DORCHESTER ON THAMES
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Parish Council Minutes April 2008
Home > Parish Council > Minutes > April 2008
The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 9th April 2008 commencing at 7.30 p.m. The Chairman, Cllr K Bryan, presided; present were Cllrs Mrs M Metcalfe (Vice-Chairman), M Day, S Gibbons, C Hill, Mrs J Nudds, M Stevenson and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present was County Cllr John Howell.
1 Apologies for absence
Apologies were accepted from District Cllr. John Cotton who is on holiday
2 Declarations of Interest
None
3 Minutes of the Meeting held 12th March 2008
The reference to OALC in Section 1 paragraph 2 was altered to read ORCC and the minutes were then signed as a true and accurate record
4 Matters Arising from the Minutes
a. Pear Technology: the Clerk confirmed that the software has now been received and he is working his way through the self-training manual.
b. Disabled parking in Queen Street: the Chairman has met with the Head teacher and the Chairman of the school governors. During the meeting the Parish Council had been asked for assistance in getting some markings on the road surface by the school entrance in Manor Farm Road and for a direction sign in the High Street. It is understood that following further discussions with County Cllr Howell and the Highways officer the disabled parking space in Queen Street has been dropped.
c. School Review: the methodology of this review has been changed and there is no need for the Parish Council to be involved at this stage. County Cllr Howell re-emphasised that there is no question of the review process being linked with an intention to close the school.
5 District Councillor's Report
District Cllr John Cotton is on holiday.
6 County Councillor's Report
County Cllr Howell said that Highways should be told of the village’s priorities for improvements which he suggested should be the surface dressing of two roads – Drayton Rd. and Jemmetts Close - repairs to the footpath between Meadside and the village, a drop-kerb for the pavement in Abingdon Road opposite the Limes and replacement signs indicating the Bridge End car park and lavatories.
Cllr Howell said that the bus review had now been completed with details about the revised services publicised in the local press. He has asked for a review of the proposed cut to the early morning service to Abingdon. On some routes the service provider will be changing, which may lead to some re-numbering. All will become clear before the new time-tables are introduced early in June.
Cllr Hill asked about the ‘taxi bus service’ which links the Watlington area with the London and Oxford express bus services at Lewknor. Cllr Howell explained the background to the provision of a taxi bus service and suggested that Cllr Angie Patterson of Watlington would be able to give detailed advice.
Referring to the recent fatal accident on the by-pass, Cllr Howell said the County’s road safety experts have looked again at the safety of the by-pass at the Shillingford end and their comments and proposals would be made known as soon as possible.
7 Finance:
The balance on the Current Account at 31st March was £11,175.33. There is no change to the Reserve Account which stands at £24,092.90.
The following accounts were approved for payment.
Pear Technology Services Ltd £440.62
Thames Water Sports Pavilion & Allotments £86.04
SODC Cemetery Rates for the year £152.77
NALC (annual sub to Local Council Review) £13.50
GGD Russell – Clerk’s salary £425.43
GGD Russell – admin March & April £99.40
Geoff Willis Handyman – 4 weeks - (March £257.50) £257.50
The Parish Council considered the recent exchange of correspondence between the Clerk and the Treasurer of Dorchester PCC concerning the finances of ‘Dorchester News’. The Council decided that while it did not wish to make a donation towards the publication’s production costs it wanted the PCC to be aware that it could count on the Parish Council’s financial support should it run into difficulty as a result of losing the support of advertisers.
8 Correspondence and Other Business
i). Sports Club Pavilion & Playground;
Two quotations have been received for replacement doors and removing the wooden boards from the windows and one more is awaited. The Sports Club may pay for new windows.
It was agreed to ask Chris Drewett Signs about the cost of adding wording to the new sign in the Play Area to make it clear that, in addition to help received from the three grant-awarding bodies, the new equipment in the Playground was partly funded by Dorchester on Thames Parish Council and monies raised by a small group of volunteers comprising many parents and residents of the Village.
The Clerk said that Total Pest Control (UK) Ltd has been given the go-ahead to spend up to £300 on trying to control the rats living on the edges of the recreation ground and the fishing lake. The Clerk will communicate with the Abingdon & Oxford Angling Alliance.
The Council approved the expenditure of around £350 on the purchase of more car parking direction signs. It was suggested that the parking cones should be placed outside the former Hallidays frontage on the High Street. The Council noted that not all events which bring car parking problems to the centre of the village take place in the Abbey. Organisers of events in the Village Hall also need to be made aware of the need to encourage their patrons to park responsibly.
ii). Footpaths;
It is understood that there has been no progress with the Hurst/ Overy kissing gate.
iii). Cemetery;
The new sack holders have now been secured to the ground.
iv). Allotments
Nothing to report
v). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk
a. RoSPA has written wishing to know if their playground inspection services are required again this year. It was agreed that only the normal inspection is needed.
b The Council is unable to accept the invitations to send representatives to attend a County workshop on dealing with a Flu Pandemic on 30th April, the OPFA seminar on Play & Sports facility provision on 14th May or the four OPFA Roadshows in June.
c. Cllr Hill will attend the meeting of the River Thames Users Group on 30th April.
d. The Council noted the letter from Kieran Murphy of Oxfordshire Highways explaining the carbon reduction measures that are to be taken on the approaches to the A4074 Berinsfield roundabout. This will involve fitting part-night switches to the lights which will turn them off at approximately midnight (GMT) and back on again at approximately 5 am. These measures have been discussed with the County’s road safety team and Thames Valley Police to ensure that road safety is not compromised.
9 Planning
a. Application:
P08/W0318 Sunnyridges, 81 Abingdon Road; Detached garage adjacent to detached house, the former bungalow now extended.
The Council decided that it had no strong views on this application.
b. Planning decisions and other planning matters:
The Council noted that PO8/W0002, the application to build a new house on land adjoining 86 High Street, has been refused by the SODC Planning Committee.
Cllrs Margot Metcalfe and Mark Stevenson had attended the District Council’s Design Guide workshop on 31st March. Comments are required by 10th April but Cllr Stevenson explained that provided the Clerk confirms to SODC by that date that the Council intends to send in some detailed comments later, these can be submitted after the official closing date for comment has passed. The Clerk will send this message. Other councillors will now take the opportunity to make their suggestions for what Cllr Stevenson should put in the Council’s overall submission.
The Clerk reported that the application for the Kruzcko site (PO6/W0535) has gone to appeal. Mr Weatherall of 9 Queen Street has written to the inspector supporting residential development but giving preference to small units. The Council understands that at the moment the site is with agents who are trying to find commercial tenants.
10 Watling Lane repairs
The County is basically happy with the standard of repair specification that has been provided by Tim Fisher but there is an issue about adequate insurance cover and the provision of appropriate road safety signs and barriers while work is in progress. The Clerk is following up these points with the Council’s insurers and Tim Fisher.
11 Any Other Business
a. All those interested in going on the visit to the Recycling plant on 30th April are asked to confirm to the Clerk as soon as possible.
b. Cllr Mrs Metcalfe thanked all those who had helped with the Hidden Britain launch on 24th March. It was generally agreed that the day had been extremely successful.
c. Cllr Day confirmed that he hopes to attend the District Council’s meeting for tree wardens on Monday 21st April.
d. Cllr Hill asked it was acceptable if the Village Handyman, Geoff Willis, is employed part-time by the Flower Show committee. The Council has no reason to object to this arrangement.
e. Notice of the Annual Parish Meeting will be placed in ‘Dorchester News’. There is to be no guest speaker. The County and District Councillors will be invited to report and Cllr Stevenson will have the opportunity to talk about the Village Carbon Project. Cllr Stuart Gibbons offered his apologies as he will be away.
Meeting closed at 9.15 pm
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