Skip to main content

This site uses cookies to make things simpler. Find out more about cookies

July 2021

UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: MINUTES OF MEETING

Held on Thursday 15th July 2021 in Uplowman Village Hall, starting at 7.45pm.

Cllr C Slade (DCC) plus one member of the public present. Minutes by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold. Approved on 16 September 2021

  1. MEMBERS PRESENT

1.1 Present: Cllrs T Milner (Chair), R Adcock, N Branton, M Moore, and R Norman.

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

2.1 Cllrs K Baugh and A McCombe had apologised for their absence due to family matters..

2.2 Cllr Slade had circulated a report on DCC matters. DCC finances were dfficult but in the black again. A new fund was available for ‘building back better’ after the pandemic. Blundell’s road was due to be resurfaced and the road through Braid Park should be completed during 2022.

2.3 Cllr Slade also reported on MDDC matters. In response to questions, he said that details of funding for zero carbon ambitions would be clearer soon. MDDC was replacing vehicles with electric-powered ones as they became due.

 

  1. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (20th May 2021)

3.1 Draft Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 20th May 2021 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 All matters would be covered by the Agenda.

 

  1. FINANCES

5.1       Current Balance:                                                               £11585.03

           Income since last meeting (DCC grant for painting bus shelter)£995.00

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

R Hodgson, Clerk’s expenses (£8.65) & second DAAT planning fee (£58.00)

P Hayman, grass cutting (£110.00). J Veen had been indisposed.

Payments for installation of the Air Ambulance light (£7795.98) and the bus shelter painting (£995.00) would be paid when due.

5.3 Review of meeting effectiveness: The Councillor training attended by Clls Moore had recommended regular reviews of meeting effectiveness. It was agreed that meetings were often lengthy. Cllr Branton suggested monthly meetings, which could be shorter and would enable discussion of all planning applications. Cllr Adcock suggested holding dedicated planning meetings to free up time in other meetings. Cllr Milner said it was important to act on behalf of all parishioners and to allow public debate. It was agreed to reorganise the agendas to prioritise village projects and that agendas should be set by the Chair in discussion with the Clerk. Cllr Milner would consult the absent members regarding additional meetings.

5.5 Cllrs Moore and Branton would undertake the Clerk’s appraisal at a time convenient to the Clerk.

 

  1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

6.1 21/00658/LBC: Shapcott, replace timber lintel – approved by MDDC.

6.2 21/00460/FULL: UHRA Field, DAAT night landing light. Archaeological watch condition discharged.

6.3 21/00796/FULL: 2 dwellings to rear of Stonebridge. UPC had objected; MDDC decision awaited.

6.4 21/00983/FULL: Rose Cottage, erect stables & store. UPC had not commented.

6.5 Historic Buildings at Risk Register: MDDC had requested information on any listed or historic buildings that were at risk due to lack of maintenance. After brief discussion, councillors agreed that they could not think of any such buildings in the parish and the Clerk would respond accordingly.

  1. SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVING

7.1 Cllr Moore had written an article for the parish newsletter. She felt that reducing Upluman’s carbon footprint would best be achieved in small steps and by showing community leadership.

  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 The PCC had written to ask if the PC could pay for repairs to the church belfry door and reclaim the VAT. The PC agreed that they would like to help and asked the Clerk to investigate whether this was possible.

8.2 The school head teacher had asked whether UPC had funding to support a temporary classroom for the summer. Councillors suggested that the Hall or the church might be used to reduce costs. The Clerk would respond.

 

  1. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION

9.1 The hall had now been redecorated.

 

  1. EMERGENCY PLANNING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

10.1 Cllrs Branton & Moore had met with the Clerk and would reconvene in September to make further plans.

  1. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

11.1 A grant of £995 from the DCC locality budget had enabled completion of the bus shelter and Cllr Norman had set up the bicycle rack. He would add a post to prevent cars driving into the rack. He noted that the foot bridge over the leat was deteriorating and would price up replacement with a concrete structure.

11.2Air ambulance night landing light was due to be erected on 19 July. Councillors were unanimous in expressing the thanks of UPC to the Clerk for the successful outcome of this project.

11.3 Broadband: Openreach was in the process of applying for funding for Uplowman.

11.4 Mrs Veen’s bench on the Green would be installed when John had recovered.

11.5 Cllr Branton said that the PCC’s contractor would complete the kissing gate repairs in due course. The PCC had enquired whether a third gate at the western end of the churchyard could be funded. After discussion, it was agreed that the UPC funds would cover only the two already agreed.

11.6 Former telephone box: The shelves would be made soon.

11.7 Village celebration 21st August. Hall, band and bar were booked. Cllr Branton said that food would consist of roast meats and salads in rolls, which could be easily prepared and would cost £300-£400. The fee for the band would be £400. SipShed would be asked to sell cocktails and the air ambulance light would be switched on at the end. It was agreed to recognise the huge debt owed by Uplowman to Lynne and John Veen with a £100 garden token to be presented on the night. A collection box would be provided for donations to the Air Ambulance.

11.8 Community Assets review: Cllr Milner had researched community asset registration. He thought that registering an asset would send a message to the planners in the event of changes of use applications. However, registering an asset meant that the community would be given 6 months to raise funds for its purchase and responses from other councillors showed that there was no appetitie for engaging in such a process. It was agreed not to take this matter further forward.

 

  1. STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH

12.1DCC had written proposing that parishes could take on cleaning of road signs. However, 2 days of training would be needed by anyone taking on this role and councillors decided not to pursue the option.

 

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting was confirmed for Thursday 16th September 2021, expected to be in the Hall

 

The meeting closed at 9.35pm

 

Public discussion:

 

The hazard created by vehicles parked around the crossways was raised. There had been near-miss events where vehicles emerging from the Sampford Peverell road had not seen ones travelling from Whitnage towards Tiverton. There had been ‘no parking’ signs but they had fallen down. Cllr Branton said she would get two more to replace them.

 

 

MINUTES OF 15 JULY 2021

Minutes of meetings held in 2021