Minutes 4th October 2025

Minutes of the Brampford Speke Parish Council Meeting
held on
Tuesday 4th October 2025
at 7.30pm at the Village Hall

Meeting commenced: 19:31pm

Present: Cllrs Stuart Luxton (Chair), Ian Bannister, Will Honan (Vice Chair), Richard Tillett and Fabian King (EDDC). 1 member of the public and the Clerk.

84/25 Apologies – Cllrs Nat Vanstone and Henry Gent (DCC) were unable to attend. Cllr Hollingsworth sent her apologies. Cllr Langford and Hollingsworth was not at the meeting and did not send apologies.

85/25 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.

86/25 Co-option of new Councillor
To formally co-opt Allan Ferns as a Councillor. Cllr Ferns was welcomed to the Parish Council.
PROPOSED: Cllr R Tillett SECONDED: Cllr I Bannister. RESOLVED.

87/25 Minutes
The Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council meeting on 2nd September 2025 to be adopted and signed.

PROPOSED: Cllr S Luxton SECONDED: Cllr W Honan. RESOLVED.

88/25 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.

• The member of the public present thanked the Parish Council for the notice board restoration.
• A member of the public has raised concerned about the stone outside of a property in the village which sticks out in the road. Some time ago the fire service advised the home owner to put something in front of the fire hydrant to stop people from obstructing the hydrant. Cllr Tillett will speak to the home owner regarding the concerns raised. It was agreed it could be a trip hazard or someone could drive into it.

89/25 Affordable Housing
To receive any updates on potential housing initiatives within the Parish. Cllr Luxton declared his interest in both agenda points.
Templars Field – Leander Developments have advised Cllr Luxton that they haven’t gotten anywhere this year. They do not envisage anything going ahead before 2027.
Stonilands - Cllr Luxton had a meeting with the Community Land Trust and the legal team and it is now going back to the Teign Housing Association. A provisional Heads of Terms agreement has been agreed and a full agreement will hopefully be sorted by January 2026

90/25 Planning

The following planning consultations have been received since the last meeting:
• 25/1981/AGR - Woodrow Barton, Brampford Speke, Exeter, EX5 5DZ - Building for the storage of manure. Decision – no objections
• Building control process for the village hall is still on-going. Need a copy of the Completion Certificate from Building Regs to come to Clerk for safe keeping.

Councillors have the option to discuss any applications received after the agenda has been published.

91/25 Lead Councillor Updates
To receive an update from the Lead Councillors on the following:

• Verges – Cllr Luxton – Nothing to report.
• Trees & Natural Environment – Cllr Hollingsworth – there is a (rotten at base) hawthorn hanging over Church Path that needs to be removed (for safety). Just inside the lych gate.
Also, Community Payback Team should be here on Thursday (6th).
• Highways and Traffic Management – Cllr Tillett – Nothing to report
• Communications – Cllr Langdon – Not present so no report. Cllr Ferns kindly agreed to take on this role. The Parish Council need a Facebook page, updated distribution group information and a WhatsApp Group. Cllr Ferns will look into these options and this will be reviewed at the next meeting.
• Footpaths – Update from the Footpath Warden and Cllr Bannister - Wynn sent a report which was circulated to Councillors and Cllr Ian Bannister also gave an update. Various remedial repairs have been carried out. The footpath scheme money has finally been paid from DCC.
92/25 Village Hall
To receive an update from Councillors Tillett and Honan.
Quite a lot of painting needs to be done in the hall. Future works include cladding the arch above the stage with fabric. A quote for the painting works has been requested from a contractor. Thanks also to be given to our local Duke of Edinburgh award student who is helping for 6 months with the grounds outside.

93/25 Financial Items
To receive the accounts summary to 31st October 2025 (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 (September and October salary and expenses). 2 x Payments to HMRC (September and October)
3 x Payments to BT for Village Hall line rental of £12.09 (paid by DD on 29.08.2025, 29.09.25 and 28.10.25)
1 x payment for ICO registration of £52.00 on 19.08.2025
1 x payment to DCW polymers of £477.00 on 10.09.2025 for replacement bench
1 x payment to First rescue of £546.00 on 16.09.2025 for replacement defib cabinet
1 x payment to Mr A Hale of £170.00 on 18.09.2025 for repairs to noticeboard
1 x payment to BSHVT of £2000 on 29.09.2025 for annual grant to the Village Hall
1 x payment to Zurich of £264.00 on 18.10.2025 for insurance premium

Note: Payments approved by Councillors S Luxton, W Honan and R Tillett in accordance with the Financial Regulations.
Council to NOTE that the following payments have been received:
Payment of £4375.00 Precept received from EDDC on 01.09.2025
Payment of £543.60 from DCC as locality grant 05.09.2025
Payment of £430.00 from DCC for P3 footpath scheme (late payment from April) on 22.10.2025

94/25 Budget
To approve the budget for 2026-27 and agree Precept claim to be made to EDDC in January 2026 submission. Budget spending information has already been circulated to Councillors.

The Clerk reported that spending was well below the set budgets at this 6-month stage of the financial year. Spending was alleviated by the generous locality grants from our DCC Councillors which paid for the new defibrillator cabinet and a new bench and the Parish Council wanted to thank both Cllr Nat Vanstone and Cllr Henry Gent for their support. Thanks also to Cllr Fabian King (EDDC) for supporting the grant process.
The proposal was to keep the Precept claim at £8750.00 for 2026-27. This was approved by all councillors present. RESOLVED.

95/25 Bank Account
Update on new bank account. Lloyds are still waiting for Cllr Honan to upload documents. Application will expire so will have to start again if this is not done imminently. Clerk to restart the application.
96/25 EDDC Update
Clerk will distribute the October update from Cllr King to the Parish Councillors when it arrives.

97/25 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 will distribute to the Parish Councillors. Cllr Vanstone was not present and no report was sent.

98/25 Policies for re-adoption
The following policies are due to be re-adopted. The policy documents have already been sent to Councillors by the Clerk for perusal;
• Financial Regulations
• Equality & Diversity – Cllr Ferns felt that the term “inclusive” should be added to the policy documents. Clerk to do and republish.
• Health & Safety
• Financial Risk Assessment

All Councillors present approved these policies to be re-adopted. Clerk will publish them.

99/25 Other information/correspondence received for possible action/discussion

• Speke Up Submissions – suggestions for next publication discussed.
• All councillors confirmed they are now on the new .gov email accounts
• New bench and community payback scheme - Cllr Hollingsworth was not present so no report but Cllr Bannister confirmed that the fitting of the new bench is organized and will be done soon.
• Clerk’s annual leave request to be approved. All councillors agreed to the dates requested.
100/25 Date of the next meeting(s)
• Next Meeting on Tuesday 6th January 2026 @ 7.30pm in the Village Hall

Meeting closed 21:00 pm