Minutes September 2008

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2nd September 2008

Present:-

Charlie Haynes, Chairman (CH)

Duncan Hatfield (DH)

Michael Cadd (MC)

Peter Cox (PC)

Roy Jones (RJ)

Graham Swift (GS)

Nils Bartleet (NB)

Angie Tiwari (AT)

John McGinn

Mr LeRoy Garner, Clerk (LG)

Mrs K Stratford, Minutes Secretary (KS)

Cllr Mary Clarkson

Cllr Beverley Hazell

Requests from Members of the Public to Speak

None received

1. Apologies for Absence

Mr Wally Cox, Mrs Gill Cox.

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

2. Minutes of Last Meeting

None. The Chairman was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes Omitting Those For Which an Agenda Heading Follows:

None

4. Correspondence (Letters/Emails)

Letter from the City Council regarding the Big Tidy Up. Duncan Hatfield may take a lead. DH

Minutes of Standards Committee on 5th September 2008, no issues affecting Parish Council NB

Meeting of the Passenger Transport/Bus Meeting to be held in November 2008 Nils Bartleet to attend.

5. Planning

Decisions

8 Clays Close – extension to front and rear of a single storey terraced property – No objection. This is the first application of this nature on an estate of many similar houses. A precident is likely to be set. The houses are small and extra space desirable. Clearly the neighbours must be consulted.

71B Oxford Road – rear two-storey extension – Approved.

23 Salford Road – 2 x 2 bedroom flats – Withdrawn.

27 Nicholas Avenue – conversion into flats – Gone to Appeal.

34 Mill Lane – no consent given to conversion into 2 flats. Confirm it was not submitted to the Parish Council. The Clerk to write to the Planning Department. LG

Applications considered between meetings:

118 Oxford Road – fairly large extension, not visible from road – no comment.

42 Cherwell Drive – retrospective – no comment.

43 Church Lane – demolition of existing.... changes to fenestration, new garden wall, not visible from road – no comment.

71B Oxford Road – extension at rear, not visible from front – no comment.

13 Gordon Close – asked to inform neighbours of fairly large side extension – no comment.

3 Cotswold Crescent – third application – no comment.

23 Salford Road – conversion into two flats – no objection.

Church Farm, Church Lane – minor changes – no objection.

Applications considered at meeting

Marston Saints have submitted a re-application at the request of the Planners (no significant change) – no comment.

67 – 69 Oxford Road – No reply to our letter yet concerning demolition of stone wall. Clerk wrote on 11th July and will chase a response. LG

Parish Council invited to comment on South Regional Plan – no comment

6. Boults Lane Development Project

The Clerk reported the White Horse Contractors carried out some work, the Clerk put in a claim with the Football Foundations and received the money. Total Turf still has some more to do before the work is signed off. Once signed off, the Parish Council will be invoiced for the work. Final plans for new sports pavilion approved by sub-committee

7. Recreation Grounds

DH reported moving forward now. Surveys went out to the school and had over 70 back, getting a clear message of what the children want. RJ has also canvassed children at Cherwell School. A sub-committee of six, mainly parents, one is a garden designer, is drawing up a plan. A few urgent things need dealing with: The sub-committee has decided to keep much of the existing equipment, but it needs painting, graffiti needs removing, woodwork needs treating, grass is very overgrown and needs cutting – the sub-committee has queried who the current contractor is, and suggesting replacing them. Want to advertise in Marston Times. Chairman commented it was a larger job than just the play areas, including football pitch. Clerk could put together a tender. Current contractor is City Council. Very old benches, need removing. Suggest sell for scrap - agreed. Wooden bench suggested for around one of the trees as currently no benches in any shade. Clerk to get quote for 3 new metal benches. Clerk suggested a firm who use recycled plastic (Greenbarnes). And agreed to set back these, not have right in the middle of the playground. And the growth at the edges was also highlighted. Queried where the roundabout is. The Clerk reported that Mr Ward reported ground too soft to reinstate. The Clerk to chase. Chairman will attend the next meeting of the sub-committee on 6th October. DH queried whether the ROSPRA report had yet been received. Clerk not yet received, and a copy will be passed to DH for the sub committee.. LG CH

8. Finance

The following accounts were paid:

Oxford Community Foundations: Grant - £45.00

Peter Cox: Strimmer Cable - £19.99

Greenbarnes: Noticeboard - £706.90

David Hook: Resiting new noticeboard - £65.00

Chairman: Reimbursed postage - £8.64

Total Pest Control: Quarterly treatment of moles - £511.13

Charlie Haynes: Expenses fund for conference - £100.00

Kate Stratford: Memory stick - £25.95

Given notice to Orange to terminate in April next year. The Parish Council will have to find a new supplier

9. Burial Ground

No issues

Discussing with City Council regarding the ditch, and will continue to report back. Ownership still to be established. The Clerk has written to the City Council Surveyor, but not yet received a response. Preservation Trust have no deeds. The Clerk has suggested a tri-partite agreement, but this has not progressed at this stage

10. Highways

Notices affixed to street furniture without authority have been removed from Bricklayers Arms and there is also a sign for the Red Lion, which they have been requested to remove. The Landlord of the Red Lion has objected, there is now a sign advertising the Victoria Arms. Again, this is unauthorised. The Clerk to write to County Highways as these unauthorised signs have not been removed as requested.

It is an offence to park within 10m of a junction with Roads, this is being ignored on The Link, obstructing vehicles trying to turn in on both sides

Vehicles now parking between obstructions within village. It is now becoming more dangerous. Noted people are parking opposite the build-outs, causing cars to pull out to get round, with no visibility. The Clerk to write. The Chairman noted the scheme is due for review soon, so this to be mentioned. LG

Invite the Beat Constable (PC John Shaw)/PCSO to meeting to discuss these issues.

RJ offered thanks for the pot hole being filled in at Butts Lane. LG

Signs as come out at Elsfield Road, more signs erected, but hospital signs not yet reinstated. The Clerk to write. LG

Telephone mast on Marsh Lane – was applied for and refused planning consent by officers on visual affect, etc. Went to appeal and won. Chairman noted this never came to this committee. The Clerk to write to the Planning Department. LG

Flyover, as come off A40 the 40mph sign is obscured by trees. MC to chase the county council to request. MC

11. North East Area Committee

Nothing affecting the parish on 15th June.

12. Parish Council Bulletin

DH started. Got some DTP software, so will look different. Ideas to DH. ALL

13. Allotments

Nothing to report. It was reported that Bill Agent resigned as manager. GS will enquire and report back to Chairman. GS

14. Website

Still very popular. Approx 1700 hits. DH keeping up to date

15. Any Other Business

Telephone box in Old Marston, broken and looks dirty and overgrown. The Clerk to write. LG

Our Clerk will be retiring after AGM/31st March. Have advertised job on internet and Marston Times. Only had one application. To confirm appointment within next week. Finer details to be confirmed. Been very lucky for 50 years. Noted and confirmed – hard act to follow. CH

The Chairman would like to celebrate the 50 years that the Clerk has worked for the Parish Council. A reception. Perhaps mid-April. Invite the Parish, and all people the Clerk has worked with over the years. Professionally catered. To make a presentation to him. The Chairman and Roy Jones to discuss and arrange with the Clerk’s family to arrange. [noted Easter April 10th – 13th].

16. Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 7th October 2008 at Mortimer Hall at 7:30pm.