Marwood Parish Council
We're here as Parish Councillors to help support the community and keep people connected in Marwood, Devon. We usually meet on the first Thursday of the month, except August when there is no meeting. All the contact details of the Parish Councillors are listed below and on the notice boards. You can also use the CONTACT US THROUGH THIS WEBSITE IF YOU NEED OR CAN OFFER HELP.
Parish Councillor - If you would like to serve as a Parish Councillor to represent the residents of the Parish, please contact the Clerk to the Council on marparco2@live.co.uk for further information and forms. Applications must be returned by 30 September 2021
MARWOOD PARISH COUNCIL
Report of the COUNCIL MEETING 7 October 2021
Members Present: Cllrs. C Latham, S Button, A Bend, D Chugg, C Wallis, R Berry
A Harvey-Bryant.
Apologies: Cllr M Higdon, Cllr Mrs Davis,
In Attendance: Cllr F Tucker. M J Measures (Clerk to the Council).
Disclosable Interests. None Chairman's Discretion. Drainage.
Minutes of the Meetings
The Minutes of the Meeting 2 September 2021 were agreed and signed as true record
Police Report
The Police Report, showing two crimes in the Parish, has been sent to Councillors
Reports from County and District Councillors
Cllr Tucker reported that the recently appointed Head of Planning has resigned. He
encouraged Members to attend the Parish Forum on 14 October, via Zoom.
Cllr Davis was attending a full Council Meeting at County Hall and a copy of her report is attached to the Minutes. It includes; Highway engagement with Parish Councils, (a new reporting procedure); Funding available for organisations to support self-isolating residents; Queen's Green Canopy (plant a tree in Jubilee); Covid Update.
Correspondence
Relevant correspondence has been sent to Councillors. Cllr Bend has contacted Jane Young (CARA) relaying the Council's comments and it is thought the pending Appeal will be heard in the New Year.
Finance
The following were agreed for payment: North Devon Council £457.30 (Oct); C F Wallis £120.00 (Oct); Jindo £108.00 (website annual fee); RBL Poppy Appeal £30.00.
Balance at 7 October is £6042.98
Planning Matters
73454 – Land off Whitefield Hill Muddiford. Creation of field entrance.
In the application there was no reason given to create a new entrance and Members considered it is not a suitable location for proposed gateway on a bend on a narrow, busy road. Recommend : Refusal
73970 – Land adjacent to Merewood Close. Non-material amendments to planning permission 66342 (erection of one local needs dwelling) Recommend : Approval
Adoption of BT kiosk
In spite of several telephone calls and writing, there has been no response from the Community Heart Trust.
Euroforest : Proposed Road Closure
Cllr Higdon has been in contact with one local business which responded to the request for involvement as it was agreed that business owners would meet on site with Euroforest. Cllr Mrs Davis has suggested that they deal directly with Mark Tansley of Euroforest.
Cllr Higdon will continue to act on behalf of the Council when arranging future meetings.
Reports from Councillors
Parish Footpaths. Cllr Wallis confirmed there is no proposed new footpath through Marwood. There is a sign missing along footpath 14 and Cllr Wallis and Cllr Sue Button commented on the poor condition of this footpath where undulations make it almost impossible to use. Cllr Wallis will inform DCC.
Highways. No further report. The problems concerning parking in certain parts of the Parish have been reported to the police. Residents are asked to be mindful of where and how they park vehicles and to consider access to local dwellings and the indiscriminate parking causing obstructions.
Chairman's Discretion
Drainage. Cllr Wallis said he has been informed of surface flooding caused by drains being blocked and waste bins being left over water courses. He will arrange for the drains to be cleared.
Marwood Matters. On behalf of the Council, Cllr Latham thanked June Tamlyn for managing the Marwood Matters website.
Co-option.
The resolution was passed “to exclude members of the public and Press in order to discuss matters of a confidential nature”.
Following discussion it was unanimously agreed to co-opt Nick Plumb as a Councillor to Marwood Parish Council. The Clerk will inform him later.
Meeting closed at 20.30
MALCOLM MEASURES HAS BEEN OUR CLERK TO THE PARISH COUNCIL FOR 25 YEARS THIS MONTH - Thank you Malcolm and a word from him.....
Malcolm J Measures MInstAM,MMS
Twenty-five years ago, on 1 July 1996, I was appointed as Clerk/RFO (Responsible Financial Officer) and Proper Officer to Marwood Parish Council. The appointment also included acting as Clerk to Marwood Poor Lands Charity (later I became, and still am, a Trustee).The interview was held in the old Parish Council Hall in Milltown and was attended, inter alia, by Nigel Spink, Ken Spear, Lily Tanton, Sheelagh Darling, Margaret Pover and Harold Hopkins; names many will remember. There have been many changes over the years.
The appointment was for 2.5 hours per week and “just get the job done” and to attend a Parish Council Meeting, one evening every six weeks and to be paid once every six months.
In June 1998 I was appointed Town Clerk at Ilfracombe, (part time) to run concurrently with Marwood. Ilfracombe was experiencing some difficult times and my main role was to get the Town Council back into a “working order”. It took a few years and following my cancer operation I left in 2006, continuing with Marwood.
Since July 1996 I have arranged and attended over 280 meetings, written over 5000 Minutes, and prepared 30 pages of accounts with over 800 entries, with a total accountable amount of over £270,000.
Perhaps the most pleasing and satisfying achievement (if I may call it that) was the management and investment of the capital funds (on behalf of the Parish Council/Trustees), from the sale of the old Council Hall, realising an additional £50,000, providing a total of almost £190,000 towards the cost of the new Community Hall.
In April 2011 I became Clerk to the Council for Heanton Punchardon Parish Council, to help them through a difficult time. I am still there!
My local government experience began 55 years ago with a West London Borough on 14 February 1966 (a good year for football fans).
I took early retirement (as the Principal Personnel and Management Services Officer) and moved to North Devon in 1994 where I had spent many happy holidays and camping with The Boys' Brigade.
If all goes well, I will complete my three score years and ten, plus ten in December this year. Psalm 90 vs 10. “The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength, fourscore, yet their span is but toil and trouble”. I think the last few years have proved this to be true although my childhood years, through and after WW2, were not easy.
I look forward to going beyond this time-scale; there's lots to do, but oh, how times have changed!
Thank you to all who have helped me through the last twenty-five years; there's more to come.
Malcolm “M”
Parish Councillors
Cllr Colin Latham (Vice-Chairman)
Higher Stowford Farm
Hore Down Gate EX34 *PH
01271 269824 higherstowfordfarm@gmail.com
Cllr Adrian Bend
Rowan Cottage
Muddiford EX31 4HH
01271 850897 acorngardencare@gmail.com
Cllr Richard Berry
Honeywell Farm
Muddiford EX31 4HS
01271 850392 richardberry85@btinternet.com
Cllr Mrs Sue Button
Easter Cottage
Patsford EX31 4EF
01271 813804 suebutton2013@gmail.com
Cllr David Chugg
Kalbarri House
Kingsheanton EX31 4ED
01271 377491 chuggdj@gmail.com
Cllr Andrew Harvey-Bryant
The Cottage
Middle Marwood EX31 4EG
01271 850577 andy.hbryant@gmail.com
Cllr Malcolm Higdon
The Old Malt House
Kingsheanton EX31 4ED
01271 373420 malhigdon@aol.com
Cllr Christopher Wallis
Woodgate Cottage
Milltown EX31 4HG
01271 850260 wallis.fiona@googlemail.com
M J Measures (Clerk to the Council)
9 Kingfisher Drive
Barnstaple EX32 8QW
01271 323386 marparco2@live.co.uk
County Cllr Mrs Andrea Davis
Southwinds Cottage
Kentisbury EX31 4NH
07786 868038 andrea.davis@devon.gov.uk
District Cllr Frederick J (Joe) Tucker
3 Shorelands Way, Barnstaple EX31 3AB
01271328890
Useful links
Selaine Saxby, our local MP, has up to date details of changes the Government has made to help deal with the coronavirus on her Website
North Devon Council Links
https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/ Click on this link for information and/or sign up for emails giving you the latest news.
Due to the impact of Coronavirus over 5.5 million people are claiming Universal Credit. Many are new to claiming Universal Credit having been negatively impacted by Coronavirus. Please click on the Universal Credit guide on https://www.jobcentrenearme.com/universal-credit/ for help.
Devon and Cornwall Police have pulled together responses to some of the more commonly asked questions.
https://www.devon-cornwall.