Little Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 13th July 2005
in Little Milton School Library
Present:
Mr
Stuart McGill (Chairman)
Mr
Barry Coward
Mrs Mabel Wood
Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)
Mr David Turner (County Councillor)
Mr John Nowell-Smith (District Councillor)
2
members of the public
01/07/05
Apologies for Absence: Mr Simon Oddie, Mrs Isabel Fox, and Mrs
Alison Shelton
02/07/05
Declaration of any personal or
prejudicial interests of members
Mr Stuart
McGill declared a prejudicial interest in the Village Hall agenda item.
03/07/05
Approval of Minutes
The
Parish Council approved the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 8th
June 2005 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed them.
04/07/05
Matters Arising
Outstanding matters OCC Highways
Mr David Turner informed the meeting that he had spoken to Mr Peter Ronald at OCC in respect of the footpath in front of the SOHA houses. The concern about an inadequate path leading up to the controlled crossing was understood. Mr Ronald would visit the site and come forward with a recommendation. It was unlikely that finance would be available in the current year. (Action Clerk)
The Clerk reported that he had spoken to Thames Water in respect of the damaged manhole cover next to the hedge adjacent to the Recreation Ground. An engineer from Thames Water will inspect the manhole cover in the near future and instigate any repairs. (Action Clerk)
The Clerk reported that he had received no further information from SOHA in respect of the steps leading down from Old Field to the A329. (Action Clerk)
Triangle
of land adjacent to Wells Farmhouse
The Clerk
stated that the registration of the Land as a Village Green was progressing and
that he hoped to have the necessary form completed in the near future. (Action
Clerk)
Fletchers
Farmhouse
The Clerk informed the meeting that he had spoken to SODC Planning in respect of the pointing at Fletchers Farmhouse. SODC Planning is satisfied that the work that has been done meets the planning conditions and expects the new pointing to weather during the next eighteen months.
Revelmead
The
Council noted that an attempt had been made to address the overhanging shrubbery
but had concerns that the work that had been done did not fully address the
problem
Invitation
to residents with grievances
The Clerk
reported that he had spoke to the relevant resident and explained the
Council’s invitation to come to a future meeting to share any concerns. (Action
Clerk)
05/07/05
A329 Advisory Group
Mr
Barry Coward informed the meeting that A329 Group had been advised that OCC
would be carrying out traffic surveys following the build-outs and this would be
compared with the pre build- out data. In due course a formal report would be
issued.
Mr
David Turner advised the meeting that a survey of vehicle weights would be
conducted on the A329 route of the Five Parishes in September. The weight limit
has aroused interest in two other local Parishes and they will be included in
the survey.
The
work on the centre of the village design has been delayed due to changes of
staff at OCC
The
Chairman asked Mr David Turner to keep the Council informed if there were any
planned changes to availability of “flashing speed “signs as he felt it was
important that the f free signs should be an option for the Village. Mr Barry
Coward informed the meeting that the current view of the A329 Group did not
support the introduction of such signs.
Mr
Barry Coward raised the issue of overhanging shrubbery on the Haseley Road
adjacent to Blenheim Lane as it was narrowing the road and causing a potential
hazard. The Clerk reported that he had already notified OCC Highways at Drayton
and that they would inspect the site and deal with it accordingly.
06/07/05
Recreation Ground
The
Council agreed to a request by the Recreation Ground Committee to strim the area
around the fitness trail.
07/07/05
Finance
The Council
approved the following expenditure:
Colourplus July
Newsletter
£238.36
Expenses of Clerk
(incl £65 re refuse bags)
£122.54
Mrs Hue Williams
- Rent
£75.00
SODC – 100
Green Refuse bags
£65.00
SODC – 100 Eco
sacks
£65.00
The
Chairman read out a letter from Mr Ian Dennis, the Council’s Internal Auditor.
He recommended that the Council adopt a formal statement of financial
regulations as recommended by the National Association of Local Councils. The
Council accepted this recommendation. The letter also informed the Council that
he had signed the Annual Internal Audit Report within the Annual Return
08/07/05
Planning
P05/W0515
– Orchard House: Erection of single storey extension
This planning application has been refused by SODC.
The Barn: Listed Building Consent Application (P05/W0246/LB)
This planning application has been approved by SODC
P05/W0699
–Watergate; Erection of two storey rear extension
The Council considered the modified planning application and agreed to recommend approval.
P05/W0627 –
Chartwell; extension of existing dormer
The Council considered the modified planning application and agreed to recommend approval.
09/07/05
Correspondence
BT -
Proposals to re-align payphone provision to meet consumer demand
The Chairman informed the meeting that BT wishes
to re-align the public payphone provision more closely to the demand that now
exists. BT have identified the current payphone adjacent to the Post Office as
having low use and are recommending that it should be converted to a cashless
payment option as an alternative to removal. The Council agreed that it was
important to maintain the current facility and the Clerk was asked to inform BT.
(Action Clerk)
10/07/05
Village
Hall
Mr
Richard Alliston updated the meeting on the progress of the building work of the
new village hall. It is expected that the hall will be completed by late August.
The cost projections are very close to the budgeted figures. Mr Alliston
indicated that the Village Hall would need funding from the Parish Council in
August as the cash flow forecast projected a shortfall of £31,000. The Clerk
stated that a Council meeting would be required within the next few weeks to
agree the drawdown of cash from the Public Loans Board. (Action
Clerk)
Letter from Chairman of Village Hall
This
letter could not be considered by the Council as The Chairman had declared a
prejudicial interest and as result the Council was in-quorate for this agenda
item.
11/07/05
Any Other Business
Mr
Barry Coward proposed that a letter of appreciation should be sent to the Head
of Little Milton School expressing the thanks of the Parish Council for the use
of the School during the past fifteen months. (Action
Clerk)
Mrs
Dee Waldron suggested that the Parish Council consider setting up central
collection points for the Eco bags rather than residents having to ring the
District Council in advance. It was agreed that the Clerk should advise SODC
Public Amenities of this idea. (Action
Clerk)
Mrs
Mabel Wood expressed her concern that the verge opposite the Lamb was no longer
being maintained by the Lamb. It was agreed that OCC Highways should be advised
to cut it as part of their general maintenance programme. (Action
Clerk)
12/07/05
Date of Next Meeting
The
Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 8th
September 2005 at 8.00 p.m. in Little
Milton Village Hall unless there is a need to convene any planning or other
meetings.
The
meeting finished at 9.15 p.m.
Parish Forum