Whitestone Parish Council
Minutes of Parish Council at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 11th December 2025.
Attendance: Chair – Cllr T Baird
Councillors M Belt, M Frankum, C Lang ,E Purser, P Stott, T Taylor
Disttrict Councillor J Parrott
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council.
81. Cllr Baird opened the meeting and the minutes of the Council Meetings held on 6th November 2025 having been circulated were taken as read and signed by the Chair.
82. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
District Councilor Parrott reported that proposals for boundaries for Councils are at present under consideration.
83. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIR
84. PLANNING - 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 will sent which can be viewed on Teignbridge District Council Planning site.
84.1 25/00439/MAJ Redevelopment of existing golf course including revisions to course layout, addition of separate course, and additional practice facilities requiring the importation of 360,000 cubic metres of clean naturally occurring soil at Fingle Glen Golf Club, Tedburn St Mary.
Whitestone Parish Council were notified that this application has been proposed for committee.
84.2 25/01753/FUL Replacement of temporary mobile dwelling with permanent dwelling for agricultural workers at Nadder Ridge, Nadderwater.
Whitestone Parish Council have reviewed this application and raised concerns around access to the main road between Whitestone and Nadderwater (as the entrance is very tight) and also that the proposed plans for the house are not in-keeping with the surrounding area.Also that we would like to see an agricultural tie applied to this proposal as a condition.
84.3 Grant of Conditional Planning Permission
25/01025/FUL Demolition of agricultural building for change of use to residential and construction of self build detached house with a detached double garage/car port and associated groundworks following Class Q (23/01001/NPA) Resubmission of 24/02099/FUL on land south east of Hill Farm, Pound Lane.
84.4 Appeal Dismissed
25/00031/REF Appeal against the refusal of planning application 25/00638/LBC Two storey side extension with single storey glass link at Chants Cottage, Heath Cross.
84.5 Refusal of Planning Permission
25/01363/FUL Erection of two light industrial buildings and associated infrastructure at Cross Park Farm, Heath Cross.
84.6 Refusal of Planning Permission
25/00887/AGR Agricultural building on land at Pound Lane.
85. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
85.1 Resignation of Michele Baxendale Nichols as a Parish Councillor
The Council wished to thank Ms Nichols for her term in the office of Parish Councillor.
85.2 Proposal for Cllr Martin Frankum to be added as a signatory for the signing of cheques.
It was resolved that Cllr Martin Frankum should be added as a signatory for the signing of cheques.
85.3 Road Signage
Discussion took place regarding unsuitable road access for HGV vehicles for minor roads off the C50 and it was resolved that County Councillor Connett be approached to request that he approach Highways regarding recent incidences of stranded vehicles which have been stuck on Hill Lane, Pound Lane and Heath Lane. The Council would like Councillor Connett to explore the potential installation of “unsuitable for HGV” signage at the top of Hill Lane, Pound Lane and Heath Lane and the bottom of Heath Lane and Hill Lane.
85.4 Quotation for pruning of walnut tree
Three quotations had been received, namely £90.00, 228.00 and £450.00 for the necessary work and it was agreed that this expenditure be held over until April 2025.
85.5 Donation to Parish Hall Committee for kitchen refurbishment.
It was proposed and seconded that a donation fo £100.00 be made to the Parish Hall Committee to help towards funding for this refurbishment.
85.6 Legal costs for Lower Hare Farm
Cllr Stott provided an update on additional legal costs that have been requested following the two Judicial Reviews on the landfill at Lower Hare Farm. He explained that he is trying to negotiate the additional cost, which was not expected, and is working through the backlog of emails and documents that were originally completed by previous members of the Parish Council. The full costs associated with both reviews are sumararised as follows:-
Judicial Review 1 – Devon County Council withdrew from the case
Total legal costs incurred by Whitestone Parish Council £16.805.80
Total legal costs paid from Devon County Council £11,774.74
Costs to be paid by Whitestone Parish Council £5,031.06 – this is the contented costs which was requested in December 2025.
Judicial Review 2 – Parish Council instructed the case wasn’t strong enough to proceed
Received from benefactor on 10th October 2024 £16,218.40
Costs incurred by Parish Council from their legal team £16,218.40 - Cheque paid 12th December 2024
Damages instructed to be paid by Parish Council £10,000 – initially £5K then another £5K in November 2025
All Councillors expressed frustration that these costs had been incurred without full transparency around the decision-making process.
Cllr Stott summarized that it is most likely that the Council will end up paying over £15,000 costs (0rginally the Council only approved £2,500 + VAT) All Councillors agree that going forward this type of legal action would require much improved levels of transparency in terms of risk and decision-making processes.
86. FINANCE
86.1 Bank balances at Nat West Bank as at 30th November 2025
Current Account £200.00
Business Reserve Account 1 £23.007.28
Business Reserve Account 2 £3,552.59
Total £26,759.87
86.2 Precept for 2026/27
Documentation regarding the finances of the Parish Council had been distributed and after lengthy discussion it was resolved by voting that the Precept should be increased to £7,500 for the coming year with Cllr Purser stating that he thought it should remain at a lower level.
Income
86.3 2 School Houses rental to 7th December £1,050.00 - £165.00 (includes £33.00 VAT) = £885.00
96.4 2 School Houses rental to 7th December £50.00 - £6.00 (includes £1.00 VAT) = £44.00
86.5 1 School Houses rental to 2nd January £950.00 - £114.00 (includes £19.00 VAT) = £836.00
86.6 2 School Houses rental to 07/01/26 £1,1000.00 - £132.00 (includes £22.00 VAT) = £968.00
86.7 Sale of donation items £220.00 for Community Garden
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillors Baird and Belt.
86.8 L Blades – £323.65 (Lengthsman £283.65 Grass Cutting £40.00) Cheque 835
86.9 T W Woodley (Allsorts) £64.00 (4 weeks cleaning of Whitestone Park Toilets) Cheque 836
86.10 Clerk’s salary and expenses £449.04 Cheque 838
86.11 HM Revenue and Customs (Clerk’s income tax on salary) £101.40 Cheue 839
86.12 Renewal of membership for Countryside Protection for Rural England £36.00 Cheque 837
86.13 Stevens Glass & Glazing £138.00 (repairs at 2 School House through Winkworth)
86.14 GP Roofing & Property £415.00 (repairs at 1 School House through Winkworth)
87. CORRESPONDENCE
87.1 Thanks from Parish Pals for Grant
87.2 Thanks from British Legion for Grant
88 REPORTS
88.1 Councillor Belt noted that the Musical Evening which was held in the Hall was very enjoyable but she was disappointed with the support from her fellow Parish Councillors.
88.2 Councillor Taylor raised concerns regarding potholes within the Parish and will be reporting these to Highways.
The meeting closed at 9.50pm.