28 Mar 2006 - PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES
DRAFT MINUTES: SHENINGTON WITH ALKERTON PARISH COUNCIL
The Parish Council met in the Village Hall on Thursday 9th March 2006.
Present: Mr M Wright (Chairman), Mr R Treadwell (RT), Mr N de Silva (NdeS), Mr K Hainsworth (KH)
Apologies: Ms G Crabb (GC), Dr K Heron, Mr J Hutchison,
In attendance: Mr C M H Gibson (the Clerk)
1. Chairman?s opening remarks
1.1 The Chairman welcomed members of the public to the last meeting of the PC, and thanked those members who had decide not to stand for re-election for their services to the Parish.
1.2 The Chairman apologised for any confusion over the day of the meeting.
2. Declarations of Interest
2.1 There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes of the previous meeting held 11th January 2006
3.1 KH noted that in minute 5.3 should be SWAEG.
3.2 NdS questioned the use of the word ?Appraisal? in minute 6.9. KH noted that he had no recollection of the PC agreeing this specific wording. It was agreed that the minute should stand.
3.3 KH noted that the PC regretted the passing of Col. Marot and the PC expressed its condolences to Mrs Marot.
4. Actions from the previous meeting held on 11th January 2006
4.1 NdeS noted that OCC were installing power cables at the tip. No correspondence had been received.
4.2 The Chairman and DrKH visited the tip on Monday 23rd January 2006. It was suggested by OCC/SITA that the road entrance & gates could be widened, effectively creating a small slip road. Such action would noteliminate the risk of accidents, but could reduce the danger. The Chairman asked OCC/SITA to proceed with this option. OCC/SITA had agreed to discuss this with highways dept.
4.3 The PC debated the merits of a 1 way system for the tip, but was not supportive of this option.
4.4 The Chairman noted that given that it was the Annual Parish Meeting as well as the bi-monthly PC meeting in May, the first for the newly elected PC, it would not be appropriate to invite the Rural Housing Enabler to that meeting. It was agreed that he could be invited to a subsequent meeting.
Action: Chairman
4.5 It was agreed the agenda should be circulated by e-mail to those who requested it.
Action: Clerk
4.6 NdeS has removed the stones dislodged by the road sweeper, but the PC needs to ensure that this is repaired.
4.7 Nothing has been received on Highway Management Arrangements. The Clerk will notify RT when a response is received.
Action: Clerk
5. Open Forum
5.1 There were no items raised.
6. Conservation Area Status
6.1 The Chairman summarised the status of this item, and expressed a desire to progress this.
6.2 KH noted that perhaps 2 further meetings were required, one to finalise the documentation, and one to consider the results.
6.3 The arguments for have been agreed and are awaiting DrKH to transfer to electronic format.
6.4 KH proposed that any individuals known to own property but not be registered to vote be allowed participate in the ballot. RT suggested that as many people with an interest in properties should be included. This was agreed.
6.5 The Clerk was asked to provide Parish Councillors with the list of consultees.
Action: Clerk
6.6 It was agreed that the PC should announce the result at the May meeting.
6.7 Following discussion, it was agreed that the arguments for, and the arguments against should be limited to 1 page on each, that there should be no reference to the possible boundaries of the Conservation Area, and no reference to members of the Parish Council. It was agreed that the front sheet/letter would not contain any arguments, merely be a statement of the procedure and would provide contact details of PCs.
6.8 RT noted that CDC could be asked to provide a ?for and against? paper, instead of the PC. This was not supported.
6.9 There was some discussion of the use of the word ?Appraisal?. It was agreed that this should not be part of the ballot question, which should ask ?Are you in favour of Shenington with Alkerton being designated as a Conservation Area??.
6.10 The front sheet should take the form of a letter by the Chairman stating the resolution passed by the PC, and explaining the referendum procedure, and the implications of both a majority for and against the resolution.
7. Financial Report
Current Financial Position
7.1 The bank statement showed a current balance of £5281.34.
7.2 Cheques required signature for the following amounts:
NALC Membership £ 15.00
Clerk?s Salary £423.66 (2 months salary)
The Clerk did not claim any reimbursement of expenses.
Expenses for Elected Parish Councillors
7.3 The Clerk noted that allowances for elected members had been revised for the 2006/7 financial year. No elected members have sought to claim expenses.
Costs of Conservation Area Status Referendum
7.4 The Clerk had obtained 3 quotes for the printing and envelopes for distribution of the material for the referendum on Conservation Area Status.
VAT Rebate
7.5 It was agreed that a VAT reclaim should be pursued.
Action: Chairman & Clerk
Audit Arrangements
7.6 Dr Anson volunteered to use his skills to validate the PC accounts, as in previous years. It was agreed that draft accounts be prepared for the Annual Parish Meeting, and then passed to Dr Anson to check.
Action: Chairman & Clerk
8. The Village Green
8.1 The Chairman noted that he and KH had attended a seminar in October on common land and village greens, and that he had made a presentation to the November meeting. He had noted that it was generally an offence to do anything which damages a village green (including driving over the green).
8.2 The Chairman thanked KH for his written submission dated 10th January 2006, but stated that items 3.6, 3.7 and 4.1 of the note did not concur with his recollections of the seminar. In particular, the Chairman did not accept the statement in the note that ??it appears that all works to both parts of the Green over the past 20 years are illegal?. The Chairman pressed KH to state his reason for making such a statement.
8.3 RT noted that KH?s paper was generally OK up to point 3.7, but did not believe that the later parts were legally correct. He did not believe that there was a requirement to hold a ballot in any relevant statute, and did not believe that the PC had acted illegally, as alleged in KH?s note.
8.4 The other Parish Councillors also rejected this statement.
8.5 KH accepted that his note was not a verbatim account of the reply to the questions he asked at the seminar, but believed that this is broadly what Paul Claydon had said.
Policy for the Village Green
8.6 The Chairman noted that he supported the idea of a Policy for the Village Green.
8.7 It was agreed that the Village Green should be allocated to a PC as a portfolio role after the elections.
Action: Chairman
8.8 The Chairman and KH noted that large pieces of Hornton Stone have appeared on the Village Green. It was agreed that Mr NdS would speak to the owner of the property in question, and ask, informally, if the owner would be happy to remove them.
Action: NdS
Retaining Wall
8.9 KH reiterated his offer to have the dry-stone wall on the village green to be repaired sometime this summer.
8.10 NdeS offered to make temporary repairs to good the damage until this could be done.
8.11 It was agreed that the Chairman contact Colin Hyrons to obtain a quote for the repair.
Action: Chairman
9. Matters Arising not referred to later on the Agenda
New Recycling Initiative for Town and Parish Councils
9.1 The Clerk noted that the parish Council had been written to by CDC Environmental Services, asking whether the PC wished to receive a £5 ?commission? on each order of a blue recycling wheeled bin in the Parish. The PC did not wish to participate in the scheme.
Spring Clean April 2006
9.2 CDC Environmental Health Dept is running a Spring Clean between Friday 24th March 2006 and Monday 24th April 2006, and will provide sacks, gloves and litter pickers to people organising a litter pick.
9.3 It was noted that the brownies did this in the past. However, concern was expressed that this may no longer be a safe activity for children. It was agreed that there was no need to organise a Spring Clean this year.
9.4 KH noted that there was a fair amount of litter outside the school. It was agreed that the School be asked to ensure that the litter was controlled.
Action: Clerk
Police Item
9.5 The Clerk reported that the opening times of some Thames Valley Police stations were changing. There were no changes to the opening times for any Police Station local to Shenington with Alkerton.
The Jitty
9.6 OCC have responded stating that we are number 62 on the list and at the current rate it will take decades to determine the status of this right of way. It was felt that justice delayed is justice denied, and that the matter needed to be resolved.
9.7 It was agreed that the PC write to the County Council formally alleging that this is maladministration (cc?d go George Reynolds) asking for a response within 14 days. If this did not resolve matters, the Clerk was asked to make a formal complaint of maladministration to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
Action: Clerk
Parish Council Elections
9.8 The Parish Council Elections will be held on Thursday 4th May 2006. Nomination papers need to be received by mid-day on Monday 3rd April 2006. The Clerk distributed copies of CDC?s ?The Candidate?s Guide to Parish & Town Council Elections? and nomination papers.
10. Reports of Working Groups
Minerals
10.1 KH noted that the PC has received a consultative paper from Warwick DC. A reply has been drafted for the Clerk to send, asking only to be involved if there is any abstraction in Tysoe.
Action: KH & Clerk
10.2 KH has received a further consultation from OCC on how the PC relates to the OCC minerals dept. It was agreed that KH should respond directly on this.
Action: KH
Alkerton Tip
10.3 NdeS noted that the working going on at the tip is due to the electricity transformer going in.
Highways, Traffic Control and Footpaths
10.4 The Clerk noted that we had not received a reply from OCC regarding local responsibility for highways. It was agreed that the Clerk should chase a response.
Action: Clerk
Planning
10.5 It was noted that GC had circulated an update by e-mail.
10.6 Application 05/02205/F relating to land close to St Michael?s church in Alkerton has been rejected because it did not conform to the relevant policies in the Cherwell or Oxfordshire local/structure plans.
10.7 The Upton Dairy has been granted permission for industrial units, but the conditions attached appear to have taken on board all the points the PC made.
Kart Track
10.8 DrKH?s paper had been circulated previously. This was discussed. It was agreed that DrKH should send a copy of the paper to those who helped, together with a letter thanking them for their assistance.
Action: DrKH
10.9 It was agreed that Dr KH should provide copy of the report to CDC.
Action: DrKH
10.10 The PC noted that DrKH has done a first class job in this area, and that whoever inherits the portfolio will find it very much under control.
11. Any other Business
Local Government Pension Scheme
11.1 The Chairman noted that the PC was able to allow the Clerk to become a member The PC felt that this decision should be left to the new PC, and proposed that this be considered at the next meeting.
Action: Clerk
11.2 KH noted that he intended to make a planning (listed building) application to create a retaining wall, and declared an interest in the matter. KH invited PCs to visit the site
12. Date of Next Meeting
12.1 The next ordinary Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th May 2006 following the Annual Parish Meeting, which will take place in the Village Hall at 8:00pm.
12.2 The meeting closed at 10:15 pm.
The Parish Council met in the Village Hall on Thursday 9th March 2006.
Present: Mr M Wright (Chairman), Mr R Treadwell (RT), Mr N de Silva (NdeS), Mr K Hainsworth (KH)
Apologies: Ms G Crabb (GC), Dr K Heron, Mr J Hutchison,
In attendance: Mr C M H Gibson (the Clerk)
1. Chairman?s opening remarks
1.1 The Chairman welcomed members of the public to the last meeting of the PC, and thanked those members who had decide not to stand for re-election for their services to the Parish.
1.2 The Chairman apologised for any confusion over the day of the meeting.
2. Declarations of Interest
2.1 There were no declarations of interest.
3. Minutes of the previous meeting held 11th January 2006
3.1 KH noted that in minute 5.3 should be SWAEG.
3.2 NdS questioned the use of the word ?Appraisal? in minute 6.9. KH noted that he had no recollection of the PC agreeing this specific wording. It was agreed that the minute should stand.
3.3 KH noted that the PC regretted the passing of Col. Marot and the PC expressed its condolences to Mrs Marot.
4. Actions from the previous meeting held on 11th January 2006
4.1 NdeS noted that OCC were installing power cables at the tip. No correspondence had been received.
4.2 The Chairman and DrKH visited the tip on Monday 23rd January 2006. It was suggested by OCC/SITA that the road entrance & gates could be widened, effectively creating a small slip road. Such action would noteliminate the risk of accidents, but could reduce the danger. The Chairman asked OCC/SITA to proceed with this option. OCC/SITA had agreed to discuss this with highways dept.
4.3 The PC debated the merits of a 1 way system for the tip, but was not supportive of this option.
4.4 The Chairman noted that given that it was the Annual Parish Meeting as well as the bi-monthly PC meeting in May, the first for the newly elected PC, it would not be appropriate to invite the Rural Housing Enabler to that meeting. It was agreed that he could be invited to a subsequent meeting.
Action: Chairman
4.5 It was agreed the agenda should be circulated by e-mail to those who requested it.
Action: Clerk
4.6 NdeS has removed the stones dislodged by the road sweeper, but the PC needs to ensure that this is repaired.
4.7 Nothing has been received on Highway Management Arrangements. The Clerk will notify RT when a response is received.
Action: Clerk
5. Open Forum
5.1 There were no items raised.
6. Conservation Area Status
6.1 The Chairman summarised the status of this item, and expressed a desire to progress this.
6.2 KH noted that perhaps 2 further meetings were required, one to finalise the documentation, and one to consider the results.
6.3 The arguments for have been agreed and are awaiting DrKH to transfer to electronic format.
6.4 KH proposed that any individuals known to own property but not be registered to vote be allowed participate in the ballot. RT suggested that as many people with an interest in properties should be included. This was agreed.
6.5 The Clerk was asked to provide Parish Councillors with the list of consultees.
Action: Clerk
6.6 It was agreed that the PC should announce the result at the May meeting.
6.7 Following discussion, it was agreed that the arguments for, and the arguments against should be limited to 1 page on each, that there should be no reference to the possible boundaries of the Conservation Area, and no reference to members of the Parish Council. It was agreed that the front sheet/letter would not contain any arguments, merely be a statement of the procedure and would provide contact details of PCs.
6.8 RT noted that CDC could be asked to provide a ?for and against? paper, instead of the PC. This was not supported.
6.9 There was some discussion of the use of the word ?Appraisal?. It was agreed that this should not be part of the ballot question, which should ask ?Are you in favour of Shenington with Alkerton being designated as a Conservation Area??.
6.10 The front sheet should take the form of a letter by the Chairman stating the resolution passed by the PC, and explaining the referendum procedure, and the implications of both a majority for and against the resolution.
7. Financial Report
Current Financial Position
7.1 The bank statement showed a current balance of £5281.34.
7.2 Cheques required signature for the following amounts:
NALC Membership £ 15.00
Clerk?s Salary £423.66 (2 months salary)
The Clerk did not claim any reimbursement of expenses.
Expenses for Elected Parish Councillors
7.3 The Clerk noted that allowances for elected members had been revised for the 2006/7 financial year. No elected members have sought to claim expenses.
Costs of Conservation Area Status Referendum
7.4 The Clerk had obtained 3 quotes for the printing and envelopes for distribution of the material for the referendum on Conservation Area Status.
VAT Rebate
7.5 It was agreed that a VAT reclaim should be pursued.
Action: Chairman & Clerk
Audit Arrangements
7.6 Dr Anson volunteered to use his skills to validate the PC accounts, as in previous years. It was agreed that draft accounts be prepared for the Annual Parish Meeting, and then passed to Dr Anson to check.
Action: Chairman & Clerk
8. The Village Green
8.1 The Chairman noted that he and KH had attended a seminar in October on common land and village greens, and that he had made a presentation to the November meeting. He had noted that it was generally an offence to do anything which damages a village green (including driving over the green).
8.2 The Chairman thanked KH for his written submission dated 10th January 2006, but stated that items 3.6, 3.7 and 4.1 of the note did not concur with his recollections of the seminar. In particular, the Chairman did not accept the statement in the note that ??it appears that all works to both parts of the Green over the past 20 years are illegal?. The Chairman pressed KH to state his reason for making such a statement.
8.3 RT noted that KH?s paper was generally OK up to point 3.7, but did not believe that the later parts were legally correct. He did not believe that there was a requirement to hold a ballot in any relevant statute, and did not believe that the PC had acted illegally, as alleged in KH?s note.
8.4 The other Parish Councillors also rejected this statement.
8.5 KH accepted that his note was not a verbatim account of the reply to the questions he asked at the seminar, but believed that this is broadly what Paul Claydon had said.
Policy for the Village Green
8.6 The Chairman noted that he supported the idea of a Policy for the Village Green.
8.7 It was agreed that the Village Green should be allocated to a PC as a portfolio role after the elections.
Action: Chairman
8.8 The Chairman and KH noted that large pieces of Hornton Stone have appeared on the Village Green. It was agreed that Mr NdS would speak to the owner of the property in question, and ask, informally, if the owner would be happy to remove them.
Action: NdS
Retaining Wall
8.9 KH reiterated his offer to have the dry-stone wall on the village green to be repaired sometime this summer.
8.10 NdeS offered to make temporary repairs to good the damage until this could be done.
8.11 It was agreed that the Chairman contact Colin Hyrons to obtain a quote for the repair.
Action: Chairman
9. Matters Arising not referred to later on the Agenda
New Recycling Initiative for Town and Parish Councils
9.1 The Clerk noted that the parish Council had been written to by CDC Environmental Services, asking whether the PC wished to receive a £5 ?commission? on each order of a blue recycling wheeled bin in the Parish. The PC did not wish to participate in the scheme.
Spring Clean April 2006
9.2 CDC Environmental Health Dept is running a Spring Clean between Friday 24th March 2006 and Monday 24th April 2006, and will provide sacks, gloves and litter pickers to people organising a litter pick.
9.3 It was noted that the brownies did this in the past. However, concern was expressed that this may no longer be a safe activity for children. It was agreed that there was no need to organise a Spring Clean this year.
9.4 KH noted that there was a fair amount of litter outside the school. It was agreed that the School be asked to ensure that the litter was controlled.
Action: Clerk
Police Item
9.5 The Clerk reported that the opening times of some Thames Valley Police stations were changing. There were no changes to the opening times for any Police Station local to Shenington with Alkerton.
The Jitty
9.6 OCC have responded stating that we are number 62 on the list and at the current rate it will take decades to determine the status of this right of way. It was felt that justice delayed is justice denied, and that the matter needed to be resolved.
9.7 It was agreed that the PC write to the County Council formally alleging that this is maladministration (cc?d go George Reynolds) asking for a response within 14 days. If this did not resolve matters, the Clerk was asked to make a formal complaint of maladministration to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
Action: Clerk
Parish Council Elections
9.8 The Parish Council Elections will be held on Thursday 4th May 2006. Nomination papers need to be received by mid-day on Monday 3rd April 2006. The Clerk distributed copies of CDC?s ?The Candidate?s Guide to Parish & Town Council Elections? and nomination papers.
10. Reports of Working Groups
Minerals
10.1 KH noted that the PC has received a consultative paper from Warwick DC. A reply has been drafted for the Clerk to send, asking only to be involved if there is any abstraction in Tysoe.
Action: KH & Clerk
10.2 KH has received a further consultation from OCC on how the PC relates to the OCC minerals dept. It was agreed that KH should respond directly on this.
Action: KH
Alkerton Tip
10.3 NdeS noted that the working going on at the tip is due to the electricity transformer going in.
Highways, Traffic Control and Footpaths
10.4 The Clerk noted that we had not received a reply from OCC regarding local responsibility for highways. It was agreed that the Clerk should chase a response.
Action: Clerk
Planning
10.5 It was noted that GC had circulated an update by e-mail.
10.6 Application 05/02205/F relating to land close to St Michael?s church in Alkerton has been rejected because it did not conform to the relevant policies in the Cherwell or Oxfordshire local/structure plans.
10.7 The Upton Dairy has been granted permission for industrial units, but the conditions attached appear to have taken on board all the points the PC made.
Kart Track
10.8 DrKH?s paper had been circulated previously. This was discussed. It was agreed that DrKH should send a copy of the paper to those who helped, together with a letter thanking them for their assistance.
Action: DrKH
10.9 It was agreed that Dr KH should provide copy of the report to CDC.
Action: DrKH
10.10 The PC noted that DrKH has done a first class job in this area, and that whoever inherits the portfolio will find it very much under control.
11. Any other Business
Local Government Pension Scheme
11.1 The Chairman noted that the PC was able to allow the Clerk to become a member The PC felt that this decision should be left to the new PC, and proposed that this be considered at the next meeting.
Action: Clerk
11.2 KH noted that he intended to make a planning (listed building) application to create a retaining wall, and declared an interest in the matter. KH invited PCs to visit the site
12. Date of Next Meeting
12.1 The next ordinary Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th May 2006 following the Annual Parish Meeting, which will take place in the Village Hall at 8:00pm.
12.2 The meeting closed at 10:15 pm.