Nov 2012

12/139

Apologies for Absence

Cllrs Kane, Brotherston, Millar and County Councillor Jelf.

12/140

Chairman’s Announcements

Cllr Shepley- Cuthbert reminded Councillors that any correspondence received by them and requiring a response should be passed to the Parish Clerk to deal with. This will ensure that the views of the entire Council are represented and that matters are dealt with in a uniform and professional manner. Simple acknowledgements of letters or emails received are of course acceptable.

12/141

12/141/1

12/141/2

Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 11 October 2012 and Matters Arising

It was proposed by Cllr Hayward and seconded by Cllr Hicks that the minutes of the previous meeting on 11 October 2012 be accepted as a true and accurate record and this was passed unanimously.

The Clerk had ordered a free sack of salt from OCC Highways for the village, to be stored at Ferris Hill Farm.

12/142

Minutes of Extraordinary Meeting held on 5 November 2012 and Matters Arising

It was proposed by Cllr Usher and seconded by Cllr Hicks that the minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 5 November 2012 be accepted as a true and accurate record and this was passed unanimously.

12/143

Declarations of Interest

Cllr Usher declared an interest in the proposed Bourne Lane development.

12/144

The Bell Inn

The Clerk had invited Mr & Mrs Shapland to the meeting to discuss their plans for this property but they had declined the invitation. Mr & Mrs Shapland had submitted a planning application to CDC but the Clerk had not yet received notification of that application. The Clerk was asked to write to Mr & Mrs Shapland asking them to meet Cllrs on site next week. This would give Cllrs a better understanding of the proposals being made and enable them to make an informed decision on the plans when they are received.

12/145

Report of the Planning Co-Ordinator on Planning Applications Received

During October the Parish Council received four planning/TCA applications, to be discussed at the end of the public meeting. CDC granted 12/01241/F, Spring Barn, Berryfield Farm on 16 October. OCC granted a certificate for MW.0067/12 on 23 October, existing use of the lower yard for screening, crushing and storage of inert waste at Ferris Hill Farm.

12/146

To Invite Members of the Public to Comment on Planning Applications

There were no comments from members of the public attending.

12/147

Reports or Working Groups

12/147/1

Recreation

Cllr Leader reported:

• There have been problems with youths lighting small fires in the park area.

• Dog owners are allowing their animals to run free and foul the park. The working group to consider putting up notices at the three entrances asking dog owners to keep their dogs under control and clean up after them.

• The working group has not yet managed to find a suitable contractor to lay a path into the park.

• New bark will be ordered for use under the zip-wire.

12/147/2

Cemetery and Allotments

Cllr Usher reported:

• Most allotment holders had paid their rent for 2012/13. The Parish Clerk will be sending out reminders next week to those who have failed to pay their invoice. A £2.50 surcharge will be made to cover administration and postage.

• The Churchwarden has asked the PC to remove large Alders in the churchyard which are growing through grave stones. Cllrs unanimously agreed to finance this work.

12/147/3

Environment

Cllr Hayward reported:

• There is a need to survey PC owned trees. An estimate of £1,750 has been obtained. A second estimate is being sought. Any problems areas highlighted by the survey will have a knock-on effect on the 2013/14 budget. The Parish Clerk was asked to build a £2,000 contingency sum in to the budget working papers. It was unanimously agreed that there needs to be a 3 year rolling programme in future.

• The primary school unfortunately cannot produce a replacement village map for the noticeboard outside The Sun. The working group will obtain a quotation from Oscar Millar. The Parish Clerk was asked to put a note in the Parish Newsletter asking if anyone in the village would be able to produce an original map, A2 size.

• There had been a request for a salt bin in Swerford Rd. This would only serve two properties and it was unanimously agreed that it is not financially viable for the PC to provide this facility. The Parish Clerk was asked to respond to Mr Davis.

12/147/4

Hook Norton War Memorial Hall

In the absence of Cllrs Kane and Brotherston there was nothing to report.

12/147/5

Neighbourhood Plan Sub-Committee

Cllr Cooke reported:

• Twenty people had given their names and contact details as being interested in helping put a Neighbourhood Plan together.

• He had identified eight people willing to stand on the steering committee, plus two Cllrs.

• A steering committee meeting will be convened in the very near future.

12/148

Report on District Council Matters

D Cllr Irvine had not submitted a report.

12/149

Report on County Council Matters

C Cllr Jelf had submitted a report to the Parish Clerk. He had dealt with the following issues:

• New step into the bus shelter

• Tubular rails along the path from The Bourne to the play area had been re-positioned for better access

• The footpath from Osney Close to Watery Lane had been repaired

Cllrs thanked C Cllr Jelf for dealing with these matters. The Parish Clerk was asked to advise him that a villager had requested a handrail on Middle Hill; the railings from Rectory Rd to Sibford Road need to be re-positioned to allow better access.

12/150

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12/150/2

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 £1925.98 for the Parish Council and £258.59 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Hicks moved acceptance of the payments detailed, this was seconded by Cllr Usher and approved unanimously.

Cllr Shepley- Cuthbert reminded Cllrs that the budget for 2013/14 would need to be agreed at the December meeting. The Parish Clerk will prepare budget papers and distribute them prior to the meeting.

12/151

Cemetery Fees 2013/2014

Cllr Usher asked for this item to be deferred to the December meeting.

12/152

Heath Allotment Trust

Cllr Shepley- Cuthbert had spoken with Pauline Walters and Nigel Shields about public liability insurance for the Trust. His broker had confirmed that Zurich Municipal is correct in saying that land held by a separate legal identity cannot be insured by the Parish Council. The broker will consider whether or not there are any alternative ways of insuring the land.

12/153

Affordable Housing

Cllr Cooke will be attending a site meeting with Cherwell Community Land Trust, CDC and HN Low Carbon Group on the CDC land off Bourne Lane on 14 November at 4.20pm. All Cllrs are welcome to attend.

12/154

Appeal on the Proposed Bourne Lane Development

The appeal is due to take place on 18 December 2012. Cllr Cooke, Julia Edwards and Robert Gardner recently met Phil Smith, the Planning Consultant for CDC and he had given Cllr Cooke some advice on how to defend this case. The Parish Clerk submitted a document written by Julia Edwards and Robert Gardner to the Planning Inspectorate on 6 November. Cllrs thanked Julia and Robert for the amount of time and effort they had put into preparing this defence.

Julia Edwards advised Cllrs that the pdf file sent to the Planning Inspectorate differed slightly from the hard copy sent the same day. This was not expected to cause any confusion.

The Parish Clerk was asked to contact District Cllr Irvine to emphasise that the PC need her to attend the Appeal to represent villagers.

12/155

12/155/1

Sunday Bus Service

Bloxham Parish Council is proposing a Sunday bus service which would serve amongst others, Hook Norton. The new timetable would cost £20,000 per annum, with the cost being split between Chipping Norton and Banbury Town Councils and the Parish Council’s which would benefit from this service. The cost to Bloxham, Milcombe, the Rollrights, Hook Norton and Over Norton would be approximately £3,000 each per annum. Cllrs discussed the proposals but unanimously voted against financing the scheme. The Parish Clerk will respond.

12/155/2

Bus Service 488 – OCC is consulting with parishes about local bus services, including the 488 which serves Hook Norton. Cllrs unanimously agreed that they would not support any cuts to this service, especially if buses were reduced during peak times when villagers were trying to get to or from work or college. The Parish Clerk will write to OCC.

12/156

Proposal to Replace the Hedge Between Church Land and Church House

Mrs Lomas had written to the Parish Clerk asking for permission from the PC to remove the hedge between church land and Church House and replace it with a fence and new hedge. Mrs Lomas was in attendance and answered Cllrs questions about the proposed work. Cllrs unanimously agreed to allow Mrs Lomas to proceed with the works as detailed.

12/157

Correspondence

The Parish Clerk had passed emailed correspondence to Cllrs during the month. She tabled the ORCC Annual Review 2011/12 and CPRE Countryside Autumn magazine.

12/158

To Invite Questions and Comments from Members of the Public

Julia Edwards suggested that the Environment working group contact local printers to see if they might produce a village map on a commercial basis for a reduced fee (i.e. the map would include advertising).

12/159

Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday, 13 December 2012 in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm.

12/160

Confidential Item

A confidential item was discussed by Cllrs after members of the public had left the meeting – Confidential Item Annex 1