Hook Norton Parish Council

HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE MEMORIAL
HALL ON THURSDAY 4th MARCH 2004 AT 8.08pm

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

1 Apologies For Absence

Were received from Councillor Timms due to work commitments.

2 Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman had no announcements to make.

3 Minutes of previous meeting, 5th February 2004, and matters arising

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a true and accurate record, proposed by Cllr Williams, seconded by Cllr Young, and passed unanimously. There were no matters arising not covered elsewhere on the Agenda.

4 Declarations of Interest

Cllr Fry had informed the meeting that he would absent himself during the discussion on the Ironstone Hollow land sale [Item 14].

5 Report by Planning Co-ordinator on planning applications received

As the Chairman had dealt with planning matters while Cllr Millar had been on holiday he reported that new applications from Mr and Mrs Faulkner to add a two-storey and rear extension to 10, Beanacre, from Mr and Mrs Pickering regarding a proposed parking/loading bay to the rear of the new Post Office and from Mr Freeman to replace windows at Stuart House, had all met with no objections. The application from Mr Moore to convert a barn at Fanthill Farm, with a single storey extension, was objected to on the basis of access. A previous application by Mr and Mrs Rogers to demolish the existing farmhouse at Berryfield Farm and replace with a new house with ancillary accommodation had been felt to be inappropriate and an objection had been submitted. Mr and Mrs Rogers attended the meeting, having written to the PC setting out the basis of their plans. Cllr Millar informed them that our views had been submitted and the matter is now in the hands of CDC. Cllr Gasson again confirmed that he had asked for this matter to be passed to committee. Mr Rogers was allowed to comment and expressed regret that, while they had had a number of consultations with the Planning Officer, he had not appreciated the matter would then pass to the PC for their comments and, had he done so, he would have made councillors more aware of the extent of his plans and tried to allay their particular fears. It was pointed out that the PC could write to CDC to advise that they had modified their views but, after discussion, it was agreed by 7 votes to 3 to leave matters to take their course.

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

Cllr Walsham, in his private capacity, informed the parish council that he had discussed the loading bay at the Post Office with the planners and agreed that it is acceptable with the proviso that it is only used by their personal van. This had been agreed by the planning officer. There were no other comments from those members of the public present.

7 Report of Committees

Recreation Committee – Cllr Young reported that no meeting had taken place during the past month. The Job Description for the Recreation Warden has been accepted and copies circulated to members of the committee. There will be a need for further expenditure on bark for the Play Area and a quote is awaited. We have also received correspondence from CDC on the Annual Safety Inspection and a decision will be made on which firm to instruct.
Environment and Open Spaces Committee - Cllr Hayward referred to the minutes of the committee meeting which had been circulated and stated that there was another litter-bin which has had its inner removed and this may have to be replaced. A decision has been made to allocate part of the cemetery to the north and east of the path for ashes burials and the clerk will discuss this with the respective funeral directors. There is a plank missing from the bridge at Bridge Hill and this has been reported to OCC. Cllr Hayward then proposed that small changes to the cemetery fees, as set out in his report, be adopted by the PC. This was seconded by Cllr Millar and passed unanimously.

8 Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

Cllr Fry reported that the committee had met earlier in the week and discussed the implications of advice received from ORCC on the Health and Safety at Work Act. Arrangements are in hand to comply with the duties identified in the guidance notes. A replacement padlock will be fitted to the electricity meter as concern has been expressed about its use. Soul Commotion had appeared at the Hall on 21st February and it was disappointing to report that, of 45 people attending, only 10/15 were from the village. Cllr Jelf expressed thanks to the brewery for laying on a charity bar which produced a profit of £30 to be split equally between Leukaemia Research and the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund. Cllr Millar expressed the view that new licensing laws would provide an opportunity to licence the Hall for occasional events and the clerk reported that further guidance on this issue is expected shortly. Cllr Hayward also expressed thanks to all those who had allowed the Hook Norton Festival of Music to take place; a small profit had been achieved and this will go to a suitable charity. It is hoped to repeat the event.

9 Report of Finance Committee

Cllr Clay reported that the year end figures will be somewhat distorted as, although we are committed to a number of spending projects, these will not be completed by the end of the financial year and will have to show in the Accounts as contingencies. After allowance is made for these the excess of income over expenditure will amount to something in the region of £1000. It is also intended to carry out an audit of trees within the parish but the first approach will be to the tree officer at CDC in the hope that he will be able to assist and thus keep the costs down. As reported in the Memorial Hall minutes it is recommended that a new cooker be purchased. Cllr Clay had priced an appropriate model and felt that a replacement should not cost more than £175 and recommended this expenditure to the PC. It was approved unanimously. Cllr Clay also apologised for the late production of the Finance Committee minutes but it had not been possible to hold a meeting earlier as he had been on holiday. In future however he would aim to have the minutes with councillors well in advance of the PC meeting and asked if they had any specific queries would they give him advance notice so that he can prepare the information for the meeting.

10 Schedule of Receipts and Payments for Authorisation by the Council

Mr Porter presented the attached schedules of receipts and payments and stated that he had an addition to the payments to be made by the PC being his own expenses from November to date in the sum of £46.39 which he had been asked to submit and pay before the financial year end. There is also a payment of £25 to CDC to be made from the Memorial Hall during the month in respect of the annual fee for the Theatre Licence. Cllr Jelf informed the council that he had £361 to give to the clerk being the ticket sales from the Soul Commotion event. Cllr Williams proposed acceptance of the payments detailed. This was seconded by Cllr Millar and passed unanimously.

11 Norman Matthews Community Hall

Cllr Jelf reported that he had just learned from CDC that funding will not be available from the Library Service to pay for the partition as they had paid the cost of the doorway between the library and the hall. However approval for the partition has been granted. Cllr Young asked who would pay for the partition and Cllr Jelf responded that it will ultimately come from fund-raising. Cllr Clay reported that the Accounts will show expense of £800 for the year to keep the Hall operational and this cost will have to be borne by the PC.

12 Report on District Council Matters

Cllr Gasson reported that he had attended three District Council meetings on the previous three evenings at one of which the council tax was set at a rise of 6%. Cllr Millar expressed the view that this is still too high and Cllr Young enquired why tax in Cherwell District is higher than in neighbouring districts. Cllr Millar proposed that the parish council should write to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reporting the position and asking that a “cap” be imposed. This motion was seconded by Cllr Withey but was defeated by 8 votes to 2. It was agreed however that Cllrs Gasson and Jelf should organise a meeting with parish councillors to explain the reasons for the rise in detail. Cllr Jelf will ask for somebody with expertise on budgetary matters to attend from OCC.

13 Report on County Council Matters

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

14 Ironstone Hollow Landscape Barrier

Cllr Fry withdrew from the meeting. Mr Porter stated that the sub-committee had met with the residents of numbers 14 – 17 and had explained that any figures discussed would be subject to the approval of the full Parish Council. In an effort to make progress he had opened negotiations by offering to sell the land for £40,000. The residents explained that, in their view, this figure was still far too high, especially considering the associated costs of conversion to garden. After deliberation the committee decided to reduce the asking price to £32,500. However, after further consideration, the residents decided this was still too high and have offered a revised figure of £25,000, although they have subsequently asked whether the PC might consider selling a smaller portion for this sum. After discussion in the parish council meeting Cllr Clay proposed that a final offer be made to the residents to sell for £30,000 for the whole of the area under discussion and if this offer is not accepted then the offer to sell the land will be automatically withdrawn. This was passed by 8 votes to 1.
Cllr Gasson pointed out that there are a number of thistles growing in the barrier area and, as these are an injurious weed, he asked for permission to control them, which was granted.

15 Appointment of Promoter for CDC events in Hook Norton

Cllr Jelf reminded the meeting that it is not essential for the promoter to be a member of the PC but the Friends of the School are nervous about taking on the role as occasional losses have been made. Cllr Hayward expressed the view that CDC events do not seem to draw particularly large crowds but it was pointed out that some have certainly done so. Cllr Fry stated that he would be very sorry if it was no longer possible to hold a children’s event. The clerk agreed to advertise the matter in the next Newsletter.

16 Correspondence

(a) Letter from Peter Rooke at CDC – Register of Interests; any amendments to be passed to the clerk.
(b) OALC – Freedom of Information Act Training Event at Stratfield Brake on 22nd April. The clerk will attend.
(c) OALC – Parish Plan Workshop, invitation to attend.
(d) South East England Regional Assembly – two glossy brochures produced covering Regional Minerals Strategy and Regional Waste Management Strategy.
(e) OCC – they are to review the 488 Bus service which leaves Hook Norton at 7.23am, arriving in Banbury at 8am, as it is little used. Should it run earlier or be discontinued? Cllr Fry had also received this information as Parish Transport Representative and had placed notices in the village but has had no response to date. It was generally felt that this particular bus runs too close to the later one, which arrives in Banbury at 8.25am, and it was felt that it would be sensible to experiment with an earlier service.
(f) OCC – Highway Management Policy, loose-leaf folder received to be retained by clerk.
(g) Standards Board for England – Court of Appeal decision. Cllr Jelf informed the meeting that he had just received a copy of a recent ruling which he circulated amongst members.

17 Questions and Comments from Members of the Public

Mr Cookson thanked Cllr Jelf for dealing with the problem of silt at the railway bridge and reported that the carriageway is now much wider. He also expressed his concern at the decision of the E & OS committee not to recommend the provision of further salt bins on Swerford Road. Cllr Hayward defended that decision by saying that the problems of the public spreading salt are well documented and there is also an environmental issue about using salt in this way. There are other roads in the village with similar problems where salt bins have not been provided and the public can use alternative routes in bad weather which receive treatment by OCC.

18 Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held at 7pm on Thursday 1st April 2004 to be immediately followed by the normal Parish Council meeting.

There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.45pm.