Parish Council Draft Minutes September 2025

DRAFT MINUTES

Belstone Parish Council meeting on 8th Sept 2025 at 7:30 p.m. (at Belstone Village Hall)

Councillors present: M Ash (Chair), P Cooper (VC), D Hosegood, C Grubb, A Booth, J Stevens. Parish Clerk: Jon Pike
Also present – one member of the public

Apologies for absence 2526 40
Councillor Weaver

Disclosure of Interests 2526 41
Councillor Cooper declared an interest in agenda point C (Correspondence – 252645)

Approval of last Minutes 7/7/2025 and 4/8/2025 2526 42
Approved by the Council and signed by the Chair as a correct record

Public Participation 2526 43
None

Borough & County Reports 2526 44 WDBC CLT minutes WDBC July report DCC latest report
All noted with thanks

Chairman’s announcements 2526 45
Following a recent flurry of anonymous correspondence and having taken advice from DALC, the Chair advised that whilst there was no standard policy on whether Councils should respond to such anonymous communications, they can choose not to, but it may still be prudent to consider such contact on a case-by-case basis.

Correspondence & Clerk’s announcements 2526 46
A. Complaint re feeding the ponies
Following DNPA advice that feeding the ponies remains against the byelaws of the Park, DECISION – DNPA to be requested to source signs(s) for the village at appropriate locations, especially the Green.

B. Complaint re Church Parks signage
Not discussed as it was noted the signage in question has already been replaced

C. Complaint re dangerous parking and traffic (and 2nd complaint re Church Parks signage)
This complaint initially covered what was considered to be a neighbourly issue with the pub / shed concerning noise & smells and as such it was not a matter for the PC, but one where the residents should first take up their concerns direct. In terms of the resultant traffic and parking situation, this remains under constant review with consultancy from DNPA again to be sought.

D. New Dartmoor link contact
Our newly appointed Parish Link member is Mrs Gay Hill who will act as a point of liaison between the Parish and the DNPA. As such, Mrs Hill has been invited to our next meeting to help find solutions to the current parking issues and to provide advice / consultancy on general signage

E. Cluster Group – update
The first meeting will be held on Thursday 11th October at 11:00 am. No Council member present was able to attend due to existing work / other commitments albeit feedback / minutes to be sought.

F. Dartmoor partnership survey
Parishioners are invited to take this survey through the link here

G. Okehampton Hospital survey
Parishioners are invited to take this survey through the link here

Planning Matters 2526 47
A. Applications – none
B. Decisions – Skaigh Stables 0249/25 / Town Living 0041/25 Eastlake 0058/25 all awaited

Positions noted

Highways 2526 48
A. Updates from Highway’s officer
There are new gates now at Tor Down and Sticklepath cattle grids. The “SLOW” sign by the car park was initially painted facing the wrong direction with the decision taken to leave it there rather than scrape it off and cause a mess so we now have two in close proximity facing both in and out of the village. Our other “SLOW” signs and white lines at the junctions within the village centre remain on Highway’s list but have been pushed into the 26/27 budget. Camp signage for the East A30 junction remains on order. The pinch point in Skaigh Lane has been inspected by our Highways Officer and whilst it is reported that the rocks look sound, more verge markers in the area to signify narrowing will be sourced.

B. Other
We have received notification of a road closure on Wednesday 3rd December (for a max of 5 days) between 09:30 and 15:30 for the road past Higher Priestacott for “pole replacement”. Full details here.

Parking 2526 49 – general update and feedback

General – consultation via DNPA now to be sought to find long term solutions following varied ongoing concerns raised around safety, access blocking and inability for residents to park. Meanwhile, now that the busy summer period is over, the cones that were temporary lent and placed outside the road opposite Dartmoor House are to be returned.

Car park – wording of the agreed new sign for the right-hand section of the village car park to be finalised before sourcing.

Village partners (Commoners / Village Hall) – updates 2526 50

Commoners – advice received from the Commoner’s Secretary that they too have been approached in terms of parking and traffic concerns, especially around the coordination of 3rd party events. Feedback to be provided following DNPA link consultancy.

Finance 2526 51
A. Balances (as at 26/8/2025) – current £291.33 / savings £6,660.79 (paying 0.7% gross)
B. Income – interest £8.04
C. Paid – Zoho – £86.40 + VAT (data storage and email accounts) / Bank charges £8.50

Positions noted

Documentation review 2526 52 – none
Noted

Assets 2526 53 Seats update
Wood has been sourced for Seat 12 (Green No 7 – Woodward seat) and will be repaired directly

Items for next Agenda 2526 54
None additional at this time

The meeting finished at 08:10 pm. Our next meeting will be Monday 10th November at 7:30 pm.

Signed Michael Ash, Chair
10/11/2025