WIDECOMBE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held in Church House, Widecombe on Thursday 3 March 2022

Members present: Councillor Hassall (Chairman), Bibby, Butcher, Edwards, Elliott, Fenton, Jones, Partridge and Zab

Also present: Rob Steemson (DNPA)

Members of the Public: Five

Clerk: Suzanna Hughes

4780 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Members received apologies from:

• County Cllr Gribble

4781 OPEN FORUM

A representative of Leusdon Memorial Hall advised that an invitation has been sent to the Parish Council to attend the AGM with a view to a member of the Parish Council taking a seat on the Committee. She also advised that a defibrillator training session has been arranged for 19 May at Leusdon Memorial Hall. There is no fee to attend but donations towards the charity who are running the training would be gratefully received.

Before the main body of the meeting, the Chairman asked Councillors and those present at the meeting to remember Rod Newbolt-Young who passed away on Christmas Eve. Rod was a great servant to the village and served over 20 years on the Parish Council, many of those as Chairman. As well as selflessly giving his time to serve this community, he took a strong lead in parish matters in particular fighting the Tetra mast. He was always first to welcome people to the village and was always a very positive person. The Chairman asked members to pause for a minute’s silence to remember Rod.

4782 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS

Members were reminded of their responsibility to continually update their Notice of Registerable Interests and invited to state whether they have any interest in the items to be discussed during this meeting in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Unforeseen requests for a Dispensation to be considered at this point only if there was no way a Councillor would have been aware of such before the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest or requests for dispensation.

4783 RATIFICATION OF MINUTES

Members received the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 3 February 2022 which were approved as a true and correct record.

Matters arising from those minutes:

Cllr Elliott referred to District Cllr Nutley’s report and the opportunity to apply for up to £2000 of Rural Aid funding towards a parish clean-up. Cllr Hassell suggested hardcore at the entrance of the sports field. Cllr Partridge suggested the lay-by as you come into the village always looks a mess and might also benefit from some hardcore to improve the surface. Cllr Fenton suggested that the bank near the tennis court needs something to find the edge (post and rail fencing?). Cllr Bibby suggested a recycling bin on the green for litter. It was agreed that Estates and Projects should look into the clean-up grant and waste disposal.

4784 REPORTS

(a) County Councillor

Cllr Gribble was not present at the meeting but wished to inform members that the County Council has agreed a council tax rise of 2.99%.

(b) District Councillors

No reports.

(c) DNPA Representative

Rob Steemson advised that the yellow lines at Spitchwick have now been repainted but he still chasing replacement signs. He asked the Council whether they had received any feedback on the activities at Natsworthy which were reported last month. The clerk advised that she had received an email from DNPA’s enforcement officer advising that he needed to check a couple of matters and would then come back with some further information. The gravel below Blackdown Piper Farm is getting worse again; there was a car accident down there on Sunday. He has reported this to Highways because they were supposed to be doing some work there. Cllr Fenton asked about landowner responsibility for stopping things from washing off their land on to the highway. Rob Steemson advised that there is a responsibility but it is up to Highways to enforce this. Generally, things are starting to get back to normal. Ranger Rolf club is starting up again and DNPA has just appointed 3 new Rangers. He is not aware of any storm damage on the public rights of way. He is aware that some highways signs are down and some public rights of way signs (not in the parish) have been damaged. He is going to be doing some climate talks with the school. Rangers are getting body cams and will start using them from April. He is also involved with erosion and fire and emergency works across the moor. DNPA is still going through the 3500+ responses to the byelaw consultation. He continues to encourage landowners to put in things under the Farming and Protected Landscapes projects. He and the police are meeting with local residents at Spitchwick about managing summer visitors and activities etc. They will be working with the police a lot more this year to get a better system between them all including linking up with TDC.

(d) Police

No report.

The Chairman advised that there are quite a lot of barns, outhouses and sheds being broken into at the moment particularly around the Haytor and Ilsington area. Cllr Partridge advised that the police have also been contacted about a potential poaching incident in the Natsworthy valley last week.

(e) Delegate Reports

None

4785 PROJECTS

(Lead Councillors: Cllrs Partridge & Fenton)

(a) Parish Field

Cllr Partridge advised that four people had originally volunteered at the open day to help with the future management of the parish field. It looks as though at least one will now be unable to help and she is speaking to the others about how much they could contribute. It is hoped that a Committee can be formed as soon as possible.

Members discussed the grazing licence for this season which has been advertised in the Parish Link with applications being considered in May’s meeting. It was agreed to write to the previous licensee to advise him of the process of reapplying.

It was noted that the pre-school agreement has not been returned. The clerk will write to them and ask that the agreement is signed and returned. It was also noted that trees have been planted without the permission of the Parish Council and stock-proof fencing has been erected around the area used by the pre-school. It was agreed that Cllr Elliott would speak to the pre-school about this and that the Chairman and Cllr Fenton would walk down and have a look.

Cllr Elliott also highlighted that according to the agreement the annual peppercorn rent of £1 should be reviewed on 1 April each year. It was agreed that the rent would remain unchanged.

4786 ESTATES

(Lead Councillors: Cllrs Edwards & Elliott

No items.

4787 PLANNING/LOCAL LIAISON

(Lead Councillors: Cllr Jones)

(a) New planning applications/appeals

(i) 0040/22 – Yonderhayes, Widecombe-in-the-Moor

Single storey side extension with pitched roof over

Members agreed to make no comment.

(ii) 0073/22 – Land at Snider Park Plantation, Dartmeet, Yelverton Installation of 35m lattice tower supporting 6 antennas, 4 transmission dishes, 2 equipment cabinets, 1 meter cabinet and ancillary development including generator and associated fuel tank, a hard standing area, fenced compound and gabion wall Members noted the application (in the parish of Dartmoor Forest). It was agreed not to comment.

(iii) Tree Preservation Order: Bagpark Estate, Widecombe

Application to fell 2 Western Red Cedar trees which are currently protected by a TPO Members agreed not to comment.

(b) Planning Decisions/Withdrawals

None

(c) Government Response to the Landscapes Review

Responses to the consultation paper are invited. There were no comments.

4788 FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE

(Lead Councillor: Cllrs Butcher)

(a) Payments

Members received and approved the following payments:

• Cheque no 001094 - Clerk’s salary and disbursements (Mar) - £241.57
• Cheque no 001095 - Leusdon Memorial Hall (s137 grant) - £1500
• Cheque no 001096 - Spitchwick Cricket Club (s137 grant) - £300
• Cheque no 001097 - Widecombe Hand Bell Ringers (s137 grant) - £300
• Cheque no 001098 - Leusdon Memorial Hall (hire of hall for February meeting) - £15

4789 HIGHWAYS

Cllr Edwards advised that the sign at the bottom of Southcombe Hill has come down. The sign is quite ‘famous’ as Postbridge is spelt incorrectly. It was agreed that it would be preferable to reuse the sign on a new post rather than replace the sign. The clerk will write to Highways.

Cllr Bibby reported a fallen tree on the edge of the road at Natsworthy which has been there since the storm making it difficult for larger vehicles to pass. It was agreed that this was the landowner’s responsibility to remove and that it should be reported online to DCC.

Potholes and other highways maintenance issues can be reported direct to DCC:

Online: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/

Telephone: 0345 155 1004

Email: customer@devon.gov.uk

4790 CORRESPONDENCE

(a) Members received an invitation from Leusdon Memorial Hall to attend its AGM on 23 May with a view to a Parish Councillor taking a seat on the Committee. It was agreed that members would confirm with the clerk whether they are able to attend.

(b) Letters of thanks were received and noted from Leusdon Memorial Hall, Spitchwick Cricket Club and Widecombe Hand Bell Ringers thanking the Parish Council for the small grants awarded in February’s meeting.

4791 MEMBERS’ ITEMS FOR INFORMATION OR GENERAL DISCUSSION, FOR INCLUSION ON FUTURE AGENDAS AND/OR ITEMS REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION

Members are reminded that they have not received the statutory notice of this business to be transacted and should therefore recognise that any decision made may be taken to be unlawful if challenged in the future

None.

4792 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on 5 May 2022 at 7.30pm in Leusdon Memorial Hall.

Signed ………………………………………….. Dated ……………………………………….