11 Nov 2006 - PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
SHENINGTON WITH ALKERTON PARISH COUNCIL
The meeting of the Parish Council on Wednesday, November 8 in the Village Hall was attended by five councillors, the Clerk and11 members of the parish.
In the initial Open Forum the Council was asked if there was a budget particularly relating to expenditure in the present year. Andrew Rockett reported that the "Better Way To School" scheme wished to add a sign to the 30 mph limit on Rattlecombe Road to indicate that there is no footpath through the village and children are walking to school. The Council agreed with the proposal and would like signs to be attached to both sets of 30 mph limits. It was also pointed out that incorrect comments had been made by members of this Parish Council about inaction of previous Parish Councils without examining the relevant council minutes. Supplementary planning applications under the Cherwell Development Plan should be available for examination from November 10 for six weeks.
Gillian Crabb reported on a meeting with a Highways representative who agreed that a Tree Preservation Order on the roadside trees in front of the property Long Acre would protect them and the County would keep them in good order.
The report from the Auditor is with Tim Dowdeswell. John Evans has kindly agreed to act as Responsible Financial Officer.
Keith Adams presented a paper on communications. It was agreed to report to the parish twice a year through the Shenington Green, to use house-to-house circulars for urgent matters and to invite people with email capability to register with the Clerk so that they can receive Parish Council agendas and minutes of meetings if they wish.
The Chairman outlined changes which he personally would like to see made in our villages. This included a working party to tidy up the two churchyards, better maintenance of the highway and the verges in both Alkerton and Shenington. He also would like to remove both the trough on the Green and the stone verging currently protecting its edges.
The Chairman reported that he had taken stone from the Stone Pit for repairs to the retaining wall of the village green. He had been questioned on the legality of removing the stone walling and had temporarily lodged the latter stones at Sugarswell Farm.
In the second Open Forum it was pointed out that the Council's minutes were not displayed fully on the notice board in Well Lane, Alkerton; that the entry to Well Lane has been strewn with stones and other debris after recent rain storms; that the Kart Club is now having week-end meetings in August contrary to previous practice and that the Village Hall should not form part of the proposed Parish Council portfolios.
In this forum, the history of the Green was recalled. Some 200 years ago there were houses on the Green; some 40 years ago the grass was allowed to grow rampantly and it is only in relatively recent years that it has been mown regularly by volunteers. Moving the trough and removing the stone verging to the Green would cause controversy. There are more serious and less controversial matters for the Council to consider.
The meeting of the Parish Council on Wednesday, November 8 in the Village Hall was attended by five councillors, the Clerk and11 members of the parish.
In the initial Open Forum the Council was asked if there was a budget particularly relating to expenditure in the present year. Andrew Rockett reported that the "Better Way To School" scheme wished to add a sign to the 30 mph limit on Rattlecombe Road to indicate that there is no footpath through the village and children are walking to school. The Council agreed with the proposal and would like signs to be attached to both sets of 30 mph limits. It was also pointed out that incorrect comments had been made by members of this Parish Council about inaction of previous Parish Councils without examining the relevant council minutes. Supplementary planning applications under the Cherwell Development Plan should be available for examination from November 10 for six weeks.
Gillian Crabb reported on a meeting with a Highways representative who agreed that a Tree Preservation Order on the roadside trees in front of the property Long Acre would protect them and the County would keep them in good order.
The report from the Auditor is with Tim Dowdeswell. John Evans has kindly agreed to act as Responsible Financial Officer.
Keith Adams presented a paper on communications. It was agreed to report to the parish twice a year through the Shenington Green, to use house-to-house circulars for urgent matters and to invite people with email capability to register with the Clerk so that they can receive Parish Council agendas and minutes of meetings if they wish.
The Chairman outlined changes which he personally would like to see made in our villages. This included a working party to tidy up the two churchyards, better maintenance of the highway and the verges in both Alkerton and Shenington. He also would like to remove both the trough on the Green and the stone verging currently protecting its edges.
The Chairman reported that he had taken stone from the Stone Pit for repairs to the retaining wall of the village green. He had been questioned on the legality of removing the stone walling and had temporarily lodged the latter stones at Sugarswell Farm.
In the second Open Forum it was pointed out that the Council's minutes were not displayed fully on the notice board in Well Lane, Alkerton; that the entry to Well Lane has been strewn with stones and other debris after recent rain storms; that the Kart Club is now having week-end meetings in August contrary to previous practice and that the Village Hall should not form part of the proposed Parish Council portfolios.
In this forum, the history of the Green was recalled. Some 200 years ago there were houses on the Green; some 40 years ago the grass was allowed to grow rampantly and it is only in relatively recent years that it has been mown regularly by volunteers. Moving the trough and removing the stone verging to the Green would cause controversy. There are more serious and less controversial matters for the Council to consider.