07.03.1

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OXTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 13^TH MARCH 2007

Meeting commenced at 7.30p.m

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Present: Mesdames Cooper, Roe, Jacobs and Bennett. Messrs. Johnson, Bayliss and Kilpatrick. Clerk Mr. B Machin. County Councillor Stewart (part). District Councillor Laughton (part). Six members of the public.

Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Councillor Armstrong.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13^TH FEBRUARY 2007:

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Mr. Bayliss asked that minute 07.02.3 should clarify that the phrase “…present site favoured by the planners….” refers to Elmcroft

Miss Roe pointed out that minute 07.02.1.6 should “read forty weeks not twelve months”; also that minute 07.02.3 should refer to a “loose kerbstone opposite the Olde Bridge Inne” and not “Oxton Hill”.

Subject to the above the minutes, having been circulated before the meeting, were confirmed and signed as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 13^TH FEBRUARY 2007:

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Water Lane Turning Lorries and Dog Mess: Councillor Stewart reported that following a site visit attended also by Miss Roe and Dr. Kilpatrick it was noted that no alternative access to the site was available without felling several mature trees, the developers had also been asked to cut back the hedge on Water Lane to create more space for lorries accessing the site. Dr. Kilpatrick said that the developers were conscious of the need to be good neighbours and will take appropriate actions including replacing the fence and closing the gap in the hedge at the end of the works.

Councillor Stewart also visited Blind Lane with representatives of the Highways Dept. to view the flooding problem. Miss Roe reported that one of the flooding signs she uses was missing; she has reported this to the Highways Dept.

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Threat to Lottery Funding: The Clerk reported a letter from Paddy Tipping MP saying he understands Councils concerns and had already discussed the matter with Ministers at the Treasury and Department of Culture, Media and Sport; he has also met with representatives of the Big Lottery to get their views.

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Building Better Communities: The Chairman will attend this event.

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Ringmaster: The Clerk reported that the invoice referred only to the period 01.01.07 to 31.01.07, Dr. Kilpatrick said he had agreed that this invoice covered all the outstanding costs. Mr. Johnson suggested we should discuss whether Council wished to continue with the scheme prior to the next Budget exercise.

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Litter – Calverton Road: It was noted the litter had been cleared; Mr. Johnson reported two lots of dumping on Beanford Lane.

07.03.2

COMMUNICATIONS:

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Draft East Midlands Regional Plan: It was noted that examination of the draft would commence on 22^nd May.

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Clothing Collection: The Chairman reported on a flyer she had received through the post and would recommend caution as she believes it could be a scam.

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Southwell Town Community Plan: The Chairman reported that an open day would be held on 17^th March.

HIGHWAYS:

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White Paper: Councillor Stewart reported he had attended a seminar the outcomes of which would be communicated by NALC; it mainly referred to the Governments attitude to Parish Councils and Quality Councils; also transfer of work to lower tiers without supporting finance.

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Building Better Communities: Councillor Stewart reported that the requests for a streetlight on Forest Road and an additional bus shelter on Main Street will be in next years Programme. The changing of priorities on Southwell Road, whilst having been agreed by most, would be delayed as Amos Harrison had pointed out that there was not a record of accidents at this location and it had therefore been agreed to do a traffic survey which would delay any decision.

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Newark Area Manager: Councillor Stewart reported Chris. Charnley has been transferred there is now a vacancy.

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Fiskerton Recycling Facility: Councillor Stewart reported that this will now remain open for a further five years.

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Southwell Road – Damaged Road Sign: Mrs. Bennett reported that the give way sign had been damaged by a RTA.

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Local Transport Plan Rural Schemes: The Clerk reported that he had contacted Notts. CC Highways about the misinterpretation of Councils proposal; they now understand what Council require but consider it low priority which will be held on file.

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Nottinghamshire Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan: Council received the plan and Dr. Kilpatrick agreed to examine the plan and bring his comments to Council for consideration.

Miss Roe said that the Park Farm footpath to which Council had raised objection had never been resolved.

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Fallows Lane: Councillor Stewart reported he had visited the lane with representatives of the Highways Dept; the lane was considered low priority and finance was not available to do more than patching.

07.03.3

PLANNING:

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Glenfield Lodge – Tree Works: N&SDC has granted permission to fell a Cedar Tree.

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Yew Tree House Forest Road – Tree Works: N&SDC has granted permission to fell and prune various trees.

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Kingswood Main St. – Second Storey Extension: Mrs. Jacobs declared an interest. Council had no objection to this proposal.

FINANCIAL MATTERS:

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Invoices and Payments: The following were approved for payment:

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Financial Report for March: The Clerk reported a current account balance of

£2788.32 with £225.76 of outstanding cheques for payment with receipts of

£37.13 and payments of £1627.57 and a balance of £8252.84 in the sinking fund.

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Hedge Laying: Mr. Johnson said he had inspected the work and was disappointed by the quality of the work, he suggested BTCV should not be asked to do further similar work.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:

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Monthly Report: Mrs. Jacobs reported that there was a large hole in the playing field near the bonfire site caused possibly by rabbits, and the surface of the children’s play area was uneven due to mole activity. It was agreed the Clerk get Ulyetts to fill the hole and roll the play area surface.

Mrs. Jacobs reported that damage to the multi play equipment had ceased as there was now no need to strim around the base.

Councillor Laughton arrived at this point.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

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Mr. Johnson declared an interest and took no further part in discussion of this item. The Clerk updated Council on the actions taken since the last meeting saying that following discussions with the Chairman it had become obvious that the planners would not accept the site on Olde Epperstone Road and therefore he had taken no action to seek further Housing Associations interested in the development; it had been agreed that as the planners appear willing to accept development on Elmcroft he should ask Notts. RCC to make tentative arrangements to progress the Elmcroft site subject to approval by Council. Metropolitan and Nottingham Housing Associations have indicated a willingness to come to the Council meeting in April

07.03.4

for preliminary discussions if required. Oxton Farm Trusts has responded to Councils letter of January saying it remains broadly supportive in terms of delivery of affordable housing. It is currently undertaking a planning review for the forthcoming Local Development Framework (LDF) and was unable to make any further response pending this review.

Mr. Bayliss said he was not against Elmcroft but was for full consultation with residents. The Chairman said she had spoken to about two thirds of residents personally and had received reactions from strong opposition through sceptisism to support. With regard to the survey presented to Council this was not independent or factually correct and should be therefore set aside; Council should base its considerations on the Housing Needs Survey. Dr. Kilpatrick suggested the resident survey carried as much weight as the Chairman’s telephone survey and this had been triggered by hearsay, there was a need for a statistical survey with all Elmcroft residents being involved; he also informed Council of other affordable housing developments undertaken in N&SDC and that Norwell was the only Council of a similar size to Oxton, Councillor Laughton said there had been some difficulties in finding local residents for this development which had caused problems. Dr Kilpatrick continued that he did find it confusing that Council is considering Elmcroft as this had previously been rejected; the Chairman responded this was because other sites had been rejected for various reasons and was subject to Council decision.

Mrs. Jacobs suggested that the Oxton Farms Trust letter could be read to suggest that it was looking at the LDF as a means to obtain approval to housing

development in Oxton and this could lead to development outside Councils control.

Mr. Bayliss asked who was pushing for affordable housing N&SDC or the Parish Council; the Chairman responded that a Village Appraisal had highlighted a need followed by a Housing Survey which highlighted a statistically significant need following which Council had agreed to pursue affordable housing all this had received Council approval. Mr. Bayliss suggested residents did not understand the significance of the surveys when they completed them; he said we should be listening to the message sent by the survey and that Council should not be pursuing this policy he said we should stop the process and do an about turn. The Clerk said such a policy change would need to be included as an agenda item and could not be decided at this meeting, Mr. Bayliss agreed to submit an agenda item.

Following further discussion Mrs. Jacobs proposed this item was closed if it is to be discussed at the next meeting, this was agreed.

Councillors Stewart and Laughton left the meeting at this point.

FOOTBALL PITCH:

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The Clerk reported his concerns about mole damage to the football pitch and suggested Council should no longer hire the pitch out for competitive games, also it did not meet Football Association requirements; he noted this proposal would have an impact on the income of the VHMC. Miss Roe said the Cricket Club are having similar problems and everyone should get together to do something. Mr. Johnson said the problem was what to do, poison was banned and the adjoining land was subject to a stewardship scheme. It was agreed to cease letting the pitch.

07.03.5

ELMCROFT PATH:

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The paved path across the green is overgrown, uneven and slippery. The path is on land the responsibility of N&SDC since the agreement leasing the land to Council lapsed and has not yet been renewed. The Clerk suggested that N&SDC are unlikely to carry out any work and that Council would be advised to wait until the agreement is renewed on terms acceptable to the Council before committing itself to any expenditure. This was agreed.

Miss Roe pointed out the public footpath at the back of the green was crumbling, it was agreed the Clerk report this to the Highways Dept.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

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Fencing to Southern Boundary of Village Hall: Miss Roe asked who’s responsibility this was; the Clerk understood it to be the responsibility of adjoining properties but he would confirm this on the deeds,

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Notice Board Damage: It was noted the glazing had been damaged by vandalism, it was agreed the Clerk arranged for re-glazing.

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Bus Stop Timetable –Main Street: It was noted the timetable display board has been damaged; the Clerk is to report this.

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Speedwatch: Miss Roe reported that Speedwatch volunteers had been abused by drivers caught exceeding the speed limit. Dr. Kilpatrick informed the meeting that these incidents were reported to the Police.

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Honeyknab Lane – Manhole: Miss Roe reported a water issue from a manhole which she had reported to Severn Trent.

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Sewerage Pumping Station - Nottingham Road: Miss Roe reported that a large tanker was attending this site regularly; it was reported that this was a temporary measure due to pump failure.

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Annual Footpath Walk: The Chairman reported the walk usually occurred on Rogation Sunday and last year had been organized by Oxton Ramblers. The Chairman agreed to make the necessary arrangements for this years walk.

Meeting closed at 21.20

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