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July 2023

UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: DRAFT MINUTES OF MEETING

 

Held on Thursday 20th July 2023 in Uplowman Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm.

Cllrs C Slade (DCC), J Lock (MDDC) and G Westcott (MDDC) and one member of the public present. Minutes by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold. Approved on 21st September 2023

 

  1. MEMBERS PRESENT and PROCEDURAL MATTERS

1.1 Present: Cllrs M Moore (Chair), A McCombe, D Westerman, D Thomas, K Baugh and R Adcock.

1.2 Vacancy: Enquiries among potential councillors havd not yet identified anyone wishing to be coopted.

1.3 After discussion, it was agreed that it would be helpful to elect a Vice Chair. Cllr Adcock proposed Cllr Westerman, who, being agreeable, was elected on a show of hands.

  1. APOLOGIES AND REPORTS FROM MDDC & DCC

2.1 Cllr Slade reported on DCC matters. He noted that he had been active recently in his role as Chair of the Grand Western Canal Joint Advisory Committee, as well as attending the recent opening of the Uplowman Trim Trail, partly funded from DCC sources. The police were promoting ‘op-snap’ to encourage motorists to submit dash-cam photos of dangerous driving. Cllr Slade noted that his Locality budget was still available but under pressure this year.

2.2 Cllr Lock informed the meeting that she had taken on the duties of Deputy Leader of MDDC and Cabinet Member for the Working Environment. Cllr Westcott was now Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Committee. They said that MDDC had a budget shortfall and the challenges around the Three Rivers development company to be addressed.

  1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (18th May 2023)

3.1 Draft Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 18th May 2023 had been circulated. There were no changes requested and they were signed by the Chair as a true record of that meeting.

4.2 There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

  1. FINANCES

4.1 Current Balance: £17042.11

     Income since last meeting - grants for trimtrail, VAT reclaim:£5128.97

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

  Playquest Ltd, final payment for Trimtrail, £11,490.00.

  Redwoods Inn, grass cutting, £130.00

It was also agreed to pay for the recently received village sign boards (est. £300) on receipt of invoice.

4.3 The Clerk noted that the Certificate of Exemption from limited assurance audit had been submitted to the external auditor and there had been no queries raised.

 

  1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

5.1 23/00684/PIP, Land at Stonebridge for 2 self-build houses. UPC had objected, MDDC decision awaited.

5.2 22/01345/FULL: Chamberlains, relocate equestrian building. UPC no objection and MDDC had approved it.

5.3 23/00354/FULL: Willow Barn, erect holiday cottage. UPC had objected, decision was awaited.

5.4 23/00472/FULL: Widhayes, erect cattle shed. UPC no objection, MDDC had approved it

5.5 23/00541/HOUSE: Sanctuary farmhouse, erect estension, UPC no objection, MDDC had approved it.

5.6 23/00498/FULL: Beer Down, erect shed. UPC had not objected, decision awaited.

5.7 23/00974/HOUSE. Fairoak, erect shed. This was discussed and no objection was raised

5.8 23/00948/LBC: School – temporary classroom .This was discussed and no objection raised.

5.9 23/01137/FULL: Uplowman House piggery. Variation of condition 2 to permit a single dwelling in place of two previously permitted. After discussion it was agreed not to object but to comment that two smaller homes would suit Uplowman’s housing needs better than one large property. The Clerk would respond accordingly.

5.10 Inert landfill at Greenway. There had been no further correspondence.

5.11 MDDC Consultation on Meeting Housing Needs (Affordable housing policy). It was agreed that Councillors would make individual contributions, if they wished, but there would be no UPC response.

 

  1. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

6.1 Village signs:These had been made and Cllr Westerman presented one to the meeting. They required some work to complete and install. It was agreed that the edges should be sanded, the lettering painted in black and the timber to be oiled with Danish oil. Cllrs Westerman and Adcock agreed to take this matter in hand and to erect the signs by October.

6.2 Broadband update: There was no update. Airband had offered to make a presentation to UPC but could not manage either this or the September meeting dates. The Clerk would invite them to the November meeting.

6.3 The trim trail was completed and had been officially opened the previous Sunday. Appreciation was expressed to all involved in this most successful outcome.

6.4 £277 had been received from the SP & U Parish magazine. There remained £250 from the previous year. Cllr Adcock was researching a PA system for the hall and a decision on use of these funds would be made in September.

6.5 A Parishioner had suggested that a bus shelter be provided for students awaiting the school bus. This was discussed but not supported by any councillor.

  1. SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVING

7.1 Cllr Moore said she personally was investing in her home to eleiminate heating oil use. Cllr Adcock said that the new hall lighting would save about 2/3rds of the electricity bill. It was agreed that examples like these should be promoted to encourage all to consider reducing carbon footprints.

7.2 Cllr Moore was attending regular NALC workshops and would report back. The webinars were available online for anyone interested to hear them.

 

  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:

8.1All relevant correspondence covered by Agenda.

 

  1. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION

9.1 Cllr Adcock reported that installation of the new hall lighting was imminent.

  1. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

10.1 The emergency planning subgroup (Cllrs Moore, Adcock and Westerman plus the Clerk and Mrs J Murley, had met on 21 June and made good progress. The group would meet again soon to produce a draft plan.

 

  1. STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH

11.1 The road into Whitnage was now being marked for repair.

11.2 The Clerk reported that he had written to the Highways Officer about the rotten fence by the leat but had not yet heard back.

11.3 It had been suggested that the grassed area in front of the Crossways houses be levelled to improve its appearance and facilitate cutting. However, the area is not owned by the PC and councillors considered that such a levelling would be impractical.

 

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting was confirmed for Thursday 21st September 2023, to be in the Hall at 7.30pm.

 

The meeting closed at 9.00pm

 

 

 

Public discussion:

There were no matters raised during the public session.

 

MINUTES OF 20 July2023

Minutes of meetings held in 2023