Westleigh Parish Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday 9th July 2025, 5 pm at Westleigh Village Hall
Attendees – Cllrs Heard, Gear, Saxby, Moores, NDCllr Coombs, DCCllr Biederman & Parish Clerk, plus 7 members of the public
Min 11 25/26 – Apologies received – Cllr Stewart
Min 12 25/26 – Declarations of Interest – none declared
Min 13 25/26 – Minutes – To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 21st May 2025 – agreed unanimously
Min 14 25/26 – Matters arising – The paperwork for the purchase of the red phone box had been sent though. The Clerk wanted permission to pay the £1 cost, and to complete the paperwork – unanimously agreed
Min 15 25/26 – Correspondence & Communications – there had been minimal correspondence since May, and all relevant material had been forwarded to Counsellors.
Min 16 25/26 – Public Session – As the members of the public who attended were mainly concerned with agenda item 9 (proposed village development), that item was brought forward. As the application from Lighthouse had yet to be validated, there was nothing concrete to discuss, however much discussion took place with the agreement that an extraordinary meeting would be called by WPC once the application had been submitted and validated. The main objections were aired, those being the heavy site traffic, the definition of where the access to the proposed site, effect of development on the residents of Langmead, disruption to Village Hall activities, and the overall objection to what was termed an unnecessary development. The spokesperson emphasised the need to define the Village’s rebuttal ready for the application. Questions were also raised regarding the flooding at Eastleigh on the road opposite to the Defibrillator site. DCCllr Biederman asked the lady from Eastleigh who raised the question, to phone him directly the problem arose again.
Min 17 25/26 – County and District Reports – NDCllr Coombs report is attached as appendix A. DCCllr Biederman explained that with such a complete redefining of the DCC set-
Min 18 25/26 – Finance – retrospective agreement was asked for and received for several invoices received between meetings, those being the annual insurance premium (£310.82), J Harris (£100), Website maintenance (£71.54), Audit fee (£50), Clerk’s 3 monthly salary (£837.44), and Clerk’s expenses (£51.92). All were agreed, and a payment for Village Hall Hire of £40 was also agreed.
Bank Reconciliation – July 9th 2025
Balance as at 31st March 2025 £3397.05
Precept (half year) £3098
Total £6495.05
Cheques paid out and presented £1655.28
Cheques outstanding £889.36
Total £2544.64
Balance allowing for outstanding cheques £3397.05
Min 19 25/26 – Planning – The Village Development is covered in Minute 16, and the Bulworthy proposal which is still in the validation stage, is covered in NDCllr Coombs report
Min 20 25/26 – the next meeting planned is September 3rd at 7pm. However, it is virtually certain that an extraordinary meeting will be called following the Lighthouse submission prior to the 3rd September.
Appendix A – NDCllr report
The NDC Hub -
New working spaces enable staff from various council services to assist customers where needed. An interview room is available for private consultations with council staff for customers wishing to discuss more sensitive topics, and there are seating booths, two consultation rooms and a meeting room which can be booked by outside agencies.
Devon and Cornwall Police will also have a regular presence at the hub, allowing town centre visitors the chance to speak with officers from Barnstaple's Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Those wishing to enquire about room bookings can do so by emailing towncentre.hub@northdevon.gov.uk for more information.
Air Quality Strategy -
Following continued improvements in air quality, the council was required in June 2024 to revoke its Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), after pollutant levels were consistently recorded at more than 10% below government exceedance thresholds.
The draft strategy covers six key themes where the council can have the most influence:
Domestic Burning
Industrial Emissions
Transport
Agriculture
Indoor Air Quality
Communicating air quality information
The consultation is open for six weeks, from Monday 9 June until Monday 21 July 2025, and the council is encouraging as many people as possible to review the draft and submit feedback.
You can view the draft strategy and find out more by visiting the Council’s website at: letstalk.northdevon.gov.uk
Residents invited to have their say on the future of local government in Devon
Residents in North Devon and Torridge are being invited to have their say on the future of local government in the county.
In December 2024 the Government announced plans to simplify the structure of local government across England. Areas such as Devon, which currently has a county council and district councils in a two-
North Devon and Torridge district councils have been working with councils across Devon to work up proposals, and in March 2025 an interim plan was submitted on behalf of all Devon's district councils, except Exeter.
The proposal, known as the '1-
Creating a new unitary authority combining East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, Torridge and Exeter
Forming another unitary authority covering South Hams, Teignbridge, West Devon and Torbay
Keeping Plymouth as a standalone unitary authority
Final proposals will be submitted to the Government in November 2025. Before then, the council would like to hear from residents, businesses and groups about what matters to them.
A survey will run until 11 August 2025. Responses will help shape the final proposal and ensure it reflects the needs of the communities of northern Devon.
Residents in the North Devon district can take part in the survey by visiting the Lets Talk North Devon website.
Updates to contact emails:
For environmental health, licensing and housing:
• Environmentalprotection@northdevon.gov.uk – Fly tipping, stray dogs, Dog
control, noise and dust nuisances, abandoned vehicles etc.
• foodhygiene@northdevon.gov.uk – Food safety, Health and Safety, infectious
diseases,
• privatesectorhousing@northdevon.gov.uk – Housing in disrepair, houses in
multiple occupation, housing and energy grants, disabled facilities grants,
empty properties.
• licensing@northdevon.gov.uk –Taxi licensing, animal licensing, alcohol and
premises licences.
I am aware that Bulworthy Solar Farm have now submitted an application to the council. It will sit across North Devon and Torridge. For It will be in the Parish of Newton Tracey, Lovacott, Horwood, and Westleigh. Cllr Biederman and I will be meeting with the planning officer once the application is validated.