Monthly
Meeting
Present: Mr
J Nowell-Smith (Chairman and District Councillor), Mr R Boughton, Mrs J Willis
and Mrs A Purse (
1.
Apologies
Mr
A Stratton and Mr W Tremayne.
2.
Approval of
previously circulated minutes
Previously
circulated minutes were approved and signed.
3.
Matters
arising from previous minutes
a.
The Chairman
reported that the repair of the A329 so far was disappointing as more problems
had been encountered and there were insufficient funds to complete the work for
a lasting repair. It is still expected to reopen the road before the end of
December.
b.
Affordable housing – nothing further to report. The planning
application for Centre Caravans is awaited. Chairman reported that Great Milton
were hoping to have affordable housing at Milton Common but were experiencing
difficulties with planning as Milton Common is not considered an area for
sustainable development. Mrs Purse later said that she was unhappy
with OCC’s policy on the releasing of land for affordable housing.
c.
Pelican crossing – the census of adult and child pedestrians
crossing the A418 gave two extra points for pedestrian flow. It was agreed to
write again to OCC to remind them that the Council is concerned to get a
crossing as soon as possible and to give them the results of our census. Mrs
Purse later indicated that she would be pursuing the matter with Mike Collins,
the new contact in charge, and highlighting the fact that the Parish Council
had responded generously to the 30mph speed limit project when other councils
had not.
d.
Play Area RoSPA inspection report – nothing further to
report.
e.
Christmas tree – OCC had agreed to the siting of the tree as
long as it was stable and would not fall on to the highway and that low voltage
lights were installed. Ray Manning was willing to donate a tree from his stock
and Mr Field would be contacted to arrange for the digging of the hole.
4.
Planning
matters
a.
P04/W0983/O Between
Decision: SODC
refused.
5.
Correspondence
a.
ORCC AGM and Conference on Rural Isolation, 24 November,
Exeter Hall, Kidlington. No one able to attend.
b.
SODC will be doing a recycling participation survey for four
weeks from 1 November. It has been reported that the contractors are again
throwing the green boxes down, often causing damage. Clerk to report this to
SODC.
6.
Financial
matters
a.
Councillor’s expenses of £8.75 to R Boughton for travel to a
SODC training session proposed by Mr Nowell-Smith, seconded by Mrs Willis.
b.
Christmas tree expenditure for low voltage lights estimated
to be no more than £150.00 proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr Boughton. It
was agreed that the light bulbs should be white only and the tree to be in
place from about 10 December until 6 January.
c.
Victim Support Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire donation of
£35.00 proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr Boughton.
d.
OPFA membership renewal of £25.00 proposed by Mrs Willis,
seconded by Mr Boughton.
e.
Payment of £70.50 to Robinsons Garden Care for mowing the
churchyard in September proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr Boughton
f.
Payment of £11.98 to Z M Knight for administration expenses
proposed by Mrs Willis, seconded by Mr Boughton.
g.
Payment of £10.00 for petty cash proposed by Mrs Willis,
seconded by Mr Boughton.
h.
A letter had been received from the bank indicating that the
annual charge for security storage of papers kept by the Council would rise
from £5.00 to £15.00 on 18 November. Clerk reported that the bank had never
charged in her eight years as Clerk and she would investigate the matter. Mr
Nowell-Smith offered to store the sealed parcel in his safe if this was
permitted.
7.
Open
discussion
a.
Mr Nowell-Smith reported that there had been further
problems with anti-social behaviour from the children. Clerk confirmed that she
had received two reports from residents 1. irresponsibly
cycling or running out towards the path of cars driving up Albury View
(witnessed also by the Clerk) and 2. local teenager
being set upon when returning home from the recreation ground.
b.
Clerk asked whether she might arrange for a coloured cover
for the Christmas edition of the Newsletter. A green cover was agreed.
c.
Mrs Purse asked whether the diversion signs in place at the
moment because of the closure of the A329 were deterring the turning lorries. If that was the case, something similar might be
the answer when the A329 is reopened.
Mrs Purse
expressed concern about the South East Regional plans for housing.
8.
Date of next
meeting
There being no
further business the meeting closed at