Hook Norton Parish Council

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY 17th AUGUST 2006 AT 7.30pm
Present: Councillors: Timms [Chairman], Walsham [Vice-Chairman] Clay, Jelf, Riley, Swainbank and Young, together with Mr Porter [Parish Clerk] and three members of the public. There was a formal adjournment between items 5 and 5(i) for a presentation by Sgt David Hibbert, the new Police Community Liaison Officer.

1. Apologies For Absence

were received from Cllr Brotherston and District Councillor Gasson, both of whom are on holiday.

2.Chairman’s Announcements

Cllr Timms announced that several members of the PC would be away over the course of the next five weeks. He formally expressed his thanks to Peter Fry who had been a member of the PC for a number of years and who had made a considerable contribution, he will be sorely missed. He also welcomed Jonathan Leader who has expressed a wish to join the PC in Peter’s place. Mr Leader was formally proposed by Cllr Riley and seconded by Cllr Young and was unanimously elected; he will take his place at the next PC meeting.

3. Minutes of previous meeting, 13th July 2006, and matters arising

It was proposed by Cllr Walsham, and seconded by Cllr Young, that the minutes of the previous meeting be passed as a true and accurate record and this was approved by four votes with three abstentions [those members who were not present at the previous meeting]. The Chairman reported that the PC has now received a volunteer to take over from Peter Fry as Parish Transport Representative, Isita Pickering, and he formally proposed that she be appointed. This was seconded by Cllr Clay and approved by six votes with one abstention.

4. Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations on this occasion.

5. Report by Planning Co-ordinator on planning applications received

Cllr Walsham reported that we had received eleven new applications since the previous meeting, the only objections raised being in respect of one to fell three conifers at The Retreat, East End, and another to fell two leylandii at The Old Bakery, Bell Hill. An amendment had been received relating to the installation of solar panels to the roof of the garage at Post Office Cottage, and this was now acceptable. Of decisions received during the month approval has been given to the single storey front extension and conservatory at Shearings, Queen Street, and the three-bed house with detached garage at Haytimisa, both of which the PC had objected to. We have also received notification that the Brewery’s application for an alteration of existing hours to allow the visitor centre, shop and museum to open on Saturdays has been rejected by CDC on the basis of the amount of traffic which would use Brewery Lane, despite the fact that the PC had no major objections to this application.
(i) Local Development Framework
Cllr Walsham then referred to the public meeting which had taken place on 10th August to discuss the Cherwell Local Development Framework [LDF] which has replaced the Cherwell Local Plan. From the meeting it was clear that there are differing viewpoints about whether there should be any development in Hook Norton, although those prepared to allow further building were only prepared to see it on a limited scale. In view of the feedback Cllr Walsham proposed that a response be submitted to CDC supporting limited development, but only on sites HO5 and HO7 [the latter being the site identified by the PC as an exception site for low-cost affordable housing]. There followed a lengthy discussion on the reasons to resist any significant development and the Chairman commented that, while there is pressure to allow some new building, it must be made clear to CDC that there are major infrastructure problems and improvements must be made as suppliers are barely meeting current demand. Cllr Young expressed opposition to site HO5 as he felt that this would be the thin end of the wedge allowing for further development along The Bourne and then possibly across to the Sibford Gower Road. Finally it was suggested that Cllr Walsham’s original proposal [see attachment] be a framework for our submission to CDC on the basis that councillors had until 5pm on 18th August to suggest any amendments. This was seconded by Cllr Riley and agreed by six votes to one. There was discussion about whether there are other sites in the village which would be better used for housing but Cllr Walsham pointed out that most of these qualify as infill, which is not included in the proposals within the LDF. It was also agreed that it is not the role of the PC to nominate sites in private ownership.

6. To invite members of the public to comment on planning applications

Dorcas Wedmore asked the basis on which CDC had rejected the application by the Brewery and Cllr Walsham read out the reasons given in full. Cllr Young expressed concern that the Planning Department continues to ignore the comments of the PC and wondered when the meeting is to be held with the other category 1 villages to discuss this issue? This has yet to be arranged.

7. Report of Working Groups

(a)Recreation Group – Cllr Young informed the meeting that Trevor Stewart has done an excellent job and considers that he should be preferred for all maintenance work in the area in future. The area is looking well and arrangements will be made to have the RoSPA inspection carried out in the near future.
(b)Environment & Open Spaces – Cllr Riley reported that work on the cemetery wall is progressing and he wondered if the PC would like to insert a date stone at a cost of about £60. This was felt to be a good idea and agreed unanimously. He had held a further meeting with John Blackham, of the Allotment Association, and has set out the additional plots, which amount to 6½. The clerk was asked to write to the first six names on the waiting list. Cllr Riley also reported that there has been a lot of interest in the paddock and it will be necessary to draft a tenancy agreement before proceeding although this cannot be done until it has been fenced off. The Chairman wondered whether the paddock should be let or sold? Cllr Riley also informed the meeting that Cllr Brotherston has submitted a request for a grant to improve the path across the grass area at Ironstone Hollow, and a decision is awaited.

8. Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

Cllr Jelf informed the meeting that work on the kitchen extension will be starting in late September. Also Brian Rider has kindly agreed to keep an eye on the hall and will have a spare set of keys which he can provide to one-off hirers. He will be invited to join the working group in due course.

9. Report of Finance Working Group

Cllr Clay informed the meeting that our application for a loan of £20K has been successful. However this will impact upon the projected year end working capital which will be a deficit of £2833, having been a surplus of £63705 in the last financial year, this being entirely due to the cost of repairing the cemetery wall. He produced what he hopes will be the final cash flow projection and stressed that costs will have to be contained. He also produced a projection showing that it will probably be necessary to seek a Precept of £42K in the next financial, an increase of £4K (10%), the cost of the loan repayments. However such a figure will also allow the PC to begin to build up reserves once more.

10. Schedule of Receipts and Payments for authorisation by the Council

Mr Porter presented the schedules of receipts and payments and sought approval to pay cheques totalling £22095.16 for the PC and £86.43 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Young moved acceptance of the payments detailed and this was seconded by Cllr Riley and passed unanimously.

11. Norman Matthews Community Hall

Cllr Walsham informed the PC that he has nothing new to report as he is still awaiting information from OCC as to whether the library might take up some of the space. Cllr Jelf commented that he has a meeting with the representative from OCC next week.

12. Report on District Council Matters

In the absence of District Cllr Gasson there was nothing to report on this occasion.

13. Report on County Council Matters

Cllr Jelf informed the PC that he had nothing to report on this occasion. Cllr Young commented that Burycroft Road had been closed from 7th August, the timescale being given as two weeks, but the work had only started yesterday [largely due to pressure from a resident] and thus the disruption is likely to last for a further fortnight. Following on from Sergeant Hibbert’s earlier presentation, in which he had commented that Hook Norton is now part of the Cherwell District Plan, although it has been policed from Chipping Norton for many years, Cllr Jelf asked the PC for instructions on the way forward. After some discussion during which we were reminded that one of the main reasons for the present arrangement is that HN schoolchildren travel to Chipping Norton for their secondary education Cllr Jelf expressed the view that it should be possible to retain the status quo if Cherwell make a contribution to West Oxfordshire. Cllr Young then proposed that we seek to remain aligned to Chipping Norton and this was seconded by Cllr Timms and passed by 6 votes with Cllr Walsham abstaining as he felt that a tie to Cherwell appears inevitable based on what we had been told. Cllr Jelf will attend the Briefing on Neighbourhood Policing to be held at Drayton Golf Club on 21 September and the Chairman will endeavour to accompany him.

14.Keep the Horton General

Letter received from the committee asking for our support for their actions to prevent the transfer of services away from the Horton to the John Radcliffe. It was agreed to write letter of support although nobody wished to join the committee.

15. Correspondence

(i) CDC – Statement of Community Involvement – adopted 24 July 2006;
(ii) Warwickshire CC – Minerals Ore Strategy – seeking views;
(iii)Central Networks – Building Better and Safer Environments – grants of up to £2.5K available for schemes having a positive and lasting effect on the environment – we will consider an application for tree planting in cemetery and play area;
(iv) CDC Leisure Service – Recreation Strategy for Cherwell – questionnaire seeking our views;
(v) CDC – Standards Committee – minutes of meeting of 25 July and drawing attention to the need to complete the Register of Interests;
(vi) OCC – Environment & Economy – Definitive Map and Statement of Rights of Way;
(vii)ORCC – Invitation to Seminar of Rural Housing – Bodicote House 4 October, Cllr Walsham and clerk to attend;
(viii) OCC – Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan – covering 2006/2011 available on website www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ltp;
(ix) Newsletter – July.

16. Questions and Comments from Members of the Public

Dorcas Wedmore asked where the maps would be kept [Item 15(vi) above] and the clerk felt that the library would be the ideal place. However he felt he would have to give the matter some further thought as there are four large sheets making up the area, and possibly they will have to be retained in the tube in which they arrived, but available to be viewed by any parishioner interested.

18. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 12th October 2006 in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm.

There being no further business the Chairman everyone for attending and declared the public meeting closed at 9.17pm.