Broadwoodkelly Parish Council
Annual Parish Meeting
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting for Broadwoodkelly Parish Council held in the Village Hall on Tuesday May 25th 2021 at 7.30 p.m.
Present: Chairman Cllr Roger Heggadon, Cllrs D. Reed, Mrs B Cook, R. Gant, J. Clark, A. Penny and Mrs C. Brook.
Borough Councillor for the Exbourne Ward, Barry Ratcliffe, was in attendance. There were no other members of the public present.
1. Minutes of the previous meeting:
It was proposed by Cllr Penny that the minutes of the meeting held on May 8th 2019 (there was no meeting in 2020 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic) be signed as a true record. This was seconded by Cllr Mrs Brook and unanimously agreed. The Chairman signed the minutes.
2. Matters Arising from these minutes
There were none.
3. Chairman’s Report covering the activities of the Parish Council over the past year
The chairman began by saying it felt strange delivering his report as no Parish Meeting was held last year. We are now cautiously taking steps towards normality. Meetings were held ‘remotely’ using Zoom. It enabled us to continue with parish business and it also highlighted the lack of broadband in these rural areas.
A few members of the council were able to meet with Darryl Jagger from Devon County Council just before lockdown started. It was made clear to him that the road around Middlecott Farm is in need of attention. He noted this, but it does all come down to the finances available to Devon County Council.
Planning applications have kept the parish council busy throughout the year.
The website continues to provide the parish with up-to-date information and I wish to convey my thanks to Beverley for running it and keeping it so informative.
The Community Landing Site for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust has not progressed this year, partly because of the pandemic. We will wait and see if DAAT pursue it.
Rev’d Helen Blaine remotely attended our January meeting to update the council on the perilous situation facing All Hallows Church. They wish to keep the church open and become a Festival Church. It will be absorbed into Winkleigh, but will remain open for baptisms, weddings etc and four services throughout the year (Easter, Harvest, Christmas and one other). The parish council stated they would support their application to become a Festival Church.
There were reports that Winkleigh Post Office could close. It was going to lose the sorting office service at the end of March 2021. The loss of the income that brings in would reduce the financial viability of the Post Office. The parish council supported the efforts made by Winkleigh Parish Council to save it and it is understood that some funding has been secured.
The chairman wished to thank Borough Councillor Barry Ratcliffe for attending meetings and keeping the parish up to date with what is going on at West Devon Borough Council.
The chairman thanked the councillors for all their hard work and support over the last year and he looks forward to working with them all over the forth coming year.
He concluded his report by thanking the clerk for her work over the past year.
4. Report by Borough Councillor
Councillor Ratcliffe stated West Devon Borough Council had held their first ‘face to face’ meeting this morning with Perspex screens in evidence.
He also commented on how the lockdown had highlighted how poor the broadband speeds are in the rural areas of the Borough.
The railway is taking up some time at the moment with the proposal to get trains to London. Meldon Quarry has opened up again.
5. Members of the public to address the parish council or Borough Councillor with issues of concern.
There were no members of the public present.
6. Date of next meeting
May 24th 2022(this date is subject to change)
The meeting concluded at 7.20 pm