Parish Councillors
- Philippa Carter
- Sandy Timms
- Graham Ranson
County Councillor
- Liz Leffman
District Councillor
- Tom Simcox
Parish Clerk
- Angela Barnes
Members of the Public
- No members of the public
1. Apologies
Apologies received from Cllr Mark Tribe and Cllr Peter Rance.
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The Minutes recorded from the September meeting were approved as a true record, duly signed, dated and filed.
3. Declarations of interest
There were no declarations of interest.
4. Financial Report
The Clerk presented a copy of Stuart Fox, the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO’s) financial report. This was discussed and approved.
Financial Regulations
The Clerk presented the Financial Regulations to the PC. These were reviewed and duly agreed, together with a copy of the reconciliation of bank statements published by the RFO on monthly reports, as required under Parish Financial Rules.
Income
£4.91 Interest
Costs
£5290.00 Chq No. 101082 S Barnes Grasscutting
£110.81 Chq No. 101083 Clerks Quarterly Expenses
£80.34 Chq No. 101084 WODC Commercial Waste
£616.35 Chq No. 101085 Clerks Quarterly Salary
£154.00 Chq No. 101086 HMRC Post Office
Precept
Cllr Carter had asked all councillors to consider any expenditure and projects in order to prepare and set the Precept for the next financial year. She presented a spreadsheet and a list of proposed one-off expenditure items, together with additions to and increases in annual basic expenditure, to the meeting. These were discussed and it was agreed to give this further thought and bring to the November meeting.
5. Reports from County and District Councillors
CCllr Liz Leffman thanked Cllr Carter and Cllr Rance for meeting up with her in the Village and for being given such a comprehensive review of recent and ongoing flooding and road drainage issues throughout the Village. She reported that she had not had a reply from Gary Wilcox and will chase again. CCllr Leffman reported that she will update the PC on the Witney Community Bus Alliance after their meeting on 8 November. She also reported on the County Strategic Consultation, which was going through scrutiny and then full council. CCllr Leffman updated the PC on a motion to support rural GP’s, unfortunately this had been unsuccessful.
DCllr Tom Simcox reported that the planning Appeal APP/D3125/W/17/3179654, 12-18 London Lane, deadline had been changed to 23 October.
6. Public Time
There was no public time.
7. Planning
Approved Application – 17/02545/HHD Erection of conservatory to rear elevation at 1 Dawls Close
Approved Application – 17/02445/HHD Erection of single storey side extension at 1 Station Place
Approved Application – 17/00918/FUL Development on site of garages, south of Maple Way
(16/02793/FUL 18 Maple Way Erection of 6 dwellings & associated works)
Cllr Carter reported that the site manager appointed by contractors E G Carter had made contact with residents close to the site and that relations were good so far.
Appeal Reference – APP/D3125/W/17/3179654 Land North West of 18 London Lane, Ascott-under-Wychwood
(Rejected Application – 17/01067 Land North West of 18 London Lane Construction of 5 dwellings and formation of vehicular access)
8. Matters Arising
(a) County, District & Parish joint surgery – next meeting to be confirmed by D Cllr Simcox.
(b) Wychwoods Working Together – All Ascott P Cllrs were unable to attend the date for the joint Wychwoods evening. The Clerk has sent apologies.
(c) OCC Grasscutting contract – Ongoing – Cllr Carter to liaise with C Cllr Leffman
(d) Hedgecutting – the contractors R A Newman & Son had been booked and would confirm with the Clerk nearer the time when they would carry out cutting the hedge on the Playing Field.
(e) Sign at the Ascott Earl Sheepwash – Cotswold Warden, Gerald Simper had reported that the frame was damaged. Cllr Ranson agreed to look into this.
(f) Parking at the Swan Public House – Cllr Tribe agreed to speak to the Pub Management and ask them to ask their patrons to park both responsibly and considerately.
9. Risk Assessment & Ground Maintenance
Cllrs Philippa Carter, Sandy Timms and Graham Ranson had agreed to meet on 2 November at 2pm to go through the Risk Assessment.
(a) Martyrs’ Seats – The cleaning of the seats was discussed again and the possibility of re-siting the seats on the Village Green. Cllr Carter agreed to look into this.
(b) Five Shilling Corner – nothing to report.
(c) The Pound – Re-building of the vandalised section of the new wall and the possibility of having toppers cemented on – Cllr Carter to liaise with the Wychwood Project wall building team.
(d) Memorial Playing Field and Playground – Cllr Carter reported that there had been some vandalism on the playground, which had included the digging up of soil to create two mounds for cycle jumps.
Cllr Carter asked the Clerk to contact RoSPA to re-start the annual inspection of the play equipment now that the drainage project was complete.
10. Community Emergency Plan
Cllr Carter reported that the next project would be for the purchase and erection of a Winter Store.
11. Transport
(Reports received via Email and circulated prior to the meeting)
Buses –Nothing to report
Trains – Cllr Rance is seeking confirmation from Claire King, GWR North Cotswold Line Manager, that the pre-Christmas Saturday trains, stopping additionally at Ascott, will run again this year. The Cotswold Line Promotion Group, special charter HST from Oxford to Minehead, that stopped at Ascott, was a great success. 5 passengers were booked from Ascott and there would probably have been 2 more, except for a clash of other travel commitments. Next year it may be a special to the Settle and Carlisle line!
12. Roads
Ongoing – CCllr Leffman would look into the repairing of the potholes again.
13. Reports from Organisations
(a) Ascott-under-Wychwood Sports Club Cllr Carter reported that the footballers were now back, with 2 teams using 1 pitch. She reported on the parking and that 14 cars had parked on the lower car park and 5/6 up at the top.
(b) Wychwood Library
Nothing to report.
(c) Helpers of Ascott-under-Wychwood
Cllr Carter reported that the Helpers had focused on a “cleanup” around the Pavilion. She proposed hiring a skip, this was seconded by Cllr Ranson.
14. Correspondence
OALC Update
MP Robert Courts update
WODC – re provision of services via Publica
Chris George – Wychwood Day Centre – Cllr Carter to reply
15. Any Other Business
There was no Any Other Business to report.
There being no further business, Cllr Carter declared the meeting closed at 9.30pm and confirmed the next meeting will be on Monday 13 November.
Cllr Philippa Carter (Chairman)
Date: 13 November 2017