Hook Norton Parish Council

HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE NORMAN MATTHEWS MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY 15th NOVEMBER 2007 AT 7.30pm

Present: Councillors: Walsham [Vice-Chairman] Bartlett, Brotherston, Clay, Hayward, Jelf, Leader and Millar together with District Cllr Victoria Irvine, Mr Porter [Parish Clerk] and one member of the public.

1. Apologies For Absence

were received from Cllrs Riley [holiday] and Timms [due to illness].

2.Chairman’s Announcements

In the absence of Cllr Timms Cllr Walsham took the chair. He informed members that Cllr Bullard had submitted his resignation to the Chairman as he has commitments which take up a great deal of his time. Accordingly we again have a vacancy to fill and the clerk will notify CDC in the morning and the requisite notices will be put up.

3. Minutes of previous meeting, 11th October 2007, and matters arising

It was proposed by Cllr Hayward, and seconded by Cllr Brotherston, that the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted as a true and accurate record and this was passed unanimously. In response to a question from the public at the last meeting the clerk reported that he had contacted the new Rural Housing Enabler, Nicola Ball, to ascertain the present situation about the possible site for Affordable Housing in the village. Oxfordshire Citizens Housing Association have been given a budget for the proposed scheme and they are in the process of deciding how much they can offer for the land, following which they will then contact the owners. She has promised to keep us informed of progress. Cllr Walsham confirmed that he had checked the plans relating to the new school crossing. Apparently OCC responded to submissions made and, while there was no mention of guard rails in the plans, one has been erected on the opposite side to the school. Cllr Bartlett commented that the patrol lady would like to see a further rail on the other side of the crossing to help keep control and Cllr Walsham responded that he will discuss the situation with the Chairman and ask him to canvass the school’s opinion on whether they would like any further rails erected.

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 meeting since the October PC meeting at which a total of four applications had been considered, there being no objections to three of these. However the fourth was a resubmission relating to the plan to erect a new dwelling with detached garage at 9 The Glebe. We had objected to the original application on the basis that it was over-development of the site and the access would be too near to the school. Despite our objection CDC had approved the application and, as the new submission is for an even larger development, we have again objected on the same grounds. A previous application to fell an ash tree in Bells Lane, to which we objected on the basis that there was insufficient justification for removing the tree, was also approved by CDC. Cllr Millar enquired why the application to demolish Corner Cottage was received by the PC after the work had been carried out and Cllr Walsham explained that an application for a single-storey extension at the site had been granted but when the work commenced it was realised that the cottage was in a dangerous state. Representatives of the Planning Department and Conservation were asked to examine it and they confirmed that the building would have to be taken down and re-built. The application is therefore effectively retrospective.

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

There were no comments on this occasion.

7. Report of Working Groups

(a)Recreation Group – Cllr Leader informed the meeting that there are a few small jobs which need to be done, including repairs to one of the swings, which Mr Marshall is dealing with, and also some small remedial work identified in the RoSPA report. The bark has been received and laid. Unfortunately the hole in the fence has reappeared and again Mr Marshall is dealing with this. The area is suffering from minor vandalism but so far we have been able to keep on top of the damage. Cllr Leader spoke with Mrs Bloomfield about trees in the Play Area overhanging her garden in Osney Close and she is to have these cut back.

(b)Environment & Open Spaces – in the absence of Cllr Riley the clerk reported that all the new allotments have been taken up and formal thanks were expressed to the Allotment Association for all their help in creating the new units. The waiting list has now been reduced to two both of whom only contacted the clerk within the past month. The trees to the side and rear of the Memorial Hall have been dealt with although there are a few branches overhanging Brian Rider’s garden which will be dealt with in due course. Cllr Riley asked the clerk to comment on how good it had been to see two police officers patrolling the village on Halloween. Cllr Riley had announced his intention to step down as Chairman of this working group at the end of 2007 and it was agreed that the group will elect somebody to replace him at their next meeting.

8. Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

Cllr Walsham told the meeting that the working group has not met since 10th October, but will be doing so next week. There has been one complaint, from the Guides, that the tables were found to be in a dirty state and this is being looked into. There is an action list which is being worked through, although nothing thereon is urgent. We had a visit from Environmental Services for a routine inspection and they pronounced themselves very happy with the state of the hall and particularly the new kitchen. The Guides had requested that we provide some coffee mugs and Cllr Walsham had priced 30 in Tesco at £40/60 but he has subsequently visited Oak Cash & Carry who could provide them for only £15. This purchase was approved by the meeting. It will also be necessary to purchase a tea urn and Cllr Walsham has found a suitable 8 litre one at a cost of £50 and again this purchase was approved.

9. Report of Finance Working Group

Cllr Clay presented the meeting with the up-dated budget and cash-flow and commented that there is still money available to spend within the budgets set for both the Recreation Area and Memorial Hall if needed. Otherwise there has been little change.

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 £5313.34 for the PC and £190.49 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Jelf moved acceptance of the payments detailed and this was seconded by Cllr Leader and passed unanimously.

11. Norman Matthews Community Hall

Cllr Jelf informed the meeting that the cost to soundproof the library area would have to be borne by the Library Service. The Lettings Manager and the church representatives are in correspondence and hopefully the assignment of the lease will proceed as planned.

12. Report on District Council Matters

District Cllr Irvine reported that CDC is in the process of revamping its website and this should be up and running by February. They are also setting up a one-stop shop within Bodicote House for the public to use to ask questions and this should be operational by April.

13. Report on County Council Matters

Cllr Jelf reported that the biggest cause for concern at present is the threat to remove planning decisions from SEERA to SEDA, an unelected body, and this is being resisted.

14. Distribution of Agendas

Following the decision last month to simply list correspondence the clerk had sent the agendas to councillors by email and he enquired whether this was acceptable for the future. This was agreed but it was felt that the correspondence should circulate amongst those wanting to see it. It was also agreed to retain the present system of placing the agendas on the noticeboards as notice of meetings.

15. Correspondence

Cherwell District Council:
(i) Youth Spotlight;
(ii) Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington Seniors Forum – minutes of October meeting;
(iii) Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment – request to know if there are any new sites having the potential to accommodate ten or more dwellings which have not already been notified to CDC. There were none to the knowledge of councillors;
Oxfordshire County Council
(i) Oxford Inspires – Programme of Events – Autumn/Winter programme;
(v) CAG Oxfordshire – September Newsletter;
OALC/ORCC:
(i) OALC – Winter General Meeting – Stratfield Brake Monday 26 November;
(ii) ORCC – changes in the Post Office Network – review in Oxfordshire has started and findings [inc. those POs to close] on website from 5 February 2008. Cllr Jelf informed the meeting that once a decision has been made there appears to be no going back;
(iii) ORCC – Review of Provision of Primary Education in Oxfordshire – review underway;
Other:
(i) Hands Off The Horton – request for our continued support and the clerk will write to the Independent Configuration Panel expressing concern of PC;
(ii) West Oxfordshire Citizens Advice Bureau – request for donation, but it was decided to maintain policy of only making donations to local organisations.

15. Questions and Comments from Members of the Public

Dorcas Wedmore enquired about the current progress of the Local Development Framework and the clerk and District Cllr Irvine will try to discover how matters stand and report back to her.

16. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 20th December 2007 at 7.30pm, 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.