UPTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of Upton Parish Council held in the meeting room at Upton village hall on Wednesday 29th November 2023 at 7pm.
In attendance:- Chairman Ben Shaw (BS)
Vice Chairman Neil Thorp (NT)
Councillors David Beckles (DB), Graham de Wilde (GW),
Brendan Heneghan (BH), Nicola Hall (NH)
Clerk Lisa Morgan (LM)
- To receive apologies for absence
None.
- To record any declarations of interests relating to this meeting
None.
- To hear any updates on the maintenance of the recreation ground
3.1 Car park improvement options (GW)
Extending the car park has been put on hold until the village survey has been completed.
Bollards will be installed to prevent cars driving onto the grass.
3.2 Any other updates on the recreation ground
Following a discussion with Scofell, BH concluded that the previous quote from Scofel would not
solve the problem of removing the roots and stumps from the side of the pump track.
GW has obtained a quote from Didcot Plant Hire for a digger and a dumper truck for a week but in
view of Health & Safety, it was agreed that GW was not trained or insured to carry out work.
BH will go back to Scofell for a quote to dig out and remove roots. BH will also obtain another quote
for the work to be carried before a decision is made.
All agreed that the work needs to be carried out over the winter and ideally to use a contractor.
The Girl’s football team will no longer be training at the recreation ground. LM will write to the club to
ask that they remove their equipment from the garage and return the garage key to us.
BH suggested drawing up an agreement, in future, for societies wanting to use the recreation ground.
It was agreed to set up a working group to discuss revenue opportunities for the use of the ground.
BH & NH will head up.
- To hear an update on Speed Watch Activities (BH)
BH confirmed that the signs are up but nothing else to report. BH will offer volunteers to carry out
speed checks.
- To hear an update on Risk Management (NT)
5.1 Updating of the Risk Management document
Unanimously agreed to amend document as per NT’s amendment. BH thanked NT for his hard work
on the updating of the document.
5.2 Compliance, GDPR & any other risk management updates
None.
- To hear an update on the production & issue of Upton News (NT)
Agree content for next edition of Upton News
It was agreed that a note would be put in thanking Jessie West for delivering the new bus timetable.
A thank you to Uptonogood and an update on the budget for 2024.
All agreed.
- To hear an update on IT
Discuss documentation update for the website
A report was received from P McLaughlin detailing that the website will require an update in the next
3 to 6 months.
Work is also required on the Village Calendar.
LM will ask P McLaughlin to obtain a quote for the updates and maintenance work.
- To set the date(s) and venue(s) of future full council meetings
8.1 To agree the list of meeting dates for 2024. New date needed for APM
APM requested for 1st May 2024. Waiting confirmation of booking from UVHAT
8.2 The next full council meeting will be held on Wednesday 17th January 2024 at 8.00pm in the meeting
room in the village hall.
Meeting finished at 8.50pm.