2026/27

2026-06 Parish Council meeting minutes 4th June 2026

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Held in Gittisham Parish Room

Present:

Village ward: Cllr A Rowe (Chair)

Vale ward: Cllr A Powell, Cllr P Orchard (Vice Chair)

In attendance: Tom Hills (Radio Fibre / Bush Broadband), Simon Ricketts (Chair, Awliscombe Parish Council), Fiona Clampin (clerk)

Apologies for absence: Cllr A Rye, Cllr D Valentine, Cllr G Pester, Cllr Alasdair Bruce (EDDC), Cllr Richard Jefferies (DCC)

22/26 To accept and approve apologies

Apologies were received and accepted.

23/26        To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14th May 2026

The clerk said the date of the casual vacancy posting had changed to 4th June 2026.  The minutes of the meeting held on 14th May 2026 were then confirmed and signed by the Chair.  

24/26        To receive the Beat Manager’s Report

April 2026

Honiton link road: 1 x shoplifting

Parsonage Lane: 1 x violence & sexual offences, 1 x other theft

25/26        To receive declarations of interest

None.

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

The Chair said that he and Cllrs Powell & Orchard would be meeting Karissa Marker and Justin Lascelles from Combe Estate the following week to discuss a range of subjects.

27/26 To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives

In his absence, Cllr Bruce sent the following report: “There has been a notable upsurge in reported cases of fly tipping across east Devon recently.  Although this has always been a minor issue, this most antisocial behaviour by a minority has been encouraged by the numerous national stories in the press regarding giant fly tipping incidents. I’ve had one incident reported to me via the clerk, which will be followed up by a team from EDDC, I would encourage anyone in the parish to report any further incidents as quickly as possible. It seems that rubbish left acts as a magnet for others to dump, so a rapid clear up helps prevent a bad situation getting worse, and more expensive for us to deal with.

“A vacant property that falls under the EDDC housing team has been reported to me via a resident. It appears the property has been empty for some time. I have passed this onto the housing team to prompt them to repair where necessary and get this property occupied as soon as possible.” 

Cllr Jefferies did not send a report this month. 

28/26     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)

Members discussed the technicalities and legal negotiations required to install superfast broadband with Tom Hills from Radio Fibre.  The proposal is to lease an Openreach line from Fenny Bridges to the edge of the village, and a further 2kms ‘ring of fibre’ is then trenched around the outside of the village along the boundary of each property.  Eligible homes and businesses can access Government-funded vouchers to help towards the suppliers’ costs of installing a gigabit-capable broadband connection.  Tom Hills encouraged all residents to apply for the £3,800 voucher, even if they didn’t intend to use it, as it allows others in the community to access fibre broadband.  He said residents should also take out a 1 year pay-as-you-go contract, even if they don’t use it, as this will similarly demonstrate the level of interest.  Each property that requests a full fibre service is able to specify the route the fibre takes from their property boundary into their home.  Tom Hills circulated a document with details of the East Devon parishes he is trying to connect to full fibre broadband, with Gittisham as a case study. 

Cllr Powell cautioned against the parish council being left exposed, but Tom Hills assured him that further grants would be secured before Openreach gets involved.  Councillors said the signs were encouraging and looked forward to making this project a reality at long last.

  • To note the latest planning decision notices
  1. 26/0156/LBC 2 Riverside Cottages Gittisham EX14 3AE – Single storey rear extension with rooflight interlinking with existing small rear extension and existing wraparound side/rear extension; replace corrugated sheeting on existing small rear projection to match existing; block up window on original rear wall; block up external door into utility; reconfigure shower and create new door opening from bedroom into shower.  Refusal.
  • To receive an update on Highways 

27 July–1 August road through Alfington closed overnight for surface dressing and stud removal.

Simon Ricketts, Chair of Awliscombe PC, explained how his parish has become involved with Devon County Council’s road warden scheme over the past two years.  The scheme enables communities to carry out approved minor works on or around the public highway, including filling in small potholes.  Each community can choose the activities that they have the volunteers to support, and that will make the greatest local impact.  DCC will pay for a maximum of three volunteers to attend a one-day course on highways work, and the parish council can recruit further volunteer road wardens who do not have to be councillors.  DCC also provides third-party (public liability) insurance for volunteer work completed in accordance with DCC guidance.

Simon Ricketts said the scheme was proving successful in his parish, and residents had been in touch with him to say how much they appreciated the work – more than any other action by the parish council.  He reminded councillors that any defect that poses a risk to public safety on the roads will still be repaired by DCC maintenance teams.  Mr Ricketts agreed to contact the clerk with further details to circulate to members, and the Chair said he would write a piece for the June gazette to drum up interest.

Tom Hills and Simon Ricketts left the meeting.

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

Members discussed how to spend the £27,090.88 in CIL receipts from EDDC, and it was agreed that replacing some of the swings in the Gittisham play area would be a good idea.  There was a discussion as to whether some of the money could be spent on play facilities at Hayne Farm.  However given the time frame for spending the money (five years), the likelihood of a legally established residents’ association being ready and able to take on responsibility for a project of this type was slim.  However, the Chair said at this stage the parish council is open to ideas.

ACTION: Clerk to contact original company which provided the swings (if it still exists), to see if they will do a site visit and advise on next steps.

  • 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

There was no update this month.

  • To consider limited residential development in the parish

Members noted Cllr Valentine’s message that the CLT will have its AGM on 30th June in Gittisham village hall.

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

The clerk circulated an email from Cllr Jefferies who had offered help to move this project forward and had been in touch with DCC officers.  But Cllr Powell said the message didn’t provide any new information, and the main stumbling block currently is knowing who owns the land between the back of Cameron Fuller and the road verge.  Members discussed whether approaching the Land Registry would answer this question. 

The clerk read out an email from a resident enquiring about whether or not a path between Hayne Farm and Gittisham village was likely to become a reality.  Members agreed to raise this at their meeting with Combe Estate the following week.

ACTION: Chair to email Cllr Powell with details of the company which drilled holes in the riverside wall, for him to approach them to quote for a walkway.

ACTION: Cllr Powell to report back to the clerk after meeting with Combe Estate.

  • To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area

Councillors agreed that the hedge at the top end of the play area is getting overgrown, and there are also weeds growing up through the tower.  The memorial tree has become somewhat buried in the hedge.  Members thanked Michael Poll for painting the inside and outside of the village telephone box, and for clearing away weeds in the play area.  Cllr Orchard agreed to ask Combe Estate for logs to replace those in the play area.

ACTION: Clerk to contact Michael Poll to arrange for the hedge to be trimmed, after checking for nests etc. and the tree marker.

  • To consider the scope of future lengthsman work

Cllr Powell proposed a pay rise for the lengthsman, which will be discussed at the July meeting.  The Chair suggested the lengthsman should attend DCC’s Chapter 8 training, in addition to the volunteer road wardens, and the parish council will pay for his time and attendance.    

29/26     To receive a report from the Chair

The Chair said there was no update this month.

30/26     To approve the June payments and to note the current bank balance

Members resolved to approve the following payments:

F Clampin £275.29 clerk’s salary + £10.13 expenses (travel Ottery – Gittisham 7.5-mile round trip x 3 for agenda, minutes & May meeting @0.45p / mile)

Michael Poll £75 play area grass cut (inv. ref. 10493)

Ben Somers (village noticeboard maintenance & refurbishment) £436.06

Bluechip Payroll annual internal audit £145

NEST (clerk’s pension) £28.98

Members heard that the current bank balance stands at £53,406.28 (which includes approximately £7,332.29 in the business reserve account).  The clerk agreed to check with Nat West how the new authorised signatories can approve payments, as the bank has not provided any further information despite updating the mandate. 

The Chair said he had agreed a gift for former Chair Carol Hall with Hamish Hall, which Mr Hall will purchase and invoice the council for part of the amount.

31/26     To receive and note the annual internal audit report

Members noted the annual internal audit report carried out by Bluechip Payroll.

32/26     To approve the annual governance statement 2025-26

Members resolved to approve the annual governance statement 2025-26.

33/26     To approve the 2025-26 accounting statements

Members resolved to adopt the 2025-26 accounts.  Prior to the meeting, the clerk circulated the accounting statements.  The parish council ended the financial year on 31st March 2026 with a balance of £24,744.08 (inc. £7,332.29 in business reserve, with £74.68 interest accumulated this year).  There is VAT to be recovered of approximately £242.50.

34/26     To consider the criteria for meeting exemption from the annual limited assurance review 2025-26, and approve the exemption certificate

Members agreed the criteria had been met, ie that during the financial year 2025-26 the higher of the parish council’s gross income or gross annual expenditure for the year did not exceed £25,000.

35/26     To set and approve the period for the exercise of public rights 2025-26

Members approved the period for the exercise of public rights to extend from 19th June to 30th July 2026.

36/26     To consider proposals to reduce the balance of Gittisham Parish Council’s reserves, including two interpretation boards

Cllr Orchard asked the clerk to enquire if EDDC Streetscene will give permission for a bench to be installed by the balancing pond (w3w summaries.parts.rumble).

37/26     Clerk’s report

The clerk said she had taken the parish council’s printer / scanner to be repaired in Ottery. 

Members said they had received the information on changes to Section 32A of the Localism Act 2011 (as inserted by Section 65 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026), where there is now a clear requirement that a councillor’s home address must not be disclosed on the authority’s public register of interests unless the councillor has expressly requested otherwise.  The Chair said he was happy for his address to be made public on his declaration of interest, and the clerk agreed to inform EDDC.

38/26     For information only; items for the forward agenda

Cllr Powell said he had organised a litter pick for Sunday 14th June, and a risk assessment has been completed.  He hopes this will become a regular event.  Cllr Powell agreed to check with Ottery Men’s Shed on the status of the bench, and he added that he had put up more anti-flytipping signs.

The clerk agreed to check whether funding for this year’s Gittisham Fete has been approved at a previous meeting.

39/26     To consider any late entry correspondence

None.

40/26     Date of next two meetings  

Thursday 2nd July and Thursday 3rd September 2026 at 7.30pm

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2145 hrs.

Chair…………………………………….

2nd July 2026

Village Hall Committee May 2026

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Date Monday 11th May 2026
Present Stella, Damian, Toni, Steve, Jess, Alex, Becca, Nick
Apologies Claire, Maggie, Bill
Next meet Next meeting: Monday 8th June 2026  7:30pm – Village Hall
ItemDetailsActions
Monthly Meeting -Initial Discussion: Priorities & Previous MinutesNick has organised Burns Night with live music for Jan 2027. We may also have a bagpipe player thanks to Claire.Nick has got Jim a thank you gift so that action is complete.Claire has successfully achieved a 5 star hygiene rating for the Hall – thank you and well done to Claire!!Hirers checklist has been created and implemented as well as notes on how to lock the doors/windows.
All actionsActions:Matter arising regarding the flags – it was discussed last time and we have had both positive and negative feedback from the community. Nick was absent at the last meeting and agreed we will discuss it when we have a full committee. The flags will stay for now but Nick reminded us all that we are all to be receptive to feedback from our Parishioners and Neighbours. 
Old actions: 
Damian to give Alex permission to negotiate with Eon – no updates/urgency.Stella to continue chasing the Charities commission about the change to our Governance – in Springtime. 




DamianStella
Committee members and governanceCommittee Members: The new committee members have been elected in this evenings AGM.

Policies: Stella has redrafted DCT policies – Stella to run through the Health and Safety Policy with the committee and to run through the financial policies with Damian after the AGM.


Stella / Nick
FinanceDamian:Damian shared the current balance of £7k. Hire of the hall is already up to over £1,000 this financial year.Expenditure – needs to pay Jim for the painting but all up to date other than that. It was agreed to pay him £50 instead of the requested £20 for his work as he worked 3 days and did a great job.Finances are good so far and this year looks to be good.It was agreed to not review/increase the hire charges as we only put them up in July 2026 and we want to keep them as is to increase booking volumes.Damian





Grants

Alex: To meet with EDDC to report back on the grant application. 

Claire has applied for a Community Grant Fund for the new stage curtains – awaiting to hear.
Damian shared an example of sound deadening he saw in a recent National Trust excursion and Stella reminded us all to keep eyes peeled for grants we can apply to for these kind of improvements. 

Alex









Maintenance
Maggie has instructed the local pest controller Graham to resolve the mice situation. He will come regularly until the issue is resolved. – Ongoing.
We need a new picnic bench – Claire was volunteered to source some (hopefully free) materials and Steve could potentially build a picnic bench.

Stella raised we need to paint the back foyer so we will ask Jim to do this.

Other actions/items required: Blackboard and welcome sign in the foyer; urinal pee traps need replacing;key safe keeps factory resettingsnap frames for posters to protect the doorsBecca raised powerwashing the paths to clear the moss – potentially Jim to do itNew notice board for the foyer
Maggie


Claire/Steve

Stella

BookingsStella passed on feedback from Claire to note that bookings being busier is due to both the Committee and the Community being so involved and excited by the hall events and thanks to everyone for their time and care when it comes to our beloved hall.
Nick raised we need to push private bookings and the advertising on facebook and Instagram is helping but we need to keep momentum up and keep spreading the word. We should also be pushing google reviews.
Meeting with the Hayne Farm management company for Hayne Farm residents on the 26th May – Jess will reach out to the bookers to suggest the committee attend to host/serve refreshments as we can spread the word of the hall/village.









Future eventsUpcoming Events:Coffee&Cake 30th May–  Claire and Alex to host. Flower Festival 6th & 7th June – Toni to share the flower festival poster on instagram16th May – Betty has had an offer from a pianist in America to do a piano performance. Nick will be hosting with Betty. Suggested taking donations and if we take a significant amount to split it with the hall and a charity of the pianists’ choice. Doors 6pm for start time of 6:30pm.Fathers day 21st June – to be discussed and agreed on who to help on the next meeting
Future events:11th July – Live Music, Exeter Street Band and BBQ. Need to get a bar licence for this.12th July – Vicar’s leaving party from 1pm onwards. Agreed as a committee that there should be no charge as a thank you for Julia’s generosity and commitment to the community during her service as Vicar.Flower and Produce Show 1st August 2026Nick to ask Sue if she is happy for the Gardeners Talk to happen on the evening after the produce show and then invite the gardening experts.Gittisham Fete 5th Sept 2026Halloween party for Kids – Jess Hosting. To be booked Sat 31st October after coffee and cake so 4:30-6pm.October 17th – Jumble sale.November – Xmas extravaganda and Bingo 28th NovemberBurns night 2027 – Sat 23rd Jan 2027.  Nick to book the caller for next year. Claire to book the bagpiper.




















Nick
AOBBecca raised updating the hirer agreement to outline the parameters around sparklers for a private event. We agreed that it would be “no fireworks, sparklers only at the discretion of the committee with written permission”. Steve raised and discussed creating another group on whatsapp for community kitchen to share ingredients – Alex will set this up and make Stella the admin.

   MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

Long term maintenance list, for progression when funds allow. Rough hierarchy order.
Sewerage and drainage pipe replacement
Air to air heat pump 
Re-fit audio visual capabilities
Rewiring of cabling, particularly in the loft
(Rising) damp in southern elevation
Internal repaint including / especially ceiling
Hose reel – ours leaks significantly and we need a new one for the garden
Bin Store
Sound Deadening Clouds/equipment to make it less echo-ey – Alex
Stage Curtains and for the other end of the hall to sound deaden – Claire
Hooks on the doors in toilets specifically the disabled toilet – Toni to provide
Murals in the toilets – Maggie/Claire exploring

Gittisham Gazette June 2026

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Gazette Logo

Mid June 2026 — Produced for the Parish Council and St Michael’s Church

A Standing Ovation for the Flower Festival!

This year’s Church Flower Festival brought the magic of the stage to Gittisham with the fabulous theme: “Welcome to the Theatre!” A huge thank you to our incredibly talented flower arrangers. They truly brought the church to life with beautiful scents, vibrant colours, and brilliantly creative props hidden amongst the displays. The journey into the church was a show in itself, starting at the Lychgate with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, passing by Bedknobs & Broomsticks on the path, and stepping through a beautiful Sound of Music porch by Carol Hall.

Inside, the church was transformed with a spectacular lineup of displays:

  • The Jungle Book: Betty & Helen Madden
  • Carmen: Nikki & Paul Wakely
  • Old Time Theatre: Kate Kimber
  • A Night at the Theatre: Angie Hutchings & Sue Trivett
  • Cinderella, Phantom of the Opera & Mamma Mia: Helen Hayman
  • Alice Through the Looking Glass: Octavia Madden
  • The Tempest: Anne Stansell
  • Matilda: Florence Wolsley & Merial Hill
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Heather & Maggie
  • South Pacific: Sue Fallows
  • The King & I: Sarah Abbott & Lynn Denn

A Roaring Success in the Village Hall Café Despite the disappointing weather, the festival catering over in the Village Hall was a triumph. A steady stream of satisfied customers enjoyed lunches, teas, and a fabulous spread of cakes, scones, and the “world’s best meringues” produced by our industrious village bakers to suit all dietary needs. The hall looked wonderful thanks to Paul Wakely’s beautiful table flowers, and the service was top-notch thanks to two incredible volunteer teams organised by Sarah Trumper:

  • The Fabulously Glamorous Saturday Team: Julia Barrett, Maggie Walker, Sarah Agg-Manning, Sue Fallows, and chief dishwasher John Adamson.
  • The Stunningly Proficient Sunday Team: Richard Marker (who deserves a special mention for a fetching pinny/shorts combo!), Will Wolsey, Nick Chapman, Scott Angell, and Jayne Bramley.

Music and the Grand Total The Saturday was capped off with a fantastic musical performance organised by John McGregor, showcasing an amazing array of local talent with singing, Celtic flute, keyboard, organ, guitar, accordion, and fiddle!

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, generous baking, and wonderful support, the festival raised an incredible £1,000+ to support our village church! A final round of applause to Helen Hayman, the dedicated “Holy Dusters,” and everyone who contributed to such a show-stopping weekend.

​

Gittisham’s Water by Paul Wakley

 For years the main supply of water for the village were the wells dotted about. Myrtle cottage Eveleigh’s, Riverside are a few. And the village pump, which I always thought was too close to the graveyard for comfort!

 There is a line of springs which stretches from the Sidmouth road to East Hill. Houses and farms were built near them, Kercombe, Rapshayes, Coign ( the Parsonage), Beech Walk/Combe. There are several springs in Chalcombe bottom, at least three of these were capped ( in the thirties or forties?) and piped to an enclosed reservoir. The water was piped to the village and surrounding houses and farms, Pomeroy made use of a spring up Parsonage lane, the water was piped under the fields and Kings Cottage garden, which could also make use of it.

   Now we are on the ‘mains’ though, a few years ago South West water accidentally turned the valve outside our houses the wrong way, after flushing out, and put us back on the old supply, it was a bit stagnant after all those years in the pipe!

What’s On?

-Village Hall

Open Bookings

  • Tuesdays – Tai Chi & Quigong 09:50 am- 11:10am
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month- Yoga 18:15
  • Wednesday – Folk Dance Club 7pm
  • Thursday- Community Kitchen 18:30
  • 2nd Sunday of the Month Pierre’s Cafe 10am (Not July)

Hire the hall: www.gittisham.org.uk/village-hall/hire-the-hall/

Committee Events

  • 21st June Father’s Day BBQ
  • 27th June  Coffee and Cake. 2.30  – 4.30pm
  • 11th July Band Night.  Exeter Street Band 7pm
  • 1st August Flower and Produce Show
  • 29th August Coffee and Cake 2.30  – 4.30
  • 5th September Gittisham Fete and Scarecrow Competiton
  • 17th October Jumble Sale
  • 31st October Halloween Party/ Coffee and Cake
  • 28th November Christmas Craft Fair, expressions of interest in tables being taken 
  • 28th November Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm 
  • 23rd January Burns Night Celebration

–Church

  • Sunday June 28th  @ 6pm Choral Evensong with the HMT Choir
  • Sunday July 12th  @ 3pm  Juila’s Leaving Service
  • Monday July 13th at St Paul’s Honiton @ 7.30pm Rev Tracey’s Licencing Service
  • Sunday July  26th @11 am Holy Communion

200 Club Winners June

    • 1st Prize              £75     Tony John
    • 2nd Prize             £50      Peter Stansell
    • 3rd Prize              £25      Stephanie King

Events are also listed here: https://gittisham.org.uk/whatson/

Holy Dusters Needed
Can you spare a little time at your convenience?
Cleaning products are in the church by the vestry door.
Thank you.    

200 Club

Join the Gittisham 200 Club!

The 200 club is a licensed small lottery raising funds to pay for the upkeep of our beautiful church and paying prizes in a monthly draw.

There are a number of tickets still available for purchase. 

Tickets cost £3 per month and you can buy up to 3 for any named person.  Some members buy tickets for children and grandchildren as well as for themselves.

The draw takes place once a month, usually at Natter & Nibbles, and there are cash prizes of £75, £50 and £25 each time.

Contact Sara at  for an application form and further details.

Gittisham Village Hall Monthly Update

Gittisham was serenaded with a stunning and whimsical piano performance last weekend when Michael Allen Harrison chose to perform a delightful selection of pieces to a packed audience of all ages at the village hall. Michael is an international composer, film scorer and soloist from Oregon who by chance met members of the village Betty and Alan, while staying at the Pig. The recital included his own compositions as well as entrancing versions of several well known tunes including Summertime and Imagine. Each piece was introduced with a fascinating and informative explanation of their history and meaning.
The concert took a charming turn when Michael asked young Dora to play and they played a lovely duet.
The musical cognoscenti of the village showed enthusiastic appreciation. Overall donations generously raised £480 which was split equally between the village hall and Michael’s own charity Play It Forward that provides children and families musical instruments, professional instruction, and performance opportunities to foster their mental and social development.

Some of you may have noticed the reinstatement of flagpoles to the hall, which has been undertaken with the hall’s centenary next year in mind. The village hall committee fully understands that the flying of different flags can for some be an emotive and divisive issue while for others is an expression of identity and unity. We would hope that in the interests of the general welfare of our community and it’s overridingly positive and friendly nature, we should keep the debate respectful and avoid unnecessary personal language whether in writing or in person. We are working to find a solution amenable to everyone. Before making a final decision of flags and the flying of which flag when, anyone who has not expressed their views to the committee and wishes to do so can write to the hall email .

As you may be aware, the Gittisham village hall is a privately owned community building run by a charity whose stated object is to provide a place of instruction, recreation and entertainment for its parishioners. The committee are keen that this cherished facility continues to be used by and feel welcoming to all residents and visitors.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Gittisham Village Hall, we look forward to welcoming you to our parish hall soon

Community Land Trust AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Gittisham CLT will be held on Tuesday 30th June at 7.00pm in the Gittisham Village Hall. It would be nice to see as many members as possible of the GCLT attending for what is an important but, I promise, not a long meeting.

The planning application process for the GCLT  village development has been particularly long and frustrating, however, the EDDC Planning Officer’s report finally became available at the beginning of the year and documented in detail the planning considerations that had taken place. In conclusion the officer commented :

The proposed scheme represents an example of a strongly community-led development that would, on account of its benefits in terms of affordable housing provision, realise significant social benefits in line with one of the three main objectives to the achievement of sustainable development set out at paragraph 8 of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework).

It would also likely generate moderate economic benefits, more particularly though the construction phase, including direct and indirect employment provision, but also for the limited range of services and facilities provided in the village. When considered against the likely limited impact of the development upon the wider character of the National Landscape and the significance of the adjacent designated heritage assets and the absence of any concerns having regard to the other contextual issues set out above, it is considered that the overall planning balance weighs firmly in favour of the proposal.

Approval is therefore recommended subject to a legal agreement (Section 106 Agreement) being entered into to secure the proposed affordable housing and open space and its maintenance and conditions as set out below.

Once the  Section 106 has been finalized the formal planning permission will be issued.  

There is still work to be done and finding a Registered Provider (RP)/Housing Association management/development partner is proving to be another difficult challenge. There is a major significant economic squeeze on RPs’ capacity for development at present due to having to divert funds to accommodate meeting requirements of incoming legislation. On the bright side, once we have found a partner, there is plenty of capital grant for new house-building in the government’s new 10-year, £39bn national programme.

For further details of the work and membership of the GCLT please contact David Valentine ().

Dear Geraldine

I write with the utmost concern regarding this year’s potato-growing competition.

While I have always believed the event to be a shining example of agricultural integrity, recent observations have left me questioning whether all competitors are relying solely on sunshine, rainwater, and honest gardening.

Rumours abound that one particularly enthusiastic grower has been administering suspicious quantities of Viagra to his prize potatoes in the hope of achieving unusual firmness and impressive dimensions. While I am no horticultural scientist, I struggle to believe that potatoes should stand quite so proudly at the weigh-in.

Furthermore, another competitor’s harvest appears remarkably similar to the specimens available at the local supermarket. Several villagers have reportedly witnessed furtive

movements involving carrier bags and a suspiciously clean bucket shortly before judging commenced.

I am not making accusations, merely raising questions that any reasonable potato enthusiast would ask.

Questions such as:

  • Why do some potatoes arrive cleaner than a surgeon’s instruments?
  •  Why do certain competitors become nervous when asked why their potatoes look different to everyone else’s?
  • Why does one exhibit appear to bear the exact dimensions of a commercially graded baking
potato?

For the preservation of village honour, I respectfully suggest stricter inspections, random bucket checks, and, if necessary, performance-enhancing substance testing for all root vegetables.

Yours in the pursuit of fair competition, A Deeply Concerned Potato Grower

(who definitely did not come second last year and is absolutely not bitter about it)

Dear Concerned Potato Grower,

Thank you for your letter, which arrived on my desk accompanied by a quantity of indignation rarely seen outside parish council meetings and parking disputes.

First, let me assure you that I take allegations of vegetable misconduct extremely seriously. The suggestion that a competitor may be administering Viagra to potatoes is certainly a novel one. However, until science confirms the existence of performance-enhancing drugs for root vegetables, I would advise caution before drawing conclusions from a potato’s size, firmness, or overall confidence.

As for the accusation that another grower may be supplementing their harvest with shop-bought specimens, I must point out that the burden of proof is rather higher than “it looked a bit too tidy.” Some gardeners are blessed with green fingers; others are blessed with the ability to remove soil without causing an international incident.

My advice is simple. Resist the urge to become the village’s self-appointed Potato Detective. Instead, focus your energies on your own crop. Water diligently, feed appropriately, and avoid staking out supermarket vegetable aisles with binoculars.

Should you discover a competitor wheeling a trolley full of baking potatoes directly into the show tent, then by all means alert the organisers. Until then, remember that village shows are intended to celebrate community spirit, not launch agricultural tribunals.

And if someone does produce a potato of truly extraordinary proportions, perhaps the correct response is not suspicion but admiration—or at least a request for their growing tips.

Yours faithfully,

Geraldine Gitt 

Forever supplying boomer wisdom. 

Father’s Day BBQ

Whose home is this? Climbing Potato Plant?

Email in

Last months gas powered home was Claire’s congratulations to Gary for his correct guess!

Fix Your Own Potholes

Did you know there are about 8000 miles of tarmac road in Devon, that is more roads than in the Netherlands and Belgium combined.
Many miles of rough surfaced tracks in Devon were tarmaced after the Second World War, partly to make remote farms more accessible, but also to create work for the unemployed.

Maintaining Devon’s tarmac road surface in good order is a mammoth task, so potholes have become a hot topic of conversation. Recently alot of busier roads have been resurfaced, often at night. The A373 from Honiton to Cullompton is now a dream drive and, try the road from Broadhembury upto Dunkeswell, so smooth.
However it is unlikely all the minor lanes will be fixed soon. But Devon County Council (DCC) have a scheme where Rural Parishes can do it themselves. DCC provide training, especially on safe working on roads, tools and clothing, and yes 50 tubs of tarmac, all free of charge.

I heard about this Road Warden Scheme from Simon in Awliscombe Parish, they have so far got through 75 tubs of tarmac. Have a look at the road upto Awliscombe Church, that was their first project.
We need a few people to go on the training and any number of additional folk who fancy a fun few hours filling potholes. Simon tells me it is satisfying, fun, and a great community activity.

Gittisham Parish Council are planning to join the scheme so we need a few people to do the training and volunteers to help them. May be five or six people to start off with.
You don’t have to be super strong, and you don’t have to commit to hours of hard labour, you only need a willingness to help make our lanes smoother.

Please contact the Fiona Clampin, the Parish Council Clerk if you would like to offer a few hours occasionally in the Gittisham Pothole Fixing Team, no official name yet but suggestions welcome.

On Sunday 12th July here at Gittisham St. Michael’s Church there will be a special service to thank Julia Barrett for her support & work within the Parish Community especially here at Gittisham which will be at 3 pm followed by refreshments in the village hall!

Any donations can still be given to Helen Hayman & also a rough idea of numbers attending the tea so please contact Helen -Preferably by end June! Thank you Gittisham PCC

Exeter Street Band are performing on July 11th from 6pm at the Hall

A Very Warm Welcome!

We are absolutely delighted to welcome some new faces to the parish! A huge Gittisham welcome to Taylor, Sarah, and Ophelia, who have recently moved into their new home down at Church Mead. We hope you are settling in smoothly, finding your way around the boxes, and already feeling at home. If you see them out and about exploring the village, please do stop, give them a wave, and say hello!

Gittisham Fete is on Saturday 5th September 2026 

We need as many helpers as possible please get in touch with Alex, 

Returning for 2026 is the Gittisham Parish Scarecrow Competition!
Get your thinking caps on!

Authentic Indian Food
in Gittisham — Punjabi Home Cooking

When I moved to Devon, I found myself craving the flavours of my childhood. There were plenty of places serving Indian food, but nothing captured the true essence of Punjabi home cooking — the slow cook, the depth of spice, the recipes passed down through generations. I missed the comfort, the warmth, and the feeling of being nourished in the way only home food can.

So I returned to my roots: my mother’s recipes, my family’s traditions, and the soulful cooking that shaped who I am. From that longing, Spice@Five was born — bringing authentic Indian curries and Punjabi home food to Devon, made with the same care and patience it deserves.

Every dish is cooked the way it was taught to me: slowly, lovingly, and with respect for the flavours that define our culture. And now, all you need to do is Just Heat and Eat — real home-cooked Indian food, ready when you are.

Private party catering available — from intimate gatherings to family celebrations. Just email or call us to arrange your bespoke event:  – 07354 349636 (Hayne Farm Estate, Gittisham)

For pre orders. www.spiceatfive.co.uk order by Monday 7pm for collection on Thursday between 5-7pm.

Parish Council Updates

PARISH COUNCIL – June 2026 REPORT

Three councillors met for the June meeting along with Simon Ricketts (AwliscombeParish Council) and Tom Hills (Radio Fibre / Bush Broadband).  

Flytipping.

In his absence, Cllr Alasdair Bruce (East Devon District Council) sent an update: there has been a notable upsurge in reported cases of fly tipping across east Devon recently. In the past he said it was a minor issue, but criminals have been emboldened by the numerous national stories in the press regarding giant flytipping incidents. Cllr Bruce said the clerk had reported one particular incident to him, which will be followed up by a team from EDDC.  He encourages anyone in the parish to report any further incidents as quickly as possible. Cllr Bruce said it seems that rubbish left acts as a magnet for others to dump, so a rapid clear up helps to stop a bad situation getting worse, and avoid additional expense.

Finance.  Councillors agreed the finances, as well as the annual accounts and governance statement for 2025/26.​

Crimes. April 2026: 

Honiton link road: 1 x shoplifting

Parsonage Lane: 1 x violence & sexual offences, 1 x other theft

Broadband.

There was a lot of discussion with Tom Hills about the technicalities and legal negotiations required to install superfast broadband.  The proposal is to lease an Openreach line from Fenny Bridges to the edge of the village, and a further 2kms ‘ring of fibre’ is then trenched around the outside of the village along the boundary of each property.  Eligible homes and businesses can access Government-funded vouchers to help towards the suppliers’ costs of installing a gigabit-capable broadband connection. Tom Hills encouraged all residents to apply for the voucher, even if they didn’t intend to use it, as it allows others in the community to access fibre broadband.  Each property that requests a full fibre service is able to specify the route the fibre takes from their property boundary into their home.  Councillors said the signs were encouraging and looked forward to making this project a reality at long last.

Road closures.

27 July–1 August road through Alfington closed overnight for surface dressing and stud removal.

Road warden scheme.

Simon Ricketts, chair of Awliscombe PC, explained how his parish has become involved with Devon County Council’s road warden scheme over the past two years.  The scheme enables communities to carry out approved minor works on or around the public highway, including filling in small potholes.  Each community can choose the activities that they have the volunteers to support, and that will make the greatest local impact. DCC will pay for a maximum of three volunteers to attend a one-day course on highways work, and the parish council can recruit further volunteer road wardens who do not have to be councillors.  DCC also provides third-party (public liability) insurance for volunteer work completed in accordance with DCC guidance. Simon Ricketts said the scheme was proving successful in his parish, and he reminded councillors that any defect that poses a risk to public safety on the roads will still be repaired by DCCmaintenance teams.

Play area.

Councillors agreed that the hedge at the top end of the play area is getting overgrown, and there are also weeds growing up through the tower.  The clerk said she would arrange for these to be trimmed. (After checking for nests etc.)

Next meeting.  Thursday 2nd July at 7.30pm in the parish room.

Gittisham Sky Watch: What to look for this Month

We are officially in the season of the shortest nights! During the weeks surrounding the Summer Solstice, the sun barely dips below the horizon, leaving us with a beautiful, lingering twilight instead of true darkness. Here is what to look out for over the parish:

  • The Summer Solstice: On June 21st, we celebrate the longest day of the year. From this point on, the days will slowly begin to shorten again, but for now, enjoy the endless evenings! It is the perfect time to sit in the garden and watch the bats emerge as the light finally fades.
  • Electric Blue Clouds: Mid-summer is the only time of year you can spot one of the most magical sights in the sky: Noctilucent Clouds. These are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, made of ice crystals. Long after the sun has set for us on the ground, it still shines on these high-altitude clouds, making them glow with an eerie, electric-blue light. Look towards the northern horizon about 90 minutes after sunset to try and spot them!
  • The Full “Buck” Moon: Our next full moon will rise at the end of the month, peaking around June 29th. Traditionally known as the Buck Moon (because this is the time of year when male deer begin to grow their new antlers), it will sit very low on the horizon. Because it stays so low, it often takes on a beautiful golden or reddish hue, shining warmly through the thick summer air.
  • Summer Triangle Still Shining: As the sky deepens into its midnight blue, look straight up. The three bright stars of the “Summer Triangle” (Vega, Deneb, and Altair) will be directly overhead, anchoring the summer sky.

Thank you to everyone who contributed pieces to this Gazette. If you would like to submit something for next month’s issue, please email .

Parish Council agenda 4th June 2026

by

GITTISHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Ms Fiona Clampin

Clerk to the Council

29th May 2026

Members of Gittisham Parish Council

You are hereby summoned to attend the June Parish Council Meeting to be held in Gittisham Parish Room on Thursday 4th June 2026 commencing at 7.30pm to discuss items on the Agenda and to make resolutions as appropriate.

Prior to the start of the meeting a period of 15 minutes is allowed to permit any resident to bring appropriate matters to the notice of the Council.  Please contact the clerk if you would like to do this, preferably by email in advance of the meeting, with a question you wish to be raised with Councillors on your behalf. 

  1. To accept and approve apologies
  2. To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 14th May 2026
  3. To receive the Beat Manager’s report
  4. To receive declarations of interest
  5. To consider actions from last meeting not otherwise on the agenda
  6. To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives
  7. 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)
  • To note the latest planning decision notices (Cllr Orchard)
  • To receive an update on highways (Cllr Orchard)
  • To consider plans for expenditure in the parish under the Community Infrastructure Levy and S106 (Cllr Orchard)
  • To receive an update on public transport (Cllr Orchard)
  • To consider updating the parish emergency plan
  • To consider climate change measures within the parish (Cllr Rye/ Cllr Rowe)
  • To consider limited residential development in the parish (Cllr Valentine)
  • To consider the creation of a traffic-free amenity route linking Hayne Farm with Gittisham village inc. a footway close to the Otter Inn (Cllr Powell / Cllr Rowe)
  • To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area
  • To consider the scope of future lengthsman work and recruitment
  1. To receive a report from the Chair
  1. To approve the June payments and to note the current bank balance:

F Clampin £275.29 clerk’s salary + £10.13 expenses (travel Ottery – Gittisham 7.5-mile round trip x 3 for agenda, minutes & May meeting @0.45p / mile)

HMRC (clerk’s tax) £1.60

Michael Poll £75 play area grass cut (inv. ref. 10493)

Fab Trim Landscaping lengthsman work £tbc

Ben Somers (village noticeboard maintenance & refurbishment) £436.06

Taylor Signs (interpretation board)

Bluechip Payroll annual internal audit £145 tbc

NEST (clerk’s pension) £28.98

  1. To receive and note the annual internal audit report
  2. To approve the annual governance statement 2025-26
  3. To approve the 2025-26 accounting statements
  4. To consider the criteria for meeting exemption from the annual limited assurance review 2025-26, and approve the exemption certificate
  5. To set and approve the period for the exercise of public rights 2025-26
  6. To consider proposals to reduce the balance of Gittisham Parish Council’s reserves, including two interpretation boards
  7. Clerk’s report
  8. For information only; items for the forward agenda
  9. To consider any late entry correspondence
  10. To note the date of the next two meetings, Thursday 2nd July and Thursday 3rd September 2026 at 7.30pm. 

F J Clampin – Clerk

2026-05 Parish Council meeting minutes 14 May 2026

by

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 1st 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
  1. 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.
  2. 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 15th 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.

21/26     Date of next two meetings  

Thursday 4th June and Thursday 2nd July 2026 at 7.30pm

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2105 hrs.

Chair…………………………………….

4th June 2026

Gittisham Gazette May 2026

by
Gazette Logo

Mid May 2026 — Produced for the Parish Council and St Michael’s Church

Grain To Cream

It’s been a while since I last wrote so time to update about the going’s on here at Gittisham Farm.

Well after a long wet first few months of the year we now could do with a little bit of rain. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the ground can dry in the spring, we have had quite a bit of wind which speeds things up. Now we are out of winter and new growth is marching on, always a great to see.

We are now preparing for winter it’s long term thinking this farming lark!

The first cut of silage has already been taken and looks promising and the grass is growing away nicely for the next cut. We have planted all the maize so we wait with anticipation to see it germinate and poke through the soil. We have also sown some grass which we will hope to see soon. We usually plant the grass in the autumn after a crop of wheat, as we have less weed competition but this was sown where the pumpkins were and it was too late by the time they are picked and the field needed a break from pumpkins and grass is a good restorative crop as it can stay in the soil so it has a break from cultivation improving the soil structure!   I have just ploughed the field we will use for pumpkins this year so don’t fear you will still be able to get your pumpkin fix here! (As long as they grow; mustn’t count my chickens before they hatch so to speak)

​As always calves are being born, we have just started using some new calf pens which are proving to be successful.

​After not seeing or hearing them for a while I have heard the barn owls again, I was a little worried if bird flu may have got them but thankfully not and as per usual the ducks are waddling around pairing up. The females don’t half lead the drakes on.

​The cows are now grazing for a short while as they need and want access to the milking machine all day. It is a bit of a learning curve as we must gauge how much food they require on top.  If it was easy the supermarkets would do it!  We are doing it to cut costs a bit less silage to make, once out the girls soon want to come back in and are queuing for the robots, and they don’t queue like Brits well I suppose there is Danish, Swiss and Dutch heritage in their breeding so very European but I do think they are more Italian in their style!

​For the eagle eyed among you, you may have seen some white sticks in our field of wheat on the left towards Fenny Bridges. This is some trial plots for different fungicides. We have trials here quite often in the wheat, maize and grass for different things like weed control and disease so things are always progressing.

​

Gittisham PCC

The Parochial Church Council (PCC), is the group responsible for the running of our beautiful Gittisham church, St Michael’s. We are comprised of 10 people who live in or near the village and meet on average six times a year. We form part of the Honiton Mission Community (HMC) which oversees a number of other churches within our neighbouring parishes. The Honiton Mission Team is based at St Paul’s church Honiton and we are all part of the Diocese of Exeter. 

As the mid-point in 2026 nears, we approach a sad date for the PCC and for Gittisham as a whole. Sunday 12th July will be Julia Barrett’s last service as Lay Minister at St Michael’s. Julia who started her post in Gittisham in 2018 has led the church faithfully and spiritedly for almost 8 years, whilst also providing dedicated pastoral care for the wider community. Her tenure here will be an indelible part of the church’s history and we wish her all the very best in her retirement. Please join us at 3pm on 12th July for Julia’s farewell service.

In other news, the vacant Team Rector position at HMC has been successfully filled and we are delighted with the appointment of Reverend Tracey Voysey. The PCC has worked with Tracey for some time and looks forward to continuing to do so in her new capacity.

Lastly thank you to all those that have supported the church through donations, maintenance and cleaning, helping with fund-raising events and attending services. The church is good physical, administrative and spiritual order as a consequence.

Flower Festival

Various Performers in Gittisham Church on the Saturday 6th June!
Starts 5 pm , no entry fee!

Delicious refreshments in the village hall all weekend from 10-5 pm!
Not to be missed, information from Helen on 07806480246!

What’s On?

-Village Hall

Open Bookings

  • Tuesdays – Tai Chi & Quigong 09:50 am- 11:10am
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month- Yoga 18:15
  • Wednesday – Folk Dance Club 7pm
  • Thursday- Community Kitchen 18:30
  • 2nd Sunday of the Month Pierre’s Cafe 10am

Hire the hall: www.gittisham.org.uk/village-hall/hire-the-hall/

Committee Events

  • 30th May coffee and cake 2.30 – 4.30
  • 6th & 7th June Flower Festival 
  • 21st June Father’s Day BBQ
  • 27th June  Coffee and Cake. 2.30  – 4.30pm
  • 11th July Band Night.  Exeter Street Band 7pm
  • 1st August Flower and Produce Show
  • 29th August Coffee and Cake 2.30  – 4.30
  • 5th September Gittisham Fete
  • 17th October Jumble Sale
  • 31st October Halloween Party/ Coffee and Cake
  • 28th November Christmas Craft Fair, expressions of interest in tables being taken 
  • 28th November Christmas Bingo 7pm for 7.30pm 
  • 23rd January Burns Night Celebration

–Church

  • Sunday May 24th 11am  Pentecost (Whit) Sunday
  • Flower Festival 6 th & 7 th June With refreshments in hall & entertainers!
  • Natter and Nibbles, June 13th
  • Sunday June 14th  11am Holy Communion
  • Sunday June 28th  6pm Choral Evensong with HMT Choir
  • Sunday 12th July Julia’s farewell service
  • 200 Club Winners June
    • 1st Prize              £75      Clara Hall
    • 2nd Prize             £50      Amanda Ackland
    • 3rd Prize              £25      Julia Barrett

Events are also listed here: https://gittisham.org.uk/whatson/

Holy Dusters Needed
Can you spare a little time at your convenience?
Cleaning products are in the church by the vestry door.
Thank you.    

200 Club

Join the Gittisham 200 Club!

The 200 club is a licensed small lottery raising funds to pay for the upkeep of our beautiful church and paying prizes in a monthly draw.

There are a number of tickets still available for purchase. 

Tickets cost £3 per month and you can buy up to 3 for any named person.  Some members buy tickets for children and grandchildren as well as for themselves.

The draw takes place once a month, usually at Natter & Nibbles, and there are cash prizes of £75, £50 and £25 each time.

Contact Sara at  for an application form and further details.

Gittisham Village Hall Monthly Update

Well that was another busy and successful month at the hall, and have you seen how wonderful the gardens are looking now?

It was wonderful to see so many of you join us for our recent Coffee & Cake afternoon. The sunshine was certainly on our side, with the garden parasols making a most welcome first appearance of the year. It was lovely to spend such a relaxed afternoon together.

April also saw our much-anticipated kitchen inspection from the Food Safety Agency. Much of the work undertaken in the kitchen over the last 9 months has been with this inspection in mind, given we now need to register with the FSA. We are delighted, and just a little relieved, to report that we passed with flying colours, achieving a fantastic 5-star rating! We proudly display our shiny new certificate and sticker, knowing how much hard work and community support has gone into achieving and maintaining such high standards.

Thanks also to Jim who has given the hall foyer a much needed lick of paint. What a brilliant job he has done and what a difference that has made!

We enjoyed a great turnout for our recent Quiz Night. A huge thank you goes to Hamish Hall for being such an excellent Quiz Master, keeping everyone entertained with a wonderfully varied selection of questions — some certainly more challenging than others! The evening finished with a hilarious final challenge that tested knees rather than knowledge! Thank you to Sue for keeping us well fed, again!

Many of you will know that we held our AGM last week. The Chairman’s Report is available to read on our website, and we were pleased to share that the hall remains in profit despite the significant upgrades and improvements made this year. Everything we achieve is thanks to the incredible support of our community, and we are always keen to hear your thoughts and ideas for future events. Please do send us your feedback using the QR code provided or by emailing the committee directly.

We are hoping to continue with our program of improvements with replacement of the now dilapidated back garden bench. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions as to who might be able to approach for help with this, we are all ears. We are also hoping to arrange some signwriting in our newly painted foyer and to continue with garden upgrades.

We have plenty of exciting events coming up over the next few months. Plans are already underway for a Jumble Sale in October, while nearer at hand we are looking forward to our Father’s Day BBQ in June.

Make sure to save the date for Saturday 11th July, when the fantastic Exeter Street Band will be bringing their energy and music to the hall for what promises to be a brilliant Band Night.

Finally, we look forward to welcoming everyone once again to our next Coffee & Cake gathering at the end of the month, May 30th! We are always grateful to the incredible bakers we have in Gittisham for their gorgeous bakes!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Gittisham Village Hall, we look forward to welcoming you to our parish hall soon

New Village Information Boards

Conceptualised by Councilor Pester, funded by the Parish Council and Made by Taylor signs. These mark the start of a project to inform visitors about the village another is being sited close to the Village Hall.

Dear Geraldine

Introducing Geraldine, your new go-to agony aunt column—where no problem is too small, too strange, or too serious to share.

Life has a way of tying us in knots, whether it’s love, friendships, family drama, workplace dilemmas, or those quiet worries you can’t quite put into words. That’s where Geraldine Gitt comes in. With warmth, wit, and a refreshingly honest perspective, Geraldine is here to listen without judgment and offer thoughtful, compassionate advice.

Got a burning question? Stuck in a situation you can’t untangle? Or simply need an outside perspective? Send in your problems and let Geraldine help you make sense of it all. Chances are, if it’s on your mind, someone else is wondering the same thing too.

Write in, open up, and let’s figure it out—together.

On Sunday 12th July here at Gittisham St. Michael’s Church there will be a special service to thank Julia Barrett for her support & work within the Parish Community especially here at Gittisham which will be at 3 pm followed by refreshments in the village hall!

Any donations can still be given to Helen Hayman & also a rough idea of numbers attending the tea so please contact Helen -Preferably by end June! Thank you Gittisham PCC

Spring in the Village

Road past Keepers by Owen Morgan

Morning River Mist by Claire

Red Kite at Westgate by Paul

Whose home is this? Gas fire with real logs?

Email in

Last months garden tool home was Maggie’s congratulations to Paul for his correct guess!

My name’s Claire and I sing with the Sidmouth Gospel Choir (we’re the enthusiastic, slightly-too-loud-in-a-good-way kind 😊)
Picture Sister Act — but instead of a group of vibrant young singers, imagine a collection of men and women who are mostly over the hill and have less time left on their hands than Noah watching the rain clouds gather!

We’re hosting a charity event at St Peter’s Church in Sidford, and we’re putting together a fun Silent Auction to raise as much as we can for a great cause. Plus there will be alcoholic refreshments, some scrummy home-made cakes and a raffle!

All proceeds are going to an orphanage in Uganda, where we hope to raise enough to replace essential water pipe to return the orphanage to self-sufficiency. We are going to quite literally, turn wine into water!!

Tickets are selling but concessions are also available, if someone wants to come along but can’t afford the £10 entrance fee, just get in touch.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

Huge Congratulations to Connor Davey

On graduating from No.1 Radio School, RAF Cosford! From trainee to Cyberspace Communication Specialist, onwards and upwards to your next phase and future in the Royal Air Force. We are so proud! Per Ardua ad Astra.

Parish Council Updates

PARISH COUNCIL – May 2026 REPORT

Six councillors met for the May meeting and annual parish meeting, along with Richard Jefferies (DCC) and one member of the public.  

Chair & Vice Chair.

Alex Rowe was elected as chair and Peter Orchard as vice chair for 2026/27.

Finance.  Members agreed the finances.​

Crimes. Feb 2026 Parsonage Lane: 1 x other theft

Longlands Way: 1 x violence & sexual offences

Laburnum Way: 1 x drugs

March 2026 Parsonage Lane: 3 x violence & sexual offences

[Please note police crime report areas lack specificity primarily due to legal privacy requirements such as the Data Protection Act, which prevents identifying individual victims, suspects, or exact residential addresses.  As a result, exact incident locations are placed in general hotspots, or rounded to broader geographic units.]

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

Councillors had no objections to the above applications.

Road closures.

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

CIL.

The clerk reported that GPC had received approximately £27k in CIL receipts [Community Infrastructure Levy] 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.

Vale bus shelter.

Peter 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.  

Green Gittisham.

Gary Pester said that he had contacted a range of wildlife organisations who would be interested in visiting the parish to see what could be done to improve biodiversity.  Councillors agreed that an event could be arranged for early next year, with stalls and workshops.

Next meeting.  Thursday 4th June at 7.30pm in the parish room.  

Gittisham Sky Watch: What to look for this Month

As we head towards the longest day of the year, the night sky never gets truly dark. This period of “perpetual twilight” gives us a wonderful, deep blue sky to explore. If you are enjoying a warm evening in the garden, here is what to look out for over the parish:

  • The Return of the “Summer Triangle”: As the evenings warm up, look toward the eastern horizon just after sunset. You will begin to see three incredibly bright stars rising: Vega, Deneb, and Altair. Together, they form a massive shape known as the Summer Triangle. It is a sure sign that summer has officially arrived in Devon!
  • A Kiss Between the Moon and Mars: On the evening of June 3rd, look low toward the western horizon just after sunset. You will see a beautiful, waxing crescent moon passing extremely close to a bright, reddish “star”—that is the planet Mars! It’s a wonderful sight that requires absolutely no binoculars.
  • The “Strawberry Moon”: The next full moon peaks on May 31st. Traditionally known by early Native American tribes as the Strawberry Moon, it marked the time of year when the wild strawberries began to ripen.
  • Spot the Space Station: Because the sun never dips far below the horizon in June, it is the best time of year to spot the International Space Station (ISS). It looks like a very bright, fast-moving star gliding silently and steadily across the sky (usually taking about 3 to 4 minutes to cross).

Thank you to everyone who contributed pieces to this Gazette. If you would like to submit something for next month’s issue, please email .

Gittisham Village Hall AGM 2026

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DateMonday 11th May 2026
PresentCommittee: Stella, Damian, Toni, Steve, Jess, Alex, Becca, Nick Members of Public: 1 (Betty)
ApologiesClaire, Maggie, Bill
Next AGMDate TBC
ItemCommentary
Minutes of the last AGMAgreed
Treasurer’s reportDamian as Treasurer then gave a review of the finances over the past 12 months. Highlights included; bookings/booking funds were increased over the last 12 months compared to the previous year, as did social events and fundraising; we have raised over £50k this year in fundraising and grants. Insurance fees increased although we had a significant reduction in cleaning and garden maintenance due to personnel changes; invested in the new kitchen; water, gas and electric reduced by c£500 this year. Damian resolved the complications with our savings account and moved to an investment account and summarised this. Damian summarised finances are looking positive however we have no upcoming grant funding planned but have the Community Kitchen to subsidise, and plans for audio visual and sound deadening/stage curtains for 2026-2027. We hope the significant investment into the hall will increase the hire of the hall as it currently stands it only covers basic utilities costs, maintenance and we are relying on fundraising for the running of the hall. Damian laid out we should hope to increase hire of the hall from £6k to £9k a year to cover all the costs but currently the fundraising makes up the difference. He acknowledged the hard work of the committee in putting on these successful events.
Chair’s ReportChairman’s Annual report 2025/26
Object
Gittisham Parish Hall is a place of meeting and of instruction, recreation and entertainment, for the inhabitants of the parish of Gittisham and otherwise for the benefit of the inhabitants of the said parish. 

Performance
Gittisham Village Hall has had another very active and community-focused year, marked by a blend of social events, infrastructure improvements, and strategic financial planning. 

Community Events & Engagement 
The hall hosted a variety of popular and lucrative events, including Burns Night, two quizzes, live music, a variety of talks, craft sales, two bingo events, a big breakfast, monthly coffee and cake afternoons and a Father’s Day BBQ. Additionally, the weekly Community Kitchen continued to offer free meals every Thursday bringing parishioners together to share food and socialise. Private bookings including: 12 Birthday parties,   7 family celebrations, 25 Yoga classes, 1 retreat, 2 Womens circle, 1 health intervention, 17 exercise classes, 14 Tai Chi, 40 Dance Club, 5 music rehearsals, 5 funeral wakes and 2 wedding receptions, 12 pop up cafes. These gatherings not only fostered community spirit and reduced isolation but also contributed to increased hall bookings and revenue. 
The committee continued its quarterly engagement with Devon Communities Together, a support organisation for village halls in East Devon, sharing experiences and learning.

Infrastructure & Sustainability 
The hall’s facilities and sustainability were improved. Grants were successfully obtained from the local council and the national lottery that, along with our fundraising events, helped to finalise the kitchen upgrade, aligning with the hall’s commitment to energy efficiency and fire safety.  The new kitchen is now built to a commercial standard with ventilation, electric shutter, stainless steel surfaces, new flooring and commercial freezer.  The hall was repainted by volunteers using painted donated by a local firm. Poor plasterwork was removed and the brickwork pointed. The kitchen successfully obtained a 5 star hygiene rating from the Council health and safety inspector.
Outdoor maintenance tasks, including external painting, benches, planting and chippings, all ensured the hall surrounds remain in good condition. 
Finally, a fire assessment was successfully completed and extinguishers serviced.

Financial Management  
The hall’s financial position continued to be sustainable, thanks to grants and fundraising efforts, but the hall still faced rising operational costs. At the end of the financial year, the hall’s bank balance was again positive and the annual return was submitted on time. Reserves cover two years of operating costs.  Hall funds were transferred to an HSBC charity account offering a higher rate of return. The overall balances of the current account and reserves are given in the financial report. The main risk to the charity is low revenue from commercial hiring and this is offset with strong marketing and holding of multiple fundraising events. Building insurance was upgraded during the year to reflect higher rebuilding costs. Hall bookings run more efficiently and transparently using the dedicated Hallmaster web-based system.

Committee changes  
Changes have included two new members joining : Becca Avery and Steve Brinklow.. Nick Chapman and Stella Adamson continued as Chair and Vice Chair respectively and Damian Furniss as Treasurer. 

Summary 
Gittisham Village Hall has had an outstanding year in terms of improving the hall’s facilities, ensuring financial health, building sustainability and fostering a strong sense of community spirit, while maintaining an active and committed group of committee members.   
Gittisham Village Hall has continued to serve as a vital hub for community activities providing a wide range of events and hosting a large number of private bookings.  
Comments receivedStella noted the hiring has already picked up and we have more birthday parties, weddings and private events. Stella noted we need to continue the advertising both through social media and traditional channels. We could explore getting some pictures done and creating a hall brochure to put out to the public. We could also benefit from longer term bookings to replace the yoga/fitness that sadly concluded this year. Stella also said we have had many positive comments from bookers on the quality of the kitchen and repeat bookings off the back of this.
Election of officers
ELECTION OF COMMITTEE OFFICERS

We have 4 positions; Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer & Secretary. (Plus a bonus position of Bookings Secretary)

Nick was unanimously voted in as Chair of the Committee.
Stella was unanimously voted in as Vice Chair.
Damian was unanimously voted in as Treasurer.
I (Jess) stood down as Secretary due to personal/family commitments. Becca was unanimously voted in as Secretary. Thanks to Becca for volunteering.
Bookings Secretary: Stella and Gary remain in their roles with Stella managing the booking system and Gary doing the meets and greets but this could be subject to change this year. Hallmaster is a great system and easy to use.
Hiring chargesHire charges were frozen for this coming year
AOBBetty raised the piano concert next week and discussed attendance, advertising, table layout and asking Michael to give an opening word on the evening. Food was discussed and we will be doing donations only and BYOB so we don’t need a licence. 


Nick then concluded the AGM and thanked everyone for their attendance. Betty said her thanks and left.

Village Hall Committee April 2026

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Date Monday 13th April 2026
Present Stella, Maggie, Damian, Claire, Toni, Steve, Jess, Alex, Becca
Apologies Nick, Bill
Next meet Next meeting: Monday 11th May  7:30pm – Village Hall
ItemDetailsActions
Initial Discussion: Priorities & Previous MinutesStella circulated the Agenda for the meeting in the interest of a more efficient meeting to prioritise matters that need attention instead of our previous routine of following the minutes from the previous meeting.Nick has approached Mary Marker for Burns night 2027 but not yet heard back.Nick will be getting Jim a thank you gift aqs per previous minutes – Gary politely declined his thank you gift.Claire has requested a visit from EDDC for the Food Hygiene assessment but has not yet heard back.Stella shared a leaving checklist for Hirers’ and we discussed what could be added. Alex suggested adding to remind those to lock doors and windows. Steve raised that the last Wedding hire actually trespassed into a member of the communities’ garden to use a basketball – an apology will be given to this parishioner. Jess to check that the Hallmaster emails because Becca mentioned she didn’t see T&Cs when she booked – it should be a clickable link.
All actionsNew actions:Stella reminded everyone about the AGM, and to have a think on what involvement we want to have as members in the coming year. Alex has advertised this on the website.
Old actions: 
Damian to give Alex permission to negotiate with Eon – no updates/urgency.Stella to continue chasing the Charities commission about the change to our Governance – in Springtime. 
Committee members and governanceCommittee Members: Stella has circulated the new trustee welcome packs to Becca and Steve to sign. 

Policies: Stella has redrafted DCT policies – Stella to run through the Health and Safety Policy with the committee and to run through the financial policies with Damian after the AGM.


Stella 
FinanceDamian: Damian shared the end of year finances, we ended in the black! Thanks to the incredible fundraising work of the Committee (many thanks to the amazing Claire).
Damian has also wrapped up all the previous bank accounts from Janet and is in the full Primary User for all relevant accounts. 
Some Highlights: Kitchen works didn’t increase in value. (woo!)Fundraising events pushed us into the black. There was a £10 discrepancy on cash but Damian will resolve.Reminder that we have no donation income for the last 3 months of last year or this year. We had £1350 last year and need to consider how to make up the shortfall of income if we cannot cover the costs of CK.2024-2025 returns are on the charities commission site. Damian hopes to do it for 25-26 after the AGM as he is more familiar with the process now. Damian discussed the current financial status – he will be finding a high interest savings account to move some money into this year. 		Damian





Grants

Alex: To meet with EDDC to report back on the grant application. 

Claire has applied for a Community Grant Fund for the new stage curtains – awaiting to hear.
Damian shared an example of sound deadening he saw in a recent National Trust excursion and Stella reminded us all to keep eyes peeled for grants we can apply to for these kind of improvements. 

Alex









MaintenanceAlex has organised and had feedback from the portable appliance testing – the ban marie and the extension lead failed but everything else passed.
Maggie has instructed the local pest controller Graham to resolve the mice situation. He will come regularly until the issue is resolved.
Painters (Jim and any other volunteers) are doing the lobby this weekend the 17th-18th April.
Claire raised that the back roof windows need a clean and Alex suggested he and Toni can take the pressure washer to the roof and clean it. 
Claire said we need a barrier mat for the back door as hirers bring in mud and debris as it is straight from garden into the tiled floor at the moment. The committee agreed it was a requirement. Expected to cost between £100-£250 for a decent one.
Claire has requested £100 for garden plants for a Clematis and a rose to plant up the shed to make it more sightly and to get more bulbs for the garden, the Committee all agreed the spring bulbs she planted were a wonderful addition to the garden and to continue the investment for the benefit of the hirers and parishioners (and Claire).


Maggie





Claire/Damian
Bookings
Stella gave a report on bookings, we are getting a steady trickle of bookings and May is looking really busy which is what we need. 

Reminder for the committee – to please notify Stella of any works (grass being cut, rodent management etc) to avoid clashes with bookings.
The Committee discussed paying deposits and we suggested and voted for a booking deadline of 48 hours to pay a deposit to confirm the booking. All Committee members present agreed.
Jess raised Community Kitchen and the Committee discussed the loss of income but also the value of funding community kitchen in the form of grants off the back of it. It is a sensitive topic as we don’t want attendees to be concerned about the future of the event or ask them for donations and instead suggested we use one of the coffee and cakes to go towards the fees. We may earn enough through fundraising this year to cover it.









Future events
Coffee&Cake 25th April – Alex/Becca/Gary have volunteered. Quiz 9th May – Hamish has agreed to run this with Nick. Light food, costs need to be sorted and a raffle. Ploughmans or bacon baps (we have a freezer full of bacon).  Suggested £7 for a ticket to include a bacon bap (cheese for vegetarians). Start time of 7:30pm.16th May – TBC Betty has had an offer from a pianist in America to do a piano performance. Nick will be hosting with Betty. Suggested taking donations and if we take a significant amount to split it with the hall and a charity of the pianists’ choice. Doors 6pm for start time of 6:30pm.
Future events:talks: Hardy wine talk / gardening talk 6th and 7th  June – Flower festival.Father’s Day 21st June 2026 – Need to discuss because we need a team to cater/host. 11th July – Live Music, Exeter Street Band and BBQ. Need to get a bar licence for this.12th July – Vicar’s leaving party from 1pm onwards. Agreed as a committee that there should be no charge as a thank you for Julia’s generosity and commitment to the community during her service as Vicar.Flower and Produce Show 1st August 2026Gittisham Fete 5th Sept 2026Bill suggested a Gardeners Question Time. Halloween party for Kids – Jess Hosting. To be booked Sat 31st October after coffee and cake so 4:30-6pm.October 17th – Becca suggested a jumble sale.November – Xmas extravagada and Bingo 28th NovemberBurns night 2027 – Sat 23rd Jan 2027.  Nick to book the caller for next year. Claire to book the bagpiper.Need to be mindful of planning future events to not clash with Parish Council events. 




Toni to create posters for upcoming events.










AOBDiscussed the most recent Easter Bingo. The evening was advertised as starting at 7pm with eyes down at 7:30 and the hall was at capacity by 7:05pm.
It was raised that a member of the Community took offence to the
3 flags flown on the front of the hall (Union Jack, St George’s Flag
and the Devon Flag) and suggested we take them down. Due to
the recent socio-economic climate with anti-immigration riots
using the St George’s flag as a protest to immigration, we can see
why it may be construed in this way. A discussion was had that it
would be appropriate to fly the St George’s flag alongside the
Union Jack and Devon Flag as a symbol of Community, Pride in our
nation and the diversity we celebrate. The Committee also
acknowledged we cannot please everyone and that we are a small
Devonshire village with people of many Nationalities residing here
locally. Gittisham is well known for its open and supportive
community and events like The annual Fete and the weekly
Community Kitchen welcome all to attend and we feel the flags
reflect those values. The Committee took a vote on flying the flags
outside – 2 abstained and 7 yes’.

   MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

Long term maintenance list, for progression when funds allow. Rough hierarchy order.
Sewerage and drainage pipe replacement
Air to air heat pump 
Re-fit audio visual capabilities
Rewiring of cabling, particularly in the loft
(Rising) damp in southern elevation
Internal repaint including / especially ceiling
Hose reel – ours leaks significantly and we need a new one for the garden
Bin Store
Sound Deadening Clouds/equipment to make it less echo-ey – Alex
Stage Curtains and for the other end of the hall to sound deaden – Claire
Hooks on the doors in toilets specifically the disabled toilet – Toni to provide
Murals in the toilets – Maggie/Claire exploring
Gittisham Parish Hall Accounts – 1st April 2026 to 31 March 2027Gittisham Parish Hall Accounts – 1st April 2026 to 31 March 2027
INCOME13th April 2026EXPENDITURE13th April 2026
2025/263.6% of 2026/272026/272025/263.6% of 2026/272026/27
Balance b/fwd£6,174.15Insurance£959.73£34.55£0.00
Non-domestic rates£0.00£0.00£0.00
Hire of Hall£6,079.06£218.85£664.80Cleaning/grass cutting£1,054.65£37.97£0.00
Social Events£7,705.24£277.39£1,000.00Maintenance/Equipment£26,668.55£960.07£410.00
Interest£0.00£0.00£0.00Water/Gas/Electric£2,562.96£92.27£200.35
Miscellaneous£51,406.32£1,850.63Miscellaneous(inc. bank charges)£6,618.53£238.27£0.00
£65,190.62£2,346.86£1,664.80£37,864.42£1,363.12£610.35
Balance£7,228.60
Total£7,838.95£7,838.95
Reserves
HSBC Instant Access Business Savings Account: £26,723.32
Cash Float: £259.16

2026-05 Parish Council agenda 14th May 2026

by

GITTISHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Ms Fiona Clampin

Clerk to the Council

7 May 2026

Local Government Act 1972

NOTICE OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING FOR GITTISHAM PARISH

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT

The Annual Assembly of the Parish Meeting for Gittisham will be held in the parish room on Thursday 14th May 2026 at 7.30pm

The meeting will be open to the public.

Annual Parish Meeting Agenda

  1. Introduction by Council Chair
  2. Apologies for absence 
  3. Report on the Council’s activities in 2025/26 by the Council Chair / Vice Chair / Clerk
  4. Annual Police Report
  5. County and District representatives’ reports
  6. Reports by village organisations
  7. To consider any matters raised by residents.

Annual Council Meeting Agenda

7th May 2026

Members of Gittisham Parish Council

You are hereby summoned to attend the Annual Council Meeting to be held in Gittisham Parish Room on Thursday 14th May 2026 commencing at 7.30pm (following the Annual Parish Meeting) to discuss items on the Agenda and to make resolutions as appropriate.

Prior to the start of the meeting a period of 15 minutes is allowed to permit any resident to bring appropriate matters to the notice of the Council.  Please contact the clerk if you would like to do this, preferably by email in advance of the meeting, with a question you wish to be raised with Councillors on your behalf. 

  1. To elect a Chair
  2. To elect a Vice Chair
  3. To receive the Chair’s & Vice Chair’s declaration of Acceptance of Office
  4. To accept and approve apologies
  5. To confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary meeting held on 2nd April 2026
  6. To receive the Beat Manager’s report
  7. To receive declarations of interest
  8. To consider actions from last meeting not otherwise on the agenda
  9. To receive reports from County Council and District Council representatives
  10. To consider the following planning applications:
    • 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
    • 226/0457/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
  11. 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)
  • To note the latest planning decision notices (Cllr Orchard)
  • To receive an update on highways, and consider potholes (Cllr Orchard)
  • To consider plans for expenditure in the parish under the Community Infrastructure Levy and S106, including the 2nd tranche of funds from Hayne Farm  (Cllr Orchard)
  • To receive an update on public transport (Cllr Orchard)
  • To consider climate change measures within the parish, including rewilding land off Old Elm Road (Cllr Rowe)
  • To consider limited residential development in the parish (Cllr Valentine)
  • To consider the creation of a traffic-free amenity route linking Hayne Farm with Gittisham village (Cllr Powell / Cllr Rowe)
  • To consider the refurbishment and maintenance of the village play area
  • To consider the scope of future lengthsman work
  1. To receive a report from the Chair
  2. To approve the May payments and to note the current bank balance:

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)

HMRC (clerk’s tax) £1.60

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

Fab Trim Landscaping lengthsman work £tbc

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

  1. To consider and adopt the parish council’s standing orders
  2. To review the parish council’s fixed asset register
  3. To consider proposals to reduce the balance of Gittisham Parish Council’s reserves
  4. To consider the casual vacancy in Gittisham Village ward
  5. Clerk’s report
  6. For information only; items for the forward agenda
  7. To consider any late entry correspondence
  8. To note the date of the next two meetings, Thursday 4th June and Thursday 2nd July (tbc) 2026 at 7.30pm.

F J Clampin – Clerk

Famous Pianist to Play at the Hall

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Due to a chance encounter last year, Alan and I met Michael Allen Harrison, the internationally renowned pianist and composer. He was staying at the Pig Hotel in Gittisham with members of his family, and we have kept in touch ever since. He is returning to the UK for a series of concerts in Oxford before travelling on to Vienna, and in the interval between these engagements he will be staying with us.

Very generously, he has offered to give a free concert in our Village Hall, having been made so welcome in Gittisham last year. The concert will take place on Saturday, 16th May, with doors opening at 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Michael plans to play a selection of his own compositions alongside works by Chopin, Gershwin, and John Lennon — a wonderfully varied programme.

As mentioned, the concert is free of charge, and light refreshments will be available to purchase during the interval. Michael cowrote the music for the musicals Prometheus and Soul Harmony, and served as musical director for the film Claire of the Moon.

I do hope you will be able to join us. It would be lovely to see you, introduce you to Michael, and to share a relaxing evening together in our newly decorated hall, which will be set with tables, candles, and a warm friendly atmosphere.

Betty