TIDDINGTON WITH ALBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting

Monday 4 October, 2004, 8.00pm – at Tiddington Village Hall

MINUTES

Present: Mr J Nowell-Smith (Chairman and District Councillor), Mr R Boughton, Mr K Field, Mr A Stratton, Mr W Tremayne and Mrs J Willis.

1. Apologies

Mrs A Purse (County Councillor).

2. Approval of previously circulated minutes

Previously circulated minutes were approved and signed.

3. Matters arising from previous minutes

a. OCC Highway matters – in response to a letter to OCC, Sandy Lane had been signed “access only” at both ends and given a temporary build-out. This was helping a little. Chairman reported that the date for completion of the A329 repairs was scheduled for 10 December, circumstances permitting.

b. Affordable housing – OCC had written to OCHA stating that the railway land was not for sale but was about to be leased to the “Caravan Club”. This was presumably Centre Caravans. It was agreed to indicate to our County Councillor the Council’s disappointment at the tone of the letter and ask her to investigate OCC’s policy on its sale of land for affordable housing.

c. Pelican crossing – the census of adult and child pedestrians crossing the A418 between 7.30am and 7.30pm on a Tuesday will take place as previously arranged with minor adjustments to times.

4. Planning matters

a. P04/W0813 Land at Sunnyside, Oxford Road, Tiddington – demolition of garage, erection of two bedroom two storey house and creation of vehicular access.

Decision: SODC granted.

b. P04/W0860 Sandy Lane Farm, Tiddington – conversion of barn to holiday let accommodation.

Decision: SODC granted.

c. Honeysuckle Cottage, Tiddington – Mr Field to check that the building work conforms to the plans agreed by SODC. Neighbours have complained about the overpowering nature of the build and Mr Nowell-Smith offered to discuss the matter with the Planning Department.

5. Correspondence

a. SODC Licensing Policy Consultation – it was agreed that the Council would not respond with comments as Mr Nowell-Smith would represent its views if appropriate to the Licensing Committee, of which he was a member. The new system will take effect after 7 February 2005. The Village Hall Committee will await details when their license comes up for renewal in December.

b. OPFA AGM, 4 November, 7.30pm, Tackley Village Hall – no one able to attend.

c. SLCC Regional Conference: Funding and Managing Community Projects, 9 November – no one to attend.

d. Thame Area Forum, 11 October, 7.00pm, Chinnor Village Centre – Mr Nowell-Smith and Clerk to attend.

6. Financial matters

a. South and Vale Carers Centre donation of £30.00 proposed by Mr Tremayne, seconded by Mr Stratton.

b. Play Area funding. Mr Field and Mr Stratton declared an interest as members of the Village Hall Committee. It was agreed that the Parish Council should provide the finance only for the ongoing maintenance of and repairs to the Play Area as necessary and finance any suggested improvements to the Play Area, subject to prior approval at the time of the suggestion. The Parish Council will also pay for the annual RoSPA inspection but the insurance which covers the Hall, the Play Area and public liability will be paid for by the Village Hall Committee. Management of the Play Area continues to be vested in the Village Hall Committee.

c. Insurance Risk Assessment – the insurance does not cover damage to equipment in the Play Area. It was agreed that this was an acceptable risk.

d. Payment of £211.50 to Robinson’s Garden Care for mowing the playing field in July and August proposed by Mr Field, seconded by Mr Stratton.

e. Payment of £195.05 to Playground Management Ltd for the annual RoSPA play area inspection proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mrs Willis.

f. Payment of £153.90 to Parchment (Oxford) Ltd for Newsletter printing October/November proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mrs Willis.

g. Payment of £141.00 to HLB AV Audit plc for annual audit 2003/04 proposed by Mr Stratton, seconded by Mrs Willis.

7. Open discussion

a. Mr Stratton reported that the RoSPA inspection report had highlighted a number of problems which were of low or medium risk. It was agreed to ask Mike Robinson to liaise with Mr Field and Mr Stratton over the following:- monitor the mound for wear and remove protruding stones and rocks, repair the picnic bench in the infant area, raise the worn area outside the entrance gate and trim overhanging tree branches to a height of 2.4m. Mr Stratton reported that some comments were puzzling – car park too far from play area, no warning road signs and ramps needed by loose fill impact absorbing surfaces.

Mr Stratton asked whether the Parish Council might erect a Christmas tree outside Tudor Cottage this December. It was agreed to write to OCC asking for approval.

Mr Stratton reported that there had been a problem with a company vehicle being parked in North Close, the driver living in Brookside Close. The company had been contacted and the driver told.

b. Mrs Willis asked Mr Nowell-Smith about the Tiddington by-pass alluded to in the Newsletter. Mr Nowell-Smith said he had read in the Oxford Times that the by-pass was to be removed from the OCC plan. It was news to everyone that after so many years it was still on the plan.

c. Clerk reported that there had been news in SODC Outlook that Tiddington was to have money allocated for some flood alleviation work on the A418 – culvert work and construction of a manhole.

d. Mr Boughton gave a report on the SODC Town and Parish Forum meeting he had attended on 22 September. He had participated in the community safety and grants workshops. On the whole he found it helpful but felt that representatives from OCC should have attended. Mr Boughton asked whether he could be reimbursed for the petrol for the 35 miles to the Council Offices. It was agreed at 25p per mile and will be ratified at the November meeting.

8. Date of next meeting

Monday, 1 November 2004 at 8.00pm.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.10pm.