Minutes

Uffington Parish Council

Approved Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at Uffington Village Hall on Monday 9th January 2023

Present: Barrie Brown – Chairman, Cllr Sheehan – Vice Chairman, Cllr Hutchins, Cllr Barratt, Cllr Genever, Cllr Church, Cllr Hartley, Cllr Trollope Bellew, Cllr Cooke, Cllr Baxter (joined meeting at item 6) and two members of public

Clerk – Mrs. K Turner

1-55/2023 - Apologies: None

2-56/2023 - Approval of minutes from 16th November 2022

The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record subject to comment from Cllr Sheehan regarding the monthly account report being separate to the minutes in November. Clerk to include in minutes as one document

Pro: Cllr Barratt            Sec: Cllr Sheehan

RESOLVED

3-57/2023 – Matters Arising and Clerks Report

Cllr Brown read through previous minutes dated 16th November.

Clerk to contact new Highways manager and Cllr Baxter regarding convex mirror

Clerk to contact residents on Casewick Lane to request height of hedge to be trimmed down to help with pedestrian visibility

Report has been sent from LCC with statistics in relation to traffic volume and speed in the village.

Continue to log repair request for pavement outside Croft farm

New Parish Council laptop to be purchased by Clerk with annual Microsoft office subscription. Up to the value of £350 total

Pro: Cllr Hutchins        Sec: Cllr Hartley

RESOLVED

4-58/2023 – Budget and Precept

Council members discussed the budget for 2023/2024. Extraordinary expenditure has been budgeted for the financial year for essential maintenance to be carried out at the allotments and also for the green areas and tree maintenance. All areas including insurance and liability have increased. Uffington previously had their precept set at £4000 and this was lowered in 2019 to £3000 increased to £3100 in 2022. This has resulted in using reserve funds for annual expenditures.

A proposal for the years precept to be set to £4000 This calculates at a rise of £2.90 per household from Tax Band D £9.81 to Tax Band D £12.71 per annum

Pro: Cllr Church           Sec: Cllr Sheehan

RESOLVED

5-59/2023 – Bee Keeping agreement

Proposal to accept the Bee keeping agreement for 2023

Pro: Cllr Church           Sec: Cllr Hartley

RESOLVED

6-60/2023 – Tree Maintenance

Cllr Brown updated the Council members on the current situation on the trees in Lindsey Road that require maintenance. One resident had kindly offered to contribute with the cost and had instructed a contractor to carry out the works in December, unfortunately the contractor can no longer complete the works. A new quote for the three trees from a contractor received for £500 plus VAT. Contractor has also confirmed that there is no requirement to fell or remove any of the trees. Cllr Genever commented that he disagreed with the works and questioned f the works were absolutely necessary. Council members agreed that the professional opinion from the tree surgeon and the requests from a resident to have the trees cut back were valid for the works to commence

Cllr Brown agreed to be in contact with the contractor to oversee the works and to take photos of the trees for reference.

Proposal put forward for the Parish Council to cover the full cost of the works and to proceed with the work needed

Pro: Cllr Hartley          Sec: Cllr Church

RESOLVED

7-61/2023 – Allotment Rental

A proposal was put to the Council members to raise the annual allotment rent from £20 to  £25.00 for a full plot and £12.50 for a half plot to cover the water rates and minor maintainance. No objections raised

Pro: Cllr Church           Sec: Cllr Hartley

RESOLVED

8-62/2023 – Outside Reports

Cllr Baxter reiterated the use of fixmystreet for issues and concerns in the village. Time taken to fix items was mentioned. The village road sign is yet to be fixed and was reported over a year ago. Street lights were reported to be dimmed and the time taken to replace the bulbs. Cllr Baxter updated that the keys to the Deeping Leisure centre have been handed back to the County Council and several groups are trying to find ways on trying to keep the leisure centre open in the future. The flooding on Newstead corner was discussed and brought to Cllr Baxters attention. Cllr Genever explained the drainage problem at Newstead corner and the corner of Casewick Lane and School Lane

Cllr Trollope Bellew updated the Council members on the status of the Stamford arts centre. A new owner to run the café has been found and in the final stages. Hopes for this to be up and running in the near future. Repair to the Collyweston slate roof is also scheduled for the near future. A review of high street markets will be carried out and Stamford was highlighted as having a very successful market and a variety of stall holders. A review will take place in Bourne and Grantham to ensure the right balance is achieved to encourage more use of the markets in these towns. Cllr Church commented on the amount of traffic in the pedestrian areas of Stamford. It is a known problem and SKDC in talks with Stamford Town Council regarding solution of possible bollards in place

Cllr Cooke reported on elections that are due to take place in March and that there will be a new voter ID registration process for 2023. No details have been received as yet and await further information and guidance. Cllr Cooke mentioned that the contracts for the new HQ in Grantham have been exchanged and that the new offices are more adequate and fit for purpose and will be more cost effective with heating etc than the older offices. 3.9 million has been allocated from the previous EU development fund for rural development. Cllr Cooke noted that this money is largely ringfenced for certain groups and areas and will be used in specific areas.

9-63/2023 – Accounts

Expenditure Out from 16/11/2022

Clerks Wages November & Dec                £321.28

J Hartley Litter Pick Nov & Dec                 £80.00

UVH Hall Hire                                            £20.00

Total                                                          £421.28

Payments in

       Interest                                                     £0.21

Bank balance as at 02/01/2023

Treasurers account: £961.10

Business account:£3022.06

Lloyds Business Savings: £6078.55

Melton Mowbray BS:£NIL

Cllr Brown asked all Council members to confirm they had read and seen the account details

No comments. Proposal to accept

Pro: Cllr Barratt          Sec: Cllr Sheehan

RESOLVED

10-64/2023 – No declarations no planning

11-65/2023 – Planning Notices

-S22/2437 - Mr. S & Mrs. N Friend, Hummingbird's Nest, Greatford Road, Uffington, Lincolnshire, PE9 4SP - Proposed alterations and extension to existing detached dwelling.

Cllr Hutchins and Cllr Sheehan commented that the proposed plans are more in keeping with the village than previous plans. No objections

-PL/0132/22 – Uffington School, School Lane, Uffington -To install Secondary internal glazing to admin office and Heads office and remove and replace 4no. windows to classroom 10 on the South and East elevations of the school building and install safeguarding fencing on front of the wall and in Playground area. Cllr Church has forwarded comments from resident at 8 school Lane regarding this application.

Several concerns were raised by Cllr Church regarding the material to be used for the fencing and where it was to be placed. Cllr Baxter suggested that the Parish Council contact the conservation officer for comment on this application. Clerk to investigate reports and contact officer if necessary

12-66/2023- Correspondence

Letter from resident received regarding possible felling of tree in Lindsey Road and parking along Casewick Lane grass verge. Tree maintenance has been previously discussed and no tree will be removed.

Parking issue with photographs to be reported to Cllr Baxter and Highways manager at LCC and suggestions of bollards or concrete edging to be installed to prevent further damage to the verge

12-67/2023 - Any Other business

Mallard Pass – pre-examination stage. UPC will register an interest for comment

Cllr Sheehan wishes to contact LCC highways once again re Greatford Road footpath

A request from a resident regarding an installation of a Petanque court. As this arrived after the agenda was published this will need to be discussed at the next full Council meeting

Cllr Brown and Cllr Sheehan inspected all grit bins in the village and they have been re-filled all but one on Bertie Lane. This will be checked in due course

VH have planted over 200 bulbs in their garden and over 400 trees from the Woodland trust have been planted in the village.

A request for a village map to be displayed in the VH for when meetings are taking place so areas can be identified by everyone attending meetings

No ideas have been put forward or meeting planned for the Kings Coronation in May

Next Council meeting to be held in the Village Hall on Monday 20th February 2023 at 7.30pm

Meeting closed at 9.05pm