STANDLAKE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of Standlake Parish Council, held in the Standlake Youth Club, on 14^th October 2008 at 7.45pm.

Present:

Mr. E. F. Tolputt Chairman

Mr. C Naylor Vice Chairman

Mrs. J. Bayliss

Mrs. J. Perry

Mr. J. Rippin

Mr. R. Reddy

Mr. A. Lowe

Mr. D. C. Bevan Clerk

Mrs. B. Smith, Mrs. H. Fenton, Mr. C. Mathew.

1. APOLOGIES none were received.

2. PUBLIC ITEMS no members of the public were present

MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th September 2008, copies of which had been previously circulated to all members, were agreed as a true record and signed by the chairman.

MATTERS ARISING

Stonehenge Farm Gravel Application – Mr. Mathew confirmed that the application would be heard again on 25^th November at 2.00pm in the County Hall and that a QC would represent Northmoor. The clerk has been informed by WODC that the final Flood Report is not likely to be released before November. Mrs. Smith said that the report would be overarching and not specific to individual villages pr areas which would only be mentioned as appendices. Mr. Tolputt will speak to the report collator at WODC (Mr. Phil Morton) to express concern that matters such as the Stonehenge Farm application have arisen since the original report and must now be considered. He will also e mail all the OCC councillors on the planning committee to further press our concerns..

Graveyard Extension – This is now 90% finished with the final levels for the graveyard to be finalised, the car park to be gravelled and the entrance to be finalised in consultation with OCC. Mrs. Smith asked what provision had been made for water runoff from the tarmaced entrance. The clerk and Mr. Tolputt explained that the slope would be from the road to the car park so any run off would be onto the permeable gravel surface. The water pipe request by the PCC has been laid in.

Flooding – A meeting has been arranged with Ms. Jenny Elliott (Thames Water) this Thursday at 10:30am in the Youth Club to look at the sewage maps for the village. Ms. Elliott will also give an update on the investigations into sewage flooding. Mr. Naylor said that TW tankers had been observed pumping out at the Golden Balls junction; Mrs. Bayliss said she will raise this with Ms. Elliott. The clerk has contacted Mr. Hunt (OCC Highways) regarding the surveying of the drainage along the High Street; the investigative work has been completed and a report is awaited.

A415, Newbridge – Mr. Tolputt reported on the meeting held with OCC and the other parishes (Northmoor, Kingston Bagpuize)on 17^th October. The full minutes of the meeting are awaited, however the impression given was that OCC seem to be listening to the concerns of the parishes but are still pressing towards a new crossing. The united position of the parishes is that a new crossing costing a minimum of £5.2m with restrictions, such as one way working and an environmental weight limit, to protect Standlake does not make sense, economically or otherwise. OCC were asked to look again at the strengthening of Newbridge to a lower limit than that currently in force to preserve the route for light traffic with heavier traffic diverted elsewhere. Mr. Naylor said that the project costs to date, including outside consultants, must be a considerable figure and he asked Mr. Mathew if he would formally ask OCC for that figure; Mr. Mathew agreed to do this and he would put down a question to that end.

Traffic/Speeding – Mr. Rippin reported that there had been three enforcement sessions recently, at both ends of the Abingdon Road and adjacent to St. Giles’ church; an number of violators were caught.

Highway Maintenance –While the village entrance sign at the Village Hall has been replaced it is not what was ordered and Mr. Naylor complained that the hole in the Abingdon Road outside Forge Cottage and The Orchard has still not been repaired.

Footpaths – Mrs. Bayliss reported that the Hornsway partial hedge/tree cutting was carried by OCC Highways and the job would be finished at a later date. There was no information on the white line markings that have appeared on Hornsway and at other locations.

Playground/Recreation Ground & Maintenance – Mrs. Perry reported that the games wall had been vandalised by graffiti. She has received a quote for removing the graffiti of £165 + VAT and it would cost a similar sum to repaint with anti graffiti paint. Mr. Naylor said he was purchasing some equipment which will also remove graffiti and, on receipt of the equipment, he was willing to offer it for use. Thanks were given to Mr. Naylor and it was decided to defer a decision on professional removal until this avenue had been explored.

The Goose – Mr. Naylor has checked with the school and Mr. Lowe is now aware of the location; awaiting help to move the goose.

Bike Jumps – Mr. Naylor produced the drawings/plans prepared by Ben Francis and Mr. Lowe is negotiating with Mr. Robinson and Mr. Vinitzker for the supply and laying of suitable material to construct the jumps.

Neighbourhood Policing – nothing further to report at this meeting.

Woodlands entrance bus stop mess – It was suggested that a litter notice be attached to the bus stop pole. Mr. Reddy will consider action in the near future.

Request for donations – West Oxon CAB; Air Ambulance; Oxon Assn for the Blind; Connection Floating Support Team

GRAVE YARD EXTENSION CAR PARK GATE

Mrs. Perry said she asked for this matter to be placed on the agenda as she believes that as the car park was paid for by the village it should be open at all times to anyone who wishes to use it. Mr. Tolputt, Mr. Naylor and Mr. Lowe each stressed the possibility of the park being used as a parking area for commercial vehicles and caravans. Mr. Tolputt explained that the contract called for the boundary fencing to finish with the width of the entrance and the gate posts and gate set back into the park to allow a vehicle to stop clear of the road to open the gate. He felt that, with the gate in place, it would provide a deterrent to casual use of the park as well as being aesthetically pleasing. Mrs. Perry countered that this was unnecessary and if the posts had to be in place there was no need for a gate; if any barrier was needed then it should comprise an overhead bar set at a height to only allow cars and hearses to pass. Discussion followed as to the merits of the various proposals.

Mr. Tolputt summed up by saying there seemed to be two proposals; to have the gate and posts put in place or to finish the fencing with just the gateposts. This was put to the vote and the proposal to have the posts and gate installed was carried by five votes to one with one abstention.

CORRESPONDENCE - See attached correspondence record.

PLANNING - See attached planning record.

3. ACCOUNTS

The clerk reminded the meeting that the budget needed to be set at the November meeting and distributed the budget forecast sheets for consideration.

The following accounts were approved for payment:

GLR Contracts – 2^nd payment £23,500.00

M&G Pascoe – grass cutting/hedge trimming £395.00

DC Bevan – clerk expenses (balancing error from Sept payment) £50.00

4. MEMBER’S REPORTS

Mr. Rippin has been approached by Oxford Downs Cricket Club to ask for the council’s support in a tree planting project at the cricket field; there would be no cost to the council. This was agreed and the clerk will write in support.

Mr. Reddy asked what the council’s liability would be if a child fell out of the chestnut tree at the Green. After some discussion the consensus was that the tree was not inherently dangerous and this was a matter for parental supervision; any claim that did arise would be referred to the insurers

5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The clerk reminded members that the next meeting would be on 18^th November, one week later than normal. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.05pm

....................................................................................... Chairman ............................................................................ Date

CORRESPONDENCE RECORD 10/08
	SER		TO/FROM		TOPIC		ACTION		FILE
	A		OCC		Road safety guide
	B		Standlake Village Hall		Request for donation
	C		SERA		Review of SE Plan – Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation needs
	D		Shelter/West Oxon CAB		Weston Otmoor Eco Town
	E		Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust		Setting up of military museum
	F		Thames Valley Police		New police commander
	G		St Giles Church		Thanks for work on providing burial ground
	H		Dept of Communities		Making and enforcing of byelaws
	I		OFPA		Annual Report and notification of AGM
	J		OCC		Draft report on Thames River Crossings west of Oxford
	K		WODC		Environmental events in West Oxon
	L		Standards Board		Newsletter
	M		Standards Committee		Minutes, notes etc
	D		OALC		OCC Bus Strategy & Transport Issues
	O		NHS Oxfordshire		PCT strategy 2008 2013 – consultation meetings
	P
	Q
	R
	S
	T
PLANNING APPLICATIONS/CORRESPONDENCE RECORD No: 10/08
DATE		PLANNING Number		DETAILS		COMMENTS		REPLY BY
		08/1418/P/FP		Erection of side and rear extensions – Denham House 9 Church End
		08/1423/P/LB		Internal Alterations – Magdalen Farm Cottage 92 Abingdon Road
		08/1457/P/LB		Internal and external alterations, erection of conservatory Magdalen Farmhouse
		08/1453/P/RFP		Renewal of application – redundant ag. building to holiday cottage – Westfield Farm, Calais Lane
		08/1502/P/FP		Erection of single storey extensions – 119 Abingdon Road
		08/1281/P/FP		Grant of permission – replacement conservatory 29 Manor Crescent
		08/1305/P/FP		Grant of permission - Erection of single story rear extn – 15 Manor Crescent
		08/1143/P/FP		Grant of permission – Erection of single story side extn and double garage – 5 The Downs