Little Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 8th March 2006
Present:
Mr Stuart McGill (Chairman)
Mr
Barry Coward
Mrs Mabel Wood
Mrs Alison Shelton
Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)
Mr
David Turner (County Council Member)
1
member of the public
01/03/06
Apologies for Absence: Mr Simon Oddie, Mr John Nowell-Smith (District
Council Member)
02/03/06
Declaration of any personal or
prejudicial interests of members
Mr Stuart
McGill declared a personal interest in the Village Hall and Orchard Pre School
agenda items.
03/03/06
Approval of Minutes
The
Parish Council approved the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 8th
February 2006 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed them.
04/03/06
Parish Council Vacancy
The
Chairman reported that he had received the resignation of Mrs Isabel Fox from
the Parish Council on 9th February 2006. As a result the Clerk had posted the
Statutory Notice of the vacancy. The Clerk informed the meeting that the
Returning Officer at SODC had not received a request to have the vacancy filled
by an election and as a consequence the vacancy would now be filled by co-option
by the Council. The Council agreed that a suitable notice should be put into the
April Newsletter with a view to co-opting a suitable candidate at the May 2006
meeting. (Action Clerk)
05/03/06
Matters Arising
Hedgerow
at the top of the Wheatley Road. (Windmill Hill)
The Clerk
reported that OCC had started lining the side of the road at Windmill Hill. It
was also noted that work had been done adjacent to the A329 which should lead to
better drainage.
Three
Villages Car Scheme
The
Chairman reported that the charges had been reviewed and that it had been agreed
that the payment to drivers for any hospital trip would be £4 and that the
Parish Council would make a payment of £2. It was also agreed that any parking
charges would be paid by the patient. The Clerk informed the meeting that he had
spoken to Miss Thelma Blake and had offered his services as treasurer. The
Council expressed their support and believed it was a positive move to support
the work that was being done. (Action Clerk)
The
Council noted the list of matters that were still active but had no progress to
be reported.
06/03/06
The Orchard Pre School
Mr
Stuart McGill informed the meeting that the Pre School had now secured the
necessary quotes and would be progressing with the work. There is no planning
permission required for the work. The Chairman also informed the meeting that
Pinelog had been asked to produce the site plans for the relevant lease
documents and indicated that there might be a charge for this service. The
Council accepted that a charge may be incurred.
07/03/06
A329 Advisory Group
Mr
David Turner reported that some members of the A329 Committee had met with
representatives of OCC to review the road layout in the centre of the village
with a view to making recommendations for further consideration. He also
informed the meeting that the anticipated HGV vehicle count would take place on
June 7th. The date was chosen to be the same date as that of the 2001
survey to ensure that that as far as possible the data would be comparable.
08/03/06
Recreation Ground
Mr
Mark Willis reported that he had received a second quote in respect of the work
to be done in the play area in order to comply with the ROSPA report. The
Council accepted the cost of £525 excluding VAT.
The
Council agreed to use contractors for the forthcoming grass cutting season in
order to assess its longer term strategy of ground maintenance. The recreation
ground committee had made recommendations of using two contractors to ensure
best value.
09/03/06
Finance
The Council
approved the following expenditure:
Parish Clerk’s
salary for 2005-06
£1,250.00
Remuneration of
Editor for 2005-06
£959.00
Clerk/Editor
expenses
£36.37
Colourplus –
March 2006 newsletter
£249.71
The
Council considered the Financial Regulations presented by the Clerk. It was
agreed that the regulations would be reviewed at the April meeting after further
consideration by Council members. (Action
all Councillors)
10/03/06
Planning
There
were no planning matters for consideration.
11/03/06
Correspondence
SODC
– Local Plan 2011
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he was holding a hard copy of the adopted 2001
Local Plan.
OCC
– Minerals and Waste Development
Framework
The
Chairman stated that OCC had produced Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).
The SCI says how the County Council will involve people and organisations in
preparing the new Development Framework and in considering planning
applications. The document was circulated to Council members.
Oxfordshire
Community and Voluntary Action (OVID)
The
Chairman informed the meeting that OVID had produced a consultation draft of
their local infrastructure development plan for comment. The Chairman agreed
that he would complete the questionnaire by Friday 17 March 2006. (Action
Stuart McGill)
Thames
Valley Police – Station Opening Hours
The
Clerk reported upon a letter received from Thames Valley Police on the opening
hours of the sixteen Police Stations within Oxfordshire. He expressed his
concern over the Thame Police Station figures as they showed an increase in
hours although the absolute opening hours had been reduced. The Council agreed
that clarification should be obtained from Thames Valley Police. (Action
Clerk)
Oxfordshire
Association for the Blind
The
Chairman informed the meeting that the Council had received a letter
acknowledging our donation of £25.
12/03/06 Village
Hall
The Chairman gave a brief report on the current activities. He reported that good progress was being made with the installation of the sound system and that the heating system was being reviewed.
13/03/06
Village Shop/Post Office
The
Chairman reported that the revised plans incorporating a Conservatory had been
drawn up and would be circulated to Council members. The revised plans would be
submitted with the Planning application to SODC.
The
Council had a brief discussion on the concept of a community shop as it may be
that there will be a need to separate the operation of the Post Office from the
other activities. The Council did not make any decision on this matter but
agreed that it will need to be fully evaluated when the business plan is drawn
up.
14/03/06
Any Other Business
Mrs
Alison Shelton expressed the concerns of some villagers over the hiring rates
for the Village Hall with particular reference to the additional premium for
post midnight hours. The Council representative on the Village Hall Management
Committee stated that the matter had been discussed at their last meeting and
that a set of revised hiring rates would be issued.
Mrs
Mabel Wood raised her concern that some residents would not have the space to
store the wheeled bins proposed in the new Garden Waste collection scheme. The
Clerk stated that this matter had been raised with SODC and they would consider
it in their deliberations.
15/03/06
Date of Next Meeting
The
Parish Council will meet on Wednesday
12th April 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 9.35 p.m.
Parish Forum
No matters
were raised