5th August 2021
Uffington Parish Council
Approved Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at Uffington Village hall on Thursday 5th August 2021 at 7.30pm
Present: Barrie Brown – Chairman, Cllr N Sheehan – Vice Chairman, Cllr Woolf, Cllr Hartley, Cllr Barratt, and two members of the public
Clerk – Mrs. K Turner
- Apologies : Cllr Kelham Cooke, Cllr Hutchins, Cllr Genever
- Approval of Minutes from 24th June:
Pro: Cllr WoolfSec: Cllr Barratt
- Matters Arising
Streetlight 123 is still not operational. Action – clerk to report on Fixmystreet.com
Broken pedestrian safety barrier outside of Village Hall has been removed by LCC. No replacement has been fitted. Action – Clerk to report back to LCC and receive a response if barrier is to be replaced on footway
Parking situation in Needham Allen Close. Clerk previously sent all previous information to Cllr Rosemary Trollope Bellew to follow up with District Council. No response as of yet.
Cllr Brown updated the council on former clerk Mrs Lorraine Thurston on her recent ill health and was noted that she is improving and feeling much better.
- Complaint meeting decision
Cllr Brown briefly discussed the complaint meeting that was held on 1 July. One item that was brought to attention that the complainant had in possession information that had been confidential. Conclusion from the complaint meeting was for the Council to retract the Charity policy that had been agreed upon in November 2020. Cllr Brown called for the policy to be retracted.
Cllr Woolf abstained from the voting.
3 Cllrs voted in favour
Pro: Cllr Barratt Sec: Cllr Hartley
- – Clerk to write to all Cllr’s and re-iterate code of conduct and confidentiality constraints
- Uffington Playpark
Final quote received from preferred supplier has still come in over budget despite a productive meeting held in July which was disappointing for all. Playground working group to re-convene and discuss further options regarding funding and suppliers
One member of the public left the meeting
- Beekeepers Request of step installation
On 13 July the clerk received communication from the beekeepers association that they wished to install some steps to enable members to walk up and down the bank onto the back field from the allotments to access their hives. The allotment working group met with a member of the beekeepers association to talk through the proposal. The working group could see no objections to the steps being installed. This was discussed with full council and agreed upon provided that a clear notice is installed to mark this as private and not a public right of way. The steps will be temporary and not a permanent fixture. The beekeepers association will add this to their risk assessment and Clerk to include on the Parish Councils insurance policy
Voted all in favour
Pro: Cllr SheehanSec: Cllr Hartley
- Reports from outside bodies
Cllr Kelham Cooke report received and circulated to all Cllr’s
- Accounts
Expenditure Out
Clerk Wages June£180.72
Clerk Wages July£180.72
Allotment Refund£5
A Walker – plumber (allotments)£39.60
ICO Annual Fee£40.00
Payments In
Allotment rent (6 months)£5
Bank Balances as at 29.07.21
Treasurers Account : £760.42
Business Account : £5824.52
Cllr Brown asked if all Cllrs to confirm they had seen and read the accounts information
Pro : Cllr WoolfSec : Cllr Barratt
All Cllr’s agreed
- Declaration of Interest
- Planning
S21/1507 – Lindsey Cottage , Greatford Road, Uffington, PE9 4ST –
Cllrs discussed this needs to be looked at (received in after agenda had been published) any comments to be presented before 20 August
S21/1439 - 51 Main Road, Uffington, PE9 4SN
Cllr Sheehan noted no objection to application but wished to make a comment regarding proposed materials that are to be used in the build. Concerns over the roof and would like to raise the question if the materials to be used are consistent within the conservation area. Action – Clerk to send comments to SKDC
- Correspondence – Full list of correspondence received
An allotment tenant raised a request with the Council on the 18 July regarding a footpath on their plot. The allotment working group met with the tenant and discussed the request.
It was apparent that the amount of unused land taken up by the path is substantial and leaves wasted space that could be put to better use by the tenant. Full council agreed that the path could be removed by the tenant and permission granted. Voted all in favour
Correspondence received from LCC regarding an application for more trees for the village from Treescapes. The Council discussed the offer but struggled to think of any place suitable in the village for further trees. The notice will be put onto Facebook page and the village noticeboards to encourage any resident to put forward their suggestions for anywhere they think new trees could be planted
- Any other business
Speedwatch sessions in the village are currently running 3 times a week and local police are in attendance and are fully supportive of the project. Cllr Woolf presents the info from the session to the police. Communication has gone out to try and recruit new volunteers for the project. Cllr Woolf also explained that the group were researching community Speedwatch area signs and if this could be an option in the future for the village
Cllr Hartley has noticed an increase in aggregate lorries coming through the village. Clerk to investigate.
The hedges on the pavements on Main road opposite Hindmarch Garage are not due cut until after nesting season. These are now a major obstruction for pedestrians due to them being overgrown. Clerk to contact Stamford town council
Several reports have been received from residents regarding Copthill corner and the lack of visibility of oncoming traffic due to the hedges and overgrown grass. LCC have already reported that they have visited and cut the verges once this summer and will not be back out. Several Cllrs volunteered to clear away the hedges themselves but unsure of any implications. Clerk to contact Cllr Rosemary Trollope Bellew for advice regarding this issue.
The new hedge along the play area needs preparation for the new saplings that are currently being cared for by several Cllr’s until they can be planted. The ground also needs attention in preparation for the wild flower stretch. Working group to get together at a later planned date to discuss and plan the planting of the trees.
Request made from member of the public for the Langdyke Trust to be introduced to the Council. Information to be sent to the Clerk for circulation to all PC members
Meeting closed at 8.55pm
Next Full Council Meeting to be held at the Village Hall on Wednesday 15th September at 7.30pm