Sunningwell Parish Council
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUNNINGWELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 27th JUNE 2007 AT SUNNINGWELL VILLAGE HALL
Present: Cllrs. E. Bennett (in
the chair), H. Lynam-Smith and D. Graham
In Attendance: Pat Romans
and Mike Rothery (Clerks)
1. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING CHAIR
Cllr. Bennett said that she would be
prepared to continue as Acting Chair for the next six months and would then
like the situation to be reviewed again. This offer was gratefully accepted by Cllrs. Lynam-Smith and Graham.
Cllr. Bennett then opened the meeting and
welcomed Mike Rothery, the newly appointed Clerk, to the proceedings.
2.
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
No
members of the public were present at the meeting but the Clerk reported the
following issues on behalf of residents –
a)
Control of rabbit population – following extensive damage to her garden, a
resident had telephoned a request for the Council’s help. Members felt that
although they do not have a duty to deal with this issue, they wanted to
establish what action might be possible to alleviate this problem.
Action: Clerk
to write to the Vale DC Pest Control Officer to enquire
whether he could deal with such a request and, if not, where he would advise
the Parish Council to go for help.
b)
rubbish in Penn Lane – this
fly tipping was reported to the Council recently and Cllr. Bennett has already
submitted a request to Vale DC that a special collection be
organized.
3.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
No
apologies were received
4.
DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL & PREJUDICIAL
INTERESTS
No
declarations were made.
261
5.
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 16th MAY 2007
It was
agreed unanimously that the Minutes should be accepted as a correct record of
the meeting and
Cllr. Bennett signed accordingly.
6.
UPDATE ON ACTION POINTS/ANY OTHER MATTERS ARISING
Page 257 Protruding Hedges, Foxcombe Road
The Clerk
reported that Chris Softley, OCC Highways Engineer,
has sent letters to the two owners of the properties in question but has not
received a response. In such a situation residents receive a total of three
letters and if they fail to take action over this period, OCC will undertake
the necessary clearance work and the owners are charged. Cllr. Bennett said
that she thought the hedges at both properties had been cut recently and
members wondered when Chris Softley had visited the
site. In addition, two further sites are a cause for concern – Cllr. Bennett
reported the hedge opposite the entrance to Brumcombe Lane and Cllr. Lynam-Smith
said that growth in Brumcombe Lane is protruding so far into the
lane that cars are having difficulty passing at this point.
Action: Cllr.
Bennett will contact Chris Softley and attempt to
co-ordinate the necessary work at all four sites.
Page 257 Village Hall/Pond Surrounds
Cllr. Lynam-Smith said that a new member of the Poors Land Charity Committee is a qualified solicitor and
she has agreed to meet with David Hodson in an
attempt to finalise the legal ownership of the land
and the rights of way across it. Cllr. Lynam-Smith
will report back to the Parish Council as soon as she has more information.
Page 258 Bayworth
Garage Site – clearance of ground cover
Cllr.
Graham reported on the site meeting he had recently with a representative of
the Vale Housing Association . Authorisation
for the work to clear the site has to come from Mr. Bill Henderson, Director of
Housing, and Cllr. Graham is waiting for a call from him.
Members
were also aware that the possible provision of social housing at this site is
an outstanding issue which needs further discussion.
Action: Cllr. Lynam-Smith to arrange an informal meeting between members
and Anna Kennedy, ORCC Rural Housing Enabler, in order to discuss the issues
involved in detail.
Page 259 Local Sustainability Appraisal Plan
Cllr.
Graham referred to his review of this document at the last meeting and
circulated a copy to Councillors and Clerk.
262
Page 259 OCC Minerals & Waste Sites
Proposals – Consultation Document
Cllr. Graham
had read this document and established that two sites in the vicinity are
mentioned –
(i) a field south of Cothill
(ii) land at Besselsleigh
Of
further interest is the mention of the possible use of a railway siding at Radley as a ‘rail hub’ – this being a means to transport
the gathered aggregates out of the area. If this suggestion were to eventually
become operational then it could have implications if Sunningwell and Boars
Hill were to be viewed as a route for HGVs travelling to Radley. However Cllr.
Graham stressed that this report goes no further than identifying these sites
as having geological potential and anything beyond this can only be speculation
at this stage.
7. CO-OPTION UPDATE
METHOD OF OPERATING WITH REDUCED NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS
Although
there has been no show of interest from residents so far, members remain
optimistic that when the latest edition of the Sunningwell Scene – which
contains a notice of the vacancies – has been fully distributed, co-option will
become more likely. It was also acknowledged that the energies of a number of
residents are currently being directed towards the forthcoming Festival and by
September these people may consider serving as Parish Councillors.
In the
meantime it was agreed to set aside two specific periods in the week (Mondays 5pm-7pm and Fridays 4.30pm-6.30pm) which Councillors
will, whenever possible, keep free to deal with planning applications and to
hold finance sub-committee meetings. Nominations to the other sub-committees
and liaison roles will necessarily need to wait until a full Council membership
is achieved, although effort will be made to cover any necessary business that
arises. The Clerk mentioned a meeting of the OGBN which is due to be held in
July and Cllr. Graham said that he will attend. A Finance Sub-Committee meeting
was arranged for the 9th July.
Action: Clerk
to send members a list of the Committee membership undertaken by Parish Councillors in the recent past.
8. FINANCE
Accounts for Payment
It was unanimously agreed to accept the
following accounts for payment –
Cheque
No.
|
Payee
|
Purpose
|
Amount
|
VAT
|
099
|
Mr. B. Cross
|
Litter Warden’s Duties
|
£93.27p
|
|
100
|
Pat Romans
|
Clerk’s salary/expenses
|
£1250.01p
|
|
101
|
St. Helen Without PC
|
Photocopying
|
£15.69p
|
|
102
|
Open Spaces Society
|
Subscription
|
£30.00p
|
|
103
|
Mr. Mike Woodward
|
Pond Waders
|
£29.99p
|
|
104
|
Parchments of Oxford
|
Sunningwell Festival
|
£668.44p
|
£99.55p
|
263
9.
PLANNING
a)
Decision Notice
SUN/1603 7, Brumcombe Lane, Bayworth
To erect
side and rear two storey extension to existing two storey house
Permission granted
b)
Applications dealt with between meetings
SUN/20110 Quoin Barn, 6, Beaulieu Court, Pen Lane, Sunningwell
Modification of existing living room & main bedroom windows to form
doorways. Construction of a first floor platform with staircase down to
courtyard. Creation of a lobby under proposed new
staircase.
No objections
SUN/16042 Woodcote,
Red Copse Lane, Boars Hill
Demolition of utility room, garage & trailer store. Erection of a
two storey extension. New roof & roof conversion.
Replacement windows & rendering of existing &
proposed new structure. Internal alterations.
Parish Council response: The whole project appears to be an over
development within the Green Belt and we therefore object to the application
(full details on file).
SUN/20079 The Willows, Lincombe Lane, Boars Hill
Demolition of existing ancilliary buildings. Erection of two
storey rear and single storey side extensions.
Parish Council response: We are concerned that this may be an over
development within the Green Belt and therefore object to the application (full
details on file).
c)
New applications still to be dealt with
SUN/16776/2-T Foxcombe
Hill Farm, Lincombe Lane, Boars Hill
Temporary
permission for one agricultural dwelling
07/00860/AFD Foxcombe
Hill Farm, Lincombe Lane, Boars Hill
Erection of two barns for workshop implements and feed storage. Erection of a
hatchery for incubation, storage and farm office.
SUN/3059/8 The Copse House, Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill
Erection
of a Garden Store
SUN/8324/1 Chilswell Edge, Chilswell Lane, Boars Hill
Construction
of a timber garden room and minor internal alterations
OCC –
V.08/07 Sunningwell
C/E Primary School
Retention of consent and continued use of one single prefabricated
building for a further period of five years.
264
It was
accepted that the deadlines for these applications mean that the Parish Council
responses will need to be submitted within the next few days and reported at
the next meeting.
d)
Notification of Appeal
Land
adjoining Foxcombe Rise, Foxcombe Road, Boars
Hill
Erection
of single dwelling
Action: Clerk
to a) request
details of the Inspector’s decision b)
forward Cllr. Bennett a copy of the Council’s response to this application.
10.
HEDGEROW STRATEGY
Cllr.
Graham reminded members that Iain Corbyn’s recent
attendance at a Parish Council meeting had raised some very interesting ideas
in principle but the momentum seems to have been lost. It was agreed that the
Council’s commitment to supervised hedge clearance and replanting remains and
that further discussion should take place.
Action: Cllr.
Graham to contact Iain Corbyn to arrange a meeting.
11.
CORRESPONDENCE
The
following correspondence has been received since the last meeting
11.1 OCC
Minerals & Waste – change to preferred options consultation (noted)
11.2 Review of external transport
posts (Clerk)
11.3 Vale DC Visit by Chair of Council (Clerk/Cllr.
Bennett)
11,4
Small grants for Parish & Town Councils & organizations
(Cllr.
Graham)
11.5 OALC
Agendas for training days (all members)
11.6 Thames Water - Changes to consultation process (noted)
11.7 Open Space – magazine & annual report (Cllr.
Lynam-Smith)
11.8 RoSPA - Play Area
inspection – July (noted)
11.9 Standards Board – Revised Members Code of Conduct ) copies circulated)
11.10
OCC Newsletters – May & June
2007
11.11 Home2School Newsletter – Summer 2007
11.12
Vale DC Standards
Committee – agenda & minutes – for information
11.13
OALC AGM Agenda – 11th
June + Annual Report
11.14
ORCC Review
11.15
CAB AGM 28th June
11.16 Oxfordshire Community Foundation – Report 2005-2006 (Cllr.
Bennett)
265
12.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a) Cllr. Lynam-Smith
reported on a site meeting she had arranged recently on the issue of flood
prevention in the Parish. This meeting was also attended by Mr. Philip Pocock, agent for landowner Miss Boditch,
and Mr. Peter Dela, Vale DC Water Engineer.They
had not been prepared to support the idea of installing proper drainage ditches
to the north of the Parish because of the expense involved and Cllr. Lynam-Smith is concerned that an easier, cheaper option could
have serious consequences in the future for residents with properties
vulnerable to flooding in severe weather. She feels that the Parish Council need
advice from an independent, qualified hydrologist who would be able to give an
overview of the needs of the whole Parish. It was agreed that because of the
financial implications Cllr. Lynam-Smith will supply
full details at the next meeting of the Finance Sub-Committee and members will
then be in a position to make a recommendation at the next Parish Council meeting.
b) Due to
a holiday arranged before his appointment, the Clerk said that he would not be
available for the September meeting. It was agreed to bring the Parish Council
meeting forward to the 19th September.
Action: Clerk
to re-arrange the Hall booking as necessary.
There being
no further business Cllr. Bennett closed the meeting at 9.10pm.
Signed……………………………………….Date…………………………………
Chairman
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