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Sunningwell Parish Council
DRAFT SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION AND APPROVAL BY THE NEXT PC MEETING
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUNNINGWELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 24th JUNE 2009
Present: Cllrs E
Bennett (Chairman), D Graham, H Lynam-Smith, J Russell, and C Wise. OCC Cllr Arash
Fatemian
In attendance: M W Rothery (Clerk)
62/09 Oxfordshire CC Councillor
The Chairman welcomed recently
elected OCC Cllr Arash Fatemian to the meeting. Cllr Fatemian informed the
council that he had joined the Adult Services, and Democracy & Organisation
committees of OCC. He was planning to visit Sunningwell and neighbouring
parishes shortly; he asked to be kept informed of local problems such as
highway potholes.
63/09 Vale of White
Horse DC
Cllr Wise informed the council
that he had been appointed to the Planning Committee of VWHDC.
64/09 Apologies for Absence
There were none.
65/09 Declarations of Interests
Cllr Bennett declared a personal
interest in item 11, Planning – former Warnborough College
site.
Cllr Lynam-Smith declared a
personal interest in the proposed flood alleviation scheme.
66/09 Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on
13th May 2009
The Minutes of the AGM held on 13th May 2009 were
approved, and signed by the Chairman.
67/09 Matters Arising from the Minutes
Minute 42/09 Village Hall Car Park – Members noted the repairs to
the surface of the car park that had been carried out by Geoff Cross
(Contractor); the car park surface had been significantly improved, and user
feedback had been very favourable. Members noted also that the repairs were not
designed to last more than a few years and that further and more substantial
work would be required when and if the ownership of the land is clarified.
68/09 Land Surrounding the Village Pond
There had been no further
progress on this item, which would be hopefully discussed at the next meeting.
69/09 Flood Alleviation
(a) Cllr Wise reported that he
had met with Peter Dela of VWHDC to
discuss the revised design of the proposed scheme to increase the capacity of
the canal basin immediately upstream of Sunningwell. As a result of this
discussion Mr Dela had agreed to make further technical revisions, and submit
to the parish council for review. However it appeared that the land owner had
agreed that such works could only be carried out without detriment to the land
owner’s property, and this would limit the volume of water that could be held
back by the proposed scheme. Cllr Wise advised the council that the proposed
scheme would not prevent any flooding but reduce the risk of serious flooding
of properties downstream. Although the capital cost of the project is included
in the Vales’ capital programme, the parish council would be responsible for
the regular maintenance of the works, such as clearing debris from the outfall
pipe.
Members expressed their
appreciation to Cllrs Lynam-Smith and Wise for their efforts in progressing
this scheme.
(b) Cllr Lynam-Smith reported
that the deadline for making applications for grant under the Local Community
Flood Group scheme was 30 June. She proposed that an application be made in
respect of further flood alleviation work required in the parish. It was
considered that the scope of this work was not sufficiently advanced at this
time, and that an assessment of the effect of the proposed work to the canal basin
was required before it could be progressed further.
(c ) Cllr Russell reported that
she had recently toured the parish with Mr Gordon Hunt, OCC drainage engineer.
It was important to check the condition of ditches prior to each winter and
ensure that any remedial work to keep them clear is carried out quickly. The
parish council would in the autumn send out the annual letters to landowners to
this effect. There were two hotspots that needed urgent attention. One was the
trees growing in the ditch alongside the double bend between Sunningwell and
Long furlong; the other was the lateral ditch between Bayworth Chapel and the
neighbouring property owned by Mr D Heelas.
Action: It was resolved that the Clerk
write letters to the relevant landowners asking for remedial works to be
carried out as a matter of some urgency.
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Cllr Russell advised the council
that new potholes should be reported immediately to OCC Highways on 0845 310 11
11.
70/09 Sunningwell Pond
Cllr Graham reported that the
recent working party had partially cleared the overgrown water cress, and that
this had improved water flow. Hay bales had been inserted to reduce algae
growth. It had been necessary to hire a skip to remove and dispose of material
from the pond. Some aquatic plants had been obtained. Members expressed their
appreciation of the efforts of the pond sub-committee.
71/09 Village Hall Management Committee
The annual report and accounts of
the Village Hall Management Committee for the year ended 31 March 2009 were noted.
72/09 Finance
(a) It was resolved to approve
the following payments:
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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1193
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B Cross
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Litter Warden (June – 4
weeks)
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102.31
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1194
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Zurich Municipal
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Annual Premium
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485.29
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1195
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Open Spaces Society
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Annual Subscription
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40.00
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1196
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Geoff Cross(Contractor)
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Repairs to village hall car park
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1360.80
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1197
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Sunningwell VHMC
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Hire of hall for PC
meetings 2008/9
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84.00
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1198
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Shirley Robinson
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Plants, and hire of skip
(pond mtce)
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139.00
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18.13
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1199
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Sunningwell Scene
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Summer edition – 500 copies
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415.00
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1200
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M W
Rothery
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Clerk salary & exps –
April& May
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963.90
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(b) The Clerk reported that the report of the
Auditor on the 2008/9 accounts was awaited. The Auditor had requested
information relating to the transfer, to the owner of 57 Sunningwell, of land
at the rear of the village hall. He had researched the relevant files and
responded accordingly.
73/09 Planning
The following applications were
considered:
SUN/13347/3 Conversion of existing garage to study and existing
car-port to be rebuilt, at Fairfield,
Foxcombe Road,
Boars Hill
Members noted that this property
had been extended in 2004, and had no objection to the proposed further
extension provided that the aggregate volume increase does not exceed the
permitted limit.
SUN/2963/13 Erection of a 40-bed residential care home (Class C2) and 7
close care apartments, on the former Warnborough
College Site, Foxcombe Road,
Boars Hill
Cllr Lynam-Smith had reviewed the
detailed application at length and explained the proposed development to
members. A copy of the detailed comments of the Boars Hill Association was
tabled.
After considerable discussion, the
Council resolved to object to the proposed development for the following
reasons:
1. It
would be an inappropriate development in, and have a detrimental impact on, the
green belt, particularly in the light of the recent planning decisions relating
to the site.
2. The
footprint of the proposed development appears greatly in excess of the original
buildings on the site.
3. The
application is entitled ‘erection of 40 bed residential care home’ whereas on closer inspection the plans
clearly show that it is for a nursing
home (para 5.14 of the planning statement and the associated drawings).
There is a considerable difference between the two, in that a nursing home
requires many more staff involving significant traffic movements 24/7. A
nursing home is more of an ‘institution’ that the Planning Inspector recently
ruled as inappropriate.
4. The
scale of the site increases the probability of further expansion. Members noted
the track record of this company in incremental development of other sites, and
feared that this could be the thin end of the wedge.
5. The
proposed entrance to the site and the large volume of traffic generated by a
large nursing home would exacerbate what is already a busy and dangerous road.
6. The
parish council is not convinced of the need for further nursing home capacity
in the immediate locality, and of the infrastructure that would be needed to
support it.
The parish council does support
the development of this site, such as the extant consent for housing, but is of
the opinion that the proposed development is not materially different from that
turned down by the planning authority and supported by the Planning Inspector.
Planning Decisions
SUN/20801/1 Demolition of existing house, and erection of
two-storey, 4 bedroom dwelling with attic room. 28 Brumcombe Lane, Bayworth. PERMITTED
74/09 Planning Consultation Documents
The following consultation
documents were considered:
a.
Draft revised Statement of Community Involvement
b.
Draft Supplementary Planning document: Sustainable
Design
c.
Draft Supplementary Planning document: Residential
Design Guide
The Clerk apprised members of the salient
points of each document. It was resolved that there were no matters on which
the council needed to make any representations.
75/09 Correspondence
The full list of correspondence
has been circulated to members by e-mail. The Clerk highlighted the following
matters not already discussed earlier in the meeting.
115/09 Crime Prevention Tri-sign – Clerk to ascertain size of the
sign to see whether its installation at the village hall car park would be
appropriate.
131/09 ROSPA Safety Inspection – the inspection of the play
equipment will take place during July.
134/09 Alison Rooke, Chair VWHDC – Clerk to invite her to attend
the fete on 1 August. DG will host.
139/09 85 Sunningwell – Following consultation the Department of Transport has made the Order for the stopping up
of part of the highway adjoining 85 Sunningwell.
140/09 South East RSS – gypsy and
traveller sites. The partial review document was noted.
76/09 Other Business
1. The
Clerk was instructed to ask Brian Short of OCC Highways to check whether the
paving slabs laid opposite the entrance to Beaulieu Court are obstructing the
highway.
2. Cllr
Wise reported that the refurbishment of the Wootton & Dry Sandford
Community Centre had started.
3. Members
expressed their warm appreciation of the work of former OCC Cllr Bob Johnston
and asked the Clerk to send him an appropriate letter on their behalf.
77/09 Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday
29th July, 2009
in Sunningwell Village Hall.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.10pm
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