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 10th NOVEMBER 2005 AT 7.30pm
Present: Councillors: Timms [Chairman], Fry [Vice-Chairman], Jelf, Riley, Swainbank, Walsham and Young, and Mr Porter [Parish Clerk], together with one member of the public present on this occasion.

1. Apologies For Absence

Were received from Cllrs Clay [hospitalised], Hayward and Millar.

2.Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman conveyed best wishes on behalf of the Parish Council to Cllr Clay and wished him a speedy recovery. He also reminded members of the PC that the Remembrance Service will be held on Sunday 13th November. Unfortunately he would be away but Mike Terry would be representing the PC as usual.

3. Minutes of previous meeting, 13th October 2005, and matters arising

It was proposed by Cllr Swainbank, and seconded by Cllr Walsham, that the minutes of the previous meeting be passed as a true and accurate record and this was agreed unanimously. Arising from the minutes Cllr Walsham reported that he has still not had any response from CDC about Priestfield House [Item 5], despite several phone calls, and he will keep trying.

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 two planning meetings during the past four weeks when ten applications in total had been considered. The details are as set out on the attached schedule. The PC had objected to the amended application relating to 26 The Bourne, repeating the original comments, and also to the erection of the large three-bay garage at Priory Cottage. Cllr Walsham also reported that the appeal by Mr Head seeking retrospective permission for the wall at Pennyfarthing, Bells Lane, had been rejected. Cllr Walsham had spoken with CDC to discover what is to happen to the wall but understands that the applicant has a further right of appeal. The planning officer has promised to keep him informed. Two applications which the PC had objected to, the felling of three trees at 19 Beanacre and the felling of a willow at Scotland House, had been approved by CDC. Concern was expressed that scant regard is paid to the views of parish councils.

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

Mr Taylor questioned the council as to why it had not apparently objected to the siting of an oil tank at 2 Watery Lane and asked if his letter setting out reasons why this should not be allowed had been considered. The Chairman assured Mr Taylor that his letter had been read to councillors at the last planning meeting, but it was felt that the technical nature of the issues he had raised was such that members of the PC did not have the expertise to comment. As such it was considered better left in the hands of the planning officer at CDC.

7. Report of Working Groups

(a)Recreation Group – Cllr Young reported that the RoSPA report revealed no high-risk problems and areas requiring remedial action are being dealt with. The working group expressed concern that, over the past three years, five items had been removed from the park without being replaced, and recommended that £1000 be set aside from the precept each year for renewals. They also had a presentation by Gry Nielson-Jacobs, of the SSC, on a plan to hold activity evenings for young teenagers, utilising the MUGA. The working group is broadly supportive and it is likely that the organisers will approach PC for some financial aid in the New Year, if the scheme proves successful. There followed some discussion on the likely financial request and the Chairman asked Cllr Young to bring this to the attention of Cllr Clay before he prepares his budget for 2006/7. Cllr Jelf made the point that it would probably benefit the organisers to raise funds if they set up as a separate entity from the SSC, particularly as government is currently committed to providing money for youth oriented schemes.
(b)Environment & Open Spaces – Cllr Riley reported that there had not been a meeting over the past four weeks but that matters are progressing on various fronts with Sean Daly having produced a preliminary set of drawings for the work on the cemetery wall. There are one or two alterations to be made but these should be with CDC next week. Hopefully it will then be possible to approach local builders to provide quotes. He has also established that we may be eligible for a SITA grant but further information will be required to ascertain whether a grant would be available if the work is already started. A solution may be to do the job in two phases. An application for work on 61 trees, recommended in the survey carried out by SPB Consulting, has now been submitted to CDC and it is hoped that work will commence before the end of the year. The leak in the cemetery has been repaired and Cllr Riley has met with Mr Thompson to arrange for the relocation of the double gates at the Ironstone Hollow barrier.

8. Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

Cllr Jelf expressed thanks to Cllr Fry who has dealt with a number of matters over the past month. A window has been broken in the outer door and this will be repaired shortly. At the same time several parquet strips have disappeared and, while the badminton group have confirmed that the floor is not dangerous, this will also be attended to shortly. Peter Hibberd has been asked to look at the guttering, which is probably blocked with falling leaves, and if appropriate he will be asked to remove some of the overhanging branches in an attempt to alleviate the problem. It was also noticed that, on return from cleaning, the hems of some of the curtains had fallen and Betty Couldrey spent a morning in the hall mending these and sincere thanks were expressed for her time and commitment. Cllr Jelf reported that there has been a noticeable improvement in bookings in the hall. He has also acquired three hand-dryers at a cost of £105 + VAT and Paul Austin will be asked to install these as soon as possible. There are also some light strips to be replaced and it was agreed that these would be replaced along with some strips at the NMCH. Finally Cllr Jelf reported that the new cleaner has settled in and everyone is very satisfied with her standard of work.

9. Report of Finance Working Group

In the absence of Cllr Clay there was little to report but, on his behalf, the clerk reminded everyone that they must consider work needing to be done and inform Cllr Clay in order to enable him to prepare the 2006/7 budget on which the precept will be based.

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

Mr Porter presented the attached schedules of receipts and payments for authorisation and informed the PC that he had just received two further bills for payment from Gill Boyce for paper towels for the MH, £8.84, and from CT Walters (Electrical) for the hand dryers. Together with the annual donation of £50 to the Royal British Legion he sought approval to pay cheques totalling £4010.88 for the PC and £140.68 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Jelf moved acceptance of the payments detailed and this was seconded by Cllr Fry and passed unanimously.

11. Norman Matthews Community Hall

Cllr Walsham informed the PC that there had been a meeting of the committee on 8th November and it was noted that hall is generally much tidier and will be further improved as arrangements have been made for the SSC to take the pool table. Of the health & safety issues one matter remains outstanding, the installation of smoke alarms, but Joe Williams has these and will arrange to have them fixed shortly. The library had held a successful open day on 1st October. Unfortunately, however, it would seem that there will not be any assistance from OCC towards the toilet for the disabled in the foreseeable future. New keys have been cut and these are held by Cllrs Walsham and Jelf, with another set at the Village Shop. Quotes will be obtained to fix a seven-day clock to the heating system and also to install a light-sensor at the entrance to the hall.

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 had nothing to report on this occasion.

14. Affordable Housing

Cllr Jelf stated that he is awaiting information from George Reynolds on this issue and will report back at the next meeting.

15. Co-option of new Parish Councillor

The Chairman informed the meeting that nobody has yet come forward to fill the place vacated by Joe Williams. A notice will be placed in the next Newsletter.

16. Correspondence

(i) Hook Norton Village Museum – further letter from Barbara Hicks seeking modest contribution towards running costs. Proposed by Cllr Young that we donate £150 and this was seconded by Cllr Jelf and passed by 6 votes with 1 against.
(ii) CDC – Non-Statutory Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – Copy of Plan held and available if anybody wishes to read;
(iii) CDC – Statement of Community Involvement – Submission Document – available to view on website, www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk, and at Bodicote House and Banbury & Neithrop libraries, as well as other locations in the district. Comments must be submitted by 4.20pm on 16 December 2005;
(iv) OCC – Environment & Economy – existing ad hoc arrangements relating to maintenance, including grass-cutting, to come to an end on 31 March 2006. It was decided to express a provisional wish to enter into a formal arrangement but to defer until Cllr Clay available for comment;
(v) OCC – Oxfordshire Structure Plan 2016 – Notice of adoption;
(vi) OALC – Agenda for AGM 21 November 2005 – Cllr Jelf to attend but as a County representative;
(vii) OCC – Emergency Plan – notification that email address incorrect, should be emergency.operationscentre@oxfordshire.gov.uk;
(viii) OCC – Oxfordshire’s Local Transport Plan Consultation – consultation booklet available from the clerk;
(ix) OCC Newsletter.

17. Questions and Comments from Members of the Public

There were no questions on this occasion.

18. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 8th December 2005 at 7.30pm, again in the Norman Matthews Community Hall.

There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and declared the meeting closed at 8.32pm.