Parish Councillors
- Philippa Carter (Chair)
- Sandy Timms (Vice)
- Laurence Mellor
- Peter Rance
Parish Clerk
- Angela Barnes
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies received from CCllr Rodney Rose and Cllr Mark Tribe.
2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The recorded Minutes from the March Meeting were reviewed, agreed and then duly signed, dated and filed.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest to be recorded.
4. FINANCIAL REPORT
(a) Authorisation of payments
Payments:
£559.66 Clerks quarterly salary Chq No. 100961
£140.00 Post Office HMRC Chq No. 100962
£123.73 Clerks quarterly expenses Chq No. 100963
£71.63 WODC Waste Chq No. 100964
£50.00 Subscription Chq No. 100965
£133.07 Subscription Chq No. 100966
£104.40 RA Newman Hedgecutting Chq No. 100967
Income:
£163.00 Allotment Rents
Balance:
£11,315.12 as at 6 April 2015
(b) Financial Report – presented by Stuart Fox Responsible Financial Officer (RFO)
Accounts for the Year End to 31 March 2015
The Accounts for the year end to 31 March 2015, which had been previously circulated, were presented for approval. The Accounts were discussed and approved as a true record. These were then signed and dated by the Chairman and the Responsible Financial Officer. The Clerk was asked to file a copy in the Minute record book.
Annual Return for the Year to 31 March 2015
The Accounting Statements within the Annual Return for 2014/15 were presented to the meeting and then duly approved and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
The Annual Governance Statement was presented and the individual questions answered. This was then approved as a true record and duly signed by the Chairman and the Parish Clerk.
5. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
No report, apologies received.
6. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT
DCllr Tom Simcox reported that the Joint Council surgery held in Ascott was successful, albeit poorly attended. He reported on the Local Plan, which was currently out for consultation. Cllr Carter asked DCllr Simcox to confirm the status of Ascott-under-Wychwood.
7. PUBLIC TIME
There were no members of the public present at the meeting.
8. MATTERS ARISING
- Hedge on Shipton Road – Ongoing
- Working together with the Wychwoods
The Clerk was asked to write to both Shipton and Milton and confirm the date to meet would be Wednesday 24 June and held at The Swan Public House meeting room. - Anti-social behaviour – Ongoing
- Footbridge by Ascott Mill – Ongoing
- Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG)
Cllr Timms reported that she had attended a meeting and numerous issues were discussed, these being: VERA (Vulnerable Elderly Risk Assessment), Dog Mess and the ways to deal with this and Speed Camera – a mobile speed camera is available to use within villages, but would need to be manned. - Annual Parish Meeting – All agreed to meet between 6.30pm and 7.00pm to prepare.
- OALC Update – April Update to be reviewed by Cllr Mellor (March Update reviewed by Cllr Carter)
- County, District and Parish Joint Council Surgeries – Cllr Carter attended the March surgery on Saturday 28 March at the Swan Public House. The April surgery would be held in Shipton on Saturday 25 April.
- Church Lime Tree Project – Cllr Carter reported that progress was being made, she had met with Mark Dawbarn and Mark Abrey and that grant applications were being completed.
- Closure of the Footpath beyond Ascott – Cllr Carter reported that this was not a public right of way, which had been confirmed by OCC who suggested the parishioners form a small informal working party and approach the landowner.
9. PLANNING
No new applications received.
10. ASCOTT-UNDER-WYCHWOOD RECREATION GROUND
Cllr Mellor reported that the playing field was in fine condition and that the harrowing, carried out by the grasscutting contractor, seemed to have minimised the infestation of moles.
11. PROJECT SAFE PLAY
The Clerk reported that funding had now been received from WODC.
- Cllr Carter confirmed that the date to celebrate the opening of the Playing Field would be the afternoon of 11 June. Cllr Carter and Cllr Mellor agreed to organise a list of who to invite.
- Cllr Carter reported that the sign would be approximately £350, which would be paid for from the grant funding.
12. LOTTERY DRAINAGE
Cllr Mellor reported that Dr Ian James’ report had been sent to him and had been forwarded to Wayne Barker at OCC. Cllr Mellor reported that the proposal had had to be amended and that he would carry this project forward and notify the parishioners accordingly.
13. ROADS
- London Road South (Charlbury) private garden pond Mrs Beveridge
This will continue to be monitored. - Standing water on the Shipton Road between Melplash Farm & Coldwell Brook
This will continue to be monitored.
14. ASCOTT-UNDER-WYCHWOOD SPORTS CLUB
Cllr Mellor reported that the football team continued to play using the facilities. He reported that the grass had been mowed on the Cricket Wicket and that the nets were back up and the matting out.
15. COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN
Nothing to report.
16. HELPERS OF ASCOTT-UNDER-WYCHWOOD
Cllr Carter reported that the Helpers had met at the Pound, which was very productive and they cleared brambles and ivy. Cllr Carter reported that the clearing work has exposed the very much degraded stone wall between it and the orchard of the private house adjoining it. The issue of liability for repair costs would need investigation. The next meeting was scheduled for Saturday 25 April where the Helpers would meet at the railway bank.
17. PARISH PLAN
Cllr Carter reported that she and Cllr Tribe had met with Astrid Harvey from WODC to discuss preparing a “Neighbourhood Plan”.
18. RISK ASSESSMENT
The Clerk was asked to approach Nicholsons to quote for a risk assessment on the Village’s trees, which would include the Playground, the Green and 5 Shilling Corner. Cllr Rance and Cllr Mellor agreed to carry out a “walkabout” and provide the exact number of trees to be assessed.
RoSPA Report – the Clerk was asked to reply to RoSPA and dispute their Report again and request a proper report showing up to date photographs. The Clerk was asked to request a further Inspection and once a date agreed a councilor would attend when the inspection was carried out.
19. TRANSPORT
Buses
Cllr Rance reported on the bus services and that the OCC contract negotiations had extended beyond their target date and no conclusions could yet be announced.
Trains
Cllr Carter and Cllr Rance were scheduled to meet Alan Field, the First Great Western Line Manager for the Cotswold Line on Wednesday 22 April.
20. WYCHWOOD LIBRARY
Nothing to report.
21. VILLAGE CHARITY
Nothing to report.
22. CORRESPONDENCE
- Draft WODC Plan (2011 – 2031) – emailed to all Councillors
- Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) Spring Upate
- Network Rail – Ascott-under-Wychwood Community Scheme Licence
- Playsafety Limited – reply to queries re Inspection – emailed to all Councillors
- Zurich – Parish Council’s Insurance Renewal
23. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Cllr Carter reported that Thames Water were planning to replace the rising main which runs between Shipton sewage treatment works and Ascott-under-Wychwood sewage pumping station.
Cllr Carter asked all councilors to think about a replacement for Cllr Mellor.
There being no further business, Cllr Carter declared the meeting closed at 10.25pm,
Cllr Philippa Carter