Wembworthy Parish Council Meeting Minutes July 2024

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 11 th July 2024 at the village hall 7.30pm

1/ Members present and apologies
Vice Chairman Susan Vile, James Limond, Laurence Peters and Gail Tucker all present. Mid Devon District Councillor Steve Keable present together with Devon County Councillor Margaret Squires Apologies received from Chairman Councillor Graham Penter

2/ Public Questions
No members of the public present

3/ Minutes of last meeting
Correction of name regarding Agenda item 5 – matters arising – The village playground – Steve Densham not Steve Tucker. Otherwise minutes agreed as  correct.

4/Matters arising from the minutes
The village playground
Padlocks have had to be reinstated at the request of the landowner due to no lease yet being in place. This is due to the delay by MDDC in not completing the works to satisfy the PC before takeover. This legally puts the landowner in a vulnerable position (as advised by their solicitor). A letter from the landowner has been sent to MDDC asking for the play equipment to be removed as a result of this. MDDC response is to reallocate the equipment to another park unless an alternative place can be found in the village to site it. The PC discussed the Little Meadow green area which would have to be in agreement with MDDC and the residents. As MDDC have wanted to reduce costs by handing over the responsibility to the PC they wouldn’t want the cost of creating a new park in the village so the cost would have to be with the PC. A loan could be procured to be repaid from an increased precept if land could be found. The allotments are privately owned. The PC decided to wait to see if the situation can be resolved by MDDC with the current landowner.
Emergency Plan
Councillors expressed their views as to whether there is a need for a plan as this was discussed a couple of years ago and dismissed as unnecessary. An emergency contact sheet was produced instead which was distributed with the village newsletter. MDDC councillor Steve Keable suggested obtaining a copy of the Nymet Rowland plan to assist with this decision to see the relevance of it.
Feedback from Annual Parish Meeting
The PC agreed that the date was better and the clerk reminded the PC the statutory APM should be in May or June each year. The attendance was better due to the warmer weather and lighter evening. In the past it was treated as a social event, which could still be considered at Christmas time. It was also agreed that the tea and cake option is better than cheese and wine as this is too much of a financial outlay with a poor attendance.

5/ Insurance Review
No need to change the existing cover ,which is in a long term agreement with Community First, as the playground take over is no longer going ahead and the road signs have mostly been removed.

6/Update on the councillor’s specialist areas
Graham Penter – Planning – Bowerings Bridge Reeve Chulmleigh - Application for removal of Condition 6 (Private domestic use only) of planning permission 07/00862/FULL to allow use as a holiday let. The PC has no objections or comments to make.
Susan Vile – Church & Chapel – Chapel – no news and they need to pick up their grass cutting cheque issued in May. Clerk to email Jenny Robins again. Church – Service at the church 4th August. .Coffee morning 11th September Laurence Peters – Flagpole and Jubilee plaque – The flag has been reinstated but noted as upside down so will be rectified. Plaque still to be installed.
Gail Tucker – Public relations and Social Media – The newsletter will need to be notified about the park closure. James Limond – Broadband improvements for the village No further news since last meeting
Sarah Goody (clerk) Village Hall liaison – The Flower and Produce Show is on 17th August, schedules will be delivered with the newsletter. AGM was held with no public attendance and the chairman Jeremy Flynn has been re elected. Roads and Hedges – work has been completed on the Eggesford road towards the station but not the Winkleigh side.

7/Accounts
a) Update on bank balance £11719.50 as at 31st May 2024 (last statement received)
£11672.94 PC funds
£46.56 remainder of the Jubilee Grant for the plaque
The cheque to Wembworthy Chapel not yet cashed £200
b) Cheques to sign S Goody – clerk - APM tea and cake expenses £18.21 Community First insurance - £364.06
c) AGAR report 2023/24 – an extraordinary meeting was held before the APM to minute the acceptance by the PC

8/AOB for next meeting’s Agenda
Date of next meeting Thursday 12th September 2024 Items for agenda – Xmas tree .Xmas party? Remembrance Day wreaths
Meeting closed at 8.35pm