Broadwoodkelly Parish Council
Minutes of the Broadwoodkelly Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday January 24th 2023 at 7.30pm in the village hall.
Present: Councillors R. Heggadon (Chairman), R. Gant, Mrs B. Cook, D. Reed and J. Clark.
The Borough Councillor for the Exbourne Ward, Barry Ratcliffe, had hoped to attend, but there was black ice where he lived and he felt it unsafe to travel to the meeting.
There was one member of the public present.
1. To receive apologies for absence and consider if the reason for the absence should be approved by the council.
Councillor Penny had hoped to attend the meeting, but sent his apologies as he is working. The apology was accepted.
2. Declaration of Interest from Members:
Councillors are reminded to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in any agenda items.
2.1 The parish council has delegated the power of granting dispensations to the clerk.
2.2 To receive written requests for dispensations for disclosable pecuniary interests (if any)
2.3 To grant any requests for dispensations as appropriate
There were no declarations of interest.
3. To receive and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on November 22nd 2022
Councillor Mrs B. Cook proposed that the minutes be signed as a correct record. This was seconded by Councillor Gant. The Chairman signed the minutes.
4. Public Participation – the member of the public stated she was attending to discuss the Neighbourhood Plan.
5. Discussion on whether Broadwoodkelly should prepare a Neighbourhood Plan or not (includes members of the public)
Councillor Mrs B Cook stated the Neighbourhood Plan was going to be promoted at the tea, which was to be held in early January in the village hall. This event was cancelled. A notice promoting the event has been on the website.
One councillor noted that development has occurred in Winkleigh and they have a Neighbourhood Plan. Councillor Mrs Cook explained that the development in Winkleigh went ahead as Torridge District Council does not have a 10 year plan (West Devon Borough Council does have a 10 year plan). She proposed that the discussion is put on the back burner until April when the weather should improve. The council holds a Neighbourhood Plan surgery with the Chairman and Councillor Reed present. This should be promoted in the Methodist leaflet, Church Newsletter and Dee’s round robin email. This was seconded and agreed by those present.
6. Report by Borough Councillor
Borough Councillor Barry Ratcliffe was not present.
7. Past Subject Matters for further discussion:
a. [8.a] Vacancy on the parish council – discuss whether to co-opt or not prior to elections.
The chairman stated he had not seen the advert on the website. Councillor Mrs Cook stated it had been put on the website, but not on the front page. After some discussion the parish council decided to co-opt to fill the vacancy before the vacancy. An advert to be placed on the front page of the website (and noticeboards) asking for interested parties to submit their application a week before the next meeting (March 21st). The clerk to prepare advert for inclusion on website.
b. [6.a] Parish Website – Councillor Mrs B Cook explained she has spoken to the website developer and he is coming back with a price. When she gets this through she will send it out by email and would like agreement before the next meeting.
c. [8.b] To consider improvements to the present webpages used by the parish council in the context of renewal of the existing website contract for the next financial year and of giving adequate publicity for future meetings. (Discussed above)
d. [6.b] Areas of highways requiring work to utilise TAP fund money – Some potholes have been filled in. No-one has travelled out along the Middlecott to Ingleigh Green road to see what condition it is in. The people at Pattiland have asked about the potholes at the end of their drive (it depends whether they are on their private drive or on the public highway).
e. [6.e] Dedicated email addresses for councillors in connection with council business – it was agreed to removed this from the agenda as those who want to sent up separate emails have done so.
f. [6.f] Broadband – nothing to report. Councillor Mrs B Cook stated she felt that Broadband at the village hall would be handy.
8. Clerk’s report and correspondence received:
a. Clerks and Councils Direct
b. An email from Citizens Advice asking if the parish council will consider making a donation – this was discussed and it was agreed to make a donation. Councillor Reed proposed the sum of £60. This was seconded by Councillor Mrs Cook and agreed by all.
c. Borough Council and Parish and Town Council elections May 4th 2023 – the clerk has received an email from WDBC with the timetable for the elections. This was read out.
d. HM King Charles III coronation – mugs were handed out to the children for the Platinum Jubilee and it was wondered if mugs would be popular again. Councillor Gant stated the village hall didn’t think they would be doing anything on the actual day as people will be watching it on television. There is time to discuss at the next meeting.
e. Discuss possible purchase of a projector for parish council use – the chairman’s daughter was going to purchase one, but then didn’t as they found another way of setting it up. Councillor Gant was wary of buying one from Amazon. The clerk will look at Currys website. The member of the public suggested asking WDBC if they have procurement contracts.
f. Parish Council printer – there was no need for a new printer required it was the ink cartridge. The clerk had reason to purchase a personal printer and purchased the same model as the parish council one. She tried one of the cartridges in the parish council printer and it worked.
9. Planning:
a. Application No. 3123/22/FUL Colehouse Farm, Broadwoodkelly – erection of stable with tack room. Granted conditional approval.
b. Application No. 3790/22/NMM Splatt Methodist Church, Broadwoodkelly – non material minor amendment to planning consent 2303/22/FUL (change of use from redundant chapel to dwelling) to omit internal porch and replace with external porch. Application refused.
c. Application No 4221/22/FUL Splatt Methodist Church, Broadwoodkelly – construction of external porch to former Chapel. Comment required prior to meeting. Neutral comment submitted.
d. Application No. 3940/22/HHO Redroofs, Broadwoodkelly – Householder application for proposed alterations, internally, door and window openings, infill extension of existing covered entrance porch. Comment required prior to meeting. Council supported.
e. Application No 2022/22/VAR Grattons Farm, Broadwoodkelly – Application for removal of condition (e) (agricultural tie) of planning permission OA.3.7.2247/87/5744/7. Permission refused.
f. Application No. 3490/22/LBC Walson and Clarkstown Cottages, Broadwoodkelly – Listed Building Consent for retention and alterations to chimneys. Granted conditional approval.
g. Application No. 3489/22/FUL Walson and Clarkstown Cottages, Broadwoodkelly – Retention and alterations to chimneys. Granted conditional approval.
h. Application No. 3723/22/VAR Holbrook, Broadwoodkelly – application for removal of condition 5 (use of dwelling) of planning consent 2100/22/FUL. Refused.
10. Finance
a. Invoice from clerk for wages/expenses – £181.37
Councillor Mrs B Cook proposed that this invoice be paid. This was seconded by Councillor Clark and agreed by all.
b. Set the precept for 2023/24 – the clerk had prepared some figures and circulated them prior to the meeting. It was unanimously agreed to keep the precept the same as this current financial year £2721. The clerk will submit the precept request form.
c. Interest on Business Reserve Account (Nov/Dec) – £8.38
d. Balance at Bank– as at 1st December 2022 the balance in the Current Account was £8560.56 (does not include the cheque signed this evening). As at the 30th December the balance in the Business Reserve Account was £6801.27.
11. Matters for further reporting:
The chairman noted the hourly rate the clerk is being paid and asked that it be reviewed at the next meeting. The clerk to find out the NALC recommended hourly rates for clerks.
Councillor Mrs B. Cook thanked Councillor Clark for filling the grit bin at Fourways.
Councillor Clark asked the clerk to contact Ben Pell, the contractor who carried out the work on the highways.
12. Confidential discussion:
16.1 Enforcement cases – these remain the same.
12. Date of next meeting:
March 28th 2023
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.30pm.