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WESTLEIGH PARISH

Westleigh Parish Council – Minutes of Remote Zoom Meeting, Wednesday 5th August 2020


The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Wednesday 2nd September. Venue and type of meeting to be advised when the Agenda is sent out.


Attendees – Cllrs Fairbrother, Gear, Burgess, and Frajbis. Parish Clerk Roger Levick (PC)


Agenda

1. Apologies received in respect of the meeting – Cllrs Heard and Farrell-Roberts, County Cllr Frank Biederman, and Selaine Saxby MP

2. Declarations of Interest – to receive Declarations of Interests from Councillors of any disclosable, pecuniary, or other Interests in items on the agenda – none received

3. Minutes – to confirm and agree the signing of the minutes of the meeting held on the 1st July 2020. Actions agreed to be updated – agreed, and actions updated contained in section 10

4. Correspondence and Communications – to include a summary of C&C received from the Chair and Clerk – none from Chair. All relevant emails are forwarded to Cllrs, including confirmation from the National Overseers that the accounts had been agreed and filed. A letter had been received from the Pensions Regulator dating back to 2017 which the PC has to action

5. County and District Ward Members reports – Selaine Saxby sent her apologies and urged all to complete the PSPO survey. Discussion then ensued, with very strong feelings expressed about the Tarka Trail NOT being a designated cycle trail at the expense of walkers and dog owners. Concerns were raised that dog owners could eventually be ‘driven off’ the trail, especially with the speed of some cyclists using the trail. PC tasked to email Cllr Biederman expressing the Council’s concerns, although it was outside the Council’s remit, being the responsibility of Devon Highways


Public Session – as the meeting is not an Open Meeting due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the unavailability of the Parish Hall, there will be no Public Session. However, Parishioners are asked to forward any questions or subjects they would like raised to the Parish Clerk on Westleigh.Clerk@gmail.com by the 31st July – one letter had been received from a parishioner noting that cars had been parking in front of the Westleigh Defibrillator, in spite of a notice on the board saying ‘No Parking’. The Council agreed that a much larger and more obvious sign should be placed on the wall (with permission). If cars continue to park there, then further options will be implemented. Cllr Frajbis to prepare sign and gain the necessary permission.


6. Finance – to receive an update on the current position, to receive accounts to pay, to note any income received, and any other matters relating – no invoices had been received for payment. The balance to date stands at £4391.50

7. Planning matters – any issues that need raising – one application was ongoing, and Cllrs again expressed their concern that Ecology reports appear to have been completed by the Architect, as opposed to a fully qualified Ecologist. PC to raise query again with NDC planning. Update - having spoken to planning, the requirement for an Ecology Report is dependent upon whether one is considered necessary or not, and any suitably experienced person can express their opinion, backed up with photographic evidence. Planning then consider this, and either agree a report is not necessary or implement a report, costing £700+

8. Eastleigh Defibrillator – Cllr Fairbrother agreed to chase up the repainting quote and move it forward

9. Highway issues – no issues reported

10. Environmental issues – it was noted that hedge trimming had started. It was thought that Government guidelines state ‘not before 1st September’ due to birds still nesting. PC to check (On checking, there are caveats, i.e. if the field is a stubble field being readied for planting being one exemption, where hedges intrude onto public roads being another, and several more. As long as the farmer can justify why it has been done outside of guideline times, it is legal to do so). PC updates from previous minutes - Tapeley were broadly in agreement with the rewilding of the area, as long as the relevant tenant farmer had given permission. Public footpaths and Rights of Way maps are being obtained from the Parish Paths Partnership, along with details of funding available. Cllrs agreed that upon receipt, they would ensure that all were ‘walked’, and conditions documented. It is also worth noting that Cllr Frajbis has marked several footpaths on the Parish News website (www.frajbis.co.uk/PARISHNEWS). Cllr Frajbis was also of the opinion that payments to farmers to keep verges clear, had not finished 2 years ago as had been advised, but was still in place. He will investigate and report back

11. Bus shelter – mural and sponsorship update – nearing completion

12. Summer Fete – will revisit in 2021

13. Agenda items for the next meeting (Wednesday 2nd September) – none received to date

14. Any other business not covered – none raised



Cllr David Fairbrother - Chairman