HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2017 at 7.30pm
Present: Councillors: Kane, Watkins, Hicks, McCall-McCowan, Matthews, Duggan, Wright, Griggs, Brotherston, Henderson, County Cllr Reynolds (left 8.30pm), Mrs Watts (Parish Clerk) and two members of the public
Apologies for Absence – District Cllr Brown
Chairman’s Announcements:
The January 2017 meeting was cancelled by the Vice-Chairman due to snow and ice being forecast.
Nick Casson has resigned from the Parish Council. He has been on the Parish Council for a number of yeas and the Chairman thanked him for his contributions to the Council during that time. The Parish Clerk is dealing with the necessary Notification under the Local Government Act 1972. If Cherwell District Council does not receive any requests for an Election from residents by 23 February, the Parish Council may fill the vacancy by means of co-option.
Cllr Kane thanked James Clarke, a First Responder, for recently responding to her 999 call in the village. James and the other village First Responders also attended the defibrillator training held in January, which was very well attended and the Parish Council thanks them for their service
Declarations of Interest: There were none.
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 8 December 2016 and Matters Arising
Cllr Watkins proposed that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 8 December 2016 be resolved as a true and accurate record of the meeting. This was seconded by Cllr Hicks and passed unanimously.
Report of the Planning Co-Ordinator on Planning Applications – (Annex 1)
Nine planning/TCA applications had been received since the last meeting. Councillors objected to 16/02621/F, erection of 1 No. detached two-storey dwelling on land at the rear of The Old Police House in The Bourne. Councillors noted that the owner(s) of the plot have made an access route to their land via an un-adopted lane which residents currently use for access to their properties. No consultation with neighbours was made prior to this action.
Cherwell District Council had granted twelve applications.
Cherwell District Council refused one application:- 16/02421/Q56, Highpoint Farm, Tadmarton Heath Rd, change of use of agricultural building to a dwelling.
Appeal to the Secretary of State, 16/00281/Q56, change of use of three barns to three dwellings at Field Barn, Whichford Road. The Appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate on 31 January 2017.
To Invite Members of the Public to Comment on Planning Applications: there were no matters arising.
Reports of Working Groups
Recreation
a) New play equipment – the Chairman is obtaining quotations.
Cemetery and Allotments
a) A quotation of £2.5k – £3k has been received from a specialist firm for ridding the cemetery of Japanese Knotweed. A second quotation is being sought.
b) Invoices for allotment rents 2017-2018 will be sent out at the end of February, payable by 1 April 2017.
c) People are still putting rubbish in the cemetery re-cycling bin.
d) The cemetery working group would like to plant some ornamental trees and lay more paths. The Parish Council has asked for more detailed plans.
Environment
a) A survey of Parish Council owned trees has been carried out by Sacha Barnes Ltd. Cllr Wright has discussed the report with Ben Acreman. A number of high risk issues have been identified and quotations for this work are being sought. Medium risk issues will be dealt with on a rolling programme over the next three years.
b) A quotation for replacing the Parish Council Noticeboard outside the Village Shop is being sought.
c) Tim Burchell has removed vegetation on top of the bus shelter by The Green.
Hook Norton War Memorial Hall
a) The faulty lights in the hall have been replaced.
b) An extension lead has been purchased so that the refrigerator in the kitchen can be used.
c) Two large invoices for oil have been received since Christmas and published hire charges do not cover these costs. It was agreed unanimously that all user access to the hall thermostat will be removed immediately. If users need additional heating, the overhead heaters can be used via the £1 coin payment system in the kitchen.
Hook Norton Neighbourhood Plan:
a) If anyone would like to update the Hook Norton Neighbourhood Plan, please contact Cllr Hicks. The update would need to take into consideration an estate of 38 houses in pre-planning opposite The Grange.
b) Milton-under-Wychwood Parish Council is considering preparing a Neighbourhood Plan and Cllr Hicks met their representatives to discuss how Hook Norton set about planning and producing the HNNP.
Finance/Schedule of Receipts and Payments for Authorisation by the Council:
The Parish Clerk presented the schedules of receipts and payments and sought retrospective approval to pay the cheques itemised on the schedules for January 2017, £2,469.91 for the Parish Council and £121.18 for the Memorial Hall (Annex 2 & 3). Cllr Kane moved ratification of the payments detailed. This was seconded by Cllr Watkins and agreed unanimously.
The Parish Clerk also presented the schedules of receipts and payments for February 2017 totalling £3,621.95 for the Parish Council and £242.98 for the Memorial Hall (Annex 4 & 5). Cllr Duggan moved acceptance of the payments detailed. This was seconded by Cllr McCall-McCowan and agreed unanimously.
Cherwell District Council Land off Bourne Lane: Cherwell District Council (CDC) had written to advise the Parish Council that they are in discussions with Taylor Wimpey (TW) to secure access onto CDC owned land just south of the TW site in order to deliver some self-build opportunities for local people. Following a brief discussion, Councillors gave their support in principle to the proposed scheme.
Report on District Council Matters. District Cllr Hugo Brown reported:
‘Surgery’: Cllr Brown held a ‘surgery’ in the War Memorial Hall on 4 February 2017 from 10.00-12 noon. Two residents attended.
Unitary Government for Oxfordshire: Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils are now supporting Oxfordshire County Council in their One Oxfordshire proposals. Cherwell District Council (see press release on CDC website), West Oxfordshire and the City of Oxford remain opposed.
Horton General Hospital: Victoria Prentiss is asking residents to complete a questionnaire relating to travel time to the John Radcliffe Hospital. The form is on the village website or can be obtained from Victoria.prentis.mp@parliament.uk The Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group has issued The Big Consultation document outlining Phase 1 of its proposed Transformation Programme for health service in the County. For further information call 01865 334638 or email cscsu.talkinghealth@nhs.net. There is an online survey at https://consult.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk
Discretionary Rate Relief for Businesses: The Executive of Cherwell District Council has approved the adoption of a draft policy, subject to final approval by the Lead Member for Financial Management and the Chief Financial Officer. More details can be obtained from Councillor Brown hugo.brown@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
Report on County Council Matters. County Cllr George Reynolds reported:
Standing Water: Following a letter from the Parish Clerk to Taylor Wimpey reporting standing water near the Taylor Wimpey Estate/Bourne Lane and the risk of properties flooding, Cllr Reynolds had contacted Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) asking them for help to solve the problem.
OCC had responded stating that they had agreed with the developer that they can increase the volume of flood storage within the storage area on the site, which will reduce the flooding problems being experienced. The flood storage is designed to deal with 1 in 100 years + 30% flooding (standard Government design for this area). OCC further stated that if a storm in the future does exceed this design, there would not only be flooding in Hook Norton but also in other areas across the County.
Cllr Reynolds will be writing to all Parish Councils setting out his views on Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals for ‘One Oxfordshire’. He fully supports Cherwell District Council’s views on the matter.
Correspondence:
The Parish Clerk had forwarded all correspondence to Councillors during the month. There were no matters outstanding.
The Parish Clerk tabled Oxfordshire County Council’s booklet on their proposals for ‘One Oxfordshire’.
Cllr Barry Wood, Leader of Cherwell District Council, had responded to OCC’s ‘One Oxfordshire’ (see press release on CDC website). Cherwell District Council does not support OCC’s proposal.
The Chairman had received an anonymous letter about the planting and felling of trees in the village.
To Invite Questions and Comments from Members of the Public:
Mr Frank Lucas, representing Hook Norton Low Carbon (HNLC), stated that HNLC would like to engage with Cherwell District Council (CDC) and Cherwell Community Build on their proposal to deliver self-build properties on land which CDC owns off The Bourne. He asked that the Parish Council pass this request on to CDC.
AOB:
Residents are urged to report potholes via the front page of the recently updated village website.
The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on 9 March 2017 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall.
There being no further business Councillor Kane thanked everyone for attending and closed the public meeting at 8.45pm.
