Whitestone Parish Council
MINUTES OF WHITESTONE PARISH COUNCIL AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 14 MAY 2026
Minutes of Whitestone Parish Council held at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 14th May 2026
Attendance:
Councillors: T Baird, M Belt, M Frankum, C Lang, P Stott, T Taylor
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council.
Apologies: County Councillor Alan Connett, District Councillor John Parrott.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
31. Cllr Tracey Baird, retiring Chair, declared the Annual General Meeting open and called for nominations for Chair for the coming year.
32. Election of Chair
Cllr Tracey Baird was proposed and seconded.
All in favour.
Cllr Baird was thereby elected and signed her declaration of office as Chair and called for nominations for Vice Chair
33. Election of Vice Chair
Cllr Philip Stott was proposed and seconded. All in favour.
Cllr Stott was thereby elected and signed his declaration of acceptance of office of the role of Vice Chair.
The Chair then proceeded to the business of the Parish Council Meeting.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
34. Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 9th April and the Annual Parish Meeting held on 23rd April 2026 having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a true copy by the Chair.
Election of officers for 2026/27 took place as follows:-
Asset Group
Councillors Baird and Belt proposed and seconded. All in favour.
Footpath Warden
Councillor Frankum was proposed and seconded. All in favour.
Church House Foundation Member
Councillor Belt was proposed and seconded. All in favour.
Crossway Park Officer
Councillor Taylor was proposed and seconded. All in favour.
Parish Hall Committee
Proposed and seconded that Councillors Belt and Lang be elected. All in favour.
Parish Hall Liaison Member
Councillor Taylor proposed and seconded. All in favour.
Liaison with Parish Lengthsman
Councillor Belt was proposed and seconded. All in favour.
Responsible Financial Officer
Mrs P Vaughan proposed and seconded. All in favour.
Internal Independent Auditor
Mr R Cox. All in favour.
35. PLANNING – TEIGNBRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL
These applications can be viewed on line by going into the public access system at Teignbridge Planning following the directions giving the application reference. The following applications having been received from Teignbridge District Council with a request for comments were examined and responses were sent which can be viewed on Teignbridge District Council Planning site:-
36.1 Grant of Conditional Planning Permission
26/00413/FUL Extension to existing agricultural barn to provide covered dung storage at Cricket Field Barn.
36.2 Granting of Appeals
26/0009/REF Appeal against the refusal of planning application 25/01134/FUL granted 20th April. Construction of domestic garage and home office to be used with the main house at Glebe Farm, Whitestone.
36.3 26/00010/REF Appeal against the refusal of planning application 25/01661/AGRFDR granted 20th April Agricultural building for storage of vehicles, hay and fodder on land at Stoodleys Farm, Six Mile Hill.
37. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
37.1 Council Surgery 25th April
This had been disappointing as so few people attended. After discussion it was agreed that another date should be fixed for Thursday 10th September to commence at 7pm before the WPC meeting at 7.30pm and this will be advertised in advance in the hope that attendance is improved.
37.2 Crossway Park & Community Garden
Congratulations were extended to Cllr Taylor for her work carried out at the Park and garden. It was authorised by the Council that two further bags of top soil be purchase at a cost of £168. in order to compete this project.
37.3 Parish Plan update
This is awaiting a couple more bits of information.
38. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN
38.1 Following correspondence from the Letting Agents it was noted that the exterior steps and handrail at the No 1 School Houses were in need of repair/replacement. Quotes have been obtained and approved at a cost of £880.00.
38.2 The occupants of No 2 had requested permission to be allowed two chickens in their garden living in a coup and, although the Councillors did not think there would be an objection, it was decided that the occupants of the neighbouring property at No 1 should be consulted by Winkworths Letting Agents.
39. FINANCE
39.1 Completion of Internal Audit
The Annual Audit Accounting statements were presented to the meeting for authorisation and it was resolved by the Council that they were approved and they were signed by Cllr Baird as Chair and the Clerk in her role as Responsible Financial Officer. All necessary documents and paperwork will now be examined for an internal audit which will be completed by Mr R Cox. The Clerk was thanked for her work on the preparation of the detailed accounts.
39.2 Bank balances at Nat West Bank as at 31st March 2026
| Current Account | £200.00 |
| Business Reserve Account 1 | £19,644.82 |
| Business Reserve Account 2 | £3,563.76 |
| £23,408.58 |
39.3 Authorisation of Grant to the Parochial Church Council for inclusion of minutes in the Church Magazine £225.00 (Cheque no 864)
Income
39.4 Teignbridge District Council 1st half year precept £3,750.00
39.5 Teignbridge District Council £1,780.43
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillors Baird and Belt.
39.6 Arthur J Gallagher Insurance Brokers Cheque no 860 £2,305.03
39.7 Mr L Blades (Lengthsman £253.08 Grass Cutting £140.00) - Cheque no 861 £393.08
39.8 T W Woodley (Allsorts) - Cheque no 862 (4 weeks cleaning of Whitestone Park Toilets) £64.00
39.9 Fiona Nicol (plants/top soil for flowerbox) Cheque no 863 £44.00
40. REPORTS
40.1 Cllr Lang reported thanks had been given by parishioners to the Parish Council for attending to the potholes on Hill Lane and also asked if attention could be drawn to the dog mess which is not picked up on the footpath at the back to Crossways Park.
40.2 Cllr Stott said that thanks were expressed to Tommy Pascoe of Higher Hare for his contribution in clearing debris at the carpark/community garden
40.3 Cllr Stott said that the Gardening Club plant sale had proved very successful.
40.4 Cllr Frankum said that there will be a P3 payment of £423 made to the Council
40.5 Cllr Belt mentioned that the phone box at Nadderwater is in need of painting and also the bridge by the phone box. She also said that the garden/plant sale had been well attended and she had been asked to advertise that Bob and Pam Hunt were hosting a coffee morning in aid of raising money for Breast Cancer. They will be providing coffee, tea and homemade cakes at their home in “The Brambles” and will be open from 10 to 11.30am and from 2 to 4pm on the 1st July.
40.6 Cllr Taylor thanked the Highways for clearing the gully near Twiscombe.
40.7 Also, thanks were given to BG Pearce and an anonymous donor for soil for the Commmunity Garden. Also thanks to Gareth Clatworthy and Rich Radford for the paint donations for the garages.
40.8 Cllr Baird added a reminder for the Whitestone Parish Funday on Saturday 18th July from 2 to 5pm at the Parish Hall, Crossways Park and Community Garden. Any donations for the raffle or tombola will be gratefully received. Please drop to Cllr Belt.
The meeting closed at 9.30pm.