MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF YARNTON PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON 14 DECEMBER 2011 at 7pm IN THE VILLAGE HALL - YARNTON
Present: Harry Carrier(HC), Michael Gibbard(MG) (Parish, District and County Councillor), Anna Isles(AI), Fred Jones(FJ), Brian Newell(BN)(Chairman),
Ewan Siret(ES), Graham Thompson(GT) and Peter Luke (Clerk)
1) Apologies: John Burford, Carol Green and Trevor Stevens (District Councillor)
2) Declaration of Interests: The Register of Interests was tabled and members were asked to declare any personal interests and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the agenda items under discussion at this meeting. There were none recorded.
3) Minutes: The minutes of the monthly meeting held on 9 November 2011 having been previously circulated, it was agreed they were as a true record and they were signed by the Chairman.
4) Matters Arising: By agreement any items will be taken with the agenda items.
5) Report of District Councillors: See page 71/2011
6) Report of County Councillors: See page 71/2011
7) Police Liaison Report: The October and November update reports from the police are available on the WEB. Recently anti social behaviour ASB has been reported in Yarnton and is being monitored. The operation of the ‘vehicle operated signs’ VAS which was discontinued due to lack of funding could be resumed if funding agreement can be reached with an input from parish councils. The immediate change of the non emergency telephone number from 0845 8505 505 to 101 has been publicized on the notice boards and the Village News. Kidlington Priorities Questionnaire forms (2012 and 2013) were distributed for completion. The proposed change to opening hours at police stations are being considered with a reduction at Kidlington to Mon – Fri. 1000 – 1400, being 4 hours (5 days).
8) Highway Matters: The pedestrian route from Meadow Way to the A44 footpath is being considered for a permanent footpath with handrails at the ditch crossing, also a vehicle actuated 30 illuminated sign immediately when turning off the A44 into the service road at Budgens. The pedestrian operated crossings at A44/Gravel Pits Lane and School/Rutten Lane are due to start early 2012 whilst the traffic light crossing on the A44/Begbroke Science Park should be completed in April 2012. The Sandy Lane railway barrier time delay from lowering to train arrival had been commented on previously and reported as a sufficient time period and complies with current practice.
The grit bin at Little Blenheim has been installed and filled with grit.
9) Village Tidy: The footpath verge from Little Blenheim to Cassington Rd requires clearing of shrubbery.
10) Village Hall: New ceiling for the main hall is being considered.
11) Environmental Matters: The Agrivert slurry lagoon is now receiving slurry from the plant with a special cover involving clay balls which was commented on as a success story. It is proposed to extend the opening hours (see planning applications) The plant is producing 17,000 megowatt hours into the national grid.
The separate re-cycling plant has increased in size with 400 more trees planted.
The proposed Incinerator at Ardley is scheduled for 2013/2014. Rowel Brook has had its annual ditch clearance by the Environmental Agency.
12) Playing Fields: Confirmation will be sent to Rob Lowther once the ‘anti climb paint’ is applied to the mower container and proved satisfactory for the purpose. The recent firework display was well attended and considered a huge success with a surplus of funds. A meeting in January with Oxfordshire Cricket Association should inform of the reasons why the pitch was reported as unfit for league cricket and the action to remedy the problem. The QE2 Fields in Trust documentation is being finalized by the authority before final signature by YPC. The final voting figures were for Yarnton Park 136 and for Littlemarsh 141, a good result. The QE2 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations on 3 June 2012 has not made any progress to date and a decision to continue should be made by the 12 January 2012 meeting. FJ will be shortly receiving the progress to date documents on the proposed ‘new pavilion’ at Littlemarsh to enable further funding to be applied for.
13) Cemetery / Churchyard: The last grass cut has been completed.
14) William Fletcher School: The resumption of lunch time dinners are still being considered with the possible provision from Kidlington or Sanctuary Nursing Home. The school crossing is programmed to start March 2012 with funding provided by Sanctuary Nursing Home and matched funding from O.C.C. The Marlborough School have asked for approval to install a ’20 is Plenty’ road sign adjacent to the school which requires further clarification before approval.
15) Oxford Airport: Flights have now commenced to New York and increased aircraft activity is expected for the summer Olympics.
16) Finance and General Purpose: The monthly financial report for November 2011 as page No. 67/2011 as previously circulated was discussed, and proposed by FJ for acceptance, seconded by HC, all agreed, and was signed by the Chairman together with supporting bank statements Nos. 300, 301, and 151.
Recent information on Parish Members Allowance had been circulated and after discussion it was agreed that the payment of allowances was again considered inappropriate and the parish councilors are prepared to serve the local community on a purely voluntary basis and thereby contributing £3,933 off the Precept figure.
FJ proposed to continue ‘not to adopt the Parish Members Allowance’, seconded by BN, and all agreed. It was suggested to enquire if Kelvin Thomas would be the speaker to address the Annual Parish Meeting on the 13 April 2012.
17) Recent Correspondence: Items were read out, and if not discussed, and if appropriate will be included in the correspondence folder.
18) Planning Applications:
11/01648/F 24 The Garth New two storey etc.
11/01288/F 135-137 Woodstock Rd Ext’n, alterations and sub division
11/01411/F 36 The Paddocks Single storey rear ext’n
11/01786/F 3 Churchill Place Single storey rear ext’n
11/01790/F 16 Pixey Close Erect rear conservatory
08/06781/F Agrivert – MW.0156/11 re: Condition 3 (working hours)
Planning Decisions:
11/01355/CM Worton Farm – MW.0116/11 Storage bays etc. Grant 16.01.11.
11/00029/F 198-200 Woodstock Rd Demolition & erection Appeal 13.09.11
11/01610/F 5 Pixey Close Conservatory at rear Grant 05.12.11
10/01302/F Berkeley site Erection of Extra Care Home Grant 23.11.11
19) Accounts: The following accounts were agreed for payment and cheques signed by
HC and FJ:-
RM Electrical(supply lamps) 115.20 102738
D Poulton(village tidy) 141.00 739
P Luke(clerks’ salary etc) 465.92+14.99 465.92 740
The Phone Co-op(btoadband) 12.24 741
Thames Water(cemetery standpipe) 10.32 742
Cherwell D.C(caddy liners) 141.00 743
HM Revenue & Customs(tax payment) 444.00 744
Tetbury Accounting (payroll admin.) 120.00 745
Oxfordshire Playbus(hire of bus) 750.00 746
2,199.68
The meeting ended at 9.15pm.
Date of next meeting 11 January 2012 at 7pm.
Note: Budget Meeting 18 January at 7pm
Peter Luke
Clerk to the Council
Signed as a correct record …………………………
Date………………………..
70/2011
Yarnton Parish Council
District & County Councillors Report
December 2011
Localism Bill
The Bill became an Act on 15 November. It will now take 2 months to receive royal assent. Within the Act are powers to revoke the Regional Spatial Strategy, subject to procedural requirements and consultation . Revocation is expected ‘at some point’ in 2012. Importantly that will then mean that Cherwell District Council can set its own housing target for the next fifteen years, rather than the artificially high figure of 13,400 demanded by the Government’s South East Plan.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
In parallel with the Localism Bill, the new Planning Policy Framework will
come into force by 31 March 2012. It has been the cause of much concern as the draft version appears to give a free rein to developers to build almost anywhere they like. However, there will be some changes to the draft version currently under consultation, and Minister Greg Clark assures us that there will be ‘transitional arrangements’ to allow Districts to get their Local Plans (LDF) in place. (54% of Local Authorities do not have a current Local Plan)
Cherwell Local Plan
Cherwell District Council is on course to submit a proposed Core Strategy (which determines where future development will be) to the Government Inspector in July and if approved, it will form the basis of the new Local Plan to 2026
Libraries
You will probably have seen that the County Council now proposes to keep all 43 libraries open. 22 core libraries (including Kidlington and Summertown) will remain fully staffed by council library employees whilst others (including Woodstock) will be manned by a mixture of employees and volunteers. Whilst this is a welcome reprieve for many libraries facing closure, it does mean that the County Council will now be searching elsewhere for a way to make savings of £714,000
Michael Gibbard
14 December 2011
71/2011
