Parish Council Minutes

Little Milton Parish Council

Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 9th January  2008

in Pine Lodge, Little Milton 

Present:                                                 

                                                                Cllr. Stuart McGill (Chairman)

                                                                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)

                                                                    Mr David Turner ( County Councillor )

                                                                There were no members of the public present

01/01/08     Apologies for Absence:      None     

 

02/01/08     Declaration of any personal or prejudicial interests of members

Cllr. Stuart McGill declared a personal interest in respect of the Village Hall and Village Shop/Post Office agenda items. Cllr. Alison Shelton declared a personal interest in the Village Shop/Post Office agenda item and Cllr. Mabel Wood declared a personal interest in the Village Hall agenda item.

03/01/08     Approval of Minutes

The Parish Council RESOLVED that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting, held on 12th November 2007 as a true record of the meetings and the Chairman signed them.

04/01/08     Matters Arising.

OCC Highways & related matters

The Clerk informed the meeting that the surface water on the Haseley Road was still a major concern and that pressure was being put on OCC Highways to resolve the problem. The matter is also being addressed by Mr David Turner . The Clerk also reported that he had requested SODC to sweep clean up the slip road as it was particularly muddy.

The Clerk updated the Council with the latest information received from Mr Steve Phillips of OCC Highways on the closure of the bridge at J7 on the M40. A letter was read out from a local resident expressing concerns about the suitability of the unclassified road between Little Milton and Wheatley as it was designated as a diversionary route during the bridge closure. The Clerk stated that he had spoken to Mr Phillips about the issues raised and that he had been informed that an assessment of the road would be made as part of the project.

The Clerk reported that he had had a further dialogue with OCC re the restricted highway off the High Street in order to try and have the road repaired. He also informed the meeting that there was a further concern about a raised service cover on the restricted highway and that he had raised the matter with Thames Water.

Stopping Up Order re Church Hill Cottage

The Clerk reported that the repair to the wall of Church Hill Cottage should be completed between late July and early September 2008.

Landscaping of entrances to the village

The Chairman had no further information for the Council to consider although he stated that he hoped to invite the local resident to a future meeting to share some options on the matter.

Quality Parish Council Status

Cllr Barry Coward reported that the Council fulfilled most of the requirements to achieve Quality Parish Council Status but there was a need to review more closely the criteria of the Communications section. The Clerk agreed to assemble the portfolio for discussion with OALC.

05/01/08     Youth Facilities

                

                    The Clerk informed the meeting that he had spoken with a Mr Jamie Miller of ActiveTen20 and had agreed in principal that ActiveTen20 would pay another visit to the village in the Spring that would be linked to activities in the recreation ground. 

     

06/01/08     Recreation Ground

The Clerk reported that Mr Peter Ilbury had not yet started his mole containment programme as he had been ill but he did expect to start in the near future.

07/01/08     Finance

                    The Council RESOLVED that the following expenditure should be paid:

                

                                    Three Village Car Service Scheme – July – December 2007

                                                    R. Fergusson                                                                                                        £33.00

                                                    J Payne                                                                                                                  £5.00

                                           Colourplus – January Newsletter 2008                                                                             £196.38

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:-

                                    Lee & Pembertons – rent re Post Office                                                                           £150.00

                    The Clerk circulated a projected budget for 2008-09 excluding the cost of any additional borrowing in respect of the extension to the village hall. The Council RESOLVED to accept the proposed budget subject to the inclusion of £5,000 to cover the re-instatement of the current Post Office and the re surfacing of the car park to meet the Planning conditions set on the extension to the Village Hall.

                    At this point in the meeting Cllr. Barry Coward took over the chair as Cllr Stuart McGill and Cllr Alison Shelton had a prejudicial interest in the need for the Council to include the cost of servicing of a loan for   the extension to the village hall. Both Council members were present whilst the Council were briefed by Cllr Stuart McGill on the status of the grant applications for the Village Hall extension and the subsequent exchange of information in respect of the IPS. Cllr Stuart McGill and Cllr Alison Shelton                         withdrew from the meeting and the Council RESOLVED to include the finance cost of a £15,000 loan over a 15 year term in the precept for 2008-09. As a result the Council RESOLVED to set a precept of £10,000 for 2008-09 and noted that this was the third year that the Council had not increased the precept.

                    The Council RESOLVED that a letter expressing their support for the extension to the hall and the shop project should be sent to WREN.

    08/01/08 Planning

             

                    P07/W1422/RET: Abbotts Close Haseley Road : Erection of gate and gate posts

                    The Council RESOLVED that they had no strong views on this application and accepted that SODC will determine it as it considers appropriate. However the Council did express a concern about the compatibility of the gates within the locality.

                    P07/W1429: Garden Cottage Haseley Road : Demolition of existing double garage and erection of new garage incorporating workshop

The Council RESOLVED that this planning application should be approved by South Oxfordshire District Council although the Council wished to express their concern about the proposed dormer window as they felt that it was unsuitable for the purposes of the application.

                    The Council noted the proposed changes to the way in which planning applications are to be submitted as a new set of planning application forms will be introduced from that date.

                    The Chairman read out a letter that the clerk had sent to SODC Planning expressing the Council’s   opposition to the proposed changes to the rules governing the referral of planning applications to the Planning Committee.

         

09/01/08     Correspondence

SODC: Potential Core Strategy Meeting 16th January 2008

The Chairman informed the meeting of an event being run by SODC to allow parish councils to feed into the Core Strategy development. The Clerk stated that he would attend on behalf of the Council.

ORCC: Changes to Post Office Network

The Chairman informed the meeting that the recommendations for changes to the network will be published on February 5 2008. ORCC is organising a meeting on 14 February for representatives of County, District and Parish Councils whose parishes are affected by the published network change proposals. 

 

10/01/08     Village Hall

                    The Chairman gave a brief report on recent village hall events.

11/01/08     Village Shop/Post Office

There was no business considered under this agenda item

12/01/08     Exchange of Information

                    Mr David Turner briefed the meeting on recent developments on Nag’s (Neighbourhood Action Groups).

                    Cllr David Wakeling highlighted that a concrete block was lying on the verge on Church Hill and requested that the Clerk contact the appropriate authority to have it removed.

13/01/08    Date of Next Meeting

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 13th February 2008 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 10.05 p.m.

                Parish Forum

                There were no matters raised

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