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MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE OXTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 22nd MAY 2007

Meeting commenced at 7.30p.m

Present: Mesdames Cooper, Jones and Jacobs. Messrs. Johnson and Kilpatrick (part). Councillors Stewart (part) and Laughton (part). Clerk Mr. B Machin. One member of the public.

Apologies for absence: Apologies for absence were received from Mr. Bayliss and Councillor Armstrong.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN:

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Mrs. Cooper was elected Chairman and Mrs. Jacobs Vice Chairman both unanimously.

Mrs. Cooper signed the Chairman’s Declaration of acceptance of Office.

Councillors Jones, Jacobs and Johnson signed their Councillors Declaration of Office.

The Chairman welcomed Mrs. Jones to the Council.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 18^TH APRIL 2007:

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The minutes having been circulated prior to the meeting were confirmed and signed as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 18^TH APRIL 2007:

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Nottinghamshire Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan: It was agreed to await the arrival of Dr. Kilpatrick.

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Recreation Facilities: The Clerk has asked Ulyetts to carry out the rolling following the recent rain.

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Invest to Save Transport Voucher Scheme: The Clerk has indicated Councils interest and is awaiting further details.

COMMUNICATIONS:

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Lottery Funding: The Clerk reported a letter from the Dept. for Culture, Media and Sport responding to Councils letter of March regarding the diversion of lottery cash from local initiatives to the London Olympics. I t was agreed the Clerk circulate the letter.

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Notts. Community Bus Forum: The Chairman may attend this meeting on 8^th June.

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Policing for You: The document received from the Police Authority outlines a series of commitments by the Force to the public. The Authority also offered to attend a meeting of the Council to talk about the proposals. The document was noted and the Clerk was asked to circulate it.

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NALC Newark Area Committee: NALC has invited any Councillor to its next meeting on 6^th June at which the Chief Constable will be the guest speaker.

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Building Better Communities: Notts. County Council has approved the bids for an additional bus shelter, additional street lighting on Forest Road and the change of priorities on Southwell Road for implementation in 2007/08.

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Notts. RCC – AGM: The AGM on 31^st October was noted.

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NALC Quality Parish Council Questionnaire: The Clerk was asked to complete the questionnaire on behalf of the Council on the basis that Council see no advantage in accreditation and would be precluded from participation as the Council elections tend to undersubscribed and therefore uncontested as required of a Quality Council.

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Certificate in Local Council Administration: Council noted that a further course is to be run between July and September, there are no candidates.

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New Councillor Training: NALC is providing training during in July, Mrs. Jones to inform Clerk if she can attend. It was noted the co-opted Councillor may wish to attend.

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Lay – by B6386 Nottingham Road: Gedling BC confirm it has cleared the litter from the lay – by and is investigating who owns adjoining land which has been affected by fly-tipping.

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Local Authorities Model Code of Conduct (Revised).The Clerk informed Council of the revised code which will be discussed at a future meeting, it was agreed the Clerk circulate the details in the meantime. The Clerk reported he expected N&SDC to provide training.

HIGHWAYS:

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Oxton Hill: Mrs. Jacobs reported that the road required sweeping; the Clerk to arrange.

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Southwell Road: Mrs. Jacobs reported that the road shoulders are breaking up on the level stretch at the top of Oxton Hill and adjacent to the Blind Lane junction; the Clerk to report.

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Oxton By-pass:  Mr. Johnson reported that two signs are missing on the central verge adjacent the Forest Road junction.

Councillors Laughton and Stewart arrived at this point.

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Oxton By-pass/ Oakes Lane Junction: Mr. Stewart said improvements to this junction are still pending.

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Rubble to HWRC: Councillor Stewart reported that following a conversation with the Clerk, who had been refused permission to unload a small trailer of debris at Calverton HWRC and was concerned about the impact such a policy would have on fly tipping around Oxton, that the County Council policy was to limit trade waste, e.g. white vans and large trailers, unfortunately this policy overlooked private individuals with a small trailer who could not tip the contents but could tip the same contents if they were brought to site inside a car. He said that a system to provide permits to private individuals with trailers was being devised to overcome the problem.

PLANNING:

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2 Manor Close 1.4m Brick Wall and Gates; N&SDC has approved this proposal.

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High Trees Main Street – Conservatory: This application which was circulated between meetings has been accepted without comment.

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Old Police House – Fencing: This application which was circulated between meetings has been accepted provided the proposal did not affect the existing mature hedge.

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Green Dragon – Replacement Conservatory: Council accepted this proposal without comment.

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Redbrook water Lane – Extensions: Council accepted this proposal without comment.

Councillors Laughton & Stewart left at this point.

FINANCIAL MATTERS:

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Invoices and Payments: The following were approved for payment:

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

£5713.78 with £313.68 of outstanding cheques for payment with receipts of

£3929.82 and payments of £672.32 and a balance of £8414.92 in the sinking fund.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:

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Monthly Report: Mrs. Jacobs reported that she had been unable to undertake the inspection as yet.

The Clerk reported that he had met with the ROSPA inspector who was broadly happy with Councils policy of necessary maintenance pending redevelopment of the site; the items to be highlighted in ROSPA’s report would be low priority.

Dr. Kilpatrick arrived at this point.

CO-OPTION TO COUNCIL VACANCY:

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Council considered the letters of application for the vacancy from Miss LA Turner, Mr. D Wilkes and Mr. M Andrews. After discussion and on a single vote Mr. D Wilkes was co-opted with three votes out of five.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 18^TH APRIL 2006 (continued).

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Nottinghamshire Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan: Dr. Kilpatrick informed Council that he and Miss Turner had completed and returned the questionnaire. He said he was impressed at the depth of the questions raised and the proposals contained therein e.g.

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preventing 4*4 use of bridleways. He said any footpaths not already indicated on the

Definitive Plan must be identified by 2026 or would be lost forever.

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Annual Footpaths Walk: The Chairman reported that the walks had been well supported and the comments on the condition of the footpaths had all been returned. The Clerk was asked to report the items identified as needing attention.

DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:

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The following dates were agreed:

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

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Web Site: The Clerk reported that the Notice Board had been inhabited by several doubtful links; as there had only ever been two genuine messages left on the board in several years he had reluctantly withdrawn the board.

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