January 2020

UPTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 

Held on the 14th January 2020

 

PRESENT: Cllr D Spittlehouse.  (In the Chair)

Cllrs: P Fotheringham.    P Rushton. S Barrow.

Parish Clerk:  L Holman.

Cllr J Milne.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  3 members of the public.

 

ABSENT: No absences

 

Matters Raised in the Public Forum

 

The following issues were mentioned:

 

• Some fly tipping down Long Lane and Cow Lane

• Cars parking outside Burial Ground causing deep mud ruts.  A suggestion to put no parking signs outside the gates.  Cllr Fotheringham to bring it up at the next Burial ground meeting

 

The council meeting commenced at 7.15.pm

001/20 TO RECEIVE AND RESOLVE TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES OF ABSENCE:

None.

 

002/20 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCALISM ACT 2011:

There were none.

 

003/20 MINUTES OF MEETING – 14th November 2019:

It was proposed by Cllr Rushton and seconded by Cllr Barrow that the official minutes of meeting held on       14th November 2019 are approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman. Resolved.

 

004/20 REPORT FROM CLLR MILNE:

• New Chief Executive

• 4 screen cinema planned for centre of Gainsborough

• Restaurant opening soon under the Travel Lodge

• West Lindsey will be starting a lottery run by a company and launches 3rd March

• Trinity Arts are now self sufficient

• Crematorium delayed opening due to Openreach not connecting in time for broadband

• A grant has been received for refurbishing the Market Place   

 

 

005/20 CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLOR:

One application had been received by the Clerk to join the Council and had been previously circulated to all Councillors. The applicant was Mrs M McDaniel.

Cllr Rushton proposed and Cllr Fotheringham seconded the motion to accept Mrs McDaniel onto the Parish Council.  Mrs McDaniel signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and was invited to join the rest of the meeting as Councillor. Resolved.  The Clerk gave Cllr McDaniel the Register of member’s interest form, a copy of the Code of Conduct and a GDPR form to fill in.

 

REPORT FROM CLERK/CHAIR: TO INCLUDE:

Correspondence received including previously circulated emails.

 

006/20 ISSUES ON CHURCH ROAD:

The Clerk had received several complaints regarding the state of Church Road with mud, standing water, blocked drain and concerns over HGV’s using Church Road.

After several emails and three phone calls a response was received by the clerk from Steve Hudson of LCC.

The road sweeper wouldn’t be engaged to clean up because there are no solid paving kerbs, also a third party had caused most of the problem.  Mr Hudson said he would visit the builder.

The blocked drain problem was skirted over stating that it is an ongoing concern. As for HGV’s using Church Road for deliveries, it is up to the builder to make sure precise instructions are given for deliveries.  

All complainants were informed of the outcome and all correspondence was circulated to the Councillors.

Resolved.        

 

007/20 BLIND SPOT MIRRORS:

An enquiry into having some blind spot mirrors placed at the end of Church Road and Main Street had been received by the Clerk.

An email was sent to LCC Highways asking for possibility of this. A negative response was received.

The reasons:      Reflect Light and interfere with a driver’s vision

Reduce the ability to judge an oncoming vehicle's speed

Create an unreasonable dependence on the mirror

If dirty, distort or restrict the view

Be an easy target for vandals

Complainant informed of the outcome.  Resolved.

008/20 POST OFFICE UPDATE:

An email was sent to Alisdair Cameron on 25th November outlining all the complaints for lack of service etc.

A reply was received on the 19th December.  Their absence was blamed on technical issues and flooding.  

It was assured these issues have been resolved and that the service should be as advertised. However, there 

have still been many absences for the period after Christmas into the New Year.  Cllr Spittlehouse to see P.O 

Clerk at Stow re- taking Upton’s Post Office if possible. Action required.

 

009/20 TO APPROVE CLERKS SALARY AND EXPENSES FOR PAYMENT:

The Clerks salary and expenses for Nov/Dec 2019 was accepted and approved. Proposed and seconded. 

Resolved.

010/20 PAYMENTS TO BE APPROVED:

Payments approved for the following: Resolved.

 E Holman £259.46

 

011/20 PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS MADE SINCE LAST MEETING 12th NOVEMBER 2019:

 

12.11.2019 2 E Holman £280.49 5.76 £274.73

12.11.2019 3 British Legion £20.00 £20.00

Balance in bank 13.01.2020 £7,388.44

012/20 TO APPLY FOR FINAL PRECEPT 2020/2021:

The final claim form was completed and the budget requirement was £7,500.  Resolved.

 

013/20 TO DISCUSS GRASS CUTTING CONTRACTOR FOR 2020/21:

All Councillors in agreement to continue with the same contractor. Resolved.

014/20 PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:

140338 The Hall. High Street. 5 Replacement windows. No Objections.

140357 The Forge. Padmoor Lane. 9 Dwellings.  Application withdrawn.

     

015/20 TO RECEIVE PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECISIONS:

140038 Land Adj 4 Padmoor Lane. Amended plans. Approved.

 

016/20 VILLAGE HALL REPORT:

Cllr Spittlehouse attended the meeting on 9th December 2019.

Quotes being sought from an electrician for lighting.

£11,364. balance in bank. £702.76 in current account.

Direct debit £369.20 monthly.

£102 made on craft fair.

Date of next meeting 10th February. Cllr Fotheringham to attend.

 

017/20 CRIME REPORT:

1 Crime report in Upton

Youth at children’s home throwing food and smashed items in shared kitchen.

 

018/20 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN UPDATE:

The last meeting was held before Christmas and the clerk has not received any minutes to date.

An email was sent on the 13th January 2020 informing of a meeting for the 15th Jan.

Janet Clarke was attending to talk through the process of applying for Locality Funding.

Additionally, looking at identifying consultants for tender quotes to produce the necessary supporting   

evidence for the NP.  

 

The meeting closed at 8.20 pm. 

 

There was a closed session for matters to be discussed which excluded all public and press. Due to the sensitive nature of the business no notes were taken and will not be minuted.

 

The next meeting to be held was 10th March 2020. Date changed after the meeting to 16th March 2020.