Draft Minutes 3rd March 2026

Minutes of the Brampford Speke Parish Council Meeting
held on
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
at 7.30pm at the Village Hall

Meeting commenced: 19:30pm

Present: Cllrs Stuart Luxton (Chair), Ian Bannister, Will Honan (Vice Chair), Elaine Hollingsworth, Allan Ferns and Richard Tillett. Cllr Fabian King (EDDC) and the Clerk.

14/26 Apologies – No apologies had been received.

15/26 Declarations of Interest Under the Code of Conduct
Councillors are reminded of the requirement to declare any interest, including the type of interest, and reason for that interest, either at this stage of the meeting or as soon as they become aware of that interest.
None were declared.

16/26 Minutes
The Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council meeting on 6th January 2026 to be adopted and signed.
PROPOSED: Cllr E Hollingsworth SECONDED: Cllr I Bannister RESOLVED.

17/26 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Internal Control Checklist
Both policies to be adopted at this meeting in time for the annual internal audit. PROPOSED: Cllr A Ferns SECONDED: Cllr E Hollingsworth RESOLVED. Clerk will publish on the website.

18/26 Public Question Time
Up to 5 minutes Public Question Time for members of the public to bring forward any issues not on the agenda (where a matter is already on the agenda members of the public will be given an opportunity to speak when that item is considered, within the framework of the Council’s standing orders). Where a decision is required, the issue will be placed on the following agenda.
• Community Payback Scheme to come out again to complete some works. Anything else to be added to the list please email Cllr Hollingsworth.
19/26 Affordable Housing
To receive any updates on potential housing initiatives within the Parish. Developers have pulled out of Templars Field. They have advised that the development no longer fits with their timelines.
20/26 Planning

The following planning consultations have been received since the last meeting, Councillors have the option to discuss any applications received after the agenda has been published.

• 25/2523/FUL - 3 Chapel Road Brampford Speke Exeter EX5 5HG - Retrospective application for the retention of an enlarged garden outbuilding (workshop/shed) on existing concrete hard standing at the rear of 3 Chapel Road. A site meeting was held with the owner on 10th February 2026. Cllrs Honan, Hollingsworth and Tillett were present. The councillors agreed to support the current structural arrangement. Clerk has updated the planning portal.

21/26 Lead Councillor Updates
To receive an update from the Lead Councillors on the following:
• Verges – Cllr Luxton – Haven’t started any cuts yet. Requested not to cut off all the daffodils. Looking lovely at the moment. Cllrs looking to put some tulips in for next year.
• Trees & Natural Environment – Cllr Hollingsworth – EDDC trying to have 30% more tree cover.
• Highways and Traffic Management – Cllr Tillett – some more potholes have started to appear after the prolonged wet weather. The Council would encourage that If people see one that needs attention to report on the Devon County Council Highways portal. This can be found here https://www.devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/report-a-problem/report-a-pothole/. The village has had some problems this year with no gritting being carried out by Devon Highways. This has been reported to EDDC and DCC Councillors.
• Communications – Cllr Ferns- confirmed he is still working the email distribution list.
• Footpaths – Update from the Footpath Warden and Cllr Bannister – P3 claim forms have been submitted. Still no contact from P3 team. Cllr Bannister advised a few of the footpaths are flooded. Station Hill needs to be looked at by Highways. Wynn Stait will speak to the P3 teams
22/26 Village Hall
To receive an update from Councillors Tillett and Honan.
There are plans to have a birthday party to celebrate the village hall being in existence for 100 years. There will be planned Workshops to make bunting etc. Hopefully this will take part in August or September. Details to follow.

23/26 Financial Items
To receive the accounts summary to 28th February 2026 (previously approved by Cllrs Luxton, Tillett and Honan).

To NOTE the following payments were approved remotely in accordance with Financial Regulations:
2 x Payments to Tracy Watkins & HMRC (January and February salary and expenses).
2 x Payments to BT for Village Hall line rental of £12.09 (paid by DD 28.01.2026 and 28.02.2026)
1 x payment to Santander of £4.99 for bank charges on 19.02.2026

Note: All payments are approved before payment by Councillors S Luxton, W Honan and R Tillett in accordance with the Financial Regulations.
Council to NOTE that no payments have been received.
24/26 EDDC Update
To receive an update from Cllr F King, East Devon District Council. Clerk will distribute the latest update from Cllr King to the Parish Councillors.

BT Kiosk – Notice has been put up in kiosk but has not gone through EDDC Planning department yet. The Parish Council does not feel the telephone should be taken away. Whatever happens the kiosk will remain as it is a listed building.

Footpaths – to Pine View, as it approaches the other side of the woods the post has fallen over. Cllr King has offered to put a new one in. P3 communications are still nonexistent with Parishes.

The local authority bin collections service will be changing and staff will be moved across. SUEZ is no longer the contractor the service will be in-house now.

Internet services are still really bad in some areas. This detrimentally affects some people. Cllr King is campaigning to get this better. Cllr Tillett will put details in Speke Up and ask people to report if having problems.

LGR consultation deadline is 26th March. To take part go to devonlgr.co.uk and complete the questionnaire.

25/26 DCC Update
To receive an update from Cllr Nat Vanstone and Cllr Henry Gent, Devon County Council.

Cllr Gent has sent a report which the Clerk has sent to councillors.

26/26 Other information/correspondence received for possible action/discussion

• Speke Up Submissions. Internet issues locally, update on Templars Field. LGR.
• MOP emailed in asking about access to Jeffrey Thomas’s Memorial Bench. This was kindly responded to by Cllr Hollingsworth.
• Unity bank – Now that the Santander account is settled and charges remain at £4.99 per month is it worth/cost effective to change to Unity who are now charging £7 per month in charges? Councillors decided to leave as it is for now and monitor if any more problems with Santander.

• Ideas for the APM. It was decided to leave the format as is.
• Local Government Re-organisation – how will this effect Brampford Speke? So far, any communications coming out from EDDC and DCC has not been very clear. We have had no information given to us so cannot make an informed comment on what is happening. Will keep an eye on proceedings. The Clerk will continue to forward all communications from District and County to the councillors for their information.
27/26 Date of the next meeting(s)
• Next Meeting on Tuesday 5th May 2026. The Annual Parish Meeting @ 7.00pm followed by the Annual Parish Council Meeting in the Village Hall
The APM first 7-7.30 is an Open forum and gives people the opportunity to speak and ask questions. At 7.30pm we will commence the Annual Parish Council Meeting.

Meeting closed at 20:45