ASHPRINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting Held Thursday 5th February 2026 @ Ashprington Village Hall – 7.30pm
1) Open Forum –
a) Condition of the Highway at Yetson, this has been reported on the DCC website.
2) Present Cllr R Rogers (Chairman), Cllr P Thompson, Cllr K Throgmorton, Cllr L Stocks, Cllr S Greaves, Cllr T Green, Cllr S Paterson, C Cllr S Rake, D Cllr J McKay. Attended by – Ian Bentlett (Ashmeadow), 1 member of the public.
3) Apologies – none received.
4) Declarations of Interest.
5) Previous Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held Thursday 8th January 2026.
The minutes have been distributed and read. Proposed by Cllr K Throgmorton and seconded by Cllr P Thompson with all in agreement. Duly signed by the Chairman – Cllr R Rogers.
6) Matters Arising
a) Thermal Imaging Camera Loan – currently a date has not been found for South Dartmoor Energy to loan out the Cameras due to the large take up of this service during the Winter months.
b) Damaged Silver Jubilee Bench by the Church – The bench has been removed and is beyond repair – quote for a new bench has been received for £275 all Cllrs in agreement to order this.
c) Dog Bin in Duncannon Lane – SHDC have quoted £5 a week to empty the bin which is being well used, all Cllrs in agreement to ask SHDC to add the bin to their collection round each wee.
d) LGR Consultation – carried forward to the next meeting
7) Reports.
a) County Councillor – Cllr S Rake reported – Highways – the storms through the winter have made an impact on the road surface causing problems in numerous places, a trial has recently been completed where all defects were done within a 500 metre radius and this proved to be very expensive, this is going to be trialled again in other areas but with a smaller radius, the budget for maintenance has been increased for next year but will still not be enough.
Budget – Main governments financial settlement to DCC was again short, the Highways budget has been increased, also Childrens & Adult services which takes up a large part of DCC spending, some services will be cut including the opening hours of libraries, none of these libraries will be closed. LGR consultation opened today, all the proposals that went in have come back out for consultation.
b) District Councillor – Cllr J Mckay reported – LGR – consultation now open, decisions and outcomes from Main government should come out in June/July. SHDC will be doing a lot towards the consultation. Budget – this has been balanced for this year, but next year and the year after is not looking so good because of the main government fair funding settlement which has been reduced.
c) Ash Meadow Recreation Ground – report from Ian Bentlett has been circulated to Cllrs.
The main points of the report as follows:-
• Next working party 7th February. Thanks given for special efforts this quarter.
• Collection of compost is back to normal levels with 17 % uplift over last quarter.
• £8000 Loan offered by PC for mower is not currently being utilised.
• New Mower is awaiting collection and new strimmer is stored in container. All paid for.
• Storage of new mower will now be in old container once it has been repaired.
• Quotes being finalised for new concrete green waste bays which are essential in order to support SHDC funding application Estimated maximum at £4000 to £5000 total costs.
• New funding application for 3 information boards and new siever has been submitted to BL and is awaiting response.
• Charity commission has requested documentary evidence of identity for directors despite receiving all necessary papers and signatures for closure of CIC.
• Walking football idea from parishioner has 8 people showing interest.
• Tractor fest 18th July. Compost site will be closed to public for that weekend.
• New 5-year plan for 2026 to 2032 for meadow is being drawn up.
d) Tree Warden – nothing to report.
e) P3 Co-Ordinator – nothing to report.
f) Defibrillator Group – Cllr Paterson reported – all the handover has been completed with Jonny Gurr now.
g) Emergency Plan.
1) Salt Spreading – Cllrs Throgmorton & Rogers reported that they met with Dittisham, Cornworthy, Blackawton, Harberton & Harbertonford Councils, they are looking at doing some salt gritting together on some extra roads in the Parishes, Ashprington has the gritter through but there are many side roads in all Parishes which do not get done. DCC have been asked if they would provide the grit FOC and then a spreader will be purchased and each Council will be charged on an hourly rate. Simon Rake is looking into this at DCC to see if this is possible.
h) Village Hall.
i) Dart Harbour Commissioning Group – Cllr P Thompson to ask Dart Harbour Master if he could come and speak at the Annual Parish Meeting.
8) Planning Applications / Matters.
Applications received from South Hams District Council – none
Decisions received from South Hams District Council – none
9) Correspondence –
10) Highways
a) Potholes – amount of potholes and on some roads also the general erosion of the whole road in some places is evident in several places around the Parish.
b) Hedges – letters have been sent to Parishioners, some of the problems have been addressed and others still remain uncut.
c) Mud on Roads – bottom of Bowhill is bad again one lot was cleared but it has washed down again, this has been reported on the DCC website. Tuckenhay mud on the side of the roads is blocking water getting into drains, the drains are clear but the road needs to be clear of mud.
d) Branches from properties over hanging the river – its not clear who would be responsible for this. Cllr S Rogers confirmed he would speak to one Parishioner who had trees over the river.
11) Finances.
BACS – 9.1.26 – £24.50 (vat £4.08) – Shinners Bridge Garden Machinery (Ashmeadow).
BACS – 9.1.26 – £146.60 (vat £24.44) – Shinners Bridge Garden Machinery (Ashmeadow).
BACS – 11.1.26 – £25.12 (vat £4.19) – Amazon (Ink Carts).
BACS – 27.1.26 – £29.18 (vat £4.03) – Signomatic (Ashmeadow).
BACS – 4.2.26 – £650.00 – Sharon Raggett (Clerks expenses 12 months)
Bank Balances February 2026
Treasurers Account = £33,167.30
Monies held within Parish Council Account
Cemetery Fund – £2,283.46
P3 – £530.54
Ash Meadow – £2,015.17
Defib – £3,991.94
12) Any Items to go onto the next Parish Council meeting Agenda.
a) Next Meeting Date – 5th March 2026.
There be no further business the meeting closed 8.34pm.
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 5th February 2026