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Sunningwell Parish Council
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUNNINGWELL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER 2008
Present: Cllrs E
Bennett (Chairman), T Foggin, D Graham, and H Lynam-Smith. OCC Cllr B Johnston
In attendance: M W Rothery (Clerk)
87/08 Apologies for Absence
Cllr J Russell
88/08 Declarations of Interests
Cllr Lynam-Smith declared a
personal interest in the surface water flooding project.
89/08 Minutes of the Meeting held on 30th July 2008
Subject to the replacement of the
‘30%’ with ‘13%’ in Minute 75/08, the minutes of the meeting on 30th
July were approved, and signed by the Chairman.
90/08 Matters Arising from the Minutes
79/08 Cricket Field The council considered the reply from Hedges Solicitors to the
Clerk’s letter of instructions following the last meeting, and e-mails from the
Rector and a Church Warden. Those e-mails had raised the question of the
legality of the parish council registering charitable land. It was agreed that
a copy of the letter dated 27
November 1991 from the Chief
Charity Commissioner to John Patten MP, stating that the Charity
Commissioners would be prepared in principle to approve such a transfer,
together with copies of other relevant correspondence, to the Rector and Church
Wardens.
Action: Clerk to arrange for copies to be
sent
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79/08 Local roads The Clerk reported that John Beaumont of OCC
Highways had informed him that there is an annual programme for clearing
highway gullies; the Clerk was asked to enquire when the gulleys between
Sunningwell and Bayworth are to be cleared.
Action: Clerk to enquire of Mr Beaumont of OCC Highways
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Mr Beaumont had also confirmed
that the riparian landowners are responsible for clearing ditches and that
Peter Dela of Vale of White Horse DC could help with any problems in this
regard.
Action: Clerk to write to riparian
landowners, in similar terms to previous years.
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The pothole near the entrance to
the Manor House is becoming dangerous; the Clerk was asked to chase OCC
Highways regarding its urgent repair.
Action: Clerk to contact OCC Highways
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79/08 Overhanging trees The Clerk reported that letters had been
sent to the owners of Manor House and Orchard Cottage requesting that their
overhanging trees and hedges be trimmed; Councillors reported that these had
been successful.
79/08 Flood prevention project Councillor Lynam-Smith reported that
Peter Dela of VWHDC had informed her that the flood prevention project would be
undertaken during this financial year 2008/9. Photographs of past flooding
incidents were sought.
79/08 Village footpath map The Clerk reported that a link to the
OCC footpath maps site had been put on the parish website, www.sunningwellparishcouncil.gov.uk
The footpath from Bayworth Manor
to Bayworth had not been reinstated following field ploughing. It was agreed to
ask the OCC Rights of Way Officer to contact the landowner, but first
Councillor Lynam-Smith will check the line of the footpath as it appears to be
in the wrong place.
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 Solicitors acting for the
Pilkington Trust had advised that it was unlikely that the Trust does in fact
own the right of way land. It was agreed to advise Hodsons not to pursue this
matter any further.
(ii)
It was agreed to pay Hodsons invoice for £425 + VAT for
outstanding fees; however interest amounting to £86.89 due to the council can
be deducted from this invoice before payment. The Clerk was asked to inform
Hodsons that payment was in full and final settlement of this matter.
(iii)
Hodson’s advice that the council’s insurers should be
consulted before any consideration of carrying out emergency repairs to the car
park surface, was noted; the Clerk was asked to write accordingly to Zurich.
Action: Clerk to write to Zurich regarding the insurance position if
emergency repair works are carried out.
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(iv)
It was further agreed that the council takes steps to
register the car park land; the Clerk was asked to discuss with Mr Bob Warne the procedure for achieving this without
incurring excessive legal fees.
Action: Clerk to discuss with Bob Warne
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81/08 Thames Water draft water
resources management plan 2010-2036 the council noted with pleasure that
the Environment Agency had concluded that the draft plan did not make the case
for the proposed new reservoir south west of Abingdon.
91/08 Play Area
The report of the annual ROSPA
safety inspection was considered. It was agreed that Cllr Foggin obtain quotes
for the remedial work to the concrete swing foundation, for a replacement swing
chain, and for one new swing.
Action: Cllr Foggin to obtain quotations.
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92/08 Survey of Sunningwell Pond
The report of the survey
commissioned by Mike Woodward and
Shirley Robinson was discussed. It was agreed that the source of the water
problem needed first to be determined, and to this end the Clerk was asked to
contact the Environment Agency with a view to their carrying out a water
chemistry test. A maximum budget of £150 was agreed.
Councillors expressed concern
that the survey was undertaken without reference to the council, and asked the
Clerk to advise Mr Woodward of the correct procedure for the future.
Action: Clerk to advise Mike Woodward
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93/08 BT Payphones
The council considered a letter
from Mr Charles Frost regarding the future of BT payphones; Mr Frost attended
the meeting and expanded on the points in his letter. The modern payphone box
in Bayworth is scheduled to be removed by BT as is uneconomic.
Action: Cllr Graham to conduct a straw
poll at the forthcoming coffee morning.
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The traditional red box in
Sunningwell is not scheduled for removal but paradoxically is currently not
commissioned, and it was agreed that the council would ask BT to repair and
recommission it. The council will then consider whether to ‘adopt’ the phone
box, in which case Mr Frost who has a particular interest in old phone boxes,
offered to maintain it.
94/08 Dog Waste Bin in Bayworth
It was agreed to defer
consideration of the proposal to install a dog waste bin in Bayworth to the
next meeting, when Cllr Graham will have undertaken more research.
95/08 Finance
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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1161*
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PWLB
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Loan repayment
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1002.41
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1162
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B Cross
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Litter Warden – Aug &
Sept
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193.79
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1163
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Playsafety Ltd
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Annual ROSPA inspection
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70.50
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10.50
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1164
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Hodsons Solicitors
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Outstanding fees (net)*
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412.49
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74.38
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1165
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Rod d’Ayala
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Pond survey report
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212.00
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(*
cheque 1161 was signed by the Chairman and one other councillor in August to
enable the dead line to be met)
96/08 Planning
a) Applications dealt with
between meetings
SUN/16237/1 Two storey and single storey rear extension. 2 Beaulieu Court, Pen Lane,
Sunningwell: No comment was made as the applicant had advised that it had been
turned down by the planning department (NB
this was disputed by VWHDC, who subsequently approved it)
SUN/14567/2 Demolition of existing kitchen extension and addition
of new two storey extension incorporating new kitchen with new bedroom suite
over. Bretton, Lincombe Lane,
Boars Hill: Comment: Object as the proposed extension would be aesthetically
incompatible with the existing house and neighbourhood.
b) Decision Notices received
SUN/11354/4 2 The Quarry, Sunningwell PERMITTED
SUN/7102/10 Foxcombe Lodge Hotel, Boars Hill PERMITTED
SUN/16237/1 2 Beaulieu Court, Pen lane, two storey and single
storey rear extension PERMITTED
c) New Applications
SUN/10425/2 demolition of outbuildings/garage and erection of
garage and store. Whitsun Meadows, Berkeley
road, Boars Hill. Comment: No objection
SUN/10425/3 demolition of existing conservatory and erection of
garden room. Whitsun Meadows, Berkeley
road, Boars Hill. Comment: No objection
SUN/20643. Demolition of existing dwelling house and erection of
replacement dwelling and garage block. Hillsborough, Lincombe Lane, Boars Hill. Comment: No
objection subject to clarification that the 30% increase limit has not been
breached. As a supplementary comment the council was concerned at the loss of
another fine example of interesting
architecture, and asked the Clerk to write to the VWHDC asking them to take
this into account in the preparation of the emerging planning framework.
d) New planning regulations governing permitted development.
The Clerk was asked to write to
VWHDC asking how the new planning regulations are to be implemented, and what
information the PC will be given.
e) Development at 71 Sunningwell
The Clerk reported that he had
been informed by an officer of the planning department that the conditions of
the planning consent regarding the slab height and roof line appeared not to
have been complied with and that this was under investigation by the planning
enforcement officer.
97/08 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 119 Changes to the draft regional spatial strategy for the South East Cllr Graham reported that the OGBN planned to circulate
advice to parish councils on responding to this consultation document. In view
of the deadline of 24 October it was decided to delegate any response to the
Clerk in consultation with the Chairman.
Item 144 BBO Air Ambulance Trust It was agreed not to make a
donation.
Item 147 SOFO Research Centre and Museum It was agreed not to make
a donation.
Item 153 Shelter & Bicester CAB invitation to community
workshop on proposed eco-town for Weston Otmoor 18 & 25 September
Item 155 SEERA partial review of SE Plan regarding gypsy and traveller
accommodation Cllr Johnston reported that this had no impact on the parish.
98/08 Other Business
a) Cllr
Bennett reported that Mr Brian Cross was recovering after a spell in hospital,
but hoped still to undertake his normal litter duties later in the month.
b) It
was agreed that the Clerk write to the editor of Sunningwell Scene suggesting
that if anonymous letters such as Parents
of Bayworth (summer 2008 issue) are to be published then they should be
edited to ensure they are shorter, more balanced and to remove excessive
criticism of third parties.
99/08 Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 29 October at 7.30pm in Sunningwell Village Hall.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.53pm.
Approved by the Parish Council
on 29 October 2008, and signed by the Chairman
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