Monthly
Meeting
Present: Mr
J Nowell-Smith (Chairman and District Councillor) Mr R Boughton, Mr K Field, Mr
A Stratton, Mr W Tremayne, Mrs J Willis and Miss C Lowery (Community Action
Group)
1.
Apologies
Mrs A Purse (
2.
Approval of
previously circulated minutes
Previously
circulated minutes were approved and signed.
3.
Community
Action Group (CAG) presentation
Miss Caroline Lowery outlined the work of CAG. There are eight projects around the County offering different activities, such as junk swaps, paint exchange, A-Z publicising awareness of facilities, garden shredder hire. CAG will organise trips to landfill sites. £2,500 can be made available for the launch of any project, e.g. cotton shopping bags issued to all residents. In response to question about junk swaps, Miss Lowery explained that no money changes hands and anything left over will be recycled to waste tips or charity shops.
4.
Matters
arising from previous minutes
a.
Affordable housing survey –Mr Field, Mr Tremayne and Clerk
met with Mrs Willers on 17 November and discussed the locations suggested. Mrs
Willers earmarked three possible sites and would be taking the information to
the relevant authorities.
b.
Clerk had
expressed the Council’s dissatisfaction to the Highway Inspector, Michael
Dickerson, regarding OCC’s refusal to do repairs in Albury View and outside The
Fox and The Garage requested by the Council, when a minor repair reported by a
resident had been attended to.
A sign at the
Waterstock Turn showing access to
c.
Milton Common notice board – OCC has no problem with the
siting of the board. Following discussion it was agreed to order a board
similar to the existing one in Tiddington village from Filcris. Clerk to
consult with Mr Field about posts and groundwork and Mr Stratton offered to
donate paving slabs.
d.
North Close parking – Mrs Willis had received a further
complaint regarding several cars still being parked on pavements. It was agreed
that the stickers supplied originally by SODC might be appropriate.
e.
Thame Area Forum report – Clerk had attended as delegate.
Presentations had been made by Aylesbury Vale Primary Care Trust on the
problems of securing a National Health dentist in the area and Age Concern
Oxfordshire on the work which it does for the over 50’s.
f.
Nuts and Bolts Training Day report – Mr Boughton reported
that 28 people had attended and the information provided had been very detailed
and informative on many aspects of a local councillor’s work and
responsibilities.
g.
Footpath addition to definitive map – a letter from OCC
Rights of Way officer indicated that the matter would not be considered for at
least another year because of the workload.
h.
Electricity cables and overgrown trees – Clerk had reported
two sites of concern in Tiddington. A reply was still awaited.
i.
Street name signs – SODC has ordered replacement signs for
outside no 1 Albury View and 21 Fernhill Close, will re-erect the
j.
Radio Oxford programme – five people are required to appear
on live chat show scheduled for the new year to discuss life in Tiddington. Mr
Nowell-Smith and Mr Stratton to liaise.
4.
Planning
matters
a. P03/W0660/RET Albury Grange, Albury – erection of brick walls around swimming pool, small boundary fence and additional lighting around driveway.
Decision: SODC granted.
b.
P03/W0864/RET Treetops,
Decision: SODC granted.
5.
Correspondence
a.
OCC Public Rights of Way improvement planning – information
required on the scale, distribution and nature of improvements required to the
Rights of Way network. Mr Field, Mr Nowell-Smith, Mr Tremayne and Clerk to form
working group to walk the parish footpaths listed on the definitive map and
issue report. A letter from the recently appointed Footpaths Officer of the
Ramblers Association offered help in checking footpaths for maintenance
problems. Agreed that the working group would take on this job.
b.
Speed Watch promotion – a mobile display unit was available
to take to community events. It was agreed to ask for it to come to the 2004
Village Hall fete on August Bank Holiday Sunday.
c.
Oxford Scout and Guide Gang Show invitation – Mr Boughton,
Mr Stratton and Mrs Willis expressed an interest in attending the civic
performance and would apply for tickets.
d.
A letter from Mr Morrish indicated that he would be unable
to empty the litter bins from the Play Area each week from the beginning of
December until late February or keep the bus shelter tidy. Mrs Willis agreed to
empty the bins and the Clerk to tidy the bus shelter.
e.
An invitation to the Thame and District CAB AGM had been
declined as it clashed with the Council meeting.
6.
Financial
matters
a.
Tiddington Pelican Crossing financial contribution – OCC
indicated that a figure of at least £10,000 would be needed to significantly
raise the ranking within the list of schemes, with no guarantee that the
project would be agreed in the new financial year. It was agreed not to make
any offer.
b.
Budget and Precept 2004/2005 – a precept of £8,800.00 was
proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mr Boughton.
c.
Payment of £64.00 to Society of Local Council Clerks for
membership proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mr Field.
d.
Payment of £25.00 to Z.M. Knight as reimbursement for SLCC
Regional Conference on Quality Councils proposed by Mr Boughton, seconded by Mr
Tremayne.
e.
Payment of £35.25 to Thame Town Council for the Nuts and
Bolts Training Day, agreed at the November meeting, was made on 6 November,
proposed by Mr Tremayne, seconded by Mr Nowell-Smith.
f.
Payment of £71.00 to SODC for election expenses proposed by
Mr Stratton, seconded by Mr Field.
g.
Payment of £166.32 to Parchment (Oxford) Ltd for Newsletter
printing Dec/Jan proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mr Tremayne.
7.
Open
discussion
a.
Mrs Willis reported an overgrown hedge by the Waterstock
turn in the
Mrs Willis
also reported that a resident had asked for a light in the bus shelter by the
recreation ground as bus drivers do not see waiting passengers in the dark. Agreed that a light in the shelter would be prohibitively expensive
but would enquire about a street light in the vicinity. Meanwhile
residents should complain to the bus company.
8.
Date of next
meeting
There being no
further business the meeting closed at