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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OXTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 12^th DECEMBER 2002.

Meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Mr. Colston. Mesdames Cooper, Jacobs, Bennett and Roe. Clerk Mr. B Machin. County Councillor Mr. Stewart. 

Apologies for absence. Apologies for absence received from Mr. Maclaren on holiday and Mr. Bayliss at work.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 12^TH NOVEMBER 2002:

NALC The Police etc. seminar: This was cancelled due to lack of support.

Mobile speed trap: The Clerk reported he had spoken to Inspector Russ Foster who confirmed there were no proposals to obtain hand held speed guns for use by local councils. It was agreed Council would be interested in the early use of the mobile flashing 30mph signs and the Clerk was asked to make the Police aware of this.

Village Appraisal: The Chairman reported that the final appraisal was complete and had been submitted for printing. Copies of the appraisal were circulated.

Village sign: The Clerk reported that Oxton Estates were not in favour of locating a kissing gate in the fence between the football field and the access land. It was agreed to ask permission for a kissing gate to replace the existing stile giving access on to the access land at the entrance to the village hall car park.

The Estate had no objection to barn owl boxes but, as no suitable sites were available on the Estate, suggested contact should be made with Mr. Des Palmer or Mr. David Wilkins who had suitable old barns. The Chairman reported she had been pursuing the matter and asked that an item be included on the next agenda.

Council Accounts: The Clerk reported that he had received the software package but it would not load on his computer he is trying to resolve the issues.

COMMUNICATIONS:

Oxton Jubilee Committee: The Clerk reported a letter from the Committee offering to transfer the outstanding balances of their fund raising to the Council. The sum is approx. £285 and would be transferred for use on tree planting. It was agreed that Council would be interested and would consider suitable sites at a future meeting.

Open Space Provision and Needs Assessment: The Clerk reported a questionnaire on behalf of N&SDC, as this would take around an hour to complete the Clerk offered to complete the survey this was agreed.

The Chairman changed the order of the meeting at this point to allow Councillor Stewart to report on Highways issues before leaving the meeting.

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Blind Lane surfacing: Councillor Stewart reported a letter he had received from R J Hart postponing the proposed surfacing until April 2003, this was necessary due to the late decision to defer a major scheme on Oxton Hill for budget reasons and which, for efficiency reasons, should be undertaken at the same time. As this is a modest delay the Council accepted the proposal.

Nottingham Road – defective kerb: Miss Roe pointed out that this work was still outstanding, Councillor Stewart agreed to progress.

Honeyknab Lane – defective pavement: The Chairman reported the pavement was dangerous, Councillor Stewart agreed to pursue.

Blind Lane/Southwell Road junction: A pot hole was reported close to the junction, Councillor Stewart agreed to pursue.

Emergency procedures: Mr. Colston asked what the County Council was doing about emergency procedures in light of the heightened tensions of late. Councillor Stewart reported that he was not aware of any actions being taken but would find out.

Oxton bypass – trees: It was reported that the trees planted in the past needed attention, Councillor Stewart agreed to pursue,

Crime & Disorder Partnership: Mrs. Jacobs reported that Council has to consider the Act in the course of its deliberations and that she was concerned that the mobile CCTV equipment that was now available for loan would not work in Oxton due to the type of street lighting and that the County Council should be asked to address this problem. Councillor Stewart agreed to get some indication of the cost of changing to suitable lamps.

Councillor Stewart left the meeting at this point. Councillor Laughton arrived.

Dumping of litter: Miss Roe reported a mattress dumped at the top of Forest Road and polythene sheet on the by pass North of the roundabout. Councillor Laughton agreed to pursue the matter.

Main Street pavement: It was reported that the pavement outside No.15 Elmcroft was dangerous. The Clerk was asked to report this.

PLANNING:

Oakmere Golf Club – extensions: An application to extend the clubhouse lounge, entrance foyer and green keepers facilities together with the erection of a detached ancillary building were approved without comment.

Loath Hill – Orange telecoms mast: The Clerk reported that Orange had appealed against the decision of N&SDC to refuse their application for an increase in the height of the mast from 15 to 20 metres. Council is still opposed to the application and the Clerk was asked to contact Paddy Tipping MP for his advice and support.

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Far Baulker Farm – 17.5m telecoms mast The Clerk reported that N&SDC had refused permission for the mast.

32 Elmcroft – extensions: The Clerk reported that this proposal had been granted full, planning permission

Tangle Trees Main Street –tree works: The Clerk reported a letter from N&SDC regarding extensive tree works at this property, it was agreed to circulate the letter.

FINANCIAL MATTERS:

Invoices and payments: The following were approved for payment.

It was agreed the Clerk withhold the payment to Redview Computers until such time he was satisfied the programme was operating.

Financial report for November: The Clerk reported a current account balance of £5094.88 plus £3474.05 in the sinking fund with receipts of £116.39 and payments of £384.66.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:

Monthly report: Mrs. Jacobs reported verbally that there were no additional problems.

BUDGET 2003/2004:

The Clerk presented his calculations showing an estimated balance at 31^st March 2003 of £1624.88 plus £3486 in the sinking fund, the provisional budget figure was £6945 which includes an estimated cost of £840 for a contested election in May 2003. On the basis of these figures the precept for 2002/03 would be £7320.12. It was agreed to reduce the budget by omitting the following.

It was agreed to set the precept at £6100.00

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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000:

The Clerk presented a summary of the alternatives available to the Council and his recommendations. In the interest of open governance Council agreed to adopt the Model Scheme core classes plus optional documents within the core classes with the exception of classes 8,10,11,12 and 13 which are not relevant.

INFORMATION BOARDS & PATHS LEAFLET:

The Chairman reported she had made progress with the paths leaflet and circulated examples, she suggested a leaflet with a centre map and with information on the outside. It was agreed to put this item on hold until the financial position becomes clearer next year.

VILLAGE PLANTERS: The Chairman reported she had received a request from Les Strutt to reimburse the £8.00 he had spent on plants for the planters, this was agreed.

DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:

The following were agreed,

ANY OTHER BUSINESS?

Police Control Room: Mrs. Jacobs requested that anyone with complaints should put it in writing to the Police; a similar request should be included in the Dover Beck.

Neighbourhood Watch: The Chairman reported that at a recent NALC meeting she had received information on the ‘ringmaster’ system which would be most useful to have in Oxton at a cost of £200; she is to get more information.

Best Kept Village Certificates: Miss Roe suggested that the latest certificate be displayed in the Post Office where everyone could see, this was agreed

Charitable status of playing field:  The Clerk expressed concern that this had not yet been resolved and would like to see progress and hopefully resolution before next year’s elections. It was agreed to include this on the next agenda.

Meeting closed at 21.35

Signed                                             Chairman                     Date