November 2017
UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: MINUTES OF MEETING
Held on Thursday 16th November 2017 at the Village Hall, Uplowman starting at 8pm. Approved on 18th January 2018
Minutes by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold.
- MEMBERS PRESENT
1.1 Present: Cllr T Milner (Chair), Cllr S Floyd, Cllr R Norman, Cllr K Baugh, Cllr A McCombe and Cllr R Branton.
- PROCEDURAL MATTERS & APOLOGIES
2.1 Cllr R Adcock had tendered apologies for his absence due to work commitments.
- MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (21st September 2017)
3.1 Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 21st September 2017 had been circulated. The Minutes were agreed without change and were signed as a true record of that meeting.
- MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
4.1 There were no matters from the previous meeting that would not be covered by the Agenda.
- FINANCES
5.1 Current Balance: £4,781.47
Income since last meeting: £Nil
5.2 The following payments were approved and cheques signed to effect the disbursements:
R Hodgson (Clerk's Expenses): £40.95p
W J Veen, for grass cutting: £152.00
UPCC, for maintenance of burial ground: £350.00
Tiv & Dist CTA for Ring & Ride: £25.00
Citizen's Advice, Donation: £25.00
It was noted that Cllr Branton had not been asked to make a donation for a wreath on Remembrance Sunday, as had been the case in the past.
5.3 The Clerk had prepared a budget for the following year, 2018/9, with actual expenditure for 2016/7 and estimated expenditure in the current year for comparison. He said that it followed similar lines to those of previous years and that the projected year-end reserves at March 2018 should be sufficient to cover the needs identified by UPC. The Chairman commented that the costs of parish planning could be covered by additional grants and proposed that the budget be adopted provisionally and reviewed in January before making UPC's Precept request, which was agreed by all.
5.4 The Chairman would arrange the Clerk's annual appraisal face to face meeting soon.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
6.1 17/1108/OUT: Land NE of Twin Oaks: Erect dwelling. The Chairman noted that Permission had been granted following a lengthy discussion in Committee that could be found on the MDDC website. The grounds for permission were para 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which only applies if the development plan is absent, silent or out of date. He was concerned that the Committee's decision had set an unfortunate precedent and had written to MDDC Planning Dept to clarify the matter.
6.2 17/01306/FULL: Micholsfield convert shed to indoor sand school: Had been permitted by MDDC.
6.3 17/01331/HOUSE: Shapcott extension, had been permitted by MDDC.
6.4 17/01333/LBC: Shapcott extension, had been permitted by MDDC.
6.5 17/01343/LBC: Spalsbury internal and roof alterations. Had been permitted by MDDC.
6.6 It was noted that the height of hedge adjacent to Green Acres had now been reduced below 2m and no further action was needed.
6.7 13/01616 MOUT: 330 dwellings Uplowman Rd. There would be a pre-planning meeting on 20 Nov for anyone interested in this development.
6.8 17/01663/F: Conversion of Whitnage Chapel. This was discussed at meeting and no objection was raised to the application, which appeared an appropriate use of a redundant building.
6.9 A meeting led by Devon Communities Together on 19th October had attracted 25 parishioners with an interest in the development of a Parish Plan. About 10 people had offered to help take it forward. The Chairman proposal that UPC should support this initiative was agreed by all. He said that the costs might be covered by grants once they could be assessed. The Clerk would contact interested people and set up a meeting.
- 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 PC Hannah Hodgson (unrelated to the Clerk) had written to introduce herself as the Beat Manager covering Uplowman.
7.2 The Council for the Protection of Rural England had written to suggest that UPC might become members. After brief discussion it was decided not to take up this invitation.
7.3 Clerks & Councils Direct had included a helpful article on community planning, which had been circulated.
- HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION
8.1 A plaque commemorating John Crook and his contributions to the life of the village had been erected in the Hall.
8.2 350 people had enjoyed the recent bonfire night display.
- EMERGENCY PLANNING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
9.1 PCSO Morris had emailed a report covering the past 2 months. Reported crimes had risen 100% compared with the same period in 2016 (there had been 2, one of which was a vehicle crime).
- VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
10.1 UPC had supported Tiverton Table Tennis Club's TAP fund application for additional tables. This had been granted by MDDC subject to an application being made for Section 106 funding, which could replace the TAP grant. UPC had supported this subsequent application by Tiverton TTC.
10.2 UPC had also supported SPPC's application to the TAP fund for the cost of a defibrillator at the SP Memorial Hall.
10.3 Cllr Adcock had suggested that a copy of the 1890 Ordnance Survey map of the parish might be refurbished and framed to hang in the hall. Cllr Milner said he would look into the cost of this.
- STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH
11.1 Mr W Pike had emailed to introduce himself as the new HNO, working Tuesdays and Wednesdays. He had been monitoring the condition of the road between Whitnage and Sampford Peverell and was not currently concerned about it. The Clerk reported that DCC Highways had also said that the bridge over the link road was due to be fully resurfaced.
11.2 The PROW Officer, Tania Weeks, had sent additional copies of the Definitive Footpath Map, which were distributed. Cllr Baugh commented that he had walked most of the footpaths. Cllr Branton thought that footpath Number 4 was not used much and of little practical benefit. Cllr Milner proposed that all councillors should consult with neighbours and discuss at the January meeting, which was agreed.
- DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting had been scheduled for Thursday 18th January 2018.
The meeting closed at 9.20pm
Public discussion
There was no public discussion
Minutes of 16 November 2017