Parish Council Minutes

Little Milton Parish Council

Minutes of Council Meeting held on 14th October  2009

in Pine Lodge, Little Milton 

 

Present:                                                      Cllr Stuart McGill (Chairman)

                Cllr Barry Coward

                                                                    Cllr. Mabel Wood

                Cllr Alison Shelton              

                                                    Cllr. David Wakeling

                                                                Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)

 

                                                                John Nowell-Smith (District Councillor)

                                                               

                                                                No members of the public                                                  

 

 

01/10/09     Apologies for Absence:

 

                Councillor Tim Robinson, Mr David Turner ( County Councillor )

 

02/10/09     Declaration of any personal or prejudicial interests of members

 

Cllr Stuart McGill declared a personal interest in the Village Hall and the IPS. Cllr Alison Shelton declared a personal interest in the IPS and Cllr. Mabel Wood declared a personal interest in the Village Hall.

 

03/10/09     Approval of Minutes

 

The Parish Council RESOLVED to approve the minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 9th September 2009 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed the minutes.  

 

04/10/09     Matters Arising.

 

New Refuse Collection system

The Clerk reported that he had received no recent complaints about the refuse system and it would appear that the initial teething problems in Blenheim Lane had been accommodated.

 

Weed Clearance

The Clerk informed the meeting that an article had been included in the newsletter that requested residents to clear weeds growing around their property. The Council are still waiting on a response from David Turner on behalf of OCC. The Council RESOLVED to monitor the situation.

Water Courses adjacent to Blenheim Lane

The Clerk stated that he had attended a site meeting with Mr Tim Wilde, OCC Highways ; Mr David Baldwin, Monsoon /SODC; Mr Paul Harrison, Brookside Cottage and Mr David Hawkins, Willowbrook. The outcome was positive as OCC Highways agreed to dredge the culvert between Brookside Cottage and the brook.  

 

05/10/09     Youth Facilities

 

The Chairman had no progress to report

 

06/10/09     Recreation Ground

 

The Clerk informed the meeting that work on a springer in the Play Area had been scheduled for repair with Broadleaf Joinery. The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk should contact Peter Ilbury as there were early signs of mole activity on the recreation ground.

 

07/10/09     Finance

 

                    The Council RESOLVED to approve the following expenditure:

Colourplus – October 2009                                                                                                £264.32

Enterprise – Grass cutting August                                             £117.71

                                                September                             £117.71                                £235.42

                J A Riddy – repair to two posts on Village Green                                                              £97.75

 

The Council RESOLVED to make a donation of £60.00 to Thame and District Citizens Advice Bureau and declined to support the Sue Ryder Care as it did not meet the criteria that the Council had instituted for financial donations.

 

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had submitted the loan application to the Public Loans Board for a maximum loan of £15,000 over a maximum term of ten years. He stated that if approved the Council would need to draw the loan down by 31st March 2010.

 

The Chairman informed the meeting that the Clerk had made available the bank reconciliations for review.

                                               

08/10/09     Planning

 

P09/W0378: Penn House: Extension over existing utility room

The Council noted that an appeal that had been lodged with the First Secretary of State following the refusal of SODC to grant planning permission had been refused by the Planning Inspectorate.

 

The Chairman informed the meeting of a forthcoming training session on ‘Planning Training for Town and Parish Councils’ at SODC on Monday 2 November.

 

09/10/09     Car Park and other related matters

                   

    Cllr Barry Coward reported that he was pursuing the scaled-back option that had been agreed at the Council meeting in September and had received a positive response from the contractors. There was a discussion on the requirements of a designated area to house the refuse bins for the shop, the village hall and the Orchard although the Orchard have stated that they are happy with their current arrangements. The Council RESOLVED to have one site that would be capable of accommodating four Grundon size bins. The recommended area was towards the five-bar gate adjacent to the recreation ground.

   

    Cllr Stuart McGill reported that he had spoken with Alan Stone about repairing and extending the existing barrier to incorporate a wider access. The matter had been delayed during the harvesting season and the Clerk was asked to follow-up the matter.

 

    The Council RESOLVED to write to all the existing site users with a view to forming a user liaison group that would share common issues.

                                               

10/10/09     New Village Shop & Post Office/Post Office Re-Instatement

                   

    Cllr Alison Shelton, in her capacity as shop manager, gave a report on the first month’s trading of the shop. She stated that the support had been overwhelming from many different sources and that the passing trade was encouraging. She praised the support of the volunteers who were essential to its running each day. She reported that the launch party had been well attended.

 

    The Chairman congratulated all those involved with shop and post office for all their efforts to maintain vital village services.

 

    The clerk highlighted that, although the Council had terminated the agreement on the old post office, there was still some old stock on the premises and it was also being accessed early in the morning for bread deliveries. The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk would speak to the owner to ensure that he was happy with the arrangement.

 

    The Chairman informed the Council that he had spoken to OCC Highways about the existing signs for the shop/post office on the Haseley Road as to whether they could be replaced with new signs due to re-location of the facilities.  The matter was being considered by OCC Highways who had indicated that there might be a cost implication for the Council.

                   

11/10/09     Correspondence

SODC: Invite to presentation on ‘Introducing renewable energy in Village Halls and community buildings’

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had sent a copy of the invitation to the Chairperson of the Village Hall and the Orchard.

 

               

OCC: Invitation to join National Highways Transport Survey

The Clerk stated that he had completed the online questionnaire on behalf of the Council.

 

                Oxford Greenbelt Network

The Council noted that the Oxford Greenbelt Network AGM would take place on Wednesday 11th November in Begbroke Village Hall.

 

                SODC: Consultation ‘BT’s Adopt a Kiosk Scheme’

The Clerk confirmed that the red kiosk on the village green had a listed building status and it was unclear as to whether the adoption scheme would apply to existing listed kiosks. The Council RESOLVED not to adopt the kiosk but requested that the Clerk sought clarification on this matter from the District Council.

 

12/10/09     Exchange of Information

 

Cllr Alison Shelton raised a concern about the tree behind the shop as a branch appeared to be damaged and could be a risk.  The Council RESOLVED that it should be inspected and the Clerk stated that he would arrange for this to happen

 

13/10/09    Date of Next Meeting

 

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

 

 

Parish Forum

                There were no matters raised.

 

                The meeting finished at 9.35 p.m.

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