Hook Norton Parish Council

HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE NORMAN MATTHEWS COMMUNITY HALL ON THURSDAY 12th JANUARY 2006 AT 7.30pm
Present: Councillors: Timms [Chairman], Fry [Vice-Chairman], Clay, Hayward, Jelf, Millar, Riley, Swainbank, Walsham and Young, together with District Cllr Gasson, Mr Porter [Parish Clerk] and two members of the public. The Chairman welcomed Derek Brotherston who had been co-opted onto the PC at the December meeting. Mr Brotherston signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and immediately joined the meeting.

1. Apologies For Absence

There were no apologies on this occasion.

2.Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman informed Cllr Brotherston that it is customary for councillors to serve on one of the Working Groups and as there is currently a vacancy on the Environment & Open Spaces Group he was asked to serve on this for time being.

3. Minutes of previous meeting, 8th December 2005, and matters arising

It was proposed by Cllr Swainbank, and seconded by Cllr Clay, that the minutes of the previous meeting be passed as a true and accurate record and this was agreed unanimously. Arising from the minute relating to the Shoppers’ bus [Item 14] Cllr Fry reported that there had been twenty-five people on the bus on 5th January and all of them indicated that they were happy to pay the increased fare of £1.50. Cllr Hayward mentioned the continuing problems with ill-considered parking in the village, particularly Mobbs Lane, and a further comment will be made in the Snippets in the Newsletter.

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 there had been one planning meeting during the past five weeks when a total of four applications had been considered. On only one had it been felt necessary to raise an objection, this relating to the felling of a Norwegian Spruce at Brookside, Bell Hill, which is felt to be an amenity within the village and it was suggested that selective pruning should suffice. CDC has granted planing permission for the erection of a three-bay garage at Priory Cottage, Netting Street, which had concerned us and Mike Buxton had written to Cllr Walsham explaining why the decision had been made. Cllr Walsham also informed the meeting that planning permission for the erection of a two-storey dwelling at 26 The Bourne had been refused, apparently on the recommendation of OCC Highways, who raised concern about visibility when exiting the site. It was generally felt that this is not a dangerous exit and this objection is likely to impact upon our wish to have affordable housing built in the same area. Both District Cllr Gasson and Cllr Jelf, in his capacity as county councillor, expressed disquiet about the decision and will liaise with a view to taking up the matter with OCC. Cllr Young informed the meeting that he believed the application by Mr Willis, for the change of use of units at Lodge Farm, has been withdrawn and the clerk will clarify this with CDC. Concern was also expressed that trees appear to be being felled at The Green without planning permission and Cllr Walsham will take this matter up with CDC.

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

Mr Barnham asked if trees are being felled does the PC insist upon them being replaced. The Chairman stated that, as a parish council, it is our policy to try to prevent any tree being felled unnecessarily and encourage re-planting, but the ultimate decision rests with CDC.

7. Report of Working Groups

(a)Recreation Group – Cllr Young reported that there had not been a meeting over the past five weeks and that there are still a couple of small items to attend to from the RoSPA report. He has not heard whether a youth club has yet started up at the SSC.
(b)Environment & Open Spaces – Cllr Riley reported likewise that there had not been a meeting over the past five weeks but that matters are progressing with two grant applications submitted in respect of the cemetery wall and he has a meeting with a representative of SITA next week. A decision from the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment is likely to be forthcoming by the end of February with the SITA decision the following month. CDC has now formally approved all tree works and the contractors will be starting the work next month and be finished before the end of March, ahead of the nesting season. After that there should only be routine maintenance. Cllr Young raised the issue of obtaining a little more land to create more allotments and suggested that Mr Harris might be willing to give up a small piece the land he rents to enable us to take the allotments up to the footpath, which could create another 6/8 units. This matter will be left to the working group to pursue.

8. Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

Cllr Jelf informed the PC that the schedule of building regulations is almost complete to be submitted to CDC shortly and there is now sufficient information to start seeking quotes for the work on the extension. Cllr Fry mentioned that certain maintenance work has been carried out, including the repair of the window, which has been replaced at a cost of £50. The clerk will write to the hirer seeking reimbursement. Peter Hibberd has repaired the hole in the floor, cleared the blocked urinal and done some repair work to guttering, including taking down some overhanging branches.

9. Report of Finance Working Group

Cllr Clay commented that there have been no significant changes in the budget since his comprehensive report at the previous meeting when deciding upon the precept for the coming financial year. Cllr Fry wondered whether funding for the Hall extension is dependent upon the outcome of the grant applications for the cemetery wall project. Cllr Young felt that we should proceed initially on the basis that funding will be available. Cllr Clay also reported that bills paid by the PC relating to the NMCH have been reimbursed by the user groups, the only outstanding issue being the boiler repair. The clerk informed the meeting that he had now received a request from CDC for the amount of the precept required for 2006/7 and he will apply for £38000 in accordance with the decision reached at the December meeting.

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 £3291.12 for the PC and £192.23 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Jelf moved acceptance of the payments detailed and this was seconded by Cllr Young and passed unanimously.

11. Norman Matthews Community Hall

Cllr Walsham informed the PC that the next meeting of the committee is not until 7 February and that there remain some small electrical jobs outstanding.

12. Report on District Council Matters

District Cllr Gasson reported that budgetary work is well under way and it would appear that the district’s share of council tax is likely to rise by 4½ %. He also commented that, while CDC is responsible for collecting the council tax, they receive less than 10% of the total raised. Cllr Young commented on how well the refuse collection scheme had operated over the Christmas/New year period. There was a comment on the fact that the bottle banks had been filled during the holiday period and residents had again left their bottles by the banks. The clerk will put a note in the Snippets reminding parishioners not to leave bottles where they can be broken and cause injury.

13. Report on County Council Matters

Cllr Jelf reported that staff at County Hall are also working on the budget for 2006/7 and it is anticipated that the rise in council tax will be to the order of 4.375%. He was also pleased to report that there are to be changes in allocation of funds with a larger budget being allotted to youth services. There are plans to reduce the number of police regions and Thames Valley Police have made government aware that they wish to be retained as a separate entity. He also reported that the tree shedding branches at the top of Down End has been referred to OCC Highways, whose responsibility it is. Cllr Young asked who is responsible for hedges overhanging roads, which cause visibility problems. Cllr Jelf responded that this is the responsibility of the householder. It was agreed to put a piece in the Newsletter reminding home owners of the duty to keep hedges adjacent to roads tidy as a matter of safety.

14. Correspondence

(i) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – Standards of Conduct – Discussion Paper issued containing changes including proposed Standards for employees;
(ii) OALC – December Circular;
(iii) OCC – Oxfordshire Youth Services Budget – response from Keith Mitchell to letter sent after last meeting;
(iv) OCC – Social & Community Services Directorate – letter informing us that new Directorate now responsible for wide range of services, more details can be found on website www.oxfordshire.gov.uk ;
(v) OCC – Banburyshire Dial-a-Ride Services – decision re future funding of services by OCC, basically that OCC will continue to provide same support as now;
(vi)OCC – Committee on Inclusive Transport – details of independent body which aims to represent those who have difficulty using public transport;
(vii) OCC – January Circular

15. Questions and Comments from Members of the Public

Barbara Hicks said that it gave her great pleasure to compliment the PC on the improvement in the state of the ladies’ toilet at the Memorial Hall. Mr Barnham wondered why there seemed to be such a long interval between grass-cutting in certain areas of the village. Cllr Hayward responded that those areas, which are the responsibility of OCC, had been passed back to county and they only cut 5/6 times a year. Cllr Jelf stated that he would make enquiries of Highways about the bank at Sibford Road that occasioned the question. Cllr Timms suggested that this might be a topic for discussion at the next E & OS meeting.

17. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 16th February 2006 at 7.30pm, in the Memorial Hall.

There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and declared the meeting closed at 8.27pm.