Council

Notice of vacancy in office as councillor

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that due to the resignation of Cllr. Pat Barker, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council.

If by 10 December, 2020 (14 days excluding Dies Non, after the date of this notice) a request for
an election to fill said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer at the address below by
TEN electors for the said Parish, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy, otherwise the
vacancy will be filled by co-option.

If an election is called, it will take place on Thursday 6th May 2021

Dated 20 November, 2020

Ken Miles
Returning Officer
Lynton House
Commercial Road
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 1DG

November 20, 2020 in Council 0 comments

Public Notice: Petition for Exhumation

Notice is given that we are applying to the Consistory Court of the Diocese for permission to carry out the following:

PETITION FOR EXHUMATION

This notice will be displayed for 28 days ending on 16 June 2020.

The full Public Notice form can be viewed  HERE

 

 

 

May 20, 2020 in Council 0 comments

Meeting to discuss Croyde Skateboard Park

Notes of an informal meeting of Georgeham Parish Council on Monday, 4 May 2020 held by Zoom at 6pm.

The meeting had been called to discuss Croyde Skateboard Park.

Present:

Councillors Mrs Barker (District), Beaumont, Gething, Taffinder, Tucker, Williams.
Notes taken by Mrs S Squire, Parish Clerk.

  • The skateboard park is situated on land owned by Croyde Village Hall Trustees.
  • Croyde Village Hall insures the land and the skateboard park.
  • Two members of Croyde Village Hall Committee have access to the CCTV which is owned and operated by the Village Hall Committee.
  • Councillor Tucker gave the historic details going back 25 years. He felt if the Parish Council took over the responsibility it would be good for the community and people could make representations to the Parish Council.
  • Councillor Tucker also felt it was important to keep the skateboard park going.
  • …

Full Document Here

May 12, 2020 in Community, Council, Culture

This Addendum on the Standing Orders re Corvid-19

GEORGEHAM PARISH COUNCIL

This Addendum on the Standing Orders was adopted on 30 April 2020.
The draft was prepared by Cornwall Council and circulated to Town and Parish Councils for consideration by the Devon Association of Local Councils.

The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 allow local councils to hold remote meetings. The regulations give automatic authority to hold remote meetings and amend standing orders as required.

These regulations remain in force until May 7th, 2021 or earlier if repealed, and require a number of temporary changes to Standing Orders.

Full Document Here

May 12, 2020 in Council

County Council Brief update for Braunton Rural

Brief update for Braunton Rural April 2020

from County Councillor Mrs Caroline Chugg

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a huge challenge to our society, with local government playing an incredibly important role in protecting people and co-ordinating support for the vulnerable.

DCC staff are really working hard and through the weekends to make sure the elderly and vulnerable in our society are being cared for.

There have been many issues to deal with a small but significant example e.g. is the fact that a key worker needs a key workers placement in a school for her special needs child, their normal school was closed so a new special needs placement had to be found which took some considerable amount of time. After being
told to get child care in (at this social distancing time) a place was found for the child.

We have been really pleased that over the Easter weekend in the main the vast majority of residents are sticking to the Government guidelines and have stayed at home, other than for essential reasons.

The main issue in the news at the present time is the availability of PPE equipment to the NHS and care homes.

While a PPE plan by central government that focuses on guidance, delivery and future supply, we at DCC will continue to work alongside our public sector colleagues to lobby for a sustainable supply of PPE. this will help to insure that vital services can continue, and all frontline staff and residents are kept safe.

Testing for “everyone who needs one” in social care settings has been announced by the government. This means that all symptomatic care home residents will be tested before going into care homes as a matter of course and social care staff who need a test will have access to one.

Symptomatic social care workers and anyone in their household with symptoms will be prioritised, and we understand that the Care Quality Commission CQC will contact acre providers in the coming days to offer tests.

This is a positive development along with the Drive through testing station at Plymouth.

You may also of heard of the new Nightingale Hospital being built at Westpoint in Exeter this is to provide beds for 200 Covid-19 patients across the Region to recover and take the pressure off beds in the local hospitals.

There is a great deal happening and decisions being made at a national level which change rapidly and have a profound effect on the delivery of local services and how we all keep safe and well.

Alongside all of the councillors, and through engagement with Devon MP’s and Government, we are doing all we can at County to make sure the region’s voice is heard and that our concerns are discussed at the highest level.

Highways

As reported last time only certain jobs and safety defects on the roads are being carried out.

From Coril Head to Knowle a number of large potholes have been filled.

If you have any other large potholes that are a safety issue please report it in through the online site or to myself.

For those of you that take the Journal the Investment Plan to keep Devon moving up to 2030 has been published this week.

A total of £95.192 million of investment will be made in the next two financial years. Just over half is being spent on the Link Road improvement scheme.

The cycle link from Knowle to Willingcott has a £6m Tarka Trail cycle link award.

An A3123 safer roads scheme to improve the alternative route from Aller cross off the Link Road to avoid traffic build up in Barnstaple and Braunton.

Many others are listed.

I have also been informed that you will receive through your Parish councils a update on bus time tables including the temporary changes.
www.traveldevon.info/bus/latest-news-service-updates

Keep safe and well, three more weeks at least but make the most of the time you have and stay positive. Keep in touch with family and friends with any means you have look out for residents isolating on their own.

Caroline Chugg
County Councillor

For information, Up-to-date bus timetables, including temporary
changes, are here:

www.traveldevon.info/bus/latest-news-service-updates/

 

 

 

 

Download Report Here:

April 18, 2020 in Community, Council, Government

Selaine Saxby – MP for North Devon Contact Details

Selaine Saxby – MP for North Devon

At this time of uncertainty communities are coming together and relying on parish councils and each other more than ever, and Selaine wanted to ensure that if anyone wished to contact her for help, they were able to find the information easily.
Selaine’s website is updated constantly with new information here: www.selainesaxby.org.uk

Her social media channels are:
Twitter: @SelaineSaxby
Instagram: @selaine_saxby_mp
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SelaineSaxbyMP

She can also be contacted via email at selaine.saxby.mp@parliament.uk and at her office in Barnstaple for urgent cases at 01271 327990.

April 11, 2020 in Council, Government

Notice of Vacancy in Office of Councillor

NOTICE OF VACANCY IN OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

That due to the resignation of Cllr Michael Harrison, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council.

If by 27 April, 2020 (14 days excluding Dies Non, after the date of this notice) a request for an election to fill said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer at the address below by TEN electors for the said Parish, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy, otherwise the vacancy will be filled by co-option.

If an election is called, it will take place not later than 1 July, 2020.

Dated 3 April, 2020

Ken Miles
Acting Returning Officer
Lynton House
Commercial Road
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 1DG

April 11, 2020 in Community, Council

Harmful & Noxious Weeds Notice

Noxious weeds in Croyde and Georgeham!

It’s the ones growing on your land that you need to keep an eye on. While it is not an offence to allow the following ten “harmful weeds” and “invasive non-native plants” to grow on your land, it is necessary to prevent them spreading on to other people’s property or into the wild. Failure to control these species spreading from your land can result in a fine or prosecution.

Harmful weeds (Weeds Act 1959)

Common Ragwort Senecio Jacobaea is poisonous to horses, cattle, and sheep, hence really noxious!
In the first year after a seed germinates ragwort forms a rosette of leaves as in the photo below:

In its second year it produces yellow flowers and then a mass of seeds which blow away. It is fairly easy to pull up the plants before they set seed, or you can cut them down, and/or burn them on site, or, if you are qualified and certified to do so, spray them with herbicide.

Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense spreads by seed and by underground stems:

Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare forms a first year rosette and seed the next year. Cutting before set seed is probably the best method of preventing spread. Both are not poisonous but clearly not desirable on grazed land or in hay:

Broad–leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius and Curled Dock Rumex crispus are also classed as harmful weeds. They are difficult to eliminate but cutting before seeding will stop them spreading to neighbours’ land.

Invasive non-native plants (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981)

Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica is perennial and spreads through underground stems (rhizomes) and can regrow from small fragments even though it does not set seed. It is very invasive. Digging out is possible, but as rhizomes grow deeply, regrowth usually occurs which needs destroying. This method also creates problems over disposal as Japanese knotweed is classed as ‘controlled waste’ under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This requires disposal at licensed landfill sites. Alternatively, it can be destroyed on site by cutting or digging it repeatedly and burning it when dry. In this way the energy reserves in the remaining underground parts will be gradually exhausted; a process which may, however, take several seasons. Similarly treatment with herbicides will require several repeated applications. On no account should Japanese knotweed be included with normal household waste or put out in green waste collection schemes.

Himalayan Balsam is a major weed problem, especially on riverbanks and waste land, but can also invade gardens..
Himalayan Balsam grows rapidly from seed and spreads quickly, smothering other vegetation as it goes. It is fairly easy to pull up the plants before they set seed, or you can cut them down, or burn them on site, or, if you are qualified and certified to do so, spray them with herbicide. Before using weedkillers alongside waterways it is necessary to contact the Environment Agency. Additional weed seedlings will germinate after the parent plants are killed off so repeat treatments are necessary.

Rhododendron ponticum is a familiar species which should be controlled.

Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum is not known to be in the parish but watch out as it has been seen near Combe Martin, see www.planttracker.org.uk

New Zealand Pigmyweed Crassula helmsi is an aquatic plant not known to be in the parish or county.

For more detail about the law and control measures click on www.gov.uk

Download Word version of this document Here:

Dr Eirene Williams CEnv FCIEEM(Rtd)
Robber’s Hall
Croyde
North Devon
EX33 1PL

T. 01271 890367

E. eirenendw@aol.com

August 1, 2019 in Community, Conservation, Council, Environment 0 comments

Housing Needs Survey Results

For those who could not attend the meeting on the 4th July last week, please see below a link to view the presentation given:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For all questions please contact Councillor  Tina Luxton on: tinaluxton7@gmail.com

Similarly if you would like to get more involved in the steering group please also contact Tina above.

Thanks,

 

July 11, 2019 in Community, Council, Housing 0 comments

Affordable Housing Meeting

At an Affordable Housing meeting, the Public Meeting was discussed.

Councillors present voted on the establishing of a Community Land Trust
Steering Group to be recruited at the planned Public Meeting (agreed at the last Parish Council), date confirmed as 4 July 2019.

Councillor Mrs Luxton recommended that further to the approval of a Public Meeting to present the Housing Needs Survey and options appraisal, the
Parish Council should promote the formation of a Community Land Trust (CLT) with the aim of providing affordable housing and recruitment of
members of a CLT Steering Group as part of the planned Public Meeting to be held on 4 July 2019.

The following Parish Councillors were present, the motion was seconded and approved.
John Symonds
Pat Barker
Maggie Beaumont
Dr Williams
Mike Taffinder
Mike Harrison

View Original Document Here

June 23, 2019 in Community, Council, Housing 0 comments

Land Valuation: Croyde Play Park

NOTICE

Underwood Wright Chartered Surveyors are appointed by Georgeham Parish Council to invite best bids for a small parcel of land to the north-east corner of Croyde Play Park following its receipt of an offer to purchase from an adjoining property owner.

All persons interested in acquiring the land should contact:
Underwood Wright Ltd, Marketing House, Bear Street, Barnstaple EX32 7BZ (01271 373377) who are now instructed to seek best & final unconditional offers on an informal tender bases by 12 noon of Friday 26th April.
A decision on a disposal will then be made.

Related Article – CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 29, 2019 in Community, Council 0 comments

NALC Star Council Award 2018 Submission

The below Star Council Nomination was submitted to the National Association of Local Councils. Although we did not get on the short list, the NALC wanted to use the material for their ‘150 points of light’ document.

If Georgeham Parish Council had a middle name, it would be ‘Proactive’.

Councillors work very hard for the benefit of the Parish which incorporates the very popular surfing villages of Croyde and Putsborough around the corner from Baggy Point, Darracott and North Buckland.

Every aspect of Parish life is covered, from ensuring that the Public Rights of Way are walkable, to ensuring there are plenty of dog bins in strategic areas which are emptied regularly, not only to help local residents, but the high volume of visitors who come to the area year round.

The care and sensitivity taken over the maintenance of the Parish Council run Cemetery can easily be seen where, on entering, there is a deep sense of peace and tranquillity. It even has a summer house where people can sit should the weather be inclement knowing they are still close to their loved ones; it has taken over the maintenance of the Churchyard and there are plans afoot to make the walk along a narrow piece of road from the playing field to the main part of the village, more accessible, safer and wider.

Plans are in hand for a new stone built bus shelter in Croyde village with improvements to the bridge parapet. A local person who dredged the stream to prevent flooding received the full support of the Council with a generous donation
towards this from reserves.

The Volleyball Club, where members are being trained to Olympian standards is supported with financial and practical help particularly when new nets were required.

Overhanging trees were dealt with by a qualified tree surgeon.

Croyde Surf and Rescue Centre has the Council’s backing for new up to date and state of the art premises and there is an excellent relationship with the National Trust and CARA (Croyde Area Residents Association) where financial help for a portable speed camera has been given.

Councillors have acknowledged that visitors will not always travel in cars using fuel and have installed a double electric car charging point in the Council run car park at Georgeham.

Its separate Annual Parish Meeting receives reports from nearly 30 organisations in the Parish, testament to the very wide and varied activities which take place on a regular basis.

BUT the Jewel in the Crown is undoubtedly the recently opened Croyde Play Park, constructed sympathetically from wood to blend in with the area next to the Volleyball Court on one side and trees with seating to give shade on the other, where parents, other relatives and carers can watch their children from a close distance have fun, explore, learn and socialise with their peers. This innovative and exciting design, where the planning had the support of local people and families, businesses and visitors, is proving hugely popular.

Georgeham Parish Council makes careful, balanced decisions for the Parish,those who live in it and those who visit which are for the benefit of all.

To view original document click Here

For more information go to: www.nalc.gov.uk

October 24, 2018 in Community, Council 0 comments

Georgeham Parish Council Snow Plan

Georgeham Parish Council Snow Plan

The Parish Council has formulated a snow plan in response to requests from Devon County Council. The formulation of the plan has enabled the Parish to acquire increased Salt supplies for this winter.

Additional salt supplies will be available to residents in bags next to salt bins around the parish and in additional locations listed below when the weather forecast indicates.

The salt is available for use on highways and pavements and we would request that it’s utilised for the benefit of the whole community and not used for personal driveways. If you are able, and can help please consider salting areas within your localised part of the community that will benefit others less able, such as pavements.

Salt Bin Locations:
David’s Hill
Rock Hill
Bus stop at village hall
The Manor car park

If any group of residents would like to secure salt for specific areas, or residents have any concerns please feel free to contact:

Rob Tucker 07774 887952 or John Symonds 07791 790727

To view original document click HERE

October 24, 2018 in Community, Council, Emergency Services 0 comments

Croyde & Combe Martin Inequality Project

To what extent do the villages of Croyde and Combe Martin, North Devon, experience socio-economic inequality?

A Level Geography NEA – Samuel Shackleton – January 2018

This study examines inequality between two picturesque villages of North Devon, Combe Martin and Croyde. Why do they experience different visitor numbers, crime rates and property prices? What do local residents and tourists think of each place?

They are completely different economically and environmentally. Croyde is a very touristy and expensive place to live, and is famous for its surfing beach, whereas Combe Martin has a tourist trade, but in my experience the dwellings, holiday accommodation, pub food etc are cheaper.

Through examining crime statistics, property prices, economic activity and occupations, second address statistics from the 2011 Census and perceptions of local residents and tourists, this study will show the extent to which there are differences between Combe Martin and Croyde, and begin to explain why these exist and how well they are being corrected.

We will find out that Combe Martin has nearly double the proportion of unemployed of Croyde and Croyde has twice the average house price than Combe Martin; while 50% of homes in Croyde are second addresses. We will also examine the Local Plans of the North Devon and Torridge District Councils, and see what each Parish Council has been doing to serve their village.

Click here to download and read the full dissertation:

February 15, 2018 in Community, Council, Culture, Environment 0 comments

Parish Council Response to Boundary Commission

2 October 2017

By email to reviews@lgbce.org.uk

The Review Officer (North Devon)
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
14th floor
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP

=========================

Dear Sir / Madam

SUBMISSION FOR GEORGEHAM PARISH COUNCIL TO THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION (Review of ward boundaries, North Devon)

Our proposal, in the light of the need of North Devon Council to redraw the Wards and lose 2 councillors, is that Knowle should be added to the current unit of the Parishes of Georgeham (including Croyde), Mortehoe / Woolacombe and West Down, to give the desired number of electors. Knowle and West Down are neighbours.

We understand there is a different proposal from North Devon Council. This involves splitting the current Ward and attaching Georgeham Parish to Braunton, further subdividing our Parish and splitting Croyde from Georgeham and placing these settlements into 2 different Braunton Wards, East and West.

Our Parish strongly disagrees with this proposal. We, like Mortehoe / Woolacombe, are both coastal parishes sharing most of the same problems and amenities – surfing beaches, an enormous influx of seasonal visitors, second homes, narrow roads, national Trust and AONB sites.

Georgeham Parish, which contains the two villages of Georgeham and Croyde and five hamlets has been a unit since 1261. We work hard to remain a community to function as a major holiday destination as well as having a resident community, with churches, a primary school, football team, shared leisure facilities, clubs etc. We have a parish magazine and are in the process of submitting a Neighbourhood Plan.

Our challenges and interests differ from those of Braunton. We feel that our interests could conflict with those of Braunton and we would lose the representation of those interests at District level, especially with the Parish being split between two different Braunton Councillors.

We note that the Commission wishes to “ensure that the new council Wards reflect as far as possible the interests and identities of communities across North Devon” and beg that you will consider our proposal, and our objections to the alternative, in this light.

We feel that while numerically proportional representation is needed nationally, community representation is more important locally.

Our proposal, to add Knowle to our current Ward, would satisfy both electoral number needs and those of our community.

Yours faithfully

Sue Squire

Parish Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View the letter here in original Word format:

October 10, 2017 in Community, Conservation, Council 1 comments

Vacancy on the Council

THERE IS A VACANCY ON THE COUNCIL

Applications are invited from Parishioners who wish to be considered for co-option on to the Parish council.

Please send a letter or email of application to the Clerk by WEDNESDAY, 30 AUGUST 2017.

Please don’t hand your letter to a Councillor as that would preclude them from the voting process.

Meetings are held on the last Thursday of the month in Georgeham Village Hall, starting at 7pm and last for approximately 2 – 2.5 hours. The co-option will take place at the Parish Council Meeting on Thurs 31 August 2017.

Click on the poster below to download, print and share

Or share this link into social media: http://www.georgehamparishcouncil.gov.uk/notices/vacancy-on-the-council/

ABOUT THE ROLE

Parish Council meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month (with the exception of December when it is usually the third Wednesday) in Georgeham Village Hall at 7pm. Meetings usually last for 2 and 2.5 hours.

There are nine seats on the Parish Council and Councillors are encouraged to attend training, usually delivered by the Devon Association of Local Councils. The Parish Council has a budget for training and mileage expenses can also be claimed.

To be eligible as a Parish Councilor, people have to either:

  • Live in the Parish
  • Work in the Parish
  • Have land in the Parish
  • Live 3 miles from the Parish

If more than one person applies to be co-opted, there will be an election by way of a paper ballot.

More information on what is expected of council members can be found here in the Code of Conduct

More information about the Parish Council and its role as a body can be found here

WHY BECOME A PARISH COUNCILLOR?

By becoming a parish councillor you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support; a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride.

APPLICATIONS BY POST OR EMAIL TO:

Mrs Sue Squire. Parish Clerk. Georgeham Parish Council, Haxlea, 2 Threeways, Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, EX31 4TG

T. 01598 710526  E. sue@suesquire.com

July 18, 2017 in Community, Council

Annual Parish Assembly – Chairmans Report 2017

Another busy twelve months for Georgeham Parish.
A lot of work has been done on our Georgeham Parish Neighbourhood Plan, a very important document which I think should now be getting near to being submitted and therefore becoming an integral part of the emerging deposit plan for North Devon and Torridge . On behalf of the community I pass my gratitude for the work and effort put in by the team and Parish Councillors that have made this happen.

A major project has just been completed in Georgeham which has seen the overground electric supply cables put underground. Not quite finished yet,we have to get a bund wall built to conceal the Sub Station on the entrance to Davids Hill, but the majority of the work and upheaval is now behind us.

Planning always takes a lot of time and discussion at parish meetings and I do not wish to go into ant detail re specific applications over the past twelve months here this evening , but do wish to convey my thanks to Parish Councillors for their patience and diligence when dealing with difficult and larger applications.

Enforcement actions – some seem to drag on for ever, but recently we have seen that our diligence in keeping the matters that do require action on the agenda do pay off in the end.

We continue to strive for funding for Parish projects, the Playing Field Georgeham is an ongoing example of just how difficult it is for rural communities to secure funding for major projects such as our desire to find the funding for a new pavilion for the Playing Field. Also we now have Croyde Play Park looming up as it now in need of being replaced with new play equipment.

In August last year we lost a Parish Councillor, Sam Hood resigned and was subsequently replaced by Anne Benham-Clarke who is now I hope enjoying her role as a Parish Councillor, one of the jobs that Anne took on a few months ago was the overseeing of the creation of a new Parish Council web site, watch this space it wont be long now before the new web site goes live and interactive.

Higher Ham cemetery has had time and effort put into it over the past twelve months ,the new area is now fully mapped out and ready for use, also considerable work has been put into cutting back the boundary hedge and generally getting the cemetery tidy and nice.

Croyde stream has been dredged from Croyde Bridge as for up stream as the end of St Marys road. This project was driven by croyde resident Mr Steve Gibbs , the parish made a financial contribution towards the cost of this. Mr Gibbs is expecting next autumn to continue down stream with the dredging , funding permitting. A good job well done and appreciated by many.

Finally I wish to express my thanks , on behalf of Georgeham Parish to our District Councillors, Pat Barker and Malcombe Wilkinson and to our County Councillor Caroline Chugg for the work and effort that they put in on behalf of us all.

Lastly A word of thanks and gratitude to Sue Squire our clerk who does so much for this Parish Council and puts up with me.

To those whom have put in work and effort on the many community sports and other things that go on in our parish that I have not mentioned, you are not forgotten, you are all appreciated by this Council and this community.

Thank you.

John Symonds.
Chairman, Georgeham Parish Council.

Download and print the report here at your leisure.

May 22, 2017 in Community, Council 0 comments