Broadwoodkelly Parish Council
Minutes of the Broadwoodkelly Parish Council meeting held remotely using Zoom on Tuesday 24th
November 2020 at 7.30 p.m. Being held remotely because of ongoing Covid – 19 pandemic.
Present: Cllrs R. Heggadon (Chairman), R. Gant, J. Clark and A. Penny. Councillor Barry Ratcliffe, the Borough Councillor for the Exbourne Ward, was also present.
1. To receive apologies for absence and consider if the reason for the absence should be approved by the council.
Councillors Mrs B. Cook and Mrs. C. Brook sent their apologies as their Broadband connection is not good enough to participate in the remote meeting. These apologies were accepted.
2. To receive any declarations of Interest from members:
Councillors are reminded to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in any agenda item
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 22nd September 2020.
Cllr Penny proposed that the minutes of the last meeting be signed as a correct record. This was seconded by Cllr Gant. The clerk will arrange for the chairman to sign the minutes at a later date.
4. Public Participation – there were no members of the public present
5. Report by Borough Councillor – Councillor Ratcliffe informed the council that there is currently an investigation into planning procedures and how the planning department is working. It is to be sent to the Chief of Planning, who will then report back. There should be more discussion with the parish and town councils, especially pre-application discussions. Currently revisions to planning applications are not sent back to the parish/town councils. Also how S.103 is spent.
West Devon Borough Council has handed out £1.3million in government grants connected with the lockdowns brought in to halt the spread of Covid-19.
6. Past Subject Matters for further discussion:
a. [7.a] Parish Website – Cllr Penny stated Cllr Mrs. B. Cook has this in hand.
b. Devon Air Ambulance Trust – Community Landing Site. The chairman stated there was nothing more to report.
c. Areas of Highway requiring work to utilise TAP fund money – no areas to report. Councillor Gant stated he has reported some potholes and was impressed at how quickly they were repaired. Work is currently being done on the road between Corscombe and Cadditon Cross.
7. Clerk’s report and correspondence received:
The following correspondence is contained within the Councillors folder:
a. The future of All Hallows Church – the priest in charge at All Hallows, Revd Helen Blaine has sent a letter to the Chairman, which has been forwarded to all the councillors, explaining the situation at the church. The church is struggling financially and three options have been proposed – 1. Carry on as before 2. Close the church or 3. To seek Festival Church status.
The first two options are not favoured and with the third option the church would link with Winkleigh and hold Easter, Harvest and Christmas services as well as baptisms, weddings and funerals. For this to happen the church requires the support of the parish council and local community.
Revd Blaine was unable to attend this meeting, but will be invited to the January meeting to discuss it further.
b. The possible closure of Winkleigh Post Office – the sorting office service at the Post Office is going to cease from 27th March 2021, which will reduce the income the Post Office receives by £1864 per month. Some funding has been found and Winkleigh Parish Council are looking at ways to support it. Councillor Ratcliffe said a similar thing had happened at North Tawton, but that is now still operating. Councillors stated they felt it would be a pity for it to close as residents of Broadwoodkelly use the service. The clerk was asked to write to Winkleigh Parish Council and inform them that they support their efforts in trying to save the Post Office as it is an important facility for the residents in Broadwoodkelly.
c. West Devon Borough Council – Are you ready for winter? – Councillor Clark confirmed that the parish has a good supply of salt.
d. Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Councillor Advocate Scheme – the chairman stated his contact details could be submitted.
e. Email received from Okehampton and District Community Transport Group thanking the parish council for their donation.
f. Clerks and Councils Direct
8. Planning:
a. Application No. 2364/20/CLP Land at SX 628 104, Broadwoodkelly – Certificate of lawfulness for proposed mobile home structure for agricultural welfare purposes. Certificate of lawfulness (proposed) certified.
b. Application No 1297/20/ARC The Barn, Ingleigh Green – Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 6, 7 and 8 of planning consent 4202/19/VAR. Discharge of conditions approved.
c. Application No. 2460/20/LBC Walson Cottage, Broadwoodkelly – Listed Building Consent for proposed rebuild of chimney including installation of chimney pot (see details 0620/16/LBC) and removal of cement plaster and replace with lime plaster below chimney wall. Granted conditional approval.
d. Application No. 3126/20/FUL Highcroft, Broadwoodkelly – Construction of five new dwellings with associated parking and infrastructure (Resubmission of 4033/19/FUL). To be discussed at a remote meeting being held on December 7th 2020.
9. Finance
a. Invoice from clerk for wages/expenses (October/November) – £115.50
Cllr Penny proposed that this invoice be paid. Cllr Gant seconded. The clerk will drop the cheque book in to the chairman for signing
b. Interest on Business Reserve Account (September/October) – £0.12
c. Setting the precept for 2021/22 – the clerk reminded the council the precept will need to be discussed at the next meeting.
d. Balance at Bank – As at 17 September the balance in the Current Account was £7179.56 and as at 30 October 2020 the balance in the Business Reserve Account was £6785.70.
10. Matters for further reporting:
Councillor Clark stated a local farmer had lost the mirror on his tractor on some overgrown hedges. The clerk to report the hedges on the Devon County Council website.
11. Confidential discussion:
16.1 Enforcement cases – remain the same.
12. Date of next meeting:
January 26th 2021. Depending on Government guidance may be held in the village hall
or remotely via Zoom.
There being no further business the meeting finished at 20.10