WESTLEIGH PARISH
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Minutes of the Westleigh Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 5th February 2020 19.30hrs


In attendance – Cllrs Fairbrother, Heard, Burgess, and Frajbis. Also in attendance Roger Levick, Parish Clerk (PC)


Agenda

1. Apologies received in respect of the meeting – Cllr Saxby MP, DCC Cllr Biedermann, Cllr’s Gear and Farrell Roberts

2. Declarations of Interest – to receive Declarations of Interests from Councillors of any disclosable, pecuniary, or other Interests in items on the agenda – there were no declarations of interest

3. Minutes – to confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on the 9th January 2020 and any matters arising – signed as a true and accurate record

4. Co-option of Parish Councillor – postponed until March meeting. Paperwork given to DF to pass onto prospective Cllr, plus request for said prospect to email PC with details of past experience, and reasons for wanting to become a Cllr

5. Correspondence and Communications – to include a summary of C&C received from the Chair and Clerk – Confirmation of visit to WPC in June (3rd) of Michael Harrison from the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner to give a presentation and conduct a Q&A session. Information from Cllr Netti Pearson (NDC) re Climate Action Week 22-28 March. Lengthy response from Andrew Woollacott (Tapeley) regarding points raised at last WPC meeting

6. County and District Ward Members reports (via email) – Cllr Biedermann has proposed a meeting on the 19th February at 11.30 for 2 representatives from each Parish to discuss relevant topics. Venue to be confirmed. Cllr Saxby confirmed her support for the grant for the electrical installation of the Eastleigh defibrillator


Public Session – at the discretion of the Chair, any members of the public may speak following item 5 and before item 6 – no members of the public attended


7. Finance – to receive an update on the current position, to receive accounts to pay, to note any income received, and any other matters relating – Agreed payment of Parish Hall hire from October 2019 up to and including March 2020.

8. Planning matters – no matters arising

9. Westleigh Footpath update – Cllr Frajbis offered to make some small signs to be placed at entry points reminding people to shut the gates

10. Eastleigh Defibrillator - £250 grant approved for installation, but short deadline for NDC accounting purposes. One quote received, CH to try for a second by Friday 7th. DF to expedite painting of phone box, and CH to discuss with local builder rearranging interior of phone box to enable defibrillator fixing

11. Highway issues – the manhole cover at top of hill approaching Eastleigh from Bideford is broken. Could be a SWW issue but PC to relay to Cllr Biedermann, along with concerns regarding standing water (longer than 36 hours) previously reported after heavy rain, plus the issue, again already reported regarding the bridge in Eastleigh.

12. Environmental issues – Cllr Burgess updated the WPC with all relevant issues, which included emailing all Cllrs with details of the workshop sponsored by Devon Wildlife Trust ‘making the most of your soils and nutrients’, which is aimed at landowners and land managers in the Torridge catchment. Much discussion ensued regarding tree planting locations, possible Torridge pollution from field run-off, and the ongoing West Living issues. These issues including flooding, mud run off and farming methods to be raised at a meeting with Tapeley on the 14th February at the Parish Hall location at 11.30am. Cllr Burgess also reiterated the need to publicise the Climate Action Week 22-28th March, which will focus on Biodiversity, Life on the Verge, and Wildflower meadows.

13. Bus shelter – mural and sponsorship update – mural now started. PC to approach Blacksmiths Arms regarding sponsorship, as well as confirming all other verbal agreements

14. Summer Fete – momentum is building, with June 27th agreed as the date. The next meeting is on the 10th February at the Westleigh Inn (7pm)

15. Agenda items for the next meeting (Wednesday 4th March 2020) none received – normal agenda will apply

16. Any other business not covered – Cllrs agreed that Cllr Frajbis would supply and fit ‘Please clean up after your dog’ notices at the entrance to the footpath by the side of the Church, as dog fouling is becoming a problem. A notice also to be placed in the notice boards asking dog owners to have consideration for others and clean up after their dog!


The meeting closed at 20.55hrs