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JULY 2025 DRAFT

UPLOWMAN PARISH COUNCIL: DRAFT MINUTES OF MEETING

Held on Thursday 17th July 2025 in Uplowman Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm.

Cllrs Neale Raleigh (DCC) and G Westcott (MDDC) present. Minutes by Mr R Hodgson, Clerk. Action points in bold.

Subject to approval on 18 September 2025

 

  1. MEMBERS PRESENT and PROCEDURAL MATTERS

1.1 Present: Cllrs M Moore, J Mayne, A McCombe, D Thomas, and D Westerman (Chair).

  1. APOLOGIES AND REPORTS FROM MDDC & DCC

2.1 Councillors R Adcock and K Baugh, working, had tendered apologies for absence. Cllr Lock (MDDC) had also apologised for absence due to ill health.

2.2 Cllr Raleigh introduced himself as Uplowman’s newly-elected Devon County councillor. He was still in the process of induction and would welcome a meeting with Cllr Westerman to become familiar with local concerns and issues. Cllr Westerman welcomed this offer and would be in touch later to arrange a date.

2.3 Cllr Westcott noted that an appeal against refusal of planning permission for a development at Tidcombe Hall had been upheld due to MDDC’s current lack of an agreed Local Plan. She said that discussions about local government reorganisation continued and that, in her opinion, all the options would result in unworkably large areas with low population densities. She also noted that South West Water was planning a new pipeline that would probably pass through Uplowman parish and that MDDC could give grants of up to £5000 to small businesses to reduce their carbon footprints.

  1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (15th May 2025)

3.1 Draft Minutes of the Annual meeting held on Thursday 15th May2025 had been circulated. There were no changes requested and they were signed by the Chair as a true record of that meeting.

  1. FINANCES and PROCEDURES

4.1       Current Balance: £7155.44

    Income since last meeting : £Nil

4.2 The following payments were approved and cheques signed to effect the disbursements:

    AP Hayman, grass cutting, £260.00

    Four Seasons, leat strimming, £136.80

4.3 The Clerk noted that the annual audit exemption had been submitted and no further action was needed.

4.4 It was noted that the government was minded to allow local authorities to set up remote access to meetings to suit local circumstances. It was agreed that this would be considered once guidance was published.

  1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

5.1 24/01033/FULL: Hill Farm, revised catle shed layout. UPC had not objected and decision awaited.

5.2 25/00229/FULL: Lands Mill Lane, convert barn to holiday unit. Had been approved by MDDC.

5.3 25/00573/LBC: Shapcott, remove 1st floor partition. Had been approved by MDDC.

5.4 25/00600/MFUL: Bycott Fm Halberton Livestock building. This was a new barn to improve hygiene. A new access was planned to reduce traffic conflicts. It was not considered to affect Uplowman and no comment was made.

  1. VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

6.1 The Redwoods Pub project:It was decided that this matter should be taken off the agenda until further notice.

6.2 Parish website: Cllr Westerman would follow up with UHRA to set up a meeting.

6.3 The Clerk reported that other paishes locally had used Parish Online to help set up emails and websites. The Clerk would approach them. The Clerk had asked MDDC whether UPC’s current site would still be available following local government reorganisation, expected about 2 years later. MDDC had said this had not been considered yet but nothing would change before reorganisation was complete.

6.3 Dates available for first aid training included 4th and 18th October. It was agreed to plan for 18th. (Post meeting note: the 18th was no longer available and arrangements were made for 29th November).

6.4 The Parish Magazine had made a donation of £350 for parish projects. After discussion, it was agreed that establishment of a planter on the green would be an appropriate use of the money. Cllr Westerman would investigate costs and Cllr Thomas would ask the school if they would like to help with management of the flowers.

6.5 Cllr Westerman had researched local Hospiscare activities and proposed that this charity, which provided benefits to residents in and around Uplowman, should be considered for addition to the list of charities supported by UPC. This was agreed on a show of hands.

6.6 The leat had ceased flowing. On inspection it had been found to be silted up. It had since been dredged by R Norman on behalf of the riparian owners and was flowing again. Cllr Westerman noted that the section downstream of the hall had a lot of weeds and proposed to organise a local day of action to clear it.

  1. SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVING

7.1 There was no update on proposed solar panel installation on the hall.

  1. CORRESPONDENCE

A list of correspondence received and sent had been circulated. Attention was drawn to the following items of interest that were not covered elsewhere:

8.1There were no items of particular interest not covered by agenda items.

  1. HALL AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION

9.1 There was no report due to Cllr Adcock’s absence.

  1. STATE OF ROADS IN PARISH

10.1 Whitnage Lane signage: There had been no further development.

10.2 It was now known that the Sampford Peverell road would be repaired between 3rd and 5th September. Thanks were expressed to DCC Highways.

10.3 Cllr Moore said that rain in the autumn was likely to result in further river flooding. Now was the best time to take action. Cllr Westerman agreed to convene a subgroup with Cllr Adcock and the Clerk to take it forward.

  1. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting was confirmed for Thursday18th September 2025, to be in the Hall at 7.30pm.

The meeting closed at 8.40pm

DRAFT MINUTES OF 17th July 2025

Public discussion:

There was none

Minutes of meetings held in 2025