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Sunningwell Parish Council
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUNNINGWELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 28th November 2007
Present: Cllrs E Bennett (acting Chair), T Foggin, H Lynam-Smith, and J Russell.
In attendance: M W
Rothery (Clerk); OCC Cllr B Johnston
Mr & Mrs M Woodward, Mr S Wombwell, Mr T Thomas, Mr R Warne and other members of the
Sunningwell Festival Committee attended the meeting for the first item.
1. Public Forum - Sunningwell
Festival
At the invitation of the parish
council members of the Festival committee addressed the meeting.
Vanessa Woodward explained that
it started with a suggestion by the Parish Clerk at the time that an event be
organised to celebrate the millennium. The first event was held around the
village pond in 2000. It was followed in 2002 with two nights of opera. In 2005
it was expanded to an all-encompassing eight days of music and fun, and in 2007
this became ten days.
Tony Thomas outlined the
objectives of the Festival: to unite all generations and organisations in the
village; to encourage a sense of belonging; to promote family values; to create
a model for future generations, and to celebrate all that’s great in
Sunningwell.
Bob Warne explained that the
committee were mindful of their health and safety responsibilities. Risk
assessments had been carried out and specific responsibilities allocated.
Village networks and contacts were used to attract sponsorship. The festival
had supported local business, especially the Flowing Well. There was a daily
‘wash up’ reviewing how things went and they had received only one complaint in
2007.
Simon
Wombwell presented detailed accounts of the finances
of the 2007 festival. These showed there was a small loss of £1,258 compared
with a planned surplus of £1,946. This was attributed solely to the poor
weather that had hit ticket sales. He said these figures showed that any
perception that the festival was a profit making venture for private gain was
incorrect. The infrastructure costs were significant and fixed irrespective of
weather; however much of this was underpinned by grants. Any profits would be
ploughed back for future festivals.
Mike Woodward
said that despite the difficulties caused by the poor weather this year the
Committee hoped to run another festival in either 2009 or 2010. In response to
questions he said the parish council had made the lottery grant application
because the committee was not registered as a charity; the committee was
originally a sub-committee of the parish council; the committee was grateful
for the continued support of the parish council including the grant of £1000. He
felt that the festival had benefited many residents including school children,
many of whom including newcomers were involved or attended; the publicity had
raised the profile of Sunningwell. Mike dismissed reports alleging that he had
made large profits as typical and inaccurate press speculation.
The Chairman thanked Mr Woodward
and members of the Festival Committee for their detailed presentation and the frank discussion.
2. Oxfordshire CC
OCC Cllr Bob
Johnston reported that the county council was trying to deal
with a number of pressures in preparing a budget for 2008/9:
·
A backlog of highway repairs – the current
budget is only half that of comparable counties
·
Costs of flooding in July 2007-11-29 increased
costs of childrens’ services particularly the placing
of children in specialist out-of-county schools
·
The demographics of the population are resulting
in increasing numbers of older people
for which their was insufficient allowance in central government grants
·
The ruling party’s pledge to limit council tax
increases to 3.25%.
3. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Cllr
D Graham, and VWHDC Cllrs V Shaw and C Wise
4. Declarations of
Interest
There were
none
5. Minutes of the
Meeting held on 31st October 2007
Subject to the insertion of the
words ‘in Foxcombe Road’
in the first line of Minute 4 page 275, the minutes were approved and signed by
the Chairman.
6. Matters Arising
from the Minutes
Page 275 Minute 4 Protruding hedges – a complaint had been received
from comments from a resident regarding the beech hedge o/s Cherry Tree Cottage
in Boars Hill that was partially obstructing the footpath.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk write
to the owners asking them to cut the hedge back to allow the full width of
the footpath.
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Page 275 Minute 4 Village Hall/Pond Surrounds Cllr Lynam-Smith
reported on the meeting of the Poor Lands Committee on 1 November. The
committee is looking into the registering of School House and the land in front
of it by the pond. Notices will be posted inviting under-25s to apply for
grants or be nominated for financial assistance with further education.
Page 275 Minute 4 Parish Notice Board Cllr Bennett reported that
she had received a positive reply from the manager of Oxford Beaumont.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk send
a map to Oxford Beaumont
seeking confirmation of the exact location to establish whether it is on land
owned by Oxford Beaumont or
by the highway authority.
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Page 275 Minute 4 Mobile SIDs The Chairman
reported that she had received more letters of complaint about speeding cars in
Boars Hill. OCC Cllr Johnston advised that the speeding problem in Foxcombe Road was due to the
short length of unrestricted road between two speed limited sections. He
suggested that the council write to the Principal Highways Engineer, Geoff Barrell, at Speedwell House asking for the matter to be
referred to the Speed Reference Group, and for a mobile SID to be stationed
there occasionally.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk write
accordingly to Mr Barrell.
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Page 276 Minute 4 Development of 57 Sunningwell Mr Bob Warne
explained the problem of the small triangular shaped ‘strip’ of land, 1.5m wide
at its widest point, along the fence at the rear of the village hall. He felt
this could be resolved by discussion with the owner of 57 Sunningwell. Mr Warne
agreed to clarify the detail with councillors. The owner was expected to ask
the relevant utilities to make gas and electricity connections after Christmas.
It was expected that these would be made with the existing supply lines to the
village hall, as the utility companies are responsible for maintaining such
lines and pipes even under private land (unlike the water company). Mr Warne
suggested that the council advise their Solicitor, David Hodson,
to ensure that this is covered in the relevant easements etc to be drawn up. Mr
Warne advised that the contractor who laid the new water main under the car
park is responsible for its proper reinstatement for the next 12 months.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk write
again to the council’s solicitor, David Hodson, to
follow up the Clerk’s letter earlier in the month. The letter should cover
the above points, the right of access over the car park and liability for the
cost of maintaining the village hall car park
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Page 276 Minute 4 Sunningwell Addresses VWHDC
had replied to the effect that the council was simply using the Royal Mail
addresses, which use Abingdon as the postal town for Sunningwell and Bayworth, and Oxford
for Boars Hill. Councillors noted that in a recent planning application the
planning department had changed the address from 52 Sunningwell to 52
Sunningwell Road, Abingdon, which
they felt was un-necessary and
inappropriate.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk ask
VWHDC Cllr Wise to take this up with the council, and reply to the Vale
citing the recent example of the planning department changing an address.
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Page 278 Minute 9 Hedgerow Strategy
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk
should meet with Cllr Lynam-Smith on 6 December to identify the properties to
whom a letter reminding them to cut back hedges and clear ditches should be
sent
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Page 278 Minute 11(ii) OCC have agreed to install a salt box at a
cost of £150
7. Finance
(a) Finance Sub-Committee Meeting 22 November 2007
(i) The
sub-committee recommended a donation of £100 to the South & Vale Carers
centre. This was agreed by the council.
(ii) The sub-committee
recommended that the parish council should proceed to taking over the land at
the cricket filed and recreation ground from the Church Commissioners. This was
agreed by the council.
(iii) The council discussed the
draft budget for 2008/9, and agreed to consider this again at the Finance
Sub-Committee on 24 January, prior to the council finalising this and the
precept at its January meeting.
(b) 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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1126
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B Cross
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Letter Warden (5 weeks to
30 Nov)
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100.00
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1127
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R Wiggins
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Mowing etc pond surrounds
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53.00
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1128
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T Foggin
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Expenses- varnish for
notice board
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15.48
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1129
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South & Vale Carers
Centre
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Donation
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100.00
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8. Planning
(a) Applications dealt with between meetings
There were none
(b) Decision Notices received
There were none
c) New Applications
SUN/6545/19 Restoration of outbuildings, 52 Sunningwell- this
application had been received that day with a deadline of 17 December. It was
passed to Cllr Lynam-Smith who will consult relevant parties and advise the
Clerk of the response to be made.
9. Surface Water
Flooding
Cllr Lynam-Smith reported that a
useful site inspection had been made on 10 November, when Cllr Chris
Wise had made number of practical suggestions.
Action: It was agreed that the Clerk ask
Cllr Wise to recommend civil engineers who could be approached for a
professional view on the various options.
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10. Consultation
Documents
(i) Issue
and Options for future development framework
Mr Bob Warne had attended the AGM
of the Oxford Green Belt Network with Cllr Graham. The primary issue was the
threat of 6,500 new houses He urged the council to respond to this document and
to the consultation paper on the South East Plan to be issued after Christmas. Councillors agreed to send comments on the
Issues and Options document distributed at the last meeting, to the Clerk to
enable a response to be made by 31 December.
It was agreed to ask former
Chairman Bob Nichol if he would like to review
the Issues and Options paper, and give the council the benefit of his advice.
(ii) VHWDC Consultation Paper: Open Space,
Sport and Recreation Strategy
Cllr Foggin agreed to study this
paper and advise the council if any comments should be submitted.
11. Correspondence
requiring discussion/action
The full list of correspondence received
had been circulated to councillors by e-mail.
Item 124 Environment Agency – Proposed enmainment
of 260m of River Stert near Peachcroft Abingdon The Clerk was
asked to write to the EA seeking reassurance that the work will not cause
flooding problems upstream eg Long Furlong Road and
adjacent Sunningwell.
Item 131VWHDC Consultation on Validation Checklists Cllr Lynam-Smith
undertook to study this paper to see if the council needs to make any comments.
12. Other Business
Children’s Playground Cllr Foggin reported that he had inspected
the playground and found that the wood chip safety surface required another
100mm to meet the ROSPA standard. Also the concrete base of the central column
had sharp edges. Cllr Foggin undertook to make the concrete base safer (it
would be partially covered by the additional woodchip surface), and find a
source for the woodchip.
13. Next Meeting
The next
meeting will be held on Wednesday 30th
January 2008 at Sunningwell Village Hall at 7.30pm
The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.30pm.
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