HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE MEMORIAL HALL ON THURSDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2016 at 7.00pm
Present: Councillors: Kane, Watkins, Hicks, Wright, Griggs, Henderson, Brotherston, Casson (arrived 7.36pm), District Cllr Brown (left 7.44pm) Mrs Watts (Parish Clerk) and one member of the public (arrived 7.30pm)
Apologies for Absence – Cllr Duggan, Matthews, McCall-McCowan and County Cllr Reynolds
Chairman’s Announcements: there were none.
John Westerman – Planning Department Cherwell District Council: It was hoped that Jon Westerman would attend the meeting to advise Councillors how to object to a planning application in the context of the HNNP and applications which fall under Class Q of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. However Mr Westerman emailed the Parish Clerk yesterday to advise Councillors that he could not now attend the meeting. The Parish Clerk has invited him and Paul Ihringer to the October meeting. The meeting will start at 7.00pm.
Declarations of Interest: There were none. Councillor Casson, arriving after 7.00pm, was asked by the Chairman to declare any interests. He had no interests to declare.
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 14 July 2016 and Matters Arising
Cllr Watkins proposed that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 14 July 2016 be resolved as a true and accurate record of the meeting. This was seconded by Cllr Hicks and passed unanimously.
Report of the Planning Co-Ordinator on Planning Applications – Annex 1
Nine planning/TCA applications had been received since the last meeting. There was an objection to 16/01536/F-16/01542/LB, demolition of outbuilding and erection of one new dwelling, to be used in conjunction with Bean Acre Cottage.
Cherwell District Council had granted six applications.
Cherwell District Council determined that 16/01480/AGN; agricultural barn for storage of hay and straw does not required prior approval.
Cherwell District Council had refused two applications, both of which the Parish Council had objected to.
15/02084/F Appeal to the Secretary of State, new dwelling at 13 The Glebe – the Appeal was dismissed on 10 August 2016
Mr D Ratcliffe had complained that the Parish Council has not objected to planning application 16/01550/F, Uplands, Down End, although no objections were received by the Parish Council in the allotted time frame. Residents are reminded that if they wish to comment on an application under consideration by the Parish Council, they must write or email the Parish Council directly.
To Invite Members of the Public to Comment on Planning Applications: there were no matters arising.
Reports of Working Groups
Recreation
a) Despite being reported on more than one occasion, Thames Water has still not repaired the damaged manhole in the play area. Cllr Brotherston will tweet them.
b) Playdale has recently carried out its quarterly inspection of the play equipment.
Cemetery and Allotments
a) There were no matters arising.
Environment
a) Although recently treated, Japanese Knotweed is still growing by the stream. Cllr Griggs will find a specialist company and ask them to quote for dealing with the weed. Cllr Hugo Brown will ask CDC whether or not it can assist the Parish Council with this problem.
b) Volunteers have recently cleared the stream and bank at the bottom of Bell Hill of debris and vegetation. Cllr Kane proposed that Tim Burchell should now be asked to take away the debris. This was seconded by Cllr Brotherston and agreed unanimously.
c) A survey of Parish Council owned trees was carried out by Sacha Barnes Ltd in March 2013. Councillors agreed unanimously that the Parish Clerk should seek a quotation from the company for re-surveying high priority trees and for updating the survey.
d) OCC has carried out work to improve drainage along a stretch of Station Road.
e) Cllr Kane had a site meeting in the summer with Peter Egawhary, head of safety for OCC Highways. They surveyed the village, noting in particular potholes, lack of white lines and missing road signs. It was noted however, that OCC funds are very limited for this type of work. Advisory 20mph signs outside the school were also discussed, although the Parish Council would have to pay OCC for these. Cllr Kane is waiting for Mr Egawhary to come back to her with his proposals.
f) The Parish Clerk was asked to contact Swerford Parish Council to discuss advisory 20mph signs which are displayed in their village.
Hook Norton War Memorial Hall
a) New outside security lights have been installed.
b) The facias and guttering around the hall need repainting. Although more than one quotation has been sought, only one has been received from David Green in the sum of £1,250 plus VAT. Cllr Brotherston proposed that David Green’s quotation be accepted. This was seconded by Cllr Watkins and agreed unanimously.
c) Two strip lights in the hall are no longer working. Since these can only be accessed via a scaffolding tower (the major cost of replacement), Cllr Watkins will ask Kenny Smith to give the PC a quotation for replacing all the strip lights in the main hall.
d) There is no defibrillator at the Memorial Hall end of the village and last month Councillors agreed to purchase one. Cllr Watkins will ask Kenny Smith to provide the PC with a quotation for supplying and fixing a power supply to the outside wall of the hall.
Hook Norton Neighbourhood Plan: Cllr Hicks had nothing to report.
Finance/Schedule of Receipts and Payments for Authorisation by the Council:
The Parish Clerk presented the schedules of receipts and payments and sought approval to pay the cheques itemised on the schedules for September totalling £8,899.36 for the Parish Council (Annex 2) and £697.88 for the Memorial Hall (Annex 3). Cllr Kane moved acceptance of the payments detailed. This was seconded by Cllr Watkins and agreed unanimously.
External Audit 2015 – 2016
The Parish Clerk reported that external auditors BDO LLP completed an audit of the Parish Council accounts for 2015/2016 on 31 August 2016, with no matters arising. Cllr Kane thanked the Parish Clerk and proposed acceptance of the conclusion of audit. This was seconded by Cllr Hicks and accepted unanimously. The Notice of Conclusion of Audit will be displayed on noticeboards in the village and on the website from 12 September 2016.
Report on District Council Matters. District Cllr Hugo Brown reported:
CDC is targeting fly-tipping across the District. Fixed penalties may be issued to offenders.
Household waste: CDC will remove three bulky items for £16. Bulky waste removal: residents can order a “one off” rental of an 1100 litre bin for £48. This gives residents the chance to clear out a garage, or garden without the need to go to the local recycling centre.
CDC will collect small electrical items left in a plastic bag beside your wheelie bin.
CDC is looking at parking issues in Banbury and Bicester towns.
CDC has formed a sub-committee to consider issues relating to the A361 Chipping Norton to Banbury road.
Report on County Council Matters. County Cllr George Reynolds reported:
Cllr Reynolds had asked Gordon Hunt (OCC Highways) to get back to him regarding concerns about flooding from the Bourne Lane estate. Unfortunately he had not responded, although Cllr Reynolds believes that the eventual result will be that natural water can be directed off Taylor Wimpey’s land on to neighbouring land. Clearly if this then becomes a highway flooding issue, it then becomes an OCC problem once again.
Unitary Authority: this debate appears to be in limbo as the new government has put ‘devolution’ on the backburner. OCC appear to be trying to maximise the publicity for their consultant’s report, which of course differs from the joint Districts’ report.
OCC have launched their ‘Comet Transport Scheme’. This is a bookable payable scheme, which uses OCC school transport between 10.15am – 2.30pm Mondays to Fridays.
Correspondence:
Cherwell District Council – Local Enforcement Plan 2016 – tabled.
Cherwell District Council – Statement of Community Involvement is available via http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=9648
Bourne Lane: In the light of flooding in 1998 and 2007, the Parish Clerk wrote again to Taylor Wimpey asking them to re-consider their plans for directing flood waters into a ditch along the field boundary and into an existing ditch to the west. Taylor Wimpey had replied stating that works already undertaken had been designed to improve the ditch facility, for which planning approval was provided. They added that if there are flooding issues outside the estate, then this lies with the riparian land owners and Oxfordshire County Council.
To Invite Questions and Comments from Members of the Public: there were no matters arising.
AOB:
a) Cllr Watkins is attending a training course for Councillors on 10 September.
Confidential Item
The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on 13 October 2016 at 7.00pm in the Memorial Hall.
There being no further business Councillor Kane thanked everyone for attending and closed the public meeting at 7.55 pm.
