July 2005
UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: MINUTES OF MEETING
Held on 15th July 2005 at the Village Hall, Uplowman, starting at 7.40pm
Minutes taken by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold.
1 member of the public was present.
1. MEMBERS PRESENT
1.1 - Mr J White (Chair), Mr D Aggett, Mrs S Brown & Mr R Burman.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
2.1 Apologies for absence had been received from Mrs Veen, away on family matters.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (27th May 2005)
3.1 Minutes of the meeting had been previously circulated. The minutes were approved without amendment and signed by the Chair.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
4.1 There were no matters arising that would not be dealt with elsewhere on the Agenda.
5. FINANCES
5.1 Current Balance: £ 2826.33
Income since last meeting £ Nil
5.2 The following payments were approved and cheques signed to effect the disbursements:
Ken White Signs, for no parking signs: £211.50
UHRA: Hire of Hall, £18
5.3 It was noted that the Annual Audit process was now complete and the Statement of Accounts had been sent to the District Audit as required. Mr Clark had undertaken the internal audit and the councillors expressed their thanks to him.
6. PLANNING/LICENSING APPLICATIONS
6.1 05/00969/F: Glebe Cottage replacement: Revised plans Approved Conditionally
6.2 05/00760/F: Tamarin: Erection of Garage: Approved Conditionally
6.3 Redwoods Inn Application to transfer Licence- UPC did not object.
6.4 Uplowman CofE School: Retrospective LBC for replacement windows: Objection had been made by MDDC
6.5 05/00988/F: Waterside: Erection of Garden Wall: Approved conditionally
6.6 Uplowman Hall: Renewal of Entertainment Licence
6.7 05/01118/F: 1 Crossways: Erection of Extension. UPC had inspected and made no Objection
7. 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:
7.1 DCC had advised that the Parish Legthsman would be in Uplowman during the week starting 22nd August to attend to drains and related matters. All to advise of matters for his attention.
7.2 All councillors had received invitations to attend presentations about the Market & Coastal Towns Initiative of the Regional Assembly, which might assist with local development. Mr White hoped to attend.
7.3 The DAPC had sent a publication 'Pointers to Good Practice for PCs'. The Clerk would read it.
7.4 Defra had sent a timetable for the introduction of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. This gives Parish Councils additional powers to deal with litter and flyposting. It was agreed that there are not currently significant issues relating to these within the village but that the matter should be reviewed periodically.
8. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION
8.1 Mrs Veen was not present to give a report. It was noted that the UHRA had recently held its Annual Meeting.
9. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
9.1 Lists of vulnerable residents were being prepared. Mr Aggett presented the list for his area.
9.2 Neighbourhood Watch: It was noted that there had been a burglary recently in the village and that people should be vigilant and report suspicious occurrences.
10. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
10.1 Leat maintenance: the leat bed had been cleared by the users and the weeds around it should now be cut. Mr Kidley had said that he did not have the capacity to take on this additional commitment. The Clerk would put a notice in the parish magazine inviting interested contractors to get in touch. If no local people came forward, then contractors from further afield would be sought.
10.2 Electrification: Western Power Distribution (WPD) had erected a transformer near Owl's End without any consultation. They had agreed to move it and had offered, as an alternative, to install a ground-mounted transformer in the Hall carpark. This would enable all the high tension cabling to be put underground. WPD could contribute £8400 (allocated to the present scheme) to the total cost of £29500 but UPC would need to find the rest. It was agreed that UPC would investigate grants for this. DCC had an environment fund that might help. The Clerk would write to enquire.
10.3 It was noted that the sewage plant sometimes smells. This should be monitored.
11. CONDITION OF ROAD/TRANSPORT IN THE PARISH
11.1 Signs: Mr White had obtained replacement 'no parking' signs, which he would erect soon.
11.2 Signs directing visitors to the Hall carpark had been obtained and would be erected, as agreed at the previous meeting.
11.3 Enquiries about surfacing the Hall carpark had suggested that the cost of surfacing the area near to the road might be £10,000 and a small grant of £1000 might be available from MDDC. It had been estimated that to build a bridge across the leat might cost £4,000. Funding up to £5,000 might be available from 'Awards for All', a National Lottery fund and MDDC were helping to complete the application. It was agreed to continue these enquiries.
11.4 It was noted that large potholes in the left side of the Tiverton Road caused traffic to move into the middle of the carriageway, resulting in a hazard for vehicles coming towards Uplowman. The Chair would discuss this with the DCC Local Services team.
13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting would be at 7.30pm on Friday 9th September; the following meeting was scheduled for Friday 11th November 2005.
The meeting closed at 9.10pm
Matters raised by the Public: There had been none.