HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY 14 JUNE 2012 at 7.30pm
Present: Councillors: Shepley- Cuthbert, Kane, Hicks, Brotherston, Leader, Casson, Mrs Watts (Parish Clerk) and three members of the public
| Apologies for Absence Cllrs Hayward, Millar, Usher and Cooke, County Cllr Jelf and District Cllr Irvine |
Chairman’s Announcements Cllr Shepley-Cuthbert reported that he had been unable to attend Cherwell District Council’s Parish Liaison Meeting. However, he had since contacted Cherwell District Council and requested slides of the presentations, details of which he would email to Councillors. Subjects covered were ‘Lawful Decision Making’, the new ‘Code of Conduct for Councillors’, Conservation, Urban Design and Strategy and ‘Towards a Local Plan’. Page 20 of this last document showed projected distribution of housing in rural areas – Hook Norton being in Group 2 (Cropredy, Hook Norton, Sibford Gower/Ferris, Steeple Aston) with a requirement for 189 houses for the Group. Figures had not yet been subdivided on a parish by parish basis. |
Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 10 May 2012 and Matters Arising It was proposed by Cllr Hicks and seconded by Cllr Brotherston that the minutes of the previous meeting on 10 May 2012 be accepted as a true and accurate record and this was passed unanimously. Referring to 12/65/1 of the Minutes, Cllr Shepley- Cuthbert had located a sturdy teak bench to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee. Although a brass plaque could be screwed to the bench, Cllr Shepley- Cuthbert suggested that a simple inscription “Queen Elizabeth II 2012” be inscribed in the wood to prevent theft of a plaque. The suggested location was opposite the church, next to the bus-shelter. The Clerk had received a telephone call from Joyce Street suggesting that the new bench replace the one next to Beanacre Cottage, but the consensus was that that seat was still serviceable and that the commemorative bench should be in the centre of the village. Cllr Casson proposed that the seat be purchased with an engraved inscription, seconded by Cllr Brotherston and unanimously agreed. The Clerk was asked to action. Referring to 12/65/2 of the Minutes, Cllr Shepley- Cuthbert asked that it be noted that a PC grant of £100 for Hook Norton Sports and Social Club towards their Jubilee celebrations had been increased, with the agreement of all Councillors, to £200. The Sports and Social Club had purchased 100 Jubilee medals for villagers with the grant. |
Declarations of Interest There were none. |
Presentation by Engage Planning – Bourne Lane Development Cllr Shepley-Cuthbert advised the meeting that Engage Planning had declined the invitation to speak to Councillors. He reported that Cllr Cooke received an email from Cherwell District Council on 13 June advising him that the application would be considered by the CDC Planning Committee at their meeting on 21 June. Although the meeting agenda was on the Cherwell District Council’s website, Cllrs who had accessed the site before the PC meeting had found limited documentation there other than an email from Edward Briscoe, Development and Funding Officer for OCC indicating that it would cost £3.2M to accommodate any expansion of the primary school. It was unanimously agreed that two Councillors will represent the Parish on 21 June. The Clerk was asked to notify Cherwell District Council. |
Requirement to Adopt a New Code of Conduct The Clerk had circulated details of the new Code of Conduct prior to the meeting. Cllr Kane proposed that the code of conduct adopted by Cherwell District Council be adopted as the code for members and co-opted members of Hook Norton Parish Council with effect from 1 July 2012. This was seconded by Cllr Hicks and unanimously approved. The Clerk was asked to notify the Monitoring Officer of Cherwell District Council of the passing of the above resolution. (Adopted Code of Conduct – Annex 1). |
Report of the Planning Co-Ordinator on Planning Applications Received Three planning application had been received during the month. There were no objections. A 5-Day Notice had been granted by Cherwell District Council to fell a T1 birch on grounds of safety at Walnut Tree Cottage, Park Rd. The landowner is required to provide a birch tree of an appropriate size near the location of works. |
To Invite Members of the Public to Comment on Planning Applications There were no comments from the member of the public attending. |
Reports of Working Groups Recreation
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| Cemeteries and Allotments – in the absence of Cllr Usher there was nothing to report. |
Environment
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| Hook Norton Memorial Hall Cllr Brotherston reported that a Working Group Meeting and User Group Meeting had been held on 7 June. The following matters were discussed and all items ratified as reasonable, but any expenditure must be agreed by the full Parish Council before proceeding. The Working Group will aim to work through the list over the coming months. |
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Report on District Council Matters – in the absence of District Cllr Irvine there was nothing to report. |
Report on County Council Matters – in the absence of County Cllr Jelf there was nothing to report. |
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 £3,394.73 for the Parish Council and £1,120.30 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Brotherston moved acceptance of the payments detailed, this was seconded by Cllr Leader and approved unanimously. |
Proposed Bourne Lane Development – nothing further to report. |
Housing Needs Survey – Cllr Shepley- Cuthbert reported that Cherwell District Council had postponed a meeting on 6 June about Hook Norton’s housing needs which he and Cllr Cooke were going to attend. |
Correspondence
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| To Invite Questions and Comments from Members of the Public A member of the public thanked the Parish Council for allowing the Film Society to have a cupboard in the Memorial Hall kitchen. He reported that the hand drier in the men’s toilets was not working. He also informed the Parish Council that the Film Society would be willing to contribute towards the costs of updating the Memorial Hall (painting, decorating etc). Cllr Brotherston thanked the Film Society for their offer and said that once the Schedule of Works had been finalised, he would contact them to discuss the matter further. | |
| Date and Time of Next Meeting The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday, 12 July 2012 in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. |
There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the public meeting at 8.25pm
