DORCHESTER ON THAMES
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Parish Council Minutes March 2007
Home > Parish Council > Minutes > Mar 2007
The Monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 14th March 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, M Stevenson and M Williams with G Russell in attendance. Also present for part of the meeting were County Cllr John Howell, twenty residents and two representatives from Dorchester Sailing Club.
1 Apologies for absence
None, all Parish Councillors were present.
2 Public Participation
Several residents wished to take part in the discussion about the suggestion of using the field behind Belcher Court for special event parking. Many residents had responded to the Council’s invitation to express their views about this idea and the Clerk had summarised the replies that had been received, most of which were reiterated during this period of public participation.
The overwhelming majority of residents replying to the request for opinions are against the proposal. Six residents were in favour with forty-eight against.
The most common reasons for objecting to the proposal are on the grounds of the perceived reduction in road safety and the concern about disturbing near neighbours, while others expressed their fears about environmental impact and maintenance costs.
Alternative suggestions for car parking were mainly in favour of continued use of the Recreation Ground but other suggestions for where more parking spaces might be found included: on uncultivated allotments, on the verge between Dorchester Bridge & Meadside, Bridge End, the hotel car parks, on the Cloister garden (with access via Manor Farm Rd) and in the field behind Forge Cottage & 5 Martins Lane.
The Clerk said that the verge between Dorchester Bridge & Meadside had been looked at a few years ago and County Cllr John Howell asked if he could see the reports that had been written at the time.
To applause the Chairman said that in view of the overwhelming opposition to the idea of using the field behind Belcher Court for special event parking the suggestion should be dropped. The Vice-Chairman Cllr Margot Metcalfe seconded the motion and all councillors voted in favour.
The idea of setting up a working party to discuss village car parking in more detail, with members drawn from the community as a whole, will be put to the new Council after the May elections.
Dave Musson, Commodore, and Patrick Fleming, Vice-Commodore, of Dorchester Sailing Club attended the meeting. They explained that the Club’s main recruiting emphasis is on juniors. They would like to improve the Club’s liaison with the Village and would use the notice boards to invite residents to the Club’s open day on 31st March. They would also attend the Village Newcomers evening on 19th April.
Mr Fleming explained the difficulties of allowing general public access to the lakeside. The Club has suffered from vandalism in the past and there are also health and safety considerations. Nevertheless it is hoped that some access can be arranged.
3 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Mrs Margot Metcalfe, as a near neighbour, declared a prejudicial interest in P07/W0109 Thatchers Cottage, 15 Queen Street. Cllr Mark Williams, as a director of BCB, will withdraw when the Council’s grass cutting contracts are discussed.
4 Minutes of the Meeting held 7th February 2007
The Minutes as circulated were approved and signed as a true record of the meeting.
5 Matters Arising from the Minutes
a. Location for David Johnston Memorial seat; the Council agreed that along the wall of the western cemetery gatehouse building would be best and the family will be asked for its view.
b. The order for tree work in Abbey Closed Churchyard has been given to Paul Jenks. Cllr Day has asked the SODC Forestry team if some of the older trees could simply be felled as it seemed extravagant to spend money on their temporary maintenance.
6 County Councillor's Report
County Cllr John Howell said that he was aware of concerns about the future of the X15 service to Abingdon and Witney, particularly from parents with children at The European School at Culham. The County has asked for new tenders for the service after 4th June. There is a possibility that the County will subsidise the service but a very large proportion of the County’s bus subsidy budget is already spent in this area. Cllr Howell has had further meetings with representatives of the group of motor cyclists who gather at Fox’s Diner on Monday evenings. Although pleased with the co-operation he has received from the bikers, Cllr Howell is not satisfied at the lack of police support in finding a solution to the noise problem. He will be writing to the new Chief Constable to request more co-operation from the Police.
The Audit Commission has given both the County and the Fire Service favourable reports, with ratings of ‘Excellent’ and ‘Good’ respectively, but Cllr Howell commented that these ratings, however pleasing, do not solve any of the County’s problems, for example the backlog of Highways maintenance work which is assessed at £100 -110m and will take years to rectify.
7 Correspondence and Other Business
i). Sports Club Pavilion & Playground;
The contractors have said that they will start work on the new play equipment installation in week commencing 16th April or possibly earlier. New goal posts have been ordered and the location will be agreed at a site meeting early in April.
The Clerk has a meeting about the roller shutters with the planning officer on Monday and the contractor the week after, in order to receive the cost for shutters on all doors and windows and not just the one to the store.
ii). Footpaths;
Signs indicating the ‘Village Centre’ have been erected leading from the by-pass bus stops to Drayton Road.
The County survey confirms that kissing gates can be installed at both entrances to Overy Mill path and Mark Sumner (Footpaths Officer) will now be writing to Mrs Butcher. The County will be paying all the costs including installation.
iii). Cemetery;
IJP Building Contractors will be replacing the fallen tiles on the old gatehouse building on Friday morning. The Clerk is preparing the entry for the refurbished building in the annual Oxford Preservation Trust award.
The Council approved the suggested charge of £100 to reserve plaque space for future use but no annual fees will be paid by those who reserve space in advance.
The Council approved the expenditure of £150 to purchase a special record file for the purchase of memorial plaques and a receipt book for advance bookings.
The Council agreed to spend up to £600 on the replacement of the four bins (sack-holders with wire mesh animal protection) that seem now to be beyond repair.
iv). Allotments;
The currently uncultivated area has been cleared by an outside contractor (BCB) and is likely to need attention three times a year to keep it tidy.
v). Hidden Britain;
SEEDA has approved the re-phasing of the project, which is running three months late because of the loss of the late Brian Oliver, who had been a key member of the team, but will not allow the project under-spend to be allocated to new items.
i). Other letters to Chairman and Clerk
The Council approved the grass cutting quotes that have been received from BCB and Scion Estates (Cllr Williams left the room whilst this matter was discussed)
The Council has been asked to take part in the Regional Housing Strategy Review, which has a particular emphasis on affordable housing. The Consultation period runs to 27th April. The Clerk was asked to find out how many Dorchester residents are on the SODC register of housing need.
8 Planning
a) Applications
(Cllr Mrs Metcalfe left the room whilst the following matter was discussed)
P07/W0109 Thatchers Cottage, 15 Queen Street, Dorchester-on-Thames,
Extension & alteration to existing garage & formation of terrace area adjacent to house. Reinstatement of vehicular access. & P07/W0141 Thatchers Cottage 15 Queen Street Dorchester-on-Thames; Internal alterations to existing cottage.
The Council thought that the ideas proposed were sound and sensitive agreed that both the applications should be approved.
b) Planning decision
P07/W0034 17 Bridge End; Erection of single storey conservatory breakfast room, 2 x bedroom pavilions with bathrooms to the rear. New dormer to west elevation and single storey utility room to the south.
The Council noted that this application has been refused. A discussion followed about whether the Council should ask English Heritage to assess the main building on the site for listing as being of outstanding historic interest. Professor Malcolm Airs advised the Council that this was built as a chapel for the Primitive Methodists in 1839. It was agreed that an application should be made and that Malcolm Airs will assist with its drafting. It was also agreed that the Clerk should write to Mrs Judy Tudor Hughes, owner of the property, to advise her of the Council’s action. Professor Airs said that English Heritage will discuss the matter with Mrs Tudor Hughes as part its normal process.
9 Finance
Bank balances
Current Account at 28th February £22,108.98
Reserve Account at 30th January £23,379.96 (no change)
The following accounts were approved for payment.
Thames Water (Cemetery) £37.85
Total Pest Control (UK) Ltd £836.60
Berinsfield Community Business (Cemetery) £1,773.96
Berinsfield Community Business (Footpath) £158.63
Berinsfield Community Business (Rec. entry) £1,800.25
Berinsfield Community Business (Allotments) £193.88
Town & Country Memorials Ltd £103.65
Carrie Webb (Orientation Board design) £80.00
NALC (annual subscription) £13.50
Sports Club (grass cutting) £680.00
GGD Russell – Clerk’s salary £401.82
GGD Russell – admin & travel expenses March £58.70
Geoff Willis Handyman – 5 weeks - (February £214.75) £263.50
Shaw & Sons Limited (new Minute Book) £122.79
Dicoll Limited (Hidden Britain touch screen) £6,374.37
Fred Cherrill – bus shelter repair £325.48
Hire of Village Hall 2006 £112.00
David Joseph – fixing of new bench & memorial plaque £225.00
13,561.98
Appointment of Auditors: Douglas Jupp has expressed his willingness to be appointed as Internal Auditor for another year and it was agreed that this appointment should be confirmed. It was also confirmed that BDO Stoy Hayward should continue as External Auditor for a further year, pending a review by the Audit Commission. The Council noted that the Basic External Audit Fee would be £285 per year for next five years (it was £250).
Financial standing orders will be considered by the first meeting of the Parish Council following the May elections.
10 Car Parking & other Highways maintenance matters
Bridge End car park area: The Clerk confirmed that the £10,000 cheque payment to the County is still being withheld pending confirmation that the project will be completed soon. The environmental improvement grant of £3,000 from SODC has not been received because the improvements have not yet actually been completed. This must be paid before the end of March or it will be lost. Both County Cllr Howell and the Clerk are following this up.
The Clerk has asked OALC if there is a definition of bridle path maintenance standards and for advice on how to deal with the ambiguous status of Manor Farm Road; a reply is awaited.
County Cllr Howell has supplied the Clerk with a contact who may be able to help with supplying material to fill the potholes in Watling Lane.
All Councillors had received a copy of Brian Purcell-Smith’s letter of 15th February in which he said that his technician has examined the ‘tree root heave’ adjacent to the bus shelter in the High Street and had classified it as a ‘minor hazard’. The work has therefore been assessed as low priority. The Council agreed that the hazard is slight, although commenting that perhaps a wider footpath at this point would help.
11 Keen Edge Footbridge Project
The Clerk reported that the opportunity to participate in the Sustrans Connect2 campaign has passed due to the unwillingness of Mrs Hillary Warburton, landowner on the western bank, to agree that the bridge should be made suitable for bicycles.
12 Minerals & Waste Local Development Consultation
Cllr John Howell will be providing guidance on the responses. The one concerning minerals will be a joint reply by the member councils of PAGE.
13 Any Other Business
a. The Clerk has received a supply of Parish Council Election nomination forms.
b. Cllr Stevenson suggested that the Parish Council should set up a steering group, with non councillors also as members, to try and improve the carbon consumption of the village. This should be included on the agenda for the Annual Parish Meeting.
c. It was suggested that the consideration of planning applications should be moved earlier in the agenda, perhaps after ‘Matters Arising’.
d. The Council noted that several thefts of bicycles have occurred recently.
e. There is a lot of work in progress at Lantern Cottage, where planning permission has recently been refused. The Clerk was asked to mention this matter to the planners.
f. The Council noted that the next meeting of the Thirteen Parishes Group will take place on Monday 19th March.
g. The new litter bin has still not been placed outside the Co-Op.
Meeting closed at 10.12 pm
Revised Apr/2007 © 2007 DOTWeb