November 2012
UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: MINUTES OF MEETING Held on 22nd November 2012 at the Village Hall, Uplowman, starting at 7.40pm. Approved 17 Jan 2013.
No members of the public present. Minutes taken by R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold.
1. MEMBERS PRESENT
1.1 Present: Cllr T Milner (Chairman), Cllr R Norman, Cllr R Branton, Cllr R Adcock and Cllr A McCombe.
2. PROCEDURAL MATTERS
2.1Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr V deHann (family matters) and Cllr D Hannon, DCC.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (6th September 2012)
3.1 The Minutes of 6th September had been circulated previously. No errors or omissions were reported and the Minutes were duly signed by the Chair as a true record of that meeting.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
4.1 Cllr Milner had not been able to attend the MDDC State of the District debate.
4.2 Cllr Norman would attend to cutting off the protruding angle irons left by the removal of the seat on the Green. The Clerk had temporarily boxed them to mitigate the trip hazard.
5. FINANCES
5.1 Current Balance: £7,495.93
Income since last meeting (Cemetery grant)£ 140.00
5.2 The following payments were approved and cheques signed to effect the disbursements:
Cemetery Grant to Uplowman PCC (£350)
J Veen for Grass-cutting (£41.50)
Devon County Council, invoice received for school warning lights (£3218.53p)
R Branton, reimbursement for memorial wreath for Remembrance day (£20.00)
5.3 A draft Budget for 2013/4 was presented by the Clerk. This was based on the current year's income and expenditure and was proposed as a balance budget. Advice was that it should not be confirmed until the January meeting as the Government had still to publish its intentions for capping local authorities. The Clerk also noted that MDDC had confirmed that they would no longer be providing support for functioning churchyards. After some discussion, Cllr Norman proposed that the Precept be maintained at the same level in 2013/4 as for the current year, to be reviewed in January. This was agreed unanimously.
6. PLANNING/LICENSING APPLICATIONS
6.1 DCC/3373/2012: Melway Stab Mini Skips Transfer site: UPC has objected. Matter was expected to go to DCC Planning Committee in Jamuary
6.2 Cllr Milner had drafted a letter to MDDC relating to planning matters at Melway Stables. It was decided to finalise this letter in January, after the DCC decision was known.
6.3 12/01376/F: Solar Farm at Palfreys Barton, Cove for info and comment. UPC had no comment.
6.4 12/01149/F: Locks Fm Change of use and erect holiday unit: approved by MDDC
6.5 12/01518/F: Solar Fm at Nether Mill, Willand. Original application withdrawn and replaced. For info.
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 UHRA had written seeking support in making an application for funding for a new mower for the sports field. The Clerk had provided this.
7.2 Local Works had written asking local councils to make the most of the Sustainable Communities Act.
8. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION
8.1 Contracts were being sought to repair the Home changing rooms. The cost was expected to exceed £15,000. Grants were also being sought to purchase a new mower and equipment for the playing field, estimated at about £10,000.
8.2 Dog fouling on the field seemed to be a problem at present. Options to address it included putting up polite notices and getting a poop-bin. The Clerk would enquire of MDDC whether they would be able to service such a bin.
8.3 Cars parking along the road outside the Hall were causing obstructions. UHRA would price a noticeboard for funding consideration by UPC.
9. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
9.1 PCSO Sims had informed the Clerk that there had been two RTC (Road Traffic Collisions) reported in the Beer Down area over the past 2 months.
10. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
10.1 Neighbourhood planning: it was agreed to leave this item until both Cllrs deHann and Lovell were present, maybe in January.
10.2 The school warning lights had been installed and working well until a few days before the meeting. Highways had contacted the suppliers regarding the recently developed fault, which should be rectified soon.
10.3 Cllr Milner had contacted Sampford Peverell PC to develop a project to provide signage about the leat using the currently available Town and Parish Fund money and would follow up.
10.4 Purchase of a village weather station was discussed. It was thought that this could cost more than £700 and that the school might get it at a discount. On this basis it was agreed to look further into the matter.
11. STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH
11.1 The current bad weather had resulted in extensive flooding and failures of road-side banks as well as the appearance of potholes. The Clerk had written to Highways regarding the springs that had appeared in the road near East Mere Cross.
12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday 17th January 2013
The meeting closed at 9.30pm
Public discussion.
There was none before this meeting.
MINUTES 22 NOV 2012