Parish Council Minutes

Little Milton Parish Council

Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 8th February 2006

in Pine Lodge, Little Milton 

Present:                                                  Mr Stuart McGill (Chairman)

                                                                Mr Barry Coward

                                                                Mrs Mabel Wood       

                                                                Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)

 

                                                                Mr John Nowell-Smith (District Council Member)

                                                                Mr David Turner (County Council Member)

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                No member of the public

 

 

                                                                                               

01/02/06                Apologies for Absence: Mrs Isabel Fox, Mr Simon Oddie, and Mrs Alison Shelton

 

02/02/06    Declaration of any personal or prejudicial interests of members

 

                    There were no declarations made.

 

03/02/06     Approval of Minutes

 

The Parish Council approved the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 11th January 2006 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed them.

04/02/06     Matters Arising

                   

Triangle of land adjacent to Wells Farmhouse

The Clerk informed the meeting that the statutory notice was now displayed on the green and that nothing would now happen until the statutory notice period had expired. The matter will be kept under review. (Action Clerk)

 

Hedgerow at the top of the Wheatley Road. (Windmill Hill)

The Clerk informed the meeting that the road lining had not yet started. Although the OCC Highways were only lining parts of the roadside the Council agreed that some central lining should still be carried out. The Clerk was asked to write a letter to OCC Highways. (Action Clerk)

 

Invite to Punch Taverns re the Lamb

The Clerk reported that Mr Paul Thomas had cancelled his presentation to the Council as the capital investment proposed for the Lamb had worked out higher and as a result the project was being re-evaluated. It is hoped that he will attend the next meeting. (Action Clerk)

 

Little Milton School use of the Recreation Ground

Mr Stuart McGill informed the meeting that School had accepted a reduced hire rate for the Village Hall and were delighted with the outcome.

 

Path adjoining Chiltern View/Old Field/Thame Road

                This matter will be kept under review.

 

Listing of Telephone Box

This matter will be kept under review

05/02/06     The Orchard Pre School

 

Mr Stuart McGill reported that Pinelog had been asked to provide a site plan for both the Orchard and the Village Hall. The Clerk informed the meeting that the Orchard had been advised by SODC that their proposals to have a hard standing surface would require planning permission.

                   

06/02/06     A329 Advisory Group

 

The Clerk advised the meeting that there was a site meeting planned with OCC to formulate possible alternatives for the centre of the village.

 

 

                                 

07/02/06    Recreation Ground

 

Mr Stuart McGill reported that the recreation ground committee had received further advice that the ground should not be ploughed and reseeded but rather that selective repair should be carried out as well as the ground being rolled by a heavy roller. There is also a need to properly fertilise the ground on a regular basis. The committee will make recommendations to the Council in due course.

 

Mr Stuart McGill informed the meeting of a quotation that had been received from Safe & Sound Playgrounds Ltd in respect of various components within the play area. The Council members requested that at least a further two quotes should be received for the work. There was a slight concern that this request had not been foreseen when the Council had set its precept for 2006-07.                                                    

                               

09/02/06     Finance

 

                    The Council approved the following expenditure:

                        SODC – 100 Eco sacks (retrospective)                              £30.00

                        Colourplus – February 2006 Newsletter                     £227.01

 

The Council agreed to Section 137 payment of £25.00 to The Oxfordshire Association for the Blind. They also agreed to donate £50.00 to Thame & District Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

The Clerk informed the Council that there would be a Fixed Rate Loan Repayment of £1,919.17 to the Public Loans Board on 1st March 2006.

               

10/02/06    Planning

 

There were no planning matters for consideration.

 

11/02/06    Correspondence

 

SODC – Local Plan 2011

The Chairman reported that SODC had adopted the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 on 20 January 2006.

 

SODC – Housing Strategy 2006-2011

The Chairman reported that SODC are preparing a new Housing Strategy for the period 2006-2011. As part of the consultation process Parish Council have been asked to complete a questionnaire. Mr Barry Coward agreed to complete the questionnaire on behalf of the Council.

 

ORCC – Best Kept Village Competition

The Council agreed to include details of the Villages of the Year competition in the Newsletter. (Action Clerk)

 

South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership – Antisocial Behaviour

The Council received some antisocial behaviour bookmarks that contain a number of useful contact numbers. It was agreed that the Clerk should include something in the newsletter to heighten the awareness of the support afforded to counter antisocial behaviour. (Action Clerk)

 

OCC

The Chairman and one other Parish representative have been invited to attend a reception given by the Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council.

 

The Clerk agreed to complete a questionnaire on the News for Towns & Parishes’ newsletter. (Action Clerk)

 

SODC – Proposed new garden waste service

The Chairman informed the Council that SODC are proposing to introduce a fortnightly collection service of garden waste from wheeled bins. The cost to residents for this service will be £29 per year. The view of the Council was generally supportive but had some concerns that the scheme is likely to replace the eco sacks and the garden skips at the community waste sites. The Clerk was asked to inform SODC of the Council’s concerns.

 

12/02/06     Village Hall

                   

                    The Chairman gave a brief report on the current activities within the Village Hall.

                   

13/02/06     Village Shop/Post Office

                   

Mr Stuart McGill reported that after further consultation with the Post Mistress it had been decided to increase the size of the proposed area for the Post Office/Village Shop and to include a conservatory that would be used as a tea room. These changes will be included in the planning application.

 

14/02/06     Any Other Business

                   

The Clerk informed the meeting that a draft of the Council’s Financial Regulations based on the Model issued by the National Association of Local Councils would be discussed at the next meeting with a view to the Council adopting them. A copy will be circulated before the meeting.

 

15/02/06    Date of Next Meeting

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 8th March 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 8.47 p.m.

 

                Parish Forum

                No matters were raised