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Parish Council Minutes August 2007

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The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 8^th August 2007 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 and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present for part of the meeting were County Cllr John Howell, District Cllr John Cotton, PCSOs Sarah Talbot and Becky Long from Wallingford Police Station and one resident.

1 Apologies for absence
Apologies were accepted from Mark Stevenson who was on holiday.

2 Thames Valley Police
The Chairman welcomed PCSOs Sarah Talbot and Becky Long who introduced themselves to the Council as the new support officers to Area Beat Officer Jess Rowling, all based at Wallingford Police Station. Their role is to be out and about as much as possible providing a visible police presence and dealing with minor crime and anti social behaviour. There is to be a Police ‘surgery’ in the Village Hall on Tuesday 28^th August and this would be well advertised in advance.

3 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Chris Hill declared an interest in PO7/W0847 7 Bridge End where he and his wife are the applicants.

4 Minutes of the Meeting held 11^th July 2007
The Minutes of the meeting were approved and signed as a correct record.

5 Matters Arising from the Minutes
Bike racks; some are available which hold 12 bikes. PC will have to supply the concrete base otherwise they will be provided and installed free of charge. Costing of the base is to be obtained.
Impact of Hallidays development on Queen Street drainage capacity; the District Council is taking an interest – a detailed response from Thames Water is awaited before any further action is taken..

6 District Councillor's Report
District Cllr John Cotton said that from across the District there had been 66 responses to the consultation document about further provision of gypsy and traveller sites. He encouraged the Parish Council to be represented at the meetings of the South Oxon Partnership where strategic consultations about the future of the district are taken place.

7 County Councillor's Report
County Cllr John Howell said the response of the emergency services to the recent flooding in many parts of the County had been generally acknowledged as excellent. The County is aware of the people from Abingdon who have been evacuated to The White Hart and representatives form social services will be in touch with them soon.
Cllr Howell has approached the Countryside Services department about the stiles and gates at Overy Mill and it is hoped that there will be progress soon.
In Bridge End many potholes have been repaired and the surface dressing is expected before the end of the summer period.
Cllr Howell is aware that thee is some disappointment among residents about the standard of the surface dressing of the High Street. He understood that the contractors have been asked to return to deal with the complaints.
He confirmed that there is definitely no County money available for the repair of Watling Lane. It has been agreed that the County’s priority should lie with roads and not bridleways.

8          Finance: Bank balances & Accounts for Payment.
Reserve Account at 29^th June                            £23,705.86
Current Account at 29^th June                            £46,758,37

£67,464.23

The following accounts were approved for payment.

Wicksteed Leisure Ltd (play area refurbishment) £38,205.13

Southern Electric (Pavilion) £26.18

Berinsfield Community Business (grass – July) £240.30

Berinsfield Community Business (Hurst footpath) £108.39

Wallingford Glass (repair to pavilion roof) £64.63

Scion Estates Limited (grass cutting) £319.46

Jenks Oxford Ltd (Cemetery tree) £170.37

Bruce Ferriman (Pavilion electrics including new fan) £358.38

Pipeline Direct (Pavilion drain clearance) £41.17

Bryans Lock Services (Pavilion & Cemetery security £190.68

S E Cherrill (Bus stop and Watling Lane sign repairs) £160.00

GGD Russell – Clerk’s salary £401.82

GGD Russell (admin & travel July/August) £122.35

Geoff Willis Handyman – 4 weeks - (June £277.50) £258.75

£40,667.61

The Council has received an appeal from Oxfordshire Association for the Blind which has one client living in the village. There is no recent history of the Council giving anything to his charity although it is believed that the Abbey PCC does contribute.

The Chairman asked if the Council would agree to set a level of expenditure which he could approve in an emergency without the need to wait until the next full meeting of the Parish Council. It was agreed that the Chairman should be allowed to exercise his discretion in this way but the actual figure should be set at the next meeting.

The Council approved the signing of the Annual Return by the Chairman and the Clerk and this will now be passed on for review by the internal auditor.

9 Correspondence and Other Business

i). Sports Club Pavilion & Playground; The Council has received the grants from SODC & TOE amounting to £14,000 and £5,000 respectively together with £4,000 from the fund raising committee. The WREN grant of £6,000 is in progress and there will be an amount received as repayment for the football posts by the Sports Club.

The Clerk said that Wallingford Glass has quoted for a replacement pavilion roof dome in the sum of £291.25. This expenditure was approved.

The team of archaeologists is making good the area where the recent dig took place. They are obliged to return the surface to its former condition.

The written report from Rodger Davies concerning the wooden play centre has been received and supplied to Cllr Gibbons. The Council agreed that it should set aside £6,000 towards the cost of replacing this adventure play kit.

Cllr Day will ask Paul Jenks if he would be able t undertake a survey of all the trees that border the Recreation Ground with a view to identifying a five year management programme.

The Clerk is to put Peter Keable on notice that the perimeter hedge needs to be cut back as soon as government guidelines permit. There are other hedges that need attention including the berberis hedge alongside the Cemetery.

ii). Footpaths;

The Clerk said that he had asked BCB for a price to clear the undergrowth along Footpath 13 which runs from Watling Lane to Bishops Court Farm.

The Hurst Water Meadow Trust and the Clerk will continue to ask the Countryside Services team to complete the proposed work at and near Overy Mill.

The path to The Hurst

iii). Cemetery;

Tree survey: Paul Jenks has said that to reduce the remainder of diseased tree by 35-40% will cost £495. The Council considered that it would represent better value if the tree is replaced by another species altogether.

The Council noted that John Howard has agreed to carry out work on two graves as requested by the family representatives. He will be available to take on more of this type of work if required..

The Council has been invited to attend a reception by Oxford Preservation Trust on 2^nd October.

iv). Allotments;

Nothing to report

v). Hidden Britain;

The remaining orientation board will be erected in the next few days. The fingerposts are expected in September.

i). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk

a. The Council noted the arrangements for the National bus pass scheme which will come into effect in 2008.

b The Council has been asked for its views about suitable sites for polling stations within the Parish. The Village Hall continues to offer the best location and the Council asked the Returning Officer at SODC to note that the Council’s preference is also that voting counts after Parish elections should also be held in the Village Hall and not removed to Crowmarsh Gifford. This may be administratively more convenient for the Returning Officer but it is not god for local democracy.

10 Planning

a) Applications

Cllr C Hill left the room while the following matter was discussed

PO7/W0847 7 Bridge End

Two storey side and single storey rear extensions

The Council agreed that this application should be approved

PO7/W0860/LB 16 Malthouse Lane

Replace plastic guttering with black aluminium and add guttering over dormer window. Replace cement render and masonry paint with lime based equivalents. Replace two windows to the rear elevation

The Council agreed that it had no strong views about this application.

b) Report on planning decisions, amendments etc

PO7/W0739 30, Oxford Road; Amended.

The Council noted an amendment which reduces the overall extension by 4m and makes minor changes to windows. This application has now been approved.

The Chequers;

The Council was urged by Mr Terry Fisher, resident of Wittenham Lane, to approach the planning authorities because of the deterioration in the fabric of the building, which he said could in extreme circumstances be regarded as a criminal offence.

Cllr Cotton said that he understood from the planning officer that the developer is keen to produce a scheme that will receive approval in the near future. He advised that a letter along the lines suggested by Mr Fisher could be unhelpful at this stage and the Council agreed to accept Cllr Cotton’s advice but to keep the matter under review.

Co-Op Store, High Street

The property managers of the Co-Op have confirmed that the scheme for accommodation above the store is to be reactivated and the broken window on the ground floor is to be repaired. The Clerk will enquire as to whether the arrangements for a supply of electricity to the Parish Christmas tree will be honoured.

Roller shutters at Pavilion

The Clerk said that no responses to the planning application had been logged to date except for one from Thames Valley Police which is very supportive.

PO7/W0538/Lawful Development; 12 Meadside; Insertion of new window.

Lawful Development Certificate issued 19^th July

PO7/W0551 6 Monks Close;

Proposed single storey side & rear extensions and alterations

Planning permission granted 20^th July

11 Village Carbon Project

Carried forward to the September meeting.

12 Watling Lane maintenance

Some responses to the Clerk’s letter, distributed to all residents, have already been received. These are mainly in agreement with the proposed repairs but some are worried about traffic speeds if road becomes “too good”.

The matter will be reviewed when more replies have been received.

13 Register of Interests

The Council noted that some councillors’ declarations are awaited

14 Emergency Planning

It was thought that a small team should be recruited to consider this matter in more detail. Any surplus sand bags should be retained and stored. The main local problem is the blocking of the old drainage ditches – there are experts living within the Parish who may be able to advise on this matter and suggest solutions.

15 Headstone Safety

The Council noted the wording of Oxford City Council’s memorials safety notice and the Clerk will follow up the advertisements contained in the ICCM Journal from specialists in advising burial authorities about safety issues.

16 Any Other Business

a. There have been several complaints that the new houses on the High Street block the view of drivers turning out of Bridge End. Cllr Mrs Nudds asked if mirrors might be a help.

b. It was suggested that some logs from The Hurst might be moved to The Green at Bridge End to prevent people from driving cars onto The Green

c. The pavement along the western side of Oxford Road is being partially clocked by growth from the bank behind 8, The Limes and the Clerk was asked to speak to the residents.

Meeting closed at 10.05 pm

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