Wembworthy Parish Council Meeting March 2026 Minutes
A Parish Council Meeting was held on Monday 12th March 2026 at the village hall at 7.30pm.
1/ Members present and apologies
Councillors Penter, Vile, Peters and Tucker present
Apologies received from Councillor James Limond
Devon County Councillor and Mid Devon Councillor Steve Keable also present with his monthly report.
2/ Public Questions
Sherrie Marshall present to observe meeting as a member of the public.
No public questions.
3/ Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes were agreed as correct
4/Matters arising.
a) The Emergency Plan
Training and free Community Emergency Hub Kit from Devon Community Resilience Forum
Councillor Gail Tucker completed the training online on 11th March and the clerk will complete on the 18th March. The feedback from the training is that the “kit” will be lanyards and posters to introduce the idea of a Community Hub for emergencies. This will be registered with the Forum so that emergency services are aware of a meeting/shelter point in the village. This would obviously be the village hall and this has already been agreed in principle by the village hall committee. The clerk to confirm next step once training completed. A draft emergency plan has already been compiled by Councillor Vile and sent to the clerk which is intended to be sent out with the newsletter. The clerk will present this to the village hall committee at the next meeting on 9th April.
The request for the additional grit bin to Devon CC was declined with only an offer of moving one of the existing ones to the bottom of the village.
b) The New Defibrillator - Installation
Further update from the clerk as to the type of defib as London Hearts, a charity that we once before has communications with have offered a Beldray defib for a much cheaper cost of £668 than getting one the same as the existing set up. Details given to the council together with the insulated cabinet with a combined cost of £1160 and payment approved as will be before the next meeting in May. Installation in the bus shelter will need to be swift once equipment received and can be completed by the councillors.
c) Road signs – installations
The council will meet on Thursday 9th April at 6.30pm to look at sites for the new signs. 2 “Slow down for children and animals” and 2 “20 is plenty” signs to be installed. The replacement village sign will now be ordered as a response received from Devon County Council. The planter has been purchased for £54 which was cheaper and easier that getting one made.
5/Update on the councillors specialist areas
Graham Penter – Planning – nothing to consider as only prior approval applications received.
Lawrence Peters – Flagpole – Flag rope replaced and all OK as it broke again. New flag installed as also damaged in bad weather. Jubilee plaque now needs to be installed and was suggested to be fixed to the side on the bus shelter. A replacement ridge tile is also needed which we have so can be installed at the same time by Councillor Peters.
Gail Tucker – Public relations & Social Media – The website needs to be updated so Gail will assist the clerk once the access issues have been sorted with MDDC
Susan Vile – Church & Chapel liaison – Easter service 5th April Wembworthy with Mothers Day service at Eggesford on 15th March . No contact from the Chapel.
James Limond – Broadband improvements for the village - James sent in a report as not present. The build is complete for the properties up from 13 the village so households can sign up with their providers. The bottom half of the village will be in May after a road closure to do works to the telegraph pole outside number 6 The Village.
Sarah Goody (clerk) – Village Hall liaison – no meeting yet this year next one is 9th April 2026
Roads and Hedges – No new issues
6/Accounts
a) Update on bank balance £9874.64 as at 28th February 2026 (latest statement received)
£9828.08 PC funds
£46.56 remainder of the Jubilee Fund for the plaque
b) Cheques to sign
S Goody – clerk – half yearly instalment of wages - £500
Wembworthy Village Hall – annual hire charge for 7 meetings - £132.50
S Goody – clerk – replacement flag - £20.99
Payment authorised for the defib and cabinet £1160 Planter £54 road signs £31.90 – cheques to be signed once required.
Councillor Tucker requested that the banking system be brought up to date so that cheques no longer need to be issued plus despite previous attempts we still only have 2 signatories on the bank account. This should be deemed a risk to the PC. The clerk agreed to look into changing signatories and a system for internet banking.
7/AOB for next meeting’s Agenda
Date of next meeting is Thursday 14th May 2026
date to be set for annual parish meeting – agreed upon 7th May 2026
Agenda to include talk about the nuisance dogs, the railway and a representative from the village hall to be invited. Tea and cakes will be served.
Nuisance dogs – latest contact from the forestry was to decline us putting up and paying for signs to help walkers report an incident.
Meeting closed at 9.15pm