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Parish Council Minutes December 2004
Home > Parish Council > Minutes > Dec 2004
The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 8th December 2004 commencing at 7.30 pm.
The Chairman, Cllr Mike Smith presided; present were Cllrs K Bryan, M Day, C Hill, Mrs M Metcalfe, Mrs J Nudds, C Sleigh and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present for part of the meeting were one resident, Mr Rob Field, the Ambulance Responder, and County Cllr John Howell.
1 Apologies for absence
2 Public Participation
a. Rob Field put forward several ideas for making residents more aware of the services provided by him as the local Ambulance Responder. These would also be presented to the other Parish Councils in his territory, the main objective being to raise local funding for his services. It was agreed that the Parish Council would discuss this matter at its January meeting, that the Council would support Mr Field if he were to organise a first aid training day in Dorchester and that it would also draw attention of residents to the need for making it easier for their properties to be identified by the emergency services. County Cllr Howell said that he would try to obtain more information from the Ambulance Trust about the Ambulance Responder scheme and its funding.
b. Mr John Metcalfe, speaking on behalf of the Parochial Church Council, urged the Parish Council to recommend rejection of the Planning Application concerning the fence at 4 High Street, which is adjacent to the Abbey. He drew the Council's attention to the fact that the boundary shown on the applicant's plan is disputed and said that he understood there to be a covenant in place which required that the proposal receive approval from the National Trust.
3 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Maurice Day as a Churchwarden re PO4/W1341/RET 4 High Street; Erection of 1.2m high fence, since this property is adjacent to the Abbey
4 Minutes of the Meeting held 10th November 2004
These minutes were approved and signed as a correct record after an addition was made making it clear that the absence of Cllr Mike Smith was due to ill-health.
5 Matters Arising from the Minutes
a. Cllr Sleigh reported on his discussions with the Clerk to Berinsfield Parish Council regarding the proposed bus shelter at the 'Berinsfield Interchange'. All arrangements are progressing and Dorchester PC's likely annual financial commitment was likely to be limited to paying for occasional cleaning at £40 pa.
b The Clerk reported that he had made contact with Jo Biggs of SOHA who, basically, is offering the Belcher Court lounge as a meeting venue, alternative to the Village Hall. It was agreed that the information should be publicised.
d The Clerk confirmed that he had written to WREN in support of the Abbey grant application as requested.
e. The County
Highways traffic calming scheme, in the form presented at the last two meetings
has been dropped. There are schemes in hand to improve safety of junction with
the by-pass and also at the 'Plough junction'. It is hoped that there will be
more information for the January Council meeting.
6 District Councillor's Report
John Cotton had sent apologies but, through the Clerk, asked if the Parish Council is going to be represented when the Hallidays planning application goes before the Planning Committee, possibly at its meeting on 22nd December. It was agreed that Cllr Chris Hill would represent the Council, with Cllr Mrs Metcalfe as reserve. The Clerk will keep in touch with the Planning Officer to find out at which meeting the application will be discussed.
7 County Councillor's Report
Cllr Howell said that he had already written to the Ambulance Trust about the funding of the Responder service and he suggested that the Council should wait until he has received a reply before it commits itself to providing funding. The Council asked who was responsible for ensuring that the Responder is properly insured.
A visit by Peter Ronald, the new Area Engineer, will be organised before the next meeting so that all matters concerning Highways can be shown to him and discussed, including car parking and flooding, as well as surface repairs, road safety and traffic calming.
Cllr Howell said that the SEERA housing targets have recently been reviewed downwards and that the immediate threat of housing development within the Green Belt has also been thrown out. There is, however, some 'small print' that would allow 'small schemes' and in January there will be further consultation, run by the County, at which SEERA officials will be questioned. Cllr Howell will run a workshop in the new year at which these matters can be studied in detail.
8 Correspondence and Other Business
i). Sports Club & Playground;
The Clerk reported that the possibility of funding for the proposed new Play Area through TOE (Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment Landfill Tax Credit Scheme) and the District Council. More information would be placed before the January meeting.
Total Pest Control has been asked to tackle the immediate mole problem and also to prepare a quote for an annual contract, which would also include the Cemetery.
The Clerk reported that the Tennis Club had advised him that the perimeter court netting is being replaced. He was asked to confirm with Mark Jones that the new netting meets the appropriate standards and that the work is properly insured.
There was a discussion about the repairs being done to the sports pavilion by Berinsfield Community Business. Cllr Mark Williams asked the Council if it would agree to the supply of round downpipes instead of square and also if the Council would accept an increase in the cost of materials over and above that originally stated; he then left the room because of his conflict of interest. The Council decided that it would consider a variation in the value of the original quote at its next meeting.
ii). Footpaths;
The County Council has written to the owners of 9 Watling Lane requesting the removal of the timber edging and asked the Parish Council if it wishes to apply for a modification order to get an agreed definition of width for this right of way, classified as a bridleway. Information about how to do this has been provided.
The Clerk confirmed that Mr Michael Evans has told him that the water leak under the footpath outside the Evans house has been repaired. It was not caused by the installation of the cycle barrier. Replacement photoluminescent tape for this barrier has not yet been obtained.
A resident has complained that the footpath along the side of the Village Hall needs tidying up.
iii). Cemetery/ Abbey Closed Churchyard
Work on the old buildings could be funded through TOE which meets quarterly, with the next one due at the end of February. There is a requirement for input but not necessarily matching funds. The Clerk is arranging a meeting with IJP Building Contractors early in January.
To assist with payment of the work on the horse chestnut tree in the Abbey Grounds a Landscape Grant has been recommended by SODC officers. The outcome of the application is not known but Paul Jenks has been given the go ahead to do the work.
For further landscape works in the Cemetery a quote has been requested from BCB and BCB has quoted for cutting grass in the Abbey churchyard where Tom Cottrell has also been invited to quote. Cllr Williams withdrew while these matters were discussed and Cllr Sleigh asked that the Minutes should record that he felt very uneasy about the fact that, through his employment as Business Director of Berinsfield Community Business, Cllr Williams frequently finds himself in a situation where he has to declare a conflict of interest.
iv). Allotments;
Nothing to report.
v). Parish Plan;
The Housing Needs Survey is in progress; the analysis of completed questionnaires will be conducted independently under the supervision of ORCC.
Mr Ian Reid of Queenford Farm has written to the Clerk about various items contained within the action list, one of which being the steps which he has taken to avoid traffic for the warehouses at Queenford Farm passing through the High Street.
Cllr Williams said that Ken Crisp will assist by running a youth consultation project which has been approved by ORCC.
vi). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk
a. Feedback is required by 7th February on proposals raised by the Town & Parish Forum and, for speed, the details will be circulated on their own.
b. It was agreed that that the Council had no objection to the renewal of the PEL Licence at The White Hart.
c. The Council agreed to support the initiative of the Rotary Club of Sinodun which has suggested holding a 'stroke awareness day' in the Village Hall where free blood pressure tests would be given on a Saturday to be agreed.
d. Details have been received about a conference in Warwick on 25th January being organised by the Society of Local Council Clerks but no-one is able to attend.
e. Mary Tame has supplied a copy of her letter to John Howell about Bridge End potholes and this will be raised when the Area Engineer visits.
f. Cllr Mrs Metcalfe and the Clerk are to meet the development officer from the 'Hidden Britain' project on 13th December and will report at the January meeting.
9 Planning
a) Applications
PO4/W1245 Mollymops, Samian Way; replacement of sheds
There were no strong views about this application.
PO4/W1265/T Orchid Lakes, Abingdon Road; installation of 16.7 metre high
telecommunications tower with antennas, radio equipment housing and ancillary development
It was agreed to recommend that this application should be rejected. There were particular concerns about the height and location of the proposed tower.
PO4/W1285 17 Page Furlong; single storey conservatory to rear elevation
There were no strong views about this application.
PO4/W1296 45 High Street; subdivision and refurbishment of existing 5 bedroom dwelling into 2(no) 2-bedroom dwellings.
It was unanimously agreed to recommend that this application be rejected. There were particular concerns about the problems of car parking in this already congested part of the village.
PO4/W1298 51, Watling Lane; Erection of a studio
There were no strong views about this application.
(Cllr Maurice Day withdrew from the Meeting while the following matter was discussed)
PO4/W1341/RET 4 High Street; Erection of 1.2m high fence.
It was unanimously agreed to recommend that this application be rejected. The Council believes that this is a most inappropriate fence in a sensitive area, adjacent to the most architecturally important building and its surroundings in the whole village.
b) Report on planning decisions
PO4/W0274 Molly Mops, Samian Way; Demolition of existing flat roof additions and replacement with single storey extension.
Planning permission granted 15th November
PO4/W1106 Units A and B Queenford Farm; rebuilding of industrial unit damaged by fire.
Planning permission granted 23rd November
PO4/W113/LB White Hart; kitchen building to side of existing kitchen. Conversion of tandem garage to provide 3 staff bedrooms.
Listed building consent granted 25th November
PO4/W1114 White Hart Hotel. Conversion of garage to three staff bedrooms. Addition of lean-to off existing kitchen.
Planning permission granted 25th November
10 Finance
a). Bank balances at 30th November 2004
Current A/c £ 3,183.38
Business Reserve A/c £46,532.43
b). The following accounts were approved for payment:
Scion Estates Limited (grass-cutting) £988.29
Chris Drewett Signs Ltd £229.13
Bruce Ferriman (Emergency lights on Village Hall) £227.95
Open Spaces Society (annual sub) £ 30.00
GGD Russell - salary £320.25
GGD Russell admin expenses (Oct/Nov) £129.85
Geoff Willis (Handyman - 4 weeks) £159.50
Pipeline Direct (Pavilion shut down of system) £ 35.00
S. E Cherrill (refurbishing 10 street name signs) £590.00
Didcot Plant (hire of floodlights) £152.23
Village Hall (room hire) £144.00
Total £3,006.20
It was agreed to donate £50 to both the Oxfordshire Association for the Blind and Berinsfield Voluntary Day Centre but an appeal received from the Oxfordshire Woodland Project would not be supported.
c). Discussion on 2005/6 Precept
It was noted that in 2004/5 the Precept had been set at £25,625, an increase of 2.5% over the previous year. The deadline for agreeing the 2005/6 figure is 15th January. One idea for new expenditure is to increase the allowance of travel tokens by £10 per qualifying person, which would cost the Parish approximately £1,400.
A detailed breakdown of the actual expenditure in 2004/5 and budget options for 2005/6 will be provided at the January meeting.
11 Village Maintenance
The Clerk reported that the By pass rubbish bins have been supplied but, unfortunately, one has already been vandalised.
12 Flooding in Queen Street
Some information about the Thames Water sewerage network has been obtained and more has now been requested.
County Highways has cleansed the storm water drains and County Cllr John Howell has agreed to approach Roy Tudor Hughes about laying a new storm water outlet across the Manor House land and into the Thame.
The matter will also be discussed with the Area Highways engineer during his forthcoming visit.
13 Car parking facilities
The matter will be discussed with the Area Highways engineer during his visit.
Bruce Ferriman has quoted £1,500 for supplying a floodlighting system to assist parking on the Recreation Ground. This compares with the nightly hire charge for floodlights and generators of around £140 per event.
14 Ambulance responder funding
To be carried forward to the January meeting.
15 Date of Next Meeting
This was agreed as Wednesday 12th January 2005. Cllr Chis Sleigh said that he would be away and offered his apologies for absence.
16 Any Other Business
a. Cllr Day said that he had supported an application by Paul Jenks to become an approved District Council contractor and wondered if it would be possible for the Parish Council to have a copy of this list.
b The Clerk said that the Village Christmas tree would be put up and decorated on the morning of Saturday 11th December and that he would be grateful for any assistance that Councillors might be able to provide.
The Meeting closed at 9.50 pm
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