Council Meeting – 2nd March 2026

The following Councillors are summoned to attend:
Cllr J. Abbey, Cllr I. Mitchelmore, Cllr T. Fletcher, Cllr J. Harris, Cllr S. Lange, Cllr I. Luscombe, Cllr P. Osborne and Cllr G. Sutton.

Cllr J. Brazil, Cllr L. Lawford and members of the public are invited to attend.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 2nd March 2026, in Slapton Village Hall (main hall), at 7.00 pm.

The public comment section is 15 minutes in duration with 3 minutes allocated per person. If any parishioners wish to speak in relation to a matter on the agenda, please contact the clerk by email clerk@slaptonparishcouncil-devon.gov.uk 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

AGENDA

1) APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Does the PC resolve to accept the reasons for apologies for absence from…?

2) DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Councillors are invited to declare any disclosable interest they may have in any items to be considered. They are also reminded to consider whether, in the light of recent activities, any items within their Register of Interests should be updated.

3) PUBLIC COMMENT

4) COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS

a. Cllr J. Brazil
b. Cllr L. Lawford

5) MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 2nd January 2026, if agreed, to be signed by the Chair as a true and correct record. (See separate document 5).

6) PLANNING

a. Applications (for resolution):

i. 0369/26/VAR Home Farm Wood Lane Slapton TQ7 2Q
Application for variation of conditions 2 (Approved Plans), 4 (Landscape Scheme) & 5 (Drainage Scheme) of planning consent 2444/25/HHO
PC comment by 19th March 2026

ii. 0268/26/ARC Brook Cottage, Brook Street, Slapton, TQ7 2PW
Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (Rear Door) of planning consent 3645/25/LBC
PC does not usually comment on approval of details reserved by condition – no resolution required

b. Decisions (for information):

i. 3486/25/HHO Carlane House, Carr Lane, Slapton, TQ7 2PU
Householder application for erection of veranda
SHDC decision: Conditional approval

ii. 3645/25/LBC Brook Cottage, Brook Street, Slapton, TQ7 2PW
Listed Building Consent for proposed replacement of four oak lintels & one external door due to deterioration beyond reasonable repair
SHDC decision: Conditional approval

iii. 3658/25/TPO 5 Chantry Hill, Slapton, TQ7 2QY
T1: Beech tree (Fagus sylvatica) – Drop crotch reduction of whole crown by approx 2/3 meters on east, west, north and south. To remove limb extremities with poor vigour/dieback, tightening crown down to denser lower growth. Owner worried about limb failure particularly over neighbours property.
SHDC decision: Conditional approval

d. Tree Works (for information): Referred to Tree Wardens

i. 0293/26/TCA Rosevine Sands Road Slapton TQ7 2QN
T1: Quince Tree – Crown reduction by approximately 0.5 meters from branch tips T2 & T3: Apple Trees – Overall crown reduction by 2 meters
Comments by 5th March

e. Withdrawn: None

7) MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

a. A379 Slapton Line
b. Review of Community Café: £363.67 carry forward to year end 2026-27

8) PROPOSALS RESOLUTION

a. Purchase of laptop for new Clerk – funds of up to £700.00 can be made available
b. Approval of updated asset register – Current Market Value column updated and park and walk Original Value removed, which is explained in version control notes within document (see separate document 8b)
c. Date for April’s PC meeting – move to 13th April to allow time for end of year documentation to be completed and to avoid bank holiday (if agreed, notice must be given on website and noticeboards asap)
d. Date for annual parish meeting – move from 20th April to a date in May to allow time for new Clerk to prepare (if agreed, notice must be given on website and noticeboards asap)
e. Resurfacing of footpath between bus shelter and park and walk on Sands Road

9) CLERK’S REPORT: Update from Clerk on matters arising since February’s PC meeting

10) CHAIR’S REPORT: Update from Chair on matters arising since February’s PC meeting

11) COUNCILLOR REPORTS: Update from Cllrs on matters arising since February’s PC meeting

12) REVIEW OF ACTION LOG: Status update (see separate document 12)

13) FINANCIAL MATTERS

a. Payments to approve: Does the PC approve the payments below, which have been examined, verified and certified by the Clerk and RFO? (see separate document 13a)

Payment no	Details of payment	Amount GBP	Paid for noting
114	Village Hall: Jan PC meeting. Invoice no C031141/26, dated 07.02.26	10.00
115	Village Hall: January Community Café. Invoice no C021138/26, dated 07.02.26	100.00
116	DCC (Devon Audit Partnership): Year end 24-25 internal audit (note sent to wrong email and address hence late payment). Invoice no 64005521, dated 24.09.25	832.80 694.00 + 138.80 VAT
117	Tomlinson Solutions: Annual subscription Microsoft 365 Business Basic License for 10 x email accounts, Annual Barracuda Cloud Backup – 1x User Licence for Clerk and annual admin fee/management of 365 tenancy. Invoice no INV-12605, dated 06.02.26	950.87 792.39 + 158.48 VAT
118	Community grant £240 (minute reference 94:25 b) awarded to Jill Gregory for drumming workshop.	240.00

*Additional invoices received after the agenda has been issued will be available for review at the meeting

b. Balance at bank

Balance as per bank statements on 21.02.26	Amount GBP
Community Account	11,498.88
Commercial Instant Access Account	14,447.31
Total	25,946.19

c. Receipts summary

Receipts as per bank statements on 21.02.26	Amount GBP
Community Account	0.00
Commercial Instant Access Account February interest 6.48 Old defibrillator 96.44	102.92
Total	102.92

 

The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on
Monday 6^th April 2026 at 7.00 pm at Slapton Village Hall (main hall).

 

Signed: Bella Moor, Clerk                                                                                           Date: 23.02.26

 

Minutes

Those in attendance: Cllr J. Abbey (Chair), Cllr T. Fletcher, Cllr J. Harris, Cllr S. Lange, Cllr P. Osborne, Cllr G. Sutton and Cllr J. Brazil (left after the County Councillor report was given).

Kate Payne, Nicky Hunt and Julie Gough were also in attendance to speak in the public comments section. They arrived at 7.00pm and left after they had had all spoken.

Jenny Hallett was also in attendance.

138:25 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr I Luscombe was absent. The council also acknowledged apologies from Cllr L. Lawford.

139:25 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Councillors were invited to declare any disclosable interest they may have in any items to be considered; none were declared.

140:25 PUBLIC COMMENT

Kate Payne, manager at the FSC attended the meeting. Kate Payne shared the logistics plan for transporting students to the centre with Cllr Abbey prior to the meeting. The FSC will be reviewing the plan on an ongoing basis and will communicate any developments to the Parish Council. Kate Payne explained that FSC coaches will use the A379 from Strete to access the FSC site but groups using their own coaches will be dropped off at the FSC car park on 5 mile Lane from where FSC vans and mini buses will collect them and drive them to the FSC through Slapton village. For day trips that are not walkable from the FSC, electric vans will take students from the centre, via Deer Bridge where necessary. Tally Ho small coaches (as used for the primary school) will be used for larger groups, students will be collected from the school bus pick up point by Greenbanks. The buses may be parked up after returning from the school route while they wait for the FSC students, this will be reviewed if they are blocking access. Going forward, FSC representatives will attend the Parish Council meetings termly. Kate Payne finished by advising that the sewer spills into the ley has been reported to the Environment Agency.

Nicky Hunt, Slapton resident explained how Slapton village has been impacted by the additional traffic since the A379 was washed away in January 2026. A South Hams District Council vehicle was witnessed hitting a house and driving off. Nicky Hunt noted that with vehicles trying to pass each other leading to increased reversing, driving into houses, gate posts, walls etc is a serious concern and added that the village needs to be supported and it is horrendous that despite money being putting aside in 2018 there have been no improvements on the backroads. Residents are concerned whether the Parish Council are being heard.

Cllr Abbey assured Nicky Hunt that the Parish Pouncil are working twenty-four, seven on all of the issues since the road was destroyed and are working closely with Devon County Council.

Julie Gough, Slapton residents, shared concerns about roads traffic levels from Easter onwards with 50-60 seater coaches using the back roads and lack of passing places. Residents are concerned that traffic will stop people from getting to work. Julie Gough was aware that the lack of signage on Brook Street has been raised with the council before and added that villagers don’t want Slapton be full of signs but width restrictions are needed and highways need to listen and put a plan in place. Delivery vehicles are following sat navs and not making sensible judgements as to whether they cannot fit through, especially on the bends.

Councillors thanked Nicky Hunt and Julie Gough for attending and will endeavour to share the points they have raised to the Parish Council to the Slapton Line Partnership.

Nicky Hunt and Julie Gough left the meeting.

141:25 COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT: Cllr J. Brazil

Cllr Brazil,  having listened to the public comment, agreed that signs need to be looked at as the situation changes. A one way system in Slapton was could be investigated at but may be met with resistance from some residents. The SLP roads meeting date has not been set. The Highways and Traffic Warden committee is scheduled for Friday at 10.30am at Follaton House, there is nothing on the agenda for signage but all of the highways people will be there and Cllr Brazil councillors suggested that councillors contact Cllr Jacqi Hodgeson if they would like to represent Slapton Parish Council at the meeting. Cllr Brazil shared that the 5 Mile Lane closure timing is not ideal but it is at the request of South West Water for a repair, it would have to be done at some time. There is no update from Caroline Voaden MP. Cllr JB will see Meg Booth this week and get an update on funding and also on signage, he added that the diversion signs in Kingsbridge are a mess. Cllr Brazil had a meeting with highways today and requested all signage stating Fore Street is closed are removed. Cllr Brazil will raise Dartmouth signage with highways to ensure road closure signs state that the A379 is open to Slapton. Moving onto the Slapton Line Partnership meeting Vllr Brazil noted two positives from the meeting, Cllr Abbey has a contact at DCC Highways, Tom Vaughan and Natural England won’t stand in the way of dredging at Deer Bridge if the Environment Agency and Highways agree. At the other end of the Slapton Line, Strete Gate to Slapton Turn has taken a back seat and Cllr Brazil can only hope that Start Bay does not get another southerly blow, he noted that of tonnes of gravel had shifted from Hallsands, Beesands and Torcross to the Strete Gate end of the bay, which will hopefully provide some protection.

County and district budgets have been put up. DCC have raised council tax to the maximum amount without triggering a referendum and £15 million will be borrowed for proactive road works in an effort to invest in the roads to save future maintenance costs. Cllr Brazil noted that it has been too wet to do potholes, but highways have had to proceed with repairs for for safety. Highways have launched a pilot scheme for all potholes in the vicinity of an organised repair to be filled at the same time. Cllr Brazil hopes that there will be pots of money for parishes to decide where it should be spent on the roads. Extra funding for children’s services has been budgeted as DCC’s top priority. Libraries need transforming, £1m has been put in reserve. 90% of the SEND deficit has been paid off by central government, helping cash flow, so that DCC can do what they need to do in other areas.

142.25: MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 2 FEBRUARY 2026, were agreed and signed by the chair as a true and accurate record.

143:25 PLANNING

Applications (for resolution):

i. 0369/26/VAR Home Farm Wood Lane Slapton TQ7 2Q

Application for variation of conditions 2 (Approved Plans), 4 (Landscape Scheme) & 5 (Drainage Scheme) of planning consent 2444/25/HHO

PC comment by 19th March 2026

It was proposed unanimously that the Parish Council has no comment to make on this application. Clerk to action.

ii. 0268/26/ARC Brook Cottage, Brook Street, Slapton, TQ7 2PW

Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (Rear Door) of planning consent 3645/25/LBC

Councillors did not wish to comment on this application, no resolution required

144:25 MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

a. A379 Slapton Line: Cllr Abbey shared information from the meeting in her report. Lou Hoskins has now shared the minutes. Cllr Abbey proposed the Parish Council push the work at Deer Bridge forward. Cllr Osborne and Cllr Harris agreed that the estimate of 18m to repair 200 metres of road seems grossly over inflated. Cllr Osborne explained that the storm damage has been classified as a crisis rather than an emergency. Councils noted that the Environment Agency seem to take a very relaxed attitude to protecting the A379 along the Slapton Line and they are working with data that is seven or eight years old. Last Thursday Cllr Abbey watched a lecture concerning data collection at Start Bay and it explained how the easterly’s and southerly’s move the shingle. The inland road network working group and the amenities working group have been postponed, awaiting confirmation of the new dates. Cllr Abbey asked if any councillors are available to attend the meeting at Follaton House )councillors expressed their disappointment that parish councils were not given more notice of the highways meeting) and Cllr Osborne and Cllr Mitchelmore will check their diaries. Councillors noted the shocking lack of communication from and the disappointing instruction that parish council should use the “report it” page on the website to escalate concerns. Cllr Abbey now has a contact at Highways and will email a list of the problems Slapton is facing. The first few days after the road washed away the whole line ways closed and Slapton was cut off from the inland roads by flooding. There was a dispute over responsibility for the flooding at the top of the village, while South West Water were responsible for repairing the cause of the flood Highways are responsible for road safety.

b. Review of Community Café: £363.67 carry forward to year end 2026-27. Councillors noted the number of attendees was lower than last year and the previous year but was interest better than expected and it is appreciated by the community, The difficulty in manning the sessions was discussed and Cllr Lange, Cllr Mitchelmore and Cllr Sutton agreed to help with the rota. Cllr GS will take the lead for organising the rota. The café will start in November and be open from 2.30 to 4.30pm. The clerk will contact to SHDC and DCC to suggest that the Parish Council would like funding and will work out the amount needed. The clerk will also contact the village hall to agree a set hire fee for the grant proposal. Cllr Osborne proposed to run the community café again this year and Cllr Lane seconded, all councillors unanimously agreed.

145:25 PROPOSALS FOR DISCUSSION AND RESOLUTION

a. Purchase of laptop for new Clerk – Cllr Lange proposed, Cllr Osborne seconded and it was resolved unanimously that the council would purchase two laptops.

b. Approval of updated asset register – Cllr Lange proposed, Cllr Osborne seconded and it was resolved unanimously that the PC approved the updated version of the asset register.Date for April’s PC meeting – Cllr Abbey proposed, Cllr Sutton seconded and it was resolved unanimously that the next meeting of the PC would be held on 13th April 2026.

c. Date for annual parish meeting – councillors agreed that the date would be set at the next meeting, the clerk to check village hall availability.

d. Resurfacing of footpath between bus shelter and park and walk on Sands Road – Cllr Lange was unable to obtain suitable scalpings. Cllr Osborne proposed, Cllr Sutton seconded and it was unanimously resolved that the council would spend a maximum of £250 filling the worst of the holes that are forming puddles.

146:25 CLERK’S REPORT: There was no report from the clerk this month.

147:25 CHAIR’S REPORT: Update from Chair on any matters arising since February’s PC meeting.

FSC and Slapton Ley: Cllr Abbey sent an email to the Managing Director of the Field Studies Centre asking for a position statement, which was received. Cllr Abbey noted that the statement comes from the perspective of what the FSC are going to do meet their needs, but does not consider the needs of the community. Cllr Fletcher will pursue the pollution in the ley with support from Cllr Abbey.

Partial closure of A379 and war memorial: Pictures of issues on the back lanes should be sent to Cllr Abbey, who may share them with Sarah Osborne, who has set up the “Slapton Live” page. Cllr Abbey wrote to the war memorial people, at present a person in Torcross is taking over.

Village maintenance contracts: A member of the councillors needs to liaise with Nick Mathias and review the contract with the chair and clerk to form a new scope of work and agree the works invoiced have been completed.

148:25 COUNCILLOR REPORTS

a. Cllr Sutton will invite PCSO Jessica Harris from Dartmouth Police Station to the APM, once the date is agreed.

b. Cllr Osborne is part of The Start Bay Business forum, which represents forty businesses, who trying to get the message out that Startt Bay is open for business. An interactive map is being created. There is a meeting on Tuesday 3rd March with representatives from the parish councils, Cllr Osborne will report back.

149:25 REVIEW OF ACTION LOG:

a. The council have agreed to purchase a new laptop for the chair and therefore the current laptop will no longer require repair.

b. Cllr Lange was not able find a free source of scalpings.

c. Cllr Harris has spoken to Mark Sullock to arrange the repair of the bus shelter on Sands Road.

150:25 FINANCIAL MATTERS

a. Payments to approve: Cllr Osborne proposed, Cllr Abbey seconded and it was resolved to approve the payments below, which have been examined, verified and certified by the Clerk and RFO, payments 124, 125 and 126 will be paid subject to Cllr Mitchelmore checking the relevant contracts and payment 127 will be made, so long as the issuer sends and amended invoice with all details remaining the same with exception of the change of invoice payee from Joshua Waters to Slapton Parish Council. Cllr Abbey and Cllr Osborne to action payments.

Payment no	Details of payment	Amount GBP	Paid for noting
VISA107	Amazon: 2x packs of 3 Box Files (for filing audit records dating from 2011). Invoice no GB6008JZH24CJI, dated 19.01.26	27.98	Paid
108	SERVICE CHARGESREF: 474610667	4.25	Paid
114	Village Hall: Jan PC meeting. Invoice no C031141/26, dated 07.02.26	10.00
115	Village Hall: January Community Café. Invoice no C021138/26, dated 07.02.26	100.00
116	DCC (Devon Audit Partnership): Year end 24-25 internal audit (note sent to wrong email and address hence late payment). Invoice no 64005521, dated 24.09.25	832.80   694.00 + 138.80 VAT
117	Tomlinson Solutions: Annual subscription Microsoft 365 Business Basic License for 10 x email accounts, Annual Barracuda Cloud Backup – 1x User Licence for Clerk and annual admin fee/management of 365 tenancy. Invoice no INV-12605, dated 06.02.26	950.87    792.39 + 158.48 VAT
118	Community grant £240 (minute reference 94:25 b) awarded to Jill Gregory for drumming workshop.	240.00

   

Payment no	Details of payment	Amount GBP	Paid for noting
119	B Moor: Clerk’s salary Feb 2026 plus £24.00 WFH allowance	845.20
120	Woolston Accounts: Feb payroll. Invoice no INV- , dated	20.00
121	VC Warehouse: Feb phone. Invoice no , dated	11.94
122	Village Hall: Feb PC meeting. Invoice no C031154/26, dated 01.03.26	20.00
123	DALC: Being a Good Cllr 2, Tracey Fletcher. Invoice no 7171, dated 26.02.26	18.00
124	Nick Mathias: Road warden January. Invoice no 2211/26, dated 24.02.2026	366.74
125	Nick Mathias: Grass cutting tasks for February 2026. Invoice no 1971/25, dated 26.02.2026	496.46
126	Nick Mathias: Road warden February. Invoice no 2217/26, dated 28.02.26	363.41
127	Hanzon: Clearing out and unblocking soakaway/ drainage for road. Invoice no INV-0372, dated 07.02.26	180.00

 b. Balance at bank  

Balance as per bank statements on 26.01.26	Amount GBP
Community Account	11498.88
Commercial Instant Access Account	14,447.31
Total	25,946.19

 c. Receipts summary   

Receipts as per bank statements on 26.01.26	Amount GBP
Community Account (3rd quarter VAT refund claim)	0
Commercial Instant Access Account   January interest	102.92
Total	102.92

 The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on
Monday 13th April 2026 at 7.00 pm at Slapton Village Hall (main hall).