November 2016
UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: MINUTES OF MEETING
Held on 17th November 2016 at the Village Hall, Uplowman starting at 7.35pm.
Approved on 19th January 2017
Cllr D Hannon (DCC) present. Minutes taken by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold.
1. MEMBERS PRESENT
1.1 Present: Cllr T Milner (Chairman), Cllr R Adcock, Cllr R Norman, Cllr R Branton, Cllr A McCombe,
Cllr K Baugh and Cllr S Floyd.
2. PROCEDURAL MATTERS & APOLOGIES
2.1 None
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (15 September 2016)
3.1 The Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on 15th September 2016 had been circulated. The Minutes were agreed without change and were signed as a true record of that meeting.
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
4.1 There were none.
5. FINANCES
5.1 Current Balance: £3,797.48
Income since last meeting : £0.00
5.2 The following payments were approved and cheques signed to effect the disbursements:
R Hodgson (Clerk's Expenses): £19.45p
J Veen, for Grass cutting: £98.60p
R Branton, reimburse for memorial wreath: £20.00
Citizens Advice Donation: £25.00
Ring & Ride donation: £25.00
UPCC for maintenance of functioning burial ground: £350.00
5.3 The Chair led a discussion of the Budget for the following year and the Precept request 2017/8. The Clerk had prepared a proposed budget similar to that of the current year. The Chair noted that the budget included a surplus, which was needed to build reserves as agreed previously. On a show of hands the councillors agreed unanimously to adopt the proposed budget and, subject to confirmation in the January meeting, to maintain the Precept request at £2,900, the same as the current year.
5.4 The Clerk's annual face to face appraisal would be held the following Wednesday evening. Cllrs Adcock and Branton would participate with Cllr Milner.
6. PLANNING/LICENSING APPLICATIONS
6.1 16/00899/PNCOU: Prior Notification for change of use ag building at Broadview Farm: Approved by MDDC
6.2 16/01503/PNAG: Prior Notification for Replacement storage shed at Hill Kiln Farm: Approved by MDDC
6.3 16/01694/LBC: Install door to replace window, Uplowman House. Discussed at meeting; UPC had no objection
6.4 16/01424/MOUT: 330 dwellings at Uplowman Rd. This had been circulated to PC Members. It had not yet been determined and it was agreed to submit an observation requesting that access through the development for heavy farm vehicles must be maintained when the road layout was determined. The Chair would draft a letter for the Clerk to submit.
6.5 The Chairman had attended a recent meeting on this subject hosted by Sampford Peverell PC. He had also written to the MDDC Chief Executive complaining that UPC had not been consulted on a matter that would affect the Parish but had heard nothing back. It was noted that a forthcoming extraordinary MDDC Cabinet meeting on 21 Nov would discuss changes to the Local Plan to incorporate Jn 27 proposals and Cllr Milner hoped to attend that Cabinet meeting. All councillors were asked to seek opinions of residents and email comments to Cllr Milner.
6.6 A new Supplementary Planning Guidance relating to solar panel development had been produced by MDDC and circulated for the guidance of councillors in responding to such applications.
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 Clerk’s & Councils Direct magazine had included useful guidance on insurance for Parish Councils.
7.2 Mrs A Adcock had written a summary of the state of the trees within Uplowman Parish in her new role as Parish Tree guardian. The Clerk was asked to thank Mrs Adcock and it was agreed to investigate options for replanting trees to replace those likely to be lost to Ash die-back and other tree diseases.
8. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION
8.1 The recent Guy Fawkes evening had been enjoyed by all and financially very successful. An application had been made to the British Heart Foundation to install a defibrillator at the Hall. There seemed to be limited interest in a play area and this had been dropped for the time being.
9. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
9.1 PCSO Simms had been away and there was no report.
10. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
10.1 Cllr Milner had installed shelves and a poster display of local history in the refurbished telephone box. The book swap library was growing as more people used it. It was suggested that descriptions of local walks would be added in the spring. It was agreed that a photograph of all involved would be taken in due course to advertise this success.
10.2 The School governors had informed UPC that the signs at school had been bought with other funds.It was agreed that parking around the school was currently improved and that the offer to fund additional signs would be left open.
10.3 TAP funding options for the current year were discussed. Cllr Hannon confirmed that money remained available in the second round, which would close at the end of February 2017. Cllr Milner said that costed suggestions would be discussed in the next (January) meeting. Suggestions made included: an outdoor table tennis table to go with the tennis court; a gazebo for outdoor events at the Hall, and additional seats to add to those recently installed at the hall.
11. STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH
11.1 Most potholes had been recently patched and the state of the roads was generally good.
12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting was confirmed for Thursday 19th January 2017.
The meeting closed at 9.20pm
Public discussion.
There was none.
Minutes of 17 Nov 2016