Lydford Parish Council

Minutes 10th February 2026

Meeting date: Tuesday 10 February 2026

Present: Cllrs Hulett (Chair), Lenton K, Purnell, Gilpin, Moyse. Cllr Fife-Cook (DCC), Cllr Southcott (WDBC)

  1. Public Session (15 minutes)
  • Cllr Fife-Cook updated the council on his discussions with Devon Highways in an attempt to organise a public meeting with them where parishioners and Highways could share concerns about the state of the roads in the region. To date he has not been successful.
  • The work on drainage at the Mucky Duck is progressing satisfactorily, and the installation of the new drain is underway.
  • Cllr Fife-Cook is trying to arrange a public meeting with Dartmoor National Park Planning to discuss the Park’s priorities for planning going forward. An open day is expected within the next 2 months to which all parish councils will be invited, and where they will be able to ask questions and air concerns about planning policy.
  1. Apologies for absence: Cllr Cook, Cllr L Lenton
  1. Declarations of Interest

Cllr Hulett declared a pecuniary interest in item 12(a) as the occupier of Pomeroys.

  1. Minutes of the monthly meeting 13th January 2026

The minutes were agreed without objection.

  1. Matters arising from the meeting 13th January 2026 which are not part of the agenda items.

Nil.

  1. Urgent matters to report (For information)

Cllr Moyse believes that an inspection of potholes on Silver Street is imminent, although in discussion with Cllr Fife-Cook it may be that the focus of the inspection is the state of roads in general through the village.

  1. Affordable housing

At the time of the meeting, the report had not been received from Katie West. Without the report Cllrs did not feel able to progress this issue further at this time and deferred the matter to the next meeting.

  1. Disabled access to buses

Stagecoach have been able to prove that their largest buses can turn around above the War Memorial and have amended their route accordingly. The next step will be to arrange a site visit involving all interested parties, to include a representative from the company chosen by DCC to carry out any work on the site. (AP1 – Clerk to arrange)

  1. Ancient Spring

Proposal – that the council adopt a project to provide access for all to the site of the Ancient Spring. (Cllr Purnell)

The matter was discussed by the council, who were largely in agreement that the council should explore this as a project. Eventually it became clear that whilst a good idea, pursuit of the question of ownership makes feasibility unclear at present. The motion was withdrawn by Cllr Purnell.

  1. Broadband connectivity

After much discussion it was agreed that a sub-committee of Councillors and parishioners be formed to move forward the project to bring superfast broadband to Lydford. The council representatives to be Cllrs Hulett, Purnell and Gilpin. Proposed Cllr Hulett, seconded Cllr Purnell, all in favour.

  1. Council email accounts

It was accepted that the council needs to invest in acquiring individual email addresses for the Clerk and Councillors on a domain owned by the council, in line with DALC advice and Assertion 10 of the Small Councils Audit guide. The option to buy an off-the-shelf provision was considered expensive, instead the council could explore using the lydfordparishcouncil.com domain that it already holds. (AP2 – Cllr Gilpin to work with the Clerk to arrange dedicated emails for all Councillors).

  1. Planning

a. 26/0012 Pomeroys, EX20 4AR. Application for tree works. After answering some questions from Councillors, in accordance with Standing Orders Cllr Hulett left the room whilst the matter was discussed.

The council supports the application

b. 0001/26 Raventor, Lydford – erection of agricultural barn. Prior Approval granted.

The council noted the approval.

  1. Request for support from Mary Tavy parish council

The council agreed to support MTPC in their efforts to persuade Devon Highways to grit Brentor Road to allow buses to travel between Mary Tavy and Brentor, thence on to Lydford. (AP3 – Clerk to liaise with Mary Tavy Clerk on what the council wants to do next).

  1. Finances
  1. Councillors resolved to approve the payments:
  1. J. Bright £ 412.97 February salary
  2. HMRC £ 98.59 PAYE & employers’ NI contribution February

Proposed, Cllr Hulett, seconded Cllr Lenton. All in favour.

  1. The banking reconciliation for period 1.4.25 to 31.01.26 was duly noted.

Opening balance 1.4.25 £10,606.72 Bank holdings at 31.1.26

Add receipts £11,349.20 Deposit Account £13,920.30

Less payments £8,025.58 Current Account £10.04

£13,930.34 £13,930.34

  1. Councillors noted that there were no payments made by the Clerk under the Scheme of Delegation

Meeting closed: 7:45 pm

Next meeting: Tuesday 10th March 2026, 7:00 pm

Last updated 9 April 2026