Hook Norton Parish Council

HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY 13th OCTOBER 2005 AT 7.30pm
Present: Councillors: Timms [Chairman], Fry [Vice-Chairman], Clay, Hayward, Millar, Riley and Swainbank, District Councillor Gasson and Mr Porter [Parish Clerk]. There were no members of the public present on this occasion.

1. Apologies For Absence

Were received from Cllrs Walsham and Young [holiday] and Cllr Jelf [meeting at County Hall].

2.Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman had no announcements to make on this occasion.

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

It was proposed by Cllr Swainbank, and seconded by Cllr Hayward, that the minutes of the previous meeting be passed as a true and accurate record and this was agreed unanimously. The Chairman informed the meeting that OCC Highways had been in touch to confirm that the work on the reconstruction of the kerb and footway in Mobbs Lane is now scheduled to start on 14 November.

4. Declarations of Interest

Cllr Fry queried whether he should absent himself during Item 20 [Ironstone Hollow] but the clerk informed him that this would not be necessary.

5. Report by Planning Co-ordinator on planning applications received

In the absence of Cllr Walsham the clerk reported that there had been one planning meeting during the past five weeks when three applications had been considered. The details are as set out on the attached schedule. The PC had objected to the application by Mrs Clarke as it did not want a willow tree felled in the conservation area. Cllr Walsham has written to CDC about Priestfield House and this is being investigated. If nothing has been heard on his return he will follow this matter up. Cllr Gasson has forwarded a response from CDC relating to the felling of the oak tree on the land adjacent to the Old Engine House which basically states that the tree had not been considered worthy of a TPO and their Arboricultural Officer had felt it to be poorly positioned and with the potential to become a very large tree it was felt appropriate that it should be removed. The opportunity was taken to consider a new application relating to the insertion of two dormer windows in the thatch roof to the rear of Doolittle Cottage. After consideration it was felt that there were no objections to this proposal.

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

As there were no parishioners present there were no comments on this occasion.

7. Report of Working Groups

(a)Recreation Group – in the absence of Cllr Young the Chairman reported that fresh bark has been ordered from Nigel Matthews, a RoSPA survey had been arranged by Mr Marshall and the posts have been renewed at a cost of £175. Unfortunately vandalism by a small minority is becoming more prevalent and the alternatives appear to be to keep repairing, close the park or identify the culprits and report them. A note will go into the next Newsletter.
(b)Environment & Open Spaces – Cllr Riley reported that there had been a meeting on 13 September when he had been elected Chairman of the E & OS Working Group. The main item for consideration remains the cemetery wall and he has received a quotation from Sean Daly, of Solid Structures (UK) Ltd, to complete detailed design calculations and drawings at a cost of £2300 + VAT, the figure to include submission of the necessary applications to CDC. There was some discussion on whether it was necessary to commission such a report but Cllr Gasson commented that, if the PC was to spend significant money on rebuilding the wall, then a professional report is desirable to ensure the money would be spent wisely. As this expenditure is recommended in the Finance Group’s report Cllr Clay moved that the report should be commissioned and this was seconded by Cllr Riley and passed unanimously. With regard to the trees needing attention Cllr Riley has spoken with Matthew Seebrook, at CDC, who has confirmed that if work is urgent a five-day notice can be obtained. A joint quote has been obtained from David Randall and Ben Acreman for £6500 + VAT and, as this falls within the budgeted figure for the year, Cllr Riley proposed that we instruct them to commence work as soon as possible. This was seconded by Cllr Hayward and passed unanimously. There was also discussion on reinstating the footpath in the cemetery but in view of the expenditure detailed above it was decided to put this on hold a little longer.

8. Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

In the absence of Cllr Jelf Cllr Fry informed the PC that there had been a meeting on 28 September, when representatives of the user groups had been invited. They had been surprised by the number who had attended and the tone of the meeting had been very positive. A new cleaner, Gill Boyce, has been appointed with effect from 1 October and the Conditioners of Hire of the Hall have been amended to remove reference to a caretaker. Harry Smith, of the Film Society, suggested that the PC might like to arrange for a performance of “Don Giovanni” early next year by a touring opera company. After some discussion it was felt that this is not something the PC should be involved in. However Cllr Millar proposed that, if the Film Society, or any other organisation within the village, would like to arrange such a performance the PC would offer the Hall free subject to a share in the proceeds. This was seconded by Cllr Hayward and passed unanimously. Cllr Fry also reported that Chris Tobin had made a donation to the Hall on behalf of the Saturday Market. This was warmly appreciated and a note of thanks will be placed in Snippets.

9. Report of Finance Working Group

Cllr Clay reported that there had been meetings on 28 September and 3 October but there had been no new information regarding out of budget expenditure other than the cost of the structural report on the cemetery wall [see above]. As such the financial position is still in line with the budget. The clerk reported that the external auditors, BDO Stoy Hayward, have completed their audit of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005. Generally everything was in order although the auditors have recommended that the small investment should be shown at value rather than cost in future years. This will be done. Cllr Clay moved that the Annual Return be approved and accepted by the Parish Council and this was seconded by Cllr Millar and passed unanimously.

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 BDO Stoy Hayward, for £250 + Vat, and from Playground Management Ltd for completion of the RoSPA report, £74 + VAT, and he sought approval to pay cheques totalling £6157.08 for the PC and £209.40 for the Memorial Hall, together with a further cheque to Kim Woodward for £90 for cleaning of the hall. Cllr Clay moved acceptance of the payments detailed and this was seconded by Cllr Fry and passed unanimously.

11. Norman Matthews Community Hall

In the absence of Cllr Walsham the clerk reported that the next meeting of the committee will take place on 8 November. The dead trees next to the wall in the Baptist Cemetery have all been removed and OCC is arranging to repair the wall.

12. Report on District Council Matters

District Cllr Gasson informed the PC that he did not have anything to report on this occasion.

13. Report on County Council Matters

In the absence of Cllr Jelf there was nothing to report.

14. The Green, Southrop

This matter had been discussed in confidential session at previous meetings but it had been agreed that a brief report should be made in view of the expenditure incurred. The clerk reminded the meeting that there had been a complaint that a piece of common land at the Green at Southrop had been annexed at some point in the past by the owner of Beanacre Cottage. It had proved difficult to establish ownership of the land and the precise boundary of the property. This has been an issue for many years without being resolved. However, with a sale of Beanacre Cottage imminent, it was felt necessary to clarify the position, particularly as not to do so might have prevented a successful conclusion the council’s audit. Accordingly the matter was placed in the hands of solicitors, Spratt Endicott, of Banbury, who advised that, owing the specialised nature of the matter, Counsel’s Opinion should be obtained. This is now to hand and it concluded that the PC had no cause of action in this matter. The costs of obtaining legal advice amount to approximately £1500 [a final bill is still awaited].

15. Affordable Housing

The Chairman reported that his committee had met the Rural Housing Enabler, James Alcock, and Robert Brown, the Housing Enabling Officer at CDC, immediately before the meeting. Mr Brown had confirmed that CDC wants the site at The Bourne to be developed as much as we do. However there is a problem as Highways have indicated that they would not be prepared to support the scheme due to limited visibility at the access point. It has been agreed that Cllr Clay will discuss this matter with the owners of the property in question, to try to resolve the visibility problem, and report back as soon as Possible. However, due to the limited space available within the site, it is felt that it would only be suitable for 3/4 houses and it has been suggested that a further site should be sought which can be developed in conjunction to defray costs.

16. Council Tax

The Chairman reported that he had been contacted by the Banbury Guardian seeking the PC’s views on the onerous burden that council tax can impose on elderly parishioners. After discussion it was felt that this was a political issue and not appropriate for comment.

17.Non-removal of posters from telegraph poles

Cllr Fry mentioned that notices, which are posted on telegraph poles, remain in situ weeks after the event they advertise. After discussion it was agreed to put a notice in the next Newsletter asking parishioners to remove notices immediately after events in order to keep the village tidy.

18.Estate Agent boards

Cllr Fry referred to two sale boards on the verge at Station Road advertising properties in Ironstone Hollow. It is only legal to erect notices in the property for sale and the clerk will write to the appropriate estate agents asking that they remove the notices or we will do so and bill them for our costs.

19.Proposal to make Mobbs Lane one-way

As was to be expected there have been a number of responses to the piece in the last Newsletter seeking views on a proposal to make Mobbs Lane, and possibly Queen Street, one-way. Most have been from residents of Queen Street objecting to the proposal on the basis that it is “taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut”. There is also a view that making streets one-way can encourage speeding when drivers know there will not be anything coming in the opposite direction. However the PC remains concerned at the potential for accidents caused in the main by careless parking in Mobbs Lane and an article will be put in the next Newsletter asking residents to exercise more care. The matter will also be brought to the attention of WPC Dilsaver.

20. Sale of other land at Ironstone Hollow

The clerk reported that sale proceeds of £25,000 for the land behind numbers 14-17 had been received on 23 September. Mr Summerell has been in touch to say that all three residents in numbers 18-20 are still interested in purchasing the land behind their properties but this has been put on hold until he receives formal approval for the conservatory at his property [number 18]. Jon Thompson has been in contact regarding the relocation of the access gate and Cllr Riley will meet him to resolve this issue.

21. Correspondence

(i) OCC – Consultation Questionnaire & Invitation to Briefing re New Housing in Oxfordshire to 2026 - booklet available;
(ii) OCC – Oxfordshire Transport Co-ordinator – existing agreement for post comes to an end on 31 March 2006 and PCs have been asked for their comments on the effectiveness of the post; HNPC have no comment to make;
(iii) OCC – Oxfordshire Structure Plan 2016 – Notice of intention to adopt;
(iv) OCC – Oxfordshire Minerals & Waste Development Framework – Consultation Draft – anyone interested can view the plan at County Hall;
(v)ORCC- Quarterly Circular & Notice of AGM 2 December 2005;
(vi) CDC – Annual Parish Liaison Meeting 3 November 2005 – the clerk will attend;
(vii) OCC Newsletter.

22. Questions and Comments from Members of the Public

There were no questions on this occasion.

23. Date and Time of Next Meeting

As Hooky Players have booked the Memorial Hall for Thursday evenings for the next three months for pantomime rehearsals the next meeting will take place on Thursday 10th November 2005 at 7.30pm in the Norman Matthews Community Hall.

There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and declared the public meeting closed at 8.48pm.