HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY, 9 JANUARY 2014 at 7.30pm
Present: Councillors Millar, Usher, Hicks, Hayward, Brotherston, Watkins, Wright, Henderson (arrived 7.38) Kane (arrived 7.43pm), Casson (arrived 7.58), Mrs Watts (Parish Clerk) and one member of the public
In the absence of Cllr Kane, Cllr Millar took the Chair.
Apologies for Absence – Councillors Cooke, County Cllr Reynolds, District Cllr Jelf
Chairman’s Announcements
In the absence of Cllr Kane there was nothing to report.
Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 12 December 2013 and Matters Arising
Cllr Hicks proposed that the minutes of the meeting on 12 December 2013 be accepted as a true and accurate record. This was seconded by Cllr Hayward and passed unanimously.
Declarations of Interest
There were none.
Councillors arriving after 7.30pm were individually asked by the Vice-Chairman on arrival to declare any interests. There were none.
Report of the Planning Co-Ordinator on Planning Applications – Annex 1
Two planning applications had been received during the month. Councillors had objected to:-
13/01824/F – conversion of office to one bedroom flat at 4 Heath Court, Queen St on the grounds of lack of parking facilities
There are seven applications awaiting Cherwell District Council’s decisions
Cherwell District Council granted three TCA/TPO applications
To Invite Members of the Public to Comment on Planning Applications – There were no comments from the member of the public attending.
Reports or Working Groups
Recreation – in the absence of Cllr Kane there was nothing to report.
Cemetery and Allotments – Cllr Usher reported that vegetation and brambles in the churchyard need cutting back. The Parish Clerk confirmed that there was a budget for this and Cllrs unanimously agreed that the work should be done in this financial year.
Environment – Cllr Hayward reported:
- Ben Acreman has completed the tree works in Ironstone Hollow, the Memorial Hall, and hedging in Old School End. Dave Smith will commence other tree work in the near future.
- There have been complaints about the road-side overgrowth at Ironstone Hollow. Councillors believe that this is the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council.
- There has been a complaint about over-grown brambles at the Ironstone Hollow end of the hedge, which is managed by volunteers. The volunteers do not feel that the current level of overgrowth is a problem but will do some more trimming.
- The willow on the green at Beanacre was found to be dead and has subsequently blown over without causing any damage to adjacent buildings. A quotation of £75 has been received to cut it into sizeable logs. These will be left on site for local residents to collect for firewood. A second quotation is being sought.
- It was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council will seek ‘champions’ to co-ordinate looking after vegetation in areas of the village a) by recruiting helpers to carry out minor work and b) reporting anything to the Parish Council that volunteers cannot tackle. The Parish Council will support volunteers in the form of hiring tools, printing flyers etc.
- Cllr Kane arrived and took over the Chair.
Hook Norton War Memorial Hall
- Cllr Hayward reported that Cllr Kane will meet the Energy Assessor on 15 January as part of the TOE2 grant application. HNLC are paying for the assessment which is a compulsory part of the process. If it is considered viable, grant funding may be available to improve thermal performance as part of the necessary structural and refurbishment exercise.
- The Structural Engineer has not yet completed a survey of the hall as required by the insurers.
- The Structural Engineer has not yet prepared drawings to enable the Parish Council to seek quotations for repairs to the roof.
- Cllr Kane handed market fees to the Parish Clerk for hire of the hall on 14 December.
- Cllr Kane has received a cheque for £1,000 from Oxfordshire County Council towards repairs to the roof. This had been instigated by County Cllr Reynolds and taken from his ‘Big Society Fund’. The Parish Clerk will formally acknowledge receipt.
Neighbourhood Plan Sub-Committee – Cllr Hicks reported:
- Posters and banners have been put up around the village.
- A leaflet drop has been done.
- Three open meetings have been held, with 40 people attending the last one.
- The six-week consultation ended on 6 January 2014.
- Feedback has been received from 11 groups and 9 individuals.
Next steps:
- Following the consultation, the Plan and Scoping Report will be updated.
- The Consultation Report will be finalised.
- A Basic Conditions Statement is being prepared.
- The Plan will be sent to Cherwell District Council.
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 £5,391.55 for the Parish Council and £176.50 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Hicks moved acceptance of the payments detailed. This was seconded by Cllr Watkins and approved unanimously.
Affordable Housing – in the absence of Cllr Cooke there was nothing to report.
Joint Parish Council Meetings
Cllr Millar attended a Joint Parish Councils’ meeting with Nick Bowles and Sir Tony Baldry in Westminster on 12 December to discuss planning issues.
Cllr Wright will attend a Joint Parish Councils’ meeting on 20 January with Oxfordshire County Council representatives Martin Tugwell (Deputy Director for Strategy & Infrastructure Planning), Tom Flanagan (Services Manager for Planning, Environment & Transport Policy and Lisa Michelson (Locality Manager).
Cllr Kane will attend a Joint Parish Councils’ meeting with Adrian Colwell (Cherwell District Council) and Cllr Gibbard on 29 January.
Local Heritage Assets – Community Right to Bid – the Parish Clerk reported that recent applications posted to Cherwell District Council on 16 December have been lost. She hand-delivered duplicate applications to Bodicote House on 6 January.
Report on District Council Matters – in the absence of Cllr Jelf there was nothing to 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 correspondence to Councillors during the month.
Cllr Kane had received a letter from Sophie Slade, Arts and Heritage Consultant regarding a project Hook Norton Brewery is looking to undertake. The Brewery site consists of a number of Grade 2 listed buildings dating back to the 19th Century, including two brick chimneys, one of which is in particular need of conservation. The Brewery is currently undertaking an ‘Our Heritage’ grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to dismantle and rebuild the chimney. Councillors unanimously agreed to support Hook Norton Brewery in this application. The Parish Clerk was asked to respond to Ms Slade’s correspondence.
To Invite Questions and Comments from Members of the Public – there were no matters arising.
The next meeting will be held on 13 February 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 8.10pm.
