Return to Blewbury Home Page Return to List of Minutes
BLEWBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes
Of the Parish Council meeting of Blewbury Parish Council.
Held on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 in the Vale Room
Councillors present: Mr. Chris Whatmore (Chairman), Mr Alan Cooper, Dr Paul Whitehead, Ms Jane Gibson, Mr R Farrell
Also present: Elaine Smit (Parish Clerk), Mr C Lamont (County Councillor), 1 Member of the public.
Matters resolved:
1. All payments were approved.
2. Small grants committee recommending a £50 donation to the OAB.
Actions arising from the meeting:
1. Clerk to circulate Mr Lamont’s document on sustainable community strategy.
2. CW to follow up with Mr Turner re the outcome of the speed test and the incident on the A417
3. CW to look at environment group suggestions re the Cleve path
4. Clerk to contact the Chairman’s PA, Eileen Rennie, to ask for dates, e.g. weekends or evenings.
5. Clerk to follow up Mark Sumnor re Path behind Savages and path from Ladycroft to stables
6. CW to follow up on the information that Judith Osborn was going to supply
7. Clerk to contact the BVS to get a copy of the risk assessment
8. Clerk to contact the Vale’s Planning office and change address.
9. RF to follow up meeting with the VWHDC and the owner of the Ladycroft Park.
10. Clerk to contact Tony Salter/BVS to make this more of a formal arrangement, and to ask if they are able to make any contribution e.g. the Music Quiz.
11. CW to clarify with the Environment group who will own & run Church Moor, the cost of making it accessible, who will carry the insurance, Health & Safety issues, risk assessments, etc. CW to invite the environment group to present the Council with a presentation with costings and a sustainable business plan
12. Clerk to contact Mr Fryer who proposed the Dibleys Elderly project to invite him to a meeting with CW to discuss the practicalities.
13. Clerk to send CW guidelines on bonfires from the Vale’s website. CW to send guidelines to Blewbury Bulletin.
14. CW to reply to the Annual Town & Parish Council planning evening.. CW to check with CD if she also wants to attend.
15. Clerk to contact Bill Gore re the Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association AGM and ask if he would like to attend
16. Clerk to circulate document re the review of the Licensing Act 2003
17. Clerk to clarify with MB about the 5 year aspect of the tree adoption before contacting the resident
18. Clerk to contact Anthony Stiff to source the cedar of Lebanon for the cemetery and to make sure of location.
19. Clerk to confirm when installation of litter bins will go ahead
20. CW to draft a letter to Simon Barrett re concerns about the running of the new recreation ground.
21. Clerk to send details of the annual village upkeep review to footpaths committee
22. Clerk to contact lengthman about written reports and fault reporting, as well as the broken swing seat.
23. Clerk to contact White Horse Horticulture about the spraying of weed killer in the cemetery again
24. Clerk to contact Mark Sumnor/Matt Ball for a progress report on Bridus Way
25. Clerk to write a letter to confirm the Lengthman’s employment
26. AC to forward the Clerk a standard letter of employment as example
27. Clerk to contact White Horse Horticulture for a quote to include the BMX track in when they spray weed killer
28. Clerk to write to all the properties on Rumsey’s Lane to ask if they know of any reason why not to open this lane again
29. RF to write an insert to be put in the Bulletin and to pass on to the Clerk or CW
Actions carried forward from prior meetings:
1. The Clerk to follow up installation of litter bins
2. The Clerk to follow up work to the footpaths – Curtoys most urgent
3. CD to draft questions to be given pass on to the clerk to send to Simon Barrett about a clear brief the re design of the pavilion
1. Apologies for absence: Ms A Barclay-Watt, Ms E Austin, Ms C Duckett, Mr M Brassell. Mr R Farrell was late due to a meeting in Abingdon regarding the recent floods.
2. Declarations of interest – none
3. Minutes of the parish council meeting held on Wednesday 7 July 2007 was accepted and signed as a true record.
4. Police liaison. No police officers present.
5. County Councillor’s report. Mr Lamont reported on the debate on the sustainable community strategy, and the government’s move to put local government closer to the people, through several partnerships. These partnerships do not consist of councillors only, but also include members of the public, police, health authorities etc. These partnerships will be taking strategic decisions, and the concern is that the members of these partnerships have not been democratically elected. This is initially a 3 year agreement with a range of targets on young people, safe communities, health, older people, environment and the economy. Mr Lamont will copy and send a document outlining this to the Clerk. Action: Clerk to circulate.
6. Matters arising.
6.1. 04/09/05 Speeding of vehicles through the village. Speed surveys were done in July. A full report is available from the chairman and a summary has been published in the Blewbury Bulleting. At peak times 40% of drivers were exceeding 35mph on most exits. In total, over 1300 people per week are driving more than 35 mph. CW responded to the report and asked what traffic calming measures were available seeing that there clearly is a speeding problem. Action: CW to follow up with Mr Turner
6.2. 13/12/06 Tree work required. Tree work carried out. Item closed
6.3. 14/02/07 Cleve & Curtoys Path repair work: The Curtoys path has been referred to the traffic section. The Cleve pathway has been patched but the railings still need attention. JG mentioned that the environment group did investigate this and made some recommendations but it was deemed too expensive. Action: Clerk to follow up again. Action: CW to look at environment group suggestions.
6.4. 14/06/07 Meeting with Chairman of the Vale: The Chairman is still interested in meeting with the Council. Action: Clerk to contact the Chairman’s PA, Eileen Rennie, to ask for dates, e.g. weekends or evenings.
6.5. 14/06/07 Path behind Savages and path from Ladycroft to stables. Clerk reported that the matter has been passed on to Mark Sumner. Action: Clerk to follow up.
7. Open Forum. No matters discussed under open forum.
8. Risk Management.
8.1. 11/07/07 Tree register: CW met with Judith Osborn to get definitive map of trees belonging to the Parish Council. Trees on the Pound are our responsibility, but not the trees on the Church End triangle. Action: CW to follow up on the information that Judith Osborn was going to supply.
8.2. 12/09/07 BVS Bonfire Night Risk Assessment due. Risk assessment has been done. Action: Clerk to contact the BVS to get a copy of the risk assessment.
9. Planning & Housing.
9.1. 12/07/05 Sale of land and development at London Road tennis courts. The closing date is the 4th of October for this sale.
9.2. 02/02/06 Planning Committee Report: Refer to monthly planning report and item on The Pleasance in #9.5 below.
9.3. 02/02/06 Exception Site: The Housing Association is no longer considering the site next to Savages. We are waiting to get a reply re the other proposed sites.
9.4. Change of the addressee of Vale planning notices to a member of the Planning Committee. Clerk contacted the OALC in Crowmarsh Gifford and was advised that we can change the address so that the planning committee gets the applications directly to save time, provided that procedures are in place that all members of the planning committee have access to the correspondence. Action: Clerk to contact Planning office. Item closed.
9.5. Naming of new development at The Pleasance.The developers have now submitted new plans. No objection from the Planning Committee or the Parish Council. Item closed.
10. Ladycroft Park: There was some confusion about the meeting with the Vale and the owner of the Park, as were 2 meetings initiated separately. RF suggested that we go ahead with the first one that can be arranged, and go with the highest official available. Action: RF to follow up and arrange.
11. Finance & Administration
11.1. Payments for approval to be made under ancillary powers and within budgeted amounts: All payments were approved. Proposed by CW, seconded by AC.
11.2. Meeting dates: The next meeting on 10/10/07 will be in the Blewbury School hall.
11.3. Kids at Play funds: The arrangement was in the past that the BVS would have a fund raising event to top up KAP funds, but there has not been any this year. By the end of the year we would have reached the end of the funds held by the Council, and we have to decide how to proceed in future. Increasing the precept might be an option, but it would be ideal for some funds to come from the village. Action: Clerk to contact Tony Salter/BVS to make this more of a formal arrangement, and to ask if they are able to make any contribution e.g. the Music Quiz.
12. Correspondence.
12.1. Items requesting a reply
12.1.1. Church Moor: This seems like a worthy project but there are finer points to be clarified if it comes to fruition. The initial financial side seems to be well researched. Action: CW to clarify who will own & run Church Moor, the cost of making it accessible, who will carry the insurance, Health & Safety issues, risk assessments, etc. CW to invite the environment group to present the Council with a presentation with costings and a sustainable business plan.
12.1.2. Elderly project: The Council is very sympathetic to the case being made, but the same questions must be asked as for Church Moor above re the management and running of this project. Action: Clerk to contact Mr Fryer who proposed the Dibleys Elderly project to invite him to a meeting with CW to discuss the practicalities.
12.1.3. Oxfordshire Association for the Blind: Small grants committee recommends a £50 donation. JG Proposed AC Seconded.
12.1.4. Bonfires: This is a perennial issue and although a specific instance was brought to the Council’s attention, there are various problems with inconsiderate bonfires in and around the village. Action: Clerk to send CW guidelines from the Vale’s website. CW to send guidelines to Blewbury Bulletin.
12.1.5. Invitation to Annual Town & Parish Council planning evening. Ideally the planning committee should go CW will try to attend Action: CW to reply. CW to check with CD if she also wants to attend.
12.1.6. ORCC AGM & nomination. No one can attend.
12.1.7. Oxfordshire Playing Association AGM. Action: Clerk to contact Bill Gore and ask if he would like to attend.
12.2. Items for information:
12.2.1. Licensing Act 2003 – draft statement: Action: Clerk to circulate
13. Cemetery Development Plan
13.1. Adoption of trees: The cemetery committee recommends that £25 for 5 years and that the person should source and install the plaque on an existing tree. Action: Clerk to clarify with MB about the 5 year aspect before contacting the resident.
13.2. Purchase of cedar of Lebanon: The Blewbury Festival gave the Cemetery Development fund £300 and there is about £200 left over from spraying budget. CW proposes that the funds be used to buy a cedar of Lebanon. Agreed by Council. Action: Clerk to contact Anthony Stiff to source the tree, and to make sure of location.
14. Parish Plan
14.1. 02/02/06 Blewbury Surgery. The surgery has now been redeveloped. Item closed.
14.2. 25/01/07 Litter bin installation. Tony Hodgson has now inspected both sites for bins and it was approved. Bins will be installed. Action: Clerk to confirm when installation will go ahead.
15. Recreation Ground.
15.1. 28/11/06 Management Committee Structure Previously expressed concerns are still not clarified about what the relationship between the different clubs will be, what their responsibilities will be, how the finances will work and how revenue will be shared. A lot of public money will be handled and it must be clarified how this will be managed and by whom. Action: CW to draft a letter to Simon Barrett
16. Allotments.
Nothing to report
17. Footways, Footpaths and rights of way.
17.1. 02/09/05 Village upkeep review – annual review due Action: Clerk to send details of the review to footpaths committee. Clerk to contact lengthman about written reports and fault reporting, as well as the broken swing seat.
17.1.1. 14/06/07 Spraying of weed killer in cemetery. . The clerk reports that it is already included in the spraying schedule Item closed.
17.1.2. 14/06/07 Rubbish and bench at chalk pit. Rubbish has been removed. Motorcycle is stuck in gear and it will be very difficult to remove it. Item closed.
17.2. 03/03/07 Bridus way – discussed with #6.5. AC had a site meeting with Mark Sumner and promised to look at it again at it in the autumn. AC emailed Mr Sumner recently who said the matter has been referred to Mr Matt Ball, Tasks Team Supervisor, for further advice on how to improve the surface and the drainage, as well as idea of the cost. Action: Clerk to contact Mark Sumner/Matt Ball for a progress report on Bridus Way.
17.3. 02/04/07 Cob Walls: A new committee has been formed. There is only £1800 in the fund, so funds need to be raised for work on the walls. The committee will meet in October.
17.4. 12/09/07 Annual tendering process and review of rates for the Lengthman’s contract. Action: Clerk to write a letter to confirm the Lengthman’s employment and to attach the schedule of works. AC to forward the Clerk a standard letter of employment as example.
17.5. 12/09/07 BMX track Action: Clerk to contact White Horse Horticulture for a quote to include the BMX track in when they spray weed killer.
17.6. 12/09/07 Re-opening Rumsey's Lane. Rumsey’s Lane is a disused footpath running from the south eastern corner of the Cleve to Church Road. The right of way may have lapsed but seeing that the Council now paid towards the work on the Lane (i.e. the recent tree work), it might be worth investigating reopening. Action Clerk to write to all the properties on Rumsey’s lane to ask if they know of any reason why not to open this lane again.
18. Roads, Road safety and public transport:
18.1. Parish Transport Representatives. Nothing to report
18.2. A417: A resident has reported an incident at the Westbrook Street junction in which a car slowed down to let people across the road while another vehicle overtook them on the blind bend. Double white lines might be a suggestion. Action: CW to follow up with Lee Turner
19. Village Hall management committee report: will meet October 3rd, 2007
20. Environment
20.1. 04/05/07 Maintenance of water courses: nothing to report
21. District Councillors report. RF came from a meeting in Abingdon about the recent floods. The residents were most unhappy with the Environment Agency, who is hopelessly under funded. The South East plan was also recently published and it contains quite good news for the Vale, whereas other areas are required to build many more houses. Some pressure has now been taken from villages. 750 houses need to be built in Didcot and 300 will be built west of Wantage.
22. Any Other Business:
22.1. RF reports that the Post Office is conducting a review of the Post Office network with a view of closing a significant number of them. It is very important villagers be made aware of this, so that they can support the services our Post Office offers. Action: RF to write an insert to be put in the Bulletin and to pass on to the Clerk or CW.
23. Details of the next meeting. The next Parish Council Meeting will be on the10th of October in the Blewbury School Hall at 19:30.
The meeting closed at 21.40