Minutes

December 2021

Uffington Parish Council

Approved Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at Uffington Village Hall on Wednesday 8th December 2021 7.30pm

Present: Barrie Brown – Chairman, Cllr Sheehan, Cllr Hartley, Cllr Genever, Cllr Hutchins, Cllr Barratt, County Cllr Baxter and five members of the public

Clerk – Mrs. K Turner

  1. Apologies: Cllr Kelham Cooke, Cllr Church, Cllr Trollope- Bellew
  2. Approval of Minutes from 27th October:  Comments to note from Cllr Sheehan that amendments to the rules of allotment agreement are to be applied prospectively

Pro: Cllr Genever     Sec: Cllr Barratt

Cllr Brown moved to original agenda item number 8 to discuss Mallard Pass solar farm.

  1. Mallard Pass solar Farm

Cllr Brown addressed the meeting and updated everyone on the communication that had been received regarding the project. No feedback had been received from residents of Uffington direct to the Clerk in response to the proposal apart from 1 piece of correspondence. Information had been posted onto the Parish Council website, the notice boards and also on the village Facebook page. Details of all meetings that were being held in response were also advertised. Cllr Brown asked the Council members for their views & how best to handle the situation for the residents of Uffington. Cllr Hutchins expressed concern that as a Parish Council, without having any correspondence on the matter, would not know how to represent the Village as a whole as no views had been put forward. Cllr Sheehan commented on how far the solar farm would encroach into Uffington and felt solidarity with other Parishes was needed. Cllr Genever commented he understood geographically where the project is to be situated and was ideal but also noted the scale. A suggestion of other sites to be put forward and considered for example Ketton quarry

One member of the public stated they had not received the information booklet from Mallard pass that was sent to residents. A representative from the Mallard Pass action group felt that parishioners were perhaps still unaware of the project or the scale of the proposal. Major concerns made were of the sheer scale, construction and disruption through the village and the environmental impact.

Cllr Baxter addressed the meeting and stated that the application will be determined by The Secretary of State, and that District and County Councillors will be bypassed meaning that individuals must respond if they object by 16th December. Cllr Baxter reported that he had spoken to representatives of Mallard Pass in order to understand the project and its impact on the area. He also stated we are in a state of monumental climate change & that the UK are facing various problems with energy supply including availability of electricity and gas. He reported that there were no simple solutions and other parts of Lincolnshire were facing applications for nuclear waste disposal as well as the extraction of oil and gas. Cllr Baxter stated that based on the current available information he was not opposed to the proposal.

Before any representation could be made to Mallard Pass the Parish Council agreed that a leaflet would be delivered to all Uffington residents asking them to send in their views to the Clerk and a reminder of the December 16 deadline for any views to be made individually direct to Mallard Pass.

Cllr Brown then moved to original agenda items 12 and 13

  1. Declaration of interest
  2. None
  3.  
  4. Planning

S21/2283 – Mr & Mrs Webster – Willowbrook Greatford Rd, Uffington PE9 4SS

Erection of detached bungalow

No comments/objections from Cllr Hutchins, Cllr Sheehan, Cllr Barratt, Cllr Hartley.

Cllr Genever commented that the build would leave no room around the existing house and spoil the appearance of site. The Question was raised regarding an application for a bungalow being proposed before 2009. Applicants replied to say no previous planning has been requested for this build before.

Applicants present were made aware that on the application form the materials are stated as brick when in fact it should read Stamford stone.

S21/2243 – Mrs. Sophie Cornish – Old shop Cottage, 61 Main Road, Uffington Lincs, PE9 4SN

Cllr Sheehan has concerns that a 2-storey incongruous conversion, which is visible from the main road, would be inappropriate in the heart of the conservation area. Cllr Barratt commented that from the application it was not in keeping with the surrounding buildings. Comments to be put forward to SKDC

Cllr Genever formally noted that the following application was not noted on the original agenda.

SKDC had notified that the original document was not available to send but was available online to view in full

S21/2153 – Mr. T. Lennon - Land Between No 9 And 21 Main Road Uffington Stamford Lincs

Cllr Hutchins comment that they have fully addressed the comments the PC made on the previous application in November 2019.  The plans have been altered in quite a creative way to eliminate concerns and to maintain the street view approaching the conservation area from the west. Cllr Brown, Cllr Sheehan, Cllr Barratt, Cllr Hartley had no further comments to make. Cllr Genever opposed the application on grounds that it would still not maintain the street view on entering the conservation area

  1. Matters Arising
  2. tree has been ordered from the Woodland trust and will be cared for by Cllr Brown until it can be planted.

Playground project – Meeting went well with supplier on 22/11/2021. Utility maps will not be needed as contractors will do searches before any digs commence. Provisional date of 10th January 2022 given for installation. C Harris to be contacted to try and mow the play area if ground dry

Cllr Baxter noted that he would represent the Parish Council for any highway issues to help have them resolved. Cllr then left the meeting

  1. SLCC Membership

Full council agreed for new membership to be acquired at an annual cost of £85

  1. Allotment Rental –

Full Council agreed to keep 2022 allotment rental at the rate of £20.00

  1. Extension of Footpath along Greatford road

Footpath requirement discussed and Council agreed this was still necessary to follow up again from previous requests. Cllr Sheehan agreed to help with follow up requests

Full Council agreed

  1. Alteration of Speed limit along Stamford Road

The original speed limit proposal was fought hard against but unfortunately was voted in favour. Evidence would need to be brought forward to justify lowering the current speed of 50mph the Council objects to the current 50mph limit in place. Request to be put to LCC for the speed limit to be reduced

Full council agreed

  1. Speedwatch Group Hall hire cost

Expenditure for use of village hall for Speedwatch group to meet 2-3 times in 2022. This would be to discuss data and training for new volunteer. Cost to Uffington PC

Pro: Cllr Brown     Sec: Cllr Hutchins

Full Council agreed

  1. Accounts

Expenditure Out

     Clerks Wages Nov                           £198.20

      Litter picking invoices Nov              £40.00

            C J Harris Grass maintenance        £240.00

            Anglian Water                                  £140.12

 

           Total                                                  £618.32

Payments In

SKDC Street Clean                           £231.66

 

Bank balance as at 07.12.21

Treasurer’s account: £916.14

Business account:£5,606.37

 

Cllr Brown asked if all Cllrs to confirm they had seen and read the accounts information

Pro: Cllr Barratt         Sec: Cllr Hutchins

All Cllr’s agreed

  1. Precept

Budget drafted for year 2022/23 which recognises a similar level of regular costs and forecasts for increases in insurance and training. Concern was expressed at the level of reserves going forward following a freeze on the precept in previous years.

Council agreed for precept to be set at £3100 at a 3% raise from previous year

Pro: Cllr HartleySec: Cllr Sheehan

Full Council agreed

  1. Correspondence

Council agreed to contact Stamford transition regarding the cycle and footpath proposal in the village and invite for a meeting for a discussion on the project and for questions to be raised and more details

Allotment tenant query received and will be responded to.

Parish noticeboard will need more space for full council business papers and will need to be replaced in the next coming year with a lock due to previous incidents with papers being removed, defaced & becoming untidy

Allotment agreement to be amended in the New year – Cllr Hutchins

  1. Any other Business

Cllr Sheehan raised point regarding 31 Lindsey road boundary that has been moved. A new fence has been erected from the existing boundary onto Parish Council land. This will be recorded to SKDC and Clerk will notify land registry that the Council believe this to be an error. Clerk to write letter to resident informing of this

Streetlight not working on footpath at end of Lindsey road – Clerk to record to LCC

Fence adjacent to Gate on Casewick lane not in place at end of public footpath - Cllr Genever to talk to resident

Parking from school traffic on Casewick Lane has resulted in the grass verge becoming churned up and messy. Strictly no parking is allowed on the verge – Clerk to contact Mrs. Simms Headteacher at Uffington School to send communication via Parentmail. Clerk to also contact the village PCSO regarding school parking

 

            Meeting closed at 9.45pm

Next Full Council Meeting to be held at the Village Hall on Wednesday 19th January 2022 at 7.30pm