Oxton Parish Council - Nottinghamshire

726

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OXTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 23^RD JULY 2002.

Meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Messrs. Maclaren, Bayliss and Colston. Mesdames Cooper, Jacobs and Roe. County Councillor Stewart. Clerk Mr. B Machin. One member of the public

Apologies for absence. Apologies for absence were received from Mrs. Bennett and Councillor Laughton.

MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD 11^TH JUNE 2002:

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

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 11^TH JUNE 2002:

Village Appraisal: Mrs. Cooper reported that herself Mrs. Jacobs and Miss Roe had joined together to draft the appraisal questionnaire based on the NRCC model and would bring this to Council in due course for approval.

Poop scoop bin in Windmill Hill area: Mr. Maclaren reported he had spoken to and reached agreement with Mr. Turner of Hollybush House, Windmill Hill, to site a bin on the property boundary. The Clerk was asked to proceed with the provision of a bin on Windmill hill and Water Lane.

Village sign: The Chairman reported that she had viewed the Woodborough information boards which were very good, however, the boards had been provided by the Historical Society and would require a lot of work. As Oxton has no equivalent she thought it doubtful Council would wish to pursue.

Footpath leaflet: The Chairman thought the leaflet was a good idea worth further consideration.

COMMUNICATIONS:

Race Relations Act: The Clerk reported receipt of ‘The statutory code of practice and non statutory guides for public authorities’ which will need to be considered by Council. The Clerk is to summarise the requirements and bring proposals to a future meeting.

Charitable status of playing field: The Clerk reported a letter from the Charity Commissioners in response to Councils letter of 29^th January 2002 (minute No.701) stating that they consider the Charity to exist being set up between 1955 and1963 by the then Council following an application by the Clerk. Mr. Maclaren said that the Charity created referred to the Village Hall and not the playing field and that the responsibilities under the Charity were those of the Village Hall Management Committee. It was agreed the Clerk search the minutes referring to the above period and then provides Mr. Maclaren with a pack of all the relevant information so that he may draft a response to the Commission.

727

At this point the Chairman changed the order of the meeting to allow Councillor Stewart to attend another meeting.

HIGHWAYS:

Blind Lane: Councillor Stewart reported that he had received confirmation that Blind Lane would be repaired this financial year.

Main Street footpath between Blind Lane and Home Court: The Clerk reported that he had identified this section of footpath with the Highways Dept. as a high priority for remedial action due to it’s poor state of repair and frequent use by elderly residents of the village. Councillor Stewart agreed to seek urgent remedial action.

Footpath near Mill Farm: Miss Roe reported that the footpath where it crosses the Dover Beck and proceeds passed Mill Farm was in very poor condition being overgrown and not signed. The Clerk was asked to report the matter and send Councillor Stewart a copy with location map.

Village shop signs: Miss Roe asked the meeting on behalf of the shopkeeper if ‘brown signs’ could be erected on the by-pass indicating the presence of the shop. Councillor Stewart agreed to make enquiries.

Quiet lanes: The chairman suggested that the Governments scheme to designate certain roads as ‘quiet lanes’ could benefit some roads in the Parish. Councillor Stewart agreed to make enquiries.

Blind Lane – cutting grass verges: Miss Roe pointed out that the verges on Blind Lane had been cut including all the rubbish on the verge and asked if this was worthwhile as it damages wildlife. It was agreed to take no action.

Rag Wort on by-pass: Miss Roe reported the weed near Oxton roundabout. Councillor Stewart agreed to pursue the matter.

Oxton Byway No.11: It was noted that the Modification Order by Notts. CC came into force on 1^st may 2002.

Councillor Stewart left the meeting at this point.

PLANNING:

Planning approvals: Full planning approval has been granted to the following.

Hatfield Lane – Conversion of barn to dwelling.
Eastwood Cottage 6 Church View – Proposed brick garden shed.
Tansley House Main Street- Conversion and extension of exiting garage to form accommodation and erection of new garage.

728

1 Willow Cottages Main Street – Ground floor single storey extension.

Police House Nottingham Road – Single garage and modifications to highway access: No objection was raised to this planning application.

Chapel House Chapel Lane – Attached single garage: After discussion the following objection was put to a vote. ‘That Council objects on the grounds of the impact on the elevation, removal of a window and highway visibility concerns in a conservation area’. The vote was four against the objection and two for. It was agreed to approve the proposal with the above objections given as observations.

Manor House development – Fencing around paddock: Mr Maclaren pointed out that the fencing had not been removed nor had a retrospective planning application been received. It was agreed the Clerk make enquiries as to the latest position.

Mr. Bayliss noted that a wall was being built around the front garden of the Manor House and asked if this needed planning permission and would it affect visibility splays? It was noted that the wall if under two metres high would not require permission and if the wall is set back from the boundary this should not affect visibility.

Trees in conservation area: The following approvals have been granted.

Wyman House Windmill Hill – felling of 3no. conifers.
Wesley Barns Chapel Lane – felling of 1No. Alder and 1No. Silver Birch.

Replacement minerals Local Plan – Deposit draft: The plan was noted without comment.

FINANCIAL MATTERS:

Invoices and payments: The following were approved for payment.

B Machin Clerks salary June £118.57

NALC Publications £2.00

Notts. CC Grass cutting £334.97

Playground Man. Services. Inspection £71.09

Inland Revenue PAYE £100.32

T Leafe Repairs to play area £112.29

Parkinson Dis. Soc. Oxton flyer fares. £65.20

Total £804.44

Financial report for June: The Clerk reported a current account balance of £3655.26 plus £3457.91 in the sinking fund with receipts of £20.80 and payments of £375.65.

Asset Register: The Clerk presented a draft asset register for approval, once agreed asset values would require adding. The queries were answered as follows, otherwise the register was agreed.

729

Ownership of line marker for football pitch – Clerk to confirm with F. Wheatley.
Fences around playing field - confirmed as belonging to both Oxton Estates and The Old Vicarage.
Playing field wooden shelter – to be considered.

Additionally the ownership of the beacon was raised, it was agreed to include this as an item on the next agenda.

Annual Audit: The Clerk reported that the audit had been called for 28^th August and that Council is now required to complete a statement of assurance before submission to the internal and external auditors. Council completed the Statement of assurance. Documents would be submitted to the internal auditor on 25^th July.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:

Monthly inspection report: Mrs. Jacobs presented the report for June which identified a loose bolt on the fireman’s pole, Mr. Bayliss is to ask Tim Leafe to attend to this.

ROSPA annual inspection: Following consideration of the report Council agreed the following actions.

Contact sign on gate – Clerk to organise naming himself and Mrs. Jacobs as contacts.
Repair of gate and entrapment prevention – Mr. Bayliss to arrange with Tim Leafe.
Weed suppression – Clerk to arrange with grass cutters.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS?

Grass cutting: Miss Roe noted that the grass cutters had used weedkiller adjacent to the walls on Main Street contrary to instructions. The Clerk to speak to the grass cutters.

Additional notice board key: It was agreed the Clerk should obtain an additional key to be kept by Mrs. Wheatley. Mr. Bayliss also pointed out the importance of keeping the notice board tidy particularly as this contributed points to the Best Kept village award.

Bench on Windmill Hill: Mr. Maclaren asked that this be included on the next agenda.

Meeting closed at 21.10

Signed Chairman. Date.