Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members of the Council will declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered at this meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

The other registrable interests of Councillors of Devon County Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes.

For details of District and or Town and Parish Twin Hatters – please see here -

 A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

The Chair reminded Members they should declare any interests they may have in any item to be considered, prior to any discussion taking place on that item. The details of District and or Town and Parish Twin Hatters was on the attached list -  A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 11 July 2024 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2024 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chair should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

Draft minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2024 (attached).

The Committee received the draft minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2024 and in particular noted the project at Instow which trialled use of  ‘flexipave’, to reduce carbon and test its robustness in a high use area.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/97)

Electoral Division:  Holsworthy Rural

RESOLVED:

(a) that a Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement by deleting part of Footpath No. 1 between points O – P as shown on drawing number CCET/PROW/23/16 (Proposal 1); and that

(b) that a Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement by deleting part of Footpath Nos. 2, 3 and 4 between points Q – R – S – T – U as shown on drawing number CCET/PROW/23/14 (Proposal 3); and that

(c) that a Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement by deleting part of Footpath No. 12 between points C1 – D1 as shown on drawing number CCET/PROW/23/19 (Proposal 6)

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/97) which examined several proposals arising from the Definitive Map review in Ashwater.

The original survey of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 produced no proposals for change to the Definitive Map and the limited special review of Route Used as Public Path (RUPP’s) during the 1970s did not affect the parish.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hellyer, SECONDED by Councillor Chesterton and RESOLVED

(a)  that a Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement by deleting part of Footpath No. 1 between points O – P as shown on drawing number CCET/PROW/23/16 (Proposal 1);

It was MOVED by Councillor Chesterton, SECONDED by Councillor Chubb and RESOLVED

(b)  that a Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement by deleting part of Footpath Nos. 2, 3 and 4 between points Q – R – S – T – U as shown on drawing number CCET/PROW/23/14 (Proposal 3);

It was MOVED by Councillor Hellyer, SECONDED by Councillor Chesterton and RESOLVED

(c)  that a Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement by deleting part of Footpath No. 12 between points C1 – D1 as shown on drawing number CCET/PROW/23/19 (Proposal 6)

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/98)

Electoral Division:  Tiverton East

RESOLVED: that no Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement for the addition of a Public Footpath between points A - D as shown on plan number CET/PROW/23/89

RESOLVED: that no Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement for the addition of a Public Footpath between points A - D as shown on plan numThe Committee considered the report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/98) which examined the route arising out of the Definitive Map Review in the parish of Halberton in mid Devon. A report on proposal 1 was taken to the Public Rights of Way Committee meeting on the 11 July 2024 (as set out in CET/24/51).

Mr Stevens, land owner relating to Part 2, attended the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation scheme and made objection to the proposal (but in support of the recommendation) that no modification be made to the Definitive Map for the addition of the public footpath. He commented that current users did not stay on the pathway and damage to cereal crops had occurred recently.

Mr Britton, speaking on behalf of  Halberton Parish Council in support of the proposal (but in objection to the recommendation), referred to the representation made at the consultation stage which included the following points:

·       that the existence of a footpath had been given insufficient historical consideration;

·      that greater weight should be placed on the Finance Act; and

·       that Ordnance Survey documentation has shown and labelled as a footpath on OS maps from 1880 through to 1961

During general discussion, Members noted that there had been insufficient user evidence to demonstrate that a path had been accepted or in use.  Members also noted  that Halberton Parish Council could potentially submit  the route as an application under schedule 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

It was MOVED by Councillor Barnes, SECONDED by Councillor Chubb and

RESOLVED: that no Modification Order be made to modify the Definitive Map and Statement for the addition of a Public Footpath between points A - D as shown on plan number CET/PROW/23/89

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/99)

Electoral Division:  Whimple & Blackdown

RESOLVED:  that a Modification Order be made in respect of the proposal to add a Bridleway along Landcroft Lane, Sheldon, points A-B-C-D on the proposal map CCET/PROW/24/24

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Climate Change Environment and Transport (CET/24/99) which examined one proposal arising from a Schedule 14 Application in the parish of Sheldon.

A Definitive Map Review of the Parish of Sheldon was conducted in 2014.  This proposal was not put forward in full during the review and had not appeared in any previous reviews.  A proposal was considered for a claimed missing link footpath along Landcroft lane between footpaths 2 and 3 which had no recorded public status. Evidence of a route was submitted and an  order was confirmed on 10 July 2015. 

An application for a bridleway was submitted via Sheldon Parish Meeting in March 2023 following the erection of a no through road sign on the lane by the landowner. It was considered reasonable to add the bridleway to the Definitive Map.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook, SECONDED by Councillor Chesterton  and

RESOLVED:  that a Modification Order be made in respect of the proposal to add a Bridleway along Landcroft Lane, Sheldon, points A-B-C-D on the proposal map CCET/PROW/24/24

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/100)

Electoral Division: Combe Martin Rural

The Committee NOTED the report of the Director of Climate Change Environment and Transport (CET/24/100)

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/101)

Electoral Divisions:  Exmouth & Budleigh Salterton Coastal; Otter Valley; Bickleigh & Wembury

 The Committee considered and NOTED the Report of the Director of Climate Change Environment and Transport (CET/24/101) and plans CCET/PROW/24, CCET/PROW/24/11 and CCET/PROW/22/29 which informed that Public Path Diversion and Definitive Map and Statement Modification Orders have been made and confirmed under delegated powers:

Exmouth (Footpath No. 25) Definitive Map Modification Order 2024;
Newton Poppleford and Harpford (Footpath No. 40) Definitive Map Modification Order 2024; Bridleway No. 28 Wembury Definitive Map Modification Order 2022. 

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/102)

Electoral Divisions:  Dartmouth & Marldon; Broadclyst; Crediton

The Committee NOTED the Report of the Director of Climate Change Environment and Transport (CET/24/102) on the Public Path Orders made and confirmed under delegated powers.

6 March, 17 July and 18 November 2025 and 4 March 2026

The next meetings of the Committee will be held at 10.30am on the following dates:

6 March 2025

17 July 2025

18 November 2025

4 March 2026