Held in Gittisham Parish Room

Present:

Village ward: Cllr C Hall (Chair), Cllr A Rowe (Vice Chair), Cllr D Valentine

Vale ward: Cllr A Powell, Cllr Andrea Rye

In attendance: Cllr Richard Jefferies (DCC), (member of the public), Fiona Clampin (clerk)

Apologies for absence: Cllr P Orchard, Cllr G Pester, Cllr Alasdair Bruce (EDDC), PCSO Darren England

1/25 To elect a Chair

Cllr Valentine nominated Cllr Hall for election as Chair for 2025/26. This nomination was seconded by Cllr Rowe. A roll call of members present at the meeting was then taken. It was then resolved by a unanimous decision that Cllr Hall be elected Chair for 2025/26 of Gittisham Parish Council.

2/25 To elect a Vice Chair

Cllr Hall nominated Cllr Rowe for election as Vice Chair for 2025/26. This nomination was seconded by Cllr Valentine. A roll call of members present at the meeting was then taken. It was then resolved by a unanimous decision that Cllr Rowe be elected Vice Chair for 2025/26 of Gittisham Parish Council.

3/25 To receive the Chair’s and Vice Chair’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office

In accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972, Cllrs Hall & Rowe made a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

4/25 To accept and approve apologies

Apologies were received and accepted.

5/25 To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 17th April 2025

The minutes of the meeting held on 17th April 2025 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

6/25 To receive the Beat Manager’s Report

There has been no update on the police website since the last meeting.

7/25 To receive declarations of interest

None.

8/25 To consider actions from the last meeting not otherwise on the agenda

Cllr Valentine said the parish council had received some correspondence from Broadhembury PC explaining their objections to EDDC’s Local Plan. They challenged both the soundness of the plan and raised objections to what was being proposed. Members discussed the whys and wherefores of recruiting a planning consultant to represent Gittisham parish at the examination in public, which could be prohibitively expensive. Cllr Powell asked why there didn’t appear to be an invitation from EDDC to develop brownfield sites, as there is one for greenfield sites.

ACTION: Clerk to contact Charlie Hopkins who represented the parish council on a previous occasion. Clerk to send GPC’s objection and EDDC’s response to Cllr Jefferies.

ACTION: Cllr Powell to write to EDDC asking about an invitation for brownfield site development.

9/25 To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives

Cllr Jefferies introduced himself as the newly elected County Councillor for the electoral division of Feniton & Honiton. He has lived around Honiton for 20 years, has worked in construction and is a keen environmentalist. He has chaired the East Devon National Landscape Partnership. Members said they would very much like him to help progress the lack of superfast broadband in Gittisham village. Cllr Jefferies said EDDC would be sending out a survey about rural broadband across the district. All paid tribute to the work of Cllr Phil Twiss who fulfilled the role from May 2017 until the recent election, and his strong support for the parish.

In his absence, Cllr Bruce sent the following report: “I was able to attend the raising of the Union Jack at Blackdown House today to pay respects on VE Day. It was gratifying to see so many in attendance, and share stories from veterans and relatives. I am always in constant awe at the bravery of all who helped keep us safe then and achieve our ultimate defeat of evil.

“At District level, although it’s been relatively quiet, the ramifications to local government still hang like an unanswered question. I’m assured that work behind the scenes is pressing forward to achieve the best outcome for our district. I still, however remain deeply concerned that the proposed changes to local planning will see many of the checks and balances that have protected our communities from savage development are about to be swept away in the pursuit of short term gains, with no regard to the cohesion of our parishes and villages.

“On a more positive note, it would be remiss of me not to mention the major changes to Devon County Council following the recent elections. I am pleased to congratulate Cllr Jefferies, our new representative, and very much look forward to working with him. I’d also like to put on record my sincere thanks to Cllr Twiss for the sterling service he has given to our ward. In the 15 years I have been involved in local politics, I have not come across a more hard-working councillor and one so dedicated to doing his very best for his electorate.”

10/25 To consider the following planning applications:

a) 25/0856/FUL – 1 Church Mead, Gittisham EX14 3AH – Replacement single storey side extension with associated internal alterations

b) 25/0369/FUL – Roebuck Farm Weston EX14 3PB – Proposed MOT station, hard-standing and widened access track (retrospective application).

Councillors resolved to have no objection to a). Regarding b), GPC was made aware in August last year by a parishioner of a previous application for change of use at Roebuck Farm. This application was subsequently withdrawn. Although Gittisham is the adjoining parish, part of the track which serves the proposed change of use is in Gittisham parish. Councillors expressed their disappointment that a change of use from farm entrance to MOT station appeared to have gone ahead, and objected to this application which risks increasing vehicle movements in the surrounding area.

11/25 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)

Cllr Powell said he had spoken to somebody at Wildanet who specialise in rural broadband in the South West, and have been developing a network in Cornwall. The company said they would like to help but do not have the resources to do so.

To note the latest planning decision notices

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. Approval.

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. Approval.

25/0637/FUL 2 Ferndale Close Honiton EX14 2YN – Construction of two-storey side extension. Approval.

APP/U1105/W/24/3348938 Kings Arms Farm, Nags Head Road, Gittisham EX14 3AP – Proposed house of multiple occupation (HMO), that provides individual living-rooms for vulnerable people; the facility includes communal areas for socialising, cooking and dining set with private and secure gardens. Appeal dismissed.

To receive an update on Highways

4–6 August road through Alfington closed for Wales and West Utilities work.

The Chair said she had been corresponding with a parishioner who asked if additional action could be taken on potholes, especially on the road up to Beech Walk. Members heard it can be an onerous task to report so many potholes individually on DCC’s website, and the site does not allow high resolution photos. Cllr Rowe said he had suggested an alternative.

To consider plans for expenditure in the parish under the Community Infrastructure Levy & S106

EDDC have released £200k of S106 money to Honiton Rugby Club for improvements to floodlights and drainage. Work should start this month for completion by the forthcoming season. Part of this sum was a contribution from Baker Estates to Gittisham parish, which the parish council gifted to Honiton Town Council to spend on sports activities which would benefit Gittisham parishioners. The Chair asked if it would be possible for the rugby club to acknowledge Gittisham’s contribution in some way.

Cllr Rye enquired about the field on the corner of Hayne Lane and the link road, and whether the oak trees there could be protected. Cllr Valentine replied that the site has been earmarked for employment land. Cllr Jefferies advised Cllr Rye to look at EDDC’s tree and hedgerow strategy.

ACTION: Clerk to ask EDDC about its tree warden scheme and feed back to Cllr Rye.

To receive an update on public transport

Nothing to report this month.

To consider climate change measures within the parish, including proposals for rewilding land in the parish

Cllr Rowe reported that the village hall will be running on self-generated green electricity throughout the summer months.

To consider limited residential development in the parish

Cllr Valentine said a bat survey was being carried out the evening of 8^th May at the site.

To consider the creation of a footpath linking Hayne Farm with Gittisham village

Cllr Powell said installing matting could be one solution to the grass verge from Hayne Farm towards the Otter Inn, and might encourage people to walk rather than drive.

Cllr Valentine left the meeting.

To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area

Cllrs Powell, Rye and Orchard have attended to the items highlighted in the annual safety inspection report. Cllr Rye said some cherry trees could be trained along the back wall of the wild area by the bee hotel.

ACTION: Clerk to ask safety inspector for advice on signs for the play area.

To consider the scope of future lengthsman work and recruitment

The Chair urged all members to identify areas which needed work and bring them to the next meeting, if they could not be fixed by councillors themselves. The clerk said there was no update on lengthsman recruitment.

12/25 To receive a report from the Chair

The Chair said there was no update this month.

13/25 To consider and adopt the parish council’s standing orders

Members resolved to adopt the parish council’s standing orders.

14/25 To review the parish council’s fixed asset register

Members noted the fixed asset register.

ACTION: Clerk to add Greentech matting.

15/25 To approve the May payments and to note the current bank balance

Members resolved to approve the following payments:

F Clampin £266.75 clerk’s salary + £6.75 expenses (travel Ottery – Gittisham 7.5-mile round trip x 2 for minutes & April meeting @0.45p / mile)

F Clampin £108.97 reimbursement for vouchers & thank you cards for former councillors

Michael Poll, grass cutting play area £140 (inv. refs. 10403 & 10400)

DALC 2 x cllr training courses (Cllr Pester) £36

Community First Trading annual insurance policy £473.26

NEST (clerk’s pension) £28.08

Members were informed that the current bank balance stands at £25,989.76 (which includes approximately £7,000 in the business reserve account).

ACTION: Clerk to investigate purchase of a new noticeboard for outside the village hall, including contacting the sawmills in Luton, near Payhembury.

16/25 Clerk’s report

There was nothing to report.

17/25 For information only; items for the forward agenda

Annual accountability & governance; reducing GPC’s reserves.

18/25 To consider any late entry correspondence