|
|
OXTON PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10TH FEBRUARY 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. I. Kilpatrick Cllr. D. Wilkes Mrs. L. Ingall (Clerk)
Cllr. A. Stewart (Nottinghamshire County Council)
1. APOLOGIES
NOTED the apology for absence from Cllr. B. Laughton (Nottinghamshire County Council).
2. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 13th January were accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following amendment: Substitute the word “some” for the word “more” in item 4b, line 2
3. MATTERS ARISING
(a) Speedwatch
Cllr. Stewart reported that Nottinghamshire County Council had insufficient funds to support Speedwatch cameras and camera vans except in accident “black spots”. He stated that he was dissatisfied with this situation and would be pursuing the matter further with that Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, Cllr. Stella Smedley.
(b) Doverbeck Management Committee
Cllr. Stewart presented Cllr. Jacobs with a cheque for £200 from the County Council’s Electoral Initiative Fund towards the production cost of “The Dover Beck”. Cllr. Jacobs thanked him on behalf of the Dover Beck Management Committee.
4. COMMUNICATIONS
(a) The Clerk reported that she had received correspondence from a Mr. Meades of Trowell, Nottingham requesting information on his grandfather George who lived in the village in the 1870’s. AGREED the Clerk seeks local information on this matter and informs Mr. Meades accordingly.
(b) NOTED the letter from the retiring Clerk, Mr. B. Machin thanking members for his recent gift.
(c) The Chairman reported that she had received a letter from Mr. Clive Catlin of 12 Elmcroft, Oxton requesting this Council’s comments on the proposed surfacing of a small area adjoining his existing drive. The area, which is now grassed, has become unsuitable for vehicle use.
AGREED that whilst this Council has no objection in principle, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Planning Department should be consulted to ascertain whether planning permission is necessary prior to the work being carried out and that the Mr. Catlin is informed of the outcome of those consultations.
5. HIGHWAYS
(a) Directional Sign – Edingley
Cllr. Stewart reported that the new directional sign on the A6097 to Edingley is to be removed following complaints by local residents as to the unsuitability of the signposted road. The road was thought to be too narrow for the anticipated volume of traffic.
(b) Lowdham School Bus
Cllr. Stewart reported that the proposal to divert the Lowdham School Bus due to works being carried out on Ton Lane, Lowdham had been averted. A diversion would have resulted in a 45 minute longer journey for the children, some of whom are from this Parish.
(c) Gritting
Cllr. Jacobs stated that she had been impressed by the County Council’s efforts in gritting the roads in the recent severe weather conditions. She proposed that a letter of thanks is sent to the Highways Manager, Mr. Bob Hart.
AGREED that the Clerk writes to Mr. Hart expressing this Councils gratitude and thanks to him and his staff for their efforts in gritting the roads, in this area, to a very high standard.
6. PLANNING
(a) Planning Applications
NOTED that there were no planning applications received.
(b) Notices of Decision
NOTED that there were no Notice of Decisions.
(c) Any other matters appertaining to Planning
1. Corner Cottage, Main Street, Oxton
NOTED that following discussions with Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Planning Department, the Clerk had written to the owners of Corner Cottage, Main Street, Oxton advising them that planning permission was necessary for the erection of a satellite dish on a property in a Conservation Area.
2. 3 Holme Court, Oxton
NOTED the date of the hearing of an appeal against Newark and Sherwood’s refusal of planning permission for the erection of a conservatory at 3 Holme Court Oxton will be heard at Kelham Hall, Newark on 25 March 2009 at 10.00 a.m.
7. FINANCE
(a) Invoices and payments
The following payments were authorised:
L.E.Ingall Clerk’s Salary Jan. £228.93 L.E.Ingall Office Expenses £ 10.91 . Our Centre Mini Bus Hire £ 77.90 Bramley Publications Advertisement for new clerk £ 38.53 CPRE Annual Subscription £ 29.00 P. Cleverley Chiropody Clinic £ 51.00
(b) Financial Report for January 2009
The Clerk reported an account balance at the end of January of £2296.37 with payments of £1022.96, receipts of £27.67 and a sinking fund balance of £10,157.25. The accounts were reconciled accordingly.
8. RECREATION
(a) Monthly Report
Cllr. Jacobs reported that the litter bin in the Play Area had not yet been emptied. A contract had been agreed with Newark and Sherwood District Council, in September 2008, to empty the bin once every two weeks.
AGREED that the Clerk contacts Newark and Sherwood District Council and ascertains the reason for the delay in emptying the bin and reports back to a future meeting of this Council.
(b) ROSPA Inspection
NOTED that the request to ROSPA for the inspection of the Play Area is now due.
AGREED that the Clerk submits an order to ROSPA for the aforementioned inspection.
(c) Play Area – Joint Venture with Oxton Cricket Club
Cllr. Wilkes reported on his meeting with a representative of Oxton Cricket Club. He expressed concern that a possible joint venture would restrict this Council’s options for funding with some funds being available for the Cricket Club project and some only available for Play Area schemes. Oxton Cricket Club was proposing to employ a professional fund raiser and he asked the club the advantages of taking this course of action. However he was not given a definitive answer. He stated that although the Cricket Club and Play Area projects could proceed separately, whoever applied secondly may have to explain a lack of consultation or awareness of the other project. Bearing this in mind, Oxton Cricket Club was of the opinion that a joint bid was the better way forward. Members had mixed concerns as to the cost involved in employing a fund raiser, however, if employed on the basis of payment of 3% of the grant applied for, it was thought it represented value for money. Cllr. Wilkes stated that the Parish Council, after consultation with local children, should be able to submit the application unaided. Some members suggested that a professional fund raiser could bring considerable benefit to the project.
AGREED that: 1. Cllr. Wilkes explores further the attributes of employing a fund raiser. 2. The Clerk liaises with other Parish Councils to ascertain the difficulties involved in preparing and submitting a grant application. 3. The Clerk liaises with Newark and Sherwood District Council to ascertain if free professional expertise is available to Parish Councils who wish to submit such applications. 4. A consultation period is arranged, in the near future, asking local children of all ages what their priorities would be when selecting Play Area Equipment.
(d) Any other matters appertaining to Recreation.
Grass Cutting
NOTED that in accordance with Financial Regulation, the clerk had sent out tenders for the annual grass cutting contract for this parish.
Disposal of Surplus Mower – Newark and Sherwood District Council NOTED the letter from Newark and Sherwood District Council offering, for sale, surplus diesel powered grass mowers.
AGREED that this Council has no interest in purchasing such mowers.
9. COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Cllr. Aldridge reported that he had spoken to a representative of Newark and Sherwood District Council regarding the items to be stored in the resilience store sited at the Village Hall. He stated that the store should be fully functioning within the next three weeks. The establishment of a team of Flood Wardens, as recommended by the Environment Agency, was progressing. The Flood Risk and Response Profile, previously completed in the presence of Council members had been returned to Newark and Sherwood District Council for use by the emergency services. Cllr. Aldridge expressed concern at the recent flooding of Water Lane and stated that the present flood defences were inadequate. He suggested that the present “barge boards” across the road could be heightened to alleviate the problem but the responsibility for the maintenance of these boards had not yet been established. He stated that Newark and Sherwood had not yet prepared detailed plans regarding the issues of flooding around the weir at the top of Water Lane despite a site meeting and subsequent correspondence with that Council.
AGREED that the Clerk liaises with Newark and Sherwood District Council: 1. As to the possibility of expediting the preparation of the plans and drawing for the scheme to alleviate the flooding issued around the weir at the top of Water Lane and 2. Tries to establish the person responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the “barge boards” on Water Lane.
10. CALOR VILLAGE OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
NOTED the guidelines and entry form for the Calor Village of the Year competition. The Chairman stated that the village had been entered in a similar competition in a previous year.
AGREED that members give consideration to entering the competition bearing in mind the closure date for applications being 30th April 2009.
11. APPOINTMENT OF NEW CLERK
NOTED that there had been three applications for the position of Clerk to the Parish Council.
AGREED that an interview panel consisting of Cllrs. Cooper, Jacobs and Aldridge is appointed to interview the three applications on 26th February 2009 at the Village Hall.
12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1. Kissing Gate – Land to the rear of the Village Hall
Cllr. Jacobs asked if the suggestion, by this Council, to convert a present stile at the rear of the Village Hall to a kissing gate had progressed. Cllr. Johnson advised that under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, the parcel of land referred to is covered by the scheme and a recent application to replace fencing and create new entrances had been accepted. He advised that this could include the erection of a kissing gate.
2. Interpretive Board
Cllr. Cooper reported that she had received a request from Nottinghamshire County Council to send a representative to address this Council on the design of an Interpretive Board being produced for this Parish.
AGREED that the representative from Nottinghamshire County Council should address this Council at the beginning of the meeting on 3rd March 2009.
The meeting concluded at 9.35 p.m.
|