Little Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 10th May 2006
Present:
Mr Stuart McGill (Chairman)
Mr
Barry Coward
Mrs Mabel Wood
Mrs Alison Shelton
Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)
Mr
John Nowell-Smith (District Council
Member)
Mr
David Turner (County Councillor)
6
members of the public
ANNUAL
MEETING
01/05/06 Election of Chairman
The meeting was chaired by Mr Stuart McGill and he asked for nominations
for chairman. Mr McGill was the only person proposed and was duly elected for
the next Council year.
02/05/06
Election of Vice Chairman
Mr Simon Oddie was proposed
as vice-chairman and was duly elected for the next Council year.
03/05/06
Acceptance of Office
Mr Stuart McGill signed a
Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Chairman.
ORDINARY
MEETING
04/05/06
Apologies for Absence: Mr Simon Oddie
05/05/06
Declaration of any personal or
prejudicial interests of members
Mr
Stuart McGill declared a personal interest in the Village Hall, Orchard Pre
School and the Village Shop agenda items.
06/05/06
Approval of Minutes
The
Parish Council approved the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 12th
April 2006 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed them.
07/05/06
Parish Council Vacancy
The
Chairman informed the meeting that the Council had received an application from
Mrs. Paula Cameron, Mr. William Hewlett, Mr. Tim Robinson and Mr Ian Whales for
the Parish Council vacancy. He then read out the letters that each candidate had
submitted. The Clerk explained the voting procedure to ensure that the Council
acted within the law. After the first ballot there was a tie with two candidates
each receiving two votes. As a result the Chairman had a casting vote and Mr Tim
Robinson was co-opted by the Council members to fill the vacancy.
08/05/06
Matters Arising
Triangle
of land adjacent to Wells Farmhouse
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he had advised OCC that the Council would
re-submit the application after addressing the points raised by an independent
legal advisor to OCC. A letter from Mr. Howard Perkins, Chief Solicitor OCC was
read out. This was in response to a letter sent by the Council in which they had
expressed some concern as to level of cost incurred in respect of the
application. Mr Perkins accepted the Council’s concern and stated that only £550
had been incurred. He also explained that the law on Village Greens is quite
specific and in view of the long term effect of creating Village Greens over
land owned by others, had to be compiled with accuracy. (Action
Clerk)
Site Plans for Leased Documents
The Chairman is still in discussion with Pinelog to obtain suitable site
plans. (Action Chairman)
Housing site allocation plans
Mr.
Barry Coward informed the Council of his meeting at SODC who are currently
preparing their Housing Site Allocations Development Plan Document. This
will allocate land for additional housing in the district to meet the
requirements of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan 2016 and broad locations for a
further period to 2026. As part of the Consultation, Parish Council’s are
being invited to give their views. The Parish Council felt that it should be
pro-active on the issue and establish whether there is a need for additional
housing within the village. Mr. Barry Coward was asked to investigate the
possibility of calling a Parish Meeting to establish the wider feelings of the
village. The matter will be considered in more detail at the next Parish Council
meeting where a decision will be made as to whether there is any value in
convening a Parish Meeting. (Action Mr. Barry Coward)
Conditions
of Service for Clerk
The
Council discussed the document produced by Mr Barry Coward in respect of the
conditions of service for the clerk. The standard contract produced by the
Society of Local Council Clerks contains elements that are not appropriate. It
was agreed that the Clerk and Mr Barry Coward would produce a draft contract for
the Council to consider at a future meeting. (Action
Clerk/Mr Barry Coward)
Footpath
in front of Cremar Cottages
The
Clerk reported that he had not spoken to all the residents of Cremar Cottages in
respect of a possible reduction of the verge that borders the properties if OCC
require widening the existing pavement in order to affect the repair to the
surface. The Clerk stated that he would not contact OCC until he had spoken to
all the residents.
The Lamb
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he had spoken again with Punch Taverns who had
informed him that the proposed plans were being discussed with SODC Conservation
as the Lamb is a listed building within the Conservation area. The Clerk will
maintain contact with Punch Taverns. (Action
Clerk)
The
Council noted the list of matters that were still active but had no progress to
be reported.
09/05/06
The Orchard Pre School
Miss
Yvonne Brammer had informed the Council that the Trustees had now received all
the necessary quotes and that the project to create a hard standing area behind
the existing building would commence in the near future.
10/05/06
A329 Advisory Group
Mrs
Alison Shelton stated that there had been not been a meeting of the A329
Advisory Group since the last Parish Council meeting. Mr David Turner drew the
Council’s attention to a letter from OCC Highways in respect of funding for
transport schemes in 2006-2011. He stated that there were serious implications
for Community Safety schemes as these schemes did not produce sufficient
benefits in meeting Local Transport Plan objectives. The Council agreed that
Peter Ronald of OCC Highways should be invited to the next Council meeting in
order that he could explain the funding that is available to meet local needs.
Mr David Turner stated that he would organise this. (Action
Mr David Turner)
There
was a concern that the width of the existing build-outs allowed the passing of
two vehicles and although the width of the build-out had to allow agricultural
vehicles passage it presented a real danger. It was suggested that the yellow
markers could be re-positioned to make motorists take up a more central position
when passing through the build-out. Another point that was raised related to the
signage in respect of the build-outs. It was recognised that there were signs
that should be removed as they had only been installed to cover the initial
introduction of the build-outs. It was agreed that the Clerk should raise both
these points with OCC transport. (Action
Clerk)
11/05/06
Recreation Ground
Mr
Mark Willis informed the meeting that he had instructed Spadework UK Ltd to cut
the whole of the recreation ground on a weekly basis for fifteen weeks.
Spadework UK Ltd will also set mole traps and check them on their visits. He
also informed the meeting that the recreation ground would be treated with
fertiliser. The Council will consider the needs of the recreation ground at the
end of the fifteen weeks of regular grass cutting.
12/05/06
Finance
The Council
approved the following expenditure:
Colourplus –
May Newsletter 2006
£219.08
Spadework UK
Ltd
£618.79
SODC
£18.48
Allianz
Cornhill
£29.40
The Three
Village Car Service
£100.00
The
Council adopted the Annual Accounts and Statement of Assurance for the year
ended 31st March 2006. The Clerk informed the meeting that the notice
Electors rights would be displayed from 15th May to 28th
May 2006 on the Parish Council Notice Board.
The
Council also adopted the Risk Assessment produced by the Clerk subject to some
minor changes in respect of the change of name of Customs & Excise.
The
Council adopted the Financial Regulations that included the changes agreed at
previous meetings.
13/05/06
Planning
P06/W0196 – 63 High Street; erection of electrically operated gates
Planning permission has been granted by South Oxfordshire District
Council.
P06/W0260
– Manor Rise Church Hill; erection of garden shed
Planning permission has been granted by South Oxfordshire District
Council.
P06/W0297
– Little Milton Village Hall; extension to Village hall re Post Office and
other ancillary purposes
This
amended planning application simply incorporates some more detailed information
that was requested by SODC Planning. It covered information relating to the
existing Post Office and questions about the mixed use of the facility. The
Council recommended approval of the application.
14/05/06
Correspondence
OCC
– Funding for Transport Schemes in 2006-2011
The
Chairman referred to the discussion under the A329 Committee agenda item as it
addressed the concerns of funding for Community Safety schemes.
Home-Start
Southern Oxfordshire
The
Chairman read out a letter from Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire acknowledging
the Council’s donation of £25.
Letter
from Boris Johnson
The
Chairman informed the meeting that the Council had received a letter from Mr
Boris Johnson in response to their letter in respect of the use of brownfield
sites in preference to Greenfield sites for future development.
15/05/06 Village
Hall
The Chairman reminded the meeting that the Annual General Meeting of the Village Hall Trust was on Tuesday 13th June 2006.
16/05/06
Village Shop/Post Office
The
Chairman informed the meeting that the Lotteries Board was now supporting
Community Buildings and that this was a possible source of finance for the new
building. He hoped to make progress on the business plan in the near future.
17/05/06
Any Other Business
Mrs
Mabel Wood reported that a corner of the wall adjacent to the Haseley Road had
been damaged. The Council agreed that the Clerk should approach Mr Colin West,
who built the wall, to asses the damage and affect any repairs. (Action
Clerk)
Mr
Barry Coward suggested that the Council should consider convening a Public
Meeting to obtain the views of the village on SODC Housing allocation proposals
before the Council formally respond to SODC by October. The Chairman asked Mr
Barry Coward to consider the implications of a Parish Meeting and report back at
the next Council meeting. (Action Mr
Barry Coward)
The
Clerk read out a letter from a resident who was concerned that the road adjacent
the wall of the Manor at Four Trees was a hazard. The resident questioned the
need for the road as there is a proper junction from Gold Street on to the
Haseley Road. The Clerk was asked to raise the matter with OCC Highways. (Action Clerk)
18/05/06
Date of Next Meeting
The
Parish Council will meet on Wednesday
14th June 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 9.58 p.m.
Parish Forum
No matters
were raised