WESTLEIGH PARISH
Home The Village Parish Council Village Hall Gallery Church Places of Interest Parish Walks Cricket Club Events Links Contact

July 2022 - Westleigh Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Held at Westleigh Village Hall on Wednesday 6th July 2022 7.30pm

Attendees – Cllr David Fairbrother (Chair), Cllr Chris Heard (Vice-Chair), Cllrs Lesley Burgess, Colin Frajbis, and the Parish Clerk

1. Min 52 22/23 – Opening of the meeting at 7.30pm

2. Min 53 22/23 – Apologies – DCCllr Biederman, NDCllr (&MP) Saxby, Cllr Farrell-Roberts & Cllr Gear

3. Min 54 22/23 – Councillors Declarations of Interest – none declared

4. Min 55 22/23 – To confirm and agree to the signing of the minutes of the meeting held on the 8th June 2022 - unanimous

5. Min 56 22/23 – Matters arising from the minutes. No Councillor ‘biopics’ received as yet, Clerk to chase.

6. Min 57 22/23 – Correspondence & Communications. The Clerk had received information on the Climate & Environment Grants available from NDC, with a closing date of August 31st. This had been passed onto Cllr Burgess for her thoughts. After discussion, it was appreciated that living in a Parish where much of the surrounding land is privately owned, any projects of necessity will depend upon liaison with Tapeley. However Cllr Burgess is going to speak to the Village Hall Committee, and the PCC, to see if there are any areas of shared interest to pursue, and if so, would it/they fit the grant criteria. Cllr Burgess pointed out that it was not something that could happen immediately, but would take some time to arrange. Also, a reminder from Andrew Haining regarding the availability of free trees for suitable projects. More information can be found at http://eforests.co.uk/freetrees  Cllr Frajbis informed the meeting that a parishioner had asked him what had happened to the ‘Westleigh’ road sign on the approach from Eastleigh. The Clerk to contact Martin Caddy of NDC, and to ask MC about the accessibility factor for dogs on the footpaths – many are wired, which means lifting dogs over the stiles etc. The question was asked at to why there could not be ‘lift & drop’ gates fitted.

7. Min 58 22/23 – 15 minutes for Parishioner questions. None had been received

8. Min 59 22/23 – County & District Ward reports. NDCllr Saxby sent an email to say “I set up and Chair the APPG for the Celtic Sea which is looking at ferry routes from Ilfracombe to South Wales, but also the opportunities for floating offshore wind.  It is a complex process for developers to progress to securing a site from the Crown Estate, which has many steps.  There are however many speculative developers in the area, who do not yet have leases, so have no permission to develop, presenting plans as if they are definitely going ahead.  One in particular is presenting shortly in the village.  I have grave concerns about their plans to cross the Biosphere, and this is not in line with what I have been advised is happening connecting turbines to the grid in Alverdiscott.  This is with the Crown Estate, Minister and the new man in charge of strategic development of floating offshore wind - if I have further information I will share on receipt”.  DCCllr Biederman sent his apologies, and said that Councillors are always welcome to contact him if needed.

9. Min 60 22/23 – Finance. The Clerk updated the meeting on the current financial position (£4108.67) after all invoices paid. 4 cheques needed authorising, Clerk’s salary (3 monthly), audit fee, and 2x ground maintenance. All agreed. The Clerk asked the Council for permission for himself and the Chair to be able to pay any outstanding invoices that may arise before the next Council meeting in September. All agreed. Following the annual audit, the auditor noted that he could not find any record of Council agreement to the Clerk being one of the cheque signatories. The previous Clerk had been authorised by the Council to sign cheques, as has the present Clerk, however, there appears to be no formal record. The Council agreed unanimously that Standing Orders must include the Council’s agreement for cheque signing. (Standard procedure is that there must always be 2 signatures on each cheque, so there is/was no question of a cheque being written without Council approval)

10. Min 61 22/23 – Councillor Training (18th July). The Clerk agreed to send out appropriate reminders closer to the 18th.

11. Min 62 22/23 – Settlement evidence base survey. Cllr Heard agreed to send Eastleigh’s response, and the Chair would correlate Westleigh’s response and send.

12. Min 63 22/23 – Environmental update. One nesting box was faulty which Cllr Burgess is going to return, and there is still one House Martin box available. Cllr Burgess reported that David Paull continues with his survey of Westleigh Parish’s flora and fauna, with his next visit being either the 12th or 15th July. It was suggested that a short biopic of David should be written, and placed in the Parish Magazine – Cllr Burgess to facilitate.

13. Min 64 22/23 – Tarka Trail & e-bikes – the following was received from Martin Caddy (DCC Area PRoW Warden) in response to Cllr Frajbis’s concerns (via DCCllr Biederman)
This is an interesting issue, so far as you say, this has not become a problem, but it’s one which myself and my colleagues in PRoW are watching with interest.   Currently we are allowing e-bikes on the Tarka Trail, (and DCC cycleway network) with the same regulation as ordinary bikes, keep your speed down, give way’ use your bell etc, currently we can only advocate safe responsible behaviour, there is no real method by which we can enforce a speed restriction, (We are not an enforcement agency).   If there is an incident with someone not complying, i.e. going too fast then this would be a civil matter between those individuals involved.  Proven excessive speed, and certainly a ‘chipped’ e-bike, would I’d assume put culpability on the cyclist.  The e-scooter scheme currently running in Barnstaple has some very clever technology attached to it, with the concept of ‘geo-fencing’ being at the heart of it.   The unit simply switches off, if it enters an area out of bounds, (the Tarka Trail being one of these areas) but the technology is such that it can distinguish between the pavement and the highway.   Whether this technology includes speed restrictions I don’t know, (and whether this might be incorporated into e-bikes, again I don’t know).   DCC is aware of the new technology and watching how things develop, currently we are using the guidance provided by 
GOV.UK ‘Powered Transporters’ (which doesn’t include e-bikes) to advise us on best practice and what can or cannot be permitted. Ultimately we will have to rely on Government Regulation on all ‘E’ technology, its sale and its use, and the controls and guidance this will provide. 
Further information gained after investigation - for e-bikes the following applies:
The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles – EAPC – (Amendment) Regulations 2015 harmonised previous UK law (1983 Statutory Instrument No.1168), to bring it into line with EU law (regulation 168/2013). They replaced previous e-bike law on 6 April 2015. So EAPCs – electric bikes or e-bikes in common parlance – must now meet the following criteria in order to have the same legal standing as regular non-assisted bicycles and to be allowed on roads, bike paths and other places where bicycles are allowed under UK law.
•       Electric assistance can only be provided to a maximum of 25 km/h (15.5 mph)
•       The motor used must be of no more than 250 Watts (maximum continuous rated power)
•       The e-bike’s pedals must be in motion for motor assistance to be provided
•       The rider must be 14 years of age or over
As DCC suggests, we cannot enforce this – the Police can.

14. Min 65 22/23 – Any other business. Cllr Frajbis volunteered to start the process of organising a Village Fete (2023) committee, with logistics (date & venue) being the start point. A discussion also took place regarding the footpaths in and around the Parish, with the aid of a DCC map

15. Min 66 22/23 – Next meeting – Wednesday 7th September