Annual Parish Meeting Draft Minutes 27th April 2026
DRAFT MINUTES
Belstone Annual Parish Meeting
27th April 2026 – Belstone Village Hall Meeting Room – 7.30 pm
Those present:- Michael Ash (Chair), Councillor Weaver, Councillor Hosegood, Sue Davies (DCC), Lynn Daniels (WDBC), Josh Scillitoe (Highways), Kit Hancock (DNPA), Robin Hill (Village Hall), Graham Cruickshank, Francis Matthew, Simon Partridge and Jon Pike (Parish Clerk)
Apologies for Absence
Councillors Cooper, Booth, Grubb & Stevens
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting 28th April 2025
Approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record. Link to minutes here.
Annual Report of the Parish Council
Presented by Michael Ash (Chair) – link to Chairman’s full report here. Highlights covered the 8 meetings held during the year, action taken on HGV’s trying to access the camp via the village, varied other Highways and car park issues as well as the asset repairs undertaken to include those to the village stocks.
Statement of Parish Council accounts 25/26 and Precept 26/27
Presented by Jon Pike (Parish Clerk) – link to full financial report here. Summary – financial year 25/26 saw healthy retention of cash due to regulations around Clerk’s wages and savings on Councillor’s training. Overspends were seen against insurance costs and asset repairs to include £297 on the Village stocks as well as a contingency spend of £266 on the new HGV sign at Tongue End. The budget 26/27 has kept the precept increase to just 2% on prior year to include transfers to reserves towards future car park maintenance and potential Parish election costs in May 2027.
Annual Report of Belstone Commoners – no report received
Annual Report of Highways Officer
Presented by Josh Scilitoe. Many matters highlighted were against the backdrop of one of the wettest winters for many years and the ongoing challenges of budget restrictions. The road deterioration at Skaigh Lane was dealt with but ground water erosion there will remain an issue. Plans are in place to repair the compromised drain outlet in the gap towards Tongue End (with landowner’s permission) as well as that outside Whitehouse services. A larger chamber is planned near the stocks to help prevent a recurrence of the flooding following SWW’s ill-considered reservoir draining. The main village drain down from the Water works has recently been jetted and cleared of gravel. Questions raised from the floor included the pinch point in Skaigh Lane (measured at 2.8m, considered exceptionally narrow but still allowable), reinstatement of “slow” white line markings (to be checked), the time taken to repair the pot hole in Skaigh Lane and the hole in the middle of the road up Watchet Hill where the drain passes underneath (to be reviewed). Request made by Josh to landowners to both keep drainage outlets on their own land clear and to keep hedges that border the Highway trimmed (outside of the birdnesting season).
Annual Report of Devon County Council
Presented by Sue Davies (DCC). Report covered many matters to include the 2 key budget services of adult social care and children’s services highlighting locally that the Promise School in Okehampton will eventually be rebuilt on the current site. Budget pressures remain a challenge leading to a general push for cost savings through requests for community volunteering, an example being the re-launch of the road warden scheme to allow smaller potholes in our Parish to be repaired locally by a designated and trained volunteer warden – details to follow for consideration by the Parish Council. Local Government reorganisation remains under consultation with decisions due in the summer around the merger of District and County councils. Sue reminded the meeting she has a “locality budget” available for donations to suitable projects and events. In addition, we are reminded to contact Sue should we need second stage chasing on related Council matters.
Annual Report of West Devon Borough Council
Presented by Lynn Daniel (WDBC) – link to full report here. Matters discussed included the 2 key priorities of the environment and affordable housing provision highlighting the Beacon Community Land Trust project that should provide up to 19 affordable units for Belstone, Sticklepath and South Zeal residents. The new Okehampton Interchange station is now to be opened in July with a question remaining on the decision to not provide station toilets. Varied grant opportunities were aired as well as strategies to support tenanted properties, enhance local biodiversity and decarbonise existing housing stock.
Annual Report of Dartmoor National Park Ranger
Presented by Kit Hancock (DNPA Ranger). Kit’s annual report covered the challenges faced by increased areas staffed by fewer rangers. A new CEO is now in situ. Much feedback received around the “mummy and baby” cow signs, the wording of which was aimed at non-locals and insisted upon by HSE. Apology given that no prior communication was provided to the Council / Commoners around the mystery posts that appeared recently on Watchet Hill gate which are now confirmed as DNPA counters for monitoring visitor data. Varied byelaw clarification was provided around camper vans, camping and fires albeit acknowledging that the cost of any prosecution was typically not in the public intertest. Permissive cycle paths were detailed but concerns raised from the floor around the speed of mountain bikers coming off the moor. Concerns also increasing around the emerging trend of electric motorbikes. Kit provided thanks to our local volunteer ranger, Graham Cruickshank.
Annual Report of the Village Hall Committee
Presented by Robin Hill (Chair of Village Hall) – link to full report here. Robin highlighted the strength of the relationships in the village between varied organisations and the positive community impact of the village website, in place now since 2009. Thanks were given to the many years of dedicated work of Edwina Hill who recently stepped down, the role now undertaken by Sharon Cooper with the same dedication and efficiency. Thanks too to WDBC for the grant monies provided for the new AV equipment.
Annual Report of Belstone Church
Presented by Michael Ash (Warden) – link to full report here. Key points were that 2025 was a year of consolidation in waiting for grants and permissions for the planned building works. Following Stephen Cook’s retirement, the new vicar, Clair Reynold has been welcomed. Varied works have been undertaken to the church yard including new fencing (with thanks to Dick Norrish) and bird friendly planting.
Annual Report of Skaigh Wood Trust
Presented by Michael Ash (Chair of Trustees) – link to full report here. Issues mentioned were the new tenant of the Warren, storm damage to trees and the clearance of both knotweed and balsam
Any Other Business
None
The meeting finished at 21:10
Jon Pike
Parish Clerk