3rd July 03

UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: MINUTES OF MEETING

Held on 3rd July 2003 at the Village Hall,Uplowman, starting at 7.40pm

Minutes taken by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk to UplowmanParish Council

Action points in bold. 4 members of the Public werepresent

1. MEMBERSPRESENT

1.1_

3.1      Minutes of the meeting had beencirculated prior to the meeting. Theywere approved without amendment and signed as a true record by the Chair.

4.1      Mr Aggett had attended a DAPC trainingday for new councillors. He reportedthat it had provided a good introduction to the legal framework of councilbusiness. Becoming a Quality PC wouldbe the key to unlock grants, etc. in the future.The Clerk would get morecopies of the Good Councillor Guide.

4.2      The Clerk had informed MDDC that UPCwould not be introducing allowances for Members.

5.1CurrentBalance:£1489.21

Incomesince last meeting(Precept)Nil

Clerk?s expenses: £5.75

UHRA, Hire of Hall: £18, Tea &Coffee on 10/05: £5.68

DAPC, Training Day: £35

5.3      The draft accounts had been subject tointernal audit. The audit form wascompleted and signed by the Chair, on behalf of the Members, and by the Clerkas the Proper Officer. The thanks ofthe Meeting were expressed to Mr Clarke for his prompt examination of theaccounts which would be submitted to the District Audit on 25thAugust. The Chair would write to MrClarke.

5.4      After due consideration, it was agreedthat the Clerk?s honorarium should be increased to £6.50 per hour for the 97annual hours of work defined in his contract, effective from May 2003.

6.1      Second Telecom Mast: Had now been removed

6.2      Crosses Farm: Erection of dwellings.

6.3               Uplowman Hall, Applications forResiting Play Area and for New Vehicular Access. UPC had submitted.

7.1          DCC?s waste management strategy wasavailable for comment

7.2          RGB?s leaflet on playground equipmentwas passed to UHRA.

7.3          MDDC had invited comments on AreaCommittees. Clerk/Chair would respond.

7.4          The Standards Board had sent atraining video on declarations of interest.

8.1               Following discussion at UHRAcommittee, it was decided that UPC would contribute 50% towards the cost of anoticeboard in the hall and a cabinet would be made available for storage anddisplay of local government documents such as Local Plans.

9.1          Updated lists had been provided by MrAggett and Mr Branton. The Clerkwould revise the lists and provide to councillors.

9.2          It was agreed that a display would bemounted at the Uplowman Show.  Thiswould include a simple questionnaire to help identify concerns of theparish. This would be a first step indeveloping a village plan.

10.1        The cost of running the church lightswas estimated to be 2p to 3p per hour. It was agreed that the UPC would fund use of the lights which would bemainly during the winter at the times of village functions.

10.2        The Chair was still considering theCountryside Agency pack on Village Plans. The Clerk would contact JohnBodley Scott at MDDC and Ray Radford before drawing up a scheme.

10.3        Options for improving the appearance ofthe verge of the leat at Stonebridge were discussed. Mr Burman would produce a sketch showing the length to beimproved. It was agreed that a postand Chain fence would provide a suitable barrier to mark the hazard.

10.4        Mr Aggett thought that the villagesigns should be freshened up. Also, afinger post indicating the church, school, etc. might be erected on the greenor on the grass opposite. This was asubject on which the parish might be consulted. Mr White would ask MDDC about the possibility of UPC takingresponsibility for maintaining the grass beside the Council House gardens.

11.1        Capital Approval would be sought inAugust. Construction still expected tostart in October.

12.1        The pothole at the southern entrance tothe village caused cars to swerve dangerously. Some holes had been filled but not that one. Apparently, deeper holes were left for ?hot? bitmac that neverseems to come. The Chair said thateveryone should keep writing to the Tiverton Service Centre to keep up thepressure for repairs.

12.2        The fence beside Uplowman Court hadfallen into the old leat. It wasassumed that repairs would be the responsibility of DCC.

The next meeting would be on Friday 12thSeptember in the Hall, starting with questions from the Public at 7.30pm.

The meeting closed at 9.35pm                  

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