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Sunningwell Parish Council
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUNNINGWELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 30th APRIL 2008
Present: Cllrs E
Bennett (acting Chair), T Foggin, H Lynam-Smith, J Russell and C Wise
In attendance: M W
Rothery (Clerk)
37/08 Public Forum
No members of the public were
present.
38/08 Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Cllr
D Graham, and OCC Cllr B Johnston
39/08 Declarations of Interest
Cllrs Lynam-Smith and Wise
declared personal and prejudicial interests in item 6 relating to flood
prevention.
40/08 Minutes of the Meeting held on 26th
March 2008
The minutes were approved, and
signed by the Chairman.
41/08 Matters Arising from the Minutes
29/08 Parish Notice Board – The Clerk reported that he was awaiting confirmation from Oxford
Beaumont that they are happy with the proposed location of the notice board at
Boars Hill before placing the order
29/08 Children’s Playground – Cllr Foggin reported that the sings
were of poor quality. Mrs Wiggins had advised that the ‘missing’ swing was at
her home following a decision to remove it on safety grounds. Cllr Foggin was
investigating possible funding for replacement and/or additional play
equipment.
Action: it was decided that Cllr Foggin
should invite Wicksteed to advise on suitable play equipment for the area,
and their estimated cost. Additional quotes would be obtained as necessary.
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29/08 Cricket Field – The Clerk reported that as no response had
been received from the Church Commissioners, he had suggested that Hedges
Solicitors chase this up, particularly as Janis Macknamara of Hedges has all
the relevant details. Cllr Lynam-Smith undertook to speak with Ms Macknamara.
29/08 Dirty Water Flooding – The Clerk reported the response from
Thames Water to the joint letter from Sunningwell and Wootton parish councils,
that they had no asset near the junction of Wootton
Road and Sunningwell Road.
Cllr Foggin prepared a diagram showing a large underground holding pipe located
some distance from the junction, but whose purpose was to balance flows and
avoid flooding upstream in Sunningwell. Cllr Lynam-Smith confirmed that Thames
Water technicians had recently investigated further incidents of sewage
flooding near the Flowing Well, and they had advised that computer modelling
suggested that the capacity of the pump in the holding tank was too small.
Action: It was decided that the Clerk
write further to Thames
Water with this information.
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42/08 Surface Water Flood Prevention Project
Cllr Lynam-Smith had received
several quotations but the specifications for the work considered necessary
differed. It was felt that in addition to constructing a holding tank in the
canal basin, the size of the pipes in the culverted sections of the stream
needed to be increased to a minimum standard. Cllr Wise had advised that a
standard specification and a budget was required before any further progress
could be made. As the parish council had no power to incur expenditure on flood
prevention works other than the annual S137 allowance, which would not
be sufficient for such a project,
it was decided that all the information gained and the quotations be passed to
Peter Dela at VWHDC for his use in promoting the project as part of the Vale’s
capital programme. The Vale would be in a position to consult with both the OCC
Highways and the Environment Agency on aspects of the proposed project. It was
possible that the parish would be asked to make a financial contribution to the
cost; this would have to be sanctioned under S137.
Action. It was agreed that the Clerk write
to the contractors to thank them for their quotations, and to write to Peter
Dela, enclosing the information gathered, and to invite him to the Annual
Parish Meeting.
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43/08 Finance
(a) The following accounts were
approved for payment, and the cheques signed:
Cheque no.
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Payee
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Details
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Total
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VAT
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1141
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B Cross
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Letter Warden (4 weeks to 27 April)
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102.98
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1142
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Storm Internet ltd
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Website maintenance 2008/9
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164.99
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(b) The Clerk presented the draft
accounts for the year 2007/8; these, and the Annual Return, were approved by
the Council and signed by the Chairman and Clerk. A copy of the signed accounts
is attached to these Minutes. The accounts will now be submitted for internal
audit.
(c) The Council considered a
paper - Review of the Effectiveness of Internal Audit –circulated by the Clerk.
The purpose of the review, which is now required under Statute, was for the
Council to ensure that the internal audit met the Council’s requirements
regarding its scope and professionalism, as outlined in the paper. The Council
agreed that the internal audit met these requirements and approved the paper.
44/08 Planning
The following planning
application was discussed.
SUN/KEN/20499 Construction of ménage and use of formerly
agricultural field for equestrian purposes including grazing by horses. Land
adjoining The Knoll House and Oakridge, Foxcombe Road,
Boars Hill, Oxford. Although it had
been possible to arrange a site visit, Councillors were minded to recommend
approval, subject to Cllr Lynam-Smith confirming this to the Clerk by the
following Monday. (Subsequently confirmed)
45/08 Correspondence
The full list of correspondence
received had been circulated to councillors by e-mail.
Item 8 The AGM of the Village Hall management Committee is on May
22nd at 8pm. Users were invited to submit views on improvements they
would like to see.
Item 15 SEERA has published the Regional Housing Strategy 2008-11.
Item 19 VWHDC are holding forums on a new Vale Sustainable
Community Strategy on 13 May (Wantage), 22 May ( Faringdon), and 17 June
(Cumnor)
Item 23 ASHTAV are holding a ‘Save the Village Shop’ meeting at
Radley on 10 May.
46/08 Other Business
Cllr Russell commented on the
worsening condition of the village roads, and it was agreed that the Clerk
report this to OCC Highways
47/08 Next Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting will be
held on Wednesday 28th May
2008 at Sunningwell Village Hall at 7pm, immediately
followed by the AGM of the parish Council. Village organisations are to be
invited by the Clerk to present brief reports to the Annual Meeting.
48/08 Village Hall Car Park Land
The council resolved to exclude
the public for the rest of the meeting, due to the confidential nature of the
business to be discussed.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.55pm.
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