2026-05 Parish Council meeting minutes 14 May 2026

29 May 2026 by Fiona

Held in Gittisham Parish Room

Present:

Village ward: Cllr A Rowe, Cllr D Valentine, Cllr G Pester

Vale ward: Cllr A Powell, Cllr A Rye, Cllr P Orchard

In attendance: Cllr Richard Jefferies (DCC), 1 member of the public, Fiona Clampin (clerk)

Apologies for absence: Cllr Alasdair Bruce (EDDC), PCSO Darren England

1/26 To elect a Chair

Cllr Valentine nominated Cllr Rowe for election as Chair for 2026/27. This nomination was seconded by Cllr Orchard. 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 Chair for 2026/27 of Gittisham Parish Council.

2/26 To elect a Vice Chair

Cllr Rowe nominated Cllr Orchard for election as Vice Chair for 2026/27. This nomination was seconded by Cllr Rye. A roll call of members present at the meeting was then taken. It was then resolved by a unanimous decision that Cllr Orchard be elected Vice Chair for 2026/27 of Gittisham Parish Council.

3/26 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 Rowe & Orchard made a Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

4/26 To accept and approve apologies

Apologies were received and accepted.

5/26 To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd April 2026

The minutes of the meeting held on 2nd April 2026 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

6/26 To receive the Beat Manager’s Report

February 2026

Longlands Way: 1 x violence & sexual offences

Parsonage Lane: 1 x other theft

Laburnum Close: 1 x drugs

March 2026

Parsonage Lane: 3 x violence & sexual offences

7/26 To receive declarations of interest

None.

8/26 To consider actions from the last meeting not otherwise on the agenda

Cllr Powell said he had been discussing the problem of flytipping with Justin Lascelles at Combe Estate, and reported that he (Cllr Powell) had put up some more anti-flytipping posters in hotspots. Members discussed buying trail cameras to position discreetly at various locations throughout the parish, including those with recyclable batteries. Cllr Powell said if car number plates are captured, it can lead to successful prosecution. The clerk advised approaching PCSO England about the legality of this, in case there could be some data protection issues.

9/26 To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives

Members noted Cllr Jefferies’ report as given at the annual parish meeting, which preceded the annual parish council meeting.

Cllr Bruce did not send a report this month.

10/26 To consider the following planning applications:

a) 26/0570/FUL – 1 Hamlet Cottages Weston EX14 3PB – Change of use of existing outbuilding to hair salon with alterations to fenestration and construction of a new roof

b) 26/0457/LBC – 2 Mitchell Cottages Gittisham EX14 3AF – Re-slate roof (re-using where possible) & extend existing ventilation through rear roof space; repairs to chimney stack; replacement of cement render to front elevation with lime equivalents; refurbishment of the stone and timber windows WG1, WG2, WG3, WF1, WF2, WF3 & WF4; replace external suspended ceiling; internal replacement of cement plaster with lime, and installation of ventilated panelling to defective timber framed and party wall.

Members had no objections to the above applications.

11/26 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 reported that Matt Barrow from Connecting Devon & Somerset (CDS) was due to contact the clerk to explain the process for claiming the £20,000 which CDS has offered towards the installation of full fibre broadband. Tom Hills of Radio Fibre has had verbal confirmation from Combe Estate that the figure offered of £5 / metre as compensation is acceptable. Cllr Powell said there were also signed expressions of interest from residents, so he was confident the roll-out will happen. As management of the Combe Estate has since 1^st April passed to trustees and is now an incorporated company led by Karissa Marker, members agreed to invite Ms Marker to a future parish council meeting or to a separate meeting with councillors.

ACTION: Clerk to contact Karissa Marker.

To note the latest planning decision notices

26/0659/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. Application withdrawn.
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). Application withdrawn.

To receive an update on Highways

04–22 May 2000–0600hrs Construction / Improvement/Upgrading – A30 westbound and eastbound, Daisymount to Turks Head junctions.

Cllr Powell reported that Awliscombe PC and others have joined DCC’s road warden scheme, and he suggested Gittisham might like to do the same. DCC provides Chapter 8 training on how to carry out works safely on the highway, and attendees are instructed in how to fix potholes. They are given a palette of tarmac. Cllr Rye said she would be interested in attending, and Cllr Powell said he would also enquire if Fabian Trim as lengthsman would attend. Members discussed storage for the palette and other materials. Cllr Jefferies added that there is some DCC funding available.

ACTION: Chair to write a short article for June’s gazette to encourage residents to get involved.

ACTION: Cllr Jefferies to forward an explanatory handbook to Cllr Powell.

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

The clerk reported that GPC had received £27,090.88 in CIL receipts from East Devon District Council. According to EDDC, a local council must use CIL receipts passed to it in accordance with the CIL Regulations 2010 to support the development of the local council’s area, or any part of that area, by funding:

a) The provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure;

b) or anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area

Councillors agreed to reflect on ways of spending these funds and to come to the next meeting with suggestions for how to take this forward. A public consultation is advisable.

ACTION: Clerk to circulate EDDC’s email outlining the terms and conditions.

To receive an update on public transport

Cllr Orchard said that the solar panel and the floodlight had been removed or stolen from the Vale bus shelter. Councillors agreed to replace them in the autumn, when the need for light is greater.

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

Cllr Pester said that he had contacted a range of wildlife organisations and individuals who would be interested in visiting the parish to see what could be done to improve biodiversity. Councillors agreed that a “Green Gittisham” event could be arranged for February next year, with stalls and workshops. Cllr Jefferies offered to help as he is EDDC’s cabinet member for biodiversity. He added that EDDC’s countryside team has lots of equipment.

Cllr Rye said she thought residents of Hayne Farm would be interested in installing swift / swallow boxes. She expressed an interest in organising an event to replant the hedge at Hayne Farm.

Members agreed to remove the rewilding proposals from the agenda.

To consider limited residential development in the parish

Members noted Cllr Valentine’s report as given at the annual parish meeting, which preceded the annual parish council meeting.

To consider the creation of a footpath linking Hayne Farm with Gittisham village, including a footway close to the Otter Inn

There was no update this month, although Cllr Jefferies offered help to move this project forward.

To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area

The clerk said she had not yet received Michael Poll’s advice on how best to maintain the pétanque court, but she would follow up. Cllr Powell suggested Terram matting as a solution, which you roll out and use to play. The Chair reported that he had spoken to some of the younger residents of the parish, who have asked for the swing to be fixed and the goalposts moved. Cllr Powell said the Men’s Shed in Ottery had agreed to refurbish the bench for £60, and it is now in a queue of items to be fixed. Cllr Pester said he had been adding the new parish council stickers to items in the play area, and he added that the sign had been installed.

To consider the scope of future lengthsman work

The clerk agreed to check with DALC or EDDC when would be a suitable time for hedge strimming, as some residents were unhappy with the timing on a previous occasion. Members agreed that places such as blind bends on Parsonage Lane would need doing for safety reasons. The Chair said EDDC had advised him that strimming the river would need to be done soon. Cllr Powell said he would pass on Cllr Valentine’s request to Fabian Trim for Dark Lane hedges to have some work.

12/26 To receive a report from the Chair

The Chair said there was no update this month.

13/26 To approve the May payments and to note the current bank balance

Members resolved to approve the following payments:

F Clampin £275.29 clerk’s salary + £6.75 expenses (travel Ottery – Gittisham 7.5-mile round trip x 2 for minutes & April meeting @0.45p / mile)

Michael Poll £75 play area grass cut (inv. ref. 10489)

Gittisham Gazette printing costs, Jan &April £30

Gittisham PCC, parish room hire Jan–April £60

Community First Trading annual insurance policy £473.26

Present for Carol Hall £tbc

NEST (clerk’s pension) £28.98

Members heard that the current bank balance stands at £54,376.74 (which includes approximately £7,332.29 in the business reserve account). The clerk agreed to look into setting up another bank account for the CIL money, and to make progress on adding and removing signatories.

Councillors agreed expenditure of £75 for the former Chair’s present, and the Chair said he would ask Hamish Hall for suggestions.

14/26 To consider and adopt the parish council’s standing orders

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

15/26 To review the parish council’s fixed asset register

Members noted the fixed asset register.

16/26 To consider proposals to reduce the balance of Gittisham Parish Council’s reserves, including two interpretation boards

The clerk agreed to follow up with Ben Somers (carpenter) regarding the refurbishment of the village noticeboard.

17/26 To consider the casual vacancy in Gittisham Village ward

The clerk said if EDDC receives no request for an election at the end of a period of 14 working days from 26th May (ie by 15^th June), the Democratic Services Department will advise GPC that it may co-opt.

18/26 Clerk’s report

None.

19/26 For information only; items for the forward agenda

Annual accountability & governance.

20/26 To consider any late entry correspondence

The Chair reported that Websites Ahoy would be fixing the email address issue. Members agreed to look over their current biographies on the website, update or replace if missing and send a headshot to the Chair.

The clerk agreed to circulate new Register of Interest forms.