November 2025 DRAFT

UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: DRAFT MINUTES OF MEETING

Held on Thursday 20^th November 2025 in Uplowman Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm.

Cllrs N Raleigh (DCC), Cllr G Westcott (MDDC) and one member of the public present. Minutes by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold. Subject to approval on 15^th January 2026

 

1. MEMBERS PRESENT and PROCEDURAL MATTERS

1.1 Present: Cllrs M Moore, R Adcock. J Mayne, D Thomas, and D Westerman (Chair).

 

2. APOLOGIES AND REPORTS FROM MDDC & DCC

2.1 Councillors A McCombe, working, and K Baugh, family matters, had tendered apologies for absence. It was noted that Cllr Baugh had been absent for 3 meetings and Cllr Westerman said he would discuss attendance with Cllr Baugh.

2.2 DCC report: Cllr Raleigh said there had ben much discussion at DCC about local government reform. DCC’s preferred option was 9-1-1, which they considered would be least likely to disaggregate services and would balance incomes to costs better, whereas the DCs prefer 5-4-1, which creates smaller areas. He was happy to allocate £500 from his Locality Budget for replacement of the Hall pedestrian footbridge.

2.3 MDDC report: Cllr Westcott had circulated a report. She said that MDDC continued to press South West Water over reducing effluent from the Tiverton sewage works. MDDC’s Green Enterprise grants were still available. There continued to be much discussion about local government reform.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (18^th September 2025)

3.1 Draft Minutes of the Annual meeting held on Thursday 18^th September2025 had been circulated. No changes were requested and they were signed by the Chair as a true record of that meeting.

 

4. FINANCES and PROCEDURES

4.1 Current Balance: £6310.54

Income since last meeting: £0.00

 

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

     R Adcock, reimburse for defibrillator consumables, £141.48

     D Westerman, reimburse for purchase of planter, £159.00

     AP Hayman, grass cutting, £136.50

     CHAT, donation, £25.00

     Mid Devon Mobility, donation, £25.00

     Citizens Advice, donation, £25.00

     Royal British Legion, remembrance wreath, £27.50

     Hospiscare, donation, £25.00

     UPCC, support for graveyard management, £350.00

It was agreed that payment for the upcoming first aid training would be made on receipt of an invoice (expected to be £450.00). This would be mitigated by participant contributions.

4.3 The Clerk left the room while his salary for 2026-7 was discussed. It was decided to increase the Clerk’s salary to £1800 for the following financial year.

4.4 The Clerk presented a draft budget for 2026-7. Cllr Westerman agreed to consider the proposed reserve fund and all councillors would consider potential projects for funding from the precept, to be decided in the January meeting.

5. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

5.1 24/01033/FULL: Hill Farm, revised catle shed layout. UPC had not objected and decision awaited.

5.2 25/01117/FULL: Locks Farm, replace barn. UPC had not objected and MDDC decision was awaited.

5.3 25/01266/FULL: 3 Crossways, Erection of social dwelling. UPC had objected and decision awaited

5.4 25/01366/FULL: Land at stonebridge, replace barn with two self-build houses. It was noted that the present application differed in terms of the development areas and other details from the Permission in Principle that the Inspector had allowed on a previous application. Cllr Westerman had drafted a proposed letter of objection taking into account views fom councillors and residents. All councillors agreed that the application shoud be opposed and that the Clerk hould submit Cllr Westeran’s letter.

5.5 25/01449/FULL: Hr Reed Farm, replace livestock shed. UPC had not objected, decision awaited.

5.6 25/01526/DPO: Cuckoos Nest, discharge of Section 106 agreement. It was agreed that Cllrs Westerman and Adcock would visit the applicants to understand the objective of this application.

5.7 Planning enforcement: A parishioner had complained to Cllr Adcock that a property that had been granted as a commercial unit was in use as an AirBnB letting. After discussion, it was agreed that Cllr Westerman would write to the Planning Enforcement Officer with details.

 

6. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

6.1 Parish website: It was understood that the UHRA had been in touch with the web developer, now in France studying, but there was no further progress. The Clerk would enquire whether more support might be needed.

6.3 The Clerk had established a new central email address at Clerk@Uplowman-pc.gov.uk. Councillor addresses would be added later.

6.3 A first aid training day had been arranged for 29^th November and Hall and Presenter had been booked. 10 were signed up for the training and cost was expected to be £5/head (net, including participant contributions) plus hall hire.

6.4 Cllr Westerman had bought a planter and would set it up in the spring.

7. SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVING

7.1 Cllr Adcock noted that erecting solar pannels on the Hall was not a priority for any of the current UHRA committee. They would need support.

8. 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:

8.1 No items were discussd that were not on the agenda elsewhere.

9. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION

9.1 It was noted that the footbridge over the leat was now 20 years old and in need of repairs or replacement. Cllr Adcock considered tht it should be rebuilt with steel beams. The UHRA would get a quotation. Cllr Raleigh had confirmed that his Locality Budget could provide £500.

9.2 Rot had again been found in the men’s changing rooms, necessitating expensive repairs.

10. STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH

10.1 Whitnage Lane signage: There had been no further development. The Clerk would give the matter another push.

10.2 Cllr Westerman noted that blocked drains and gullies reported on the DCC website would be cleared quickly. He would write a note for the next parish newsletter.

10.3 Cllr Adcock agreed to consider digging a ditch ot relieve flooding by the bridge.

10.4 Cllr Raleigh noted that the Public Rights of Way map was being reviewed and asked councillors to report any former footpaths that should be reinstated to DCC before January 31^st.

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting was confirmed for Thursday 15^th January 2026, to be in the Hall at 7.30pm.

The meeting closed at 9.00pm

 

DRAFT MINUTES OF 20^th November 2025

 

Public discussion:

A planning application (ref 25/01366/FULL) for two self build houses to replace a shed behind Stonebridge was raised. The parishioner objected to this application and had shared his formal objection with the UPC. He noted that the application differed significantky from the PIP application that had been accepted by the Planning Inspector. He was concerned that the application, if passed, would create a precedent.