Parish Council Minutes

Little Milton Parish Council

Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 11th July  2007 at 8.00pm

in Pine Lodge, Little Milton 

Present:                                                    Cllr   Stuart McGill (Chairman)

                                                                Cllr. Barry Coward (Vice Chairman)

                                                                Cllr. Mabel Wood               

                                                                Cllr.Tim Robinson

                                                                Cllr. Alison Shelton

                                                                Cllr.David Wakeling

                                                                Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)

 

                                                                Mr David Turner ( County Councillor )

 

                                                                One member of the public

 

 

01/07/07     Apologies for Absence: Mr John Nowell Smith (District Councillor)

   

02/07/07     Declaration of any personal or prejudicial interests of members

 

Cllr. Stuart McGill declared a personal interest in the Recreation Ground, Village Hall and Village Shop/Post Office agenda items. Cllr. Alison Shelton declared personal interest in the Village Hall/Post Office agenda item.

 

03/07/07     Approval of Minutes

 

The Parish Council RESOLVED that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting, held on 13th June 2007 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed them.

 

04/07/07     Matters Arising.

 

OCC Highways

Mr David Turner briefed the meeting on the outstanding issues following a discussion that he had had with Mr Peter Ronald of OCC Highways .

 

The speed survey/traffic count outside Willowbrook Cottage has been ordered

 

The red circled 30 mph has been marked on the road at the Rofford end of the Haseley Road but the Slow marking is still outstanding.

 

Subject to ownership there is a need to cut back any overhanging vegetation that restricts the visibility of the 30 mph signs as you approach the Haseley Road from Rofford.

 

The speed survey adjacent to Doctor’s House on the High Street has been ordered.

 

The drain on the Haseley Road has been marked for repair within the next four weeks.

 

Mr Peter Ronald is to investigate the availability of funding within the Road Safety Budget to fund the possible closure of the slip road from Haseley Road into Gold Street is £4,000.

 

                The surface water on the slip road from Haseley Road into Gold Street appears to be exuding from the Manor and OCC are planning to arrange for additional drainage to relieve the problem.

 

The HGV survey took place on June 6th and it is hoped that all the analysis will be available by the end of July. Mr David Turner will convene a meeting of the”Five Villages” to consider the findings. (Action Mr David Turner )

 

Model contract of Employment for Clerk

Cllr. Barry Coward reported that he had looked at the recent revisions issued by the National Association of Local Councils to the Model Contract and after discussion with the Clerk recommended that there were no changes needed to the existing contract for the Clerk. The Council RESOLVED to accept the recommendation of Cllr Barry Coward.

     

OCC – Replacement of 3 Tonnes weight limit

The Chairman read out a letter from OCC in response to the Council’s concerns about increasing the weight limit on the Wheatley Road from 3 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes. The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk should inform OCC that it withdraws its objections to the recent Order and accepts the replacement of the 3 tonne limit with 7.5 tonnes. (Action the Clerk)

 

05/07/07     A329 Advisory Group

 

Cllr.Alison Shelton reported that there were no current projects being considered by the A329 Committee but that the view of the committee was for the Advisory Committee to be in place to respond to any tasks assigned to them by the Parish Council. She stated that a significant number of achievements had been accomplished since the Committee was formed in 2000. However due to lack of funding by OCC any further opportunities had been put on hold. The Council resolved to maintain the A329 Advisory Committee. The Council RESOLVED that a suitable article should be included in the August newsletter as it was important that the village was properly informed. (Action Clerk)

     

06/07/07     Youth Shelter

 

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had made contact with Mr Kevin Brophy of the OCC Youth Service. The Council RESOLVED that Mr David Turner would invite Mr Brophy to the Council meeting on 12th September 2007. (Action Mr David Turner )

               

07/07/07     Recreation Ground

 

Mr Mark Willis reported upon the recent spate of petty vandalism and expressed his concern that future revenues from the MUGA could be at risk. The Chairman expressed his thanks on behalf of the Council for the work that was being done by volunteers and in particular to Mr Mark Simms who had repaired the token meter mechanism for the MUGA lights.

 

08/07/07     Finance

 

                    1. The Council RESOLVED that the following expenditure should be paid:

                                   

                                    Colourplus – July Newsletter 2007                                                                                    £219.08

                                    Spadework UK – repairs to play equipment                                                                        £55.81

                                    Domesco Ltd – white goods for village hall                                                                       £2222.00

                                    Isis Accord – Grass cutting June and correction to April/May                                              £517.00

                                    Three Villages Car Service Scheme – R.Fergusson                                                             £20.00

                                   

2. The Council RESOLVED that in accordance with its powers under Section 137 of the LGA 1972  to incur the following expenditure which in the opinion of Little Milton Parish Council is in the interests of the area or the inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure:-

   

                                    Oxfordshire Association for the Blind – donation                                                         £25.00

                                                                                           

9/07/07       Planning

 

      P07/W0628: Orchard House Windmill Hill: open air swimming pool and pump house

The Council RESOLVED that this planning application should be approved by South Oxfordshire District Council.

 

P07/W 0699 – The Old Cottage: Enlarge conservatory and integrate kitchen

The Council RESOLVED that this planning application should be approved by South Oxfordshire District Council.

 

The Clerk drew the Council’s attention to the recent White Paper ‘Planning for a Sustainable Future’. CPRE had recently issued a letter inviting Councils to make representations on ensuring Local involvement in planning matters that affect their communities. The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk should  write a suitable letter expressing the Council’s concerns particularly in respect of the proposed new impact approach to householder development. (Action Clerk)

 

10/07/07     Correspondence

 

OCC – Review of external transport posts

The Council discussed the three external transport posts that were currently subject to review by OCC. The Council expressed their support for the position of Rural Community Transport Advisor (currently held by Alix Michaelis) but due to the lack of any involvement with the posts of Oxfordshire Transport Co-ordinator and Rural Transport Partnership Office they could express no view as to their future need. The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk should to write to OCC expressing the views of the Council. (Action Clerk)

 

Provision of Gypsy and Travellers caravan sites in Oxfordshire

The Council RESOLVED that the Clerk should respond to the Oxfordshire Gypsies & Travellers Stakeholder Consultation. (Action Clerk)

 

Thame Citizens Advice Bureau

The Chairman informed the Council members that the AGM of the Thame and District Citizens Advice Bureau would take place on Tuesday 24th July 2007.

 

Migrant Workers

The Council noted the letter from the OCC Community Development Worker in respect of migrant workers in rural communities.

 

11/07/07     Village Hall

 

The Chairman invited Cllr. Barry Coward to highlight the key points of the paper he had circulated to members in respect of the Village Shop/Post Office project. The paper highlighted a number of inter-related matters relating to the lease between the Village Hall and the Parish Council in connection with the proposed new shop/post office. The Council RESOLVED to accept the proposal put forward by Mr Barry Coward to establish a Working Party of the interested groups in order to resolve the issues that had been raised in the document. It was agreed that the Parish Council representatives would be Cllr. Barry Coward and Cllr. David Wakeling and that the Clerk would act as secretary to the working party. Cllr Barry Coward stated that he would invite two representatives from the Village Hall Management Committee and the Shop Steering Group to join the Working Party. (Action Mr Barry Coward)

 

12/07/07     Village Shop/Post Office

 

The Chairman reported on the successful Auction of Promises in aid of the Village Shop/Post Office. He also informed the meeting that SODC Cabinet had confirmed the recommendation of the Community Grants Panel to offer a grant of approximately £90,000 towards the project and that this would now allow other grant opportunities to be fully explored.

 

13/07/07     Any Other Business

 

Cllr. David Wakeling highlighted through a series of photographs that the signage warning about the traffic lights and the school on Church Hill were not visible due to the overhanging foliage. The Clerk stated that he would contact OCC Highways . (Action Clerk)

 

 

14/07/07    Date of Next Meeting

 

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 12th September 2007 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

                There were no matters raised

 

Signed by Chairman…………………………………………………Date…………………………………………