HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2013 at 7.30pm
Present: Councillors Kane, Hicks, Hayward, Brotherston, Watkins (arrived 7.40pm), District Councillor Jelf (departed 8.25pm), Mrs Watts (Parish Clerk) and one member of the public
Apologies for Absence – Councillors Casson, Cooke, Millar, Usher, Henderson and Wright
Chairman’s Announcements
Councillor Kane had nothing to report.
Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 14 November 2013 and Matters Arising
It was proposed by Cllr Hicks and seconded by Cllr Hayward that the minutes of the previous meeting on 14 November 2013 be accepted as a true and accurate record and this was passed unanimously.
Declarations of Interest – there were none.
Report of the Planning Co-Ordinator on Planning Applications Received – Annex 1
Nine planning applications and TCAs had been received during the month. Councillors had objected to:-
- 13/01679/F – renewal of planning permissions for Rectory View, Down End
- 13/01691/F – construction of two detached two-storey dwellings on land to the rear of The Police House.
- 13/00361/TCA – felling of 2 No. Ash and 1 No. Cherry at 3 Hill View
13/01744/F – D J Stanton Engineering – to be discussed at the end of the meeting.
Cherwell District Council had granted five applications and refused two applications:
- 13/01502/OUT – erection of 2 No. staff cottages at The Firs Garage
- 13/01499/F – conversion of agricultural building to holiday cottage, Whichford Road
To Invite Members of the Public to Comment on Planning Applications – David Shepley- Cuthbert explained to Councillors why he objected to the revised planning application 13/01744/F submitted by D J Stanton Engineering.
Cllr Watkins joined the meeting. She confirmed that she had no interests to declare.
Reports or Working Groups
Recreation – Cllr Kane reported:
- An order placed with Playdale to rectify minor faults on the play equipment identified during the annual inspection appears to be outstanding. The Parish Clerk will contact the company.
Cemetery and Allotments – in the absence of Cllr Usher there was nothing to report.
Environment – Cllr Hayward reported:
- Contracts for tree works have been sent to David Smith and Ben Acreman. Ben Acreman will commence work before Christmas and Dave Smith early in the new year. The work will be complete by the end of this financial year.
- The Parish Clerk is still waiting for a reply from Oxfordshire County Council to confirm whether or not they own the wall between Watery Lane and the playgroup grounds. She will forward her correspondence to Cllr George Reynolds to see if he can expedite a response from OCC.
Hook Norton War Memorial Hall
- David Shepley- Cuthbert offered to investigate the possibility of raising funds for repairs to the Memorial Hall roof. Councillors thanked him and Cllrs Kane and Brotherston will send him a schedule of required works with costings to enable him to proceed.
- In September the Memorial Hall’s insurers asked for a further survey of the hall roof to be submitted. The Structural Engineer has not done this yet.
- The Structural Engineer is preparing drawings to enable the Parish Council to seek quotations for repairs to the roof.
- TOE2 have acknowledged the grant application for repairs to the roof. An energy survey of the hall is required and Hook Norton Low Carbon will pay for this. It is hoped that TOE2 will agree to fund some of the recommendations highlighted by the survey.
Neighbourhood Plan Sub-Committee – Cllr Hicks reported:
- The plan is into the six week consultation period, ending 6 January 2014.
- Notices have been put in the local press, the newsletter and on websites.
- Copies of the plan are in the library, local public houses, the doctors’ surgery and the dentist.
- Some small posters are up in the village but there is a delay with the banners and larger posters.
- Three open meetings will be held on Saturday, 14 December in the church (10.00am – 12 noon) Wednesday 18 December in the Memorial Hall (7.30pm – 9.00pm) and Saturday 4 January in the church (10.00am – 12 noon).
- Feedback from the consultation: so far three email responses have been received.
- A Funding Report has been submitted.
- Recommendations to HNPC to consider include:
- Public Rights of Way are considered very important. Cllr Hicks will contact Derek Jones, Hook Norton’s Parish Path Warden.
- There is a need for facilities for older children/teenagers (e.g a kick-about area).
- Transport – there are issues regarding large vehicle using the narrow roads, street parking and bus timetable limitations
- Planning – few people felt they fully understood Cherwell District Council’s planning process.
- The Parish Council should review the Neighbourhood Plan every 5 years
Finance/Schedule of Receipts and Payments for Authorisation by the Council
The Clerk presented the schedules of receipts and payments and sought approval to pay the cheques itemised on the schedules totalling £1,886.66 for the Parish Council and £150.29 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Hicks moved acceptance of the payments detailed, this was seconded by Cllr Hayward and approved unanimously.
Budget & Precept 2014/2015 – Annex 2
The Parish Clerk reported that it would be necessary to submit a request to Cherwell District Council in January for the Precept for 2014/2015. Cllr Kane referred to the budget papers that the Parish Clerk had circulated before the meeting. She proposed that the Precept for 2014/2015 be increased by £2k to £54k to accommodate increased costs. Any spend over and above that will be taken from reserves. This was seconded by Cllr Hayward and unanimously agreed.
The draft budget took into account the need for a sum for the Neighbourhood Plan to be implemented, tree works, repairs to walls and a sum towards repairs to the Memorial Hall Roof. Cllr Kane proposed that the budget for 2014/2015 be adopted. This was seconded by Cllr Hicks and unanimously agreed.
Appointment of Auditor for 2013/2014 Accounts
Mr David Ralls AAT; ACCA (part), Springfield Avenue, Banbury carried out last year’s audits. The Chairman proposed that Mr Ralls be appointed as internal auditor to inspect both the Parish Council and War Memorial Hall Trust accounts 2013/2014 (fee £250). This was seconded by Cllr Brotherston and unanimously agreed.
Affordable Housing – The Parish Council continues to explore possibilities for affordable housing to meet the best interests of the village.
Bourne Lane Development – Following Eric Pickles’ recent decisions on planning applications in Bloxham and Hook Norton, Cllrs Hicks and Cooke attended a Joint Parish Councils’ Meeting to discuss issues arising from that decision. Two issues are a) the weight that should be given to Cherwell District Council’s Local Plan before it is adopted and b) the need for a clear understanding of the basis on which the five year housing supply is going to be calculated. Accordingly a meeting took place today, 12 December in London between local Parish Council representatives, Sir Tony Baldry MP and Nick Boles MP. Cllr Millar attended on behalf of Hook Norton Parish Council.
Local Heritage Assets – Community Right to Bid
Cllr Cooke has prepared applications for The Sun, The Pear Tree and the Library. The Parish Clerk will write to the property owners and submit the applications to Cherwell District Council
Listing of The Village Shop as an Asset of Community Value under and in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 5 of the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012. Cherwell District Council has written to the Parish Clerk to confirm that the Village Shop does meet the relevant criteria specified in the Act and the Regulations and that it has accordingly been added to the list of assets of community value maintained by Cherwell District Council.
The Post Office
Approximately 30 residents attended an open meeting 6 December to discuss future plans for the village Post Office. The sub-postmaster has chosen to adopt the new ‘Local’ model of operation and some services may be lost. Feedback should be sent to postofficeviews.co.uk (quoting Branch 28613799) or comments@postoffice.co.uk by 24 December.
Report on District Council Matters – Cllr Jelf had nothing to report.
Report on County Council Matters – in the absence of Cllr Reynolds there was nothing to report.
Correspondence
The Parish Clerk had forwarded all email correspondence to Councillors during the month.
To Invite Questions and Comments from Members of the Public – there were none
D J Stanton Engineering Revised Planning Application
Councillors considered the revised planning application for this site at length. After discussion it was agreed by 4 votes in favour to 1 abstention to object to the planning application on the following grounds:- greenfield area to become brownfield site; it outside the curtilage of the village which ends naturally at the railway line; the building will be much closer to the road than in the previous application; the scale and height of the building is unacceptable; the proposed material for the outside of the building is unacceptable; the landscape barrier is in the wrong place. The deadline for comments to Cherwell District Council is 24 December.
Confidential Item
The next meeting will be held on 9 January 2014 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall.
There being no further business Councillor Kane thanked everyone for attending and closed the public meeting at 8.41pm.
