Newsletter  February 2008

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The Council meeting held on Wednesday 9th January was attended by all Parish Councillors, the District Councillor, the County Councillor and the Clerk. There were no members of the public in attendance.

OCC Highways & related matters

The Clerk informed the meeting that the surface water on the Haseley Road was still a major concern and that pressure was being put on OCC Highways to resolve the problem. The matter is also being addressed by Mr David Turner . The Clerk also reported that he had requested SODC to sweep clean up the slip road as it was particularly muddy.

The Clerk updated the Council with the latest information received from Mr Steve Phillips of OCC Highways on the closure of the bridge at J7 on the M40. A letter was read out from a local resident expressing concerns about the suitability of the unclassified road between Little Milton and Wheatley as it was designated as a diversionary route during the bridge closure. The Clerk stated that he had spoken to Mr Phillips about the issues raised and that he had been informed that an assessment of the road would be made as part of the project.

The Clerk reported that he had had a further dialogue with OCC re the restricted highway off the High Street in order to try and have the road repaired. He also informed the meeting that there was a further concern about a raised service cover on the restricted highway and that he had raised the matter with Thames Water.

Finance

The Clerk circulated a projected budget for 2008-09 excluding the cost of any additional borrowing in         respect of the extension to the village hall. The Council RESOLVED to accept the proposed budget subject to the inclusion of £5,000 to cover the re-instatement of the current Post Office and the re-surfacing of the car park to meet the Planning conditions set on the extension to the Village Hall.

At this point in the meeting Cllr. Barry Coward took over the chair as Cllr Stuart McGill and Cllr Alison Shelton had a prejudicial interest in the need for the Council to include the cost of servicing of a loan for the extension to the village hall. Both Council members were present whilst the Council were briefed by Cllr Stuart McGill on the status of the grant applications for the Village Hall extension and the           subsequent exchange of information in respect of the IPS. Cllr Stuart McGill and Cllr Alison Shelton withdrew from the meeting and the Council RESOLVED to include the finance cost of a £15,000 loan over a 15 year term in the precept for 2008-09. As a result the Council RESOLVED to set a precept of £10,000 for 2008-09 and noted that this was the third year that the Council had not increased the precept.

Planning

    P07/W1422/RET: Abbotts Close Haseley Road : Erection of gate and gate posts

The Council RESOLVED that they had no strong views on this application and accepted that SODC will determine it as it considers appropriate. However the Council did express a concern about the compatibility of the gates within the locality.

P07/W1429: Garden Cottage Haseley Road : Demolition of existing double garage and erection of new garage incorporating workshop

The Council RESOLVED that this planning application should be approved by South Oxfordshire District Council although the Council wished to express their concern about the proposed dormer window as they felt that it was unsuitable for the purposes of the application.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 13th February 2008 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

R. Fergusson Parish Clerk

Please note that the complete minutes of the Council are now included on the Council website www.littlemilton.org.uk  after they have been approved by the Council.

Freedom of Information Act – Parish Council Publication Scheme

Residents can see the records of the policies and practices of the Parish Council

including minutes, financial information and responses to planning

consultations, on request from the Parish Clerk (Raymond Fergusson –279150). Current Council member are:

Cllr. Stuart McGill Chairman(279092),Cllr. Barry Coward Vice Chairman(278970),Cllr. Mabel Wood (279670), Cllr. Alison Shelton (278144), Cllr. David Wakeling (278014), Cllr. Tim Robinson (278343)

PRECEPT 2008/9

I am very pleased to tell you that at our meeting on Wednesday 9th January, the Parish Council resolved to maintain the Precept at its current level of £10,000, which I believe is the third year we have been able to do so. This means that we have been able to keep the Precept below the average for South Oxfordshire .

However, it is worth mentioning that our forecasts show increased expenditure looming on the horizon. We have to re-instate Wall Street Cottage to its former glory when (we hope) the Post Office moves to its new location on the Village Hall site. We also need to maintain the Multi Use Games Area, which has given the Council £2000 per annum in rental income since it was built in 2004. Next is the Recreation Ground car park, which must be properly marked out and the barrier replaced. Finally, we also have allocated a sum of money to pay for a loan if needed to complete the extension to the Village Hall (to accommodate a Post Office & Shop) if needed.

So, please be aware that we want to maintain and enhance all of the public assets of the village, and this does often mean spending money!

Stuart McGill , Chairman, Little Milton Parish Council

SODC: WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

For a charge of £35 residents can arrange for their unwanted vehicle to be collected from within the District and a charge of £7.50 per bulky item e.g. fridge furniture etc. To arrange this service residents can call the Public Amenities Team on 01491 823416 or print a copy of the form from the Council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk .

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL –GARDEN WASTE COLLECTION

Your bin will be collected on the same day as your normal refuse and recycling. Please ensure however that your bin is placed in a safe place that does not obstruct the pavement or highway. The dates for February are as follows:-Tuesday 12th; Tuesday 26th

If you are interested in this service please contact SODC Public Amenities on 01491 823416 or email: public.amenities@southoxon.gov.uk or visit www.southoxon.gov.uk

COMMUNITY WASTE VEHICLES – DOMESTIC WASTE ONLY

The Oxfordshire County Council Waste Recycling Centres at Redbridge and Oakley Wood are open Monday to Saturday 8.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. and Sunday 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. The recycling centres will be closed on New Years Day

CHURCH CLEANING ROTA FOR FEBRUARY

W/E 2nd February                     -          Mrs E. Summers/ Mrs A Jones

W/E 9th February                      -          Mrs. G. Taylor/Mrs H Ridley

W/E 16th February                    -          Mrs A. Hawkins/Mrs. S. Jones

W/E 23rd February                    -          Mrs. M. Davies/Mrs S A Dennis

W/E 1st March                         -          Mrs L. Lovegrove/ Mrs C Coward

CHURCH FLOWER ROTA FOR FEBRUARY      

W/E 3rd February                     -                     

W/E 10th February                    -          Lent                            

W/E 17th February                    -          Lent    

W/E 24th February                    -          Lent    

BELL RINGING PRACTICE DURING FEBRUARY

Just to let Villagers know that the Bell Ringers will be ringing in St. James’ Church, Little Milton on 

Tuesday 5th February                                        7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Sunday 10th February                                     10.30 a.m.to11.00 a.m.

Tuesday 12th February                                      7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Tuesday 19th February                                      7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Sunday 24th February                                     9.30 a.m to 10.00 a.m.

Tuesday 26th February                                      7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Raymond Fergusson (279150)

GROUNDHOG DAY

About seven years ago I saw the film Groundhog Day. It was about a selfish man who lived the same day over and over again until he got things right. In the process was a transformation, and he moved from selfishness to love. The film, as I recall it, quite touching, as the selfish man became a loving man. But the reality of people isn’t like that replaying process. We don’t have an action replay each day to help us correct our mistakes. Every moment is unique and unrepeatable.  

But there’s another film, I remember from the same era, and it was called My Life. This film was very moving, and, more than once, tears would well up in my eyes. It was the story of a young man diagnosed with a terminal illness. His wife was expecting their first baby but he was going to die before the child was born, so he set about keeping a video diary that could be left for the child who would grow up with some picture of the father he or she never knew. It was wonderful idea, but the reality turned out rather different. As he viewed the diary, he became aware of all sorts of shortcomings- resentments, long standing feuds, unresolved, and unfinished business, and broken relationships. Naturally he didn’t like what he saw, but in a strange way, it was a way of healing. By facing those things, he was able to deal with the problems and die at peace with himself and others. This was Groundhog Day, right enough, but Groundhog Day rooted in reality.

Lent is a time for resolving to do better. Self denial, and self examination, may be tough and hard, but it can be a method whereby we slowly come to terms with the fact, that we can be dislodged from what might have been going on for a long time, and inhibiting us. The extra chocolate bar isn’t essential, so to speak.

So, if we can be trusted to succeed in small things, then other more central aspects of our living can also come good. And so much more of our lives will then fall quietly into place.

Generous God, you challenge us in our every day, help us to make space to notice all that is amiss in our lives.  Enable us to grow through them, becoming the true people you created us to be.

FROM THE RECTORY

THE PORCH.

For many years St. Mary’s Great Milton have been proud to support THE PORCH, the Centre in east Oxford for the homeless. At Christmas we sent to them a large amount of provisions which had been collected in Church or the Shop. In a lovely Thank-You letter Porch tell me that most of the beneficiaries also have multiple and complex other needs underpinning their homelessness-these include long-term health problems, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health, lack of basic skills, unemployment and chaotic lifestyles. Over 200 people come to the Steppin’ Stone Centre each year.

The Porch is also looking for volunteers to help with the day to day running of their centre and volunteers to help with their activities. Is there anyone in our parishes who feels they could give of their time to serve the homeless and vulnerably housed in Oxford ? Do you feel you can give of your time, or would you and a friend be willing to help? Please do consider it. The Porch’s phone number is 01865 728545, email info@theporch.fsbusiness.co.uk. Their website is www.theporch.org.uk. I do hope that someone will come forward to give of themselves for this most worthy local charity.

LENT 2008.

Lent begins early this year, with Ash Wednesday falling on the 6^th February. There will be celebration of Holy Communion in St. Mary’s Great Milton at 7.30 p.m. Lent is always a kind of parenthesis in the Christian Year, when we seek in a special way to draw near to God, thinking about how far we have grown away from him, what is amiss with ourselves and our world, and seeking after his grace to get things right.

To help us in this task, there will be the usual Services of Compline on the Wednesday evenings around the benefice at 7.30.p.m. In the last few years the numbers of people attending these short meditative Services has grown, and thus indicating, these services are of help. On Friday mornings at 9.00 a.m., again rotating around the Benefice will be services of Holy Communion. Please see the list of Services for the times and venues of all these additional Services.

LENT LUNCHES.

These will be held again this year on four Mondays in Lent. As always there is no need to book, but simply arrive and take a place, any time between 12 noon and 1.30p.m. These meals do give us an opportunity, in an informal way, to meet old friends and to make new. Please do see the list for venues below. We would love to see you, we really would. Any donations will be given to Christian Aid.

February 11th

Lunch will be held at Harrington Farm, Great Milton

By kind permission of Miss Marygold Nixey        

From 12.noon – 1.30pm

February 18th

Lunch will be held at The Old Vicarage, Great Milton

By kind permission of Mr & Mrs Sinclair Hood

From 12.noon – 1.30pm

February 25th

Lunch will be held at Simeons, Little Milton

By kind permission of Mrs Helena Lawrence

From 12.noon – 1.30pm

March 3rd

Lunch will be held at Church Farm, Church Hill, Great Haseley

By kind permission of Mrs Judy Alexander

From 12.noon  - 1.30pm

MOTHERING SUNDAY.

Mothering Sunday is on the first Sunday of March, the 2nd. There will be a Special Benefice Mothering Sunday Family Service in St. James’, Little Milton, at 10.00 a.m. Do come along and bring all the family.

There will be a Service of Holy Communion at St. Peter’s, Great Haseley at 8.00 a.m. this day.

ON PRAYER.

I had a friend called Robert Foxcroft, a broadcaster, and a few weeks before he died, he said, ‘Prayer is asking God for the power to do his will. Magic is asking God to do your will. I believe in prayer rather than in magic.

God is not a magician who will melt our troubles away and give us relief from the hard facts of the real world, and if we think of our prayers as an attempt to manipulate God’s will, then I don’t think we should feel surprised if we feel that God lets us down when our wishes are not fulfilled in the way we would like.

Victor Story 279498

GREAT MILTON METHODIST CHURCH Minister:  Revd. Derick Chambers Tel: 212019

SUNDAY SERVICES IN FEBRUARY

For further information, please ring me. Yvonne Cartwright 279205

BENEFICE SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY