Little Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 14th December 2005
Present:
Mr
Stuart McGill (Chairman)
Mrs Isabel Fox
Mr Barry Coward
Mrs Mabel Wood
Mrs Alison Shelton
Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)
Mr
David Turner: Oxfordshire County Council member
1
member of the public
01/12/05
Apologies for Absence: Mr Simon Oddie, Mr John Nowell-Smith (District
Councillor)
02/12/05
Declaration of any personal or
prejudicial interests of members
Mr Stuart
McGill declared a personal interest in the Village Hall agenda item, a
prejudicial interest in the item relating to Little Milton School and a personal
interest in the Orchard Pre-School agenda item. Mrs Alison Shelton declared a
prejudicial interest in the item relating to Little Milton School.
03/12/05
Approval of Minutes
The
Parish Council approved the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 9th
November 2005 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed them.
04/12/05
Matters Arising
Triangle of land
adjacent to Wells Farmhouse
The Clerk informed the meeting that he had prepared a further application and would submit it to Oxfordshire County Council within the next few days. The submission included evidence statements in support of the application. This matter will be kept under review. (Action Clerk)
Hedgerow
at the top of the Wheatley Road. (Windmill Hill)
The Clerk
informed the meeting that he had spoken with OCC Highways Department and that an
officer would visit the site and submit a report to the Council. This matter
will be kept under review. (Action Clerk)
Invite
to Punch Taverns re the Lamb
The Clerk
reported that he had spoken with a representative of Punch Taverns who had
indicated that the company were actively considering plans to develop the Lamb.
This matter will be kept under review. (Action
Clerk)
Patient
and Public Involvement Forum
The Clerk
reported that he had informed the relevant person of the Council’s decision to
determine the level of interest through the Newsletter. The Clerk also informed
the meeting that he had received no response at the time of the meeting.
Mrs Isabel
Fox requested that an item relating to the footpath between Chiltern View and
Old Field be included under matters arising as it had not yet been
resolved. (Action Clerk)
05/12/05
The Orchard Pre School
The
Chairman stated that the Premises edged in red in the Lease document between the
Parish Council and the Little Milton Village hall were not the final premises
that had been built. It was agreed that the Council should seek advice as to
whether a revised site plan within the Lease document should be produced to
reflect the reality of the situation and formally substituted within the Lease
agreement.
The
Orchard Pre-School had not yet submitted any plans for the Council to consider
in respect of their request for a hard standing area adjacent to the Pine Lodge
and Pre-school.
06/12/05
A329 Advisory Group
Mrs
Alison Shelton read out a report, from Mr Mark Platts that gave a brief summary
of the OCC traffic count figures before and after the positioning of the
build-outs. The calculations show that traffic volumes have decreased and that
traffic entering the village has slowed by more than 25%. The Council were very
pleased with the initial results and the Chairman expressed his thanks to the
work done by the A329 Group.
Mr
David Turner stated that the weight limit survey on the A329 would now be
delayed until at least March 2006.
07/12/05
Recreation Ground
The
Chairman reported that a timer switch had now been fitted to ensure that the
lights were not on after 9.30 p.m. He also informed the meeting that the
Recreation Ground Committee were investigating alternative warning systems to
replace the sirens. The problem with the glass reflectors on the floodlights has
been addressed and as a result a new type of glass has been fitted.
The Council members agreed that ROSPA should be informed to carry out an annual inspection with a risk assessment until further notice. (Action Clerk)
08/12/05
Little Milton School
Mr
Stuart McGill and Mrs Alison Shelton declared a prejudicial interest and took no
part in the discussion. This item was chaired by Mr Barry Coward.
Mrs
Beth McLaren, the Chair of Governors of Little Milton School, outlined the
Governors concern that the present financial arrangement for the provision of
recreational facilities was not giving the school best value. The parents and
teachers would like to increase the sports provision by being able to use the
Village Hall. She expressed concerns about the current state of the recreation
ground.
The
Clerk explained that there was an existing Licence agreement between the LEA and
the Parish Council in respect of the Recreation Ground that allowed the school
to use the Recreation Ground for an annual payment of £500 towards the overall
cost of maintenance. At present this payment is made by the LEA directly to the
Parish Council. Any financial arrangement in respect of the Village Hall
facilities would need to be agreed between the school and the Village Hall.
Although
the Parish Council were understanding of the school’s desires to achieve
better value it was agreed that the following actions were necessary before the
Council could consider any changes to the current financial arrangements.
·
The
Governors should set out in a letter to the Parish Council their specific
concerns about the condition of the recreation ground and any suggested
improvements that could be made.
·
The
Governors should present their requirements for the use of the Village Hall to
the Village Hall Committee and agree a cost for them. This was supported by the
Parish Council.
It
was agreed that the matter would be considered by the Council after these steps
had been taken.
09/12/05
Finance
The Council
approved the following expenditure:
Colourplus – December Newsletter
£238.36
Sherriff Mountford (professional fees re Village Hall) £3,348.75
Clerk/Editor expenses
£81.29
SODC – renewal of Lottery Licence (Section 137)
£17.50
SPISE – annual membership (Section 137)
£30.00
Society of Local Clerks – annual membership
£64.00
Howard Castle (fitting of curtains re Village Hall)
£411.25
The
Council agreed to made a £25 donation to Victim Support in response to a
request for financial support (Section 137)
The Chairman informed the Council members of a letter from OCC in respect of grants that are available for the development of Parish Plans. The Council
decided not to
apply in the current financial year.
The
Chairman reported that the Village Hall Management Committee had informed
Council that they would fund a hearing loop system for the village hall and
would not require the Council to fund the £513 as had been previously agreed.
The
Chairman stated that the final deadline for notification to SODC of the Precept
information was 13th January 2006.
The
Clerk outlined the key points relating to the setting of the Precept. Council
members will give due consideration to any “investment” expenditure for
2006/07 and where possible establish a budget cost for it. The Clerk also
emphasised the need to assess the appropriate level of reserves to carry forward
for known future liabilities as well as a general level of prudence. The precept
for 2006/07 will be determined at the January 2006 Council meeting.
10/12/05
Planning
P05/W1174
– Chartwell Blenheim Lane
The
Council recommended that the application should be approved.
11/12/05
Correspondence
OCC
– Fares and Ticketing Strategy.
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he had completed a questionnaire from OCC in
respect of their fares and ticketing strategy.
SODC
– ECO Sack collection service
The Chairman reported that the eco collection service has been extended until 28th April 2006. SODC intend to have a new service available after that date.
Glasdon
– Environscape
The
Chairman informed the meeting about a possible system of ground-reinforcement
that could be considered for the car park or the recreation ground. (Action
Mr Stuart McGill)
Woodcote Parish Council
The
Council members agreed that the clerk should write a letter to OCC in support of
the Woodcote Parish Council’s concerns about the lack of investment in Youth
Service within Oxfordshire. (Action Clerk)
Pictures
for Newsletter
The
Council members agreed to a request from Mr David Haenlein to have their
pictures available on the website. (Action Clerk)
OCC
– South Oxfordshire Dial—Ride Service
Due
to South Oxfordshire District Council’s unwillingness to put any funding into
the continuation of the South Oxfordshire Dial-a-Ride, the decision has been
made to cease the funding of this service after the close of business on 27th
January 2006.
12/12/05 Village
Hall
The Chairman gave a positive report on the progress of the Village Hall activities. The Village Hall Committee supported the concept of a Post Office adjoining the Pine Lodge.
13/12/05
Village Shop/Post Office
The Council members agreed that a full planning application should be submitted to SODC by Pinelog. It was critical to the application of any grants that planning permission had been obtained.
14/12/05
Any Other Business
Mrs
Alison Shelton highlighted the concern that parking in close proximity of the
Post Office can cause local residents some access problems to their property.
This matter will be kept under review.
Mrs
Isabel Fox requested that a specific item concerning the maintenance of the
Recreation Ground should be included on the January 2006 Council agenda. (Action Clerk)
The
Chairman suggested that a letter should be sent to Mrs Janet Betts expressing
the Council’s appreciation of her efforts in coordinating the senior citizens
Christmas party. (Action Clerk)
15/12/05
Date of Next Meeting
The
Parish Council will meet on Wednesday
11th January 2006 at 8.00 p.m. in The
Pine Lodge Little Milton unless
there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.
The
meeting finished at 9.55 p.m.
Parish Forum