Minutes November 2006

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7th November 2006

Present

Vice-Chairman: John Batey

Duncan Hatfield

Nils Bartleet

Dr Graham Swift

Peter Cox

Wally Cox

Gill Cox

Michael Cadd

Hughie Deam

Angie Tiwari

John McGinn

Oxford City Councillor Carolyn van Zhyl

Clerk: LeRoy Garner

Apologies: Chairman: Charlie Haynes

Declaration of Interests

·The Vice-Chairman reminded councillors to declare any interests they might have that might have a bearing on any items being discussed.

·The Clerk advised caution when discussing issues outside the meeting that were later discussed in the meeting

·Nils Bartleet pointed out that councillors are not always aware of the agenda unlike at district or county council level, especially in relation to planning issues

·The Vice-Chairman stressed the importance of declaring ‘prejudicial’ interests

·Gill Cox declared an interest in Mortimer Hall Pre-school

Minutes of Previous Meeting

Gill Cox enquired about the pavement along Cavendish Drive being extended

Other Matters Arising

·The Clerk requested that the noticeboard outside Mortimer Hall be replaced with a new, larger one to accommodate the larger minutes and agendas.

·The large hall in Mortimer Hall is leased to the Red Cross every Tuesday evening and would only be available to the council during the Annual General Meetings

·Minutes Secretary: the matter has been put on hold and will be re-advertised in the next edition of the Marston Times

·Building work has now started on the land between three and thirteen Cavendish Drive

·Peter Cox has done part of the strimming in Boults Lane recreational ground

·Elsfield path needs attending. The Clerk will make further enquiries

·Other parish councils meet on the same night and it is hoped that they will discuss our proposal to work together to present a united front with regards to planning issues

·Outstanding work with regards to felling or pollarding designated trees in Old Marston

Trees

·There has been no response from the Chief Planning Officer at Oxford City Council with regards to removing or pollarding trees that have been deemed to be a danger to members of the public. The arborealist has sent a letter requesting urgent action?????

·Two trees have been removed from Elsfield Road by the Highways Agency

·There are strict rules on felling the trees as they are in a Conservation area

·The Tree Officer, Mr Leyland, acknowledged that he has received the second letter sent by the Clerk

·The Chief Executive Officer is not admitting that he has received correspondence sent by the Clerk

·City Councillor Carolyn Van Zhyl has agreed to take the matter up with the Chief Planning Office

·The council agreed to pay the contractor for work that has already been done

Minutes Secretary

·Local resident Kate Stratford is the only applicant for the post of Minute Secretary. She is very keen to do it and has experience in a similar role with the city council. It has been agreed to invite her to attend the December meeting and to produce the minutes on a trial basis. A decision will be made on the outcome.

·The Minutes Secretary will be self-employed. The council will need a letter stating that the applicant will be responsible for paying their own income tax and national insurance contributions. The applicant will need to provide suitable references

·A note was sent to the editor asking her to publish the job advert in the last edition of the Marston Times, but it was not published.

C.AN.A.C.T.

·Steve Kilsby of the Crime and Nuisance Action Team attended the meeting to explain his role as chairman of the service responsible for tackling anti-social behaviour in the community

·There is a 24 hour helpline to report anti-social behaviour

·The outcome of an investigation does not always lead to an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (A.S.B.O.)

·Oxford has an above average level of ASBOs as they are rigourously applied.

·Families are given support prior to an eviction.

·Intervention is forcefully applied and is successful until it is withdrawn

·C.A.N.A.C.T. is an inter-agency team that includes a seconded policeman and a solicitor

·The work is backed up by a portfolio of closed circuit television images

·The local street wardens come under their jurisdiction. They will raise issues with the city council and will provide a link with the local community

·C.A.N.A.C.T. provides a mediation service and will support witnesses and persons affected by anti-social behaviour

·Injunctions are often obtained within hours and ASBOs applied for and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts are signed

·Various sports events are held in order to engage offenders and potential offenders

·C.A.N.A.C.T. is an agency of the city council and helps to fulfil it’s legal requirement to consider ASBOs

·There are good working relationships with the police, social services and the Youth Offending Team. There is limited contact with secondary schools as many are semi-autonomous and self-governing and need to be approached individually in order to tackle truancy

Grants

Organisation Agreed 2006 to 2007 £

St Nicholas Baby and Toddler Group £260.00

Old Marston Over 50’s Club £150.00

Mortimer Hall Pre-school £300.00

St Nicholas P.C.C. (Marston Times) £250.00

Old Marston Mill Lane Allotment Association £100

Oxsrad Applications expected

Marston Ringers Applications expected

Friends of St Nicholas First School £300.00

St Nicholas Wives £150.00

Marston Saints F.C. £300.00

Total £1810.00

Legislation

The government is in the process of passing legislation that will devolve more power and responsibilities to parish councils. This is more likely to affect town councils rather than the smaller parish councils

Planning

15 Oxford Road: known as New Grange Court - the city council did not want to consult the parish council over the naming and development. The clerk will write to the Planning Officer on behalf of the council to complain. Councillor Carolyn Van Zhyl will also speak to the Planning Officer in relation to this issue.

7 Fairfax Avenue: there is a proposal to build a two storey extension at the rear of the property. There is no information on current or future use of the property. Refusal recommended as it is out-of-character for the area and is too large for the site. If will limit the amount of natural light for the neighbouring properties.

3 Cotswold Crescent: the proposed extension will place a toilet where the door will open directly into a kitchen. This is not permitted under planning regulations. The shower room also contravenes planning regulations.

Court Place Farm, Marsh Lane: A new proposal has been presented in order to justify the development.

3 to 13 Cavendish Drive: Planning permission was granted to the developer five years ago. The builders fenced of the land and started to prepare the foundations of the development two days before the planning permission was due to expire. A letter from thirty-eight years ago when the estate was built showed that the land was designated as common land. According to the deeds held by the Land Registry, the occupants of twenty-seven houses have the right to park on the land. If the land has been in continual use by the same person for more than forty years they it becomes a public right of way. If the land has been fenced of for more than twelve years in another persons interest then they can claim Adverse Possession.

Boults Lane Recreational Area Development Project

The work is expected to be completed by February 2007. We are still waiting for planning permission.

Maintenance Work

Denis Ward of Hill View Farm has been asked complete a number of maintenance tasks in Old Marston. These include trimming hedges, cutting back weeds and clearing paths. (see report) Denis Ward has agreed to do the work for £3525.00. Councillors feel that this is a good price and agreed to ask him to do the work.

The gate to the small recreational area by St Nicholas school is broken and the council recommends that it is removed as soon as possible. Nils Bartlett raised the possibility that it could be used by travellers. This is unlikely due to the bollard near the entrance.

Burial Ground

New deeds have been drawn up for the new burial ground and will be produced by Parchment for £35.00. The new fees have been approved by the council and a summary will be published in the Marston Times and the noticeboard.

Highways

A letter has been received asking whether the pavement along Oxford Road, opposite Mortimer Hall will be widened. This is not happening with the traffic calming. This covers an eight metre section of the path. The original suggestion was to re-align the road and widen the footpath.

North East Area Committee

Marston Saints Football Club have applied for and have received a grant for £66,000 towards renovation the ground. The land itself is the property of Oxford City Council.

Bulletin

No further news

Grant Applications

Marston Saints Football Club need to display Old Marston Parish Council at the top of their correspondence and letterheads as they receive grants from the council.

The Allotment Association will cultivate plots for new members and the grant will go towards this.

There has been no grant application received from Oxrad. Although they have informed the council that they have not received an application form.

Any Other Business

The members have agreed to allocate a sum of £50.00 to the Chairman each year to cover his out-of-pocket expenses, such as the numerous phone calls he does on behalf of the council, and to show their appreciation for the work he does on behalf of the council and residents of Old Marston.

John McGinn was nominated to represent the Parish Council on the Committee that runs OxRad. Their next meeting will be 14th January 2007.

Next Meeting

Date: Tuesday 4th November 2006

Time: 19:30

Venue: Small Room, Mortimer Hall