Minutes of the Meeting of Standlake Parish Council, held in the Youth Club, Church End, on 14th November 2023 at 7.30pm

Present:

          Mr. B. Parnham               Chairman

          Mr. J. Rippin                  Vice Chairman

          Mrs. A. Knipe

          Mrs. J. Macdonald

          Mr. D. Jeffcoat

          Mr. J. Clements

          Mr. B. Smith

          Mr. D. Bevan                   Clerk

 

OCC Cllr. D. Levy, WODC Cllrs. L. Nicholls and C. Maynard, Mr. and Mrs. J. Spencer, Mr. R. Brown

1.      APOLOGIES – none

2.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – There were no declarations of interest.

3.      PUBLIC ITEMS – Mr. J. Spencer spoke on behalf of the residents of Chapel Lane regarding the application 23/02849/FUL In summary, he said the grounds for objection were four-fold: Transport and road safety; Draining & sewerage; Character & heritage; and Biodiversity & sustainability. These issues had been described in some detail in previous objections he said he knew councillors were aware of them. However, his aim was to highlight the reasons why the changes made by the developer in their latest proposals still fail to address the key issues which led the WODC Planning Officer to recommend 'refusal' to the last application: namely, drainage and transport & access. This Mr. Spencer proceeded to do and took questions from councillors. Mr. Parnham thanked Mr. Spencer for his input and said councillors will consider them in deciding on their response to the application.

4.      COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS - OCC: See Cllr. Levy’s attached report. See Cllr. Maynard’s attached report. Mr. Parnham engaged with Cllr. Maynard regarding his recent correspondence with Thames Water (TW) (see minute 7). Cllr. Maynard said he would be pleased to do so. WODC Cllr. Nicholls said the results of the Local Plan consultation were now in, and the proposal to establish village ‘clusters’ for planning purposes had been overwhelmingly rejected. Cllr. Nicholls also said she was pushing for more Parish involvement in future consultations. She said she was actively working to have the requirement for West Oxon to take a proportion of Oxford City overflow housing reduced, if not stopped entirely.

5.      PLANNING - Notice of appeal against refusal of 23/00163/FUL 48 Abingdon Road

23/02849/FUL: Erection of a dwelling with double garage, adapted vehicular entrance point and related landscaping: Land South West of Chapel Lane Standlake: NPES Developments Ltd. Objection: drainage, sewage, transport and access, character, and biodiversity.

23/02695/FUL: Construction of two, 4 bed dwellings and associated work off Shifford Lane behind 138 Abingdon Road Standlake Witney: Mr and Mrs Geoffrey and Victoria Ling. Objection: overdevelopment of the site, sewage. Objection: overdevelopment of site, sewage.

6.      MINUTES –Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 10th October 2023, copies of which had been previously circulated to all members, were agreed as a true record, and were signed by the chairman.

7.      MATTERS ARISING

Sewage/Flooding – Mr. Parnham has received the following from TW (edited): We do however know the sewer system and pumping station is now struggling to cope, especially as groundwater levels have increased, as a result of the wet weather. Due to this, a request has been made for tankers to be dispatched to Standlake SPS to minimise the risk of issues during this time. We’re currently awaiting resource for a tanker to be available, so you may see them there in due course. You’ll also see our Network Engineers in the area, who’ll be continuing with their infiltration investigations, now we have the right conditions to be able to identify points of interest.

 Mr. Parnham said he has put that worrying statement regarding capacity in bold print, especially as there are planning applications on the table, e.g., we know the Eagle Farm application could be imminent.  Unfortunately [as crazy as it is] Thames Water cannot object to Planning Applications. He added that it is disappointing knowing of all the works that have been carried out and upgrades to the High Street SPS.  Mr. Parnham has engaged the office of Robert Courts and expects to have a meeting with him in the next couple of weeks.  Mr. Parnham said that as a Parish Council we need to be able to demonstrate to residents if challenged that we are taking matters seriously.

Regarding the flooding in High Street, Mr. Parnham has received the following from OCC:

The highway drainage system in High Street, Standlake has been surveyed & no damage or blockages were found.  As you are aware the drainage system heads to River Thames, therefore it is directly affected by amount of water in & around River Thames.

Mr. Parnham said he has driven down the 'mile straight' recently and the drainage ditch is quite low which suggests other issues [it took long enough for OCC to admit a problem and rectify the Woodlands problems].  He has also involved the County and District Councillors.

Roads/Speedwatch/20 mph restrictions – Mrs. Knipe reported the following: With dark mornings and evenings and time window is a lot shorter but in October we managed 19 sessions which is great and thank you to all operators.  121 offenders were reported to TVP with a maximum speed of 64mph showing blatant disregard for any speed limit... well done to the operators managing to record the details of such a speed offender. Typically, we are now seeing only a 1% offenders rate per session.

With the restricted window of operation and the 20mph limits shortly to be enforceable so again the call goes out for volunteers - even if you can give 1 hour per month that would be great - drop an email to speedwatch@standlakepc.org.uk

20mph zones: With the lining complete, OCC have processed the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) so the new 20mph limit is legally enforceable now. OCC need their contractor to go back and uncover the new signage. They know the lining has been complete so they should be uncovering shortly.

Traffic calming/crossing points/SIDS: discussion continues with OCC and updates to follow in due course.

Playground/Recreation Ground & Maintenance – Mr. Parnham had nothing major to report; some items are showing wear and tear but nothing dangerous, and as in previous years we will do a walk round in March to review what works need to be undertaken. Mr. Rippin said there were large bramble bushes on the boundary of the children’s play area and suggested they be cut back. Mr. Parnham and Mr. Rippin will inspect the area and report back.

Mr. Clements said there was nothing major to report at the Windrush Way playpark. Regarding the litter bin, he confirmed that Mrs. Hill had been emptying it on a regular basis – fortnightly in summer and monthly otherwise. Mr. Clements suggested that Absolute Solutions should empty the bin but was concerned about disposal. The clerk said he would ask for this to be done and report back.

Environment/Standlake Nature Recovery Network – Mrs. Macdonald reported the following:

Spring Bulbs: The daffodils arrived in time for distribution at the Village market on 4th November. Residents were given a free bag of bulbs to plant around the village or in their gardens, for the benefit of the local community. The residents responded very positively to this initiative. Village Hall: The maintenance of the wildflower bank at the village hall continues, and the team have been mowing and raking the arisings on a regular basis as the growing season continues for much longer than expected. Hedge Laying: We are very grateful to Stuart Bridger and his team of volunteers from the Wychwood Forest Project, for their continuing work to lay the hedge at the new burial ground. The hedge has been laid in the “Midland Bullock” style, and will enhance the appearance of the burial ground enormously. The brash will be removed when the work is completed. New burial ground: Native bulbs, snow drops and blue bells are being planted under the trees at the new burial ground, in collaboration with ECO Church. Village Litter Pick: With the support of WODC, the Parish Council and the WI, the village litter pick took place on 28th October. A number of regular volunteers were unavailable, however a team of 20 enthusiastic volunteers cleared the village of litter and filled 20+ sacks of rubbish. Many thanks to all who contributed to this very successful event. Bank Account: A bank account for SBNRN has been opened and details supplied to the clerk.  The clerk confirmed that the balance of £280 has been transferred to the new account.

 

Coronation – Mr. Parnham said the planters have been constructed and will be delivered shortly. An invoice for the work has not yet been received.

CCTV in car park – It was decided that this matter be deferred for three months.

Hornsway cutting – Mr. Parnham circulated the information he has received from OCC:

Horns Way is as you have correctly stated is a public footpath, so it is not subject to the inspection regime that is used for footways adjoining carriageways such as High Street, Standlake.  Public footpaths (PROW’s) currently do not receive a formal annual inspection by the PROW Team, but any issues would be investigated reactively and acted upon where appropriate.  However, this may result in OCC Highways Team arranging works on their behalf, if requested to do so.  OCC are only likely to carry out works to enable free passage along the footpath, nominally 1.2 m wide but sometimes less.

Mr. Parnham said that, in summary, no planned maintenance, only reactive via Fix my Street. Mr. Jeffcoat said that in the coming year it was likely that the help of volunteers would be required again.   

8.      CORRESPONDENCE – Letters of thanks for donations from: West Oxon Citizens Advice Bureau and FOSS. Thanks were also received from Standlake and Cokethorpe Sea Scouts for use of the Recreation Ground for their annual fireworks event.

9.      ACCOUNTS – The clerk reported that the council’s financial position remains satisfactory and within budget. The following accounts were approved: (paid*)

HMRC - clerk PAYE                                                      £393.80*

Absolute Solutions - mowing                                      £370.00*

Standlake Youth Club - hire 23/24                             £230.00* 

Zoom - subscription                                                    £143.88*

C Cleland - churchyard mowing                                 £372.50*

Absolute Solutions - Mowing                                      £370.00*

Amazon - Speedwatch batteries                                     £9.76*

10.   BUDGET 24/25

The clerk presented a revised budget sheet which, with Mr. Jeffcoat’s help, now showed a true summary of the budgeted cash requirements versus known income (Precept plus Tennis Club rent). This showed a deficit of nearly £5,000. A deficit, albeit of a smaller amount, has existed in previous years but has been serviced by the surplus from previous years and reserves; this cannot continue and, as Mr. Parnham pointed out, the Precept has not been raised from £25,000 since 2017. Mr. Smith, as a new councillor, asked several questions about the items in the budget and explanations were given by the clerk. Mr. Smith had suggestions regarding obtaining sponsorship from local businesses for items such the Village Christmas Tree. Mr. Parnham said that this was worthy of closer examination in the coming year. There followed lengthy discussion and a general consensus was reached that the Precept be increased to £30,000 this year. The clerk noted that this would result in an increase of council tax by less than £6 per household per year. The budget and Precept will be finally set at the December meeting.

11.   LAPTOP WRITE OFF – the clerk asked the council to formally write off the old Lenovo laptop as the new HP model was now in use. This was agreed unanimously.

12.   DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Mr. Parnham said that the next meeting will be held in the Youth Club on Tuesday 12th December 2023 at 7.30 pm. There being no further business, the meeting closed at. 9.10 pm.

 

Chairman   ....................................................................  Date …………………………………………………

County Councillor Report, 14 November 2023 - Dan Levy

Much of my time is taken up with preparing and developing the budget that will be discussed (and I hope approved) at the County Council meeting in February.   There are intense pressures on the finances of all local authorities.  Funding from central government has been cut in real terms each year for the past decade, and permitted rises in council tax are lower than inflation.  There are additional pressures from demographic changes, with many more older people, and with increase in demands on children’s service particularly in areas like support for young people with special educational needs.   The rise in the national living wage is welcome, but has an added impact for our services.  

There will be an iterative process in which proposals will be scrutinised, the public will be consulted, and we will discover in the autumn statement later this month and the annual “settlement” announced in late December what money will be available.

Roads: The Aston to Ducklington road has been repaired, with the edges replaced and strengthened.  This was achieved in the timescale advertised in advance.  Thank you for your patience while the work was done.  I wish we could repair more roads in such a thorough way, but as the cost was around £900,000, you may be able to see why this isn’t possible. You will also have seen that the A40 has been resurfaced around Cassington and that the A40 bike lanes have been scraped to make them a useable width again. The recent collision in Barnard Gate was the latest in many.  I am in discussions with the highways team about what we can do here to make the junction safe.

Can I give advance notice that there is a planned closure of the road between Standlake and Stanton Harcourt/Northmoor between 6th and 8th December between 9-30 and 3-30 each day.  This is for bridge work.     The closure times will allow buses to get pupils to Bartholomew, and for Northmoor children to get to Standlake school.

The road from Cassington to Yarnton has now reopened – that was shut for work by Network Rail to repair the bridge damaged in a landslide a few months ago.

There is an issue throughout Oxfordshire with the maintenance of paths that are technically highways but have no cars    I have raised how paths such as this get looked after and how the team responds to reports on Fix my Streets, and will report back, I trust with improvements. 

Your 20 signs are now in place, and the scheme will go live shortly.

Reducing disruption caused by utilities & developers:  The County’s new plan for charging an increased daily fee of £2500 (instead of the £300 fixed fee) to utility companies that dig up major roads is being consulted on. By law it is restricted to 5% of Oxfordshire’s roads and so will focus on busy, critical parts of the network. Surplus funds will be reinvested. The DfT is encouraging all councils to adopt schemes like this.   Many of the roadworks in the county are instigated by utilities companies, and we want them to be completed quickly.

Climate change: Oxfordshire tops table for county councils tackling climate change: Oxfordshire was rated the best performing county council in the UK on climate change by the Climate Emergency UK climate action scorecard.    That is absolutely not a reason for complacency.

Schools: Although we are only just after half term in the autumn of 23, applications are now open for new primary school pupils for September 24.  Applications should be done online.  www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/primaryadmissions     If anyone moves to the area during the year, there are In-year placements – one for the things that gave most joy recently was helping the parents of a young person who had just moved to the UK to get their child into Eynsham Primary within a few weeks of arrival.

And finally: People have been shocked by events in Israel and Palestine, and haven’t forgotten that there are conflicts continuing in other parts of the world too, including Sudan and Ukraine.  There are many people in Oxfordshire who are directly connected to these places and are worried about their friends and family..    There is no place for intolerance in our county.

As ever, please get in touch with issues, comments, or anything else via dan.levy@oxfordshire.gov.uk

District Councillor update 14 November 2023 – Charlie Maynard

Five-year housing land supply – sounds boring but isn’t. This is the key metric that national government uses to enforce housebuilding rates at local authorities. It’s a horribly flawed process with the housebuilders (yes, truly) acting as the umpires who get to decide whether the local authorities are building houses fast enough. If the local authorities are deemed not be doing so, it’s open season, with developers able to bring forward new developments with a high chance of getting them approved on appeal by nationally appointed inspectors.

West Oxfordshire District Council signed up for a ludicrously high housebuilding target in its 2018 Local Plan, with a 22% increase in housing between 2022-2031, while UK population will grow at just 3% over the same period. We’ve just passed the five-year anniversary of the Local Plan which gives the us, as the new administration, the ability to change the Local Plan and the housing targets. Numbers will be out later this month. I’m hopeful that we will see both a big drop in the housing target and that we will be back inside the required threshold, making us safe from speculative developers. We certainly need housing but with the A40 set to be 30 minutes slower by 2031 and our sewage, health centres and schools unable to cope, we need to deal with our infrastructure first.

Local Plan consultation

The deadline has now passed and WODC’s Planning team is due to publish their collated findings next month. There were lots of comments made through the website which triggered some interesting discussions. Perhaps most relevantly to Stanton Harcourt parish and perhaps unsurprisingly, the “Dispersed Growth” and “Village Clusters” scenarios which would have supported more building in villages were clearly the least popular proposals. There was also a request for ideas. I offered three: Improving the bridleway linking Eynsham, Sutton and Stanton Harcourt. Building a bridge at Bablock Hythe for bike and pedestrian traffic. Upgrading public access to the Thames for unpowered craft, from Radcot to Eynsham

Sewage

As I write this on the evening of Tuesday 14th November, as per Thames Water’s website - https://www.thameswater.co.uk/edm-map, Standlake’s sewage treatment works has been dumping sewage non-stop for 119 hours, or nearly five days. I spent 90 minutes with Thames Water yesterday going after them on their manifold failures and pressuring them to improve their service across West Oxfordshire. While there has been lining and manhole sealing in Standlake, Thames Water currently have no plans to improve Standlake’s STW or expand its capacity, despite it being one of the worst performers in the district. This needs to change.

Waterways Day

Next Thursday 23rd November, the district council is running a day on all things water at the Corn Exchange in Witney. This is on the back of last year’s very successful event. This year’s presenters include the Environment Agency, Thames Water and Windrush Against Sewage Pollution. We expect it to be busy, so if you would like to come, please book a place through WODC’s website.