Minutes Council Meeting May 5 2026

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting 05 May 2026

Minutes for the Meeting of Stoodleigh Parish Council, held immediately following the AGM which started at 7pm on Tuesday 05 May 2026 at Stoodleigh Village Hall

Meeting commenced 19:25 following the Annual General meeting

Present: Cllr W Knowles Cllr G Parkman Cllr J Mansfield Cllr C Payne Cllr J Widdowson Cllr D Wotton

County and District Councillors. Cllr S Lodge, Cllr C Adcock

There were 8 Members of the Public present.

Apologies for absence

Cllr R Wotton.

District Cllr M Stratton

(Cllr Lodge and Cllr Adcock advised in advance that they may arrive after the start of the meeting)

Declarations of Interest

None declared

At this point anyone present is invited to declare that they intend to make an audio recording of the meeting

This Chairman opted to omit this agenda item

The Public – opportunity for the public to speak on agenda items

One member of the public raised the issue of road sweeping as there has been no road sweeping since February and it is incomplete. Previously, Cllr Adcock had advised the person that they he had chased it and was assured it would be done every 6 weeks. It was confirmed that MDDC were responsible up to the 40 mph sign.

It was agreed to follow up with Cll C Adcock.

Cllr S Lodge joined at 19:28

A member of the Public questioned why the Public and Press were excluded from agenda item 12.

The Chairman proposed the following motion -

I move in accordance with Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, 1960 that the public be excluded for the following item of business (Agenda item 12) on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

The Chairman confirmed that advice had been taken on this matter and notes of the meeting would be made available as usual.

The draft Minutes of meeting held 03 March 2026 were approved and signed by the Chairman, noting that a member of the public had queried the accuracy of these minutes.

The minutes of the planning meeting held 11 May 2026 were approved and signed by the Vice Chairman

Matters arising from Minutes of last meeting

a) Planning training for Town and Parish Councils MDCC Thursday 26^th March 2026 was attended by Cllr R Wotton and it is understood that it was worthwhile.

b) Gp Capt PR Walker memorial plaque has been reinstated on the stone wall below the Stoodleigh sign, using the original plaque.

c) Playground - update on work to replace some of existing timber.

The refurbishment is complete and the Contractor has done an excellent job. A repair to the gate is required which Cllr Widdowson and Cllr Mansfield agreed to do between them. The annual inspection is required which had been delayed due to the refurbishment work. The Contractor has agreed to suggest some alternative Companies which do inspections to ensure the Parish Council are getting value for money. The handles on the see saw are not very good and it was suggested that new handles and a seat should be sourced at a cost of £295 + VAT. It was unanimously agreed to proceed as this would then bring the playground well up together.

d) Parish Council meeting dates were confirmed

e) Highways

Update on road sweeping – this was raised in the Public discussion time.

Update on flooded roads – Clerk to ask resident for exact location.

Update on discharge of liquid substance - The Farmer is now going in the field with the tractor and machine as the fields are dry. The substance comes out through the hedge. The Chairman has spoken to the Farmer and will speak to them again. It is mainly a Winter problem.

f) Clerk and Councillors email accounts - Clerk shared information from other local Parish Councils. Cllr Mansfield agreed to look into this as costs vary considerably and there needs to be adequate storage to function properly.

Cllr C Adcock joined the meeting at 19:45

The Chairman went back to agenda item 6 e) concerning road sweeping. Cllr Adcock agreed to follow this up as the road sweeping is not complete. MDCC should keep a record of which roads are swept and when.

20’s plenty signs. Offer of signs from Seddons Estate Agents was unanimously accepted. Cllr Widdowson and Cllr Mansfield to confirm position and seek permission to erect signs from property owners.
Finance

HSBC current account as at 12/04/26 £4,425.34

Unity Bank Savings Account 31/03/2026 £5,004.53 (£25.68 interest added 31/03/26)

The following payments were approved -

Clerk wages £480

Tax & NI HMRC £147.45 confirmed by Payroll Company (estimated as £130)

DALC membership £135.71.

Stoodleigh Parish Hall £49.00.

St Margarets Church £600.00,

Tax and Accounts SW Ltd (maintaining payroll records) £57.60

Insurance renewal tbc – invoice now received for £313.26

Ministry of Play, playground refurbishment £4,896.00 (to be paid once bank balance checked)

b) Precept payment of £6,500 notified – no updated bank statement to check receipt

c) Update on change of signatories and correspondence address for both banks.

Now in place.

d) AGAR and End of Year accounts update

VAT to reclaim is £199.25

IT Policy circulated – Councillors to read and respond with comments

The Risk Assessment was discussed, to be updated as agreed and circulated

Jill Larcombe has agreed to complete and internal audit as before

Agreed to meet 30 minutes earlier before Annual Parish Meeting on 27 May 2026 to sign relevant documents.

Reports

County and District Council (reports circulated before meeting)

Cllr Lodge encouraged the Parish Councillors to appoint a Road Warden as they could be trained and to fill potholes with the necessary supplies provided of up to 50 buckets per year. It was agreed to add this to the Annual Parish Meeting Agenda to see if there are any residents willing to volunteer.

Cllr Adcock gave an update and noted MDCC’s good figures for recycling.

10 Preparation for Annual Parish meeting May 27 was discussed. Residents should have the opportunity to request items for the agenda.

Planning reports and Outcomes –

26/00054/FULL Variation of Condition 3 of Planning Permission 20/01789/FULL (Change of use of hall solely for use by holiday makers to public use) to: The development hereby permitted shall not be used other than as a function hall: a. where the function hall is booked in conjunction with the use of the holiday accommodation at Duvale Priory, for a maximum of 130 people at any one time inclusive of the occupiers of the holiday accommodation; or b. where the function hall is not booked in conjunction with the use of the holiday accommodation at Duvale Priory, a maximum of 130 people minus the number of persons occupying the holiday accommodation|Buildings at NGR 294446 120596 Duvale Priory Bampton - Decided – Grant Permission

26/00142/LBCDOC Details pursuant to the Discharge of Condition 4(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Listed Building Consent 25/00568/LBC relating to detailed drawings for services, external vents/flues, DPM, floor build ups and shelving/fitting fixings|Church Cottage Stoodleigh. Decided – Approval of LBC discharge of condition.

26/00079/CAT Notification of intention to remove to ground level 2 Holly trees and reduce canopy by 3m Bay tree within the conservation area Gate Cottage Stoodleigh. Decided – no objection.

26/00194/HOUSE Conversion of outbuilding to annexe,

Penbrae Stoodleigh Tiverton Devon. Decided – Grant Permission.

6/00234/FULL Retention of reinstated and altered field access Land at NGR 292488 118336 Adj Wildwood House Stoodleigh Devon. Decided – Grant Permission

26/00235/PNAG Prior Approval for the formation of an agricultural access and road. Land at NGR 291401 119031 Ashfields Stoodleigh Devon. Decided – withdrawal of prior approval

26/00328/HOUSE Variation of condition 2 of planning permission 25/00006/HOUSE (Erection of two-storey and single storey extensions) to allow substitute plans relating to amended design 3 Court Gardens Stoodleigh. Await decision. Not visited by Parish Council as little change

26/00388/FULL Removal of condition 3 of planning permission 11/01377/FULL (Conversion of redundant farm buildings to two holiday units and two ancillary bedrooms (Revised scheme)) relating to holiday occupancy to allow full residential use Barn Quoit-at-Cross Stoodleigh – Since agenda posted outcome is, Decided – Grant permission

26/00499/FULL Erection of an agricultural building for aquaponics enterprise. Land and Buildings at NGR 290715 118462 Beacon View Stoodleigh. Awaiting decision. Parish Councillors have arranged a site visit.

23/01595/PNAG Prior Notification for the formation of an agricultural gateway and road Land at NGR 291096 118539 (West End Lane and Rull Hill) Stoodleigh – no further communication received from MDDC

This part of the Meeting ended 20:40

Public and press excluded for next agenda item

This part of the meeting started at 20:50, with the Parish Councillors and Clerk present.

Consider planning appeal reports from MDDC

The Parish Council considered planning appeal reports and where it was decided to make a representation, the wording was agreed.

Meeting ended 21:20

Clerk to Stoodleigh Parish Council