Little Milton Parish Council
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Wednesday 12th March 2008
Present:
Cllr.
Cllr.
Barry Coward
Cllr. Mabel Wood
Cllr. Alison Shelton
Cllr. David Wakeling
Mr Raymond Fergusson (Parish Clerk)
Cllr.
There
were two members of the public present, one for the whole meeting and one for
part only.
01/03/08
Apologies for Absence: Cllr.
Tim Robinson; Mr
02/03/08
Declaration of any personal or
prejudicial interests of members
The following interests
were declared by Council members
Cllr.
Cllr. Alison Shelton-
a personal interest in shop related matters
Cllr. Mabel Wood-
a personal interest in Village Hall related matters
Cllr. Barry Coward -
a personal interest in the Village Hall and shop related matters
The
Clerk informed the meeting that he had spoken with Mr Steven Corrigan the
Democratic Services manager at SODC in respect of the possibility that the
Council might not be quorate if the Council needed to consider an application
for a grant towards the extension to the Village Hall due to the number of
Councillors who could have a prejudicial interest in the matter.
03/03/08
Approval of Minutes
The
Parish Council RESOLVED that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting, held on
13th February 2008 as a true record of the meeting and the Chairman signed them.
04/03/08
Matters Arising.
The
Clerk reported that he had been advised by
The
Clerk informed the Council that the pot-holes opposite Woodbine Cottage and
adjacent to
Landscaping
of entrances to the village
The
Clerk reported that
Village
Green adjacent to Post Office
The
Clerk informed the Council that he had given John Riddy a copy of the Land
Registry plan in respect of the Village Green. He also informed the meeting that
he had contacted SODC in respect of the refuse vehicles that service that part
of the village to ensure that there is no damage done to the verges after the
green is delineated with posts and galvanised chain between the posts. The Clerk
was asked to clarify the nature of the materials that would be used.
05/03/08
Youth Facilities
The
Clerk reported that he had been in contact with Active Ten20 and had
provisionally booked their services for May 30th 2008. The Clerk stated that the
visit may be funded by ActiveTEN20 but this would be confirmed in due course.
06/03/08
Recreation Ground
The
Clerk informed the Council that the work being done by Mr Peter Ilbury in
connection with the moles was showing good progress. The Clerk also informed the
meeting that Spadework had not yet arranged for a piece of play equipment to be
collected for repair.
07/03/08
Finance
The Council RESOLVED
that the following expenditure should be paid:
SODC – Dog hygiene April – December 2007
£65.34
Colourplus – March newsletter
£253.55
Mr R Fergusson – clerk’s annual salary, annual remuneration re
editor;
Council expenses
£2,608.94
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:-
The
Chairman read out a letter from South Oxfordshire Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers that
expressed their appreciation of the Council’s donation of £50.
The Clerk issued the latest cash flow for the year ending 31st March
2008.
08/03/08
Planning
P08/W0054:
5 Chiltern View: Convert part of garage to study
The Council noted that planning permission had been granted by South
Oxfordshire District Council.
P07/W1427: Brooklands Stadhampton Road: New two storey side extension
with porch to the front with
tiled roof, new cat slope dormer to front bedroom and swimming pool to
side.
The Council noted that planning permission had been granted by South
Oxfordshire District Council.
09/03/08
Correspondence
SODC:
Parish Remuneration Panel
The
Council RESOLVED that the
Parish Remuneration Panel’s report be received and no allowances be paid to
members of the Parish Council
Oxfordshire
County Council – Expansion of Park & Ride
The
Chairman briefed the Council on the County Council’s plans to expand the Park
& Ride services. One option is to expand the existing site at Thornhill.
However it is recognised that there are planning issues regarding the site and
as a result OCC are evaluating all possible alternatives. The conclusion of the
report is that further work should be carried out at a site close to J8 of the
M40. The Council RESOLVED to support
the expansion of the Thornhill site as the preferred option albeit that it could
infringe the green belt.
SODC:
Design Guide Review
The Council noted that SODC had carried out a review of the South Oxfordshire Design Guide 2000 as part of the work on the Local Development Framework. The aim of the guide is to promote good design practice by all those involved in the development process. A copy of the document on a CD-rom was included with the papers for circulation to Council members.
NATS
(National Air Traffic Services)
The
Chairman read out a letter from NATS about the consultation on proposed changes
to airspace over parts of
10/03/08
Little Milton Shop Liaison Group
Cllr. Barry Coward reported to the Council on the outcome of the latest meeting of the Shop Liaison Group. He circulated a “wiring diagram” that showed the linkages between the interested parties in respect of the various actions that are required to deliver the overall project. Cllr Barry Coward referred to the latest minutes of the Shop Liaison Group and for the purposes of these minutes a copy of the Shop Liaison Group minutes of 21st February will be issued as a supporting paper. The points detailed by Cllr Barry Coward are covered within the document.
The Chairman issued an updated
cash flow for the shop and pointed out that it was based on a lower level of
sales and incorporated points that had been raised by Jane Barker of ORCC. The
Shop Steering Group recognised that cash flow in the early months of the project
was critical to its long term survival. He also issued a copy of a letter
received from Henmans LLP in connection with the ability of the Village Hall
Trustees to grant a sub-lease to the Village Shop at a concessionary rent. The
Mr
The Council briefly discussed the timing of a village meeting that needs to be set up by the Shop Steering Group as a pre-requisite to establishing the IPS. The Clerk suggested that it could be part of the Annual Parish Meeting in May. The Chairman stated that a village referendum on the establishment of the shop would be carried out before the Village Meeting by the Shop Steering Group as this would allow a better assessment of the village feelings on the issue if the turnout at the village meeting was low.
11/03/08
Recreation Ground Car Park
The
Clerk outlined the Council’s responsibilities with regard to the car park
within the extension to the Village Hall. The Council needs to meet the
outstanding condition in respect of Planning Application P04/W0929. The Council RESOLVED to seek the views of SODC Planning on the appropriate
surface to meet the planning condition as well as the delineation of car parking
spaces.
The
creation of the shop requires the entrance to be re-designed to accommodate two
passing vehicles as well as a pedestrian entrance with an appropriate path
leading to the shop. The Council RESOLVED
that the maintenance of a barrier to prevent authorised caravans entering the
car park was essential in any re-design of the entrance to the car park. The
operational aspects of vehicles servicing the shop needs careful consideration
with particular regard to the timings before the shop may be open. The Council RESOLVED that the Shop Steering Group should provide a detailed
specification of their requirements in respect of the entrance and an outline of
the operation of the barrier and its likely timings.
12/03/08
Lease between Village Hall &
Parish Council
The
Clerk reminded the Council that there were a number of matters that required to
be addressed by the Council. The current lease between the Council and the
Village Hall requires to be registered with the Land Registry with an
appropriate plan of the site. There may also be a need to register any
sub-lease. The responsibility for registration rests with the lessee.
13/03/08
Exchange of Information
Mr
14/03/08
Date of Next Meeting
The
Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 9th
April 2008 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little
The
meeting finished at 10.00p.m.
Parish
Forum
A
resident highlighted a number of concerns that he had regarding the proposal to
site a shop in the extended Village Hall as he believed that it would be
disruptive to adjacent residents. This included a concern that the sewerage
system may not be able to cope. The resident gave his views on a number of other
issues including the provision of a youth shelter and the lack of support by the
Parish Council towards the village pub. The Chairman responded to the issues
raised and the Council noted the comments.
A
resident requested that the Parish Council give permission to allow a tree to be
planted in the recreation ground in memory of Mr Gareth Bonner. The Council were
favourably disposed to this proposal and this matter will be included on the
April agenda for a decision.
Signed
by
Chairman…………………………………………………Date…………………………………………