Meeting in
Present:
Apologies for absence from Sue Totterdell.
Cllr
There were no members of the public present. Eleanor Bowey and Margaret Hedger sent their
apologies for absence.
The meeting opened at
1. Minutes
of meeting on
The minutes were passed as a true and correct
record.
2. Matters arising
Village website.
The Clerk (as joint
Webmaster) will contact people who have expressed interest in helping to
explore with them possible improvements/additions to the website
3. Planning applications
a) Nursery
rooms and sleepover accommodation at Little Acorns Day Nursery
Planning
permission for the work has been granted
b) Repairs and alterations for barn
conversion at Ivy Farm
This planning application
has been withdrawn by the applicant.
c) Single detached dwelling at land
adjacent to Ash Farm.
Minor amendments to one
elevation were discussed and the Council decided it had no strong views on the
amendment.
d) Residential development for a chalet bungalow at land
adjoining 4 Manor Close
The Council decided it had
no strong views on the application but has concerns that it would give the effect of
overcrowding which would affect the scale of the street scene in Manor Close,
and concerns about the overhead cables which infringe on the site.
4. Traffic through village
a) Removal of white lines and road signs
It was confirmed that the decision
on which lines, markings and signs could be removed was taken by Oxfordshire
Highways when it met parish councillors earlier in the summer. The Council noted that the nature of driving
through the village has now changed and the Council will discuss with
Oxfordshire Highways whether some of the signs should be replaced. Highways will be requested when they plan to
remeasure the speed of traffic through the village so it can be compared with
the traffic speed before the experiment started.
b) UKAEA Harwell traffic proposals
There has been no further
contact with UKAEA.
c) Proposed closure of Hagbourne Hill
The proposed
closure so for the pipeline crossing by Thames Water was noted.
d) Heavy traffic monitoring
Images of the heavy
vehicles prohibited from the village will be included in the next Newsletter.
e) A response by the Parish Council is
needed on the recent high class patch and mend to Hagbourne Hill. Councillors
noted the inadequacy of work done and the excessive time taken to achieve very
little - poor value for money.
5. Village maintenance
a) Maintenance of village garden
Richard Evans has
started working on the village garden.
b) Highways maintenance
Oxfordshire Highways have refused to
maintain the open ditch that takes surface water from the road near Green
Thatch between the road gulley and the garden wall as it is the private owner’s
responsibility.
c) Improvements to rights of way.
Suggestions for specific improvements will be
discussed at the next Council meeting, including proposals of the Village
Action Group.
d) Definitive land ownership map
A map suitable for
recording land ownership has now been obtained and
6. Parish Plan – progress report
There was no report of progress.
7. Land adjacent to Horse and
Greene King and
the tenant have confirmed their agreement for the plot to be released to the
Council.
The Clerk will explore
whether a Caution against First Registration could be applied for.
The Council decided to
accept a quotation for £800 to clear the plot plus a further amount of £140 for
carting away soil or £240 for carting away mixed rubble.
8. Parish Clerk’s training
The Clerk reported that he
has commenced the distance learning course for basis training for clerks.
9. Revised Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
The Council
noted that comments have been received from OALC which would necessitate
changes to the drafts. Comments will be
sent to the Clerk by the end of September with a view to approving the new
documents including proposals for delegation at the next Council meeting.
10. Finance
a) Audit of the Annual Return and Auditor’s report
The audited Annual Return was
approved and accepted by the Council and the Auditor’s report was noted.
b) Report on expenditure
The Clerk’s Report on Expenditure was
accepted.
c) Cheques signed
WWDP (website hosting) - £23.49
11. Storage of archives
The Clerk will write to
neighbouring town and village councils to ascertain whether they have spare
storage capacity the Council could use.
12. Communication
a) Correspondence
A letter received from Dave
and Lynne Carter was read to the Council regarding the experimental traffic
scheme, heavy lorries and potholes in the road that are dangerous for
pedestrians. The Clerk was asked to report
the heavy lorries and potholes and draft a reply to Mr & Mrs Carter.
b) Recent consultation invitations
The Council decided to respond
to consultation invitations from UKAEA (HVLA waste) and from SEERA (Partial
Review of South East Plan dealing with gypsy and travellers’ sites). The Council decided to delegate the formal response
to the Clerk who would consult with members on the responses.
13. Any other business
Date of next meeting
Chairman……………………………………… date…………………………………..