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November 2022

UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: DRAFT MINUTES OF MEETING

Held on Thursday 17th November 2022 in Uplowman Village Hall, starting at 7.45pm.

Cllrs C Slade (DCC) and Radford (MDDC) plus five members of the public present. Minutes by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold. APPROVED ON 19 JANUARY 2023

 

  1. MEMBERS PRESENT

1.1 Present: Cllrs K Baugh, A McCombe, D Thomas, N Branton, D Westerman, and R Adcock.

 

  1. APOLOGIES, PROCEDURAL MATTERS AND REPORTS FROM MDDC & DCC

2.1 It was noted that the meeting planned for 15th September had been cancelled as it fell within the period

of mourning for Her late Majesty Elizabeth II. Instead, the Accession of HM Charles III had been

proclaimed publicly on the Village green.

2.2 Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr M Moore, absent due to a bereavement.In her

absence and by a show of hands it was agreed that Cllr Branton would deputise for this meeting and she duly took the chair..

2.3 Cllr Slade reported on DCC matters. The Locality budgets were now reopened with reduced amounts. DCC faced a budget shortfall of £75m and had frozen staff recruitment. The ‘Growing Comminities’ fund had distributed £0.25m for 128 community projects so far. Free holiday activities and meals would be provided to children during the Christmas holidays.

2.4 Cllr Radford noted that MDDC was also under financial pressure and able to increase the community charge by only 2%, wheninflation was 10%. Construction of 14 carbon-neutral homes was under way. The local economy was starting to recover post-pandemic.

 

  1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (21st July 2022)

3.1 Draft Minutes of the Annual meeting held on Thursday 21st July 2022 had been circulated. There were no changes requested and they were signed by the Chair as a true record of that meeting.

 

  1. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

4.1 There were none that would not be covered by the agenda items.

 

  1. FINANCES

5.1 Current Balance: £7039.05

Income since last meeting: £Nil

5.2 The following payments were approved and cheques signed to effect the disbursements:

Redwoods Inn, grass cutting (£200.80) and tree removal (£200)

R Hodgson, Clerk’s salary (£725.00) + expenses (£11.76)

R Adcock, reimburse for Defibrillator battery (£204.00) & approval for new pads (£112.80)

UHRA, contribution of £200 for Hall 20th anniversary celebration

Royal British Legion, Remembrance wreath (£25.00)

5.3 Budget 2023-4: The Clerk presented a draft budget for the following year. It indicated that with prudent increases to cover rises in prices, a Precept of £3500 would be needed. All councillors were asked to consider suitable projects to be included in the budget, which would be confirmed at the January meeting.

 

  1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

6.1 22/00748/Full, Hill Farm, Change shepherd hut to holiday let. UPC no objection, had been approved by MDDC

6.2 22/00753/Full, Land at Stonebridge, replace shed with 2 dwellings, UPC objected, Awaiting decision.

6.3 22/01013/FULL. Beer Down, Ag workers cott. UPC Supported, MDDC approved

6.4 22/01345/FULL: Chamberlains, relocate equestrian building. UPC no object, decision awaited

6.5 22/1918/F: Hill Farm: Ag storage building: UPC no object, decision awaited

6.6 22/2102/F: Bycott Fm, Halberton. Anaerobic Digester plant. This was outside the parish. Councillors agreed no action needed at present.

 

  1. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

7.1 Village signs: New signs would be made in due course at cost. No further news.

7.2 Dead tree on Green. The Redwoods had arranged for removal and were reimbursed.

7.3 Grass maintenance. Mr Veen was now fit for work again. Cllr Adcock had spoken with him and with Mr Hayman at the Redwoods and agreed how the various public spaces in the village would be managed.

7.4 Broadband update: Airband were expecting to start work on fibre broadband provision in most of Uplowman during mid-late 2023. It was agreed to invite their representative to a special meeting to outline the proposals during the spring of 2023. The Clerk would arrange.

7.5 Hall 20th Aniversary party: This would include food and a coelidh and would be free to villagers. Apart from assistance with funding, the PC was not being asked for other involvement.

7.6 Play area update: Work was underway to cost and fund the scheme. However, the UHRA were not engaged and there was no sign that potential users were working on it. It was agreed to await developments.

7.7 Cllr Branton said that the proposal for a Christmas tree on the Green had been discussed in the past. She proposed to purchase one in time for Christmas 2022. After brief discussion, this was agreed with a budget of up to £200.

 

  1. SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVING

8.1 Cllr Adcock had not yet investigated community energy based on the Hall. Cllr Moore being absent, the matter was not dicussed further.

 

  1. CORRESPONDENCE

A list of correspondence received and sent had been circulated. Attention was drawn to the following items of interest that were not covered elsewhere:

9.1No additional correspondence considered.

 

  1. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION

10.1 Cllr Adcock said that Bonfire night had been successful and that a UHRA committee meeting was planned for the following week to srrange the 20th anniversary celebration to be on Dec 3rd.

 

  1. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

11.1 Cllr Branton had approached individuals to join an emergency planning group but without success. It was agreed to put a further item in the newsletter.

 

  1. STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH

12.1 The deteriorated Whitnage road would be repaired in January.

 

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting was confirmed for Thursday 19th January 2023, to be in the Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.00pm

 

Public discussion:

 

It was drawn to the attention of the PC that pre-planning enquiries were being made for development of Elmore Football Club premises in a field at Crazelowman near the link road. It was agreed that this proposal, if built, could generate significant volumes of traffic via Uplowman. The PC agreed that this was a matter of concern. Cllr Slade said that, as the MDDC Ward member for that area, he was aware of the matter but nothing could be done until a planning application was made. UPC asked to be kept informed.

 

DRAFT MINUTES OF 17 Nov 2022

Minutes of meetings held in 2022