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OXTON PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 3RD MARCH 2009 AT OXTON VILLAGE HALL
Present: Cllr. M. Cooper (Chairman) Cllr. L. Jacobs (Vice-Chairman) Cllr. R. Aldridge Cllr. I. Johnson Cllr. J. Jones Cllr. D. Wilkes Mrs. L. Ingall (Clerk)
Cllr. A. Stewart (Nottinghamshire County Council) 1. APOLOGIES
NOTED the apology for absence from Cllr. I. Kilpatrick
2. INTERPRETATION BOARD
The Chairman introduced Shani Lambert, a Project Officer from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Building Better Communities initiative. Ms. Lambert circulated proposals for the Oxton Interpretation Board, which is to be situated at the Village Hall. She advised that the budget figure for the project would be £5000, the objective being to produce a Board to provide significant environmental, historical and architectural features of the village and its surroundings. The document recommended 16 points of interest, three of which were illustrated in pictorial form. The Chairman suggested that members consider the document further before making a decision on the items considered to be most appropriate for inclusion on the Board.
AGREED that members give further consideration to the aforementioned document and return their conclusions on or before 6th March 2009 to the Chairman for forwarding to Shani Lambert at Nottinghamshire County Council.
3. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 10th February 2009 were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following amendment: Substitute the word “lowered” for the word “heightened” in Item 9 , line 9.
4. MATTERS ARISING
(a) Directional Sign – Edingley
NOTED that the new direction sign on the A6097 to Edingley has been removed.
(b) Gritting.
NOTED the written reply from Mr. Bob Hart, Highways Manager for Nottinghamshire County Council acknowledging this Council praise for his staff’s efforts in gritting the roads, in this area, to a very high standard.
(c) ROSPA Inspection
NOTED that ROSPA had confirmed its intention to carry out an annual inspection of the Play Area in response to this Council’s request for such an inspection.
5. COMMUNICATION
The Chairman reported that the placement of a bench at the entrance to Home Court, Main Street, Oxton by Mrs Meldrum in memory of her husband John had not been supported by the Trustees of Oxton Estate. The Chairman had suggested to Mrs Meldrum that a replacement for the dilapidated bench sited diagonally opposite the shop on Main Street might be more appropriate.
AGREED that: 1. This Council has no objection to such a proposal provided the design is similar in appearance to exiting benches in the parish and; 2. Should Mrs Meldrum undertake to provide such a bench, this Council accepts responsibility for its maintenance and insurance.
6. HIGHWAYS
(a) Speedwatch
Cllr. Stewart reported that he was still unable to persuade Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport to place speed camera vans in areas other than accident “black spots”. He stated that a van was to be placed on A616 and A612 Southwell for a one day period.
(b) Southwell Road
Cllr. Jacobs reported that a section of the highway on Southwell Road near its junction with Blind Lane, Oxton was badly damaged. Cllr. Stewart stated that he would investigate the matter.
(c) Culvert, Sandy Lane/Nottingham Road, Oxton
Cllr. Cooper reported that the dyke at the junction of Sandy Lane and Southwell Road was not draining away. Cllr. Stewart suggested that the culvert into which the dyke drains may be blocked and he would investigate the matter further.
(d) Drainage – Blind Lane, Oxton
NOTED that Severn Trent are to carry out drainage works on Blind Lane, Oxton.
(e) A6097/Junction with Moor Lane, Calverton
Cllr. Jacobs asked if there had been any progress on the possible widening of the south bound carriageway at the junction of the A6097 and Moor Lane, Calverton. This Council had expressed concern that the carriageway was not wide enough for a cyclist and a lorry to stop at the traffic lights beside each other. Cllr. Stewart stated that there had been no further progress.
(f) Pavement – Outside the Bridge Inne Cllr. Cooper advised that a section of pavement outside The Bridge Inne did not have a dropped kerb to the highway. She requested Cllr. Stewart investigates this matter and reports to a future meeting of this Council.
(g) Inspection Cover, Elmcroft, Oxton
Cllr. Cooper reported that she had advised residents of Elmcroft that the reported damaged inspection cover was on land which was unadopted and not the responsibility of Nottinghamshire County Council. Cllr. Stewart advised that Cllr. Laughton was investigating this matter and would report to a future meeting.
(h) Refuse Collection
Cllr. Jones advised that in a recent newspaper article, Councils across Britain were being advised to reduced the size of wheelie bins by more than 40% to encourage more recycling. She asked Cllr. Stewart if this procedure would be adopted in this area. She also asked if the introduction of a “brown bin” would result in residents being unable to tip garden waste at Calverton tip. Cllr. Jones expressed concern that residents had to provide a copy of their Vehicle Registration Document when applying for a permit to dispose of household waste at Calverton tip. The permit scheme has recently been introduced at that tip because of a range of issues including the illegal disposal of trade waste.
Cllr. Stewart stated that Newark and Sherwood District Council had no intention of introducing a “brown bin” for garden rubbish in the next twelve months and that he was not aware of a scheme to reduce the current size of bins. He advised that the new permit system at Calverton tip seemed to be working efficiently.
7. PLANNING
(a) Planning Application 09/00181/FUL – Proposed demolition of existing single storey extension and construction of new two storey extension, Meadow View, Nottingham Road, Oxton
AGREED to recommend to Newark and Sherwood District Council that the application be refused for the follow reason: "The bulk and mass of the proposed extension does not reflect the original form of the building which is in a Conservation Area. The Parish Council feels that the proposal does not address members' objections to a similar application which was refused in August 2008."
(b) Notices of Decision
NOTED that there were no Notices of Decision
8. FINANCE
(a) Invoices and Payments
The following payments were authorised: L.E Ingall Clerk’s Salary Feb. £228.93 L.E.Ingall Office Expenses £ 16.57 Notts. Assoc. of Local Councils Annual Subscription £ 98.01 Our Centre Registration Fee £ 15.00 Our Centre Mini Bus Hire Dec. Feb. £154.85 B. Machin Re-imbursement Postage £ 1.98 P. Cleverley Chiropody Clinic £ 68.00 Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Watch Annual Subs. £140.00
(b) Financial Report for February 2009
The Clerk reported an account balance at the end of January of £1884.09 with payments of £436.27, receipts of £23.99 and a Sinking Fund balance of £10,157.25. The accounts were reconciled accordingly.
9. RECREATION
(a) Play Area – Monthly Report
Cllr. Jacobs reported that the litter bin in the Play Area had now been emptied by Newark and Sherwood District Council.
(b) Grass Cutting Contract for Oxton Parish
NOTED the following quotations for the 2009 grass cutting contract for Oxton Parish:
1. Nottinghamshire County Council £1677.60 2. Ulyett Landscapes £1875.00 3. Town and Country Gardens £3430.00 4. Newark and Sherwood District Council No Quote
AGREED that in accordance with Financial Regulation the quotation by Nottinghamshire County Council is accepted.
(c) Play Area and Cricket Pavilion
Cllr. Wilkes reported that Oxton Cricket Club did not intend to submit applications for grant aid until the Autumn. He stated that he had placed an article in the Dover Beck requesting consultation on equipment for the new Play Area but had not received any replies. The Clerk reported that she had been unable to find any Parish Council that had used a fund raiser and advised that after consultation with the Nottinghamshire Association of Local Councils, legal opinion may have to be sought should this Council decide to employ a fund raiser. She stated that Newark and Sherwood District Council would provide assistance in the completion of application forms for grant aid.
The Chairman permitted the variation of the agenda as follows:
11. APPOINTMENT OF NEW CLERK
The Chairman reported that a panel of members had interviewed two applicants for the position of Clerk to the Parish Council and recommended that Karen Birks is appointed to that post with effect from 1st April 2009 on a salary scale of SCP 13-15.
AGREED that Karen Birks is offered the position, subject to references, and that she is requested to attend a County Partnership Training Day for Councillors and Clerks on 24th March 2009.
10. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Cllr. Aldridge reported that Newark and Sherwood District Council had not yet supplied the items to be stored in the resilience store sited at the Village Hall. The Clerk stated that she had been in contact with Newark and Sherwood District Council regarding detailed plans of a scheme to alleviate the flooding around the weir on Water Lane. The timescale envisaged for completion of such plans is two months.
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
NOTED the future dates of meeting of this Council are as follows:
12th May 2009, Annual Parish Council Meeting, 21st May Annual Parish Meeting and 9th June 2009.
The meeting concluded at 9.40 p.m.
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