Parish Councillors:
- Philippa Carter (Chair)
- Sandy Timms
- Peter Rance
Parish Clerk:
- Angela Barnes
1. APOLOGIES:
Apologies received from Cllr Mark Tribe and CCllr Rodney Rose.
2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The recorded Minutes from the Meeting held on 13 July 2015 were agreed, duly signed, dated and filed.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest to be recorded.
4. CO-OPTION
Ongoing.
5. FINANCIAL REPORT:
Authorisation of payments
Payments:
1st August
BDO 100976 £240.00 Audit Fee
14th September
Cotswold Line Promotion Group 100977 £10.00
R P Seidel Tractor Repairs 100978 £387.60
Spoiled and Cancelled Cheque 100979
Nicholsons Tree Survey 100980 £420.00
OCC Library Contribution 100981 £262.30
Income:
No income
Precept Planning:
The Clerk reminded the councillors that the setting of the Precept would now need their consideration.
6. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT:
No Report.
7. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT:
No Report.
8. PUBLIC TIME:
There were no members of the public present at the meeting.
9. MATTERS ARISING
(a) Hedge on Shipton Road – Now completed, the Clerk was asked to remove this from the Agenda.
(b) Wychwoods Working Together:
Cuts to Bus Services
Cllr Carter reported that a questionnaire had been delivered to all households and the results analysed. Based on that information a letter had been written to OCC, ORCC and David Cameron with regard to the proposed cuts to the bus services. In addition, the 3 Wychwood Parish Councils jointly composed and sent a joint letter to the above recipients and the local papers had been approached. OCC was asked to work with the Wychwoods so that savings could be made by reducing the current services while at the same time providing buses which are really needed by residents. Based on information from the Ascott questionnaire and evidence in the other 2 villages, proposals for different routes and timings were suggested.
Medical Aid Store
Shipton PC had written and asked if Ascott would be interested in storing medical equipment and aids. This was discussed and agreed in principle. It was stressed that there should be no legal responsibility on the part of any future organisers and the Clerk offered to find out how Dr Parker of Chipping Norton organised their system. – Cllr Timms would enquire further.
(c) Oxford Depository Service – The Clerk was asked to liaise with Mark Abrey about how the Church are securely storing their documents.
(d) Footbridge by Ascott Mill – Works would be undertaken by OCC late autumn.
(e) Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) – Cllr Timms reported that the group will be meeting in November.
(f) County, District and Parish Council Surgery – the next Surgery was scheduled for Saturday 26 September at 11.30am and would be held at The Swan.
(g) Church Lime Tree Project – Cllr Carter reported that the Church had raised almost £3k towards this project and the works would commence late Autumn/Winter.
(h) Parking at Church Close – this issue appears to have resolved and the Clerk was asked to remove it from the Agenda.
10. PLANNING:
15/02516/FUL
Relocation of existing access and driveway at Honeydale Farm, Station Road, Shipton-under-Wychwood
The Planning Application was presented to the meeting – Cllr Carter agreed to take the Plans and view them in more depth.
The Clerk reported on an email (already forwarded to the councillors) with regards to the above: Cotswold Rivers Trust – presentation on 28 October at Beaconsfield Hall, Shipton-under-Wychwood to hear about the work they have done at Cotswold Seeds, Honeydale Farm to reduce the run-off, trap sediments and limit nutrients entering the River Evenlode.
11. MEMORIAL PLAYING FIELD – RECREATION & PLAYGROUND
(a) Replacement Sign – Ongoing
(b) Trellis – Ongoing
(c) Handrail – Ongoing
All awaiting final plans and decision on the drainage project so that installation of the above will not be disturbed by the laying of drains.
12. SPORT ENGLAND – DRAINAGE:
Cllr Carter reported that the recent Parish Meeting/Consultation, held in the Pavilion had proved very informative to the parishioners, who had been re-assured. She reported that the Consultation would remain open until November.
13. ROADS:
(a) London Road South (Charlbury) private garden pond Mrs Beveridge
This will continue to be monitored.
(b) Standing water on the Shipton Road between Melplash Farm & Coldwell Brook
This will continue to be monitored.
(c) Pot-holes
Ongoing
14. ASCOTT-UNDER-WYCHWOOD SPORTS CLUB:
The Clerk reported on behalf of Laurence Mellor; “The summer has seen a successful 7 a side football tournament, a Ladies Football team training with us, although playing their league games in Oxford and a cricket match between Ascott and Leafield. The new junior football goals and cricket nets have been well used and generally there has been an upturn in people using the sports field”.
15. COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN:
Nothing to report.
16. HELPERS OF ASCOTT-UNDER-WYCHWOOD:
Cllr Carter reported that the three self-watering planters, donated by Great Western had been delivered.
17. PARISH PLAN
Cllr Carter reported that she attended the meeting held by ORCC, which was more geared towards a Community Planning (a formal and very expensive process concentrating on development planning). Cllr Carter suggested that they would generate a short questionnaire about Parish Planning but leave it till Spring 2016 as households had just recently been asked to fill in questionnaires about transport. She will liaise with Cllr Tribe.
18. RISK ASSESSMENT:
Cllr Carter and Cllr Timms agreed to review this and report on any works necessary.
Tree Works
Cllr Carter reported that only two quotations had been received, despite four contractors being invited to quote. The quotations were discussed and it was agreed that TreeTech were the most competitive. Cllr Carter proposed that TreeTech be awarded the contract, this was seconded by Cllr Rance and agreed unanimously. The Clerk was asked to advise TreeTech accordingly and ask if the works could be started before Christmas.
The Pound – stone wall
Ongoing – please refer to Item No. 21 Village Charity.
19. TRANSPORT:
Buses
Cllr Rance reported that the Survey/Questionnaire had been distributed throughout the Parish and there had been 43 responses, which equates to 12%. The Bus Survey results were used to write a letter to OCC and the Rt Hon David Cameron from the Wychwoods Working Together, this being Ascott, Milton and Shipton.
Trains
Cllr Rance reported that the results from the recent Survey brought in 65 responses, which equates to 18%.The results on the train services had been shared with John Ellis, the Chairman of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) who have been pressing for very modest upgrades to our current minimal service. In the interim, it was expected that the pre-Christmas Saturday trains to Oxford and Worcester will run this year.
20. WYCHWOOD LIBRARY:
The Clerk reported that an invoice had been received from OCC for £262.30. This was for the PC’s contribution to the Librarian. A notice would be going into the Grapevine for more volunteers.
21. VILLAGE CHARITY
Cllr Timms reported that the annual Fun Run planned for 25th October would be going ahead. She reported that there were still funds available for flowers and or bulbs. Cllr Timms reported that the Village Charity had discussed the possibility of funding towards the re-building of the Stone Wall around the Pound.
22. CORRESPONDENCE:
Cotswold & Malvern Line News
Transport Planning Associates – consultant transport planners
OCC Household waste recycling centres strategy for Oxfordshire
Wychwood on 28 October
Email:
(a) Carol Mackay – Funds available for resilience
(b) Andrew Vidovic (OCC) – Ascott Mill footbridge
(c) OALC Update for July
(d) Nicola Neyhaul WODC – Gambling Act
(e) Carys Davies – Local Plan update
(f) Andrew Thomson WODC – Minerals & Waste Local Plan
(g) Carol Mackay – funding for Resilience
(h) ORCC Newsletter
(i) Hugh Jaegar – Bus cuts
(j) Cotswold Rivers Trust – received inviting the PC to attend a presentation at Beaconsfield Hall, Shipton-under-Wychwood – Please refer to Item No. 10 Planning
(k) Aubrey Raye – Bus cuts
(l) Shipton PC – storage facility for medical equipment
23. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
– Cllr Carter reported on rainwater/flooding outside properties in Church Close. OCC Highways have subsequently cleared out the blocked pipe and the residents are reassured.
– Cllr Carter reported on works to the Sewer. She reported that contractors had started working on
Dr Walker’s land, under the river and fields as far as the garage in Shipton-under-Wychwood. She reported that a bund had been temporarily created by the excess soil, which was worrying due to the forecast of heavy rainfall – this would be monitored.
There being no further business, Cllr Carter declared the meeting closed at 10.00pm
Cllr Philippa Carter (Chairman)