of the meeting of the Oxton Parish Council

held on Thursday 20 September 2001.

Meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Messrs. Bayliss and Colston. Mesdames Cooper, Jacobs, Bennett and Roe. District Councillor B Laughton. Clerk Mr. B Machin. Two members of the public.

Apologies for absence. Mr Maclaren who had given his apologies for absence, due to holidays, at the last meeting, Mr. Stuart who is in hospital and Mrs. Armstrong.

The meeting commenced at 19.30.

Minutes of the meetings held on 18 July 2001:  

Reference Dog Friendly Stiles (676): 
Mrs. Jacobs pointed out that she had not agreed to identify stiles for modification, no-one else had agreed to do it. Otherwise the minutes, having been circulated prior to the meeting, were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Matters arising from the Minutes 18 July 2001:

Recycling facilities: 
It was noted that the bins had not been removed nor had the landlady of the Bridge Inne been contacted by N&SDC. It was agreed the Clerk and Councillor Laughton would chase progress.

Dover Beck low flow alleviation scheme:  
Mrs. Cooper drew Councils attention to the Environment Agencies ‘Lower Trent and Erewash First Annual Review April 2001’. This contained an action update to ‘Monitor the flows through Middle Bogs and Thorndale Plantation as during 1999/2000 there appears to have been continuous flow through this site’. It was noted that Oxton Estate had contacted the Agency about swamping of Thorndales plantation.

It was agreed the Clerk determine the current position from the Agency.

Blind Lane resurfacing:
The Clerk reported he had yet to action this item. The clerk was also asked to chase the blocked drain on Blind Lane and pot holes on Honeyknab lane.

Village sign:  
Mr Bayliss reported he had not yet contacted Mr. Doughty.

Communications:

Foot and Mouth:  
Notts. CC has reported that all footpath restrictions were removed on the 27^th July 2001, and thanked the Council for its support during the outbreak.

Police Authority consultation with Parish councils:  
Following the Authority’s meeting with the Council on 20^th June 2001, the Council completed a feedback questionnaire indicating it’s appreciation of the meeting and the items discussed and suggesting members of the Authority or the Police Force should attend Annual parish Meetings.

Golden Jubilee – funding information:  
Details of available funding and contacts have been received from N&SDC, these were passed to the Jubilee Committee.

The Mary Elizabeth Siebel Charity:  
The Charity has informed the Council that it is able to assist elderly people to remain in their own homes if they live in a 12 mile radius of Newark. The Clerk reported that he had further details and application forms and that information was on the notice board and in the next issue of the Dover Beck.

Mr. F G Leafe – accident at Beanford Splash Footbridge.
Mr Leafe had requested access to the minutes and correspondence of the Council concerning the footbridge. The Clerk reported that not being a Parishioner access to this information was at the Councils discretion and that a charge could be levied, as confirmed by NALC. It was agreed access to the information should be granted and the Clerk be authorised to make a charge to cover his time and copying costs.

Notts RCC AGM:  
The AGM on the 26^th September was noted.

Parish Review:
N&SDC has recommenced the review which was suspended earlier in the year and had asked Council to confirm its earlier comments. The Clerk referred to minute 553 of 9^th February 1999 where the Council offered no comment. It was agreed the Council confirm its earlier decision.

NALC training seminar – ‘Managing a Project’:  
The seminar on the 24^th October was noted.

Planning:

29 Elmcroft- two storey extension:  
Full planning permission has been granted.

The Spinney Oxton Hill – two storey front extension:  
Full planning permission has been granted.

Moorfield Farm Ollerton Road – change of use of agricultural building:  
Full planning permission has been granted expiring on 5^th September 2004.

Old Police House – fire escape from loft conversion: 
The Clerk reported that this application had been circulated between meetings for comment and he had reported back that the Council could not make a decision without further information i.e.·         Does the loft conversion have planning approval?

·         Why is the fire escape required and if so why does it have to be glazed giving a view over neighbours property?

·         Is the loft conversion being used for business purposes?

Subsequently the Clerk had received clarification on the above points from the planners, as follows, and Council are asked to make a decision.

·         Planning permission was granted as a minor amendment to the initial approval.  

·         The escape overlooks the front garden of the adjoining bungalow therefore an obscure glazed escape would not result in a loss of amenity value to that property.

·         Planners have been assured by the owners that the loft will not be used for other than residential purposes.

In view of the above it was agreed to approve the application subject to residential use only of the loft conversion.

Grange Farm – operation of a farm composting scheme:  
The Clerk reported that this application had been circulated between meetings for comment and he had reported back the Councils comments as follows.

·         The scheme needs to be limited to the area indicated.

·         Only verifiable non toxic vegetable waste is allowed for composting.

·         There is a lack of information as to who is to use the facility i.e. only Oxton estates, other farmers, the general public. This could affect the Councils view on the proposal.

Mr Johnson of Oxton Estates informed the meeting that the scheme would accept waste only from tips such as the one at Burntstump.

Highways:

The following were identified and the Clerk requested to notify Notts. CC.

·         Sandy Lane:
Pot hole.

·         Main Street: 
Broken drain at the bottom of the drive to The Old Vicarage.

·         Beanford footbridge: 
Still unsafe and no rectification work carried out.

Financial Matters:

Invoices and payments:
The following were approved for payment.

Parkinson Dis. Soc.
Fares and contribution
£50.30

B Machin
Clerks salary July and August
£206.68

Inland Revenue
PAYE
£86.68

The Clerk reported an invoice from G Baggaley for the repair of the swings which was in excess of the original quote (£1062.40 plus VAT approved 674) at £1179.40 plus VAT the additional cost being additional concrete (£82) and fence repairs (£35). It was agreed to accept the invoice at the additional cost.

Financial report for July and August:
The Clerk reported a current account balance of £3982.92 plus £2296.11 in the sinking fund with receipts of £134.18 and payments of £185.63. It was agreed the Clerk transfer £1062.40 less the £500 contribution from the sinking fund to the current account.

Annual Audit:  
The Clerk reported that he had attended the annual audit and the accounts had been approved with only minor comments, he will report back when written approval is received.

Recreational Facilities:

Monthly report:
The report identified the cradle swing as being out of level, and unsatisfactory repairs to the fence. It was agreed the swing is not designed to be level and that repairs to the fence were carried out by the engineer repairing the swing at Mrs. Jacobs request. It was agreed to confirm Mrs. Jacobs actions and to ask the odd job man to rectify the work.

The Clerk and Mr. Bayliss reported quotations for work agreed at the last meeting as follows.

·         Repairs to junior swings and metal slide – G Baggaley £175 plus VAT.

·         Removal of concrete edging – odd job man £20 to £30 subject to conditions on site.

It was agreed to proceed with the above.

Football pitch:  
The Clerk reported that a note had been left in the Village hall changing rooms asking for the pitch to be brought into a safe condition as at the moment the surface is uneven and dangerous. He had asked Notts. CC, the Councils grounds maintenance contractor, to inspect and give an initial report and budget costing. Their report had highlighted that 70% of the pitch had an uneven surface caused by mole activity and the collapse of their tunnels the problem being somewhat disguised by the grass and that the pitch was not a suitable surface for football. Their recommendation was top dressing and reseeding which would mean the closure of the pitch until the new growth was established at a budget cost of £500, additionally a mole control programme would be needed. A previous enquiry had indicated a mole control programme would cost £1200 in the initial year.

The Clerk reported that it was normal to roll the pitch at the start of the season, but this was ineffective unless the ground was soft. Mr. Johnson of Oxton Estates offered to roll the pitch when the ground was soft enough to be receptive to rolling at a cost of £50 if it was successful.

It was agreed that Oxton estates be asked to roll the pitch at the earliest opportunity. The Clerk to write to the teams using the pitch pointing out that they should inspect the pitch, flattening moles hills and filling holes prior to play and based on this inspection the decision as to whether the pitch was safe for play should be made by them. Also to display a suitable notice in the changing rooms.

Bonfire:
A request from the Village Hall management committee to hold the annual bonfire on the playing field on the 3^rd November was approved the gate to be open from 1^st October.  

Mrs. Jacobs left the meeting at this point.

Trees in Manor House development:

Mr. Bayliss pointed out that following our previous discussions on the tree leaning over Main Street nothing had been done and the development was now nearing completion.  

It was agreed the Clerk contact Mr. Catchpole of N&SDC to determine progress, also to advise on the dead tree at the Southwell end of Blind Lane.

Village Notice Board:

Mr. Bayliss thought the notice board was looking dilapidated and that the Council may like to consider its replacement or renovation to coincide with the Jubilee. It was agreed that Councillors should inspect the notice board prior to the next meeting when a decision could be made.

It was noted that some inappropriate notices had appeared on the board, neither of the keyholders is aware of how. It was agreed the Clerk determine who else had a key or obtain a replacement lock. Only notices of an interest to the local community should be posted and non of an overtly commercial nature.

Village Hall car park:

The Clerk reported that he had received quotations for the repairs. It was agreed the item be held over to the next meeting when the Chairman would be present and after assessing any further damage following removal of the recycling bins.

Dates of future meetings:

It was agreed the next meeting would be Tuesday 23^rd October in the Village Hall. Decision on further dates would be held over to the next meeting when the Chairman would be present.

Any Other Business:

Litter bin from o/s Olde Bridge Inne: 
Mrs. Bennett reported this had been removed and was in her position, it was agreed the Council should consider where it should be resited.

Field gate key:  
It was agreed that the Clerk get more keys cut to be held by some Councillors.

Best Kept Village:  
Mr. Colston reported that the village had been placed second behind Normanton on Soar, the prize was £50.

Main Street:  
Miss Roe reported ivy growing over the stone wall onto the pavement. Mr. Johnson agreed to attend to cutting bit back.

Village Hall AGM:  
The Clerk reported that the AGM would be held on 10^th October, Mrs. Bennett agreed to continue as the Councils representative on the Committee.

Back to Minutes Archive listing