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Sunningwell Parish Council
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUNNINGWELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 25th FEBRUARY 2009
Present: Cllrs E
Bennett (Chairman), D Graham, and J Russell. In attendance: M W Rothery (Clerk)
14/09 Apologies for Absence
Cllrs T Foggin, H Lynam-Smith
& C Wise; OCC Cllr B Johnston.
15/09 Declarations of Interests
There were no declarations of
interests.
16/09 Minutes of the Meeting held on 28th January 2009
The Minutes of the meeting on 28th January 2009
were approved, and signed by the Chairman.
17/09 Matters Arising from the Minutes
Minute 5/09 Sunningwell Pond Cllr Graham had met with the Pond
Sub-Committee, who had received a quote of £120 for trimming the willow tree,
clearing ivy, replacing topsoil and re-seeding the ground at its base and
maintenance during the spring including a temporary fence. The Sub-Committee
also wished to repopulate the pond with plants (estimate £100) and erect
notices (estimate £50) as recommended by the Environment Agency. It was
resolved to approve expenditure of up to £270 on these items. Cllr Graham
agreed to continue to liaise with the Pond Sub-Committee, and in
acknowledgement of their offers to donate some, advise councillors on the plants recommended.
Action: Cllr Graham to advise Pond
Sub-Committee accordingly.
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Minute 5/09 Dog Waste Bin This had been erected in Bayworth by
Geoff Cross. SODC has been asked to empty it monthly initially but this
frequency will be kept under review.
Minute 7/09 Public Footpaths and Rights of Way Cllrs Bennett reported
that it had not been possible because of the inclement weather to walk the
footpath but that she and Cllr Lynam-Smith were planning to do so shortly.
Minute 8/09 Children’s Playground Deferred to the next meeting.
Minute 9/09 Cricket field fence Cllr Graham reported that the gap
in the fence was deliberate in order to provide access for events such as the
summer fete.
Minute 12/09 Correspondence:
- item 240/08 The Model
Publication Scheme had been put on the parish council website.
- item 257/08 Local Community Flood Group The Clerk reported that Cllr Lynam-Smith was shortly to submit
the registration form to VWHDC
- item 16/09 Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-15 Cllr Graham advised
the council that this strategy described a rather utopian vision of the future,
and that its particular relevance was as the context for the Core Strategy
Options consultation paper that the council would be considering later in the
meeting.
- item 19/09 Long Furlong
Road OCC have acknowledged the report of many
potholes. The Clerk was asked to notify OCC that many more potholes had emerged
during the recent bad weather.
18/09 Village Hall Car Park
Cllrs Russell and Wise had met at
different times with Geoff Cross, who had explained in
greater detail what work was
required in both the short-term and long-term. Subsequently Mr Cross had
written to the Clerk suggesting that a full survey be undertaken in order to
provide a specification, but that the surface did now require urgent attention.
It was agreed to defer further consideration until Cllr Wise could be present.
19/09 VWHDC Core Strategy Preferred Options
Cllr Graham had studied the
consultation paper and apprised councillors on the key points of the document.
He had also received some comments from SPADE, that he passed to the Clerk as
input to the council’s comments. The main issues were:
Major Housing Development The parish
council strongly agreed that the Vale should not plan to build more houses than
proposed in the draft South East Plan. Furthermore it was agreed that there was
no justification for major housing development outside the existing development
areas.
Highways Although generally supportive
of sustainable transport options, the council had significant reservations
about some of the highway improvements shown in figure 4.7. Specifically the
proposed four-way junction on the A34 at Lodge Hill, given the aim of relieving
Abingdon town centre, is likely to lead to drivers creating rat runs through
Sunningwell and Bayworth, and Boars Hill, causing dangerous traffic growth
through these small villages. Also, this new junction was a key element of the
rejected proposal for a major housing development between Sunningwell and the
A34, and its creation could open the way for the resurrection of this unwelcome
housing scheme.
Oxford Green Belt The parish council strongly
supported the Vale’s continued stance on the importance of safeguarding the
green belt from inappropriate development. It supports PPG2, particularly, in
small rural villages, limited infilling especially on small brownfield sites,
provided it is sustainable.
However the
council strongly disagreed that the list of Major Developed Sites should
include Chandlings Manor; this cannot be construed as such, and was granted
limited planning permission only recently, following its previous consent as a
private home. Its inclusion with the other sites on the list is wrong given
their scale and function. The site is only a field away from Bayworth. The
council would have no objection to small development related to its existing
purpose and use would strongly object to selling off part of the site for major
housing.
New Reservoir The council supported the
Vale’s approach to the proposed Upper Thames Reservoir. However its
materialisation is largely out of the control of the district council, and were
it to eventually to be built, the council expected that the Vale would be able
to influence the environmental landscaping of the reservoir and the surrounding
area.
Infrastucture The parish council
strongly supported the requirement for developers to be required to contribute
significantly to the provision of total and effective infrastructure. No
development should take place unless there is a viable and secured implementation
plan in place to deliver the appropriate infrastructure at the appropriate
time.
Action: it was agreed that the Clerk
submit the above-mentioned comments to the Vale of White Horse DC.
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20/09 Finance
The following payments were
approved:
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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1178*
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PWLB
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Loan Repayment
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1002.41
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1179
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B Cross
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Litter Warden – February 2009
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102.51
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1180
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Geoff Cross (Contractor)
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Install Dog Waste Bin in Bayworth
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45.00
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* cheque
already signed in view of urgency.
21/09 Planning
a)
Applications dealt with between meetings
There
were none.
b) Decision Notices received
SUN/20749 Erection of swimming pool with telescopic pool cover,
summer house and plant shed, Bagley Wood Barn, Bruncombe lane, Bayworth PERMITTED
SUN/13781/6 Continued use of temporary building. Sunningwell
Playgroup. PERMITTED
SUN/18679/3 Demolition of existing cottage. Erection of Replacement
Cottage. Beech Cottage, Lincombe
Lane, Boars Hill.
PERMITTED subject to conditions
regarding preservation of trees.
c) New Applications
There were no new planning
applications.
22/09 Correspondence
The full list of correspondence
received had been circulated to councillors by e-mail. The Clerk highlighted
the following matters not already discussed earlier in the meeting.
Item 27 Thames Water briefing on response to the consultation on
the DWRMP (new reservoir) on 5 March in Abingdon at 6.30pm. Cllr Bennett intended to go.
Item 40 Oxfordshire Waste Partnership re litter tidy up weekend 6/7
March; posters to be put on Notice Boards
Item 43 Peter Dela VWHDC Details
of the proposed flood alleviation scheme in the old canal basin had been
received for comment. The Clerk was asked to consult with Cllrs Lynam-Smith and
Wise, and then respond to Mr Dela.
23/09 Other Urgent Business
Mr Frost advised the council of
accumulated litter in the vicinity of the cricket field and Dark Lane. The Clerk was asked to liaise
with Mr Brian Cross, the Litter Warden.
24/09 Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday
25th March, 2009
at 7.30pm in Bayworth
Chapel Hall.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.00pm.
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