HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2013 at 7.30pm
Present: Councillors Kane, Hicks, Hayward, Watkins, Cooke, Brotherston, Millar, Henderson, Mrs Watts (Parish Clerk) and six members of the public
Apologies for Absence – Councillor Casson, County Councillor Reynolds, District Councillor Jelf | |
Chairman’s Announcements Councillor Kane had nothing to report. | |
Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 10 October 2013 and Matters Arising It was proposed by Cllr Hicks and seconded by Cllr Hayward that the minutes of the previous meeting on 10 October 2013 be accepted as a true and accurate record and this was passed unanimously. High speed broadband should be available to everyone in the village by the end of the month. Councillors will continue to monitor parking of the Pulham’s school coach outside the doctors’ surgery. | |
Declarations of Interest – Cllr Hayward declared an interest in the Hook Norton Low Carbon Group. | |
Vacancy for Parish Councillor – Co-option – The Clerk had re-advertised the vacancy on the Parish Council following the resignation of Jonathan Leader. She had received one application from Thomas Geoffrey Wright, Harwood Farmhouse, Chipping Norton Road, Hook Norton. She had passed his CV to Councillors before the meeting. Cllr Hayward proposed that Mr Wright be co-opted as a Councillor to Hook Norton Parish Council. This was seconded by Cllr Watkins and unanimously agreed. Mr Wright completed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office and will complete and return a Register of Members’ Interests form to the Parish Clerk. He was warmly welcomed to the Council table. | |
Report of the Planning Co-Ordinator on Planning Applications Received Seven planning applications/TCAs were received during the month (Annex 1). Cherwell District Council had granted three applications, including the felling of an Ash tree at High Rock, Sibford Road which the Parish Council had objected to (Annex 1). | |
To Invite Members of the Public to Comment on Planning Applications – There were no comments from the members of the public attending. | |
Reports or Working Groups | |
Recreation – Cllr Kane reported:
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Cemetery and Allotments
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Environment – Cllr Hayward reported:
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Hook Norton War Memorial Hall – Cllr Brotherston reported:
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Neighbourhood Plan Sub-Committee – Cllr Hicks reported:
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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 £2,747.23 for the Parish Council and £76.50 for the Memorial Hall. Cllr Hicks moved acceptance of the payments detailed, this was seconded by Cllr Hayward and approved unanimously. | |
Affordable Housing – Cllr Cooke reported: A meeting with Fiona Brown from Cherwell District Council had been cancelled. Ms Brown has had a preliminary meeting with Taylor Wimpey and their response was favourable. Cllr Hayward said that Hook Norton Low Carbon Group is keen to drive the Community Land Trust model forward. | |
Result of the Appeal of the Bourne Lane Development Having taken advice from Counsel with extensive knowledge of planning law, Cherwell District Council had decided that there was no legal argument to pursue and applying for a Judicial Review was not appropriate. The Parish Clerk was asked to write to Taylor Wimpey or their Consultants, Barton Willmore expressing the Parish Council’s wish to work closely with them on the design plans of the new estate and to ask if it they would consider forwarding their proposed design details to Cllrs before Taylor Wimpey’s open public consultation day in the Memorial Hall on 27 November. | |
Local Heritage Assets – Community Right to Bid Cllr Cooke is preparing applications for submission to Cherwell District Council. Cherwell District Council has acknowledged receipt of the application relating to the Village Shop. | |
Report on District Council Matters – in the absence of District Cllr Jelf there was nothing to report. | |
Report on County Council Matters – County Cllr Reynolds reported before the meeting that Oxfordshire County Council’s Home to School Transport consultation had re-started. | |
Correspondence The Parish Clerk had forwarded all email correspondence to Councillors during the month. She had received a reply from E Gasson & Sons regarding tractor movements late at night. They assured the Parish Council that they take their responsibilities seriously and that they endeavour to limit the impact their farming activities have on the village. Thames Valley Police had conducted a ‘Speed Watch’ event on the Chipping Norton Road. Of the 118 vehicles heading towards the village centre between 17.10 and 18.10 on 22 October, 16 were travelling at over 30mph. Dedicated traffic police controls will be made aware of these results and a special constable, who is speed-gun trained, will patrol and monitor vehicles in this location. The Hooky Players had queried whether or not the Memorial Hall is licenced to play live music in the Memorial Hall. The Parish Clerk had assured them that the annual PRS Licence Fee was paid on 16 January 2013 but that PRS no longer issue certificates confirming payment. | |
To Invite Questions and Comments from Members of the Public Members of the public raised concerns over proposed alterations to counters and the secure area of the Post Office and rumours of plans to downgrade post office services (e.g. cheque payments to be stopped other than for payment to DVLA for Vehicle Licencing, the overview of Passport Applications will be stopped, un-delivered parcels will not be left at the Post Office but will have to be collected from Banbury Sorting Office). District Cllr Jelf is discussing these issues with Cherwell District Council. Derek Jones introduced himself to Councillors. He has recently taken over the voluntary role of Hook Norton Parish Path Warden, a joint countywide initiative between Oxfordshire Ramblers Association and Oxfordshire County Council’s Countryside Service. His aim is to inspect the 37 pathways in the village bi-annually. In future he will discuss any pathway issues with Councillors. |
There being no further business Councillor Kane thanked everyone for attending and closed the public meeting at 8.57pm.