06.09.1

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OXTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 12^TH SEPTEMBER 2006

Meeting commenced at 7.30p.m

1

Present: Mesdames Cooper, Bennett and Roe. Messrs. Johnson, Kilpatrick (part). Clerk Mr. B Machin. County Councillors Stewart (part).

Apologies for absence: Apologies for absence were received from Mrs. Jacobs, Mr. Bayliss and Councillor Laughton.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 17^TH AUGUST 2006

2

Mr. Johnson pointed out that minute 06.08.5.1 should read “Mr. Johnson pointed out that tenants were now in residence of the property giving access to the Ice House”; Councillor Stewart pointed out that minute 06.08.3.6 should refer to District Councillors; otherwise the minutes, having been circulated prior to the meeting, were confirmed and signed as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 17^TH AUGUST 2006

3

Chiropody: The Chairman explained to the meeting that the contribution from the Oxton Social Committee had not been received to date and that she was still pursuing alternative sources of finance. Councillor Stewart offered to contribute £250 to the scheme if this would help. The Chairman accepted the offer and thanked Councillor Stewart for his generosity.

Dr. Kilpatrick arrived at this point.

4

Oxton Hill Sweeping and Blocked Drains: The Clerk reported that he was awaiting confirmation from Notts. CC Highways that the work had in fact been done. Councillor Stewart informed the meeting that there was insufficient money in the budgets for drain clearing and that this was recognised as a problem.

5

Affordable Housing: The Clerk reported that Notts. RCC were awaiting the views of N&SDC Planners on the Elmcroft site. The Chairman was concerned that progress was slow and asked the Clerk to arrange a site meeting with Notts. RCC the planners and Council.

6

Oxton Hill Milestone: Councillor Stewart reported that he had spoken to Notts. CC Highways to confirm that the milestone is its responsibility.

7

School Bus Stop: Councillor Stewart offered to pursue the provision of a further shelter if the Clerk gave him the name of the Notts. CC contact. This was agreed.

8

NALC Meeting: The Chairman reported that a reoganisation at Notts. CC had resulted in the creation of a new department called Communities headed by a Councillor Burrows; Mr. Tony Roberts is to speak about the new department at the next NALC meeting the following day. Councillor Stewart said this was effectively a merger of departments removing a tier of management as a cost saving measure.

06.09.2

1

Notts. CC Community Transport Strategy: The Chairman reported that she had studied the Strategy which was mainly principles rather than detail proposals and that she had responded on behalf of Council by stressing support for Community Transport.

2

Speedwatch: Dr. Kilpatrick informed the meeting that speed detectors can be purchased on eBay for around £150 but that they were not Home Office approved, Council was concerned that the Police would not accept the evidence from these cameras. The Chairman and Mr. Johnson were concerned that getting volunteers to operate the equipment was a problem. It was agreed that reducing the speed of traffic through the village was a high priority of parishioners and that the matter be included on the next agenda for further consideration.

3

District Councillor Budgets: The Chairman asked Councillors to make suggestions for items that could be financed from this source at the next meeting.

COMMUNICATIONS:

4

Litter Bin Forest Road Lay by: Following Councils enquiry N&SDC has replied to say that the bin is emptied weekly on Thursdays and that the bin is considered adequate for requirements.

5

Notts. Passenger Transport Forum: The Clerk reported that the Forum will be held on 2^nd November; the Chairman hopes to attend.

HIGHWAYS:

6

Speeding Traffic: Councillor Stewart informed the meeting that he had received a favourable response to the suggestion he had put to Notts. CC Highways regarding changing traffic priorities at the junction of Southwell Road and Old Epperstone Road with a view to reducing traffic using the village as a ‘rat run’. Highways agree that based on traffic numbers a change of priority at this junction would seem reasonable and this would require a minor junction improvement involving kerb and radius realignment. This work cannot be justified on accident grounds and therefore the money would have to be raised from other sources and he suggested that Councils bid for BBC funding for next year should be this scheme. This was agreed and the Clerk was asked to submit a bid application.

The Clerk was asked to determine the current position on the earlier BBC bid for an additional street light on Forest Road.

7

Burntstump Cross Roads: Councillor Stewart confirmed a press cutting seen by Mrs. Bennett that the closure of Gravelly Hill was temporary and would be reviewed in 2007.

Councillor Stewart left the meeting at this point

06.09.3

PLANNING:

1

Moorfield Farm – Change of Use of Redundant Building: The Clerk reported that this application, circulated between meetings, had received no objections but that Mrs. Jacobs was against any further changes of use; he had therefore responded that Council had no objection but would not wish to see further changes of use.

2

The Spinney Oxton Hill – Extension: The Clerk reported that this application, circulated between meetings, had received no objections and had responded accordingly.

FINANCIAL MATTERS:

3

Invoices and Payments: The following were approved for payment:

4

Financial Report for August: The Clerk reported a current account balance of £2951.26 with receipts of £33.18 and payments of £478.93 and a balance of £7752.84 in the sinking fund.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:

5

Monthly Report: As Mrs. Jacobs was not in attendance there was no report.

6

Hedge Laying: The Clerk reported that BTCV had contacted him with a view to completing the hedge laying by Spring next year. He had met BTCV on site who will complete the outstanding work and addition planting as previously agreed, there is however a length of boundary with virtually no hedge at the top of the field and he had obtained an additional quote for completion of this length for Councils consideration at a cost of £322.81 plus VAT.

The Clerk also reported that the area where the hedge had been previously laid was overgrown with bracken and brambles and would, in his opinion, need remedial work before next spring to enable mowing to be carried out right up to the hedge.

The Chairmen said she was pleased the outstanding work was at last to be finished by BTCV but asked Councillors to inspect the site so that a decision on further works could be taken at the next meeting.

RINGMASTER:

7

Following discussion Dr. Kilpatrick agreed to offer an e. mail service to anyone wishing to receive the information from Ringmaster, he will insert an item in the next Dover Beck.

06.09.4

PARISH COUNCIL CONFERENCE:

1

There were no items for inclusion on the conference agenda.

DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:

2

The following dates were agreed:

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

3

Water Lane Hedges; Miss Roe reported that hedges, particularly Elmfield, were encroaching onto the lane and reducing the width of the road causing traffic to damage the grass verge. Dr. Kilpatrick agreed to speak to the owners.

4

Litter Bin Main Street: Miss Roe reported that the new bin had been damaged, it was agreed the Clerk arrange repair.

5

Telephone Directory: Mrs. Bennett said she had received more complaints about receiving the Newark and Mansfield directory in lieu of the Nottingham directory in the village. The Clerk was asked to contact BT again with a view to reverting to the Nottingham directory.

6

Rubbish Dumping: Dumping of tyres was reported on the verge close to Mill Farm, also white bags on the Forest Road car park.

7

Police Dog Training: The Chairman reported she had received complaints about dog barking and on investigation had discovered it was the Police training their dogs near the by-pass. Mr. Johnson reported that the Police use several of the fields off the by-pass for dog training.

The meeting closed at 21.00

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