Minutes 7th July 2026
Minutes of the Brampford Speke Parish Council Meeting
held on
Tuesday 7th July 2026
Present – Cllrs S Luxton (Chair), A Ferns (Vice Chair) R Tillett, I Bannister and Cllr F King (EDDC)
In attendance - Three members of the public and the Clerk.
48/26 Apologies - To receive any apologies for absence. Cllr Hollingsworth gave her apologies. These were accepted.
49/26 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.
50/26 Resignation of Councillor
Councillor Will Honan has resigned from the Council since the last meeting. We will thank him for his work since he joined the Parish Council in 2019. The Clerk will write a letter to Cllr Honan.
51/26 Co-option of a New Councillors
To approve the Co-option of Mr Gary Wright and Mr Gregg Dawe to Brampford Speke Parish Council.
PROPOSED: Cllr Tillett SECONDED: Cllr Ferns RESOLVED.
52/26 Minutes
The Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting on 5th May 2026 to be adopted and signed.
PROPOSED: Cllr Ferns SECONDED: Cllr Tillett RESOLVED. The Minutes were signed by the Chair as a true record.
53/26 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.
No questions were raised.
54/26 Affordable Housing
To receive any updates on potential housing initiatives within the Parish.
Cllr Luxton declared his interest in this item and left the room. Cllr Ferns chaired this point of the meeting.
Two representatives from CLT were present. The CLT came into existence 12 years ago when Upton Pyne and BSPC decided they needed affordable housing. Previous proposals in BSPC have been rejected. The site in Upton Pyne was accepted and has 7 affordable and 3 marketable properties. The project there has been very successful.
About 3 years ago the CLT started looking at possible sites in Brampford Speke. Paws a While was one option but this was dropped and they started looking at other possible sites.
Now hopefully they have an agreement now with a local landowner at Stonilands. If successful this site should offer 1 acre of community land as well as 7 affordable houses and 3 marketable properties.
Will be looking at what we can do with the community land and how can fund it when the process is further along.
The CLT published in June Speke Up that the project had stalled but this is no longer the case as a way forward has been found. Members of the public were asked to comment by the 4th July. No comments have been received.
MOP – What is the timescale for the project? Planning application to be submitted in 2027. If it is passed then about 18 months to building commencing so about 2028 for occupation.
MOP – for the affordable housing will criteria prioritise BS and UP residents? Yes, BS first. Social rents will apply which are a lot lower than marketable rentals.
MOP- Who will look after the community land? The CLT will manage it but would hope that BS as a village will eventually play a large part in it.
When we get to the later stages to discuss this further.
PROPOSED: That the PC is in favour of this plan in principle. Will have another meeting in the future when more information is available and plans finalised.
ALL COUNCILLORS IN FAVOUR.
55/26 Planning
The following planning consultations have been received since the last meeting:
• 26/0923/FUL - River View Brampford Speke Exeter EX5 5HG - Proposal: Retrospective permission sought for timber framed glazed conservatory to north elevation of property.
Councillors have the option to discuss any applications received after the agenda has been published.
We were not able to convene a meeting this time. Propose to send no objection.
All in favour.
56/26 Lead Councillor Updates
To receive an update from the Lead Councillors on the following:
• Verges – Cllr Luxton – Trim needs doing. Cllr Luxton will speak to the contractor.
• Trees & Natural Environment – Cllr Hollingsworth – nothing to report
• Highways and Traffic Management – Cllr Tillett – Clerk will speak to the Road Warden Scheme about joining.
• Communications – Cllr Ferns. Still working on things. Village email list needs to be updated.
• Footpaths – Update from the Footpath Warden and Cllr Bannister – Will work with UP footpath warden in the future. Clear Red Rock hopefully next week. A MOP has strimmed the area around the village sign.
57/26 Village Hall
To receive an update from Councillor Tillett. The Village Hall has asked for the Annual Grant of £2000. Cllr Tillett will send the chair the minutes for the BSVHT meetings. The grant will be discussed in minute 58/26
58/26 Financial Items
To receive the accounts summary to 30th June 2026 (previously approved by Cllrs Luxton, Tillett and Ferns).
To NOTE the following payments were approved remotely in accordance with Financial Regulations:
2 x Payments to Tracy Watkins & HMRC (April and May salary and expenses).
1 x Payments to BT for Village Hall line rental of £13.09 (paid by DD 03.06.2026)
2 x payment to Santander of £4.99 and £9.98 for bank charges on 20.05.2026 and 20.06.2028
1 x payment of £119.98 to Cloud Next for domain and emails accounts on 22.6.2028
1 x receipt of £38.95 from Ladds of Crediton as refund for overpayment of invoice on 20.05.2026
PROPOSED: Cllr Luxton SECONDED: Cllr Bannister RESOLVED.
The bank balance as at the 30th June 2026 was £12,253.44
• To discuss the request from the Village Hall for the Annual Grant of £2000 to be paid by the Parish Council. PROPOSED: Cllr Luxton SECONDED: all agreed. RESOLVED. Clerk to organise payment.
• BT line – It was felt that the money spent on this would be better spent elsewhere. The BT kiosk is not being removed now. Most people have mobile phones to be cancelled. All agreed. Clerk to organise this.
59/26 EDDC Update
To receive an update from Cllr F King, East Devon District Council. Clerk has distributed the latest update from Cllr King to the Parish Councillors.
60/26 DCC Update
To receive an update from Cllr Nat Vanstone and Cllr Henry Gent, Devon County Council. Neither were present for the meeting. The Clerk will distribute to latest report to the Parish Councillors.
61/26 Other information/correspondence received for possible action/discussion
• Speke Up Submissions. Welcome to our two new Councillors, say thank you and goodbye to Cllr Honan
• Parish council Website – Mid Devon will be ceasing their supported Parish Websites in April 2028 so BSPC need to source another one. Clerk to obtain some prices and examples and send to the councillors.
• Problems with break ins locally- an update with current situation. Police are aware of the situation and there are things going on in the background. They encourage people to keep on reporting problems.
• Cllr Dawe will take as Road Warden and Planning Roles and Cllr Wright the Village Hall.
• We will need a Road Warden shed to put all the equipment into if we join the Scheme. Could this be placed on the community land? Cllr Luxton will look into this. There is an overgrown garage in the village which the Council might be able to rent. A shipping container may be another idea. Clerk to contact Highways regarding joining the Scheme.
62/26 Date of the next meeting(s)
• Next Meeting scheduled for Tuesday 1st September 2026 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 20:45pm