Parish Council Minutes

Little Milton Parish Council

Minutes of Council Meeting held on 9th February   2009

in Pine Lodge, Little Milton 

 

 

Present:                                                      Cllr. Stuart McGill (Chairman)

                                                                Cllr. Tim Robinson

                Cllr. Mabel Wood

                Cllr Alison Shelton              

                                                  Cllr. David Wakeling

                                                                Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)

                                                                John Nowell-Smith (District Councillor)

                                                                David Turner ( County Councillor

                                                                No members of the public                                                  

 

          

 

01//02/09    Apologies for Absence: Cllr. Barry Coward

 

02/02/09     Declaration of any personal or prejudicial interests of members

 

Cllr. Stuart McGill declared a personal interest in the Village Hall and prejudicial interest in the Lease between the Parish Council and the IPS, Cllr Alison Shelton a prejudicial interest in the Lease between the Parish Council and the IPS and Cllr. Mabel Wood declared a personal interest in the Village Hall.

 

03/02/09     Approval of Minutes

 

The Parish Council RESOLVED to approve the minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 14th January 2009 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed the minutes.

 

04/02/09     Matters Arising.

 

The Chairman reported that the pot holes at the entrance to the car park had been filled in although the work was only of a temporary nature. The situation would be kept under review.

 

Mr David Turner informed the meeting that he had received information from Peter Ronald of OCC in respect of an HGV survey that had taken place in September 2008. This was in response to the letter sent by the Clerk to Stadhampton Parish Council . He said that he would relate the information to Stadhampton Parish Council and agree with them any actions that need to be taken.

 

05/02/09     Youth Facilities

                   

The Chairman informed the meeting that the questionnaire had not been distributed but thanked the Clerk for providing a list of potential household with young people of a relevant age.  

               

06/02/09     Recreation Ground

 

The Clerk reported that he had received two quotes for cleaning the carpet surface on one of the MUGA courts, one from Anglia & Midland and the other from Sweepfast. The Council RESOLVED to accept the Sweepfast quote of £573.85 (incl VAT). The cleaning will be arranged for sometime in the Spring. Sweepfast also quoted for cleaning and repainting the hard surface court. The Council RESOLVED to review this in 2010.

 

The Clerk informed the Council that he was still waiting for quote from Isis Accord in respect of the grass cutting of the Recreation Ground and the village green. He stated that already had two quotes.

 

07/02/09     Finance

 

                    The Council RESOLVED to approve the following expenditure:

                                SODC: Dog Bin Emptying October – December 2008                                    £22.18

Little Milton Village Hall – MUGA electricity                                                                 £15.67

Oxford Green Belt Network: Annual subscription                                                          £15.00

NALC: Return of Portfolio re Quality Council                                                 £8.25

Thame & District Citizens Advice Bureau s142 (2A)                                                     £60.00

 

The Council noted that the next instalment of the Fixed Loan Repayment of £1,768.67 is due on 1st March 2009.                           

 

The Council discussed a financial appeal from South Oxfordshire Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers but RESOLVED to defer a decision until the Clerk obtained additional information in respect of any commensurate benefit to Little Milton.

 

The Clerk reported that he had made enquiries about an alternative provider of Parish Council insurance through a firm called Game & Co.                     

                                                                                               

08/02/09     Planning

 

P08/W1239: Five Penny Cottage: Single storey rear extension

The Council noted that planning permission had been granted by South Oxfordshire District Council.

 

P08/W0076/LB: Brookside Cottage Haseley Road : Appeal

The Council noted that the appeal that had been lodged with the First Secretary of State following the refusal of SODC to grant planning permission had been dismissed by the Inspector.

 

09/02/09     Correspondence

                   

The Chairman informed the Council of a briefing at SODC on the new waste collection and street cleaning service that will be introduced in June this year. The events will take place on 3, 4 and 5 March. The Council discussed the proposed new service and were extremely concerned that the new service could present real issues within the village. The Council RESOLVED that the clerk should write to SODC expressing the Council’s concerns and to emphasise the need for a carefully planned implementation.

 

10/02/09     Power of Well-Being

The Clerk informed the Council that he had received a legal briefing note from NALC that detailed the prescribed conditions that a Parish Council needed to satisfy in order to exercise the Power of Well-Being. The conditions that the Council require to meet are:

·         A minimum of two- thirds of vacancies on the council filled at the last ordinary elections

·         A qualified clerk trained to use the power of well-being

·         A minimum of 80% of councillors trained in the use of the power of well-being

·         A published statement of community engagement

·         The clerk also requires to have passed the CiLCA module in respect of The Power of Well-Being

 

The training for both the Council members and the Clerk is scheduled for Wednesday April 8th 2009 and will take part before the Council meeting.

 

11/02/09     Lease between Parish Council and IPS

 

At this point in the meeting Cllr Stuart McGill and Cllr Alison Shelton declared a prejudicial interest and vacated their place at the Council table.

 

The Council elected Cllr David Wakeling to chair this agenda item.

 

The Chairman reported that the IPS had responded to the draft lease and had tabled a number of points that required clarification. The Chairman explained that the Clerk had sought a legal opinion on all of the points that had been raised. The Council RESOLVED to discuss the major concerns and as result it was RESOLVED that the Clerk would formally respond to the IPS after taking further legal advice although it appeared that all the major issues had been satisfactorily resolved.

 

The Clerk informed the meeting that the Council had received a letter from Mr Emmett’s solicitor that indicated he was happy to see the proposal proceed but reserved the right to enforce the covenant and to recover the overage if the situation changed from a non-profit making shop. The letter included a proposal to give formal consent if the Council wished to pursue that option. The Council RESOLVED to ask the Clerk to ascertain the likely legal costs in connection with this matter as the Council would be responsible for any costs. This matter will be considered when the estimate of the legal costs is available.

Cllr Stuart McGill and Cllr Alison Shelton rejoined the meeting 

 

12/02/09     Exchange of Information

 

Cllr David Wakeling raised the issue of water leaking from the bank in Gold Street although this issue has already been taken up OCC Highways. He also highlighted the storm drain adjacent to the school that continues to be a problem in extreme weather. The Clerk stated that he would take up the matter with Thames Water. He also highlighted the deteriorating road surface adjacent to the traffic lights on Church Hill and the Clerk stated that he would speak to OCC Highways.

 

Cllr Mabel Wood requested that the Council put pressure on SOHA to increase the security for some of the bungalows in Old Field following the recent break-in to the home of an elderly resident. The Council were fully supportive and asked the Clerk to raise the matter with a degree of urgency.

 

13/02/09     Report by District and County Councillor

                   

District Councillor John Nowell-Smith informed the meeting that SODC Council tax for 2009-10 would increase by just under 3% and County Councillor David Turner reported that the County Council would increase their Budget by 3.75%.

 

14/02/09    Date of Next Meeting

 

The Parish Council will meet at 8.00 p.m. on Wednesday 11th March 2009 in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

 

The meeting finished at 9.35 p.m.

 

                Parish Forum

               

 

Signed by Chairman…………………………………………………Date