Minutes March 2008

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4th March 2008

Present:-

Charlie Haynes, Chairman (CH) Cllr Mary Clarkson

Wally Cox, Vice Chairman (WC) Cllr Caroline van-Zyl

Duncan Hatfield (DH) Cllr Altaf Khan

Michael Cadd (MC) Mr LeRoy Garner, Clerk (LG)

Peter Cox (PC) Mrs K Stratford, Minutes Secretary (KS)

Gill Cox (GC)

John McGinn (JMcG)

Roy Jones (RJ)

Requests from Members of the Public to Speak: None received

1. Apologies for Absence

Mr Nils Bartleet

Mr Hugh Deam, Mr Graham Swift, Mrs Angie Tiwari (no apology sent)

Welcome to two parishioners come to view the meeting. The Chairman requested that Councillors declare any personal interests at any point on the agenda.

2. Minutes of Last Meeting

No corrections from previous meeting.

The Chairman was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes

No matters arising not appearing elsewhere.

4. Correspondence

The Clerk has written again to National Rivers Authority/Environment Agency to request the confirmation that the two brooks in the Parish are rivers in writing. No answer yet received.

Written to British Telecom enclosing a copy of the wayleave that should be renewed. No answer yet received.

Oxfordshire County Council invited a representative to a Parish Transport Representatives Meeting, but did not affect the parish so did not attend.

Oxfordshire County Council have invited a representative of the Parish regarding the Childcare Market Assessment, but does not affect the parish.

Nocticeboards in place. Grant receiveable from Oxford City Council for £550 for noticeboards on condition that we advertise SEAC.

Email received from Nigel Cowell headed “Lynchmob”. Objecting to the Parish Council’s objection to his planning application. The Chairman suggested the Parish Council write to Mr Cowell to tell him his comments are noted. LG

Mr Laurie regarding the post box needing painting. The Post Office has responded that it is investigating replacing it.

5. Planning

Current

4 Beechy Avenue – single storey front, single and two storey side and rear extensions. The Parish Council to recommend refusal as over development in that area. No extension in front of the building line is appropriate in that road.

Pavilion, Boults Lane - container unit for storage of ground maintenance equipment sited at the far end of existing premises to replace cage. Agreed to support previously by the Parish Council – no objection provided that the cage is removed in accordance with the Parish Council’s consent as land owners.

Dealt with between meetings.

34 Mill Lane – subdivision of house into two flats. Retention of existing bungalow. Strong objection to the resubmission of an application previously rejected and now subject to an adverse Court decision.

Decisions:

Elsfield Road adj. Cemetery – new house – Refused

3 Cotswold Crescent – Large Extension - Gone to Appeal

20 Ashlong Road – dormers – approved.

25 Mortimer Driver – large side and rear extension – Approved.

51 Marsh Lane – Withdrawn.

55 Rippington Drive - Refused

67/69 Oxford Road – stone wall removed. The Clerk wrote to the Planning Department, but received no reply as yet.

Concern from a resident with neighbour (HMO) on Salford Road. Cv-Z reported the Council is aware of the issue, and will take action if required. There is an issue with a diseased tree overhanging, which has been passed to Parks Department. Unfortunately, these issues are beyond the Parish Council remit.

DH declared an interest.

6. Boults Lane Development Project

Nothing to report. Letter received from Architect confirming details previously discussed. Once the plans received back, the sub-committee will be holding another meeting.

7. Recreation Grounds

Quote received from Mr Ward for work required (goes across recreation grounds, burial grounds and all through the Parish). Total came to just under £3,000, more than last year, but more work required than last year. WC noted that this work needs doing urgently, to a timescale. Council - Agreed, as long as work completed in 3 months. The Clerk to accept the quote with the condition. LG

GC noted that the roundabout noted in the ROSPRA report has not been done, and is urgent work. Agreed to add this to the list of work. LG

The Clerk has written to Mr Gas of the Parks Department to confirm that the ditch belongs to the City Council and is theirs to maintain.

Letter received from Marston Saints for an event, which they will manage on 28th and 29th of June. The Parish Council gave permission for the event and recognized the need of the club to raise funds.

Had a second meeting of the play sub committee. A letter has been drafted which will go out shortly. RJ will also visit Cherwell to get views of older children.

GC to invite Wicksteads SMP to come and look at the play equipment and give their views. The Clerk to give GC contact details.

The Clerk has confirmed a new seat has arrived to replace the one in most need and the council agreed that the second seat should also be replaced.

Noted WREN may give some funding towards new equipment.

The Chairman thanked the group for its work so far. RJ, GC

8. Finance

ACTION

The following accounts were paid:-

D.Hook Replacing Noticeboards 110.00

Oxford City Council Recreation grounds maintenance 2060.00

V.C. Brown Architects fees re pavilion 1237.50

Lycreco Stationery 74.10

D.Ward Ground maintenance 2007 2100.00

Lighting Control Circuit Protection PAT electrical test at 31 Oxford Road 25.00

Written to Dave Reeve at Parks to give him the specification for the work required Parks do for us in 2008.

Auditor – No one has come forward. This is worrying as the Council need one by the end of the year to sign off. DH to advertise in Daily Information.

Thank you to the Clerk for getting a reduction in the precept and for saving the Parish Council £19,000 (all agreed) and the Chairman is meeting finance at Oxford City Council in March to see if we can get the money retrospectively.

The Chairman has requested his own lap top so he can use it exclusively for Parish Council business, to pass on to future chairs and to be able to pass to members of the public who want to see public information. The cost would be £800 + VAT. All agreed. To be purchased. LG, DH, CH

9. Burial Ground

Having received the undertaking from the gravedigger to make good the graves, the Clerk shall now write to the undertakers to confirm the situation. LG

New mower will be investigated next week. PC

There is now a hole in the fence, which makes locking up impossible. Will board off and look at some defensive planting. This will be done within the next week. LG

10. Highways

Richard Kingshott and David Tole attended from the County Council, introduced by Cllr Altaf Kahn, regarding the CPZ and to update the Council on the consultation feasibility study on the area at the Cherwell Drive shops and throughout the parish. The result was that there was no need at this time for a CPZ, the results show that the displaced parking from CPZ areas will not affect or impact on these areas overly much. The conclusion of the report said that because the impact of non-residential parking was reasonably scarce and there was space available, this area is considered Low Priority for a CPZ apart from the following pockets:

Cherwell Drive have given strong feedback on cars parked long-term outside the shops. The County Council has sent a questionnaire to every shopkeeper in area, suggesting 1 hour parking at the shops and 2 hours to those parking spaces close and all but one shop have responded. There is a slot booked into the July meeting to discuss this issue. If there are no objections, restrictions will be put in without reporting to Committee as there was such an overwhelming majority in favour of time limited parking (if an objection is received, the process will take longer).

Question from the floor: Problem now with attending the clinic as nowhere to park. Mr Tole responded the results from the consultation are showing the businesses want 1 hour parking outside the shops, and two hour parking opposite. Also noted that anyone with a disabled blue badge is exempt from any time limitation anywhere.

The Parish Council would like to give support for this to be put in place as soon as possible.

Ashlong Road was ‘a surprise’. Mr Kingshott and Mr Tole attended a meeting with 12 residents earlier this evening. The County Council will investigate a permit holders scheme for that location, which is all that will work there. The County Council have committed to go back to residents in April.

Horseman’s Close – still undecided. There may be some commuter parking there, but needs more investigation – to consult with residents and have requested any feedback from the Parish Council that they have.

Rippington Drive – County Council to keep a watching brief on the area. GC reported same at Mortimer Drive.

County Council also keeping a watchful eye on the service road.

Raymund Road – the Better Ways To Schools Team will be working with the school.

The Parish Council thanked the Officers very much for their attendance.

Direction signs – wanted a discount for the second, but could not obtain one. Agreed to order both at full price. LG

Letter from Oxford City Council re proposed bus shelters in the parish. No objections.

11. North East Area Committee

Nothing on the agenda for the last meeting, so did not attend.

12. Parish Council Bulletin

A draft has been written and it is almost ready to send out. Hope to go to printers at end of the week.

Many thanks to Duncan and Gill for their work in producing it. GC

13. Allotments

Concern at the ditch proposed on the Mill Lane allotment fence. There are different deeds. There is no ditch proposed to be dug, so no further action required.

14. Website

Nearly 1,500 hits during the past month – from all around the world as well as people from the village. The local business page is proving to be popular, as well as the page on the councillors. Load of archive photographs and history to go on. The site is so much bigger now, DH would like permission to make the site bigger. Will cost another £90 + VAT. This will mean an annual cost of approx £200. The Chairman proposed this be authorised. Agreed.

It was suggested the Chairman (and only the Chairman) be authorised to purchase a computer for the Chairman’s use. This would not be extended to other Councillors. To be investigated further. DH, CH

15 Any Other Business

Thank you from the Hall Committee for the nice new noticeboard. Looks much better and will improve their signage to match.

Improvements to fencing at Mortimer Hall will happen this week.

Will also replace the bollards at the front at Mortimer Hall.

The ends of the underpass are a state. DH has spoken to the headteacher, who is keen to get involved. DH agreed to champion. GC raised the issue of who would do the painting. RJ to speak to Cherwell to see if they may be interesting in painting. Could also approach YOT (Clerk to pass details to DH). RJ, DH

Noted lots of interest in the Civic Society clean up in March 15th. Three sessions to take place within the parish: One on Friday morning at the school, one on Friday evening along the bank of the Cherwell and one on Saturday morning meeting at the Church hall. DH requested help and support from any councillors who are available at any of the sessions. The Parish Council will provide a nominal sum for refreshments (capped at £25). DH

Raymund Road – problem with rowdism. Someone has been mugged. Garages are being vandalised. Neighbourhood Watch have been in touch with Cv-Z and MC who have been in touch with the police. The Local Beat Team have been made aware.

The Neighbourhood Action Group meeting has met. The Chairman will attend the next meeting. Residents were asked their top 3 concerns. Two related to parking issues and one related to anti-social behaviour. Next meeting is to be on 21st March. CH

Fire Proof cabinet – WC has in hand. WC

Risk Assessment – DH has done and will produce a report. A couple of points from that, a couple quite urgent, for example the printer is on a wooden table and needs something more sturdy (current high risk of accident). Lot of cables presenting a trip hazard. DH

PAT Test – done and approved.

Clerk’s Job Description and Contract of Employment – to be typed. WC/CH

Retention of Parish Council documents by the Parish Clerk – The Clerk needs to list them. LG

16 Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 1st April 2008. Agenda to be agreed.