Councillors Present were: Mr N Braithwaite (Chairman), Mr M Pearce Mr S Fox, Mrs W Pearse, Mrs E Byles.
Members of the Public present: Mr F Russell
Parish Clerk Mrs A M Barnes
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies received from Mr Rodney Rose County Councillor and Mrs Hilary Hibbert-Biles District Councillor.
2. MINUTES
Amendments to the January minutes were – (a) in Matters Arising Walk through Ascott-under-Wychwood Leaflet refers to “cost of printing photographs”. This should read “cost of printing leaflets”, (b) in Matters Arising Crown Farm refers to “drainage work had been carried out just before Christmas”. This should read “drainage work had been carried out just after Christmas”, (c) in Matters Arising Railway & Culvert refers to “immediately to the West of the railway crosssing. This should read “immediately to the North of the railway crossing” and (d) in Matters Arising Oxfordshire County Council refers to “Road Sign – A362”. This should read “Road Sign A361”. The Minutes were amended, agreed, numbered, signed and filed.
3. MATTERS ARISING:
Post Box: Ongoing.
Railway & Culvert: Chairman has sent plans to John Clark and the project is progressing.
Chestnut Drive/Cottsway: No further progress. Clerk to chase again.
Action Clerk
Oxfordshire County Council – Highways: Ongoing and issues that are still outstanding are:
- 30 mile speed sign London Lane
- Road sign – Railway Crossing
- Water / drainage Chipping Norton Hill
- London Lane drains.
Pavilion / Sports Clubs: The Chairman had sent the Letter of Comfort. The Agreement will now be from 1st April, 2006. Mr Wood has supplied a plan of his requirements, which all look fine so hopefully the Agreement should be signed by all concerned by 1st April, 2006.
Shop Report: The Village Shop has been broadcast on Radio Oxford and is also due to be filmed on Central T.V.’s programme “Heart of the Country”. Filming is due to take place in February, but the episode wont be televised until the next series, which is thought to be July time. The Shop has made a profit of £1667, albeit this is down on last year due to increased expenditure on wages and electricity.
Parish Conservation Plan: On Saturday 25th February from 10am to 3pm the Tiddy Hall room has been booked in preparation for the Conservation Challenge inviting the public to add their input. Jane Bowley from the Wychwood Project requested that someone from the Parish Council be with her throughout the day. Stuart and Nigel both agreed to be present. Jane requested that the Parish Council obtain quotations for dry stonewalling for the Pound.
Action Chairman / Stuart Fox
OALC Letter – Clerks Salaries: A letter had been received from the OALC regarding the annual increase to clerks salaries from April 2006. The increase applicable is £2353.80 with mileage expenses increasing to 52.7p per mile. These rates were nominated by Mike Pearce and seconded by Stuart Fox and will be adopted in April.
Annual Rent for the Pound and the Cricket Club hire of the Playing Field: Clerk to check what the rent was last year, with a view to discussing this at next Parish Council meeting.
Action Clerk
4. CORRESPONDENCE
Letter received from James Alcock at ORCC regarding affordable housing. Clerk to write and invite Mr. Alcock to the next meeting.
Action Clerk
Invitation from Oxfordshire County Council’s Chairman Catherine Fulljames inviting the Chairman and one other parish councillor to County Hall for drinks and canopes. Clerk to write and decline.
Action Clerk
Letter received from WODC regarding Playground Inspections 2006 in conjunction with ROSPA and by booking this through the West Oxfordshire District Council there is a 32% discount. Clerk to write and accept that the Parish Council would like to be included.
Action Clerk
Letter/Leaflet received for Oxfordshire Villages of the Year. This was circulated for thoughts for next meeting.
Grapevine donation – correspondence had been received requesting a donation. Wendy Pearse and Stuart Fox both signed the Declaration of Interest book and left the room. After discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council would donate £300 to this very worthy cause. Wendy Pearse and Stuart Fox returned to the room.
5. PLANNING
05/2246/P/FP: ALTERATIONS AND ERECTION OF SINGLE AND TWO TWO STOREY EXTENSIONS AT 47 SHIPTON ROAD, ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD. Granted.
05/2265/P/FP: EXTENSION OF ALL WEATHER GALLOP TO INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFETY RAILING (Retrospective) at BRASSWELL LANE FIELD, ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD. Outstanding
05/2290/P/FP: ERECTION OF TWO STOREY REAR AND SINGLE STOREY SIDE EXTENSION at 49 SHIPTON ROAD, ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD. Outstanding
05/2314/P/FP: ALTERATIONS AND ERECTION OF FIRST FLOOR EXTENSION. CONSTRUCT NEW GARAGE TO REPLACE EXISTING at 33 HIGH STREET, ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD. Outstanding
06/0025/P/FP: ERECTION OF ROOF BETWEEN FARM BUILDINGS TO PROVIDE STORAGE AREA FOR FARM EQUIPMENT at 13 THE GREEN, CROWN FARM, ASCOTT UNDER WCYWOOD. Outstanding
6. FINANCIAL REPORT
Payments In:
Allotment Rents £37.50
Payments Out:
Inland Revenue PAYE £115.50
Wychwood Wrought Iron £146.87
Savills – Cornbury Park Allotments £100.00
Splitwood Trees £2204.26
7. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT:
Mr Rose had e-mailed his apologies to the Parish Clerk, but advised that the County Budget was to be set in full on Tuesday 14th February.
8. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT:
No Report.
9. PUBLIC QUESTIONS:
Q: Mr Fred Russell wanted to notify us that he had seen a bill board in Witney stating holiday cottages for Wychwoods.
A: This is planned for Finstock.
Q: Mr Fred Russell asked that now the old Arrows site was in use again was there anything Highways could do to monitor the traffic and speed?
A: To date there had not been any problems, but this would need to be monitored.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Mike Pearce raised Dr. Scott’s retirement and it was decided that Mike would put a poster up notifying people there is a box for donations in the Village Shop.
Action Mike Pearce
The Chairman raised the question of second stage for tree work. The quotation was for £1200 to include taking 4 trees out. However this quote could be reduced by £450 by removing the Sycamore trees ourselves. It was agreed we would do this.
11. NEXT MEETING:
Meeting closed at 9.05 pm. The next meeting will be held on Monday 13th March, 2006 at 8pm in the Tiddy Hall, Ascott-under-Wychwood.