CHACOMBE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday, 1st March 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

 

Present: Cllrs. Harper, Woolley, Wyatt, Jenkins, Jones, White, Reid, Kennedy, Coates and Clerk.

 

Apologies:

 

Public Time.

 

Minutes of previous meeting on 2nd February: adopted and signed.

 

Matters arising

1.1 Playing Field Fence Tom Livingstone (SNC) had telephoned to advise that the matter was being dealt with. Update: It is anticipated that a post and rail fence, without an entrance, could be installed by the end of March.

1.2 Planning Applications.

S/2003/1464/P 40 bed hotel attached to Clubhouse and additional car-parking at Cherwell Edge Golf Course. Update: Permission refused.

S/2003/1731/P Two storey extension and Sun Room at Thornhill House. Update: Permission granted.

S/2004/0055/P Land adj. to 18 Thorpe Road. Amended plans received to show re-siting of vehicular access to improve pedestrian visibility. Although this was considered an improvement the Councilıs view had still not changed. Update: Permission granted

S/2004/0069/P Conversion of redundant barn to dwelling at Tinkerıs Barn, Thorpe Road. Update: Permission refused.

 

Finance

Internal control to be completed as of the end of March.

 

Expenditure                                                                                                                                                    Income

101098                        Signs & Designs (NHW) £44.06                                                                                       

101099                        Playground Management £78.14                                       

101100                        Jeffs Coaches (Jan) £80.00

 

Authorise: Chacombe Sports & Social Club £1000, Chacombe Village Hall £1500, NALC Membership and ³Update² subscription £154 50, Jeffs Coaches (Feb) £80.00, Chacombe School £500, Chacombe Chimes £780 and Clerkıs Salary £750.

 

Correspondence

NALC  ³Update² Jan. ı04 distributed prior to meeting

New Councillors ­ basic procedures course Wed. 25th February

³Financial queries answered² course Wed. 10th March 2.00pm ­ 4.30pm

Legal Topic note 30: Nuisance

Legal Topic note 3: Protection of ownerless Common land

Legal Topic Note 6: Private access to Councilıs Recreation Ground

³The Playing Field² Winter Œ03 ­ Œ04

ROSPA Childrenıs Playground Inspections

Northants Sport Conference 10th March

Church of England Table of Parochial Fees

NALC Help Desk re: Casual vacancies

E-mail from Charity Commission informing the Parish Council that the Annual Return had not been completed. E-mailed reply to say no annual return had been received.                                        

NACRE SNRTP Transport Needs Report Oct 2003 (Extract for Area 1)

Post Office Notice of Temporary Closure.

Post Watch Doug Hillard had also telephoned to advise the Parish Council that the situation was being monitored to ensure that the Post Office used its best endeavours to re-instate the service. Advised of temporary closure as from 24th February. Update: The Post Office will give Jan & Pete Somerton three months to consider their options.             

NPFA NPFA owned fields and Public Liability Insurance

ODPM Reply to Cllr. Jones letter Re: Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill

Winged Fellowship Trust ­ funding request. Aprilıs agenda.                                                                                         

Cherwell Vale NHS PCT Board Bulletin Feb. 2004

Mr Moore e-mail re: stream and article in Chimes. The Clerk was asked to contact Jim Sokol of the Environment Agency. Update: The stream is no longer a critical ordinary watercourse and responsibility has reverted to NCC, SNC and riparian owners. Tom Livingstone (SNC) informed the Clerk that enforcement action could be taken if required.                

CPRE ³Countryside Voice²

New membership card.

Raffle tickets

Houses and Gardens 2004 - Discounted entry

No public consultation on the Governmentıs 10 year Transport Plan.

NACRE Village of the Year Competition 2004. Notification of this arrived too late to be included on the agenda but the Council decided that it did not wish to enter the competition.

Fax from Clarence Line re: call numbers for faults reported 16th February

Cynthia Spencer Hospice Appeal

NCC/Atkins Letter from Susan Mills re: Dropped Kerbs. Aprilıs agenda.

ODPM Local investigation of allegations of misconduct

NCC       i) Supplementary Planning Guidance on planning obligations and education facilities.

Consultation Draft February 2004. Response by 13th April

                        ii) Community Scrutiny Committee. Papers and agendas for 4th March

 

SNC        i) Broadband poster for display. What is the current situation? Does everybody know? Update: Cllr. Jones will write article for Aprilıs Chimes clarifying the situation.

                        ii) Animal Welfare Quarterly Report Nov ­ Jan Œ04

iii) Planning applications week ending: 4/02/04 and 18/02/04 (posted) and 12/02/04 and 26/02/04 (e-mailed)

                       

Agenda

3.1 Trees ­ crown lifting

The Council had received the quote (£150 + VAT £26.25) from Tree Tops.com. for cutting back the trees at the Village Hall and Beanfurlong at the junction with Thorpe Road. The Clerk had also spoken to the owner of the tree in Silver St. The Council agreed to accept the quote and Tree Tops would be asked to carry out the work. Update: Work completed.

 

3.2 Replacement panels in Bus Shelters

The Council agreed that wood should be used to replace the missing panels. The Clerk was asked to inform NCC. The Parish Council, however, was still not prepared to take over responsibility for the shelters.

 

3.3 Village Hall re: Funding Pledge

Cllr. Kennedy advised that the lottery funding application was still in the process of being completed but should be ready to be sent off in approximately two weeks, once it had been checked and signed by the architects. The Parish Council had already promised to contribute £1500 to the provision of disabled toilets and the cheque was given to the treasurer.

 

3.4 Chacombe School Building Appeal

This request needed to be considered in the light of the next agenda item. The Clerk informed the Council that there was £1500 available to meet the two requests for funding. Cllr. Jones proposed that £500 should be given to the school and this was seconded by Cllr. Coates. The Council agreed.

 

3.5 Chacombe Sports Field re: funding for Cricket and Football Clubs

Annual costs are currently running at approximately £1400 and although there is no security of tenure and the possibility that the use of the field could be withdrawn at any time, Cllr Reid proposed that a one off payment of £1000 be made to help towards maintenance costs. This decision would not prevent future applications for funding. The Council wished to record that some of the money should be retained for the purchase of mowers. Cllr. White seconded the proposal and the full Council agreed.

 

3.6 Traffic ­ calming in Chacombe

Several issues emerged from the meeting on 19th February. Those present were Cllr. Jenkins, Susan Mills, Area Highways Manager, PC Martin Sargeant, Cllr. Harper and Sheila Cheney, who will be replacing Susan Mills in the near future.

 

3.7 NALC Membership 2004 - 2005                                                                                                                                                                      

Cllr. Kennedy proposed that the Council paid £154.50 to include five extra copies of ³Update². This was seconded by Cllr. Wyatt and agreed by the Council.

 

3.8 Annual Parish Meeting 27th April 2004

Invitations would be sent to representatives of village organisations, posters would be displayed and notification would be included in the Chimes. Cllr. Jenkins suggested that this would be an appropriate time to hand over the petition that had been organised by Mrs Evans. It is hoped that County Cllr. Malcolm Mildren will be able to attend.

 

3.9 Operation Springclean

Although this event was now no longer being sponsored, the Council agreed that it would do its bit by carrying out a litter pick along the approach roads to the village. Cllr. Jenkins and Wyatt volunteered to do Thorpe Road, Cllr. Kennedy would do Middleton Road and Cllr. Harper would do Banbury Road. Update: Mr Garrett will go a bit further along the Wardington Road than he does for his normal litter pick.

 

 

 

AOB

1. The Thornhill road name signs had been pulled out of the ground. SNC had already been informed. Update: Should be replaced in early April

2. The recently installed litter bin by the Skateboard Ramp had also been pulled out of the ground. Update: Bin has been concreted in again!

3. It was reported that there had been thefts of mobile phones and handbags from recent Village Hall events.

4. The burnt out car along Wardington Road was in Cherwell District.

 

Meeting closed at 9.10 pm.

 

The next meeting will be held on 5th April 2004 at 7.15pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pcmn079/ss 28/03/04