Minutes May 2008

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Tuesday 6th May 2008

Present:-

Charlie Haynes, Chairman (CH) Cllr Mary Clarkson

Wally Cox, Vice Chairman (WC) Cllr Beverley Hazell

Duncan Hatfield (DH) Mr LeRoy Garner, Clerk (LG)

Michael Cadd (MC) Mrs K Stratford, Minutes Secretary (KS)

Peter Cox (PC)

Roy Jones (RJ)

Graham Swift (GS)

Angie Tiwari (AT)

Hugh Deam (HD) – NOT HERE AT START

Nils Bartleet (NB)

Requests from Members of the Public to Speak

None received

1. Apologies for Absence

Mrs Gill Cox, Mr John McGinn.

The Chairman requested that Councillors declare any personal interests at any point on the agenda.

2. Minutes of Last Meeting

The minutes are approved subject the amendment of payments made.

WC recommended the font size is slightly larger. Agreed unanimously. Signed minutes as true record. .

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

3. Matters Arising from Minutes

Two from WC - on section 8 Finance, the money was for Mrs Haynes, Not Dell. And Chairman’s computer not recorded. The matters will be corrected

Election of Chairman. DH nominated Charlie Haynes, AT seconded – no other nominations.

Election of Vice Chairman. CH nominated WC, DH seconded – no other nominations.

The Chairman signed the declaration

Minutes of last meeting.

4. Correspondence

Notice of national association of larger council’s conference, Russell Square for 2 days and evening meal. Not attending.

Oxfordshire County Council – bus transport strategy policy for comment.

No response from Risinghurst and Sandford PC for a meeting with the City Council. Noted last meeting was very useful. MC to speak to City to encourage that the meeting happens again.

Heard from Environment Agency re Marston Brook is a main river and will be annually maintained by EA. Peasmore Brook they would not accept is a main river.

No emails to report to the meeting.

5. Planning

Planning Applications Considered Between Meetings:

· 42 Elms Drive – too storey side extension extending 2.5 m. beyond the rear of the present house with a large single storey extension at the rear of the existing house - objection to the scale of the development relative to other properties on the estate.. The side extension will deprive the neighbour of much sunlight and it should be checked against the 45o rule.

· Marston Saints Football Club Marsh Lane – 3m. high fence adj. Horseman Close and Marsh Lane – no objection

· 25 Oxford Road – extension – no objection

· 32a Oxford Road – two storey extensions to front and rear – no objection

· 36 Oxford Road – Orangery at rear – no comment

· 94a Cherwell Drive – extension amendment – no comment

Planning Applications Considered at Meeting

· 6 Mortimer Drive – rear dormer plus roof lights – no comment

· 1 Nicholas Avenue – new house at side – serious objections – The history of development applications for this site and the adjoining 5 Nicholas Avenue have all presented developments that would ruin the general open aspects of the estate that this application perpetuates. In addition this application would be in front of the established building line in Rippington Drive. In applications in the similar road on the estate, Mortimer Drive, applications that would extend beyond the established building line have been refused. The application must be considered as a good try to ”get something” and be refused

· Letter from Andrew Smith on proposed changes to planning appeals. Mr Smith believes local member view would be preferable with their local knowledge.

· 67 – 69 Oxford Road – Not heard yet. To chase.

· 43 – 55 Oxford Road – Not heard yet. To Chase.

6. Boults Lane Development Project

See Chairman’s Report. Now form back from Football Association there will be a meeting to move issues forward soon.

7. Recreation Grounds

Dog Bin – Parks have quoted that this can be installed for £2,492.40 + VAT. This includes emptying. No further action to be taken.

PC paying twice for various things, recreation grounds is one of them. If there is anything the parish can offer that other people can use, then no double pay out should occur. CH and LG to pursue with Council. Will keep the PC informed.

GC had meeting with SMP on the play areas and is chasing for the report and costings.

The Clerk identified maker of little roundabout. Chasing.

Football club – thanks for permission for 6-aside. Wants a girls tournament on the 6th July – agreed.

8. Finance

Council approved accounts and summary subject to Audit.

The following accounts were paid:£

Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils: Subscription - £589.39

MP Security: Pavilion alarm maintenance - £70.50

Acorn Design and Print: March Bulletin - £165.50

Horticultural Supplies Ltd.: Mower spares - £51.39

Allianz Insurance plc: Insurances - £1986.95

National Association of Local Councils: Publication - £13.50

P.A. Turney Ltd: Burial Ground Mower - £415.00

Oxfordshire Playing fields Association: Safety display re Mrs. K. Stratford - £25.00

Resolution – need to approve accounts for year 2007/08 subject to audit. CH proposed, NB seconded.

9. Burial Ground

The ashes mentioned earlier (in AGM). To be reported to the police.
The Chairman visited Mr and Mrs Downs from Horseman Close re their letter. Agreed to offer them two plots on a one-off case. LG to write to them to confirm.
Loveridge memorial requested. This is on the “old” side. Noted the family keep the site clear and tidy and look after their family’s graves well. Agreed. The Clerk to advise.
The gaps in the fence remain. The Chairman to talk to the Trevor Wiggens tomorrow to see if he can help
Talked about extending onto the land alongside, but query with Oxford Preservation Trust about who owns the land. Consider approaching them to agree a line. Clerk has put on hold, pending trying to persuade the city Council to deal with the ditch (about 25 yards). Wrote to the estates surveyor. WC suggested holding a meeting with all interested parties. The Clerk to contact Debbie Dance at the OPT to move forward. MC offered to come along when the meeting is arranged.

PC noted fuel costs have affected the bills put in to the Council.

10. Highways

Direction sign – the County Council has suggested the sign at Elsfield Road replaces existing sign. Agreed.

Wooden post and barbed wire alongside Horseman Close installed by the City Council – The Clerk to chase.

Chicane – concrete coming out or being removed. Hole there now. The Clerk to write to Mr Burchett.

Parishioner – Oxford Road/Old Marston Road. Flooded at the Double Glazing Site – not in the Parish.

Fairfax Avenue – where the street cleaner goes it sucks all the tarmac up. Pot holes – the Chair to investigate.

AT – problem with no 6 Cavendish Drive. Causing ASB. Police involved. ASB diaries have been circulated.

Asked the city council for a dog bin on School Lane. Cost implications.

Harlow Centre and St Nicholas School signs still missing on corner of Cavendish Drive/Raymund Road.

NB – where they’re enforced residents parking, increased cars outside the CPZ areas. Sometimes causes dangerous obstructions. Noted this is an ongoing issue.

Pavement across road next to substation. No 71C has overhanging vegetation. The Clerk to chase.

Salford Road/Link Road opposite Jack Russell – house on corner – overhanging vegetation.

11. North East Area Committee

Nothing affecting the Parish at the last meeting, except:

Highways - Not considering environmental issues at Cherwell Drive.

426 – 428 Marston Road – Refused.

12. Parish Council Bulletin

All delivered. Had some good comments. Many thanks to all involved, special thanks to GC

13. Allotments

Nothing not covered already

14. Website

18,00 visits this month, many people getting in touch.

15. Any Other Business

Query on plastic bags. Confirmed these go in the green waste bin. Could the council make clear on future literature that plastic bags must go into the bin.
Can the city council install an industrial shredder. Unlikely. Suggest shredded paper is composted.
Can the website address always be displayed on the noticeboards? Can DH have copy of all information on the noticeboards for website.
Want another noticeboard – WC to put to the committee and let the PC know.
The Clerk noted maintaining the noticeboards is a time consuming activity.
Replacement of Clerk – Chair and Vice to get together to work on advert. Want to have new person in place by November if possible. Letter of resignation received from the Clerk.
Write letter of thanks to Caroline VZ – agreed. The Clerk to do.
When council houses sold. Access to come through. MC thinks rear access is council owned. But new owners has blocked off. Member of public spoke to council. MC to investigate further.

16. Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 3rd June 2008. Agenda to be agreed.