Monthly Meeting
Monday 7 April, 2008, 8.00pm – at Tiddington Village Hall
Present: Mr
J Nowell-Smith (Chairman and District Councillor), Mr K Field, Mrs E Horne, Mrs
Z Knight (& minute secretary), Mr B Price, Mr D Turner (County Councillor),
Mrs J Willis and five members of the public.
1.
Apologies
Mr
K Poyser (Clerk).
2.
Declarations
of interest
Mr
Field declared a personal interest in Planning Application P08/W0352
3.
Approval
of previously circulated minutes
The
minutes were approved and signed.
4.
Matters
arising from previous minutes
a.
Affordable
Housing, Station Yard – Mrs Horne presented the Council’s case for refusal at
the SODC Planning Committee meeting, also attended by Mr Field, Mrs Knight, Mr
Price and Mrs Willis. The Planning Committee had been unanimous in their
approval. Chairman advised that we would probably have a strong case for appeal
but suggested that the Council get advice from a planning consultant. All
agreed that the Chairman pursue this route and research costs.
Thanks were expressed to
the members of the public who had written in objection.
b.
Pelican
crossing – Mr Turner reported that he had been in contact with Boris Johnson,
providing him with the previous correspondence but was still awaiting reply.
Chairman to write to the MP expressing disappointment at delay.
c.
Closure
of A329/M40 bridge – now scheduled for six months from July. A bailey bridge
was considered too expensive and there are still problems setting up diversions.
There will be problems for the A418 and Milton Common and Mr Giddy is still
consulting with John Gardner.
d.
M40
noise abatement – Mr Giddy reported negative answers from Darren Rhoden and
only referral back to him from Ruth Kelly, Minister. Boris Johnson instigated a
ministerial debate, resulting in a written response from the Highways Agency.
M40 CEG had presented a report which showed 70-75 decibels in Milton Common
gardens, needing ear defenders and discrepancies in the costings provided by
the Highways Agency. Tom Harris, Minister has called for a review of costings
as management could be incorporated with bridge closure, thus reducing costs.
Mr Nowell-Smith and Mr Turner have asked for SODC and OCC to fund the
consultation with Charles Parker, a Euro consultant. They are hopeful they will
share the costs.
e.
Highway
repairs – Mrs Knight reported that one broken drain in Albury View had been
repaired following the meeting of Councillors with OCC. Other repairs awaited.
f.
Commemorative
tree – to be pursued as time is running out for planting this spring.
g.
Chestnut
tree – to be pursued.
5.
Planning
matters
a.
P08/W0177 – Chenar,
Decision:
SODC refused. Parish Council response of refusal given in error. No decision
had been made at March meeting because of lack of plans. Letter to be sent to
SODC to ask for correction to their files.
b.
P08/W0245 –
Application
withdrawn, being in the Green Belt and over 40% increase in build area.
c.
P08/W0352 – Albury Farm, Draycot.
Extension and alterations to existing garage to include the raising of ridge
line and installation of dormer windows.
Decision:
approved. Plans supplied by owner in absence of paper copies from SODC. To
write letter requesting paper copies for all future plans.
d.
P07/W1416 – Oxford Belfry Hotel.
Proposed new staff accommodation, amendment 3: changes to roof finishes and
improved ground works.
For
information only, no response required.
e.
Sandy Lane Veterinary Surgery – the
practice has now moved to the
6.
Correspondence
a.
Petition from Cambridgeshire Parish
Councillor – request to sign petition against increased bureaucracy for Parish
Councils. Agreed to discuss at May meeting when the wording of the petition has
been retrieved from the website.
b.
Questionnaire from Neighbourhood
Policing Team – PC Ken Cooney has asked for details of village events,
newsletters and local venues with which the police can be involved. Mrs Knight
to respond with details of the annual fete, newsletter and possible surgery in
the Village Hall at the time of the Post Office, every two months.
c.
Calor Oxfordshire Villages of the Year
Competition 2008 – agreed not to enter.
d.
CPRE Thame AGM, 29 April, 8.00pm at
Punches Barn, Holton notice given.
e.
Community Policing Awards, 2008 –
deadline for nominations is 18 April. Advertised on notice boards.
f.
Concessionary fares – notice received
of the national bus pass scheme starting on 1 April and the number of passes issued
by SODC. Following discussion on whether the Parish Council should continue to
provide tokens as before, it was agreed that Mrs Edwards would report back with
the number of residents over 70 years, with a view to changing the criteria to
over 70 instead of over 60. To be discussed at the May meeting.
g.
Audit Commission appointment of
external auditor BDO Stoy Hayward for 2007/08 – 2011/12 confirmed.
7.
Financial
matters
a.
Payment of £28.00 for CPRE membership
renewal proposed by Mrs Horne, seconded by Mrs Willis.
b.
Payment of £15.00 for membership of
Oxford Green Belt Network proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr Price.
c.
Payment of £211.47 to Parchments of
Oxford for newsletter printing April/May proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr
Price.
d.
Payment of £286.00 to P Pridmore for
repairs to Play Area seats proposed by Mr Field, seconded by Mr Price.
8.
Open
discussion
a.
Mr Nowell-Smith reported that he had received
an enquiry about available allotments. Mrs Knight said that they were privately
owned but that the person asking for one had already been in touch with her and
she had given the name of one who could help.
Mr
Nowell-Smith suggested putting the Open Discussion item earlier in the agenda
to encourage more residents to attend. It was agreed to try this as an
experiment.
b.
Mrs Horne asked for the time of the
Councillor training meeting at Thame on Thursday. To be advised.
c.
Mr Price reported that the Village Hall
Committee wished to ask the Parish Council to fund the purchase of a Christmas
Tree, at an approximate cost of £400.00. Agreed to place this on the agenda in
May.
d.
Mr Turner reported that the Meadowcroft,
Thame building was on schedule with the first phase ready in October and the
second phase due early in 2009.
e.
Mrs Edwards asked that preparations
towards launching an appeal against the affordable housing plans be treated
with urgency.
9.
Date
of next meeting
Monday,
12 May 2008 following the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm.
There
being no further business the meeting closed at 9.55pm.