UPTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held in the main hall at Upton village hall on Wednesday 27th March 2024 at 8pm.
In attendance:- Chairman Ben Shaw (BS)
Vice Chairman Neil Thorp (NT)
Councillors David Beckles (DB), Brendon Heneghan (BH), Nicola Hall (NH)
Clerk
-
To receive apologies for absence
Sally Povolotsky
-
To record any declarations of interests relating to this meeting
BS- Organised Grime.
-
Open Forum
-
To receive representations from members of the public if present.
(Maximum 15 minutes, 3 minutes per person)
No members of the public were present.
-
-
To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meetings held on:-
UPC Meeting 28th February 2024
BS proposed approving the minutes. It was unanimously agreed.
BH joined the meeting at this point.
-
Planning
-
To agree / ratify the council’s response to the following consultations
-
P24/V0285/S73 Skippets Stables, Dene Hollow, Chilton.
Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Plans) on Planning application P23/V0252/FUL. Erection of a single storey amenity building together with a 3 bay equine building.
Deadline 29.02.24
UPC returned no objections 26.02.24 -
P24/V0305/FUL Skippets Stables, Dene Hollow, Chilton.
Replacement of the range of timber stables with the erection in brick, of 9 loose boxes, WC & tack room. Re-erection of the timber stables as a straight line of 10 loose boxes.
Deadline 29.02.24
UPC returned no objections 26.02.24
-
-
To note planning permissions/withdrawals received during the month.
-
None
-
-
-
Treasurers Account to 31.01.24 £17487.62
Business Bank Instant Account to 31.01.24 £13208.87
Total funds available as at 31.01.24 £30696.49
-
-
To agree the authoriser for this month’s payments
NT & DB will authorise the payments -
To approve payments to be made noted below under the General Power of Competence and within budgeted amounts.
-
|
DATE |
Description /Payee |
Amount |
|
28.01.24 |
Clerk’s salary since last meeting |
Not publicly disclosed |
|
09.01.24 |
Kalehurst Garden Machinery Invoice 145091 |
£506.26 |
|
09.01.24 |
OALC Invoice 4561 VAT Course LM |
£36.00 |
|
09.01.24 |
OALC Invoice 3063 Audit Course LM |
£36.00 |
|
18.01.24 |
Miss E Cooper Invoice UPC001 Training LM |
£96.70 |
|
18.01.24 |
Cloudally Invoice 29413 |
£42.00 |
|
29.01.24 |
Microsoft subscription |
£4.90 |
|
Total |
£721.86 (plus salary above) |
|
Receipts |
Description |
Amount |
|
OALC |
Refund of Invoice 3063 Audit Course LM |
£36.00 |
|
Lloyds Bank |
Interest Jan 24 |
£13.63 |
|
Total |
-
-
To sign off bank reconciliation to end January
Provided in advance of the meeting & to be signed at meeting.
BS signed reconciliation. -
To agree appointment of Harry Hood to carry out Internal Audit 23/24
Unanimously agreed. -
To agree Asset Register for Internal Audit.
Unanimously agreed. -
To hear an update on the village questionnaire.
BS confirmed that the questionnaire went out in the February Upton News and BS put on Facebook and the WhatsApp group. 22 responses have so far been received. It was proposed that LM print off paper copies and they are distributed and the deadline for replies extended to the end of March. Completed questionnaires can be returned to Clerk’s address or handed in at Drop in session at the church on Good Friday. -
To hear update on the village litter pick.
Due to the fact that one person is required to take personal responsibility for the Litter pick and it cannot be done under the Parish Council, it was agreed to put an article in the Upton News explaining that the planned Litter pick will not go ahead. NT has drafted a note explaining the situation, to be published on behalf of council, in the Upton News. NH will also put it on the village WhatsApp group. It was unanimously agreed. -
VOWH Joint Local Plan
BS & BH have responded individually. It was agreed by 4 -1 that it be individual responses rather than as a Parish Council.
-
-
To hear any updates on any aspect of the recreation ground including play areas and maintenance.
-
Play area inspection and repairs required following inspection.
An email has been received today advising that a piece of the play equipment is damaged. NT will go to the recreation ground tomorrow and cordon off the equipment.
Council expressed concern that the play equipment is coming to the end of it’s life and the cost of repairs is becoming unsustainable. The wood surround is in need of total replacement and the wood chip needs topping up.
It was proposed to obtain quotes for total replacement of play equipment and surround before carrying out any further repairs. BH will look at different play equipment costs. NH will speak to Sally Povolotsky about possible grants. LM will request a quote from Kompan for cost of replacement. -
Pump Track and clearance work.
BH will get a quote for work to be carried out in May. -
Current maintenance contracts & bin collection contracts
LM & NT are meeting with a contractor to quote for both contracts and will report back to Council -
Uptonogood.
BH will speak to organisers of Uptonogood and discuss what they would like for storage of their equipment. BH will then obtain quotes and report back to council. -
Any other updates on the recreation ground
None.
-
-
To hear an update on the production & issue of Upton News – NT
Agree content for next edition of Upton News
It was agreed to put photos and details of cost of repairs of the play equipment and surround.
Details of questionnaire response deadline extended until end of March.
Note that Litter pick can not be organised by Parish Council.
Job vacancy for Clerk position and vacancy for Councillor following Graham de Wilde resignation.
BS confirmed that LM will be leaving in the middle of March. He advised that there have been no responses to advert for position so far. He proposed putting advert on with an agency.
All were in agreement.
-
To confirm the date and venue of the next full council meeting
Next full council meeting will be Wednesday 27th March 2024 at 8.00pm, in the main hall, Upton Village Hall.
Meeting ended 9.50pm