Held in Gittisham Village Hall
Present:
Village ward: Cllr C Hall (Chair), Cllr A Rowe (Vice Chair), Cllr D Valentine, Cllr G Pester
Vale ward: Cllr P Orchard, Cllr A Powell
In attendance: Cllr Alasdair Bruce (EDDC), three members of the public, Fiona Clampin (clerk)
Apologies for absence: Cllr A Rye, Cllr Richard Jefferies (DCC), PCSO Darren England
Before the start of the meeting, former parish councillor Maggie Walker thanked the council for the gift she had received upon her resignation. Ms Walker said she would continue to support the council’s activities.
One member of the public left the meeting.
20/25 To accept and approve apologies
Apologies were received and accepted.
21/25 To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 8th May 2025
The minutes of the meeting held on 8th May 2025 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.
22/25 To receive the Beat Manager’s Report
March 2025
Nags Head Road: 1 x violence & sexual offences, 1 x other crime
Nether Close: 1 x violence & sexual offences
Hamlett Close: 1 x violence & sexual offences
Meadow Acre: 1 x vehicle crime
23/25 To receive declarations of interest
The Chair and Cllr Valentine declared an interest in agenda item 7a) (minute ref. 26/25). Cllr Valentine is the applicant, the Chair is a Gittisham CLT shareholder.
24/25 To consider actions from the last meeting not otherwise on the agenda
Cllr Valentine said he would be happy to meet planning consultant Charlie Hopkins regarding EDDC’s Local Plan and potential representation at the EiP.
Cllr Powell said he had spoken to EDDC’s Planning Policy officer regarding the selection (or not) of brownfield sites in the Local Plan. There followed a discussion about changes to planning policy over the last two decades.
25/25 To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives
Cllr Bruce said many would be aware of the alleged illegal action taken by contractors for Greendale concerning the widening of the entrance to Roebuck Farm near Gittisham on 23rd May. The wholesale removal of a number of mature trees without planning permission, and within the bird breeding season has been reported to the wildlife officer at Devon and Cornwall Police. Given the seriousness of this action, Cllr Bruce said he is asking EDDC if there is anything that can be done to stop this type of destructive act being perpetrated in the future.
He understands from EDDC’s tree officer that, as the trees are now down and were not listed, there is little EDDC can do. He is also informed that the damage to the trees occurred outside the boundary of an application currently under review. Cllr Bruce said he was not sure this will have any bearing on the apparent breaking of the wildlife law, but he will be adding this information to his report to the police. Given the volume of emails and ‘phone messages he had received on this subject, he has requested that the district council leader writes to the police, as well as the Police & Crime Commissioner, to ensure this issue is not lost in the ether.
Cllr Bruce explained that the incident was discussed at Wednesday’s EDDC cabinet meeting, where cabinet members shared his concerns. Parish councillors discussed on what basis wildlife law would be applicable in this case. The Chair said she had been in touch with residents in the area and the chair of Awliscombe Parish Council, and spoken to EDDC’s enforcement officer.
ACTION: Clerk to get in touch with Devon & Cornwall Police to express concerns, and reply to residents and Awliscombe PC chair with a summary of what has been discussed at this meeting.
Members noted Cllr Bruce’s report that a motion is going to full council for removal of permits to allow East Devon hunting groups to muster in car parks.
Cllr Bruce, the Chair and Cllr Valentine left the meeting. Cllr Rowe took the Chair.
26/25 To consider the following planning applications:
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- 24/0514/FUL – Land adjacent to Town House, Gittisham EX14 3AJ – Demolition of existing agricultural buildings. Proposed housing scheme for 6no. CLT owned affordable homes for rent, and 3no. Estate owned open market houses
Councillors noted that the amendments relate to extending the site to meet the biodiversity net gain requirements. Members resolved to have no objection to a) and expressed their support along the same lines as before.
The Chair and Cllr Valentine returned to the meeting.
b) 25/0885/FUL – Unit 3 Iron Bridge Industrial Estate EX14 3AN – Proposed enlargement of existing commercial building to provide additional warehouse space
c) 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 b). Regarding c), members objected to this application which risks increasing vehicle movements in the surrounding area. In addition, they expressed concern and disappointment that the tree cutting had taken place outside the context of a planning application.
27/25 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 would ask Cllr Jefferies to follow up on former Cllr Twiss’s enquiries with a supplier regarding superfast broadband. The clerk said she had responded to EDDC’s Rural Broadband Survey, and Cllr Rowe agreed to put a message on the village WhatsApp group encouraging people to respond before the deadline on Friday, June 6.
Two members of the public left the meeting.
- To note the latest planning decision notices
24/1683/FUL Combe Garden Centre Gittisham EX14 3PD – Proposed extension to existing building to form dry store area to kitchen and new toilets with new orangery to cafe. Approval with conditions.
- To receive an update on Highways
4–6 August road through Alfington closed for Wales and West Utilities work.
7 August 0700–1900 temporary one-way along old A30 adjacent to Honiton Agricultural Show.
- To consider plans for expenditure in the parish under the Community Infrastructure Levy & S106
Cllr Orchard reported that 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. Strategic Planning Committee were due to meet a week later to make final decisions.
https://democracy.eastdevon.gov.uk/documents/s27447/1.%20SPC%20CIL%20Bids%20report%2019052025.pdf
The Chair thanked Cllr Orchard for attending Honiton TC’s Sports Working Group meeting on 4th June. This follows EDDC’s CIL working party which recommended Honiton projects for CIL support on 19 May, totalling £601k. Honiton TC will write to all Honiton-based sports facilities and clubs asking for ideas. The next meeting will take place in September 2025, when decisions will be made on which ideas to fund. Cllr Orchard said he was satisfied that many of these S106- and CIL-funded projects would benefit Gittisham parishioners.
- To receive an update on public transport
Cllr Orchard reported that South Western Railway transferred to public ownership on 25 May, joining Network Rail, LNER, Northern, South Eastern, and TransPennine in the Government’s train set.
- To consider climate change measures within the parish, including proposals for rewilding land in the parish
There was no update this month.
- To consider limited residential development in the parish
Cllr Valentine said he expected a decision on the amended application following the extended deadline at the end of June.
- To consider the creation of a footpath linking Hayne Farm with Gittisham village
Councillors discussed issues such as liability with proposals to install matting on the grass verge from Devonshire Road towards the Otter Inn, with the aim of encouraging people to walk rather than drive. Members agreed a meeting with DCC’s local highways officer would be a good starting point to see if DCC would consider it.
ACTION: Clerk to arrange meeting with Tom Cox.
- To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area
Councillors discussed the appropriate management of wildness for the wild area, following a comment from a resident about the height of grass and brambles around the tower slide before they were cut. Cllr Powell suggested cutting it right back and see what flowers next spring. He added that Devon Wildlife Trust had approached him to offer a mini tree nursery, which could be planted in a corner of the play area.
ACTION: Clerk to arrange meeting between Michael Poll and Cllrs Powell, Pester and Rowe to discuss management of the area.
- To consider work to be carried out by the lengthsman to maintain ditches and drains in the parish
Cllr Powell said he had been speaking to somebody who might be interested in taking on the lengthsman work. Cllr Valentine asked if the length of growth in the stream was a concern, but the Chair said she did not think it was.
ACTION: Cllr Powell to arrange a meeting between Len Abbott and the person who had expressed an interest to share knowledge of the parish.
28/25 To receive a report from the Chair
The Chair passed on a message from former councillor Janet Twist, who thanked the council for the gift she had received upon her resignation. On a separate note, the Chair said how disappointing it was to read an article how some other rural communities in Devon are predicting seven or eight years until they can be connected to superfast broadband. Members heard that some homes in nearby Talaton had been cut off from Voneus broadband, including the parish hall.
29/25 To approve the June payments and to note the current bank balance
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 minutes & May meeting @0.45p / mile)
Michael Poll, grass cutting play area £210 (inv. refs. 10408 & 10413)
Trudie Jenkins-Avery / Bluechip Payroll, £145 annual internal audit 2024-25
NEST (clerk’s pension) £28.08
Members were informed that the current bank balance stands at £25,329.80 (which includes approximately £7,258 in the business reserve account).
30/25 To receive and note the annual internal audit report
Members noted the annual internal audit report carried out by Bluechip Payroll.
31/25 To approve the annual governance statement 2024-25
Members resolved to approve the annual governance statement 2024-25.
32/25 To approve the 2024-25 accounting statements
Members resolved to adopt the 2024-25 accounts. Prior to the meeting, the clerk circulated the accounting statements. The parish council ended the financial year on 31st March 2025 with a balance of £22,557.44 (inc. £7,257.61 in business reserve, with £100.73 interest accumulated this year). There is VAT to be recovered of £311.20.
33/25 To consider the criteria for meeting exemption from the annual limited assurance review 2024-25, and approve the exemption certificate
Members agreed the criteria had been met, ie that during the financial year 2024-25 the higher of the parish council’s gross income or gross annual expenditure for the year did not exceed £25,000.
34/25 To set and approve the period for the exercise of public rights 2024-25
Members approved the period for the exercise of public rights to extend from 9th June to 18th July 2025.
35/25 To consider proposals to reduce the balance of Gittisham Parish Council’s reserves
Members discussed proposals, including a bench at the west end of the balancing pond by Rowan Close. Residents in neighbouring properties will need to be informed. Members agreed a new noticeboard outside the village hall would be welcome. Another proposal featured a history trail through the village.
Cllr Pester said he had found the two courses he’d attended (DALC’s Being a Good Councillor) very informative, and he had spoken with councillors from other parishes about initiatives their councils were developing. Cllr Pester suggested adding a map to a revamped or replacement parish noticeboard, and he agreed to start drafting a welcome pack with useful information that could be given to every new resident. This would for newcomers to the village for now, with the potential to extend to the whole parish at a later date. This will be added to the agenda as a standing item.
36/25 Clerk’s report
None.
37/25 For information only; items for the forward agenda
Reducing GPC’s reserves.
38/25 To consider any late entry correspondence
Members noted correspondence from residents and Awliscombe Parish Council regarding Roebuck Farm.
39/25 Date of next two meetings
Thursday 10th July and Thursday 4th September 2025 at 7.30pm.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2135 hrs.
Chair…………………………………….
10th July 2025