05.09.1

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OXTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 13^TH SEPTEMBER 2005

Meeting commenced at 7.30p.m

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Present: Mesdames Cooper, Bennett and Roe. Messrs. Kilpatrick and Bayliss. Clerk Mr. B Machin. County Councillor Laughton.

Apologies for absence: Apologies for absence were received from Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Jacobs and County Councillor Stewart.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 9^TH AUGUST 2005

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Minute 05.08.2.9 was amended to read “The Clerk reported on a message left on the Councils web site”, otherwise the minutes having been circulated prior the meeting were confirmed and signed as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 9^TH AUGUST 2005

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Chiropody: The Chairman reported that the facility was fully booked for the remainder of the year; she also asked that the question of future funding be included on the next agenda.

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Speed Watch: Dr. Kilpatrick reported that the monitoring points had not yet been approved by the Police; he is attempting to expedite approval. In response to Mr. Bayliss he said that signs associated with the scheme need not be left in place between sessions.

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Planning Provision for Affordable Housing: Council had no comments on this consultation document.

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N&SDC Local Development Framework: Council had no comments on this consultation document.

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Oxton Hill Mile Post: Council agreed that the wording on the post should be “Oxton One Mile”.

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Affordable Housing: The Clerk reported Notts. RRC wish to attend a future meeting to present the findings of the survey, the Clerk was asked to agree attendance at the earliest possible opportunity.

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Conversion of Traditional Rural Buildings: This consultation document had been circulated between meetings for comment. Council are in general agreement with the document.

The document has raised, however, some related issues. As far as Council are aware the last general listing of buildings within the Parish was in 1986 with a spot listing of the Forge in 1998.

Council were particularly interested in Section 2 as it relates to the Ice House in Oxton which it would like to see renovated and could potentially be used as a habitat for bats.

The Clerk was asked to determine the procedures for the listing of structures.

05.09.2

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Olde Bridge Inne-Licencing Hours: The Clerk reported that N&SDC were to send a weekly list of applications to Council. A recent list included an application to extend the licence for the Green Dragon; he had informed members of the Council but had received no requests for a meeting to discuss the application. He had discussed the issue with the Chairman and it had been agreed that, as no objection was made to the Olde Bridge Inne application no objection should be made in this case, the Chairman being aware that a local resident had submitted an objection. An opportunity will arise in the future to object to these extensions of hours in light of actual experience of any contraventions of the four objectives.

COMMUNICATIONS:

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Publicising Consumer Direct: This is a new initiative backed by the Government to provide clear consumer advice free of charge, on the telephone or on line, on a range of issues and complaints. The Clerk reported he had requested information which can be made available in the post Office by agreement.

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Pathways to Progress Symposium: Council noted this symposium on 21^st September.

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Gedling Local Development Framework: Council has an opportunity to comment, the Clerk was asked to inform Gedling BC that it wants to be kept informed on these sections of the plan: Proposals Map, Conservation Area Appraisals and Development Briefs.

5

Newark & Sherwood PCT-AGM: Council noted the meeting on 28^th September and a further meeting to give a progress report on the years work on the same day. The Chairman may attend.

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Sherwood Forest Hospitals- Foundation Trust Application: Notice has been received of the above application; comments on the proposal are to be made by 25^th November. It was agreed the Clerk should circulate the document and include an item on the next agenda.

HIGHWAYS:

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Dunn Line Bus Services: Council is invited to a meeting with Dunn Line, Notts CC and other parishes served by the company on 19^th September to discuss the company’s performance, the Chairman is to attend.

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Beanford Splash:  Mrs. Bennett said she had inspected the work recently done by Notts. CC Highways and thought it very satisfactory, she suggested a letter of appreciation be sent this was agreed.

PLANNING:

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High Trees Main Street-Tree Works: N&SDC has agreed the felling of the Sycamore Tree on the school boundary.

05.09.3

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Home Farmhouse-Alterations and Conservation Area Consent: This application had been circulated between meetings for comment, the Chairman had declared an interest and had not commented, there were no objections raised by the remainder of the Council and the application had therefore been returned as approved.

2

Middlehay Oxton Hill-Change of Use. This application had been circulated between meetings for comment, There were no objections but some unease regarding increases in the amount of traffic, the application had therefore been returned as approved with a note regarding Councils concern on traffic volumes.

FINANCIAL MATTERS:

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Invoices and Payments: The following were approved for payment:

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Financial Report for August: The Clerk reported a current account balance of £3512.73 with receipts of £36.55 and payments of £829.96 and a balance of £7116.78 in the sinking fund.

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Kirkby Volunteer Centre-Mini Bus Hire: The Clerk reported that notification had been received of an increase in the rates charged for hire effective from 1^st September, this equated to an increase of 25% in the mileage rate. It was agreed to accept the increase and to make adjustments in the Budget for next year, consideration should also be given to requesting an increase in grant from Notts. CC.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:

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Monthly Report: As Mrs. Jacobs was not in attendance there was no report to consider. Dr. Kilpatrick noted that the base of the spring bike was loose, the Clerk reported he was aware of the problem which had been identified in the ROSPA report as “slight movement in base - monitor and check at next annual report” the base has been loose for several years without any noticeable deterioration.

COMMUNITY PHYSICAL ACTION PROGRAMME:

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Discussion took place on the proposals outlined in the Action Report as prepared by N&SDC, the Chairman reported that there would be a questionnaire circulated at the body MOT for comment. It was agreed Council accept the Action Plan in its entirety.

05.09.4

BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES:

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Discussion took place on various ideas that could be submitted for inclusion in the bid, the following items were agreed:

• Link footpath between the end of Sandy Lane and Park Lane to provide a safe link to the footpath network.
• Interpretive information board linked to a heritage trail.

DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:

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The following meetings were agreed:

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

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Councillor Laughton reported that the current recycling rate was 30% with a target of 52% by 2015. Currently the County Council is looking for a preferred partner for recycling and that an incinerator was likely to be built. Also more waste is likely to be  imported to the composting facility at Oxton Grange by Nottingham City Council.

Miss. Roe expressed concern also about the heaps of apparently composted material that had appeared in fields around the village and whether this storage was allowed by the planning consent?

It was agreed Council need to understand more about the composting scheme at Oxton Grange including the actual planning conditions. The Clerk was asked to determine the conditions governing the use of the site.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Laughton for keeping Council informed of these proposals.

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Bus Shelter- Safety Surface: Mrs. Bennett was concerned the safety surface had not yet been done, the Clerk was asked to determine.

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Thorndale plantation: Mr. Bayliss is concerned about the lack of any action, it was agreed an item be included on the next agenda.

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Bench Windmill Hill: Miss Roe asked if it was possible to carve 2005 into the new bench, the Clerk was asked to arrange this if possible.

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Thompson Directory: Miss. Roe had noted that this was not circulated in the village and asked why? The Clerk was asked to determine.

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Streetlight Main Street: Mrs. Bennett noted that the light was obscured by trees. The Clerk was asked to report this.

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Photocopier: The Clerk reported that he had been unable to get the copier working and was advised that due to its age was not worth repairing economically. It was agreed the Clerk dispose of the copier.

05.09.5

Meeting closed at 21.55

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