15 Mar 2007 - PARISH COUNCIL
SHENINGTON WITH ALKERTON PARISH COUNCIL
The meeting of the Parish Council on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 in the Village Hall was attended by all seven councillors and 13 members of the parish. Mrs Wendi Court took the minutes of the meeting.
The chairman, Mr K. Hainsworth, reported that Mrs Court had offered to take on the task of Parish Clerk but had not been formally appointed.
In the initial Open Forum the Council was congratulated on sending a flyer "Parish Council Matters" with information around the village but criticised for adopting an extremely partial viewpoint. One member of the Council considered that the flyer contained inaccuracies and could not therefore support it. The Council was informed that the two ecclesiastical parishes were merged in 1900 and the civil parishes in 1970. They were also informed that the duties, hours and salary of the Parish Clerk should have been formalised, agreed and recorded at the last meeting of the Council before going ahead with recruitment both to protect the Council and the individual to be appointed.
The content of a letter sent to the Council from the County Highways Department following a meeting on 3 November 2006 was questioned and Mr. K. Adams disclosed that the Highways Department considered the removal of the sets surrounding the village green would be likely to cause detriment to the roads across it. The Council agreed to add this letter to the minutes of the meeting held in January 2007. The deterioration of the road leading to Shutford was drawn to the Council's notice. The Council was also reminded of its failure to send a representative to the Armistice Day service at the memorial in Alkerton and to notify members of the village of the deadline of December 22 for commenting on the proposed development sites in the parish.
The minutes of the meetings held on January 10 were approved. There were no matters arising not covered by the agenda.
The development of a Parish Plan was fully discussed and it was agreed to make a formal application for a grant to cover the costs involved. A member of the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council will be invited to address an open meeting in the village and experience of developing and using a Parish Plan will be sought from other small communities. Several people have already volunteered to assist in its development.
Mr T. Dowdeswell reported that cheques to the auditors and the Village Hall Trust had been paid. He had received details of an account available to local authorities with CCLA investment Management Ltd. which currently pays interest of over 5.25% per annum.
Mr K. Hainsworth reported that he had taken stone from the Stone Pit walling to repair the retaining wall on the village green. In view of the theft or potential theft of the stone from the walling at the Pit he had started to remove the stone until the question of ownership of the walling was raised by the owners of Sugarswell Farm. He stated that there are no deeds determining the ownership of the walling abutting onto the property of Sugarswell Farm. In consequence the Council agreed to share the stone with the owners of Sugarswell Farm who are prepared to take on the responsibility of its maintenance. Mr T. Dowdeswell will prepare an agreement to be approved at the next meeting of the Council. Mr Hainsworth assured members of the Council that there would be no difficulty in selling the stone.
Mrs G. Crabb reported that planning approvals had been given to work at Upton House, Oriel House and the Village Hall. The Council agreed the planning approvals being sought at Windwhistle and The Limes. Members expressed concern over the access route into the rear of the development site at Long Acre. Mrs Crabb also reported that at a meeting relating to the Cherwell District Development Plan she was unable to find out into which category the village will be allocated and when this will be decided.
Mr K. Adams will draw up proposals for the siting of up to three street lights covering the main road through the village for the next meeting of the Council. In view of damage to the verges near the bus stop he was asked to write to the bus company to request drivers to take greater care and also to keep the speed of the buses down along the narrow roads through the villages.
He agreed to keep in touch with the County Highways Department to tackle the cause of debris washed down in storms into Well Lane, Alkerton; to cut back verges where they have overgrown onto the highway; to remove weed trees and shrubs from the verges and to bring to their notice the potholes on the Shutford Road.
Mr S. Mitchell reported that noise readings will be taken across the villages during the Go Kart meeting this Sunday, March 17.
A chairman and member of previous Parish Councils has written to complain over the misrepresentation of actions of those councils in the recent flyer "Parish Council Matters". Minutes of council meetings have placed on record the discussions of a petition relating to the siting of the trough on the village green. Assertions that the previous councils had not discussed this petition are untrue.
Mr K. Adams read a letter from a member of the parish living near the village green for over 30 years pointing out the benefits of the kerbing of the green.
Mr. S. Mitchell agreed to investigate the parking of a car blocking the footpath in Stocking Lane and causing children attending the primary school to have to walk on the road.
In the second Open Forum the deterioration of the road surface in Mill Lane was brought to the notice of the Council.
Members of the Council and members of the public present at the meeting were reminded of a working party to be organised by Mr K. Hainsworth on Saturday March 17 to tidy up Shenington churchyard.
After the formal meeting the Council interviewed and provisionally appointed Mrs Wendi Court as Parish Clerk.
The Council did not fix the date of its next meeting but it will no doubt follow the Annual Parish Meeting probably to be held in the Village Hall on Wednesday, May 16 at 7.30 pm.
FOOTNOTE: IT LOOKS A THOUGH THE DATE FOR THE PARISH MEETING HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS WEDNESDAY, MAY 9TH
The meeting of the Parish Council on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 in the Village Hall was attended by all seven councillors and 13 members of the parish. Mrs Wendi Court took the minutes of the meeting.
The chairman, Mr K. Hainsworth, reported that Mrs Court had offered to take on the task of Parish Clerk but had not been formally appointed.
In the initial Open Forum the Council was congratulated on sending a flyer "Parish Council Matters" with information around the village but criticised for adopting an extremely partial viewpoint. One member of the Council considered that the flyer contained inaccuracies and could not therefore support it. The Council was informed that the two ecclesiastical parishes were merged in 1900 and the civil parishes in 1970. They were also informed that the duties, hours and salary of the Parish Clerk should have been formalised, agreed and recorded at the last meeting of the Council before going ahead with recruitment both to protect the Council and the individual to be appointed.
The content of a letter sent to the Council from the County Highways Department following a meeting on 3 November 2006 was questioned and Mr. K. Adams disclosed that the Highways Department considered the removal of the sets surrounding the village green would be likely to cause detriment to the roads across it. The Council agreed to add this letter to the minutes of the meeting held in January 2007. The deterioration of the road leading to Shutford was drawn to the Council's notice. The Council was also reminded of its failure to send a representative to the Armistice Day service at the memorial in Alkerton and to notify members of the village of the deadline of December 22 for commenting on the proposed development sites in the parish.
The minutes of the meetings held on January 10 were approved. There were no matters arising not covered by the agenda.
The development of a Parish Plan was fully discussed and it was agreed to make a formal application for a grant to cover the costs involved. A member of the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council will be invited to address an open meeting in the village and experience of developing and using a Parish Plan will be sought from other small communities. Several people have already volunteered to assist in its development.
Mr T. Dowdeswell reported that cheques to the auditors and the Village Hall Trust had been paid. He had received details of an account available to local authorities with CCLA investment Management Ltd. which currently pays interest of over 5.25% per annum.
Mr K. Hainsworth reported that he had taken stone from the Stone Pit walling to repair the retaining wall on the village green. In view of the theft or potential theft of the stone from the walling at the Pit he had started to remove the stone until the question of ownership of the walling was raised by the owners of Sugarswell Farm. He stated that there are no deeds determining the ownership of the walling abutting onto the property of Sugarswell Farm. In consequence the Council agreed to share the stone with the owners of Sugarswell Farm who are prepared to take on the responsibility of its maintenance. Mr T. Dowdeswell will prepare an agreement to be approved at the next meeting of the Council. Mr Hainsworth assured members of the Council that there would be no difficulty in selling the stone.
Mrs G. Crabb reported that planning approvals had been given to work at Upton House, Oriel House and the Village Hall. The Council agreed the planning approvals being sought at Windwhistle and The Limes. Members expressed concern over the access route into the rear of the development site at Long Acre. Mrs Crabb also reported that at a meeting relating to the Cherwell District Development Plan she was unable to find out into which category the village will be allocated and when this will be decided.
Mr K. Adams will draw up proposals for the siting of up to three street lights covering the main road through the village for the next meeting of the Council. In view of damage to the verges near the bus stop he was asked to write to the bus company to request drivers to take greater care and also to keep the speed of the buses down along the narrow roads through the villages.
He agreed to keep in touch with the County Highways Department to tackle the cause of debris washed down in storms into Well Lane, Alkerton; to cut back verges where they have overgrown onto the highway; to remove weed trees and shrubs from the verges and to bring to their notice the potholes on the Shutford Road.
Mr S. Mitchell reported that noise readings will be taken across the villages during the Go Kart meeting this Sunday, March 17.
A chairman and member of previous Parish Councils has written to complain over the misrepresentation of actions of those councils in the recent flyer "Parish Council Matters". Minutes of council meetings have placed on record the discussions of a petition relating to the siting of the trough on the village green. Assertions that the previous councils had not discussed this petition are untrue.
Mr K. Adams read a letter from a member of the parish living near the village green for over 30 years pointing out the benefits of the kerbing of the green.
Mr. S. Mitchell agreed to investigate the parking of a car blocking the footpath in Stocking Lane and causing children attending the primary school to have to walk on the road.
In the second Open Forum the deterioration of the road surface in Mill Lane was brought to the notice of the Council.
Members of the Council and members of the public present at the meeting were reminded of a working party to be organised by Mr K. Hainsworth on Saturday March 17 to tidy up Shenington churchyard.
After the formal meeting the Council interviewed and provisionally appointed Mrs Wendi Court as Parish Clerk.
The Council did not fix the date of its next meeting but it will no doubt follow the Annual Parish Meeting probably to be held in the Village Hall on Wednesday, May 16 at 7.30 pm.
FOOTNOTE: IT LOOKS A THOUGH THE DATE FOR THE PARISH MEETING HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS WEDNESDAY, MAY 9TH