11 Jan 2008 - PARISH COUNCIL

SHENINGTON WITH ALKERTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

The meeting of the Parish Council on Wednesday, January 9 2008 in the Village Hall was attended by six councillors and ten members of the public with Keith Hainsworth in the chair. An apology for absence was received from Jan Walters and for late arrival from Keith Adams. The minutes were taken by the Parish Clerk, Wendi Court.

 

 

Jan Walters’ failure to attend the last three meetings of the Council was noted and the Chairman and Clerk will look into the consequences.

 

 

In the first open forum queries were raised on how the offer to repair the Alkerton War Memorial without charge from Courts, the builders working at the development at Long Acre, had arisen. Tim Dowdeswell reported that he had initially placed notices on the War Memorial to indicate its dangerous condition and had mentioned the problem to his friend, Mr. Hayward, Managing Director of Courts who had made the offer. At its last meeting the Council agreed to accept this offer although two councillors expressed misgivings over the potential implications. The Chairman reported that he had been informed that grants were available towards the cost of such repair from the War Memorials Trust.

 

 

The Council discussed the application to build a fifth house on the Long Acre site. Tim Dowdeswell declared an interest and withdrew from the meeting. The Chairman recorded his friendship with both Mr. Martindale and Mr. Hayward but wished to record his opposition to the proposed development. The Council unanimously agreed to recommend that the District Council should refuse the application.

 

 

Gillian Crabb noted that an opportunity for the provision of affordable housing on the Long Acres development could have been missed. In the subsequent discussion on a survey of the need for affordable housing Stuart Mitchell suggested that this could best be incorporated into the preparation of a Parish Plan. The Chairman commented that Cherwell District Council would take consideration of such a plan when deciding its Local Development Framework. The Council agreed to proceed with the preparation of a Parish Plan and to establish a small subcommittee to organise it.

 

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Stuart Mitchell reported on a meeting with members of the staff of Cherwell District Council dealing with the Local Development Framework at which representatives of the small villages stressed that villages do not have the infrastructure to support large developments.

 

 

Keith Adams and Stuart Mitchell are due to meet members of the County Highways Department later this month to review speed limits through the village and the implementation of the schedule of work to be carried out in the parish by the County Highways Department.

 

 

The Council have received from Cherwell District Council copies of:

 

• the circular opposing the move to conservation status accompanying the voting form in the ballot held in 2006;

   

• comments pointing out the many errors in that circular and

   

• a petition with over 40 signatures requesting a conservation appraisal.

   

 

It is understood that the Conservation Department will carry out an appraisal in the near future.

 

 

The meeting closed at 9.15 pm. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 12 2008.