The following Councillors were present: Mr N Braithwaite (Chairman), Mr M Pearce, Mr S Fox, Mrs W Pearse, Mrs E Byles. Also present were Mrs H Hibbert-Biles (District Councillor) and 1 member of the public. Mrs M Ismail, Parish Clerk was in attendance.
1. APOLOGIES Received from Mr Rodney Rose, County Councillor
2. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting held on 8th November 2004 were agreed and signed.
3. MATTERS ARISING
Vandalism: No new incidents reported. Street signs and footpath signs not yet replaced.
Risk Assessment: Work is complete. Chairman to speak to Mr and Mrs Burleigh about demolishing the shed on the pound. Pete Moss has quoted approximately £450.
Action: Chairman
Shop: Last week showed a record profit of £2,620. The shop is well stocked for Christmas and the general picture is looking very good going into the New Year.
Kerbing: Clerk had spoken to County Councillor who will do a site visit regarding further works in the New Year.
Post Box: No Progress
Transport: New bus timetables are on notice boards.
First Responder: No progress
Cornbury Field: No progress
Hedge on London Lane: This has been cut.
Bank Nr Signal Box and Drains: No response from Network Rail. John Clark at WODC has agreed to look at the culvert.
Charlbury Station Rail Link: New timetable on notice board and in the shop.
Grass Cutting: No quotations received. Clerk to chase in the New Year. Action: Clerk
Basket Ball Net: District Councillor has forms to apply for grant. Phillip Pratley has verbally quoted £423 to make a metal one excluding the net and ring. It was agreed to defer a decision on this and look at the site in the spring.
Speed Signs on London Lane: No progress
Water from Crown Farm: Dirty, foul water is again pouring out of the farm entrance. It would appear that an interceptor or collection tank is needed. The clerk has asked WODC environmental health to visit but they refused. The District Councillor agreed to contact them and ask the District Engineer to write to Mr Badger again or make a visit. She will also contact DEFRA.
Footpath Signs: No progress.
London Lane Sign: No progress.
Letter to school re Parking: Clerk has written to Mr Wood.
Letter to Cherwell PCT: A letter has been sent in support of MIU unit at Chipping Norton Hospital.
Memorial Plaque: Chairman has polished the plaque but new screws will be needed.
Action: Chairman
Chipping Norton Hill: Highways have done some work but until we have some wet whether it will be difficult to know if it has improved the situation.
Overgrown Branches nr River Bridge: Clerk has written to Mr Izod asking for these to be cut back.
Dog Bin: This has been repaired. Mrs Byles asked if another dog bin could be placed at the Church View entrance to the churchyard as the bin there is being used for dog mess. Action: Clerk
Flicks in the Sitx: No progress. District Councillor reported that the organisers had not received the full grant and the situation is on going.
4. CORRESPONDENCE
a) The Oxfordshire Woodland Project has asked for a donation. This was not agreed.
b) The Oxfordshire Association for the Blind would like a donation to their new telephone support service. This was not agreed.
c) ROSPA Report: After the November inspection two items need attention. The cradle swing needs a replacement screw in the top strap. The slide needs the concrete covering, top step repainting, and the grass surface replacing.
Action: Mr Pearce
5. PLANNING
04/1451/P/FP CONSTRUCTION OF EXTENSION TO EXISTING GARAGE TO FORM INDOOR SWIMMING POOL, CHANGING ROOMS AND PLANT ROOM. At: ASCOTT EARL HOUSE, SHIPTON ROAD, ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD.
Outstanding
04/1659/P/FP DEMOLISH EXISTING DWELLING. ERECTION OF NINE DWELLINGS WITH ASSOCIATED GARAGES ACCESS AND LANDSCAPING. At: 2A SHIPTON ROAD, ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD. Deferred
The District Councillor reported that the planning committee had recommended that this application be amended to remove the archway and the flats over the garages. The developer has been asked to provide a suitable drainage system.
04/2084/P/FP INSERTION OF TWO CONSERVATION ROOF LIGHTS TO THE FRONT ELEVATION AND ONE TO THE REAR ELEVATION At: 47 HIGH STREET, ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD Passed
04/1992/P/FP ALTERATIONS AND ERECTION OF TWO STOREY REAR EXTENSION, NEW PORCH EXTENSION AND CONVERSION OF LOFT TO FORM ADDITIONAL LIVING ACCOMMODATION At: WILLOW BROOK, 51 HIGH STREET, ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD Refused
04/2165/P/: CHANGE OF USE FROM AGRICULTURAL/EQUESTRIAN ALLOWING LAND, COVERED ARENA, HORSE WALKER AND STABLES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH EXISITING LIVERY BUSINESS AND NON COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITION 4 OF PLANNING PERMISSION W2001/0730 TO ALLOW OUTDOOR ARENA ALSO TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSES OF LIVERY (RETROSPECTIVE)
The Chairman and Mr Pearce had a meeting with J Alsop and G Lowe at WODC planning department earlier today. The planning officers are recommending that this application be deferred. They agree that more information is needed and are trying to negotiate the conditions. They are fully aware of the problems relating to heavy lorry access and will recommend deferral until conditions are clarified. They are also concerned that if permission is given other unsociable issues may arise such as the use of tannoys and arch lights. The removal of condition 4 of the application was again discussed and the District councillor will bring it to the attention of the planning committee. It was agreed that the Parish Council should write to Crown Estates to make them aware of the lack of planning permission at Crown Farm. The planners are aware that the community is not in support of this application, in particular the issues of access for large lorries. Chairman to arrange site visit by Highways. The agent for Crown Farm Neil Boddington has agreed to a meeting with the Parish Council and the Chairman will try to arrange this before Christmas. Action: Chairman
6. FINANCE
a) Mr Fox circulated a report showing the cash forecast to year end 31st March 2005 and expenditure to date.
£
b) Cheques paid out: WODC Waste Collection 88.60
Mr W Greenaway – repairs for risk assessment 1071.82 Mr S Barnes – Grass Cutting 1800.47
c) Clerk had received request from WODC for the Precept requirement for 2005/2006. It was agreed that this would stay the same at £7554.
7. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
Mr Rose had sent a report via email in his absence to say that the Chancellor had given Oxfordshire £5.9 million in his allocation to local government but had taken back £1.1 million by altering census calculations and a further million for other reasons. In the county three year medium term plan, the county part of council tax was projected to rise by 6% in 2005/6 but they hope to keep this down to 5%.
8. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT
Mrs Hibbert-Biles reminded everyone that the bin collections will be on different days for the Christmas bank holidays and the new schedule has been circulated for notice boards. Christmas tree shredding can be done at New Street car park in Chipping Norton on 8th January. More black boxes and lids can be obtained for recycling by ringing WODC or from the One Stop Shop in Witney. WODC are on target with affordable homes. Training is underway at the District Council for licensing now that they have taken over responsibility for this from the magistrates courts. Christmas cards in support of the MIU unit at Chipping Norton hospital are available, some will be left in the shop. The campaign to keep the unit with a paramedic at Chipping Norton is ongoing. A lot of time has been taken up with planning and health matters. Mrs Hibbert-Biles wanted the Parish Council to recognise the amount of work done by John Clarke, the District engineer into the water problems in the village.
9. PUBLIC QUESTIONS
Q. Mr Fred Russell asked if there would be more trains stopping at Ascott now that the trains have individual door opening.
A. The District Councillor thought this may not happen until the summer but she would find out.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a) Mr Fox reported that the village charity was looking at ways to raise extra money towards paying off the shop mortgage and they wanted to know how a 50 or 100 club might be received. It was agreed that it may be a good way to raise money but would need dedicated people to collect the donations.
b) Mr Fox reported that he is looking at the Living Churchyards scheme which creates wild areas within the churchyard
c) Mr Fox reported that Friends of Wychwood Villages would like to plant a hazel coppice in the allotment field. This would need permission from Cornbury Estates. Clerk to write to them. Action: Clerk
d) There has been a complaint about residents in High Street parking their cars on the grass verge opposite the shop. Clerk to write and ask them to park on the road and also to ask P C Barnes if there are any stickers available to put on cars parking on the pavement or verges. Action: Clerk
e) The notice board opposite the pub is falling apart. Clerk to ask Pete Moss to repair it. Action: Clerk
11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The meeting closed at 9.40 pm. The next meeting will be held on 10th January 2005 at 8.00 pm