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Parish Council Minutes July 2005
Home > Parish Council > Minutes > July 2005
The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 13th July 2005 commencing at 7.30 pm.
The Chairman, Cllr K Bryan presided; present were Cllrs. M Day, S Gibbons, C Hill, Mrs M Metcalfe, Mrs J Nudds and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present were County Cllr John Howell, District Cllr John Cotton and one resident. The Council observed one minute silence in commemoration of the victims of the London bombings on 7th July.
1. Apologies for absence
Apologies were accepted from Cllr C Sleigh who was unwell.
2 Declarations of Interest:
None
3. Public Participation
Mr Mike Selway from 8 Bridge End stressed the urgent need for the resurfacing of Bridge End. Some potholes had recently been repaired but this is only a temporary solution and, in any case, some areas had been missed. The potholes, in some cases as much as 6” in depth, are a serious hazard for cyclists and pedestrians Furthermore. this is a ‘high profile’ area of the village and the state of the road gives a very poor impression to visitors.
Cllr John Howell said that he was aware that some repairs had not been carried out and that he had already arranged for these to be dealt with. He agreed entirely with Mike Selway’s analysis. For budgetary reasons it is very difficult to get the County to repair roads, even ‘A’ roads and he said that it would be helpful if residents, as well as the Parish Council, write strongly worded letters of complaint to the Area Engineer. He would assist in getting such a campaign going. Mike Selway agreed to get his neighbours to support the campaign and Cllr Chris Hill, who also lives in Bridge End, said that he would also do so in his capacity as a local resident
4. Minutes of the Meeting of 8th June
The Minutes of this meeting were approved and signed as a true record.
5 Matters Arising from the Minutes
i). The Clerk confirmed that Don Macgregor has agreed to take part in preparations for the Trafalgar weekend.
ii) Mike Smith memorial seat: a catalogue of seating from Glasdon has been received and will be circulated. The Chairman asked Councillors to review whether the York stone outside the Co-Op is in fact the best location for this seat; another location, by the bus stop for example, might be better.
6 District Councillor's Report
Cllr Cotton asked for the Parish Council’s support in promoting the trial of the ‘eco-sack’ system. Notices have been placed on the village boards and Sue Graney is holding stock of these bags. The next issue of ‘Dorchester News’ will not appear until the end of August.
Cllr Cotton said that the District Council is in talks with neighbouring district councils to see if there is any possibility of achieving savings by combining operations, the collection of council tax being just one example.
7 County Councillor's Report
Cllr Howell spoke about the review of financially supported bus service s which also needs to be examined in the context of efforts to raise the X39 service to ‘premium route status’ – a measure which would result in increased frequency and, perhaps, the provision of bus shelters on the by-pass.
Cllr Howell was confident that the 138 service would not be removed but the future of the 105/106 routes is being debated and he will try to co-ordinate a joint approach by the residents of the villages affected.
8 Correspondence and Other Business
i). Sports Club Pavilion & Playground;
The Clerk confirmed that a new supply of ‘playbark’ has been supplied and laid.
Chris Drewett Signs have prepared a layout for a sign to go into the Play Area and quoted £499 for its supply (fixing extra). The suggested specification is for an aluminium sign, screen printed and laminated so that it is easy to clean when necessary. The wording is to be finalised and discussed again following the report of the RoSPA inspector which is expected next month.
A system of playground inspection has been prepared by Cllr Gibbons following guidance from OPFA. The handyman will complete a checklist twice each week and on each occasion sign and date an inspection sheet which will be returned to the Clerk. Cllr Gibbons is to be informed of any items which are marked as being unsatisfactory.
ii). Footpaths;
The area off Bridge End known as Waterloo has not been strimmed and the path from the bridge underpass to 2, High Street also needs attention from the Handyman.
BCB is to be asked to cut the path leading to Drayton Road along the back of Page Furlong on a regular basis and the Clerk was asked to contact the Evans/Hytners concerning who is responsible for the looking after verges of the path from Rotten Row towards the Allotments.
Hugh Potter, the County Council’s senior Rights of Way Officer has confirmed that Mark Sumner is rejoining his team as Field Officer for this area on 1st August and the unsatisfactory status at Overy Mill will be brought to Mark’s attention.
iii). Cemetery;
The Oxfordshire Preservation Trust has indicated that it may be prepared to grant aid the repairs to the old cemetery buildings. The District Council’s Planning Officer has raised no objection to the Parish Council’s plans to repair the buildings and use them to mount memorial plaques and Jennifer Hardt, the Conservation Assistant, has been very supportive of this plan. Further information from the Preservation Trust is being obtained urgently.
Chris Drewett has prepared a quote for a new sign at the Cemetery. It may be necessary to order one for both the Drayton Road and Belcher Court entrances. The wording is to be finalised.
iv). Allotments;
The Clerk reported that Mark Townson and Geoff Willis had agreed that the Council’s strimmer would be shared between them.
v). Parish Plan;
Cllr Williams said that a final review of the action points raised by the Plan is due in this coming week although a second meeting with the youth group has had to be postponed. He said that the ORCC had indicated that some parishes may be able to obtain a grant of £2,000 towards implementation of projects which had been identified in their parish plans.
Cllr Mrs Metcalfe said the ‘Hidden Britain’ working group was due to meet the next day and she would report on this project at the next Council meeting.
vi). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk
a. Information about BT’s plans to make the Bridge End telephone box usable by cards only (other than for emergency calls) has been received and the Council had no objection to this proposal
b. The District Council has been seeking the views of local councils, residents and organisations about how the community should be involved in consideration of its planning policy documents and planning applications. The Parish Council agreed that it was happy with the present arrangements, although it felt that there would be some benefit if the District Council would organise, at its own expense, a series of workshops around the District at which residents would receive an explanation of how the planning process works.
c. Mr & Mrs Tallis have supplied the Clerk with photographs of the pavement dilapidations to the north of Oxford Road. These will be passed to Cllr Howell
d. Details about the implementation of the Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act will be circulated.
e. The Council noted a letter of thanks from the production company responsible for ‘Midsomer Murders’. During filming there had been a breakage in the Museum but this has been promptly paid for and it is understood that the Museum committee feels that it has received appropriate compensation.
9 Planning
a) Applications:
P05/W0572/LB 11 Rotten Row amended details
Erection of single storey rear extension and replacement of roof lights with dormer windows, amended by new drawings and covering letter received 15th June.
No strong views
b) Report on planning decisions, amendments etc
P04/W1115 and PO4/W 1065/LB The White Hart
Erection of single storey oak framed building to provide a dining room extension. These applications have been withdrawn
P05/W0442 P05/W0443/LB Crown Cottage, 52 High Street
Conversion of outbuilding to ancillary domestic accommodation
Planning permission and Listed Building consent granted 15th June
P05/W0459 Enville, 9 The Limes; Erection of new entrance porch
Planning permission granted 20th June
P05/W0503 9 Oxford Road
Demolition of existing garage and conservatory and erection of two storey side extension. New vehicular access. (The proposed garage has been removed from the application) Planning permission granted 28th June
P05/W0506 Queenford Farm variation of planning conditions due to change of occupants Planning permission granted given 27th June
P05/W0541 Molly Mops, Samian Way
Removal of internal partition wall. Listed building consent granted 6th July
10 Finance
a). The council’s balances at NatWest Bank were as follows:
Current Account at 30th June £3,574.82
Reserve Account at 30th June £42,240.19
b). The following accounts were approved for payment:
AWBS ‘Playbark’ £290.81
Berinsfield Community Business- grass cutting/footpath £331.94
David Joseph – Play area entrance, gate repairs, trees £406.13
Scion Estates – Cemetery work from 2004 £305.50
Shaw & Son - new Minute book £122.79
Thames Water – Sports ground/Pavilion £37.31
Total Pest Control (UK) Ltd - wasp nest in play area £47.00
GGD Russell – clerk’s salary (incl. arrears) £463.63
Geoff Willis Handyman – 5 weeks £266.50
Information Commissioner (Data Protection Act) £35.00
The Council noted that £35 had been spent on repairs to the Chairman’s chain of office and the purchase of a tag to mark the years in office served by Mike Smith.
(The Clerk left the room while the following matter was discussed)
The Council considered the recent recommendations on Parish Clerks salaries which had been agreed by the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks. Under this agreement the Clerk’s new monthly rate of pay from effect from 1st April 2005 until 1st March 2006 is £361.86 monthly. It was proposed by Cllr Day and seconded by Cllr Mrs Nudds that the Council should follow these recommendations and this was approved unanimously.
c).Auditor’s report
The auditor has said that the Council’s lack of an internal auditor will not be accepted in future years. He has also asked for more detailed information about small variations between 2004 and 2003 amounting to £350 of receipts and £3,150 of payments. The Clerk will supply this information before the next meeting; the amendments to the Annual Return are duly authorised and will be initialled by the Clerk.
It was unanimously agreed that Douglas Jupp should be asked if he would take on the role of Internal Auditor but the Clerk would first out what terms of reference and payment the Warborough Parish Council has agreed with its internal auditor.
11 War Memorial
The Clerk reported that Mr Harris of Abingdon Stone & Marble has quoted an extra £70 plus VAT for painting the outer length of chains. Mr Harris feels that the posts themselves do not need further work. The total project cost is therefore £930 excluding VAT. A contribution of at least £200 has been promised by Don McGregor and Cathy Pepper.
12 By-pass junction
Statistics about accidents at this junction have been requested but not yet received.
13 New Playground equipment
Cllr Mrs Nudds reminded the Council that some children had asked for an area where ‘hopscotch’ can be played. The Clerk will contact the District Council to discover the planning requirements of this project and will also find out what level of grants may be available from the District Council and others.
14 Bridge End Car Park
Cllr John Howell said that he was hopeful that a joint venture could be established which involved the County, District and Parish Councils with, possibly, the Abbey PCC and the Catholic Church also contributing.
He felt that if agreement could be reached which resulted in action for the area of the car park then there is a good chance that the whole of Bridge End could be resurfaced at the same time, since it would make no sense to upgrade the car park but leave the rest of the road in its current state.
It was agreed to hold a special meeting on the evening of 25th July at which the matter could be discussed in more detail, prior to which some councillors agreed to carry out a site visit and prepare a list of matters which require attention. The meeting on 25th July will be held at Cllr Cotton’s home and will be attended by Cllrs Hill, Mrs Nudds and Williams together with the Clerk and Cllr Howell.
15 Date of Next Meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday 10th August. Cllr Mrs Nudds said that she would be on holiday for this meeting.
16 Any Other Business
b. County Highways have agreed to replace the School warning sign in Queen Street but probably not until 2006.
c. Quotations for the supply of new traffic cones have been received. The price varies according to the style and size of cone and whether any over-printing is required. Cllr Williams will ask the PCC if it is willing to make a contribution.
d. Cllr Mrs Metcalfe asked if the Clerk would obtain some information about cycle racks. She also asked for action about the untidy state of the High Street outside the Co-Op and the weeds which are growing along the side of the Village Hall.
e. Cllr Williams asked what progress had been made obtaining professional advice about the disused and blocked ditches in the Village. The Clerk said that he would contact Mr Gwynne of SODC.
f. Cllr Williams said procurement of the detailed, large-scale village map is in hand.
g. Cllr Mrs Nudds asked if the nuisance caused by the regular Monday night meeting of motor cyclists could be brought to the attention of the District Council’s Environmental Health team.
h. Cllr Hill stressed the importance of better liaison between the Abbey bookings officer and the Clerk over concerts in the Abbey. A two night event for local schools had caused problems because signs had not been put out nor extra parking provided.
The meeting closed at 9.40 pm
Revised 12/06/2005 © 2005 DOTWeb