Annual
Parish Meeting
Annual
General Meeting
Present: Mr
J Nowell-Smith (Chairman and District Councillor), Mr R Boughton,
Mr A Stratton, Mrs J Willis and six members of the public.
1.
Apologies
Mr K Field, Mr
D Turner (
2.
Approval of
previously circulated minutes
Previously
circulated minutes were approved and signed.
3.
Chairman’s
Review of the Year
The Council was saddened earlier in the year by the death of William Tremayne, Councillor with special responsibility for Milton Common. He had done excellent work for the Council and is greatly missed.
On highway
matters, it would appear that the pelican crossing will be installed during
this financial year, although there has not been confirmation of this in
writing.
A sign to
indicate access to the M40 at the Waterstock Turn is
promised but still awaited.
The affordable
housing project is progressing as the County Council is now prepared to release land at the Station Yard. Negotiations are taking
place with OCC and OCHA.
Many people
commented favourably on the Christmas tree that was erected near Tudor Cottage
and it is hoped to plant a more permanent tree later in the year.
The District
Council has been attempting improvements in waste disposal and recycling but
there has been little help to small villages because of costs. The regular skip
lorry visit has been discontinued and is not likely to be reinstated in the
near future.
Planning matters
have been fairly quiet until recently, when a controversial application at the
Three Pigeons brought a Village Hall full of residents to express their views
at a special meeting. The rejection of plans for a veterinary surgery at Sandy
Lane Farmhouse has highlighted the concerns at the inadequacies of the Planning
Department, particularly enforcement.
The finances
of the Council are in a healthy state, with only a modest increase in the
precept for the new financial year, and a reserve of two year’s worth of
precept.
Decisions on
applications for grants for improvements to the Village Hall and a new Cricket
pavilion are due soon and the Council will make grants to these projects when
appropriate.
4.
Annual
Governors’ Report,
Mr Mark Stoker had provided a printed Governors’ report and this would be circulated in the wallet.
5.
Open
discussion
Mr Pritchard asked about the speed of traffic in
Mr Giddy
reported that he had just avoided an accident at the A40/A329 junction at
Milton Common, caused by the lack of visibility because of the Sykes vans
parked on the verges. The matter had been reported to the Police and things had
improved but only for a short while. Mr Nowell-Smith
said that the situation had been reported to the District Council and that
Great Haseley Parish Council had been pursuing the
matter over the last two years.
6.
Election of
officers
The Clerk invited nominations. Mr Boughton proposed that Mr J Nowell-Smith be elected Chairman and this was seconded by Mr Stratton. Mr Nowell-Smith accepted.
Mr Nowell-Smith proposed that Mrs J Willis be elected as Vice
Chairman and this was seconded by Mr Stratton. Mrs Willis accepted.
Mr Nowell-Smith proposed that Mr K Field be elected as Village
Hall representative and this was seconded by Mrs Willis. Mr Field had already
expressed a willingness to stand.
7.
Approval of
previously circulated minutes
Previously circulated minutes were approved and signed.
8.
Matters
arising from previous minutes
a.
OCC Highway matters – the sign at the Waterstock
Turn indicating the route to the M40 is still awaited. Confirmation of the
pelican crossing is still awaited. The 30mph speed limit on the A40 at Milton
Common is being reviewed by the County Council.
b.
Affordable housing –the architect has provided two
alternative sketch plans for discussion at a site meeting in the near future.
c.
Tree Preservation order – the order has been confirmed.
d.
Tree planting and maintenance – replies still awaited from
OCC.
e.
SODC Community Green Waste Service – the skip lorry will not
be reinstated. Clear plastic sacks for kerbside recycling are to be available
at £2.50 for 25 as an alternative to the green boxes. Biodegradable paper green
waste sacks will be on sale at 65p each but residents will need to contact SODC
to arrange collection by a special lorry. Mr Nowell-
Smith reported that by 2009 there should be a plan in place to involve OCC,
SODC and Oxford City Council on a co-ordinated basis. Mr Nowell-Smith
suggested that members of the public write to SODC individually about problems
and suggestions for improvements. This will be put in the Newsletter.
f.
Public Right of Way, School Lane – OCC had provided a list of
outstanding applications and ours was progressing, but new entries were taking
at least three years to process. OCC had advised that nothing could be done
about the padlocked gate until the right of way has been added..
g.
M40 noise levels – Clerk reported that according to a letter
in the Oxford Times from a resident of Tetsworth, the
Highways Agency has produced a draft M40 Route Management Strategy.
9.
Planning
matters
a.
P04/W1414 Sandy Lane
Farmhouse, Sandy Lane, Tiddington – erection of new barn style building for
established veterinary practice with practice nurse accommodation. New Klargester biodisc system.
Formation of access and car parking.
DOE Appeal
Reference: APP/Q3115/A/05/1178639 will be heard at a hearing. It was agreed to
write to the Planning Inspectorate indicating support for the District Council.
b.
P05/W0464/RET Land
adjacent and forming part of Sandy Lane Farmhouse, Tiddington – change of use
of land to site two temporary buildings for use as veterinary surgery with
parking/servicing area. Formation of new access to serve surgery and formation
of 3 parking spaces for dwelling. Construction of Klargester
Biodisc sewage system. Erection of new agricultural
building to serve remainder of holding.
Decision:
refused. Mr Stratton offered to provide clear photographs of the temporary
buildings. Mr Nowell-Smith declared a personal and
prejudicial interest and Mrs Willis took over the chair.
10.
Correspondence
a.
Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 and Bus Strategy consultation
– agreed that Council did not have sufficient expertise to comment.
11.
Financial
matters
a.
Payment of £422.33 to Allianz Cornhill Insurance proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mr
Willis.
b.
Payment of £152.75 to Robinson’s Garden Care for play area
maintenance April proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mr Boughton.
c.
Payment of 129.25 to Robinson’s Garden Care for churchyard
maintenance April proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mrs Willis.
d.
Payment of £65.00 to SODC for garden sacks proposed by Mr
Stratton, seconded by Mrs Willis.
e.
Payment of £36.44 to Z M Knight for telephone expenses
2004/05 proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mrs Willis.
f.
Payment of £10.00 for petty cash proposed by Mr Stratton,
seconded by Mr Boughton.
12.
Open
discussion
a.
Mr Nowell-Smith reminded all that
Mrs Tremayne would be co-opted as Councillor at the
June meeting.
b.
Mr Stratton reported that the VE-Day commemorative bench was
in need of complete refurbishment. It was agreed to contact several people to
ask for quotes.
c.
Clerk reported that the brick bus shelter had been refurbished
by Mr Field and the window space reinstated. The framework and pane was still
awaited.
d.
Mrs Stoker asked how she could become involved in village
activities. Mr Stratton suggested that any help would be very welcome at
Village Hall events, particularly the Fete and Fun Day at the end of August.
Fresh ideas were needed and activities for the children were important.
13.
Date of next
meeting
Monday, 6 June
2005 at 8.00pm.
There being no
further business the meeting closed at 10.00pm.