Little
Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 14th November 2007 at 8.00pm
Present:
Cllr.
Cllr.
Barry Coward
Cllr. Mabel Wood
Cllr. Tim Robinson
Cllr. Alison Shelton
Cllr. David Wakeling
Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)
Mr John Nowell Smith (District
Councillor)
There
was one member of the public present
01/11/07
Apologies for Absence: County Councillor
02/11/07
Declaration of any personal or
prejudicial interests of members
Cllr.
03/11/07
Approval of Minutes
The
Parish Council RESOLVED that the
minutes of the Parish Council Meeting, held on 9th October 2007 as a true record
of the meetings and the Chairman signed them.
Cllr.
Tim Robinson wished to have recorded that he was unable to attend the Council
meeting on 9th October due to the change of date agreed at the September meeting
but that he had represented the Parish Council at SODC Planning Committee
hearing on the Lamb on the 10th October 2007.
04/11/07
Matters Arising.
The
clerk updated the Council on the outstanding items with
The
speed survey has been conducted outside Willowbrook Cottage on the
The
drain on the
The
work to eliminate the surface water on the
The
Clerk informed the Council that the Stopping Up Order in respect of Church Hill
Cottage had not yet been implemented. There is a temporary structure supporting
the wall on
The
Clerk reported that he spoken to Mrs Caroline Jones, Chair of
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he was still waiting for a letter from OCC to
confirm the registration of the Village Green although he had received a verbal
confirmation. There is a need for the Council to determine the delineation of
the village green to prevent further encroachment by vehicles. Cllr Tim Robinson
stated that Mrs Robinson would provide the Council with options for
consideration.
HGV
Survey on A329
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he had attended the meeting held on 11 October
in respect of weight limits on the A329. The meeting was chaired by County
Councillor
Landscaping
of entrances to the village
The
Clerk informed the meeting that there were regulations in respect of planting on
the public highway. The information was passed the information from
ORCC:
Parish Plans
The
Council RESOLVED to defer the
consideration of developing a Parish Plan until after the Council had acquired
Quality Council status. The Clerk informed the meeting that he had submitted his
portfolio for the Certificate in Local Council Administration as it is a
requirement of Quality Council status to have a qualified clerk.
05/11/07
Youth Shelter Follow Up
The
Clerk reported that the forthcoming visit by ActiveTEN20 had been advertised in
the November newsletter and that he planned to circulate flyers to young people
using the coach to
06/11/07
Recreation Ground
The
Chairman invited Mr Mark Willis to report on the work of the recreation ground
committee. He reported on the mole activity on the recreation ground and
explained that Spadework UK could not start their programme to control the mole
activity due to staff problems. The Council RESOLVED to ask Mr Peter Ilbury to commence work to control the
moles within the immediate future. The Clerk stated that the cost would not
exceed £500 without further approval of the Council.
The
Council noted the correspondence received from The Orchard Pre-School in respect
of the mole activity and their concerns about the play area and accepted the
Clerk’s response.
07/11/07
Finance
The
Council RESOLVED that the following expenditure should be paid:
Colourplus – November Newsletter 2007
£234.43
Little Milton Village Hall – Electricity for MUGA
£2.21
Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association – renewal of membership
£30.00
O.A.L.C. – course fee re Clerk
£23.50
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:-
South and Vale Carers Centre – donation
£50.00
The
Council noted the letter of thanks from Thame CAB in respect of the financial
donation of £60.00
The
Chairman informed the Council of the National Salary Award for Clerks as
applicable from 1April 2007. The Clerk’s salary is determined by the Council
using the appropriate scale and the spinal column points within the scale.
The
Clerk stated that the precept for 2008-09 would need to be agreed by the Council
at the Council meeting held in January 2008 although there would be preliminary
information available at the December meeting. He highlighted the need for the
Council to have firm cost information available for the following areas.
Grass cutting and other recreational ground maintenance issues
Re-instatement of the current Post Office back to a residential dwelling
Any additional borrowing requirements in respect of the village hall
extension
08/11/07
Planning
P07/W1258:10 Chiltern
View, installation of flue for clean burn multi fuel stove
The Council RESOLVED
that this planning application should be approved by South Oxfordshire
District Council.
P07/W0628:
Orchard House; Open air swimming pool. Planning permission granted by
SODC
This application has been
granted planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council.
P07/W0764/LB:
This application has been
granted Listed Building Consent by South Oxfordshire District Council.
P07/W0765:
The Council noted that this
application had been withdrawn by the applicant.
P07/W0838LB & W0839:
The Lamb.
These planning/Listed
Building applications have been refused by South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbotts Close: Alleged
breach of planning in respect of gate next to highway
The Council noted that
South Oxfordshire District Council was investigating an alleged breach of
planning control.
09/11/07
Correspondence
ORCC:
Changes to the Post Office Network in Rural Oxfordshire
The
Council noted the document issued by the Oxfordshire Community Council on the
changes to the Post Office Network in Rural Oxfordshire. The Chairman stated
that he had provided the Post-mistress with relevant information in advance of
the visit by Post Office Ltd. The Council considered that the document was very
comprehensive.
OCC: Locality primary school review
The
Chairman informed the meeting that he had given a copy of the OCC document that
invited stakeholders to be represented at a consultation meeting on December 12
2007. The Council RESOLVED to ask
Cllr.
SODC: Community Facilities and Services Survey
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he had checked the information supplied by South
Oxfordshire District Council after having sought clarification on some
definitions.
SODC: Revised Housing
Allocations Policy consultation
The
Council RESOLVED to support
SODC: Two partnership publications
The
Chairman issued a copy of
The
Chairman informed the meeting that the AGM of the Oxford Green Belt Network
would take place on Monday 19 November 2007.
10/11/07
Village
Hall
Cllr. Barry Coward updated the meeting on the joint meeting between representatives of the Village Hall, the shop steering group and the Parish Council. He reported that the shop would be set up as an Independent Provident Society for the benefit of the community and that a village meeting would be called by the shop steering group at some stage in the future. He also reported that the current lease between the Village Hall and the Parish Council allows the establishment of a sub lease between the Village Hall and the “shop” but would be subject to approval by the Parish Council. There is need to incorporate a revised footprint of the village hall within the lease and for it to be registered with the Land Registry. He also highlighted that a formal letter from the Village Hall requesting approval for the hall extension was outstanding.
Cllr Barry Coward also highlighted the car park as an area that will require to be carefully considered by the shop committee as there are a number of operational issues that need to be addressed. He stated that the shop steering group have been asked to submit a proposal to the Parish Council for consideration as there may be financial as well as planning implications.
Little
Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 14th November 2007 at 8.00pm
11/11/07
Village Shop/Post Office
The
Chairman informed the meeting that the Lottery Grant application in respect of
the Village Hall extension had been turned down. However he explained that there
were two other major funding sources that he was pursuing. He stated that he had
produced a revised business plan as well as a critical time line of events for
the project. These documents will be circulated by the Chairman.
12/11/07
Exchange of Information
Cllr.
David Wakeling informed the meeting that he had received representation on
behalf of residents who use the restricted byway that leads from the High Street
to Warren Barn. The road is in a poor state of repair. He reported that the
matter is being addressed by OCC Countryside Services but requested that the
Parish Council actively involve themselves in addressing the problem. The Clerk
stated that he spoken to OCC Countryside about the byway and they had expressed
their desire to improve the road surface as well as restrict its use by illegal
vehicles. The solution is dependent upon available funding.
District
Councillor John Nowell Smith informed the meeting that South Oxfordshire
District was considering a proposal on a new waste collection scheme from 2009.
He also reported that the District Council were considering consulting Parish
Councils on the discontinuance of the automatic referral of major and minor
planning applications to the Planning Committee in circumstances where a parish
recommend approval against an officer’s recommendation of refusal.
13/11/07
Date of Next Meeting
The
Parish Council will meet on Wednesday
12th December at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little
The
meeting finished at 10.06 p.m.
Parish Forum
There were no matters raised
Signed
by
Chairman…………………………………………………Date…………………………………………