March Minutes 2020
UPTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Held on the 16th March 2020
PRESENT: Cllr D Spittlehouse. (In the Chair)
Cllrs: P Fotheringham. P Rushton. S Barrow. M McDaniel
Parish Clerk: L Holman.
Cllr J Milne.
ALSO PRESENT: 1 member of the public.
ABSENT: A Fotheringham and E Morris.
Matters Raised in the Public Forum
The following issues were mentioned:
Dog fouling prolific again. Worst areas: Lodge lane, Church Rd, Graveyard, High Street.
Tree debris on the road, junction Cade Lane and Lodge Lane. Clerk to enquire about road sweeper.
2 street lights out High St. Clerk to report.
The council meeting commenced at 7.15.pm
019/20 TO RECEIVE AND RESOLVE TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES OF ABSENCE:
Apologies received and accepted due to the Coronavirus situation from A Fotheringham and E Morris. Resolved.
020/20 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCALISM ACT 2011:
There were none.
021/20 MINUTES OF MEETING – 14th JANUARY 2020:
It was proposed by Cllr Rushton and seconded by Cllr Barrow that the official minutes of meeting held on 14th January 2020 are approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman. Resolved.
022/20 REPORT FROM CLLR MILNE:
Council tax increase of 1%.
2 extra collections on the green bins and no price increase.
Update on the PSPO order regarding dog fouling. Comes into effect 12th April for 6 weeks trial. Dog owners can be asked if they are carrying dog poo bags. This will then be discussed at a committee meeting.
023/20 CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLORS:
Two applications had been received by the Clerk to join the Council and had been previously circulated to all Councillors. The applicants are Anne Fotheringham and Emyr Morris.
Cllr Barrow proposed Anne Fotheringham and was seconded by Cllr Rushton.
Cllr P Fotheringham proposed Emyr Morris and was seconded by Cllr Barrow.
Both applicants were absent from the meeting due to conditions with the Coronavirus. The Clerk to witness the Declaration of Acceptance of Councillor form after isolation period is over. Both parties had previously been given the Code of Conduct and the Register of members Interests form to be filled in. Resolved.
REPORT FROM CLERK/CHAIR: TO INCLUDE:
Correspondence received including previously circulated emails.
024/20 TO DISCUSS A CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR THE CURRENT CORONAVIRUS SITUATION:
The Chairman put it to the council that steps should be put into place for vulnerable residents and those having to self-isolate. The owner of Neville Barnes had already been approached by the Chairman about the possibility of doing local deliveries for those needy and that volunteers from the Parish Council or anyone else willing to help to distribute. All agreed. Resolved.
025/20 POST OFFICE UPDATE:
The Chairman and the Clerk called on the Stow Post office asking if they were willing to take on Upton Village Hall’s. They are willing if it can be approved from Head office. Unresolved.
026/20 CHURCH ROAD DRAIN UPDATE:
The Clerk had received an email stating that the work was complete. Later that day after some rain it was again blocked and flooded. The Clerk took a picture and sent another report in. Latest is work in progress. Unresolved.
027/20 CLAIMED BRIDLEWAY:
In September 2017 a resident of Heapham asked the Parish Council to support his application to re-instate a public footpath that runs from Cow lane to Common lane Heapham.
An email had been received by the Clerk stating that due to insufficient evidence it would remain closed.
028/20 REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC BENCH:
The clerk had been contacted by a member of “Bloomers” seeking permission from the Parish Council to place a bench where some trees have been planted by them outside the allotment gate. No objections from all Councillors. Resolved.
029/20 TO APPROVE CLERKS SALARY AND EXPENSES FOR PAYMENT:
The Clerks salary and expenses for Jan/Feb 2020 was accepted and approved. Proposed by Cllr P Rushton and seconded by Cllr McDaniel. Resolved.
030/20 PAYMENTS TO BE APPROVED:
N Dann had submitted his invoice for work carried out from March 2019 – March 2020.
Clerk suggested that the minimum wage was going up in April and that Mr Dann was getting well below this.
It was proposed by Cllr Fotheringham to increase the hourly rate to £9; this was seconded by Cllr McDaniel. All in favour. Resolved.
031/20 PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS MADE SINCE LAST MEETING 14th MARCH 2020:
14.01.2020 Bacs E Holman £259.46 £1.66 £257.80
24.01.2020 Bacs E Holman Amazon £42.44 £42.44 £7.07 £35.37
18.02.2020 Bacs D Thomas £120.00 £120.00
25.02.2020 Bacs LALC £15.00 £2.50 £12.50
09.03.2020 Bacs LALC Subs £157.08 £157.08
Balance in bank 09.03.2020 £6,794.46
031/20 PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:
None.
032/20 TO RECEIVE PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECISIONS:
140338. The Hall. 5 Replacement windows. Granted
033/20 VILLAGE HALL REPORT:
Cllr Fotheringham attended the meeting held 10th February2020.
Finances getting sorted out.
C Wells is secretary and treasurer.
A Taylor chaired the meeting.
Mr Dunderdale and Mr Forrester did the lighting.
Cllr Spittlehouse attended the meeting held 9th march 2020.
Balance in investment account £10.369.61
Balance in current account £1.398.59
Usual bookings for March.
Next meeting 6th April at 7.30pm. Cllr Rushton to attend.
034/20 CRIME REPORT:
Upton: 3 x metal gates and post knocker stolen from a horse field
4 separate criminal damage incidents at the children’s home
035/20 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN UPDATE:
The Neighbourhood plan committee had produced an” Invitation to Tender “brief. This was circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting for their approval and to make any suggestions. All Councillors approved the brief with no amendments. Resolved.
They will now set out to local consultancy firms then shortlist about 3 to come for interview to discuss their tender in greater detail. Representatives of both Parish Councils are required on the interview panel as they are ultimately responsible for the NPlan.
The meeting closed at 8.35 pm
Date of the next meeting which will be the Annual meeting 12th May 2020
Signed………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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