Parish Councillors
- Philippa Carter
- Sandy Timms
- Mark Tribe
- Peter Rance
- Graham Ranson
Members of the Public
- No members of the public
1. Apologies
Apologies received from CCllr Liz Leffman.
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The Minutes recorded from the December meeting were approved as a true record, duly signed, dated and filed.
3. Declarations of interest
PCllr Carter declared an interest in Planning Application 17/04090/HHD 38 Shipton Road – duly noted under Item 7 Planning.
4. Financial Report
Income
£500.00 Collection Carols on the Green
£5.16 January quarterly Interest
Payments
£250.00 Chq. 101094 Wychwood Day Centre (half share of collection from Carols on the Green)
£250.00 Chq. 101095 Lawrence Home Nursing Team (half share of collection from Carols on the Green)
£616.15 Chq. 101096 A Barnes (Clerks net quarterly salary)
£154.20 Chq. 101097 HMRC (PAYE)
£198.00 Chq. 101098 R A Newman & Sons (Hedge cutting on playing field)
£110.81 Chq. 101099 A Barnes (Clerks quarterly expenses)
£204.00 Chq. 101100 Bruern Estate (Christmas tree)
£24.99 Chq. 101101 A Barnes (Norton anti-virus)
5. Reports from County and District Councillors
County Cllr Liz Leffman (apologies sent, please refer to report below)
Budget
As a member of the Performance Scrutiny Committee, I have been involved in the budget process recently. The budget will be discussed in Cabinet and then in full Council in February. In past years, the capital budget has been done on a year-by-year basis, but this year we are looking at a 10 year rolling budget, which allows us to look ahead and make longer term decisions. This will be helpful especially where Highways is concerned, as it allows for forward planning of road maintenance. The intention is for Locality Groups to have a far greater input on road maintenance in future. This should help rural areas, as councillors will be in a stronger position to lobby for roads and verges that are too often ignored. The good news is that there are no further cuts scheduled to the Highways budget. That being said, given that there is no increase either, the best we can hope for is that really bad rural roads get more of a look-in than at present. One somewhat controversial proposal is that people accessing social care in rural areas may have to pay more to cover the extra cost of providing care in the home. The Liberal Democrats will be looking carefully at this and other proposals of this kind to ensure that residents in rural areas are not treated any less fairly than residents in urban areas.
Recycling
Again, in my capacity as a member of the Performance Scrutiny Committee, I have agreed to take on a review of recycling across the County. This is because recycling rates have been falling countywide. I will be working with officers to look at the reasons for the shortfall, and how the County can work with the District and City councils to improve recycling rates. In particular, I will be looking at whether the closure of recycling centres and the introduction of charging has impacted negatively on recycling.
Bus services
As you may be aware, I have been able to use my portion of the Communities Fund to support the introduction of a new bus service for the Wychwoods. In addition, the Liberal Democrat group recently put forward a motion advocating an integrated approach to bus services across the County and a cross-party group has been set up to look into this, of which I am a member. The group was due to meet before Christmas but thanks to the bad weather this had to be postponed. The remit of the group is to look at how the County can support a variety of models that can between them provide transport links to hubs that will then connect to the larger towns and to Oxford.
DCllr Tom Simcox
DCllr Simcox reported on the Appeal, which had been “Allowed” by the Planning Inspectorate to Planning Application 17/01067/FUL. He reported that WODC had prepared submitted a 50 page document appealing this application. PCllr Carter discussed this at length with DCllr Simcox, expressing the overwhelming disappointment at the representation of the village by WODC. DCllr Simcox agreed to organise for the WODC Head of Planning to meet with PCllr Carter to discuss this. PCllr Carter reported on the “emerging” Local Plan and how, because it was so far from being finalised, this could potentially leave Ascott-under-Wychwood so vulnerable to any future building developments.
6. Public Time
No public time to record.
7. Planning
17/04090/HHD Alterations and erection of single and first floor extensions at 38 Shipton Road, Ascott-under-Wychwood.
PCllr Carter declared an interest and sustained from voting on this application. The remaining councillors discussed this at length, reviewing the hard copy of the planning application papers with photographs supplied by Brian Ridley and it was decided, unanimously, that the PC should object this application due to;
The extension being too large in comparison with the original dwelling
There clearly being an “over development / over shadowing” issue and Cllr Tribe suggested that a surveyor should be asked to carry out a “Right of Light” survey for the neighbouring properties. Cllr Timms asked the Clerk to send the PC’s response to WODC.
17/04060/FUL Demolition of existing structures and erection of new buildings to accommodate an education facility, microprocessing space and farm machinery, two new family dwellings , new access and parking at Honeydale Farm, Station Road, Shipton-under-Wychwood. The councillors agreed to consider this application and let the Clerk know their response to send to WODC.
Appeal Ref: APP/D3125/W/17/3179654 – Allowed 15 December 2017: London Lane, Ascott-under-Wychwood, OX7 6AN Application Ref 17/01067/FUL, dated 30 March 2017, was refused by notice dated 10 July 2017, but allowed on Appeal. Development proposed on the application form is the “Construction of 5 dwellings”.
Please refer to DCllr Tom Simcox’s report under Item 5.
8. Matters Arising
(a) County, District & Parish joint surgery – nothing to report
(b) Wychwoods Working Together – nothing to report.
(c) OCC Grasscutting contract – Ongoing
(d) Sign at the Ascott Earl Sheepwash – ongoing (Cllr Ranson)
(e) Annual Litter Pick – this is scheduled for Saturday 24 February, meet on the Village Green at 10am. PCllr Carter asked the Clerk to print posters for the Notice Boards and the Village Shop.
(f) Carols on the Green – All agreed, this was yet another joyful and successful event. PCllr Carter asked the Clerk to record a “thank you” to all who contributed to making this annual event such a success, in particular the Band. The event raised an enormous £500 which would be split 50/50 between the Lawrence Home Nursing Team and The Wychwood Day Centre.
(g) Martyrs Seats – Cllr Carter showed the meeting the handwritten PC minutes of spring 1973 after discovering them when Paul Jackson (AMET) had asked who the PC Chairman was then. At that time the first wooden bench to commemorate the Ascott Martyrs was donated by Mr & Mrs Warner (Doris Warner being a descendent) and a centenary celebration was held in June 1973. The Parish Council of the day discussed the ongoing maintenance programme for the seat and decided that it should be the responsibility of the Parish Council rather than a separate committee and this has been the arrangement until the present day. The wooden seat was replaced by the existing 4 metal benches to commemorate the Millenium and were refurbished by the suppliers in summer 2017. The issue of cleaning the seats of bird muck is still a problem and one that continues to be discussed between the PC and Ascott Martyrs Education Trust.
(h) Defibrillator (re-siting) – Cllr Carter reported that Peter, the manager of the Swan, had contacted the owner regarding a power source to the defibrillator cabinet. The owner had responded that they do want the defibrillator to remain in front of the Swan function room. Peter informed Cllr Carter that he would arrange a power source within a few days. In the meantime Cllr Carter has informed the ambulance service and they have noted that the A-u-W defibrillator is temporarily out of service. Shipton-u-W would be the next closest.
9. Risk Assessment & Ground Maintenance
Cllr Carter reported that she was waiting for Treetech to supply a quotation for the tree work by the Pavilion.
10. Community Emergency Plan
Cllr Carter reported that Laurence Mellor had taken the pavement salt spreaders to Phil Pratley, Wychwood Wrought Iron, for maintenance work /adjustments.
Cllr Carter asked the Clerk to write to Tim Hook, Crown Farm to thank him for the work he did snow ploughing and clearing the roads after the heavy snowfall. Cllr Carter reported that numerous parishioners had reported to her their thanks and gratitude.
11. Transport
Buses
The PC received a request to support the Community Bus from Witney with a grant. This potential bus service from Witney to Chipping Norton passing through the Wychwoods has been mentioned in recent reports from C Cllr Leffman but we have not been informed of any final agreement or any details of the route. In her December report C Cllr Leffman reported that there will still meetings to take place and that there should be no need for the Parishes to be asked for contributions. On the basis of her report Ascott Parish Council voted in December 2017 to support the Volunteer Bus Service for another 12 months from January 2018. It was agreed at this meeting to make no decisions until more information had been received. As CCllr Leffman had reported that WODC were also to be involved, Cllr Carter asked DCllr Simcox to find out what the situation is.
Trains
Cllr Rance had e mailed the GWR franchise staff who had arranged the pre- Christmas Saturday, stopping trains to and from Oxford, to thank them as they were widely used and much appreciated. He had naturally added that making a modest Saturday service permanent would be even better. Regrettably, however, the period close to Christmas and over the first week of the new timetable starting 2nd January, had been grim for our regular users who depend upon the only train to and from Oxford during weekdays. In particular, the evening return service has been frequently cancelled, including on the evening of the PC meeting, leaving users stranded. The impact has already caused some to make alternative, and more expensive arrangements, as confidence has plummeted. Cllr Rance has both emailed and texted the GWR Cotswold Line Manager to express deep concern and seek confirmation that this is not a sign of managed withdrawal of the service through lack of custom, but has yet to receive any response. He will continue to press for answers and when received, will aim to inform the service users and provide a report in the next Grapevine Journal.
12. Roads
(a) Cllr Carter reported that the painted white lines around potholes at the top of London had not been repaired despite being reported by Cllr Ranson several months ago. Also gravel by Chippy Bridge has not been removed and grips not cleared on London Lane and Chippy Hill. CCllr Liz Leffman agreed to chase progress at a meeting with Cllr Carter before her leave.
(b) Cllr Carter reported on signs provided by OCC and soon to be erected on all approaches to the Village, indicating to drivers to slow down.
(c) Potholes – Cllr Ranson reported that these had become progressively worse. He had reported them at least twice and will do so again.
13. Reports from Organisations
(a) Ascott-under-Wychwood Sports Club – nothing to report
(b) Wychwood Library – Cllr Timms reported that the Oxford County Library had now reopened.
(c) Helpers of Ascott-under-Wychwood – nothing to report
14. Correspondence
Post
Clerks & Councils Direct
Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) Line News Winter 2017/18
WODC;
Hanborough Railway station
MP Robert Courts Newsletter
Various – with regards to Planning Appeal, duly noted above under Planning.
Paul Jackson – re Martyrs Benches – please refer to Matters Arising
16. Any Other Business
There being no further business, Cllr Carter declared the meeting closed at 9.50pm and confirmed the next meeting will be on Monday 12 February 2018.
Cllr Philippa Carter (Chairman)
Date: 12th February 2018