Held in Gittisham Parish Room
Present:
Village ward: Cllr C Hall (Chair), Cllr A Rowe (Vice Chair), Cllr D Valentine, Cllr M Walker
Vale ward: Cllr J Twist, Cllr P Orchard
In attendance: Fiona Clampin (clerk)
Apologies for absence: Cllr A Powell, Cllr Phil Twiss (DCC), Cllr Alasdair Bruce (EDDC), PCSO Darren England
Before the start of the meeting, the Chair said the parish council sent its condolences to Michael Harris at Combe Farm and the family of Mike Newcombe, following the fire on 29th November 2024.
107/24 To accept and approve apologies
Apologies were received and accepted.
108/24 To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 7th November 2024
The minutes of the meeting held on 7th November 2024 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.
109/24 To receive the Beat Manager’s Report
October 2024:
Hedge Field Close – 3 anti-social behaviour
Hamlett Close – 1 x violence and sexual offences
Meadow Acre – 1 x other theft
Village Hall area – 1 x violence and sexual offences
110/24 To receive declarations of interest
None.
111/24 To consider actions from the last meeting not otherwise on the agenda
The clerk said she had cancelled the former lengthsman’s insurance (which had been provided by GPC). Mark Sexton from Baker Estates has not yet replied to an email requesting another walkabout at Hayne Farm.
112/24 To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives
In his absence, Cllr Twiss sent the following report:
Local Government Funding Reform
“The ‘big ticket’ item for DCC (as across England) currently is funding reform, which is causing great concern among many, including DCC. The concern focuses particularly on the phrase about how following a reset, funding will be sent ‘where it is needed most” and to areas of deprivation. Devon is not widely regarded as being in that category. Being a largely rural county with a low-cost economy and a significantly large elderly population on fixed incomes, we know that not to be the case.
On 28th November 2024, the Government issued a Local Government Finance Policy Statement, providing an update on local government funding following the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget in October stating that it is committed to funding reform. A Fair Funding Review Consultation is expected to be published, alongside the
Provisional Settlement in December. The Government intends to ‘reset’ the business rates retention system, as was originally intended when the system was introduced in 2013/14. A reset will further allow Government to match funding to where it is needed most. The reset will apply nationally.
The Government will consult and engage councils about reforms to the funding system, including an initial consultation on the objectives and principles of the government’s proposed approach, launching in December alongside the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2025/26. Government will consult on the technical detail of resetting the business rates retention system in early 2025.
Impact on the Authority’s 2025/26 Budget Setting
The actual impact on DCC funding will not be known until the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement is announced, anticipated to be in the week commencing 16th December as Parliament breaks up for Christmas recess. However, based on our finance officers’ best interpretation of the information currently available, coupled with uncertainty around council tax income projections, it is estimated that DCC could be worse off by approximately £13 million, possibly more and very bad news across all services. As a consequence, and pending the provisional settlement, further work is underway across DCC to ensure a balanced budget can be set in February.
Open consultation on enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at local authority meetings
This is one of those items, where the devil is likely to be in the detail. The pandemic forced us all to work in different ways, and this applied very much to carrying out the functions of local government. The Government is currently consulting on introducing powers for local authority members to apply to the relevant authority for a dispensation to attend formal council meetings remotely and vote by proxy in certain circumstances. The aim is to support local government to modernise democratic engagement, raise standards and widen the range of candidates standing for council by removing unnecessary barriers.
It is with this in mind that the Government intends to amend the law to introduce provisions for remote attendance at local authority meetings. The consultation seeks views on the detail and practical implications of this proposition to inform ongoing policy development. Responses have been invited from local authority elected members, all types and tiers of authorities, and local authority sector representative organisations. My personal concern is that we have seen a significant tail-off in physical attendance by some elected members at council meetings since the lifting of restrictions, for no particular reason other than their convenience, and that any changes should be for the better with clear rules. We otherwise run the risk of having people elected who rarely or never attend meetings, instead issuing a proxy vote. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Communities urged to check grit bins
As we approach that time of year and have already had a dose of the ‘white stuff’, now is a good time to prepare in case of further. More than 3,500 grit bins are strategically placed by DCC for public use during severe weather. Towns and parishes are encouraged to check grit bins before the winter season starts, rather than during it. Once winter service starts, the amount of resource that can be diverted to filling grit bins is limited.
Grit bins are an expensive asset in terms of maintenance. Where new requests for grit bins are received, the preference initially will be to see if it is possible to re-site an existing bin if there is evidence to suggest it is not being used. Please liaise with your Neighbourhood Highways Officer who will be able to investigate if this is an option. Where there are no options to re-site existing bins, and we are content a new bin is justified then this needs to be funded through the local councillor budget (where locality budgets are not available then funding may need to come directly from the Parish or Town Council). The cost remains at £350 which covers the installation, filling and ongoing maintenance costs for the life of the grit bin.
Forms to request salt and update contact details can be found at https://www.devon.gov.uk/devonhighways/self-help Snow Wardens can request access to the online training by emailing . “
In his absence, Cllr Bruce said he noted the report on the news regarding the feedback from councils on housing numbers now before the Government. Anything stemming from this may have implications for our strategic plan nearing completion.
113/24 To receive a report on the EDDC Local Plan and consider contracting a planning consultant
Cllr Valentine said there was no update on this. The clerk has emailed Cllr Valentine’s complaint to EDDC regarding the site allocation process and its flaws. This will be circulated to other East Devon parish councils in the manner of a similar letter by Lympstone Parish Council.
ACTION: Clerk to distribute letter to all East Devon parish clerks.
114/24 To consider the following planning applications:
- 21/2741/VAR – 1 Hamlet Cottages Weston EX14 3PB – Variation of Condition no.2 (approved plans) on planning permission 21/2741/VAR (Variation of conditio no.2 (approved plans) of application 21/1295/FUL (Demolition of existing workshop to be replaced with a new self-build dwelling) – modified design
- 24/2200/FUL – 1 Hamlett Close, Gittisham EX14 3FR – Conversion of existing garage to living accommodation, with first floor extension over. Addition of external cladding.
- 24/2270/FUL – Rapshayes Farm Gittisham EX14 3AB – Remove all external render and re-render with a lime-based mortar and construct enclosed front terrace, retaining walls and gate
- 24/2271/LBC – Rapshayes Farm Gittisham EX14 3AB – Replace door on front elevation, replace windows on ground floor on south west, north east, north west and south east elevations. Remove all external render and re-render with a lime-based mortar and construct enclosed front terrace, retaining walls and gate
Councillors resolved to have no objection to b, c and d. Regarding a), councillors resolved to object to the application as previously agreed. Granting permission would establish a new residential unit in the countryside without agricultural need being sought, and it will act as a precedent for other opportunities in the future which would be detrimental to the overall policy-making of EDDC. Parish councillors also raised concern about the proposed materials in terms of the roofing.
115/24 To receive reports from councillors on areas of responsibility and actions since the last meeting:
- To consider the provision of superfast broadband in the parish (Cllr Powell)
- Councillors heard that Damian Furniss and David Fallows have met to discuss the way forward on an Openreach quote to take fibre to Town Farm Buildings. Cllr Powell is working with them to draw up a number of questions they will submit to Openreach. He has also spoken on the phone to Justin Lascelles regarding routes for fibre. Justin is open to discussing different approaches to the village. The parish council succeeded in getting some publicity in the press for the poor broadband issue, and local MP Richard Foord mentioned Gittisham in Parliament as illustrating the challenge facing some parts of his constituency in accessing superfast broadband.
- ACTION: Chair to contact Voneus to see if there was any possibility of increased coverage with additional infrastructure.
- To note the latest planning decision notices
- 24/0539/LBC – 2 Riverside Cottages Gittisham Devon EX14 3AE Replace existing porch with enlarged lead flat roof porch on south elevation; replace existing extension on north elevation to create bedroom and bathroom and glazed canopy over rear door. Approval.
- Cllr Rowe added that the village hall committee would be putting in a planning application for the replacement windows and doors.
- To receive an update on Highways
16 January – road to Catshayes Farm closed for installation of South West Water sewer level maintenance 0800-1700
09 Oct-23 December Sidmouth Road 100m uphill south of Tesco roundabout. Temporary traffic signals. Guarding collapsed culvert causing water damage to road.
Until 10th December approximately: all roads in Gittisham Vale, installation of ducting for Virgin Cable. A cabinet has been added by the grass at Old Elm Road turning circle.
- To consider plans for expenditure in the parish under the Community Infrastructure Levy & S106
Cllr Orchard said Honiton Town Council would be meeting mid-January to discuss projects. Cllr Valentine added that a parishioner had suggested creating an area for sports where the old cricket pitch used to be in the village.
- To receive an update on public transport
Cllr Orchard said there was only one late running bus noted this month on the clipboard in the village bus shelter. However, buses have not been serving the village over the past week due to engineers digging a hole in the road and attempting to find a suspected leak.
- To consider climate change measures within the parish, including proposals for rewilding land in the parish
Cllr Rowe said the village hall committee was applying for grants towards the cost of replacing windows and doors, and separate funding for solar panels, insulation and replacement of lighting.
ACTION: Clerk to ask DALC if the parish council is able to apply for an interest-free loan to cover costs. Grant aid is paid in arrears.
- To consider limited residential development in the parish
Cllr Valentine said he would be discussing the changes to the proposals requested by English Heritage with Combe Estate next week. Any redesign would need approval again from the community. Housing associations are waiting to hear what the Government’s intentions are for their funding. The result of that consultation won’t be known until March / April 2025.
- To consider the creation of a footpath linking Hayne Farm with Gittisham village
Cllr Powell said Justin Lascelles had been interested to learn of the role DCC can take in establishing and maintaining new footpaths.
- To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area
Cllr Twist reported that RoSPA had carried out a safety inspection on the Hayne Farm play area. The dog bins there have now been emptied.
ACTION: Clerk to check that the wild area has been fully cut and the grass clippings taken away to promote wild flower growth.
- To consider work to be carried out by the lengthsman to maintain ditches and drains in the parish
Members discussed possible candidates for the lengthsman work but did not reach any conclusion. Cllr Walker said the timbers at the base of the bus shelter are rotten and need to be replaced. Cllr Valentine reported that the river in the village has nearly breached the overflow channels and these are therefore not fit for purpose. It needs heavy equipment to remove the debris and could easily become a serious flooding event. Cllr Rowe said the ditch at Truances is now high enough that when the water fills, it comes over the top and threatens the house. It was agreed to add this to a future lengthsman’s list.
ACTION: Chair to contact Tom Buxton Smith at EDDC.
116/24 To receive a report from the Chair
The Chair said there was nothing to report this month.
117/24 To approve the December payments and to note the current bank balance
Members resolved to approve the following payments:
Members resolved to approve the following payments:
F Clampin £266.75 clerk’s salary + £10.13 expenses (travel Ottery – Gittisham 7.5-mile round trip x 3 for agendas, minutes & November meeting @0.45p / mile)
Michael Poll, play area grass cutting £65 (inv. ref. 10377)
Laps Lawns £185, hedge trimming play area
Websites Ahoy, £221.50 migration, website maintenance & purchase of hosting for two years (inv. ref. W24-GPC-2)
NEST £28.08 (clerk’s pension)
Cllr Rowe explained that Websites Ahoy would be migrating the parish council’s website to a different host provider (from 34SP to Krystal), which will be cheaper and emails should arrive quicker from everyone’s preferred email client.
Members were informed that the current bank balance stands at £24,228.89 (which includes approximately £7,156.88 in the business reserve account).
118/24 To discuss future projects requiring parish council involvement
Members resolved to defer discussion to the next meeting, and particularly when setting the budget.
119/24 Clerk’s report
There was nothing to report.
120/24 For information only; items for the forward agenda
Future projects; budget 2025-26; precept 2025-26.
121/24 To consider any late entry correspondence
After 20 years of service, Cllr Walker said she had decided to resign from the parish council. She said it had been a privilege to serve the community, and a rewarding experience. Councillors joined the Chair in thanking Cllr Walker for her commitment and enthusiasm over the past two decades on the council.
122/24 Date of next two meetings
Thursday 9th January and Thursday 6th February 2025 at 7.30pm.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2115 hrs.
Chair…………………………………….
9th January 2025