UPTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the meeting held
26th February 2025
In attendance: Chair Ben Shaw (BS)
Councillors David Beckles (DB) Brendan Heneghan (BH) Chris Seelig (CS) Francoise Yates (FY)
Clerk Lisa Heneghan
District Councillors Hayleigh Gascoigne and Debra Dewhurst
Conservative candidate Cath Convery
Villagers Emma & Jonathan, Ivan Evans
1. Apologies for absence
None received
2. Declarations of interests relating to this meeting
None declared
3. Open Forum
3.1 To receive representations from members of the public if present.
# Jonathan & Emma who had had cars stolen sought to raise awareness of the information they had been given by police. Thought that there are 2-3 organised crime groups from the W Midlands who do recce visits around properties in villages with quick links to good road networks, usually looking for cars. They tend to target three houses at a times to minimize risk of being caught. It is likely they will come back in 12 – 18 months. In light of this, the approach to CCTV was queried. This met with some resistance. Advised Neighbourhood Watch meeting next week where the matter will clearly be discussed at length. Agreed to include the query on village survey. High praise for police team.
*7.23 Cath Convery arrived
## Ivan Evans attended to advise many villagers have concerns about proposed closure of the Recreation Ground gates and felt there had been insufficient consultation.
*7.30 BH arrived. The background to needing to protect the ground and cost of maintenance was explained. It was noted that the Council feels insufficient comment comes from villagers and that such comment is encouraged and welcomed.
4. To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meetings held on 22nd January 2024
Approved – unanimous
5. Planning
5.1 consideration of application P25/V0201/DPO, for development work at Skippets Stables Dene Hollow Chilton.
no objections – approved 4 in favour, 1 abstention
5.2 consideration of application P25/V0899/FUL, for development work at Dulcina Newmans Close.
no objections now – went to planning committee as previously overturned. 3 in favour. 2 abstentions – carried through
5.3 consideration of P25/V0296/DIS, for development work at Pentreen Stream Road.
no objections 3 in favour, 2 abstentions – carried through
6. To review village matters:
6.1 A quote for the survey has been received which includes a full breakdown. Price agreed and awaiting time line.
6.2 Consideration to close the Recreation Ground gates: UVHAT is no longer supportive so plan is on hold. It will be an item added to the survey. Have noted legal clauses in deeds that state entrance must be available. Consideration still to put sleepers to stop people driving on grass. Bob Lott, a major benefactor, put forward, through BH, if UVHAT want an overflow, they should pay for it in full. Voted not to close car park – 4 in favour, 1 abstained – access does not mean parking. Need to challenge deeds as how UVHAT run hall as it is believed many of the covenants are being broken. All in favour. As an aside, CS advised he had spoken to the ambulance service who would have no view on the gates being locked although the fire service might.
6.3 Consideration of first aid training to be offered to two parishioners who would then be listed as points of contact if needed most notably on the village Emergency Plan. Course to be paid for by UPC.
Unanimous agreement. A message to go in Upton News and on website
6.4 Keep Britain Tidy campaign:
Although a willingness to be involved, not considered viable as restrictions and constraints from health and safety. Lliability and insurance key issues. i.e. picking up needles etc DC’s asked to come back with how this can be done legally HG said that ‘sustainable didcot’ could possibly be covered under their insurance – HG to ask
6.5 Power cuts and SSE:
A villager had requested support. Transformers upgraded which has helped. Speculation that higher drain on power than should be – put down to solar panels, car chargers & heat pumps. Ultimately down to residents to have references and go direct to SSE. Wherever outages are happening it is just weakest point on grid, not because that particular house is making a more significant demand. Nothing else for the council to do.
6.6 Neighbourhood Watch. This had already been an item on the Agenda prior to villagers deciding to reignite the group that had once existed. There is a meeting Tuesday 4th March at 8.00 in the Village Hall. The Council is in full support.
7. Finance & Administration
Treasurers Account to 31/01/25 £25,397.09 Business Bank Instant Account to 31/01/25 £12,959.66 Total funds available as at 01/02/25 £38,356.75
7.1 BS & DB to be bank authorisers for next month. All voted in favour
7.2 Payments for January approved within budgeted amounts. Agreed by all
7.3 Bank reconciliation to end of Jan 25 signed
7.4 An alternative bank with an account exempt of charges for a Council organisation is being sought – update at next meeting
7.5 Abbott Denton appointed as internal auditors for 2024/25. Voted unanimously
7.6 Refund of payment for work completed by villager on tools in garage in November approved – unanimously
7.7 Increase in mobile phone standing order from £7.50 to £7.98 / month advised and acknowledged
8. Report from District Councilors
HG & DD reported that local govt reorganization IS going to happen and recommended that all units work together. The White Paper on devolution was issued just before Christmas with the intent to make control more uniform across the country. It will no longer two tier but unitary. Leaders of all councils have met. It is possible Oxfordshire may join W Berkshire. Possible doughnut structure. HG encouraged councils to engage in process. Time scale 2 years for shadow council. Following year everything would stop for the full election. Strategic authority would have a mayor. Will put huge financial burden on councils. Councils won’t start projects because they won’t be able to complete them within the time scale.
New Didcot GP Surgery for Valley Park. Planning app has gone in. Under consultation until 27.2.25 Changes have been made addressing concerns. It was noted that it is a small space. Car parking difficult on site but other local parking not restricted. To be run by Woodlands but no knowledge of number of staff. 4 consultation rooms. Trigger point for money being released is much sooner than it was for Great Western Park and will be at 500 homes occupied. There will be 4.000 homes built. NHS does not have to build another surgery. It was asked what conversations DC having with BOB but HG & DD had not received any communication. It was asked how the new Woodlands will affect existing one. The answer was it will be run by same group as a satellite surgery. It is up to NHS to decide how to use the money – which is going to be i.r.o. £3-4m. It was also asked if Valley Park is having a designated area for travellers the answer to which is yes. Will this have impact on areas such as behind The George – all that had happened so far is that the owners have been requested to submit a retrospective application. DC have done all they can and now up to enforcement officer to step up
9. Recreation ground including play areas and maintenance.
9.1 Noted that the broken fencing that was in a dangerous state was removed in October 2024. Also noted that the Council is legally bound to put back a cattle proof fence. The deeds stating this to be published. £6k has been accrued and budget to be reviewed as £10k is needed. BH wants to see letter from Adkins
9.2 Play area inspections are going to be attended by FY, CS & DB
9.3 Some repairs to the playground will be made before the next inspection and a view will then be taken on the extent of any further work.
10. To hear progress on IT situation: .gov email and website
Need to bring 3 domains down to 1. Don’t yet know financial implication of hosting new domain. CS asked to be liaison for taking this forward.
11. To agree any contributions to Upton News for March
Recreation Ground gates. First Aiders. Maintenance will be done on playground. Add link to minutes.
12. To confirm the date and venue of the next full council meeting
Next full council meeting will be Wednesday 26th March 2025 at 19.00 in the meeting room
Meeting closed at 21.50