12 Jul 2007 - PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 11 2007
The meeting held on Wednesday, July 11 was attended by six members of the Parish Council with 14 members of the public present. The chair was taken by Keith Hainsworth. An apology for absence had been received from Tim Dowdeswell.
Mr Hainsworth declared an interest in the Long Acre development.
In the first Open Forum one member of the public reported that he had been in touch with Mr. Mizen of the County Highways Department who had stated that he had received a significant number of telephone calls relating to the setts on the Green. 100% of the callers were opposed to the setts being removed. Mr. Mizen stated that he could see no circumstances under which the setts should be removed. He also stated that Dr. Todd of Cherwell District Council had said from a conservation point of view the setts were a satisfactory way of dealing with the problem of erosion.
Concern was expressed over the procedures used to appoint the Parish Clerk, over the nature of the cabin erected at Long Acre which was considered to be out of keeping with the rest of the village, and over the need for a road sign to indicate the location of the surgery. Further concern was expressed by members from Stocking Lane over the potential increase in traffic if the cabin at Long Acre was used as a vehicle for selling similar cabins.
In the absence of Tim Dowdeswell, John Evans presented the annual accounts which had been previously circulated and these were approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman. Cyril Anson was thanked for carrying out the independent audit required by the Audit Commission. The bank balance stood at £9,150 with cheques for £1,640 outstanding namely £7,510 net. £5,000 has been placed in a business account earning 3.25% gross. The accounts will be formally open to the public from July 30 to August 24 and notices to this effect will be placed on both notice boards. The Chairman reported that the Council had been given a ride-on mower for the care of the Green and Shenington Churchyard.
Copies of a document relating to stone on a wall of the "Stone Pit", prepared by Tim Dowdeswell to form the basis of an agreement with the Nunneley family, will be circulated to members of the Council for their approval.
A visit by a member of the Oxfordshire Authority of Local Councils is planned for a date in September. The purpose of the visit is to resolve the differences causing friction in the current Parish Council.
The Council rejected the offer by Cherwell District Council of a flashing speed indicator due both to its unsuitability for the village and the installation cost of £300 to £400.
The Chairman read extracts from letters received relating to the setts and the trough on the Green. Some 16 members of the village had written to oppose any change to the Green and some 4 had written supporting a change. The Council felt that a majority of the village had not wanted the setts originally but now they are content with them.. They consequently decided not to hold a ballot to assess the attitude of members of the village over the setts on the Green and the trough presented and maintained by the Gardening Club.
The provision of extra street lighting was discussed. It was decided to take no action at this point.
Planning application for a garage and lean-to at Stone Holt has been approved by Cherwell District Council. Members of the Parish Council had recommended changes which would have reduced the impact on Grimes Barn and are still concerned over the impact of this development. They also are unhappy over the development of an access road from Long Acre to the extension of Kenhill Road.
Keith Adams and Stuart Mitchell reported on a meeting with a representative of the county Highways Department at which problems with the roads through the villages and plans for improvement were discussed. In the Highways' view the problem of debris across the road near the Alkerton War Memorial after rainstorms is something for the nearby landowners to resolve. The Chairman reported that the roads should be swept four times a year by the Local Authority using a mechanical sweeper which runs up to retained edges.
The placing of "Children Walking" signs and a "Surgery" sign is still to be resolved. The Highways Department were reluctant to place a ?No Through Road? sign at the start of Pig Market Lane in view of their "Decluttering Policy".
In the second Open Forum the problem of overhanging trees on Shenington Hill was raised. Comments were made that some action had been taken by residents but there was still a problem to passing vehicles. In reply to another query the Chairman said that the stone already recovered from the "Stone Pit" wall was bagged and stored on the Nunneley's Farm.
The meeting closed at about 11.20 pm.
The next meeting will be on September 12 at 7.30 pm in the village hall.
The meeting held on Wednesday, July 11 was attended by six members of the Parish Council with 14 members of the public present. The chair was taken by Keith Hainsworth. An apology for absence had been received from Tim Dowdeswell.
Mr Hainsworth declared an interest in the Long Acre development.
In the first Open Forum one member of the public reported that he had been in touch with Mr. Mizen of the County Highways Department who had stated that he had received a significant number of telephone calls relating to the setts on the Green. 100% of the callers were opposed to the setts being removed. Mr. Mizen stated that he could see no circumstances under which the setts should be removed. He also stated that Dr. Todd of Cherwell District Council had said from a conservation point of view the setts were a satisfactory way of dealing with the problem of erosion.
Concern was expressed over the procedures used to appoint the Parish Clerk, over the nature of the cabin erected at Long Acre which was considered to be out of keeping with the rest of the village, and over the need for a road sign to indicate the location of the surgery. Further concern was expressed by members from Stocking Lane over the potential increase in traffic if the cabin at Long Acre was used as a vehicle for selling similar cabins.
In the absence of Tim Dowdeswell, John Evans presented the annual accounts which had been previously circulated and these were approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman. Cyril Anson was thanked for carrying out the independent audit required by the Audit Commission. The bank balance stood at £9,150 with cheques for £1,640 outstanding namely £7,510 net. £5,000 has been placed in a business account earning 3.25% gross. The accounts will be formally open to the public from July 30 to August 24 and notices to this effect will be placed on both notice boards. The Chairman reported that the Council had been given a ride-on mower for the care of the Green and Shenington Churchyard.
Copies of a document relating to stone on a wall of the "Stone Pit", prepared by Tim Dowdeswell to form the basis of an agreement with the Nunneley family, will be circulated to members of the Council for their approval.
A visit by a member of the Oxfordshire Authority of Local Councils is planned for a date in September. The purpose of the visit is to resolve the differences causing friction in the current Parish Council.
The Council rejected the offer by Cherwell District Council of a flashing speed indicator due both to its unsuitability for the village and the installation cost of £300 to £400.
The Chairman read extracts from letters received relating to the setts and the trough on the Green. Some 16 members of the village had written to oppose any change to the Green and some 4 had written supporting a change. The Council felt that a majority of the village had not wanted the setts originally but now they are content with them.. They consequently decided not to hold a ballot to assess the attitude of members of the village over the setts on the Green and the trough presented and maintained by the Gardening Club.
The provision of extra street lighting was discussed. It was decided to take no action at this point.
Planning application for a garage and lean-to at Stone Holt has been approved by Cherwell District Council. Members of the Parish Council had recommended changes which would have reduced the impact on Grimes Barn and are still concerned over the impact of this development. They also are unhappy over the development of an access road from Long Acre to the extension of Kenhill Road.
Keith Adams and Stuart Mitchell reported on a meeting with a representative of the county Highways Department at which problems with the roads through the villages and plans for improvement were discussed. In the Highways' view the problem of debris across the road near the Alkerton War Memorial after rainstorms is something for the nearby landowners to resolve. The Chairman reported that the roads should be swept four times a year by the Local Authority using a mechanical sweeper which runs up to retained edges.
The placing of "Children Walking" signs and a "Surgery" sign is still to be resolved. The Highways Department were reluctant to place a ?No Through Road? sign at the start of Pig Market Lane in view of their "Decluttering Policy".
In the second Open Forum the problem of overhanging trees on Shenington Hill was raised. Comments were made that some action had been taken by residents but there was still a problem to passing vehicles. In reply to another query the Chairman said that the stone already recovered from the "Stone Pit" wall was bagged and stored on the Nunneley's Farm.
The meeting closed at about 11.20 pm.
The next meeting will be on September 12 at 7.30 pm in the village hall.