UPTON PARISH COUNCIL
NOTICE OF MEETING
18 February 2026
To: All Members of the Council
You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of Upton Parish Council to be held in the Small Meeting Room, Upton Village Hall, on Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 19:00.
Members of the public and press are welcome to attend.
Signed
Benjamin Shaw
Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer
Upton Parish Council
AGENDA
- Apologies for Absence
To receive and consider apologies for absence.
- Declarations of Interest
To receive any declarations of interest relating to items on this agenda.
- Open Forum
3.1 To receive representations from members of the public
(Maximum 15 minutes total; 3 minutes per speaker)
- Minutes
To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 28 January 2026.
Note: Any amendments must be agreed by vote.
- Planning
5.1 To consider any new planning applications received since publication of the agenda.
5.2 To note updates or decisions in respect of previously considered applications, including:
- P25/V2762/FUL
- P26/V0101/PIP
5.3 Councillor request for draft response to be circulated prior to submission.
5.4 To Note Council Failure to respond to Planning application P26/V0126/HH Eventurer Prospect Road Upton Didcot was not responded to within deadline or a request for the deadline to be extended as advised in emails sent 16.02.2026 & 12.02.02.2026 & 11.02.2026 and Phone communication to all council members by the Clerk & RFO
- To hear representation from the District Councillor
- To hear representation from the County Councillor
- Village Matters
8.1 Recreation Ground / Grounds Maintenance Contract
To receive an update from the Clerk on TFM’s best and final offer and to ratify appointment of contractor.
8.2 Volunteer / Working Groups
To discuss structured engagement via Village Survey and Upton News regarding:
- Play area working group
- Community land working group
8.3 Tree Works / At-Risk Trees
To receive update on quotation and invoice from Michael Wilson and agree next steps.
8.4 Play Area – Maintenance and Safety
- To consider quotations for replacement swing beam
- To consider trim trail rope adaptation proposal
- To confirm inspection rota
8.5 IT & Website Migration
- To receive update on hosting support ticket
- To review progress on .gov migration
- To consider outsourcing website migration if required to meet April deadline
8.6 Machinery Servicing and Security
To receive report following February servicing and consider any write-off or replacement of strimmer equipment.
8.7 Village Survey
To receive update and agree next steps for distribution and scope.
8.8 Parish Emergency Plan
To consider framework for updating the Parish Emergency Plan and potential volunteer engagement.
8.9 Recreation Ground Signage
To receive update on volunteer repair works.
- Governance
9.1 Delegated Decision-Making Arrangements (March 2020)
To receive and note the Clerk’s Governance Note regarding delegated decision-making arrangements adopted on 19 March 2020, and to consider whether Council wishes to:
- Reaffirm the existing delegation;
- Amend the scheme of delegation; or
- Formally withdraw the delegation.
9.2 Oxfordshire Unitary / “Ridgeway” Proposal – Consultation Response
- To note the Government consultation on proposals for two new unitary councils for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, including the “Ridgeway Council” option (closing date 26 March 2026).
- To consider delegating authority to Cllr Peter Head to prepare and submit a detailed consultation response reflecting the Council’s previously agreed support (Minute October 2025, Item 12).
9.3 National Planning Policy Framework – December 2025 Consultation
- To note the Government consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (closing date 10 March 2026).
- To consider the Council’s corporate response, including issues arising from recent planning applications and appeals locally and within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
- To consider delegating authority to Cllr Peter Head to prepare and submit the response.
- Finance & Administration
Balances:
- Community Reserve £35,312.25
- Community Account £71,186.80
- Total Funds Available £106,499.05
10.1 Authorisation of Payments
To appoint payment authoriser for March 2026.
10.2 Approval of Payments
To approve payments made since the last meeting within budgeted amounts.
| Transaction Date | Transaction Description | Debit Amount | Credit Amount |
| 28/01/2026 | MICROSOFT | 10.3 | |
| 27/01/2026 | MICROSOFT | 4.9 | |
| 26/01/2026 | External Audit | 315 | |
| 26/01/2026 | Playground Inspection – December | 318 | |
| 26/01/2026 | TFM | 859.8 | |
| 19/01/2026 | Bank Charges | 8.67 | |
| 15/01/2026 | Mobile | 7.98 | |
| Total | 1524.65 | ||
| 09/01/2026 | Bank Interest | 17.51 | |
| Total | 17.51 |
10.3 Citizens Advice Donation
To consider request for donation and agree amount (if any).
10.4 SLCC Membership Renewal
To consider renewal of SLCC membership (£215).
10.5 Bank Reconciliation
To sign off bank reconciliation to end of January 2026.
10.6 Professional Advice Regarding Loan Agreement – Consideration and Next Steps
- To formally note professional advice received from the Clerk & RFO, the Council’s solicitor, and the Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils regarding the requirement for specialist legal advice.
- To consider governance, legal, audit, indemnity, insurance, and Code of Conduct implications.
- To consider whether the Council wishes to:
- Instruct a solicitor specialising in parish and local council law;
- Consider alternative solicitors identified by OALC; or
- Determine any other lawful course of action, noting that any decision contrary to professional advice must be explicitly resolved and minuted.
- To consider any officer or member concerns regarding governance processes and professional relationships insofar as they relate to the effective administration of the Council.
- Upton News
To agree any contributions to the March edition.
- Date of Next Meeting
To confirm the date and venue of the next full council meeting.
Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 19:00
Small Meeting Room, Upton Village Hall