Westleigh Parish Council Meeting Minutes January 2023
Held at Westleigh Village Hall on Wednesday 18th January 7pm
Attendees – Cllrs David Fairbrother (Chair), Chris Heard (Vice-
1. Min 95 22/23 – Opening of the meeting at 7pm
2. Min 96 22/23 – Apologies received – NDCllr (& MP) Selaine Saxby
3. Min 97 22/23 – Declarations of Interest – none
4. Min 98 22/23 – To confirm the minutes of the November 2nd meeting – unanimous
5. Min 99 22/23 – Any matters arising – The Council decided that the Clerk should pursue the ‘self assessment’ form regarding the rolling out of 20mph limits, which had previously been circulated.
6. Min 100 22/23 – Correspondence – an email from John Harris, asking that the Council publicise the massive amounts of walks in Devon, all of which can be downloaded and printed from http://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/devon . An appeal to the Parish to ask parishioners to complete the Rural Cost Of Living Survey had also been received https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Rural_Households_Cost-
7. Min 101 22/23 – Public session – no issues raised
8. Min 102 22/23 – County & Ward Members reports. NDCllr (& MP) Selaine Saxby sent her apologies, and said that there was nothing in particular to report. DCCllr Frank Biederman reported that in spite of the savage finance cuts, the Highways Teams were out every day repairing potholes, an average of 2-
9. Min 103 22/23 – Finance. The Council agreed retrospectively to authorise 2 payments already made (and circulated), of £100 J Harris, and £817.73 for Clerks quarterly salary payment. The Parish Precept was discussed and agreed as £4490 for 2023/24, which is a 5.03% increase – the Clerk was at pains to emphasise that the Council had chosen NOT to seek the additional costs of the elections in May (roughly £1000), but would use reserves rather than increase the Parish Precept further. The Clerk then went through the proposed budget figures for 2023/24, with explanations, and the budget figures were approved unanimously. Cllr Gear was ‘volunteered’ to investigate on the Council’s behalf, what grants and other monies may be available to the Council
10. Min 104 22/23 – Environmental update. Cllr Burgess asked that she could clarify the details of what she was handing over to the Chair, regarding the Carbon Savers Project, and it was agreed that they would liaise to ensure clarity in what the responsibilities were. The Council were unanimous in their praise for the article by David Paul in the Parish Magazine on the flora and fauna within the Parish, and asked Cllr Burgess to pass on their appreciation. Cllr Frajbis reported that he had attended the re-
11. Min 105 22/23 – Planning Update. Application 76418 (small extension to the rear of the Cricket Club to accommodate 2 shower rooms and a disabled WC) was approved. A discussion took place regarding the Housing & Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA), with DCCllr Biederman’s input whilst present, and it was agreed that the Council should ensure that they are kept informed and updated. The detail available at the moment is attached as Annex A
12. Min 106 22/23 – Village Fete. Discussion ensued regarding possible venues and dates, and Saturday the 5th August was felt suitable, with Sticks Meadow as a venue. Obviously, Tapeley would have to be consulted for permission, and Cllr Gear (as Tapeley liaison) will report back. In the meantime, Cllr Frajbis who will be the Council ‘lead’, asked all members to bring ideas to the next meeting on the 1st March
13. Min 107 22/23 – next meeting will be held on Wednesday the 1st March, 7pm start, at the Westleigh Village Hall.
14. Min 108 22/23 – the meeting closed at 20.45hrs
Annex A – HELAA
The importance of community engagement has been highlighted by North Devon and Torridge councils after residents in Appledore said they would revolt against plans to build there. Appledore Residents Association say North Devon District and Torridge District Council has consulted on the make-
A press release from Appledore Residents Association states: “The two councils have decided to ignore Government guidance. They propose a panel made up of developers, land agents, other stakeholder groups and planners with perhaps no more than one councillor representative per Council area. That councillor clearly won't have detailed local knowledge of each site throughout the district. Homeowners and communities face being cut out of decisions that could site hundreds of houses in their neighbourhoods.”
However, in a joint statement, the two authorities said: “The importance of community engagement when considering potential development sites is recognised by both councils and it has been and remains subject to careful consideration.
“The Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) does not make decisions on the sites or locations that should be taken forward for development across northern Devon. Its purpose is to identify and assess the potential of sites to deliver housing or economic development. It does not identify preferred sites or pre-
As part of the HELAA, the stakeholder panel offers specialist advice to support the assessment of potential development sites and whether they are viable and deliverable. On this basis it has a bias toward technical expertise and insight, and we have specifically sought expressions of interest from those currently engaged in the property and development industry in northern Devon for this purpose.
“The number of panel members is deliberately limited to ensure it can operate efficiently and effectively and is supported by a range of consultees from local authorities and public bodies who bring local knowledge. The use of a panel made up of a limited number of expert stakeholders is recognised as good practice and is widely used to support the HELAA site assessment process in other areas.
“The appointment of community representatives to the stakeholder panel is intended to complement the role of other panel members. They are expected to support and, where necessary, moderate panel discussions to ensure the wider interests and concerns of local communities across the two districts are given due consideration.”
The councils state that given the need for this community representation to consider the wider communities of both councils, it was deemed appropriate for the leader of Torridge District Council, Councillor Ken James, and the lead member for economic development and strategic planning policy at North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse, to be selected.
The statement continued: “With more than 100 town and parish councils and many more local community representative groups across the two districts, it would simply not be practical to manage the use of more localised community representatives on the stakeholder panel.”
Full details of the panel’s role in the HELAA process and the rules relating to conduct of panel members, are set out in the published HELAA methodology, which is in accordance with national planning policy and Government guidance. The methodology has been subject to public consultation and has been endorsed by elected representatives from both councils.
The statement added: “We do recognise the importance of communities having their say on how northern Devon is developed. It is therefore the range of public consultation exercises and community engagement activities in support of the wider preparation of the local plan that will provide the opportunity for communities and their representatives to be more involved in influencing the way the area develops and the sites that may be taken forward and proposed for development.
“We want to ensure that a wide range of voices from our local communities are heard and given the opportunity to help shape the future development of our local areas as we recognise the value they can offer and the impact that decisions can have on their future.”
