Minutes

Minutes of the Uffington Parish Council Meeting held remotely on Thursday 13th August 2020 at 7:30pm

Present by zoom: Cllr Brown – Chairman, Cllr Hutchins, Cllr Barratt, Cllr Woolf, Cllr Sheehan, Cllr Hartley, Cllr Genever and four members of the public. Clerk – Mrs L Thurston (Minutes)

1. Apologies: Cllr Trollope-Bellew, Cllr Cooke

2. Minutes of the previous meeting 2nd July: agreed with some amendments:

Cllr Baxter was present as a member of the public and not in his role as councillor.

Councillors strongly object to the Tallington Parish Council bypass proposal.

Prop: Cllr Hutchins, Sec: Cllr Barratt

3. Matters arising.

Cycle paths. Sustainable Stamford contacted the chairman with a survey to gauge views of Uffington residents. 39 people responded in support of both more and better cycle paths.

Mowing policy. Grass areas are well kept at the moment. Councillors agreed that there is no need to adopt a formal policy.

Charity policy. Cllr Brown has found a good template for a policy and has shared it with councillors for discussion at the next meeting.

Tallington parish council meetings. Uffington Parish Council have rejected the recent by-pass proposal drawn up by Tallington Parish Council. Councillors unanimously agreed not to pursue this.

Allotments. No reply received to letter.

4. Website.

The clerk and Cllr Woolf attended remote training for the new parish website. This will be an accessible site. Councillors agreed that extra paid hours would be made available to support the clerk to populate the new site.

Prop: Cllr Woolf, Sec: Cllr Brown

5. Reports from outside bodies. None

6. Accounts

Payments

Grass cutting 15th June, 3rd July, 20th July (Received as one invoice) £180.00

Stationery: paper, envelopes, thank you card £42.48

Zoom monthly charge for May and June (Received as one invoice) £28.78

Hi-vis vests for Speed Watch £42.48

Clerk wages July (gross £169.35)

Receipts

VAT reclaimed for 2019/20 £51.43

Bank balances at end of July (before all of the above were taken into account)

Treasurers account £606.07

Deposit account £8042.27

Prop: Cllr Barratt. Sec: Cllr Hutchins

Speed sign

The battery is not holding its charge and is failing after one week.

A new battery is needed at £191.56. A full health check on the equipment (which includes a warranty) is £90. Councillors agreed to fund this. Prop: Cllr Hartley. Sec: Cllr Hutchins

7. Declaration of interest for planning. None.

8. Planning

S20/1158. 32 Lindsey Road, Uffington. Proposal: Single storey front extension. Replace flat roof of bay window, kitchen extension and garage with tiled roof. No objections but comments made about a possible change of use of the garage.

S20/1172 Carrs Lodge Farm, Newstead Lane, Newstead. Section 73 application for the removal of Condition 1 (grain silos) of S18/0256 (Prior notification for conversion of existing agricultural buildings to 3 dwellings). No objections.

S20/1262 The Old Rectory, 2 Greatford Road, Uffington. Tree preservation order. Horse chestnut (red) reduce tree by a maximum of 5 metres. No objections.

SKDC planning decisions received

S20/0773 The Lodge, Casewick Park, Casewick. Below ground swimming pool and associated hard landscaped terrace. Approved.

S20/0843 Barclay House, Bertie Lane, Uffington. Tree Preservation Order. Remove low overhanging ash tree limb to appropriate pruning cut. Approved.

S20/0897 17 School Lane, Uffington. Proposal: two storey and single storey rear extensions. External alterations including replacement windows/doors, replacement dormer windows,replacement roof tiles and render of dwelling. Approved.

S20/0500 Proposal: Erection of a single bungalow within front garden. Plot Adjacent To 19 Somes Close, Uffington. Refused.

9. Correspondence.

Charity policy.

Adopting a charity policy would give a guideline to refuse or donate. Individual requests would be considered in line with the policy and benefit to the village as a whole.

Hedge plants near play area.

The hedge has not grown as expected. One section has taken and there are lots of nettles.

Cllrs agreed that the weeds should be removed and new hedge plants put in.

The whole area between Barclay House and the play area is uneven and there is a tree overhanging the footpath. There was discussion about professional input for this area.

4 School Lane.

Concerns have been expressed about the tenancy of this property. Clerk has contacted the SKDC Housing Officer and is awaiting further information.

Gypsies in the village

Concerns have been expressed about Gypsies in the village. No damage has been done. Councillors agreed that use of the allotment water was public spirited and essential.

10. Any other business

Gatepost alongside the school field needs mending near 15 Casewick Lane. Clerk to report.

Loose slats in the playground fence have been mended.

There is a crack in the wall between the play area and Lindsey Road. Action: Cllr Brown to advise which properties are involved.

Wall at 29 Main Road looks bowed. Cllr Genever to look and report back.

Government white paper planning for the future. Cllr Sheehan to investigate this further to see if a neighbourhood development plan would benefit the parish.

Meeting closed at 20:30. Next meeting: Thursday 24th September @ 19:30 by zoom unless social distancing guidelines change.