Minutes of the Chideock Annual Village Meeting held in the
Village Hall on Tuesday 27 May 2025
Cllr Richard Benjamin took the Chair
The meeting was attended by 27 residents and 2 Parish Councillors
The Meeting opened at 7:10pm
NB. As the Clerk was not in attendance these Minutes were taken by a
resident – Mr George Dunn.
Introduction
Cllr Benjamin welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending
NB. The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held in 2024 were not
approved and signed off.
Cllr Benjamin gave a summary for the past 12 months (appended)
Tan Cox, Clerk to Chideock Parish Council, was not in attendance and therefore
there was no Clerk’s Report given.
Also the accounts for 2024 – 2025 were not presented.
PCSO Bishop was not in attendance but a brief statement was given on his
behalf by Cllr Biggins
Updates from Village Groups
The following Update were given – All appended
Village Hall – Paul Ramsden
Community Cafe – Paul Ramsden
Art Group – Brigette. NO Report Appended as presentation was given “ad lib”
Winniford River Action Group – Peter Stapleton
WI – Mary Rogers
Air Quality Action Group – Vanessa McAra
Friends of St Giles – Vanessa McAra
St Giles Church – Vanessa McAra
Chideock Society – Lyn Crisp
Chideock and Seatown Community Website – Lyn Crisp
Playing Field Committee – Lyn Crisp
Roman Catholic Church – Anna Dunn
Friends of Clapps Mead – Anna Dunn
100+ Club – Anna Dunn
Chideock Bypass Working Group – George Dunn
Clapps Mead Volunteers Working Group – George Dunn
Open Forum
In response to Cllr Benjamin attempting to close the Meeting Mrs Lyn Crisp
clarified that a major purpose of the Annual Meeting was to give the Village the
opportunity of raising any issues or concerns or maybe even suggestions that
individuals may have.
Lyn added that the PC only released limited information on their website about
many matters but many residents were either unaware of this or she thought
that they did not seem to care. Lyn explained that there were big issues
between the PC and some sections of the Village.
Cllr Benjamin asked if anyone wished to speak.
George Dunn spoke saying that in addition to his earlier comments about the
Volunteer Policy he wished to draw attention to the Parish Council’s Policy for
Memorial Benches and Trees in Clapps Mead introduced last autumn. George
expressed his opinion that the extent of control that the PC was applying to the
nature of these “memorials to the memories of loved ones” and the cost
required by the Council he actually found to be offensive. For example did
everyone know that such items now have to be purchased through the Parish
Council at a stated cost and they must be removed after 10 years? George said
that he had requested at an earlier Monthly Meeting that the PC review and
amend their Memorials Policy which clearly they never did.
Mrs Lyn Crisp stated that she has “concerns” but it was her view that those
attending were not interested and did not appear to care. She asked for a show
of hands from people that were interested. About half raised their hands and
others left.
George Dunn also referred to the continuing lack of openness and transparency
demonstrated by the current Parish Council. This included their new practice
introduced last year, of holding what is described as a General Purposes and
Finance Committee behind closed doors with no public allowed. This meeting
appears to make decisions and agree everything prior to the monthly Parish
Council Meetings, which are held in public and then these decisions are simply
“nodded through”, with little or no public discussion. The fact that they are
agreeing everything prior to the Public PC Meetings is clearly demonstrated by
the fact of how short the Public Meetings now are – typically less than 20
minutes if the Democratic Period is discounted. George Dunn has repeatedly
asked the Parish Council to reconsider this practice by stopping these secret
meetings.
George closed by saying that he felt that the extent of bad feeling and the
unnecessary costs that have been introduced by this Parish Council should
make the Council consider resigning.
Mr Duncan Salter spoke for a calm approach from all parties and whilst there
were valid points from both sides that common sense must be uppermost and
suggested that the Parish Council and those with concerns should “sit around a
table” to discuss why relations have deteriorated to such an extent and seek a
solution.
Mrs Vanessa McAra spoke saying that whilst she “heard” Duncan’s viewpoint it
had to be understood that since last summer, the Friends of Clapps Mead
(FOCM) have repeatedly sought to help the Parish Council to understand the
actions that were taken by the previous Parish Council regarding the present
Council’s lack of understanding and confusion over the Event Insurances and
Insurance for the In-Ground Jumper. However, it has been like talking to
a ,”brick wall”, the present Parish Council have effectively maintained their
ingrained position stubbornly sticking to their own interpretation of the
evidence and giving the FOCM arguments no recognition. This has then led to
the FOCM group seeking to go beyond the intransience of the Parish Council,
by seeking to collate all of the factual evidence relating both to the events
insurance; the In-ground jumper and the insurance required from suppliers,
insurance companies. Also from ROSPA; The Register of Play Inspectors
International – RPII; and The Association of Play Industries – API
Vanessa did exactly as Duncan Salter suggested, by contacting the DAPTC
chief executive and requested a joint meeting so that a line could be drawn
under the current disputes with evidence being provided, facilitated by the
DAPTC as a mediator. This meeting has taken place, which in turn led to the
factual information presented earlier by Mrs Anna Dunn being shared . Vanessa
said that the outcome from this meeting is still to be resolved. Vanessa added
that in her opinion, the present Parish Council have been let down by their
Clerk, who could have supported them differently.
Mr Duncan Salter then intervened saying that the residents basically want what
is good for the Village and asked Cllrs Benjamin and Biggins to “take on board”
what has been said at the meeting; and to take this all back to the Council for a
serious debate on how to proceed.
Mr Ian Peters asked for a full disclosure of ALL the evidence from both sides so
that residents can see the true picture.
Cllr Biggins confirmed that for his part he does want the In-ground jumper fully
operational for the enjoyment of his children and other children in the village.
Cllr Benjamin interrupted at approximately 8:15pm by leaving the Meeting,
although The Meeting then continued until approximately 9:00pm without a
Chair. Reports as below:
2025 Clapps Mead Volunteers Report
REPORT FOR PARISH MEETING 27TH MAY 2025