Hook Norton Parish Council

HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE MEMORIAL
HALL ON THURSDAY 8th JANUARY 2004 AT 7.30pm

Present: Councillors: Williams [Chairman], Clay, Fry, Hayward, Millar, Terry, Withey and Young, District Councillor Gasson, Mr Porter [Parish Clerk] and seven members of the public.

1 Apologies For Absence

Were received from Councillor Jelf [County Councillor], who was at another meeting and who was able to attend later in the evening, and from Clive Timms who had applied to join the Parish Council but who had been taken ill.

2 Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman announced that the abandoned car in Tite Lane will be removed by the weekend.

3 Vacancies for Parish Councillors

It was reported that three parishioners had applied to join the Parish Council and with only two vacancies a vote took place, Clive Timms and Albert Walsham being duly elected. Cllr Walsham signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and joined the meeting.

4 Minutes of previous meeting, 4th December 2003, and matters arising

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a true and accurate record, proposed by Cllr Clay, seconded by Cllr Withey, and passed unanimously. There were no matters arising.

5 Declarations of Interest

Cllrs Fry informed the meeting that he would possibly absent himself during the discussion on Ironstone Hollow [Item 15] and Cllr Williams similarly declared a possible interest on Housing Needs [Item 16]. In the event it was not necessary for either to leave.

6 Report by Planning Co-ordinator on planning applications received

Cllr Millar reported that he had received a reasoned response from Mike Buxton of CDC to his letter expressing concern at the decision to grant approval for the track from Grounds Farm to Swerford Road. The Planners felt that the path generally follows the contours and is well screened by hedges and trees and, where visible, this is covered by condition 2 of the terms of consent. Cllr Millar reported that he had also discussed with the planners the tree, which had been felled only a few days after the Notice had gone up, and had been told that the applicant had acted prematurely. One current application had been refused, at Hook Norton Manor, where it was felt that the re-location of a window was not appropriate in a listed building. Of applications currently under consideration no objections were raised relating to the rear extension at 1 Watery Lane, the tree work at The Old Rectory, the conversion of a barn at Hook Norton Manor, or the rear extension at 18 Hollybush Road. Whilst no objection was raised regarding the conversion of a barn and extension at Fanthill Farm some concern was expressed about the level of development at the site. After discussion it was generally felt that the erection of the waste transfer building at Ferris Hill Farm was acceptable.

7 To invite members of the public to comment on planning applications

Mrs MacLeod also commented upon the level of development at Fanthill Farm and Mr Barry enquired about the status of the Stanton appeal. District Cllr Gasson informed the meeting that it is anticipated that it will be heard in March. Mr Barry also commented upon the fact that OCC Environment & Economy [Highways!] Department continue to ignore concerns expressed about access to certain sites and urged the Parish Council to continue to highlight such problems.

8 Report of Committees

Recreation Committee – Cllr Young reported that there had been no meeting over the past month as there are currently only two members on the committee. Cllr Walsham agreed to enlist and Cllr Timms will also be asked to join this committee to bring it up to strength. Cllr Young confirmed that Mr Marshall had been re-appointed as Recreation Warden although his job description has still to be finalised. He is also reported that the area is once again looking very tidy. Cllr Williams also reported that two trees had fallen in the storm overnight in Watery Lane and had been cleared that morning.
Environment and Open Spaces Committee - Cllr Hayward presented his report and added that Mr Hobbs is to commence work on the cemetery wall next week. Unfortunately another section has fallen down and Mr Hobbs’ quote for the further remedial work required is £1600 inclusive of stonework. Cllr Hayward proposed that, notwithstanding the fact that this additional work had not been budgeted for, it should be carried out while Mr Hobbs is on site. Cllr Clay, as Chairman of the Finance committee, was able to report that some funds had been provided to cover such contingencies and confirmed that money is available to pay for the work if approved. Cllr Fry seconded the resolution, which was passed unanimously.

9 Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

Cllr Fry had circulated the minutes of a meeting held earlier in the week and reported that the main purpose had been to review the survey forms about the future of the Memorial Hall. 166 people had troubled to respond and the comments and views were varied. A common concern was the lack of parking in and around the Hall and there was a majority view that it requires refurbishing, although the ways in which this should be done elicited varying suggestions. Cllr Fry felt it appropriate to circulate the responses amongst the other councillors to seek further comment.

10 Report of Finance Committee

Cllr Clay reported that the committee had not had reason to meet in the past month. He stated, however, that he is concerned that the PC currently has to meet the expenses of the Norman Matthews Community Hall and it is imperative that other groups start to make use of the facility shortly. The Library will be closed next week to enable the contractor to open the doorway.

11 Schedule of Receipts and Payments for Authorisation by the Council

Mr Porter presented the attached schedules of receipts and payments. Cllr Young moved acceptance of the payments detailed and this was seconded by Cllr Williams and passed unanimously.

12 Norman Matthews Community Hall

Cllr Jelf had nothing new to report this month.

13 Report on District Council Matters

Cllr Gasson reported that the recycling scheme appears to be working well and he had visited Enstone to look at the recycling unit. The large-scale voluntary transfer of council housing to Charter Community Housing is progressing and should be completed on 8th March 2004. The District Council is currently finalising budgets for the next financial year and is still projecting a 6% rise. CDC has an ambitious capital programme amounting to £46m over the next few years.

14 Report on County Council Matters

Cllr Jelf stated that he had nothing of significance to report this month.

15 Ironstone Hollow Landscape Barrier

Mr Porter stated that he had made enquiries through ORCC about the possibility of leasing the land in the event that a sale cannot be achieved. He had received a reply that afternoon but as this seems to be contradictory in parts he felt he needed more time to consider the implications of the advice. He was conscious that this matter is not progressing as swiftly as it should and suggested that a small sub-committee should be formed to consider the position and report back to the next PC meeting. Cllrs Young, Jelf and Williams agreed to sit on this committee with Mr Porter.

16 Housing Needs Survey

Copies of the results of the survey had been circulated although The Rural Housing Trust, who conducted the survey, are no longer the preferred provider within Cherwell District. As such Cllr Williams felt that it was appropriate to send a copy of the survey to the successful bidder, the Oxfordshire Rural Housing Partnership, to seek their comments. This was agreed.

17 Standing Orders

Cllr Millar stated that he had received some feedback on his initial draft but would welcome comments from other councillors in order to provide a document for consideration at the next meeting.

18 Highways

Cllr Young mentioned that the concrete bollard on Bridge Hill had been removed during construction work and as it was an important safety feature felt that it should now be replaced. It was confirmed that Mr Joyner had sought permission to remove the bollard while the work was being undertaken and the clerk will write to ask him to replace either with a new bollard or a low retaining wall.

19 Community Broadband Project, update

Cllr Hayward reported that a Community Broadband Project has been set up and although the trigger level set by BT is too high to be achievable, the existence of a trigger level may possibly preclude grant money. The project group believe that they will be able to finance the initiative themselves and already have almost half the projected capital expenditure pledged.

20 Thames Valley Police Forum

Although originally intended that Cllr Williams would report on this matter as WPC Dilsaver was among the members of public present she was able to inform the council that the new inspector in Chipping Norton would like to hold an open forum in the village, either before a PC meeting or at some other suitable date. After discussion it was decided to hold the forum before the 4th March meeting starting at 7 o’clock and ending no later than 8 pm.

21 Correspondence

(a) Letter from Frank Cookson regarding roads in the village. Repair of roads and paths is the responsibility of OCC who have budgetary problems following the dry summer. The clerk will write to ask for reflective signs to be replaced on the railway bridge on Swerford Road. The provision of further salt bins was considered by the PC but rejected unanimously.
(b) CDC re Licensing Act 2003 up-dating the PC. More information should be available shortly.
(c) CDC re What’s On Guides – clerk will put note in Newsletter.
(d) Thames Valley Police – up-date on non-emergency call handling.
(e) OCC advising that from 12th January the 07.23 bus to Banbury will be operated by Stagecoach and not Cheney Coaches.
(f) Village Chapels – Pauline Ashbridge kindly provided the PC with a copy of her book, which features Hook Norton.

21 Questions and Comments from Members of the Public

Mrs MacLeod had spoken with the refuse collectors who expressed concern that a number of people are putting used disposable nappies in the blue boxes/bins; they must go in the green bins. Also people are filling litter bins in the village with their spare rubbish. There was a complaint that parishioners are still leaving bottles beside the bottle banks when they are full. The clerk will put a note in the Newsletter.

22 Date and Time of Next Meeting

Thursday 5th February 2004 at 7.30pm.

There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.28pm.