Annual Parish Meeting – Wednesday 20th May at 6.30pm
IN THE COLERIDGE HUNDRED OF THE SOUTH HAMS OF DEVON
The following Councillors are summoned to attend:
Cllr J. Abbey, Cllr I. Mitchelmore, Cllr F. Fletcher, Cllr P. Osborne, Cllr S. Lange, Cllr I. Luscombe, Cllr G. Sutton, Cllr J.Harris and Cllr J. Hallett
Cllr J. Brazil and Cllr L. Lawford and members of the public are invited to attend.
The next meeting, which is the Annual Parish Meeting, will be held on Wednesday 20th May 2026 at Slapton Village Hall (main hall) at 6.30 pm.
AGENDA
1) Welcome
2) Apologies for absence
3) Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 19th May 2025
4) County and District Councillor reports
5) Jessica Harris, Police Community Support Officer at Dartmouth Police Station
6) Lou Hoskin, Slapton Line Partnership Adaptation Manager for South Hams District Council
7) Kate Payne, Residential Centre Manager for the Field Studies Centre
8) Parish Council annual report
9) Comments and questions
Signed: Cllr Jane Abbey, Chair
DRAFT MINUTES
Annual Parish Meeting held on Wednesday 20th May 2026 in Slapton Village Hall at 6.30pm
IN THE COLERIDGE HUNDRED OF THE SOUTH HAMS OF DEVON
The following Councillors were in attendance:
Cllr J. Abbey, Cllr I. Mitchelmore, Cllr F. Fletcher, Cllr P. Osborne, Cllr S. Lange, Cllr G. Sutton, Cllr J.Harris and Cllr J. Hallett
Cllr J. Brazil and Cllr L. Lawford and members of the public were also in attendance.
1:26 Welcome
The Chair welcomed attendees and introduced new councillors Jenny Hallett, Jonny Harris, and Tracey Fletcher along with Hannah Iles, the new clerk.
2:26 Apologies for absence were received from Val Mercer and Hilary Davey.
3:26 The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 19th May 2025 were signed by the Chair as a true and correct record.
4:26
Cllr Brazil, Devon County Council
A positive first year of the new administration. Savings have been made through efficiencies, resulting in funds available to invest in areas that matter to residents. Highways teams will proactively manage nearby potholes while carrying out work in the vicinity. The future of libraries will be safeguarded through investments to transform the service to increase resilience and sustainability. Reports from Ofsted and the Children’s Commissioner highlight the positive turn around in children’s services.
Local changes are taking place against the backdrop of Local Government Reorganisation. LGRO was tacked on to the devolution that was called for by local government organisations with a view to extra powers and funding at a local level. The government have moved forward with LGRO while devolution, with the benefits it brings, has stalled.
DCC are well aware of the impact of the loss of the A379 on Slapton including the loss of regular public transport services and the use of various routes as “rat runs”. DCC are considering longer-term public transport solutions and continue to liase with SatNav companies, so help people not familiar with the local roads avoid the narrow lanes. Detailed costings for repairing the A379 have been submitted to central government. In the interim the DCC are not planning to explore temporary fixes and are, instead, focusing on the adaption plans for the backroads, amenities and public transport with the aim to provide long term security and sustainability for the region.
Cllr Lawford, South Hams District Council
In addition to attending the meeting Cllr Lawford kindly provided a written report.
Cllr Lawford explained that LGRO has played a significant role in district council proceedings, ahead of central government’s decision (expected in July) and expanded on what the impact will be on the district council and the proposal SHDC put forward.
Cllr Lawford acknowledged the impact on local people of increasing council tax rates for 2026/7 and explained how central government changes to funding allocations have had a significant effect on rural councils.
Cllr Lawford has been trying to secure reduced business rates to support local businesses impacted by the loss of the A379 near Torcross.
The land purchased at Bowcombe Creek, with funding from DEFRA, to plant a new woodland will be a wonderful asset providing community green space and fantastic opportunities to improve biodiversity.
The transition to Parkwood Leisure from Fusion Lifestyle has gone fairly smoothly.
5:26 Jessica Harris, Police Community Support Officer at Dartmouth Police Station
With the agreement of the chair PCSO Harris spoke after the minutes were signed.
PSCO Harris shared staffing updates; It was recognised that Sgt Ed Thomas being responsible for Dartmouth and the surrounding areas but being based on the other side of the River Dart was not working and Sgt John Dingle has now been appointed as the Full Time Police Sergeant working out of Dartmouth Police Station. The recently formed team of five are busy creating long-term plans for policing the area.
PCSO Harris had compiled the available crime data for the previous 90 days. While the figures were incredibly low and demonstrated what a safe community Slapton is, PCSO Harris explained that only reported crimes can be recorded and it is important that people report all criminal activity. PCSO Harris offered to leave her contact details in the hall for anyone to report their concerns.
PSCO Harris had to leave during item 6:26 to report for active duty.
6:26 Lou Hoskin, Slapton Line Partnership Adaptation Manager for South Hams District Council
Lou Hoskin kindly shared a written copy of her report.
LH explained the remit of her role and of the Slapton Line Partnership. The SLP explore policy, contingency and adaption but they are not responsible for building anything. While the SLP are focussed on adaption and have no plans to look at the rebuilding of the road, LH was keen to note that while the partnership itself is not actively supporting reinstatement, adaption can still work and be of benefit to the community if the road is rebuilt.
LH answered questions from members of the public:
Why has taken so long to carry out adaptions, nothing has changed in 25 years. Along with Cllr Brazil, LH explained there has been limited public support/resistance to upgrading the backroads as this was seen as making a statement regarding potential future repairs to the A379.
Why is there is so much resistance to further intervention when human intervention is what caused the problem in the first place (shingle removal, hard metal road on gravel beach, climate change impact on sea levels) and intervention has been supported in other areas such as Pevensey Bay. Along with Cllr Brazil, LH explained how there is different levels of protection for different infrastructure i.e. roads vs homes and when considering funding the Environment Agency looks at the numbers, in the example given regarding Pevensey Bay looking at the size of Torcross vs Eastbourne. The scientist’s view is that the shingle bank will hold, the shingle is constantly moving, and the levels drop and then rise again. The SSSI is not about protecting the flora and fauna of the ley but protecting the shingle bank itself. The SLP consider that Slapton Parish Council have clearly communicated the views and the concerns of the community and while they do sympathise, their message is that adaption does not need to take place in isolation. Shingle recharge may be a cost-effective strategy, but it will not necessarily present a long-term solution. The SLP website has more information about studies and models and future modelling on cost effective strategies would be welcomed but the immediate focus must be on adaption for a more immediate solution.
Deer Bridge is a lifeline to villagers connecting Slapton to the doctor’s surgery, post office and further on to Kingsbridge. People cannot get to work, access healthcare and education, there are problems with large vehicles, potholes and drainage on all the surrounding roads and the bus replacement is not sufficient. Lou Hoskins explained that Slapton Parish Councillors represent the parish at the SLP working party meeting for the inland roads, providing an oversight with their local knowledge. SPC are working with DCC on the bus service.
LH offered to leave her contact details, for residents to share their thoughts and concerns after the meeting.
7:26 Kate Payne (KP), Residential Centre Manager for the Field Studies Centre
KP kindly shared a copy of the impact statement created by the FSC.
The FSC acknowledge the impact the changes to their transports plans are having on the village and other road users. KP explained the routes and reasons that the various types of transport were required. The FSC have listened to concerns regarding pick up procedures and locations and are being as proactive as possible in working with the transport companies they employ to transport student visitors. The Tally Ho schedule is available from the FSC for anyone who would like a copy. KP shared her frustrations with the coaches that have been arranged by schools, who have ignored clear instructions from the FSC regarding the drop off and pick up arrangements, these have all been raised with the schools and coach companies.
KP listened to concerns regarding FSC transport and answered questions from members of the public:
Could a footpath through FSC land across the causeway to provide a quicker and safer route from Slapton to Stokenham be revisited? KP confirmed that the FSC wants to support the community and would be happy to explore how a footpath could be created.
People in the village would appreciate open lines of communication with the FSC and KP confirmed that she will continue to attend SPC meetings on a quarterly basis and to liaise with the parish council on the FSC Impact Statement and any other matters as they arise.
8:26 Parish Council annual report
The chair shared the PCs finance report summaries and provided an overview of the councils main areas of focus over the previous year and plans for the forthcoming year. A lot of time and energy has been and continues to be spent on supporting improvements and providing a voice for the community in light of the loss of the A379 and continued concerns over the fragility of the road.
The PC were pleased to confirm the community cafe will go ahead this year with thanks for grants and donations from Cllr Lawford, Cllr Brazil and SLAGS.
9:26 Time was allowed for comments and questions
The chair closed the meeting and invited all attendees to stay and enjoy the refreshments.
