Held in Gittisham Parish Room
Present:
Village ward: Cllr C Hall (Chair), Cllr A Rowe (Vice Chair), Cllr D Valentine (after agenda item 8f), Cllr G Pester
Vale ward: none present.
In attendance: one member of the public, Fiona Clampin (clerk)
Apologies for absence: Cllr A Rye, Cllr P Orchard, Cllr A Powell, Cllr Alasdair Bruce (EDDC), Cllr Richard Jefferies (DCC), PCSO Darren England
40/25 To accept and approve apologies
Apologies were received and accepted.
41/25 To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 5th June 2025
The minutes of the meeting held on 5th June 2025 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.
42/25 To receive the Beat Manager’s Report
April 2025
Cypress Close: 1 x violence & sexual offences
Nether Close: 2 x violence & sexual offences
Meadow Acre: 1 x criminal damage & arson, 1 x violence & sexual offences
43/25 To receive declarations of interest
Cllr Rowe declared an interest in agenda item 10 (minute ref. 49/25) as he is due to be reimbursed by the parish council.
44/25 To consider actions from the last meeting not otherwise on the agenda
Cllr Rowe explained that he had offered to help Cllr Rye set up her gittisham.org.uk email account.
Cllr Rowe said he would talk to Cllr Orchard about updating the emergency plan, especially regarding people named as emergency contacts.
45/25 To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives
Neither Cllr Bruce nor Cllr Jefferies sent reports in their absence.
ACTION: Clerk to ask Cllr Jefferies if he can find out whether or not DCC is able to improve mobile ‘phone coverage, or whether this is done by a consortium of network operators.
46/25 To consider the following planning applications:
- 25/0659/LBC – Rapshayes Farm Gittisham EX14 3AB – To take down existing wall to barns 1 and 2 and rebuild as masonry cavity wall with stone face
- 25/0660/VAR – Rapshayes Farm Gittisham EX14 3AB – Variation of Condition number 2 (approved plans) on planning permission 20/0781/FUL (Conversion of barn to holiday let accommodation) proposal to take down existing wall to Barns 1 & 2 and rebuild as masonry cavity wall with stone face
Councillors said it was not clear what changes had been made to the previous application.
ACTION: The Chair to report back to members on the changes.
47/25 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)
There was no update this month.
- To note the latest planning decision notices
23/1632/MOUT Coastguard Road Ltd Devonshire Road Heathpark Industrial Estate Honiton EX14 1SD – Outline application for Class E development within two sites (Phase 2A & 2B) to the west of Coastguard Road, Honiton (all matters reserved). Approval with conditions, including works M-F 0800-1800 and Sat 0900-1300 only.
25/0856/FUL 1 Church Mead Gittisham EX14 3AH – Replacement single storey side extension with associated internal alterations. Approval.
- 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.
Members noted that the Alfington road closure is scheduled to last until the end of August, not as indicated.
- To consider plans for expenditure in the parish under the Community Infrastructure Levy & S106
Cllr Orchard sent the following report in his absence: “EDDC considered CIL applications and has awarded £601k CIL for Honiton area sports. Planning permission must now be secured by Youth football and Honiton Cricket Club 3G projects to draw down CIL/S106 from EDDC. Honiton Rugby Club drainage and floodlight works are in full progress. Honiton sports clubs to be asked to apply (to the Town Council) for that remaining S106 funding including Honiton based, to a deadline date around 15 August 2025, benefit also to Gittisham residents, and what match funding has been secured. Honiton S106 committee meet early September to assess further bid applications to take forward to EDDC.
The CIL application included £208k S106; EDDC now holds £345k S106 including 2x Hayne Lane development contributions in Gittisham and other smaller developments. £200k of S106 has been allocated to rugby club project. £177k remains available for wider projects (not only youth football and rugby) for sports pitches (ie not pavilions).”
- To receive an update on public transport
There was no update this month.
- To consider climate change measures within the parish, including proposals for rewilding land in the parish
Cllr Rowe said he had asked Cllr Bruce to enquire after the officers he had been dealing with previously on rewilding.
- To consider limited residential development in the parish
Cllr Valentine said EDDC’s planning officer was still awaiting a consultation response from the county ecologist. A decision is expected within the next week or so.
Regarding EDDC’s Local Plan, Cllr Valentine reported he had spoken to planning consultant Charlie Hopkins regarding representation at the Local Plan enquiry later this year (or early next year). His diary is busy in October, but otherwise he is happy to help. He is not representing any other PC or party in respect of the current EDDC Local Plan.
Members RESOLVED to approve £2,000 of expenditure for Mr Hopkins’s initial assessment. Cllr Valentine will prepare a summary of PC representations previously made, and give Mr Hopkins the opportunity to assess the likelihood of GPC being successful in making further representations at the public inquiry. Members can then consider whether or not to attend the Inquiry on behalf of GPC. Having Mr Hopkins’s assessment, Cllr Valentine argued, would provide a better basis on which to consider further expenditure over and above getting his professional assessment.
Members heard that Axminster TC is suggesting there were irregularities at EDDC’s Local Plan meetings, but Cllr Valentine cautioned that if the inspector finds the plan unsound, it could open a new can of worms.
ACTION: Clerk to enquire if EDDC has published the responses to its public consultation, or can make them available in some way. If not, clerk to ask DALC if it’s possible for GPC to submit a Freedom of Information request along similar lines.
- To consider the creation of a footpath linking Hayne Farm with Gittisham village
There was no update this month.
- To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area
Members discussed reviving the boules court, after a request from a resident and also having seen the new one in Tipton St John, and it was agreed to investigate how much it would cost to bring it back into use.
The Chair said she hoped to meet Michael Poll the following day when he is in the village to chat about 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. Members felt that with the continued hot and dry weather, now might be a good time to cut the grass right back. Cllr Rowe said a resident had asked if adult fitness equipment could be installed in the play area, and the clerk agreed to investigate costs but warned they could be significant.
ACTION: Clerk to ask Fabian Trim for a quote for work on the boules court.
Clerk to purchase a new set of boules.
Clerk to investigate prices of adult outdoor fitness equipment, and to enquire if future CIL money would cover this.
Cllr Rowe to revisit the signage for the play area.
- To consider work to be carried out by the lengthsman to maintain ditches and drains in the parish
The Chair said that Fabian Trim had carried out some work, including strimming the river so that it is ready for the duck race. He will be strimming the ditch by the village green, and they will be cleared once ground conditions permit. Cllr Rowe said he had purchased some cones and road signs for future lengthsman work. It was agreed that a list of items to see to should be drawn up in the coming months.
Coincidentally it emerged that some council highways contractors had visited to cut drainage splays which direct water from the road into ditches along Parsonage Lane and up to Bellevue and other areas around the village; also they have cleared the drainage holes into the river along the road towards Catshayes. Cllr Valentine commented that the village bus shelter was showing signs of wear and tear, and would need to be replaced at some point. It would be wise to draw up a list of the state of assets and factor this into future budget setting.
ACTION: Chair to ask Fabian Trim if he will consider attending emergencies.
Clerk to enquire re: Chapter 8 training.
Clerk to investigate a new bus shelter for the village.
48/25 To receive a report from the Chair
The Chair said she had received an email from Graham Braddick thanking the parish council for its support regarding the Roebuck Farm application and tree felling.
49/25 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 + £13.50 expenses (travel Ottery – Gittisham 7.5-mile round trip x 4 for minutes, agenda, audit documents & June meeting @0.45p / mile)
F Clampin £266.75 clerk’s salary (August, as no meeting)
Michael Poll, grass cutting play area £70 (inv. ref. 10427)
Fab Trim Landscaping 4 hrs lengthsman work INV-000011 £80
DALC attendance of Cllr Rye at Being a Good Councillor, June inv. ref. 6762 £48
F Clampin, reimbursement for drain rods (once purchased) £33
NEST (clerk’s pension) £28.08
NEST (clerk’s pension, August) £28.08
Cllr Rowe left the meeting.
Cllr A Rowe, reimbursement for cones & road signs £30.90
Gittisham Village Fete £500 upfront costs
Cllr Rowe returned to the meeting.
Members were informed that the current bank balance stands at £23,464.74 (which includes approximately £7,258 in the business reserve account).
50/25 To consider proposals to reduce the balance of Gittisham Parish Council’s reserves
Members noted that £2,000 would be spent on Charlie Hopkins’s initial planning assessment. The clerk advised that adult outdoor fitness equipment would come with a significant cost.
Cllr Pester said he was drawing up a welcome pack with useful information that could be given to every new resident; members discussed potential content and Cllr Pester agreed he would circulate a draft to members. Maggie Walker and Paul Wakley have agreed to write some text. The pack would be low-cost, and only printed as and when necessary. He mentioned that Budleigh TC had some good maps covered with fibreglass on a weatherproof board.
ACTION: Clerk to ask Budleigh TC who provided the maps / boards.
Clerk to ask DALC for a recommendation on an ideal amount of reserves.
51/25 Clerk’s report
Members thanked Pierre Graeber for repairing the parish council’s printer. The clerk agreed to enquire about using the side room at the village hall for meetings.
52/25 For information only; items for the forward agenda
Reducing GPC’s reserves; emergency plan.
53/25 To consider any late entry correspondence
None.
54/25 Date of next two meetings
Thursday 4th September and Thursday 2nd October 2025 at 7.30pm.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2115 hrs.
Chair…………………………………….
4th September 2025