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November 2020

UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: MINUTES OF MEETING

 

Held on Thursday 19th November 2020 using the online Zoom App, starting at 7.30pm. Approved on 21 January 2021

Cllr C Slade (MDDC) plus one members of the public present. Minutes by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold. 

 

  1. MEMBERS PRESENT

1.1 Present: CllrsT Milner (Chair), R Adcock, N Branton, A McCombe, M Moore, and K Baugh

 

  1. APOLOGIES, PROCEDURAL MATTERS AND REPORTS FROM MDDC & DCC

2.1 Cllr R Norman had tendered apologies for absence due totechnology challenges.

2.2 Review of meeting arrangements: Meetings would continue to be held remotely (on line) for the foreseeable future, given the current movement restrictions.

2.3 Cllr Slade noted that DCC was implementing various support for communities and residents affected by the current restrictions. DCC was seeking care workers through the ‘Proud to Care’ website.

2.4 Cllr Radford had sent a report on MDDC matters. The budget process was underway and finances were reasonably healthy. There would be a trial of revised recycling arrangements in the new year to improve recycling rates.

 

  1. MINUTES OF LAST MEETINGS (17 September 2020)

3.1 Draft Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 17th September 2020 had been circulated. There were no changes requested and they were signed by the Chair as a true record of that meeting.

 

  1. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

4.1 Cllr Branton noted that the ‘kissing’ gate on the church-school path had now been replaced.

 

  1. FINANCES

5.1                    Current Balance:        £6511.54

                        Income since last meeting £Nil

5.2 The following payments were approved and cheques would be signed to effect the disbursements:

           J Veen, grass cutting (£53.50)

           Royal British Legion, Remembrance wreath (£25.00)

           Uplowman PCC, Maintenance of graveyard (£350.00)

           Mid Devon Mobility, Ring & Ride (£50.00)

           Citizen’s Advice, donation, (£50.00)

           Cllr N Branton, reimburse for wreath, £21.00)

Cllr Branton proposed that the annual donations for Ring and Ride and Citizen’s Advice should be doubled this year to £50 each in recognition of the important sevices these organisations had been providing during the on-going pandemic. This proposal was agreed unanimously. Cllr Moore proposed that UPC should also publicise this important work in its newsletters.

5.3 Cllr Milner would start the process for the Clerk’s annual appraisal.

5.4 The Clerk had circulated a draft budget. He noted that UPC currently held undesignated reserves in excess of the planned £3,500. Cllr Milner proposed increasing the parish precept in line with inflation. Cllrs Moore and Branton said that people were suffering due to the Covid restrictions and any increase in their outgoings, however small, would increase hardship. However, if the funds were seen to be put to community use, such as broadband or the air ambulance site, then people might accept an increase. Cllr Milner proposed that the spending projections be revised for the January meeting, when a decision on the precept must be made.

 

  1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

6.1 20/00509/FULL: Greenend Ho: replace garage . Approved by MDDC

6.2 20/01120/FULL: Hill Kiln Fm, change use to horse arena. Approved by MDDC

6.3 20/01378/CLU: Roselands, built 8m from agreed position in 1964. UPC no objection, no decision.

6.4 20/01250/FULL: Uplowman House. Convert outbuilding to residential (and related Listed Building Consent application). UPC had not objected. MDDC decision was awaited.

6.5 18/0012/OUT: 8 Dwellings at Crosses Farm. Appeal had been dismissed

6.6 It was noted that an appeal against refusal of permission for 60 houses at Higher Town, Sampford Peverell, would be held on 1st December.

 

  1. SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVING

7.1 Cllr Milner noted that the emailed newsletters continued at fortnightly intervals. He and others found them informative and entertaining. It was agreed that they should continue.

 

  1. 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  John White had written to express concern over the deteriorating state of the Whitnage/Sampford Peverell road. Cllr Milner would respond to say that UPC was monitoring the situation.

9. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION

9.1 The October UHRA meeting had agreed to the positioning of the bike rack near the bridge. Quotes of around £3,000 were being obtained for fencing to prevent balls from going into the road. Cllr Milner said that UPC might be able to help with the cost. Cllr Branton agreed that UPC should support this.

 

  1. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

10.1 A review of UPC’s emergency plan would start in the new year. Cllr Moore asked for a copy of the present out-dated plan, which the Clerk would provide.

  1. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

11.1 The location of the bike shelter had been agreed. Cllr Branton would follow up with Cllr Norman regarding installation. Cllr Adcock said that the bus shelter would need more than a simple makeover. He had received a quote for £480 + VAT to replace rotten roof timbers and thought that additional cleaning and decoration could bring this to £1000 in total. It was agreed by all that a comprehensive restoration would be the best way forward and for Cllr Adcock to proceed with the roof replacement.

11.2There was no progress with the DAA Landing site. Cllr Milner said that £25 from every household in the parish would cover it. It was agreed that an item be put in the newsletter seeking parishionr’s views and offers of funds, which the Clerk would do.

11.3 There was no progress with broadband improvements by BT Openreach.

11.4 Cllr Milner reminded the meeting that the UPCC was conducting a survey of uses of St Peter’s church by parishioners. Cllr Moore said that the future of the church would ultimately be a decision for the Church of England and she proposed that Stephanie Packham, who was conducting the survey, should be invited to share the results at the January meeting of UPC. This proposal was agreed. Cllr Milner said that UPC should support heritage structures and proposed paying for painting the churchyard kissing gate.

 

  1. STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH

12.1 The Clerk had been in touch with the Neighbourhood Highway Officer over the state of the Whitnage road who said that further works were planned. Cllr Moore would keep a watching brief.

12.2 A quotation of £128 +VAT had been obtained to replace the East Mere/Bezley Spot finger post. It was agreed by all that this was reasonable and that this work should go ahead. The Clerk would arrange it.

12.3 The entrance sign to the village had suffered over the years from the attentions of flail mowers. It was agreed that the Clerk should investigate options for replacing this sign with something more decorative.

 

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting was confirmed for Thursday 21st January 2021, expected to be again by Zoom.

 

The meeting closed at 9.33pm

 

Public discussion

 

Thanks were expressed over progress with the crumbling road between Sampford Peverell and Whitnage.

 

UPC Minutes of 19 Nov 2020

Minutes of meetings held in 2020