ASHPRINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting Held Thursday 3rd July 2025 @ Ashprington Village Hall – 7.30pm
1) Open Forum – no points raised.
2) Present Cllr R Rogers (Chairman), Cllr S Paterson, Cllr L Stocks, Cllr P Thompson, Cllr K Throgmorton, Cllr S Greaves, D Cllr J McKay, C Cllr S Rake.
Attended by – no public present.
3) Apologies, Pam Macey (P3), Cllr T Green, Ian Bentlett (Ashmeadow).
4) Declarations of Interest.
5) Previous Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held Thursday 5th June 2025.
The minutes have been distributed and read. Proposed by Cllr S Paterson and seconded by Cllr P Thompson with all in agreement. Duly signed by the Chairman – Cllr R Rogers.
6) Matters Arising
a) Post Box at Bow Bridge – C Cllr Stuart Rogers has looked into this as he is a Post Master for Ashburton, he confirmed that Royal Mail has decommissioned the Box and they can do this without any consultation with the public. Cllrs Stocks & Thompson will look at ways that the hole left in the wall can be filled in.
b) Information Map at Tuckenhay – Cllr P Thompson reported that the Map is now being digitised and will go to Newton Abbot to be printed cost will be no more than £50, all in agreement for this to go ahead.
c) Layby near Ali`s Seat – The Seat is to be painted, the area now needs tidying up on the other side of the fence. Cllr R Rogers – in the Autumn the hedge trimmer can reach in along and then it can be strimmed off and tidied.
d) Tuckenhay Bus Shelter – Cllr K Throgmorton will look at this during August. The Holly Tree also needs trimming back and the 2 grass areas at Tuckenhay can be cut by Will Roberts.
7) Reports.
a) County Councillor – Cllr S Rake reported – The DCC admin is the Liberal Democrats working on their own with just shy of a majority or seats, the cabinets and committees have now been filled, DCC are facing problems with budget in the following areas, Social Care and Children & Adult Services, Highways with a backlog £360million needed to improve Devon Roads – the current budget this year is £56million, Highways are looking at ways of saving money and maybe bringing maintenance back in house and doing all the potholes in one area at once, others areas are public health, trading standards, farm estates, waste disposal, tips etc, & Country Parks at Stover & Tiverton.
Local Government Review – proposals for this are still ongoing, SHDC consultation currently online asking for views, important items to think about when completing the survey are service delivery and accountability.
b) District Councillor – Cllr J McKay reported– Important that the Local Government Review consultation is filled in by everyone possible online. The Government are looking for a single proposal to come back to them in November. Neighbourhood Plans – no money available now from Government now to help Parishes pay for this. Draft SHDC statement of accounts has been published and its currently in the Black, there will be lots of challenges from main government on budget in the coming months. Community Transport day taking place with various organisations getting together to try and encourage more people to use these services. Water monitoring is taking place in the Dart in conjunction with Plymouth University. South Devon Community Forest Plan is being adopted. Local Plan is being reviewed and revised, the last plan was with Plymouth but they will not be included in the new plan.
c) Ash Meadow Recreation Ground – report from Ian Bentlett has been circulated to Cllrs.
1) Mowing – current mowing being carried out is keeping it tidy, but the frequency of cuts may need to increase. Parish Council to advise that Ashmeadow should carry on provided they have sufficient funds for extra cuts. Cllr R Rogers suggested that the purchase of a mower would be something to consider in the future.
2) Climbing Frame – Local contractor is going to replace the frame for £5,000.
d) Tree Warden – nothing to report. e) P3 Co-Ordinator – Pam Macey reported by e-mail – DCC have confirmed a £520 grant for this year which will be in the bank account shortly. Strimming will now be started and the Footpath at Crownley Woods will need the Brushcutter running around – Peter Mantle will do this.
f) Defibrillator Group – Ivy encroachment into Phone Box & Bus Shelter – The owners of the property where the Ivy is coming from have been approached and have cut this back. Cllr S Paterson reported that the Community Heartbeat trust have confirmed that the circuit has been adopted by the Ambulance Service which means all defibs need to be registered with them, all Cllrs in agreement that this is done.
g) Emergency Plan Group – Cllr K Throgmorton attending emergency plan seminar in a few weeks time.
h) Village Hall – nothing to report.
i) Dart Harbour Commissioning Group – nothing to report.
j) Website and Cllrs e-mail addresses – Cllr S Paterson confirmed that she will speak to Ian (website) about adding emails onto the website so Cllrs each have their individual Parish Council addresses and no longer will need to use personal addresses.
k) Cemetery Maintenance Work – grass is getting long in parts and benches need some maintenance in the un-consecrated piece. Agreement for this piece originally was that the grass should be left long and then paths cut to the benches. Cllrs Thompson & Stocks asked that the grass be left about a foot high and then paths cut to the benches. Jo Todd will be approached for a price to cut this twice a year and a working party will be organised to paint the benches. Apple Tree also needs pruning back – Jo Todd will be asked if he can keep an eye on this when cutting the grass.
l) Up the Creek Regatta report – Cllr L Stocks reported that this was a successful local event. A letter of thanks to go to the organisers.
8) Planning Applications / Matters.
Applications received from South Hams District Council – none.
Decisions received from South Hams District Council –
a) Discharge of Condition Approved – Application no 1276/25/ARC & 1290/25/ARC – Tuckenhay House TQ9 7EQ – Approval of details reserved by condition 3 (stone wall) of planning consents 2351/23/HHO & 2352/23/LBC.
b) Discharge of Condition Approved – Application no 1398/25/ARC – Lower Sharpham Barton Farm TQ9 7DX – Approval of details reserved by condition 8 (LEMP) to planning consent 2310/24/FUL.
C) Works to a Tree in a Conservation Area – No Objections – Application no 1425/25/TCA – The Hermitage TQ9 7UL – Remove Dead Tree.
9) Correspondence –
a) Second Homes 100% Council Tax uplift payments – this has been raised by a Parishioner who has sent correspondence to Cllr J McKay. Cllrs in agreement that when setting the budget they will take into consideration the double payment by second home owners, this extra money to be earmarked for a Village project.
b) St Davids Church – Community Volunteers Gathering on 13th July – Cllr S Paterson to attend.
10) Highways
a) Bow Bridge – Damage – C Cllr S Rake has confirmed that he has spoken to Lisa Colton – DCC Highways Officer about this.
11) Finances.
1) Annual Audit forms to be signed by Chairman & Clerk. Forms duly signed now to be sent to the external auditors.
Payments
BACS – 12.6.25 – £180.00 (vat £30.00) – Lee Accounting (Annual Audit).
BACS – 18.6.25 – £85.00 – Steve Hunt (Drain Clearance).
BACS – 18.6.25 – £185.75 (vat £30.96) – Road Signs UK (Workers in Road Signs).
BACS – 9.6.25 – £86.99 (vat £14.50) – Simon Roberts (Ashmeadow repair Materials).
Bank Balances July 2025
Treasurers Account = £31,747.66
Monies held within Parish Council Account
Cemetery Fund – £532.71
P3 – £10.54
Ash Meadow – £13,856.07
Defib – £3,957.74
12) Any Items to go onto the next Parish Council meeting Agenda.
a) Next Meeting Date – 4th September 2025.
There be no further business the meeting closed 9.07pm.
ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAS SPECIAL NEEDS AND REQUIRES A COPY OF THESE MINUTES SENT TO THEM – PLEASE CONTACT THE CLERK 01364 654607. They can also be found on the Parish web site – ashpringtonandtuckenhay.co.uk
Download in pdf format: Minutes of the Meeting 3rd July 2025