Meeting date: Tuesday 12 May 2026
Present: Cllrs Hulett (Chair), K Lenton (Vice Chair), L Lenton, Moyse, Gilpin, Cllrs Moyse & Southcott (WDBC) and Cllr Fife-Cook (DCC)
1 - Public Session (15 minutes)
None present
2 - Apologies for absence
Cllr Purnell (Holiday) accepted.
3 - Declarations of Interest
None
4 - Minutes of the monthly meeting 14th April 2026
Councillors accepted the minutes without amendment, and they duly signed by the Chair.
5 - Matters arising from the meeting 14 th April 2026 which are not part of the agenda items.
The car that was reported to the council for parking at the junction opposite Hawthorn Park appears to have been moved. Councillors will watch for a return.
Councillor K Lenton has spoken to the owner of the hedgerow at Ingo Brake where the plastic wrap was reported. The Councillor has been assured that it has all been removed.
6 - Urgent matters to report (For information)
Metal detectorists have been reported to Dartmoor Archaeology department having been discovered with detectors on the Saxon Banks.
A successful litter pick took place on 29th April, led by Cllr Purnell
The council has received a number of grateful comments after the Lengthsman’s work on the footpath from Hawthorn Park to School Road.
(AP5– Clerk to pass on the comments to the Lengthsman).
7 - Casual vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Councillor Cook.
Donna Robson was duly co-opted to join the council. Having signed the acceptance of office Donna took her place on the council.
(AP6 – Clerk to arrange induction documentation.
AP7 – Cllr Gilpin to organise a council email address). The Chair welcomed Cllr Robson to the council).
8 - Affordable housing
Councillors agreed that the next step should be to meet with the DNPA planners to identify where in the parish development might be permitted, and to ascertain what development could be acceptable. Cllrs Moyse and Robson agreed to represent the council. (AP8– Clerk to liaise with Katie West to organise meeting).
9 - Disabled access to buses (accessible)
Councillors agreed that the quote received of over £10,000 for the placement of a hard standing to improve accessibility was excessive and that the council should seek its own quotes. (AP9– Cllr Gilpin to obtain a quote from local business. AP10 – Clerk to forward received quote to Cllr Gilpin.
AP11 – Clerk to contact Stagecoach with a view to getting them to contribute to the costs of installing the hard standing).
10 - Broadband working group
All avenues have been explored without success. The only option available now is for individuals to contact satellite providers. Cllr Hulett provided a fuller update in his address to the Annual Parish Meeting.
11 - Road Warden Scheme
The council agreed to continue to work to engage with the scheme. Cllrs Giplin and Hulett agreed to undertake the chapter 8 training.
(AP12 – Clerk to contact Highways to arrange training).
Cllr Fife-Cook announced that he is trialling software currently which will allow the user to ascertain a good deal more information about individual road repairs. Once approved, he hopes that the software will be distributed to councils. He will push Highways to expedite the road warden scheme in Lydford, hopefully with a more local chapter 8 training provider.
12 - Council email accounts
All Councillors’ email accounts have now been transferred to the lydfordparishcouncil.com domain. All other email addresses should no longer be used for council business.
13 - Planning
No requests for consultation received from either planning authority.
14 - Finances
a. Cllrs resolved to approve the payments:
i. J. Bright £ 412.77 May salary
ii. HMRC £ 98.79 PAYE & employers’ NI contribution, May
iii. Zurich Insurance £ 402.00 Annual council insurance
iv. Anthony Purnell £7.99 Materials for litter picking exercise
Proposed by Cllr Hulett, seconded by Cllr K Lenton. All in favour.
b. Banking reconciliation for period 1.4.26 to 30.4.26
Opening balance 1.4.26 £10,606.72 Bank holdings at 30.4.26
Add receipts £11,419.19 Deposit Account £12,920.29
Less payments £9,083.70 Current Account £21.92
£12,942.21 £12,942.21
Councillors noted the reconciliation.
c. Actions taken by the Clerk under the Scheme of Delegation
Responses to planning applications received, where no extension could be approved:
i. 26/0038 Tree works at The Coach House EX20 4BH – the council has no objection to this application
ii. 0124/26 Application for permission in principle for the erection of one new dwelling at Plot 6, Hawthorn Park, EX20 4BD – the council are not objecting to the principle of constructing a dwelling …. However, they do suggest that, should the Officers be mindful to approve this application, it would be with the stipulations that – a) the dwelling is to meet a local need, b) the structure be consistent with those already in place in Hawthorn Park. The council ….. would strongly support the erection of a dwelling intended to help [provide affordable housing].
8.35 pm meeting closed