Hilary Fenton informed the Parish Council that Kingsgate residents’ choice of new owner has been successful, and the new owner has committed themselves to keeping the warden.
It was noted that the time taken to repair Chimney Bridge seemed excessive, at around three weeks. The Clerk agreed to forward the email correspondence to Charles Mathew.
A question was asked as to who is responsible for putting up the “Road Flooded” signs when the Great Brook road is flooded – it is assumed that this is the responsibility of Oxfordshire Highways.
A local resident raised her ongoing concerns about the potholes in the parish. John Little informed the resident that Oxfordshire County Council’s Highways budget is not sufficient for them to deal with all the potholes across the county and that the budget is the target of further cuts for 2010/11, with any non-essential road maintenance being seriously restricted. Charles Mathew underlined this – the County Council needs to make £107 million in cuts over the next 5 years. He asked the Clerk to forward to him a list of outstanding local Highways work. It was agreed that Cote Mile and Back Laneshould be included on this list.
6. OCC/WODC items
None
7. Matters Arising from Previous Meetings
a) Bus stop sign to Oxford
Roy Williams reported on his meeting on 9 November 2009 with Matt Bromley from the County Council Public Transport Development team and Trevor Bayliss from Stagecoach to discuss the location of the stop. Representatives from Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Highways did not attend the meeting.
Mr Bromley and Mr Bayliss agreed that the bus stop coming from Oxford should be relocated to the Cote side of the Cote Roadnotice board, and the stop for buses to Oxford relocated to the opposite side of the road. A concern was raised that this stop would be too close to the bend, but Roy Williams said Mr Bromley and Mr Bayliss considered that this position would not be unsafe. The High Street bus stop would be retained and consideration would be made to installing a bus stop sign at Foxwood as this is a recognised stop. These changes cannot be progressed until approval is received from Oxfordshire Highways and Thames Valley Police. If they are happy with the proposals they will write to the residents nearby.
Roy Williams stated that if the plan to move the bus stops to near the Cote Roadnoticeboard goes ahead then he would propose that the Parish Council installs a bus shelter on the grass next to the notice board. There was some discussion on this point and no decision was made.
b) Cote Chapel
John Little has emailed Sir Alan Beith, and is awaiting a response.
c) Environmental weight limit – Bampton to Buckland Road, centre of Bampton
The implementation date for the environmental weight limit is not yet clear. It was noted that enforcement will largely fall to local residents. In order for companies breaching the limit to be fined they must be seen actually on the roads which are subject to the limit, not on roads leading towards them (ie., not in Aston). If people see vehicles breaching the limit they can report them to Trading Standards. Charles Mathew said that if people in Aston see HGVs heading towards Bampton from Aston they could report this to Trading Standards – a fine could not be issued on the basis of this information, but Trading Standards may write to the company concerned.
d) Request for new road signage into Chimney
The Clerk has once again chased Highways. Highways officers have been busy with the work involved in the decriminalisation of parking, but are hopeful of dealing with this outstanding issue now.
e) Street lights – part night switch-off for street lights in Aston (except for Cote Road, NorthStreet and High Street)
The results of the survey circulated in the November issue of Voices were discussed:
550 surveys were distributed, 83 were returned. 6 returned surveys were discounted because both boxes were ticked. Of the remaining 77, 46 stated they want the lights left on all night, 31 are happy with the current arrangements.
It was resolved that the Clerk would write to Oxfordshire County Council informing them of the results of this survey. Results of the survey to be put in the next issue of Voices.
It was noted that the County Council has indicated that it wants to extend the areas subject to part night lighting across the county.
f) Oxfordshire County Council’s proposed new river crossing at Newbridge
It was resolved that the Parish Council would respond that it is broadly supportive of the building of a new river crossing. However, the Parish Council thinks that the County Council should continue to make every effort to obtain funding for the building of bypasses for both Marcham and Standlake. The Parish Council also requests that the County Council considers the introduction of an environmental weight limit for these two villages in order to ensure that the larger HGVs are obliged to use the major trunk roads (the A40, A34, A420) suitable for their size. Following information provided by Charles Mathew concerning the possibility of the current bridge being strengthened in a way which would be acceptable to English Heritage to take vehicles up to 10 tonnes the letter also to ask whether this is the case, and if so, why this option is not being pursued rather than the building of a new bridge.
g) Future of Cote red telephone kiosk
The Clerk informed the Parish Council that as neither the Parish Council nor the District Council have agreed to adopt the kiosk BT has confirmed that they will keep the phone operative within the kiosk for the time being. If they decide to pursue its removal in the future they will initiate a new consultation.
It was decided that the Parish Council would still consider whether to request a listing for the kiosk – the information from English Heritage was put in the folder for circulation.
h) Maintenance of Back Laneverges & ditches – County Council owned land
As reported in the November meeting, the hedge/bramble growth on the verges has now been cut back. No work has yet been done on the ditches.
The County Council has now advised that it is their tenant’s responsibility to maintain the hedges and ditch. The County Council has reminded them of their responsibility.
Gill Long reported that she has found out that the tenant is a local resident – he arranged for a contractor to cut back the hedges and was going to clear the ditch himself, but this work has been delayed as he has broken his foot. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to the resident to thank him for cutting back the hedge.
i) Anti Social Behaviour
None.
8. Correspondence sent
Listed in the Clerk’s Briefing Notes previously circulated to all Councillors.
9. New Business
a) Grant request from Volunteer Link-up
It was resolved that the Council, in accordance with its powers under sections 137 and 139 of the Local Government Act 1972, would pay a grant of £135.00 to Volunteer Link-Up. This is, in the opinion of the Council, in the interests of the inhabitants of the Parish and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure. Proposed by Bob Jones, seconded by Jane West.
b) Replacement of windows and French Door at Village Hall
Three quotations for this work had been received:
Company A: £3,585.00
Company B: £3,565.60
Company C: £3,095.00
It was resolved to accept the quotation from Company C – RMD. Proosed by Bob Jones, seconded by Fanny Sedman. John Ordish agreed to supervise the work.
The Clerk was asked to place the order and to request that the work is carried out as soon as possible – John Ordish to supply possible dates to the Clerk.
c) Oxfordshire County Council’s Consultation on Local Transport Plan 3
The current consultation contains a long list of desired transport related schemes around the County. Parish Councils are asked to recommend whether any already identified schemes should be removed and to suggest further schemes for inclusions. It was decided that the Parish Council would request that the following schemes in the parish should be included:
• building of a cyclepath/footpath between Aston and Bampton
• provision of evening bus services to Witney
• improvements to the A40 between Witney and Oxford to improve traffic flow
d) Oxfordshire County Council consultation on Oxfordshire Fire Authority’s Integrated Risk Management Consultation Action Plan 2010-11
The letter relating to this was put in the folder for circulation – Councillors to consider whether to respond to it before the January meeting.
10. Community Trust
John Ordish provided an update on matters relating to the Community Trust. Minutes of the recent meeting were placed in the folder. He thanked the Parish Council on behalf of the Community Trust for offering to pay for the new windows/door at the village hall.
The Clerk asked Mr Ordish to request that the Community Trust considers supplying her with keys to the side entrance and meeting room to keep for Parish Council meetings/accessing the Parish Council filing.
11. Parish Infrastructure
a) Great Brook
• Clerk has reviewed the obstructions in the Great Brook – most of the large obstructions observed in March have been removed. Clerk has written to the two riparian landowners of the remaining (smaller obstructions) requesting that they remove them.
• The Clerk reported that the bigger problem with the Great Brook now seems to be the increased reed growth which is substantially reducing the flow in many areas. Clerk has contacted the Environment Agency to ask who is responsible for maintaining the body of the Great Brook. John Little informed the Parish Council that the Environment Agency has previously said that it will not sanction work to the bed of the Brook.
• John Ordish reported on his attendance at the Flood Prevention meeting at Bampton Town Hall earlier in the day – he spoke to the Environment Agency representative about the Parish Council’s concerns about the Great Brook. He reminded them that the Brook was built to drain water away from the surrounding area and it is therefore vital that it and the related ditches and grips are maintained to fulfil this function. It was resolved that the Clerk would write to the Environment Agency to stress this point and to state that it is irrational for work to have been done on the ditches and watercourses upstream at Bampton and Clanfield without that work being continued around Aston. Letter to request that the Environment Agency ensures that the maintenance of the Great Brook is included in their regular schedule and budget.
• Two trees on the verge between the Great Brook and the road are causing concern – one has started to lean over the road and the other is extremely large, rotten and split. After the Clerk reported this to Oxfordshire Highways she was informed that Highways is only responsible for the maintenance of anything growing on the flat section of the road edge; anything growing on the slope down into the Brook is the responsibility of the riparian landowners. A Highways officer has attended on site to inspect the trees and advises that they are growing on the slope and are therefore the responsibility of the neighbouring landowner.
b) Lengthsman
An application pack has been sent to the prospective applicant.
12. PLANNING
PLANNING APPLICATIONS GRANTED:
09/1276/P/FP 44 Cote Road, Aston
Removal of existing lean to and erection of two storey side extension with the addition of a porch
PLANNING APPLICATIONS REFUSED:
09/1253/P/FP 8 Foxwood Close, Aston
Erection of two storey extension, removal of garage and erection of replacement garage
13. FINANCE
a) Account Balances – circulated in the Clerk’s Briefing Notes
Balance on Current Account at 30 November 2009 £10,250.47
Balance on Investment with WODC at 30 November 2009 £15,400.00
Total Cash Holding at 30 November 2009 £25,650.47
b) Draft budget for 2010/11
A revised draft of the budget for 2010/11 had been circulated in Clerk’s Briefing Notes.
Potential infrastructure projects for 2010/11 were discussed:
• The replacement of the three remaining lights in Aston to sodium
• Sandblasting/cleaning the war memorial
• A new bus shelter next to the Cote Roadnoticeboard or the replacement of the bus shelter in North Street
It was agreed that there were sufficient worthwhile projects which the brought forward reserves could be spent on and so it was resolved that the precept for 2010/11 should be kept at its current level of £18,500.
Clerk to consider further revisions to the budget and to represent it at either the January or February meeting.
c) NOVEMBER INVOICES
Office Rent for December 2009– already paid by Direct Debit | 25.00 | LGA 1972, s111 |
PRESENTED FOR APROVAL AND PAYMENT AT 3 DECEMBER 2009 MEETING
|
| Statute |
Clerk’s salary - H Sandhu | 294.00 | LGA 1972, s112 |
WODC – dog bin emptying for November 2009 | 15.82 | Litter Act 1983 |
SLCC Enterprises Ltd – regional conference fee for Clerk’s attendance (this is full cost, bursary of 50% will be received subsequently and Ducklington Parish Council has been invoiced for 50% of the net cost of £24.50) | 56.35 | LGA 1972, s111 |
Society of Local Council Clerks – membership fee for 2010 (full fee shared 50/50 with Ducklington Parish Council) | 53.00 | LGA 1972, s143 |
Margaret Johnson Ltd – stationery & photocopying | 40.01 | LGA 1972, s111 |
Grant to Volunteer Link-up | 135.00 | LGA 1972, s137 |
Total | £594.18 |
|