2023 Parish Council Meeting Minutes

PRESENT: Cllrs. D Spittlehouse. M McDaniel. P Rushton. S Barrow. P Fotheringham. J Elvidge. K Smith.

Clerk L Holman.

Also present. 6 Members of the public

Ward Cllr. J Milne.

APOLOGIES OF ABSENCE:

Apologies received from C Wells, J Spencer and J Bowls.

MINUTES FOR APPROVAL FROM MEETING HELD 10TH MAY 2022:

It was proposed by Cllr Rushton and seconded by Cllr Smith to accept the minutes as a true record. Signed and dated by the Chairman Cllr D Spittlehouse.

PRESENTATION ON SPEED WATCH BY EMMA BAILEY:

Emma Bailey who is a member of Knaith and Lea Parish Council and also acts as coordinator for Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, kindly volunteered to give up her time to introduce us to the Voluntary Community Speed Watch.

Community Speed Watch is a scheme to allow trained volunteers to address speed concerns in our community.

Volunteers work in association with the Police and Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.

Anyone who is over 18 can volunteer and full training will be given

Community Speed Watch teams will comprise of a minimum of three trained volunteers, so you will never be expected to work alone.

It is hoped that volunteers from several villages can pool their resources and work together as a team.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

I would like to introduce you to our new Councillor Jim Elvidge who joined us in November last year. Already he has been a great contribution to our team. Thank you Jim.

First of all I would like to give my thanks to various people and groups in our village.

Once again a very big thank you to Jack Bowles who has done a tremendous job collecting litter in and around Upton and Kexby. This was for his Gold Duke of Edinburgh award and credit due to him he has gone above and beyond in this task. We wish him well on his future and I’m sure he will go far in whatever career path he chooses.

They say behind every good man is a good woman….. and that would be his mum Rachael. You and Richard have done a great job and you must be so proud of him.

I’d like to thank Bloomers for all the effort and time they put in to making our village look pretty as well as accompanying Jack on several group litter picks.

Thank you to Stuart for helping with the SID when necessary and to Kevin for his assistance with the Christmas tree.

Thanks to Liz also for keeping us all in order.

Last year we were in fear of the phone box being demolished. Fortunately we have had a few offers since to decorate it. So thank you to all that have contributed. There's been some great displays.

Thank you to Stuart Dunderdale and Jack Bower for all the grass cutting and various other tasks, I’m sure everyone will agree what a fantastic job they do and our village looks really tidy and pretty. Keep up the good work.!

Last year we had the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

For this I would like thank Sue Roberts and Scott Dunderdale for organising the events that took place over the weekend. It was a great weekend unfortunately she forgot to order some sunshine….. but that didn't dampen everyone's spirits and a great time was had by all that attended.

Thank you to all involved with the lighting of the Beacon. I think we all watched with baited breath hoping that Frank Watson's beard didn't go up in flames. Great job guys.

At last we have more positive news on fibre broadband. ITS FINALLY HERE.

Lets hope its as good as they promised.

The planned Solar Farm is now well under way with 3 now gone to the planning stages.

The Parish Council have attended several meeting with the group 7000 Acres and we fully support their cause into getting these solar farms stopped on good agricultural land.

We are not opposed to Solar farms in general and we need some sustainable renewable energy. But these proposed farms are on such a large scale, the impact on our local area will be devastating.

Letters of objection have been submitted and are awaiting further information on the next stages.

We are hoping to have some work carried out on the footpath running from Church Road up to the allotments and Burial Ground. This has been a constant problem in wet weather with flooding. Lincolnshire County Council footpath people are not prepared to spend any money on it, so when Quickline offered the PC with a grant for a community project, we decided to take them up on it. Were not sure how much the grant will be for at the moment, but we have had a quote and its affordable, so any grant given will be put towards the cost.

We have had an offer of a clothes bank and the money generated from it will be given back to the Community. It was decided that the most suitable place for this was the Village Hall and any income from this will be ploughed into the Village Hall to help with improvements etc.

We are hoping to hold a scarecrow competition on the Kings Coronation weekend. Everyone should have had a flier so I’m hoping that there will be many entries.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

A resident raised her concerns over parking on the footpath near the Fish shop. This was particularly bad on Good Friday. Also offenders are still continuing to park their vehicles on the village green. The no parking signs are being completely ignored.

A couple of street lights not working properly but have been reported several weeks ago.

REPORTS FROM ORGANISATIONS

VILLAGE HALL by Carol Wells
The village hall committee wanted to go ahead with the proposed extension at the hall but have decided to concentrate on enhancing the facilities that we already have.

The main hall floor has been looking very shabby over the last few years so we have decided to have it professionally restored. This means that the hall will be closed during the period 17th April to the 23rd April.

We are also considering updating the kitchen and replacing the double glazing window panes as some of them have blown.

I am attaching a copy of our last audited accounts in the hope that you will look favourably on giving us a donation to the cost of these projects.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY by Jane Spencer

We were pleased to be able to hold our Annual Show last year after having cancelled two due to Covid.  It was good to see all the entries in the village hall, although they were slightly down on the previous show.  Our Show this year is to be held on Sunday 3 September.  New ideas and committee members always welcome.
We are also hoping to organise a coach outing to a garden in the summer.
 

LITTER REPORT by Jack Bowles

PLAYING FIELDS by Paul Mann

Two football teams currently using the pitch. Rose and Crown and Gainsborough Town.

Forest Rangers now folded and £400 was donated from them to the Playing Fields fund.

Also £2000 has been donated from the Harold Jubbs Memorial Fund.

Still hoping to replace the play park equipment eventually. £18000 is now set aside for this.

Any grant donated from Upton parish Council will be greatly appreciated.

BOWLS by Stuart Barrow

The club remains active with between 10 to 12 players every week.

Finances are healthy so we can pay our way.

BLOOMERS by Stuart Barrow

The Oak tree for the Queens Platinum Jubilee has now been planted and a guard has been placed around it.

ROSE AND CROWN FOOTBALL CLUB by Sue Roberts

The team are going strong, unfortunately not playing as well as in previous years, so no promotion this time.

Events being planned to raise money for the team including a Casino night and Oom -pah evenings.

HAROLD JUBBS MEMORIAL FUND by Anne Fotheringham

The Fund was originally set up in 1995, and had incorporated money raised from previous village events and funds, such as “Kexton” on its closure.

The aim was to give grants to assist with arts and heritage projects, to advance education and leisure time occupation within the villages of Upton and Kexby, to assist young people’s education, for permanent projects within the villages and to give grants for special needs.

Grants have been made for sports coaching, laptops, iPads and textbooks for school and university.

Throughout the time of the Funds existence there had been a shortage of suitable applicants, so in December 2022 the committee met to discuss the future of the Fund.

It was decided to close the Fund, and that Upton and Kexby Playing Field would be the most suitable recipient of the total balance within the Fund.

The Harold Jubbs Memorial Fund has therefore been closed and the Funds transferred to the Upton and Kexby Playing Field.

WI. by Jenny Fotheringham

Upton and Kexby WI have had a very successful year gaining several new members.

However, we were greatly saddened by the sudden death of Jane Anderson who had been an active and supportive member of the WI for many years.

We had a varied programme of speakers, activities and outings during the year as well as supporting WI Trentside Group meetings and events, and also supporting county events too.

We have been collecting items for the Gainsborough Food Bank, and reintroduced our Members Table where we can sell our unwanted goods and half the money goes to our funds for speakers and visits.

Since Covid we have been having afternoon meetings but have now voted to return to evening meetings. This will mean easier availability of speakers and will also mean that working women will be able to join us if they wish.

We start our new Calendar Year on Wednesday 12th April at 7.30pm in Upton and Kexby Village Hall. Our speaker is Jennifer Ichikawa and the subject is “All things Japanese”. We look forward to welcoming visitors and potential new members.

TRENTSIDE SINGERS by Jenny Fotheringham

The choir continues to grow, like the WI, with several new members joining from Upton and Kexby WI and Kettlethorpe WI.

In December we performed a concert at Upton Church which was very well attended, raising money for the Church and for new music for the Choir.

On My 3rd we are entertaining the children at The Mayflower Special School Academy as part of their Coronation Celebrations, and on Friday June 2nd we are putting on a concert in the Village Hall at 7.30pm. More details later!

We rehearse in the Village Hall on Monday afternoons at 4.0pm for 1 hour.

The only criteria for joining the choir is that you have to be a WI member or (in the case of the WISH team) married or attached to one.!

UPTON METHODIST CHAPEL by Patrick Fotheringham

Upton Chapel is doing OK. We have two new members but sadly lost one, Jane Anderson.

We currently average around 17 to 20 at our services and are financially sound.

We have had a new kitchen installed in the Schoolroom, thank you to Stuart and Jim for installing it.

The Gainsborough circuit having joined with Market Rasen 7 years ago is to be broken up, and Gainsborough will be joined with Epworth.

UPTON CHURCH by Peter Rushton

Number of attendees are considerably down to previous years. Two fundraising events have been held jointly with the Chapel. Both very successful, thank you for everyone that supported them.

UPTON AND KEXBY BURIAL GROUND by Patrick Fotheringham

Allotments

The current financial position as of January 2023 is £5,063.69.

Allotments currently £25 for 364 days (to prevent permanent tenancy).

13 of the 14 plots are taken. Fee to remain the same.

Burial Plots

Currently £400 plus internment fee of £100 with no charge for memorials, given the healthy state of the finances it was agreed that these should remain the same.

Cremated Remains Plots

Currently £300 plus internment fee of £50 with no charge for memorials.

Extension of Burial Plots

40 of the 45 burial plots were either occupied or reserved, although this left seven, three of these were single plots and couples tended to reserve double plots since the water table was too high to permit two internments in the same plot.

It was agreed that a new plinth for 5 plots should be commissioned to avoid running out of space. To continue down the east side of the cemetery would necessitate moving the fence and it was filling up more quickly than the west side. So it was agreed that the new plinth would be laid on the west side.

REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR JESSIE MILNE

West Lindsey now have the available funds for improvements to Lord Street, Silver Street and the Riverside.

The old Co-op building has now been demolished making way for a cinema, shops and restaurant.

The old Gainsborough standard office is being converted into 3 flats above a retail unit.

Several new electronic information displays have been installed around the town.

The crematorium has now been going 3 years which is bringing in revenue for West Lindsey.

The West Lindsey refuse collectors and street cleaners have recently won awards as well as the Council for being the best in the area.

A representative from https www.supportdogs.org.uk would like to express a special thank to Neville Barnes shop for agreeing to hold a collection box to raise money for this charity. Around £300 has been collected since the village shop opened. Thank you to all who donated.

The meeting ended at 8.30pm

Signed…………………………………………….Date………………………………………….

The next meeting will be the Annual Meeting of the Council on the 18th May at 7.pm