Minutes October 2006

Present

Chairman: Charlie Haynes

Vice-Chairman: John Batey

Duncan Hatfield

Nils Bartleet

Dr Graham Swift

Peter Cox

Wally Cox

Gill Cox

Michael Cadd

Hughie Deam

Clerk: LeRoy Garner

Oxford City Councillor Mary Clarkson

Apologies: Angie Tiwari

John McGinn

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of 5th September 2006 were read out and accepted as an accurate record of the meeting with the following amendments:

·Problems of parking at 126 Oxford Road

·The Vice-Chairman reports that Boults Lane recreation ground grass has not been cut for several months

·The Vice-Chairman informed the council that the street wardens will be responsible for tackling parking on footpaths

·The planning application for 11 Salford Road has been withdrawn since the last meeting

Other Matters Arising

·The previous month’s accounts will be made available for the meeting

·The role of the Clerk was discussed in the committee of the previous meeting. The content of the discussion is confidential and a copy of the discussion has been made available for councillors only.

·1 Cavendish Drive: the planning application has failed at the appeal stage. The role played by the Clerk in preventing this development was acknowledged, and Wally Cox reported the gratitude of local residents.

·Cllr Mary Clarkson informed the council that the developers at 109 Oxford Road have been told (by the planners) that the boards must be removed as they are too high and the current landscaping is unacceptable.

·Christine Stone wanted to thank the council for her presentation

·The Chairman proposed that the parish council joins with other parish councils in Oxford to meet with Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police to discuss a range of issues such as crime and planning

South East Plan

The Vice-Chairman discussed the South-East Plan that covers the provision of sites for Gypsies and other travelling communities. The decision will be taken at a higher level and does not involve the parish council at this stage. In the past the County Council had sites that were either too close or too far from amenities.

Planning: Applications Dealt with Between Meetings

·6 Dents Close: Rear extension - no comment

·100 Cherwell Drive: New porch - no comment

·2 Ponds Lane: New access - no comment

·1 White Hart Lane: Gazebo - no comment

·109 Oxford Road: Developers sign - too large

·3 Cotswold Crescent: Side extension - no comment

·Church Farm, Church Way: Gate in front wall- no comment

·67 Cherwell Drive: Side and rear extension- no comment

·5 Nicholas Avenue: Conversion into two flats - concern about inadequate parking and loss of family home

·32 Beechey Avenue: Large extension- no comment

·Court Place, Marsh Lane: Astro football p itch, nine netball courts, flood lights, parking and changing accommodation. Generally welcomed but questions raised as to whether dual use of the netball area could be arranged, for example, basketball

·Open area between 3 and 13 Cavendish Drive: A terrace of three houses. The design and siting of the houses so close to the footpath is not in sympathy with the general appearance of the estate. The resulting loss of car parking spaces for nearby residents cannot be replaced. Please refuse the application.

·34 Oxford Road: Renewal of planning consent for two houses on access at rear - there are concerns as this is a conservation area

Planning: Decisions

·3 Cotswold Crescent: Side extension - approved

·Church Farm, Church Way: Gate in front wall - approved

·6 Dents Close: Extension - approved

·11 Salford Road: Conversion into flats - withdrawn

·1 Cavendish Drive: refused on appeal

Boults Lane Recreational Ground

·In order to apply for a grant from Sport England, the drainage problems of the ground must be fixed first before equipment can be provided.

·There is concern that the grass in the play area is getting too long and needs to be cut more regularly. The council will pay for any extra cuts necessary.

·A note will be put into the Marston Times explaining all the work that needs to be done to the recreational ground.

·There has been considerable damage done by moles which has killed the grass and allowed the weeds to take their place.

·Peter Cox has volunteered to strim the area

Burial Ground

·All plots should be limited to approximately seventy centimetres squared (70cm2) and a tablet of thirty five centimetres squared (35cm2) be permitted

·There should be no artificial flowers

·All untidy flowers to be removed.

·St Nicholas Church charges £81.00 for the internment of ashes. The charges for the council will be presented at the next meeting.

·An Article in the Marston Times should explain the prices, times and terms for burials and the interment of ashes.

·The gates are kept locked at night to prevent vandalism

Highways

·Any problems with cars being parked where they should not be should be reported first to the wardens and then to PC Wizard or local police when wardens not on duty.

·Mike Cadd enquired if the footpath down Elsfield Road could be extended to the burial ground. The Clerk will make further enquiries.

·G ill Cox wanted to know if the footpath in Cavendish Drive could be completed

·Oxford City Councillor Mary Clarkson responded to concerns about the damage to the barrier on the flyover over the ring-road.

·Oxfordshire County Council are proposing to terminate the Headington and Marston Transport Steering Group (H.A.M.A.T.S.) which monitors the local transport infrastructure in relation to the development at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

North East Area Committee

·There were no issues specifically dealing with Old Marston discussed at this meeting

·There was a need for greater policing in the North East Area. Steve Kilsby of C.A.N.A.C.T. will be invited to a council meeting.

·We are being encouraged to use the street wardens

·The next meeting will be on 17 October 2006

Bulletin

·The explorer scouts do not wish to do the delivery

·A note will be put into the Marston Times requesting deliverers

·The distribution will include public houses and the library

Accounts

Lyreco Stationery £104.00

Mr P. Cox New Hedge Trimmer £80.99

Mrs G. Cox Travel on behalf of Bulletin £41.34

Wicksteeds Ltd New Swing Seat £101.64

Thames Water Burial Ground £11.13

Acorn Design and Print Bulletin £143.94

Venue

·The parish council is unable to use the main hall at Mortimer Hall as it is in use by St John’s Ambulance

·Other venues will be investigated and costs will be brought to the next meeting

Any Other Business

·A children’s centre will be opened at New Marston Primary School and will serve Marston and Northway

·Wally Cox suggests that Old Marston Parish Council joins with other parish councils and city councillors to develop a common policy to tackle out-of-control development

·Nils Bartlett suggest contacting our local member of parliament Andrew Smith as a joint group to present him with the issue

·The Clerk will contact other parish councils before contacting local member of parliament

·The work on felling or copicing the trees in Old Marston that have been identified as dead, dying, dangerous, likely to cause an injury or damaging the foundations of properties, has been started. However it has been put on hold by the person responsible for trees at Oxford City Council

·There have complaints from the allotment association that cars have been parked in front of the allotment gates during football matches, preventing access to the allotments. The allotment committee refuse to open the gates on football match days which would allow cars to be parked in the driveway to the allotment temporarily. This could allow easy access for allotment users on match days. Notices could be put up but some feel that the football group would not take any notice

Next Meeting

Date: Tuesday 07 November 2006

Time: 19:30

Venue: Small meeting room, Mortimer Hall