 |
|
|
Sunningwell Parish Council
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUNNINGWELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 25th JULY 2007
Present: Cllrs E Bennett (Chair), H Lynam-Smith, D Graham, and T
Foggin (part)
In attendance: M W
Rothery (Clerk) and Mrs J Russell
1. Apologies for
Absence
Apologies were received from Cllr C Wise
2. Declarations of
Interest
There were none.
3. Minutes of the
Meeting held on 27 June 2007
The Minutes were approved and signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising
from the Minutes
Minute 2 (a) control of rabbit population
The Clerk reported that VWHDC had advised that they did not
included rabbits in their pets control service and suggested that a commercial
organisation be used; these could be found in Yellow Pages.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk write to
the resident accordingly.
|
Minute 6 Protruding Hedges, Foxcombe Road
Cllr Bennett reported that the hedge at Wuthering
Heights in Foxcombe Road was particularly
overgrown and partially obstructing the footpath.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk
contact Chris Softley, the OCC Highways Engineer,
to attempt to co-ordinate the work at the five sites concerned.
|
Minute 6 Village Hall/Pond Surrounds
Cllr Lynam-Smith reported that she was obtaining copies of
the relevant correspondence and will advise other councillors by e-mail before
the next meeting.
Minute 6 Bayworth Garage Site
Cllr Graham said that there nothing to report on the
clearance of ground cover. Cllr Lynam-Smith will follow-up on the proposed
meeting with the ORCC Rural Housing Enabler.
Minute 9 (d) land adjoining Foxcombe Rise, Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill
It was agreed to object formally to this application that
had been refused by VWHDC Planning but was the subject of an appeal. The
council considered that the proposed dwelling was unsuitable in the Oxford Green
Belt.
Action: Clerk to write to the Planning
Inspectorate to register the Council’s objection in the appeal process.
|
Minute 10 Hedgerow Strategy
Cllr Graham reported that Mr Corbyn
was currently on holiday but that he expected to be able to have further
information for the next meeting.
Minute 12 Other Business
The village hall booking for the September PC meeting has
been changed to Wednesday 19 September.
5. Co-option of
Members
The Clerk had received letters of interest from Mr Tim
Foggin and Mrs Jospehine Russell, both of whom
attended the meeting.
It was agreed that Mr Foggin be immediately co-opted to
council membership. However Mrs Russell wished to observe proceedings to help
her decide whether to seek co-option at the next meeting.
Action: Clerk to forward by e-mail the
forms for the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, and Register of Members’
Interests for Mr Foggin to complete and sign.
|
6. Finance
(a) Finance
Sub-Committee Meeting 9 July 2007
The Sub-Committee considered that in future the cost of
clearing the pond for the Sunningwell festival might be met from the Festival
budget.
A donation of £50 to the Oxfordshire Association for the
Blind, and a grant of £150 to the Sunningwell Summer Fete were recommended;
these were agreed.
The sub-committee had considered the report of the External
Auditor on the 2006/7 Accounts. There were two comments. First, the power under
s137 to incur expenditure for the benefit of the local community had been
incorrectly applied as there were existing powers to
make the relevant payments. The council noted that no amendment to the accounts
was required, and will ensure that but future grants in support of arts and the
provision of entertainment are not charged under s137.
Secondly, the current level of fidelity insurance cover
appeared to be insufficient in the light of the bank balances held at 31 March 2007 and the precept
received in April 2007. The recommended level of cover is the maximum amount of
money the council holds at any one time during the year. The council was
recommended to review its cover. The Clerk reported that Zurich Municipal had
indicated that an extra premium of £25pa would be required to increase the
level of cover from the present £23,000 to £35,000.
Action: The Council accepted the report of
the External Auditor, and agreed that the Notice of Audit Completion be
posted on the notice boards. The Clerk was instructed to increase the amount
of fidelity guarantee cover to £35,000
|
(b) The following
accounts for approved for payment
Cheque no.
|
Payee
|
Purpose
|
Amount - £
|
VAT -£
|
105*
|
Show of Hands Ltd
|
Festival performance fee
|
3000.00
|
525.00
|
106*
|
Austen-Lewis Ltd
|
Festival seating
|
2000.00
|
350.00
|
107*
|
Austen-Lewis Ltd
|
Festival seating
|
300.00
|
52.50
|
108*
|
L J King
|
Pond clearance
|
300.00
|
|
109*
|
M Woodward
|
Waders – 2 pairs
|
59.98
|
|
110*
|
Sam Beck
|
Labour - pond clearance
|
30.00
|
|
111
|
BDO Stoy
Hayward LLP
|
External Audit Fee 2006/7
|
285.00
|
49.88
|
112
|
Oxfordshire Association for
the Blind
|
Donation
|
50.00
|
|
113
|
Sunningwell Summer Fete
|
Grant
|
150.00
|
|
114
|
B Cross
|
Litter Warden (5 weeks)
|
109.48
|
|
115
|
Isis Scaffolding Ltd
|
Festival
|
2350.00
|
411.25
|
7. Planning
(a) Decision Notices received
SUN/20110 Modification of
existing living room etc. Quoin Barn, 6 Beaulieu Court, Pen Lane, Sunningwell. Permitted
SUN/8324/1 Construction of timber
garden room and minor internal alterations, Chilswell
Edge, Chilswell Lane.
Permitted
(b) Applications dealt with between meetings
V.08/07 Retention of consent and
continued use of one single prefab building for a further five years,
Sunningwell CE Primary School No Objection
SUN/3059/8 Erection of Garden
Store, The Copse House, Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill
Object, because of lack of precise measurements and detail of how
building will deal with boggy ground; proposed building appears to be larger
than the ¾ car
garage and therefore possible over development.
SUN/8324/1 Construction of timber
garden room etc. Chilswell Edge, Chilswell Lane
No Objection – less than 10% increase, not
overlooking.
(c) New Applications
SAH/200/26 Change of use to
auction rooms, alterations to provide rear access door, and associated works to
driveway and turning area. 8 Dunmore Court,
Wootton Road,
Abingdon
No Objection
SUN/15356/5 Renewal of
application for the erection of a two-storey rear extension with parking and
landscaping. The Old Stall, 5 Church Farm, Sunningwell
The deadline for comment had been extended
to allow for a site inspection
SUN/20180 Erection of two storey
side and single storey rear extension, 2 Woodland Cottages, Bayworth Lane, Sunningwell Site inspection being arranged for 27 July
SUN/16776/2 Temporary Permission
for one agricultural dwelling, Foxcombe Hill Farm
Object – inappropriate development in the
Green Belt
SUN/19375/1
Proposed new office/workshop to rear of garage. 2 Bullsmead,
Sunningwell Site meeting being arranged
for 27 July
SUN/20215 Provision of new stone
flagged path top replace existing path, new lamp and replacement gates. St Leonards Church, Sunningwell. Site meeting being arranged for 27 July
8. Parish Notice
Boards
The council noted that the three notice boards needed
treating with suitable wood preservative.
Cllr Graham offered to deal with that at Bayworth;
Cllrs Bennett and Foggin will inspect those at
Sunningwell Village Hall and Long Furlong respectively. It was agreed to
reimburse the cost of materials used.
9. Surface Water
Flooding
Cllr Lynam-Smith proposed that the scope of the
investigation be enlarged to include run-off from the fields above Bayworth; this was agreed. Cllr Graham cautioned that the
council needed to understand fully the consequences of any proposed action.
Actions: (i)
Cllr Lynam-Smith to discuss with Peter Dela, VWHDC
(ii) An open meeting of the
Flood Sub-Committee with the people affected including land owners, be arranged for September
(iii)Cllr Lynam-Smith will
research the possible engagement of a hydrologist to advise the council.
|
10. Correspondence
OCC Consultation on the provision of caravan sites for gypsies and
travellers Cllr Graham agreed to respond.
Local Council’s Update – complimentary copy The Clerk advised
this added no value.
Newsletter of the Abingdon & District Twinning Society Cllr
Bennett agreed to put on the notice board
OCC Town
& Parish Council
Liaison Event 27 September, Larkmead School,
Abingdon Cllr Bennett will attend
11. Next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 19 September.
The meeting was closed by the Chairman at 9.07pm
|
|
