve this by 21st November.
e) Any other planning matters.
None.
91/11/25. Highways:
a) Any matters to note or report.
Damage to the arrow warning signs on the junction were reported and they were replaced.
b) Update on flooding issues/blocked drains.
Flooding issues have started again. One area that has flooded is between the Old Police House and the road leading into the village. Another area of flooding elsewhere in the parish is caused by a blocked drain. There is a huge amount of leaves along the edges of the roads, including Rookery Hill, and these will block the drains. The road sweeper is needed to clear these.
c) Update on improvements to the fingerpost signs.
Further works will be carried out. A Chapter 8 qualification is required to carry out work on the roadside. Information will be obtained about courses for the required parts of the qualification.
Action: the Clerk to find out the cost and venues for Chapter 8 courses.
d) To note the drainage works on the Road from Esworthy Cross to Fordmoor Cross, Oakford, between Thursday 11th– Wednesday 17thDecember 2025 (weekdays only).
Noted.
e) Any other highways matters.
None.
92/11/25. Footpaths
a) Update on P3 funding.
Funding still not received. The Clerk will complain to Donna Manson, DCC CEO.
Action: the Clerk to complain to DCC CEO about the P3 grant for 2024-25 and 2025-26 still not being paid.
b) Any other footpath matters.
Mr Cridland is meeting with Stuart Howell, DCC Public Rights of Warden, to talk about improvement work for the 100 steps. They will also discuss the issues about the line of the footpath 5a in the field adjoining the village and the owner will join them.
93/11/25. Reports:
a) District Cllr Report.
A written report was circulated prior to the meeting. The Councillor surgery was held on Saturday 8th November in Bampton. Two or three people attended and more surgeries are planned.
This new MDDC survey is open for six weeks and the results will feed into the Council’s budget setting process, as well as future plans for prioritising services. The deadline for responses is 8 December 2025.
At St George’s Court, Tiverton, more homes are being advertised on Devon Home Choice and let to tenants. One aim is to encourage some MDH tenants to downsize and release more suitable accommodation for families.
An update was given on the LGR. Proposals for the structure of local government in Devon will be submitted to Government by 28th November.
Following Halloween, pumpkins can be put out at the kerbside for collection in or
near the blue food waste bin.
b) County Cllr Report.
A written report was circulated by email prior to the meeting. Councillors noted the paragraph which referred to a major new report from the County Councils Network (CCN), which warns that breaking up county councils into smaller unitary authorities could seriously harm the delivery of essential care services. The report, Local Government Reorganisation: Analysing the Impact on People Services, provides strong evidence that larger councils are better equipped to deliver high-quality adult social care, children’s services, and support for people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Councillors felt this was just one service and asked about the delivery of other services.
On street parking is being made more expensive in some towns but this doesn’t affect Tiverton. Councillors reported there are new number plate recognition cameras in the Marks and Spencers and Morrisons car parks. There is no free parking for blue badge holders in the M & S car park.
94/11/25. Community Area:
a) Any points to note from inspections of community area.
Cllr Cross was thanked for donating the perspex to replace a broken windowpane in the pavilion. Cllr Baylis was thanked for fitting it. Hampton Maintenance has completed the last grass cut of the season and councillors they had done a good job through the season. As they were awarded the contract for a second time it was agreed at least three quotes should be obtained for the 2026 grass cutting contract.
Action: Cllr Levick to contact at least three contractors and ask them to provide a quote for the work in the grass cutting specification.
b) To receive quotes for the refurbishment of the pavilion interior.
Cllr Levick is still trying to get more than one quote.
c) To receive any update on the possibilities of creating a footpath from the Village Hall car park to the Community Area.
No update.
d) Any matters to note.
None.
95/11/25. Finance
a) To approve any invoices or expense claims presented for payment.
It was resolved to make the following payments:
Hampton Maintenance - £180.00 grass cutting (Payment ref: 2526/21). Cllr Cridland declared an interest and took no part in the decision.
Mrs J Larcombe - £164.22 salary and expenses (Payment ref: 2526/22)
A service charge of £6.00 was taken from the current account on 31st October and a service charge of £6.00 will be taken on 30th November.
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.
No receipts since the last meeting. The Current Account balance is £494.00 and the Instant Access balance is £12,658.64.
c) Bank reconciliation 31.10.25.
This was checked and signed by Cllr Stevens.
96/11/25. Correspondence.
The following correspondence was noted.
DALC Newsletters
MDDC press releases
DCC - Winter 2025 Holiday Activities & Food Programme
MDDC – Local Government Review Stakeholder briefing & feedback session
MDDC Residents Survey
MDDC – Screen and Mid Devon event
MDDC – latest workshops
MDDC – observance of Armistice Day with Royal British Legion
MDDC – free Christmas parking
Devon Community Resilience Forum – newsletter
Devon Countryside Access Forums – applications invited.
Libraries Unlimited
99/11/25. Co-option of a councillor.
Two applications were received. Both applicants answered questions from councillors. A vote was held, and it was agreed to co-opt Tim Davies who then signed the Acceptance of Office Form.
98/11/25. To confirm the date of the next meeting.
Monday 8th December 2025.