Parish Council 5th July 2010

WHEATLEY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

HELD ON MONDAY 5^th JULY 2010 IN THE MERRY BELLS AT 7.30 pm

PRESENT: Councillors: R J Reilly (Chairman), J. M. Carr G. Birks, R. T .Bell,

C Sprent (until 9.53pm), N Messenger, S Coleridge, A Knapp, C Dalton, M Fyffe (from 8.53 pm), J Coveley (until 9.53 pm) & R Old (from 7.55

pm)

OFFICER: Gareth Morris, Clerk to the Parish Council

ALSO PRESENT: County Councillor Anne Purse and 9 members of the public

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and gave the housekeeping notices. He also stated his intention to take item 4(a)(ii) – Cullum Recreation Ground, Item 10 – Planning Application at 112 London Road and item 12 – Tree at St Mary’s Close – after Open Forum to allow any members of the public present to speak to those items before the Parish Council took any decision.

26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE had been received from Cllrs Devlin, Stacey and Willmott

27 THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL AGM AND ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 11^TH MAY 2010 which had been circulated previously were signed as a correct and accurate record after the following amendments had been made:

• In the heading, change “11^th May” to “10^th May”
• Minute 1, third line – change “car” to “Carr”
• Minute 6(iii), third line – add “membership would continue for a further 12 months”
• Minute 10(i) – delete “on Church
• Minute 10(ii), second line – delete all after “Group” up to before “on” and replace with” including Jim Watson”.
• Minute 18(v) – replace “7^th” with “5^th”

28 The MINUTES of THE Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council of Monday 21^st June 2010 (circulated with the Agenda) were signed as a correct and accurate record

29 MATTERS ARISING

a) 11^th May 2010

i) Minute 10(ii) Cullum Rd Recreation Ground – deferred until after Open Forum – See minute 42

ii) Minute 13 – Land adjoining Littleworth Park – Cllr Bell, who spoke at the SODC Planning Committee objecting to the application on behalf of the Parish Council, reported that the application for development had been granted. Parish Councillors felt that when detailed planning permission was sought there would still be the opportunity to retain the current route of the footpath behind Barlows Close. Cllr Bell also reported that it seemed that Coopers Close had not been adopted by the County Council and this might have a bearing on development.

iii) Open Forum – page three. Cllr Carr agreed to follow up her request to SODC to clear the High Street and surrounding roads of the grit that had been out down in the winter.

iv) Minute 5(vii) – The Clerk admitted that he had yet to write a letter of thanks to Mr James Dalton thanking him for his role as Public Transport representative.

b) 21^st June 2010 – None

30 THE MINUTES of the meetings of the Planning Committees held on Wednesday 12^th May (circulated previously) and Wednesday 9^th June (tabled) were received.

31 THE MINUTES of the meetings of the F&GP Committee meetings held on:

Monday 17^th May 2010 (previously circulated) and Monday 21^st June 2010, (circulated with the Agenda) were received.

32 THE MINUTES of the Traffic and Roads Advisory Committee meeting of 14^th June 2010, which had been circulated with the Agenda were received and adopted. It was noted that, in the absence of the Clerk, Cllr Birks had taken the minutes

i) Minute 7 – Request to County Council and consultation with residents of Bell Lane on the closure of the High Street end of Bell Lane following the pedestrian/car accident.

Cllr Birks proposed and Cllr Dalton seconded that a consultation letter based on the Cllr Dalton’s draft as appeared in the minutes, be sent to all the households in Bell Lane, before contacting the County Council. This was Agreed with 10 in favour and one abstention. A piece would be put in the next issue of the newsletter.

33 CO-OPTION OF NEW PARISH COUNCILLOR

Mrs Ruth Old was present at the meeting and expressed a wish to be co-opted on to the Parish Council. The Chairman invited Mrs Old to say a little bit about herself after which Cllr Bell proposed and Cllr Coleridge seconded that Mrs Old be co-opted on to the Parish Council. This was Agreed unanimously. Mrs Old signed the Declaration of Acceptance and took her place with the Parish Council.

Cllr Old would serve on the Finance and General Purposes Committee

34 TO RECEIVE THE REPORT OF THE INTERNAL AUDITOR (Mr B Rollerson) FOR THE YEAR 2009-2010 (Report circulated with the Agenda)

The Clerk highlighted two issues from Paragraphs I and J of the Report.

The Auditor had called the return on the money on deposit in the Treasury Bill account as ‘abysmal’ and a better rate should be investigated. It was Agreed that the matter be taken up by the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Secondly the £57.86 difference in the bank reconciliation would need to be found.

It was Agreed that checking the bank reconciliation at the Finance and General Purposes Committee should be discussed at that committee.

35 TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATION P10/W0631, 122 LONDON ROAD – PROPOSED CONVERSION AND MINOR EXTENSION OF EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE – Deferred until after Open Forum – see minute 39

36 TO CONSIDER THE REPORT AND ESTIMATES FROM TREE CARE ASSOCIATES RE HORSE CHESTNUT TREE IN ST MARY’S CLOSE. (See minute 99, Parish Council meeting, March 2010) – deferred until after Open forum – see minute 40

37 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM WHEATLEY SCOUT TO USE CHURCH ROAD RECREATION AREA FOR THEIR ANNUAL FETE ON FIRST BANK HOLIDAY IN MAY – Cllr Birks proposed and Cllr Carr seconded that this request be granted. This was Agreed. The Clerk would write pointing out the lack of power and toilet facilities.

38 REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES

a) Neighbourhood Action Group – there was to be major road works at the A40/A418 junction which would necessitate its overnight closure 3^rd/4^th September and a diversion using London Road, Wheatley

It was Agreed that the issue of speeding/dangerous driving on Ladder Hill be on the next F&GP Agenda

b) The Howe Trust – prioritisation of work for the next 6-9 months was about to be undertaken.

c) Merry Bells Management Committee – a copy of letter sent to the MBMC, from a resident expressing concern about the loss of the two lime trees when the forecourt of the Merry Bells is redeveloped, was read out. Cllr Carr, as Parish Council representative on the MBMC explained that permission had been sought and granted from SODC to remove the trees which would be replaced with flowering cherries. A reply to the resident had been sent explaining the situation.

Open Forum – 8.30 pm The Chairman declared the Council out of session and invited the County and District Councillors and members of the public to speak.

County Councillor Anne Purse – Local Transport Plan 3, Consultation 5 had now finished and it was now entering its last stage. There is a concern that the expansion of the Thornhill Park and Ride may fall victim to the cuts in public expenditure.

Signs indicating “Unsuitable for HGVs” would be installed on the roads leading into the village.

District Councillor Janet Carr – The responsibility for the Concessionary fares scheme was being transferred from the District Council to the County Council. The time the fares come into operation will move from 9.00am to 9.30pm

The Chairman asked for anyone wishing to speak on the Planning Application for 112 London Road. The applicant, Mr McCarthy, made a statement as did, Mr Fox, one of the objectors present.

The Chairman then read out the report received from Tree Care Associates on the horse chestnut tree in St Mary’s Close and asked if any resident would like to speak.

Mrs Simpson, 7 St Mary’s Close, made a statement requesting that the Parish Council once again becomes a ‘good neighbour’ and tends to this tree and cuts it back so it does not overhang her and others’ property and shed leaves and conkers on to cars and drives. Three other residents supported her statement

8.53 pm Cllr Fyffe joined the meeting

9.03 – The Chairman declared the Council back in session

39. TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATION P10/W0631, 112 LONDON ROAD – PROPOSED CONVERSION AND MINOR EXTENSION OF EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE

The Clerk read out a number of letters of objection to, and in support of the application that appeared on the SODC website.

Cllr Carr proposed and Cllr Dalton seconded that the Parish Council recommends refusal of this application, on the grounds of; noise generation, generation of traffic across the footpath, overdevelopment of the https://piemeds.com site which is out of character with the area. This was Agreed unanimously.

41. TO CONSIDER THE REPORT AND ESTIMATES FROM TREE CARE ASSOCIATES RE HORSE CHESTNUT TREE IN ST MARY’S CLOSE.

It was Agreed to get quotes for attending to the tree in line with the advice from Tree Care Associates and the limitations placed on any action by SODC Tree Officers. The advice had been that work should be carried out in the summer and not, as the Parish Council had previously stated, in the autumn.

42. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF 11^th may 2010

Minute 10(ii) Cullum Rd Recreation Ground

Cllr Birks gave a verbal report of a meeting held with two complainants, attended by herself, the Chairman of the Council, the Clerk, PCSO Cooney and PC Gregory. The residents were complaining, in particular, about footballs being kicked against their garden fence. Generally councillors felt that something should be done to alleviate this problem, short of removing the ‘target goal’ that had been installed. It was agreed that estimates for wire mesh fencing to be installed along the fence, about a metre away, be considered by the next F&FP committee.

Some councillors expressed concern about the problem of lack of watering of the plants and shrubs. Cllr Fyffe explained that the installers were to pay a number of visits to make sure that the shrubs etc survived.

9.53 pm Cllrs Sprent and Coveley left the meeting

43 TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO WHEATLEY PARK SPORTSFIELD MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

a) The Annual Accounts for 2009-2010 were received. It was noted that Parish Council’s contribution to funding in 2009-2010 was £9,533.02. £8,000 is paid as four quarterly instalments, therefore a further £1,523.02 was due from the parish Council

b) Cllr Bell gave a verbal report of the 2010 AGM. He remained as Chairman of the Committee. The report of the SODC Planning Officer on the development of the new pavilion was still awaited.

44 CORRESPONDENCE – NOTED

a) Oxfordshire NHS – ‘come and talk health’ – getting involved in your

local NHS*

b) Oxfordshire Countryside Access Guide* – electronic copy only

c) Oxford Brookes University – Minutes of Residents’ Associations meeting.*

d) Letter from resident concerning the removal of the tress outside the Merry Bells.

* on display in Parish Council

45. CALENDAR OF MEETINGS. – NOTED

a) Planning Committee – Wednesday 14^th July – 7.30pm

b) F&GP Committee – Monday 19th July 2010 – 7.30pm

c) Planning Committee – Wednesday 11^th August 2010 – 7.30pm

d) Parish Council – Monday 6^th September 2010

The meeting closed at 10.00pm