Parish Councillors
- Philippa Carter
- Sandy Timms
- Peter Rance
- Brian Leach
- Pauline Plant
Parish Clerk
- Angela Barnes
Members of the Public
- None
1. Apologies
CCllr Liz Leffman & DCllr Jake Acock
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The Minutes recorded from the virtual meeting held on 12 October 2020, were approved as a true record and will be duly signed, dated and filed when actual meetings resume.
3. Declarations of interest
None
4. Financial Report
Bank Balance £53,142.99
Income
Zurich Insurance refund £19.43
Costs
200166 15/10 – Play Safety playground inspection £115.80
200167 25/10 – Moore annual audit £240.00
200166 15/10 – Play Safety playground inspection £115.80
200168 02/11 – C Badger timber for the pound £69.47
200169 28/11 – A Barnes new salary increase plus arrears £279.19
200170 30/11 – HMRC PAYE £70.00
200171 04/11 – P Carter re Smiths gravel for potholes £169.20
External Audit
Moore East Midlands have completed the external audit and have concluded there were no issues requiring the PC’s attention. Stuart Fox (RFO) has submitted the Audit Report to Paul Cunningham for him to display on the PC’s section on the Website.
Budget / Precept
Setting the Precept, the budget and forecasting was discussed. Cllr Carter reminded colleagues that the level of Precept for Financial Year 21/22 should be set at the December meeting. The Clerk will then submit the Precept request to WODC.
Replacing the 5 wooden bollards around the Green was discussed and a quote had been received for £202 including labour. Cllr Rance proposed this quote should be accepted and the works commence. Cllr Leach seconded and all agreed unanimously.
Cllr Leach suggested that an amount for training should be included in the budget.
Financial Regulations
To be carried forward to the January meeting.
5. Reports from County and District Councillors
CCllr Liz Leffman report, sent in her absence:
In late October, the Director for Public Health advised leaders of all of the councils in Oxfordshire that the rising number of Covid cases across the County was sufficiently worrying that he recommended a move to Tier 2 and this was agreed by all council leaders. However, this was not carried out because four of the MPs (including our MP) lobbied the Secretary of State to refuse this move. As it happens just a week later it was announced that we would be in full lockdown. The County is now carrying out contact tracing in partnership with the district and city councils, and this is yielding a much better contact rate than the national programme. This is because the national programme uses an 0300 number which is often not answered. Instead council employees in public health and environmental health are calling residents and if they still do not respond are knocking on doors and in this way are contacting many more people. This will continue for the foreseeable future. The number of Covid cases in West Oxfordshire was continuing to rise last week and on Friday stood at 120.2 per 100,000. This is lower than the city and Cherwell district but higher than South Oxfordshire and the Vale.
I am very pleased that the 210 bus will continue to run in the Wychwoods in spite of the new lockdown and I have been able to offer a grant from my Councillor Priority Fund to help maintain the service through this difficult time.
DCllr Jake Acock’s report, sent in his absence:
We held our first full council meeting last week. A few important decisions were decided. Firstly, remote meetings will be extended until May and will be kept under constant review; Hybred meetings will be considered as we move through the next few months. Secondly, and more importantly, a full Covid-19 recovery plan was adopted by the council, which will lead to investments in new officers like a Town centre recovery officer and more support for helping to tackle climate change. Please do see the minutes of the next meeting to see which over motions were adopted and what effects Ascott.
Planning: the High Street application (cow sheds area) has been accepted. We will await for another application which will give the details of what this development will look like- we should expect this to arrive within the next few months.
Casework: I have a list of residents who will phone at least once over the next period to check in with them to make sure they are okay. This list is similar to the other residents list which was produced in regards to people shielding or needing extra support.
6. Public Time
No public time recorded.
7. Planning
(a) 20/01592/OUT – land North East of 51 High Street – Approved (with conditions re ecology)
(b) 20/02138/HHD – 2 Wychwood Court – Approved
(c) 20/02234/HHD – Ascott Hill Farm – Approved
(d) Moratorium on Building
Ascott-under-Wychwood Parish Council agreed that the public data during the winter and spring of 2020 revealed damning evidence about the illegal tipping of sewage into the River Evenode at Milton Pumping Station.
This is proof that the current sewerage system is not capable of dealing with the existing number of homes in the villages which rely on Milton pumping station. In addition, during and after prolonged heavy rain, the surface water and road drainage systems in Ascott-under-Wychwood are regularly observed to be at full capacity. This causes flash flooding on roads and also inundation of the sewers which can enter the road drains and onto the river Evenlode. This is due not only to the age of the system but also to the very topography of the village.
At this meeting of 9 November 2020 Ascott-under-Wychwood Parish Council called for a moratorium on any new build in Ascott-under-Wychwood until Thames Water stopped discharging illegal amounts of sewage into the River Evenlode.
(e) Neighbourhood Plan
The Neighbourhood Plan Traffic and Transport group have been focussed on launching their Considerate Parking campaign against a backdrop of complaints to the PC and posts on Facebook regarding poor parking.
The group has agreed a leaflet that will be distributed at the start of next month to coincide with the next issue of the Grapevine; written an extensive article about the parking and the law for the Grapevine; and agreed a poster competition for the village children to participate in designing a road safety awareness sign. The village charity has kindly agreed to judge the competition and to award and fund prizes. Additional leaflets and posters will be displayed at the Village Shop, on the noticeboards and on the Green (courtesy of the Folk Club board).
The Government consultation regarding parking on pavements is currently ongoing and will close on 22nd November.
Details of the consultation can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking/pavement-parking-options-for-change
Cllr Leach has approached the school to thank them for their letter to the clerk regarding a one way system during school drop-off and pick-up, and has requested a meeting later this month to discuss ideas. No answer has yet been forthcoming.
The group continues to consider means by which drivers can be encouraged to slow down through the village, with the suggestion of white gates on the entrance to the village from London Lane. The group will also be conducting a survey of the traffic volumes in the light of the changes to HGV traffic through Burford once the current lockdown has been lifted. A site visit has also been requested of James Wright, Communities officer from OCC, whose experience the group would like to seek regarding speed reduction options and potential weight restriction for the bridge.
Cllr Leach reported that the 30 mph sign on London Lane exiting the village has been knocked down.
8. Matters Arising
(a) Footpaths
Cllr Plant reported that she had been working on the Evidence forms with Sue Richards.
(d) Christmas
The Clerk was asked to order a tree and this would be erected on the Village Green as usual. The PC requested a slightly shorter tree this year to withstand the strong winds that seem to be a regular occurrence in December. The possibility of holding Carols on the Green was discussed. Cllrs Carter and Leach to investigate the most up-to-date Covid situation and rulings so that the PC can take a decision imminently.
9. Risk Assessment and Ground Maintenance
Cllr Timms & Cllr Plant have carried out the Risk Assessment.
Cllr Carter reported that material to fill potholes in the Playing Field roadway had been delivered at a cost of £169.20 including VAT. This will be completed when the dry weather returns.
Cllr Carter reported on the Pound Board, Stuart Fox is working on the wording and 30yr wooden rails had been purchased at a cost of £69.47 to replace the rotting ones which surround the barrow and sign slates. They will be installed by a volunteer.
ROSPA Report
The report had been circulated to all councillors for discussion and the main issues raised were discussed.
The July RoSPA inspection was carried out belatedly and the report only received in time to review at this meeting. It recommended investigation or work to be done on the basket ball court, zip wire and several wooden posts or rails. Cllr Carter to organise.
Cllr Rance suggested that the PC consider replacing the swings or slide and retaining a regular contractor to carry out all maintenance on play equipment. Cllr Carter reported that she does take advice on issues highlighted in every annual RoSPA reports and will do so again. Unfortunately, the original contractor does not respond. Each year the inspectors have commented on the slide as the new ones do not have splayed legs but then state that it is not necessary to replace the slide because it conformed to rules when it was installed. Cllr Plant agreed with Cllr Carter that the slide is very popular with children and in her opinion is actually less likely to cause harm than some of the more modern designs.
10. Community Emergency Plan
Cllr Carter reported that it was proving difficult to find a private contractor to dig grips. OCC should do this work but often plead lack of funds. The grips, if dug in the right place and maintained, would capture surface water running down the Chipping Norton Rd before reaching the river and London Lane before reaching the road drainage system, which leads to the river.
11. Transport
Buses
Sadly as a consequence of the second Lock-down commencing Thursday 5th November, Villager Bus service operators have ceased their entire service for the present duration period, due to the age of their drivers and their passengers. However, WOCT have decided to continue operating their slight revised timed services but with a constant monitoring of the situation and will advise soonest on any alterations. Both these Service provider decisions have been posted on the Ascott Village website and Facebook Page.
Trains
GWR have decided to retain their current services during new lock-down despite the anticipated reduction in passenger use.
Because of continued Covid restrictions, we are not seeking a repeat this year of the long established and much appreciated pre-Christmas Saturday extra train service from and to Ascott. In fact, it is highly unlikely that Network Rail or GWR could offer it anyway!
12. Roads
Cllr Leach reported that the 30 mph sign on London Lane exiting the village has been knocked down.
13. Allotments
Nothing to report.
14. Reports from Organisations
Sports Club
Football matches have been suspended for the time being.
Village Charity
Nothing to report.
Wychwood Library
Cllr Timms reported that the Library was open albeit low key and there had been no meetings.
15. Correspondence
OALC update / Government guidance re play equipment & outside grounds
Apologies received from CCllr Liz Leffman.
Post
Moore East Midlands External Audit report and associated paperwork
Clerks & Councils Direct
16. Any Other Business
(i) Cllr Carter had been asked if a dog poo bin could be erected by Gypsy Lane
(ii) No Parking sign by the Post Box, opposite the Swan Pub – Several requests have been made and Cllr Carter agreed to do this
There being no further business, Cllr Carter declared the meeting closed at 9.40pm.
Cllr Philippa Carter (Chairman)
Date: Monday 14 December 2020 (held remotely)