Parish Council Minutes

Little Milton Parish Council

Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 11th Oct  2006

in Pine Lodge, Little Milton 

Present:                                                  Mr Stuart McGill (Chairman)

                                                                Mr Simon Oddie (Vice Chair)

                                                                Mr Tim Robinson

                                                                Mrs Mabel Wood       

                                                                Mrs Alison Shelton

                                                                Mr Barry Coward

                                                                Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)

 

                                                                Mr John Nowell-Smith (District Council Member)

                                                               

                                                                Three members of the public

                                                                                               

01/10/06     Apologies for Absence: Mr David Turner (County Councillor)

02/10/06    Declaration of any personal or prejudicial interests of members

 Mr Stuart McGill declared a personal interest in the Village Hall and Post Office agenda items.

 03/10/06     Approval of Minutes

 The Parish Council approved the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 13th September 2006 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed them.

04/10/06     Matters Arising

                    Triangle of land adjacent to Wells Farm Cottage

                    The Clerk informed the meeting that he had spoken with Mr Howard Perkins at OCC in respect of the re- submission of the application to register the triangle of land adjacent to Wells Farm Cottage as a village green. Mr Perkins expressed his satisfaction with the detail of the application and would now process the               application. The outcome of the application should be known within the next two months.

                    OCC Highways

                    The Clerk reported that Mr Peter Ronald at OCC Highways expects the re-lining of the build-outs to be completed in the near future as the work was now scheduled by the contractor. The temporary road signs approaching the build –outs have also been removed.

                    ORCC – Thame Area Review of Subsidised Bus Services

                    The Clerk reported that a questionnaire had been delivered to each house in the village and that the results would be analysed by ORCC as part of the consultation being conducted by OCC in its review of Supported Bus Services in the Wheatley, Thame and Watlington areas.

                    Youth Club Great Milton

                    The Clerk stated that a meeting of interested parties will be held in Great Milton in November.

        Installation of CCTV camera

                    The Clerk informed the meeting that he had raised the matter with Abi Derbyshire of Thames Valley Police and was awaiting a response.

05/10/06     A329 Advisory Group

                    Mrs Alison Shelton informed the meeting that the road works at Headington had seen a significant increase in buses coming through the village. Although there were mitigating circumstances Mark Platts had spoken with the bus operators to try to alleviate the situation.

                    The Council accepted the recommendation from the A329 Committee that OCC Highways should conduct a further traffic speed survey in the centre of the High Street. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to Mr Peter Ronald of OCC Highways.

                    There was a brief discussion on the status of School’s Travel Plan in respect Gold Street as any future   funding of any work would be initiated by the School. It was agreed that Mrs Alison Shelton would discuss the matter with the Head Teacher to establish what support she might need if she accepted the restricted used of the slip road into Gold Street from the Haseley Road. (Action Mrs Alison Shelton)                        

06/10/06     Youth Shelter    

                    The Chairman welcomed two young people from the village who had written to the Council in response to the article in the October Newsletter. The Chairman gave a brief resume of the project before he invited the comments from the public. The concerns that were raised were that the initial consultation had                 been too limited and that all young people should have been asked their views. There was also a concern that such a facility may attract young people from outside the village who may be less respectful to village amenities. There was an acceptance that the needs of the young people of the village need to be catered for of which a youth shelter was one option.

 

                    The Council agreed that although the newsletter had informed the village of the project it was necessary     to conduct a wider consultation of the village views. The Chairman agreed that he would draft a uestionnaire for consideration by members of the Council. (Action Mr Stuart McGill)

 07/10/06    Recreation Ground

 

                    Mr Mark Willis informed the meeting on the grass cutting and weed treatment programme and expressed his satisfaction with the progress that has been made. He asked the Council to consider protecting the   grass area that has been used as an overflow car park for Village Hall events. The Council agreed that the             overflow car parking area should be restricted to a designated area and that it would investigate the cost of providing a protected surface. Mr Stuart McGill stated that the cost of any protection would be considered by the Village Hall committee. (Action Mr Stuart McGill)

 

0810/06       Finance

 

                    The Council approved the following expenditure:

                                 Spadework UK Ltd – grass cutting August                                   £200.79

                                  Spadework UK Ltd – grass cutting September                             £200.79                                £401.58

                                                                                                                                               

                                Lawn Solutions (UK) Ltd                                                                                                          £256.00

                                ORCC – Course fee re Parish Plans                                                                                          £30.00

                                Colourplus – October newsletter                                                                                              £219.08

 

                The Clerk informed the meeting that the payment to the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) for £64 had been raised in error and had been cancelled as the information presented at the meeting had been   misunderstood.

 

                The Council granted a £50 donation to the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance & South & Vale Carers Centre under section 137 of LGA 1972.

                                                                                       

09/10/06    Planning

 

P06/W0846 & P06/W848/LB – Lamb Inn, extension to existing premises to include a toilet block and courtyard area

                The Clerk reported that these applications had been withdrawn by the applicant. It is understood that a further application will be made by Punch Taverns having taken account of the comments made by English Heritage and SODC officers.

 

10/10/06    Correspondence

                   

                    Oxford Green Belt Network

                    The Chairman informed the meeting that the Annual General Meeting of the Oxford Green Belt Network         would be held on 25th October 2006.

11/10/06     Village Hall

                    Mr Stuart McGill reported that the most of the snagging issues had now been addressed and that the hall   was now well utilised. Mr Simon Oddie asked about the financial position of the Village Hall and Mr Stuart McGill stated that he would circulate an appropriate statement. (Action Mr Stuart McGill).  The Chairman also reported that the problem with the electricity meters had been finally resolved. The Clerk     requested that the necessary information could be provided to recharge the Council for the electricity charge in respect of the MUGA. (Action Mr Stuart McGill)

 

12/10/06     Village Shop/Post Office

 

                    The Chairman reported that there had been regular meetings of the steering group and specific tasks had been allocated to various individuals. Mr Tim Robinson stated that there was a need for a clear relationship between the Post Office/Village Shop and the Parish Council. The Clerk stated that there would be a lease between the two bodies. It was agreed that Mr Tim Robinson and Mr Barry Coward   would consider all the implications that new situation would present and report back to the Council. The Clerk was asked to provide a copy of the lease that the Council has with the Village Hall. (Action Clerk)

   

13/10/06     Any Other Business

 

                    Mrs Mabel Wood expressed the concern of a resident that the traffic sign for the school on Church Hill                  was not visible as you approached it and thought that it should be re-positioned. The Clerk was asked to       write to Mr Peter Ronald at OCC Highways. (Action Clerk)

   

14/10/06    Date of Next Meeting

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 8th November 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 9.50 p.m.

 

                Parish Forum

                No matters were raised