Little Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 8th June 2005
in Little Milton School Library
Present:
Mr
Stuart McGill (Chairman)
Mr
Barry Coward
Mr Simon Oddie
Mrs Mabel Wood
Mrs Isabel Fox
Mrs Alison Shelton
Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)
Mr David Turner (County Councillor)
Mr John Nowell-Smith (District Councillor)
Apologies
None
2
member of the public
01/06/05
Apologies for Absence
All members
present
02/06/05
Declaration of any personal or
prejudicial interests of members
Mr Stuart
McGill declared a personal interest in the Village Hall agenda item but did not
consider it to be prejudicial
Mr. Simon Oddie declared a personal interest in the Planning Application P05/W0246/LB (The Barn) but did not consider it to be prejudicial.
03/06/05
Approval of Minutes
The
Parish Council approved the minutes of the Annual Parish meeting held on 11th
May 2005 and the Chairman signed them as a true record of the meeting. The
Parish Council also approved the minutes of the Annual Meeting and Parish
Council meeting held on 11th May 2005 as a true record of the meeting
and the Chairman signed them.
04/06/05
Matters Arising
Outstanding matters OCC Highways
The Clerk reported that the footpath adjacent to
the sub-station in Chiltern View had been satisfactorily repaired. The footpath
in front of the SOHA houses was still under investigation. The matter was the
responsibility of OCC Highways but not the maintenance section at Drayton. The
manhole cover next to the Recreation Ground hedge appeared to be a cover
relating to a water meter and could be the responsibility of the Village Hall. (Action
Clerk)
The Lamb Inn
The Clerk
reported that he had spoken to the Area Manager of Punch Taverns and that he had
given an assurance that the Lamb was not being considered for closure. It was
hoped that the appointment of an interim manager would see the Lamb re-establish
itself in the Village.
Triangle
of land adjacent to Wells Farmhouse
The Clerk
reported that he had received the necessary forms to register the area of land
as Village Green status. He requested that Mrs Isabel Fox examine the forms in
order to fully understand any legal implications. (Action Mrs Isabel Fox/Clerk)
Members
Code of Conduct
The Clerk
reminded the Council members that the deadline for completion of the
consultation document was the 17th June 2005.
05/06/05
A329 Advisory Group
Mrs
Alison Shelton stated that she had nothing to report.
The
Clerk stated that he had received comments about the amount of signage in
respect of the traffic calming measures as well as concern that the width of the
road at the build-outs would allow two vehicles to pass and could pose a
potential hazard. Mr David Turner informed the meeting that OCC would produce a
report on the traffic flows to allow an assessment to be made as to the
effectiveness of the new traffic calming measures.
06/06/05
Recreation Ground
The Chairman reported that the mower had required further repair.
07/06/05
Finance
The Council
approved the following expenditure:
Current
expenditure
Colourplus May
Newsletter + paper
£241.36
Smith of Derby
Ltd – Clock maintenance
£173.90
Dee Waldren -
plants
£30.54
ORCC – annual
subscription
£20.00
Colourplus –
June Newsletter
£249.71
SODC – Top up
bus tokens
£232.80
The Clerk informed the meeting that a report from the
Internal Auditor would be submitted to the July meeting.
The Clerk briefed the members on a Finance Course
that he had recently attended.
08/06/05
Planning
P05/W0515
– Orchard House: Erection of single storey extension
The Council recommended approval of this planning application
The Barn: Listed Building Consent Application (P05/W0246/LB)
The Chairman informed
the meeting that no decision had yet been made by SODC Planning. However there
was a site visit planned for Monday 13th June by members of the SODC Planning
Committee and that the application would be considered by the Planning Committee
on Wednesday 15th June.
The Parish Council noted the recent offer for sale
sign of land adjacent to the Recreation Ground had been removed
09/06/05
Correspondence
Oxfordshire
Service and Tea Party
An
invitation to attend the a Special Service to mark the 60th Anniversary of the
end of World War Two was offered to Council members. Mr Stuart McGill agreed to
attend.
OCC – Minerals and Waste Development Framework
OCC are replacing their existing Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan
with a new Minerals and Waste Development Framework. This will be a portfolio of
local development documents, including a Core Strategy and Proposed Sites and
Policies documents for mineral working and waste management, to be prepared over
the next three years. They will set out planning policies and proposals for
minerals supply and waste management for the next 10 to 15 years.
OCC Roadside timetable displays
The OCC informed the Council of a change in policy. The change will mean
that OCC will provide the timetable cases but the operators will be responsible
for supplying the timetables for the cases.
Thames Valley Police
The Council noted the Community of the Year Award scheme. A copy of the
notice is displayed in the Parish Council notice-board.
SODC Summer Activity Programme
As result of the Easter programme SODC are co-ordinating a comprehensive
programme of activities this summer. An A5 colour brochure will be circulated to
every child in the Primary and Secondary Schools of South Oxfordshire.
SODC Eco sacks
The paper eco sacks for garden waste are available from SODC Council
offices. Details of the scheme will be published in the newsletter.
10/06/05
Village
Hall
Mr
Richard Alliston reported that the building work was making good progress with
walls, roof, insulation materials etc all in place. The work has also started
inside with the first fix electrical work. Although the kitchen is costing more
than planned the overall funding position only shows an increase of £18. Mr
Alliston also reported that a further donation of £2,500 had been received
following a successful cleanup in Chalgrove Lane. This money will be used for
specific expenditure and is not part of the original building project. He
outlined the plans for the Opening Party on September 4th. Mr Alliston
circulated a copy of the latest financial forecast for the project.
The
Clerk reminded Mr Alliston of the need for the Parish Council to order any
goods/services where the Parish Council will recover the VAT. The Clerk also
requested a cash flow statement showing the monthly actual and forecast position
as it was important for the Council to appreciate the likely timing of its
borrowing from the Public Loans Board.
11/06/05
Any Other Business
The
Clerk was asked to contact SODC Planning in respect of the recent pointing that
had been done at Fletchers Farmhouse. There was a concern that the colour of the
cement used was materially different to that used on adjacent buildings. (Action Clerk)
The Chairman requested that the Parish Council appoint their
representative member to the Village Hall Committee. The Council unanimously
appointed Mrs Mabel Wood.
The
Chairman informed the meeting that he would be working on a temporary basis at
the Post Office in order to better understand the business issues. This would be
beneficial in the preparation of the Business Plan.
The
Clerk was asked to contact Morgan Associates in respect of the overhanging
shrubbery at Revelmead. (Action
Clerk)
The
Clerk raised some concerns on behalf of some residents, as there was a general
feeling that their views were not always fully considered. It was agreed that
those residents who had concerns should be encouraged to come to a Parish
Council Meeting to share their concerns. It was agreed that the Clerk would
inform the residents concerned and arrange a suitable date for the item to be
fully considered by the Council. (Action
Clerk)
12/06/05
Date of Next Meeting
The
Parish Council will meet on Wednesday
13th July 2005 at 8.00 p.m. in Little
Milton School Library unless there is a need to convene any planning or
other meetings.
The
meeting finished at 9.35 p.m.
Parish Forum
No items
were raised.