Westleigh Parish Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday 15thof November 2023, 7pm at Westleigh Village Hall
Attendees – Cllrs Dave Fairbrother, Chris Heard, Lyn Gear, and Colin Frajbis. Cllr Lesley Burgess joined the meeting later.
Min 53 23/24 – Apologies received – DCCllr Biederman, & NDCllr Lucinda Renshaw.
Min 54 23/24 – Declarations of Interest – none declared
Min 55 23/24 – Minutes – confirmation that the minutes of the 11th October had been agreed
Min 56 23/24 – Matters outstanding – The Clerk updated the Council on the possibility of the purchase of the land to the left of the Church. The contact details of the owner were passed to the Chair for follow up.
Min 57 23/24 – Correspondence and Communication – a complaint had been raised by Natalie Fairbrother who as an early morning swimmer at Westward Ho! Beach, wanted to know what was being done about the amount of raw sewage on the beach. Clerk to refer the complaint to Torridge District Council.
Min 58 23/24 – Public session – no members of the public attended
Min 59 23/24 – Solar Farm Monies update – DCCllr Biederman reported that Infinis were at Lovacott last week and sent a written report:-
The system was energised on August the 1st.
They have agreed to pay the first payment into the community fund after six months, not 12 as previously agreed.
They explained that the community fund was £17,465 per year for the lifetime of the project .... 25 years.
£2000 of the fund must go to local schools for STEM projects.
The fund would be open to applications from H, NT, L, Tawstock, Westleigh, Instow and Fremington Parish Council areas. This could be from any not for profit organisations in those area's. Excludes Religious, political, union's etc
The contentious bit was after a question from myself, what was the make up of the managing trust of the grant applications.
She responded by saying 'it's her understanding that it will be three members of H,NT & L and two members from Fremington Parish Council." As those are the councils that the site sits in. There then took place a long debate, as I challenged her understanding of this, even though there is only one remaining councillor from the time of the application, they stood together, as that was what was agreed.
The upshot was the lady from Infinis would go back and get clarification from her directors.
I made it clear to her and H, NT, L PC that I believed it was to be 1 representative from each, With H, NT & L chairing it and providing the administration support.
Once I hear back from Infinis I think we should ask to meet with representatives of the five parish councils.
But take my lead from yourselves, I will send a similar note to Instow, Tawstock & Fremington.
There was no written report from NDC at this time, but NDCllr Renshaw reiterated her full support for Westleigh.
Min 60 23/24 – Finance – to approve accounts to date (unanimous) with Council funds being £2813.34, with £1999.09 owed from NDC for monies already paid out, meaning that £4812.43 is the ‘real’ balance. A retrospective payment to J Harris was approved of £894, a grant (delayed) to the Parish News of £175 was approved, and reimbursement of £91.98 for printer cartridges was also approved. The balance had taken account of these monies.
Min 61 23/24 – Environment – the Council had just started discussing this subject when Cllr Burgess joined the meeting, apparently after being asked to attend by Brian Lees and Sara Cheesman (residents of Westleigh). She had previously given her apologies for not attending.
The Council had just started discussing the content and wording of some of Cllr Burgess’s recent emails. It was made clear to Cllr Burgess that disparaging remarks about other Councillors was not acceptable, and that she did not have a remit to discuss Council business with ‘created’ groups outside of the Parish Council.
Strong opinions were given from both sides, with the resultant discussion ending with Cllr Burgess giving a ‘blanket apology’ for the content and tone of her recent emails (her words). It was agreed to leave the subject at that point, and try to work together more harmoniously in the future.
Min 62 23/24 – Planning – The Parish Clerk had spoken with Christie Estates (Andrew Woollacott) regarding the proposed Westleigh development, and had been told that a planning application was unlikely to be placed this year (2023)
Min 63 23/24 – TTEF – although not an agenda item, Cllr Frajbis reported back on his attendance at the latest (3 monthly) TTEF meeting. There was nothing of importance to report. Cllr Burgess asked if TTEF could be a regular agenda item on Council meetings – agreed. Cllr Frajbis also asked if January’s agenda could include the Westleigh Fete as an agenda item – agreed.
Min 64 23/24 – Next meeting – as agreed , January’s meeting will be held on the 3rd Wednesday (17th January)) as there would be no meeting in December (see November 2022 minute 91)