Annual
Parish Meeting
Annual
General Meeting
Monday
12 May, 2003, 8.00pm – at Tiddington Village Hall
Present: Mr
J Nowell-Smith (Chairman and District Councillor) Mr A Stratton, Mr W Tremayne
and Mrs J Willis.
1.
Apologies
Mr K Field and
Mrs A Purse.
2.
Approval of
previously circulated minutes
Previously
circulated minutes were approved and signed.
3.
Chairman’s
Review of the Year
For the first
time since I joined the Council in 1991 we have not mentioned the Milton Common
Sewerage Scheme – so I will not mention it now! The last year has been quiet
with no dramas, which I hope means that the Council is doing a good job to the
satisfaction of parishioners. We are still frustrated at the delays in progressing
highway matters, although the problem of lorries making U-turns on the A418
seems to have been alleviated by new signing at the roundabout at Junction 8 of
the M40. Flooding was a nasty experience for those affected but a task force
set up by the Environment Agency will hopefully ensure that better
co-ordination will provide a more effective response in the future.
The problem of
vandalism continues but the police have shown greater awareness and provided
new contact numbers. The CCTV camera at the Village Hall seems to be providing
a deterrent. The Queen’s Golden Jubilee was suitably commemorated and the
Jubilee mugs, which we provided, proved popular. Not much progress has been
made in the war against litter although the Litter Blitz attracted more volunteers
than previously. The change in refuse collection contractor seems to have
marked an improvement but SODC has told us they have no plans to introduce
wheelie bins as some parishioners would have liked.
OCC has been
approached with a view to the provision of a Pelican crossing to be situated
opposite The Fox/Garage. Measurements have been taken and a cost effectiveness
evaluation is being carried out. The village web site is up and running.
Visiting theatre productions at the Village Hall have been well attended. The
possibility of an affordable housing development is being explored. The Parish
Newsletter has settled down in its new format and has been well received.
The village
finances are in good shape and sufficient for our needs during the current year,
barring an unforeseen emergency. The Council is considering a request from the
Cricket Club for a contribution towards the proposed new pavilion.
We are sorry
to bid farewell to Gerry Morrish and Ian Malin, for whose contributions we are
all most grateful, and very pleased to welcome Mrs Janet Willis. There is still
a vacancy on the Council and applications would be more than welcome.
Finally thank
you to my fellow councillors and most particularly to our Clerk for all the
hard work they have put in during the year.
4.
Report from
School Governor, Great Milton School
Ms Jane Roffey
provided the published annual report, which will be circulated in the wallet. A
press release reporting on the favourable Ofsted report will be printed in the
Newsletter.
5.
Election of
Officers
The Clerk
invited nominations. Mr Stratton proposed that Mr J Nowell-Smith be elected
Chairman and this was seconded by Mrs Willis. Mr Nowell-Smith accepted.
Mr
Nowell-Smith proposed that Mr W Tremayne be elected Vice Chairman and this was
seconded by Mr Stratton. Mr Tremayne accepted.
Mr Tremayne
proposed that Mr K Field be elected as Village Hall representative and this was
seconded by Mr Stratton. Mr Field will be asked if he will accept.
It was agreed
that a notice should be placed in the Newsletter inviting residents to apply
for the Councillor vacancy.
6.
Declarations
of Acceptance of Office of Councillors and Chairman and Register of Members’
Interests completion
The following
declarations were made in the presence of the Clerk:-
Mr J
Nowell-Smith – Councillor and Chairman
Mr A Stratton
– Councillor
Mr W Tremayne
– Councillor
Mrs J Willis –
Councillor
The registers
of members interests will be completed within the next 21 days and returned to
the Clerk.
7.
Matters
arising from previous minutes
a. Highway matters – there seems to be no progress on the drainage problems. Clerk to contact Mrs Purse and also Mr Khan regarding other outstanding matters.
b.
Affordable housing – Suzanne Gibbins had provided a sample
survey from Harwell which could be modified for this parish. Mr Field and Clerk
to draft a suitable survey for discussion at the next Parish Council meeting
and inclusion in the Newsletter.
8.
Planning
matters
a.
New Planning Committee Structure – SODC has agreed to two
area planning sub-committees (east and west) meeting on a 3-week cycle and a
main planning committee meeting on a 6-week cycle. Tiddington will be in the
western area. Mr Nowell-Smith reported that since the District Council
elections resulted in a change of political control, this new structure may be
reviewed again.
b.
P03/NO120/LB The
Cottage and Tudor Cottage, Tiddington – demolish existing barn and erect two
storey extension to existing cottages.
Decision: SODC
refused.
c.
P03/NO248/O Lantern
Service Station, Milton Common – outline application for demolition of existing
garage buildings and construction of 500sq.m of offices.
Decision:
refused.
d.
P03/NO323 Land
adjacent to Water Tower, Milton Common – erection of 22m temporary
telecommunications structure for airwave service, for a period of six months.
Decision: no
strong views.
9.
Correspondence
a.
Licensing Consultation – PEL Annual Licence, Village Hall.
Mr Stratton declared an interest. No objection was raised to the renewal of the
licence.
b.
School Governor appointment changes – notice had been
received that the category of “additional co-opted governor” will cease to
exist when the existing governor has completed their term of office. It is
hoped that the school will invite a nominee from the Parish Council as a
community governor to represent the wider community. Ms Roffey’s term of office
is due to end in August 2003.
c.
Thame Area Forum – the next meeting will be on Thursday, 12
June at 7.00pm in Great Milton Village Hall and the following on Monday, 8
September.
d.
OALC will hold a briefing for newly-elected councillors on
Saturday, 12 July from 9.30am – 3.30pm in Didcot Civic Hall. No one to attend.
10.
Financial
matters
a.
Tiddington Cricket Club new pavilion – financial support. It
was agreed to hold the decision on the amount to be allocated. Consideration
may be given to spreading the money over two financial years, depending on when
finance is required by the Club.
b.
Bark for Play Area - Mr Stratton reported that the cost
would be approximately £30.00. Acceptance was proposed by Mr Tremayne, seconded
by Mrs Willis.
c.
Oxforshire Association of Local Councils membership –
decided not to join.
d.
Payment of £325.24 to Allianz Cornhill Insurance proposed by
Mr Stratton, seconded by Mrs Willis.
e.
Payment of £52.88 to MediaLane International for website
management proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr Tremayne.
f.
Payment of £1,019.68 to MediaLane International for Village
Hall sound equipment proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr Tremayne.
g.
Payment of £128.00 to MediaLane International for Village
Hall CCTV computer equipment proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr Tremayne.
h.
Payment of £11.99 to SLCC for new edition of “Governance and
Accountability” proposed by Mr Tremayne, seconded by Mr Stratton.
i.
Payment of £19.44 to Z M Knight for telephone expenses April
2002-March 2003 proposed by Mr Tremayne, seconded by Mr Stratton.
j.
Payment of £10.00 for petty cash proposed by Mr Tremayne,
seconded by Mr Stratton.
11.
Open
discussion
a.
Mr Tremayne asked that a special note of thanks be put in
the Newsletter for all the help in the recent Litter Blitz.
b.
Mrs Willis reported that the drain covers outside The
Cottage and Spring Cottage on the A418 had been levelled and alleviated the
vibration problems which had been experienced for some time. Mrs Cheeseman from
The Cottage had pursued the matter and thanks were expressed for her work.
c.
Mr Stratton congratulated Mr Nowell-Smith on his becoming
District Councillor at the recent elections.
Mr Stratton
reported that the date for the fete would be set at the Village Hall Committee
meeting next week and wished to put it in the next Newsletter.
Mr Stratton
asked that ideas and contributions for the website be requested in the next
Newsletter.
12.
Date of next
meeting
Monday, 2 June
2003 at 8.00pm.
There being no
further business the meeting closed at 9.55pm.