June 2013

13/96

Apologies for Absence – Councillor Usher, Councillor Millar and County Councillor Reynolds

13/97

13/97/1

13/97/2

Chairman’s Announcements

Councillor Kane reported that due to work commitments, Jonathan Leader had resigned from the Parish Council with effect 13 June 2013. Cllrs thanked Mr Leader for his work on the Parish Council over a number of years.

Councillor Kane asked those present to observe a minute’s silence for the late Mr Albert Walsham.

13/98

Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 14 March 2013 and Matters Arising

It was proposed by Cllr Hicks and seconded by Cllr Watkins that the minutes of the previous meeting on 9 May 2013 be accepted as a true and accurate record and this was passed unanimously.

13/99

Declarations of Interest – there were none.

13/100

13/100/1

13/100/2

Report of the Planning Co-Ordinator on Planning Applications Received

Two TCA applications to fell trees were received during the month and Cllrs had objected to both.

Cherwell District Council had granted five applications:

• 13/00271/F, Wright, Harwood Farmhouse, Granted 9 May 2013

• 13/00103/TCA, Williams, Haymaker Cottage, Burycroft Rd, Granted 9 May 2013

• 13/00303/F Hermon, Lodge Farm, Whichford Rd, Granted 21 May 2013

• 13/00487/F, French, Burycroft House, Burycroft Rd, Granted 4 June 2013

• 13/00523/F, Yeomans, Croft House, Burycroft Rd, Granted 4 June 2013

13/101

To Invite Members of the Public to Comment on Planning Applications – There were no comments from the members of the public attending.

13/102

Reports or Working Groups

13/102/01

Recreation – Cllr Kane reported:

• The seat on the zip-wire has been vandalised. A new seat has been ordered at a cost of £80

• Mr McLaughlin had written to the Parish Council to complain about people continuing to drive down the un-adopted highway serving 11-14 The Shearings and Birch Lea, through the gate and into the recreation ground. The property owners and Cherwell District Council (CDC) share the cost of maintaining this access area, CDC sharing the cost purely because of their maintenance vehicles requiring access. It is not for use by other drivers wanting access to the park. Cllrs were sympathetic to this problem.

• The combination lock on the gate into the recreation ground has been stolen again. Cllr Brotherston will purchase a more robust combination lock to ensure that the gate remains locked to prevent general vehicular access. It was agreed that only Emergency Services and the grass cutting contractor will have access through the gate. Playgroup will be allowed access in exceptional circumstances, having first asked the Parish Council for permission.

• Cllrs granted permission for the Playgroup to have an exhibition fire engine in the park on 23 June. Access for the fire engine will be via the un-adopted highway.

13/102/2

Cemetery and Allotments – Cllr Hicksreported:

• The granddaughter of grandparents buried in the cemetery had asked to meet Cllr Usher on site to discuss the area around the grave. Cllr Usher had agreed to have an area of brambles removed. The headstone had been laid flat for safety reasons but this is the responsibility of relatives to re-instate.

13/102/3

Environment – Cllr Hayward reported:

• He had received two quotations for repairs to the wall along the path at the playgroup side of the recreation ground. Both were in the region of £4,000 but he needed to consider each one in detail before recommending the most cost effective one to Cllrs.

• It was proving impossible to get a quotation for repair to the damaged wall in Watery Lane without first removing the undergrowth, which in itself might cause further damage. A quotation of £2,350 for cutting the undergrowth down the length of Watery Lane had been received. The Parish Clerk will speak to CDC’s insurers to discuss a way forward.

• Tim Burchell was thanked for reporting blocked gullies opposite the fire station to OCC.

13/102/4

Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

• Sean Daly, the PC’s structural engineer from Solid Structures UK Ltd was asked to speak to the meeting about his report on the Memorial Hall roof. He explained in detail the various options open to the Parish Council to consider. The roof is pushing the side walls out. There is an acceptable threshold for damage and the Memorial Hall is now at the point of being only just within that threshold.
  Metal ‘ties’ to stop the roof pushing the walls out any further was the cheapest option at circa £15,000 and this would prolong the life of the hall for a further 30 years. This option may preclude use of the hall by badminton groups and the Film Society. Re-roofing would cost in the region of £70,000 – £150,000, depending on the extent of re-build. A completely new building would cost in excess of £250,000 and these latter two options were not something Cllrs were prepared to consider.
  Mr Daly recommended that something be done within the next 18 months to 2 years to prevent further damage and additional costs occurring.
  Cllrs agreed that the budgets for 2014/15 and 2015/16 will need to reflect the cost of any repairs. Cllr Brotherston will get quotations for the metal ‘ties’ option and report back.

• The insurance for the hall is due for renewal and the Underwriters had asked the Parish Clerk for further details about the outward movement of the hall walls. Cover will continue subject to 6 monthly inspections of the building.

• A local company had offered the Memorial Hall a number of second-hand chairs at £6 each plus VAT, to be collected from Oxford. Cllrs declined the offer.
  

13/102/5

Neighbourhood Plan Sub-Committee – Cllr Hicks reported:

• There have been two public meeting and both have been well supported.

• Key issues identified are Community Amenities, Environment, Housing, Traffic & Transport, Jobs & Business.

• The group will be applying for a grant of £7,000 next week through the Department for Communities and Local Government.

• The Steering Group feels that a new housing needs survey is needed covering the whole Parish. Ways of doing this are being considered.

• The HNNP Steering Group has a tight time-line ending December 2013 (Annex 1).

• The Steering Group has no budget. Cllr Hayward proposed that a sum of £200 be put in reserve to assist the group if necessary. This was seconded by Cllr Brotherston and approve unanimously.

Cllrs acknowledged and approved the Steering Group’s tight time schedule. They also thanked members of the Steering Group for the admiral amount of work they have done so far.

13/103

Report on District Council Matters – District Cllr Jelf had nothing to report.

13/104

Report on County Council Matters – County Cllr Reynolds had written to the Parish Clerk as follows:

• There will be a meeting between officers of OCC and The Friends of Hook Norton Library early in July.

• OCC has launched a consultation on its website (ending 3rd July) about proposed changes to school transport. This proposes an increase in concessionary fares and possibly more importantly, the cutting of free transport “unless this is the nearest school to the child’s home address“. They also propose amending the ‘safe roads to walk to school’.

13/105

13/105/1

13/105/2

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 £4,969.51 for the Parish Council and £1,120.52 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Hicks moved acceptance of the payments detailed, this was seconded by Cllr Casson and approved unanimously.

Following the resignation of Jonathan Leader, Cllr Kane explained that a new signatory to the bank account was needed. It was unanimously agreed that Cllr Hayward be appointed. The Parish Clerk will obtain the necessary application forms.

13/106

13/106/1

13/106/2

Vacancies on Parish Council

The Parish Clerk reported that she was waiting to speak to officers at CDC to confirm whether or not the vacancy arising from the resignation of David Shepley- Cuthbert could be filled by co-option.

The Parish Clerk will set in motion the process for filling the vacancy arising from the resignation of Jonathan Leader. In the first instance a Notice of Vacancy from Sue Smith, Returning Officer at CDC will be displayed in the village and on the website for 14 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas, Easter or any other bank holiday).

13/107

Affordable Housing

Cllr Cooke reported that the Community Land Trust is awaiting the outcome of the Taylor Wimpey Appeal before committing to a full feasibility assessment of the site.

13/108

The Bell Inn

CDC had acknowledged the PC’s Community Right to Bid on these premises. They had served Notice on the owner(s). CDC would make a decision within eight weeks of 14 May when the PC’s application was received.

13/109

Appeal on the Proposed Bourne Lane Development

The Secretary of State will issue his decision on or before 4 July 2013.

13/110

Correspondence

The Parish Clerk had passed emailed all correspondence to Councillors during the month.

• Playdale quarterly inspection of play equipment – hard copy passed to Cllr Kane.

• New Homes Bonus: allocated by CDC for use for improving community facilities. The Parish Clerk to advise CDC that the allocation will be used towards repairs to the War Memorial Hall roof.

13/111

To Invite Questions and Comments from Members of the Public – There were none.

13/112

The Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 11 July 2013 in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm