Little
Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on 8th April 2009
Present:
Cllr.
Cllr
Barry Coward
Cllr Tim Robinson
Cllr.
Mabel Wood
Cllr
Cllr. David Wakeling
Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)
John Nowell-Smith (District Councillor)
No
members of the public
01//04/09
Apologies
for Absence:
02/04/09
Declaration of any personal or
prejudicial interests of members
Cllr.
03/04/09
Approval of Minutes
The
Parish Council RESOLVED to approve
the minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 11th March 2009 as a true record
of the meeting and the Chairman signed the minutes subject to the change of the
amount of the donation to Homestart from £50 to £25.
04/04/09
Matters Arising.
HGV
traffic volumes
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he had received a letter from
Old
Field security
The
Clerk reported that he had received a positive response from SOHA and had
arranged to meet with a Thames Valley Crime Reduction Officer on Thursday 9th
April 2009.
New
Waste Collection Service
The
Clerk explained that he had been in regular communication with SODC in an
attempt to have the new contractor to visit the village before the new bins were
delivered. The new system starts from 8th June and the Council wish
to ensure that as far as possible any hot spots are identified and a sensible
solution found. The Clerk was asked to find out when the new bins are likely to
arrive.
OCC
Highways
The
Chairman read out a letter from Malcolm Bowler, an OCC Senior Traffic
Technician, in response to the Council’s concerns about the speed of the
traffic in the area of the school. It pointed out that there had been no
recorded collisions in the last five years that had resulted in injuries. The
County Council are not seeking to implement 20 mph in the vicinity of schools.
However the situation will continue to be monitored.
Flooding
on A329 at Little
The
Clerk reported that he had received a response from Thames Water in respect of
the flooding due to excess water escaping from a manhole. Thames Water is
investigating the reason why their Sewage Pumping Station was overloaded and a
report is expected at the end of April.
05/04/09
Youth Facilities
The
Chairman distributed an analysis of the recent questionnaire that had been
distributed to a number of households in the village. The number of completed
questionnaires was just under 50%. The two areas of interest that generated most
support related to a trip to a theme park or a cinema. The Council RESOLVED
to explore the possibility of establishing a Youth Cinema Club that involved a
high level of participation by the young people.
06/04/09
Recreation Ground
The
Council RESOLVED to accept the quote
from
The
Council discussed a proposal to use the existing tractor lawnmower to maintain
some of the footpaths around the village. The Clerk indicated that the vehicle
would require to be taxed and insured if it used the public highway. The vehicle
tax is nil but the likely insurance would be around £300. The Council RESOLVED
to investigate modifying the gate that accesses the footpath off Cock’s
Lane (Unsuitable for motors) as well as contacting local landowners to remind
them of their responsibilities.
07/04/09
Finance
The
Council RESOLVED to approve the
following expenditure:
Colourplus –April
Newsletter
£259.79
Morgan
Cole- Legal Fees
£862.50
Oxfordshire
Association of Local Councils – Annual subscription
£126.26
The
Council RESOLVED that in accordance
with its powers under Section 137 of the LGA 1972
to incur the following expenditure which in the opinion of Little Milton
Parish Council is in the interests of the area or the inhabitants and will
benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure:-
Campaign
to Protect Rural England -membership
£29.00
The Clerk reported that the Council had received the
first instalment of precept 2009-10 for £5,250
The
Clerk informed the Council that he had received the Audit schedule for 2008-09
from BDO Stoy Hayward.
The
Clerk reported that the Council was now registered for VAT and this meant that
VAT would now need to be applied to advertising revenue. The Council would need
to assess how it wished to deal with the income it received from the MUGA court
hire and lights.
The
Chairman read out a letter of thanks from Home Start in respect of the donation
made by the Council.
08/04/09
Planning
P08/W1095:
30 Chiltern View: Two Storey rear extension:
The
Council noted that an appeal had been lodged with the First Secretary of State
following the refusal of SODC to grant planning permission
The
Council noted the response from SODC Planning in respect of their letter in
respect of electronic consultation on planning applications. The Council had
suggested that their was an opportunity to provide only one set of plans for
dual in respect listed building applications and this had been taken up by SODC
on a trial basis.
The
Chairman informed the Council of the forthcoming demonstration on paperless
planning consultations at SODC Crowmarsh.
09/04/09
Correspondence
SODC:
South Oxfordshire Core Strategy – Preferred Options consultation
The
Chairman informed the Council of the consultation by SODC on its Core Strategy
‘Preferred Options’ until May 1 2009. There is a proposal to carry out a
localised review of the green belt boundary around Wheatley and Berinsfield as
part of its Core strategy. The Council had concerns about this and RESOLVED
to ask the clerk to express their concerns to SODC.
OCC:
Consultation on Proposed Changes to Bus Shelter grants
The
Chairman informed the Council of the proposed changes to the way that the County
Council operate their Bus Shelter Grant Scheme. The Clerk stated that he had
responded on behalf of the Council.
OALC:
The
Council noted the Consultation Draft of the 2009 Review of the Chilterns
Buildings Design Guide.
10/04/09
Power of Well-Being
The
Clerk stated that in order for the Council to be able to exercise the Power of
Well-being it still required to publish a statement of intent as to community
engagement and the Clerk required to pass the CiLCA module in respect
Well-being.
11/04/09
Lease between Parish Council and
IPS
The Clerk informed the meeting that the lease between the Parish Council and the IPS had now been signed and exchanged. The Parish Council’s original lease document is held by Morgan Cole with a copy held by the Clerk.
The Chairman and Cllr Alison Shelton did not consider that he had a prejudicial interest in this agenda item as the Council was only receiving an update on the project.
The Chairman stated that the groundworks had been completed with the exception of the patio and ramp. The timber for the building is expected to be delivered week commencing 11 May and it is expected that completion will take a further six to eight weeks. The Council require to give the landlord of the current Post Office three months notice of termination of the current arrangement and it was RESOLVED that the IPS would advise the Council when the current premises would be vacated. The Council will liaise with the landlord to agree the reinstatement of the premises.
12/04/09
The
Clerk explained that PCSO Michelle Jacques had intended to attend the meeting.
He stated that she wished to discuss a number of security issues surrounding the
site including the height of the perimeter hedge. The Chairman stated that the
IPS would be happy to share their thoughts on security with her. She also wanted
to talk about the use of a Speed Indicator Devise within the village as a means
of deterring speeding motorists as it is likely that the Police will require
some local support to carry out surveys. The Clerk will ask PCSO Michelle
Jacques to a future meeting.
13/04/09
Exchange of Information
The
Clerk reminded the Council that the Annual Parish Meeting would take place on
Wednesday 13 May starting at 7.00 p.m. and would be followed by the Parish
Council meeting. The Chairman and Vice Chairman would be elected for the coming
twelve months at this meeting.
Mr
The
Chairman raised the question about the maintenance of the existing hedgerow
facing the A329 and it was agreed that the Clerk would speak to
14/04/09
Date of Next Meeting
The
Parish Council will meet at 8.15 p.m.
on Wednesday 13th May 2009 in The
Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or
other meetings.
The
meeting finished at 9.30 p.m.
Parish Forum
There were no matters raised.
Signed
by
Chairman…………………………………………………Date…………………………………………