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Sunningwell Parish Council
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUNNINGWELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 30th JULY 2008
(Approved by the parish council
on 17 September 2008)
Present: Cllrs E
Bennett (Chairman), T Foggin, D Graham, H Lynam-Smith, J Russell and C Wise. OCC
Cllr B Johnston
In attendance: M W
Rothery (Clerk)
75/08 Oxfordshire CC
OCC Cllr Johnston reported that
the Highways department was having great difficulty in recruiting staff and
currently had a 13% vacancy level. Nevertheless some repair work had recently
been carried out to local roads.
76/08 Apologies for Absence
None
77/08 Declarations of Interests
Cllr Lynam-Smith declared a
personal interest in the surface water flooding project.
Cllr Graham declared a personal
interest in planning application SUN/11354/4, 2 The Quarry,
78/08 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 25th June
2008
Subject to the replacement of the
word ‘obtrusive’ with ‘intrusive’ in the second paragraph of minute 68/08, the
minutes of the meeting on 25th June were approved, and signed by the
Chairman.
79/08 Matters Arising from the Minutes
66/08 Parish Notice Board The Clerk reported that Stebbings have
produced new artwork for the parish logo, and that pencil rubbings of logo
mounts on the existing notice boards have been sent to them to determine exact
size.
Action: It was agreed to ask Mr Geoff
Cross, who erected the existing notice boards, to quote for the erection of
the new notice board.
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66/08 Cricket Field The council considered a report of a meeting with one of the
Church Wardens that some councillors had attended earlier that evening. The
outcome of that meeting was that the Rector and Church Wardens are in agreement
in principle with the parish council’s proposal that the land forming the
cricket field and recreation ground in Sunningwell be transferred to and
registered in the name of the parish council.
Councillors
were agreed that the proposed transfer would safeguard the future of the
cricket ground and prevent any encroachment. There would be maintenance and
public liability responsibilities that would fall to the parish council; these
were currently dealt with by the cricket club and there would be a need to
regularise these and other issues in an agreement with the cricket club. It was
resolved to proceed with the proposed transfer and registration of the land,
and to instruct Hedges Solicitors to deal with this. The council resolved also
to meet any costs incurred by the Parochial Church Council in this matter,
which had been estimated at no more than £500.
Action: Clerk to write to Janis
Macknamara of Hedges Solicitors
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Cllr Wise suggested that Wootton
Parish council be approached for a copy of the lease covering a similar
arrangement in Wootton.
Action: Clerk to write to the Clerk of
Wootton PC, Mr George Evans-Brown
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66/08 Local roads The Clerk reported that John Beaumont of OCC
Highways had asked for feedback on the repair work carried out on local roads.
OCC had filled potholes, cleared some ditches and emptied some gulleys.
Councillors were pleased with the work carried out so far but noted that some potholes
remained to be repaired. Also more ditches needed clearing, and the Clerk was
asked to write accordingly to Mr Beaumont.
Action: Clerk to write to Mr Beaumont of
OCC Highways
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66/08 Overhanging trees Councillors agreed to advise the Clerk of
any properties where overhanging trees or hedges are obstructing the public
highway, so that a polite letter requesting trimming can be sent. In some cases
a personal visit may be more appropriate and Cllr Bennett offered to do this.
Action: Councillors to advise Chairman and
Clerk of relevant properties.
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66/08 Flood prevention project Letters advising of the current
status of the VHHDC project were sent to
contractors on 30 June. Councillor Lynam-Smith will check the progress of the
project with Peter Dela. Cllr Wise advised that the county council had received
a large sum of government aid to support flood prevention projects.
72/08 Village footpath map It was agreed to provide a link to the
OCC footpath maps site on the parish website.
Action: Clerk to arrange with website
manager.
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80/08 Land adjacent to the Village Hall
The monthly progress report from David
Quayle of Hodsons was received and discussed.
(i)
It was noted that the transfer of the title strip of
land to the rear of pond cottage and to the extreme right of the car park, with
the Land Registry, had been completed.
(ii)
It was agreed to sign the Land Registry document
transferring the small sliver of land between the rear of the bungalow behind
the village hall and the access road previously transferred to them, to Mr
& Mrs Dyer the owners of 57 Sunningwell. The costs had been paid by the
Dyers, and the accommodation works to the bungalow had been completed.
(iii)
It was noted that Hodsons were attempting to obtain a
response from the Pilkington Trust on the repair of the surface of the car
park. The Clerk was instructed to advise Hodsons of a cap of £500 on the cost
of future work on this matter.
(iv)
The claim from Hodsons for outstanding fees was
considered at length. There were several components dating from 2005, partially
offset by the receipt of compensation of £5,000 for the sale of the 3.5m strip
of land to the rear of the village hall to provide an access road for 57
Sunningwell. The net result was that £1,604.38 was due to Hodsons, but £857.50
of this was VAT which can be recovered. It was agreed to pay this balance, but
the Clerk was instructed to withhold the cheque until the issue of interest on
the £5,000 sum has been properly accounted for.
(v)
It was further agreed that more rigorous control of
fees incurred by any Solicitors acting for the council must be exercised in
future, including the obtaining of estimates of cost prior to the issue of
instructions.
81/08 Thames Water’s
Draft Water Resources Management Plan 2010-2035
The draft response prepared by
the Clerk on the basis of the discussion at the previous meeting was approved
for submission to Thames Water.
Action: Clerk to submit via the
consultation website.
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82/08 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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1156
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B Cross
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Litter Warden - July
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113.60
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1157
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M W Rothery
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Clerk salary and expenses
Jun/July 08
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952.92
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1158
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Hodsons Solicitors
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Outstanding fees (net)*
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1604.38
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857.50
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1159
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Oxon Assn for the Blind
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Annual donation
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50.00
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1160
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Sunningwell Summer Fete
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Donation for prizes
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100.00
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(* cheque 1158 to be released only on receipt of further
information from Hodsons, per Minute 80/08)
83/08 Planning
The following planning applications
were considered:
SUN/11354/4 Erection of single storey side extension. 2 The Quarry,
Sunningwell.
Comment: No objection
SUN/7102/10 Change of use from Class C1 Hotel to single dwelling
Class C3. Foxcombe Lodge Hotel, Fox Lane,
Boars Hill.
Comment: No objection
84/08 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 92 OCC review of Octabus dial-a-ride service Clerk to reply in
full support
Item 95 Oxfordshire Partnership consultation on draft strategy 2030
Item 106 VWHDC notification of award of cleansing grant of £500;
Clerk has formally applied for payment.
85/08 Other business
Dog Waste Bin – Bayworth Triangle
The Clerk passed to Cllr Graham
details of costs of acquisition, installation, and emptying. Cllr Graham will
make a recommendation at the next meeting.
86/08 Next Meeting
In view of the unavailability of
the Clerk on holiday during the last week of September, the next meeting will
be on Wednesday 17 September at 7.30pm in Bayworth Chapel Hall.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.50pm.
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