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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE OXTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 28^TH JUNE 2007

Meeting commenced at 7.30p.m

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Present: Mesdames Cooper and Jones. Messrs. Johnson, Wilkes and Kilpatrick. Clerk Mr. B Machin.  County Councillor Stewart. Eleven members of the public.

Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Mrs. Jacobs and Mr. Bayliss.

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The Chairman welcomed Mr. Wilkes to the Council.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22ND MAY 2007:

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

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 22ND MAY 2007:

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NALC Newark Area Committee: The Chairman reported she had attended the meeting; the Chief Constable spoke about limited budgets and his proposals for rural policing which would be based on Beat Managers.

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New Councillor Training: The Clerk reported that he had included Mr. Wilkes on the training at an extra cost of £15; the Clerks actions were approved.

COMMUNICATIONS:

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NALC AGM: The Chairman and Mr. Wilkes were nominated as voting delegates for the meeting on 29^th October.

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Groundswell: A letter from BBC Radio Nottingham informing Council of their Groundswell programme and it objectives was noted.

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Oakmere Golf Club: A revision to the licence submitted to N&SDC for change of licensee was noted.

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Flooding: The Clerk reported on a copy of an email received from Mr. S Crudgington that had been sent to N&SDC and Paddy Tipping MP and referred to the maintenance of the flood diversion channel and the stream on Water Lane.

The Chairman proposed that Council should consider the whole issue of the recent floods at this point, this was agreed.

Flooding caused by inadequacies or lack of maintenance of the flood diversionary works and village watercourses and road drains had flooded roads, fields and properties on Main Street, Water Lane, Nottingham Road, Sandy Lane, New Road and Honeyknab Lane.

Councillor Stewart said the conditions prevailing that caused the flooding were unprecedented and were in some respects due to lack of maintenance by the County and District Councils, landowners and farmers. He said that when the emergency is over the County Council intended convening a conference to consider the actions necessary to control any such future event. He pointed out that restrictions on

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mowing placed on farmers by legislation and the collapse of road verge water courses; caused by vehicles parking on verges; which caused surface water to spill onto roads and lack of road gully maintenance all contributed to making the situation worse, the roads acting as a quick drain to transfer water to low lying areas. He suggested that Council needs to summarise the flooding caused in the village together with Councils views on the cause and remedial action needed and send this to the County Council.

The Chairman suggested that a site meeting would be more appropriate and should also look at the gully under Fallows Lane.

Dr. Kilpatrick said he had a copy of a survey carried out by Mr. Borrett of Water Lane of with photos showing the extent of the flooding and the problem areas; it was agreed Dr. Kilpatrick would circulate this document.

Dr. Kilpatrick said he had requested sand bags and these had taken three days to arrive these had been dropped off at strategic points.

The Chairman said that Main Street had also been badly affected by water coming up the road drains, also that most of the water was coming from the lake and the sluice was unable to direct the water along the flood channel therefore the water was going round the sluice and down water Lane, Mr. Johnson said that the culvert under Sandy Lane could not cope with the flow, including that coming from Southwell Road and water was backing up along the Sandy Lane channel. Mrs. Jones asked if the sluices are adjusted to divert water at times of high flows, Mr. Johnson said the sluices were fixed to control the amount of water flowing down Water Lane, in normal circumstances this arrangement works.

The Chairman agreed to take comments and questions from the public at the end of the meeting.

HIGHWAYS:

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Bus Stop Main Street: The Chairman has received a request for a bus stop on the lamp post near the Olde Bridge Inne this seems to be causing a problem for some bus users; Councillor Stewart agreed to pursue.

PLANNING:

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Lilac Barn Farm Water Lane – Tree Works: N&SDC has agreed to the felling of one ash tree.

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Green Dragon – Proposed Conservatory: This application has been withdrawn.

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Planning Approvals: N&SDC has approved the following:

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4 The Orchards – Extension and Conservatory: The Clerk reported that this application which had been circulated between meetings had received no comments or objections.

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FINANCIAL MATTERS:

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Invoices and Payments: The following were approved for payment:

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The Clerk was asked to query the invoice from N&SDC for election expenses which at £159.57 are on the face of it excessive.

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Financial Report for May: The Clerk reported a current account balance of £3908.56 with outstanding cheques for payment of £1825.75; receipts of £3.57 and payments of £1808.79 and a balance of £8414.92 in the sinking fund.

Messrs. Johnson and Kilpatrick confirmed that the Clerks figures reconciled with the bank statements.

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Internal Auditors Report & Annual Audit Return:

The internal auditor has raised several minor items as follows:

The above actions were agreed.

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Annual Return to Auditor: The Annual Return was agreed and signed off.

RECREATION FACILITIES;

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Monthly Report: As Mrs. Jacobs was not in attendance there was no report.

The Clerk reported he had received the ROSPA annual report which contained only low priority items; he intends to bring the report to the next meeting.

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MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING:

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Speed Limits: Councillor Stewart informed Council that currently Notts.CC. is giving priority to villages without speed limits; if Council wish to review speed limits it should write to the Highways Dept. with its suggestions, in response to a question he said it was unlikely any reductions to 20mph would be considered. It was agreed to include this item on the August agenda.

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Water Lane Stream – Maintenance: The Clerk confirmed what he had said at the meeting that maintenance was the responsibility of riparian owners; Council are to take no further action.

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Post Office – What Action is Council to Take: It was agreed that the action taken to date was adequate, any petition should be the responsibility of the proprietor. Further consideration would be given to the matter when a decision on the future of the Post Office is made.

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Affordable Housing – Communications: The Clerk was concerned that residents were unaware of the full facts because of a gap between the jottings (which don’t attempt to give other than an overview) in the Dover Beck and the complete minutes on the web site, he suggested a copy of the minutes, after approval, be posted on the notice board. The Chairman thought there was a lack of space and it was agreed to take no action.

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CCTV at litter Hot Spots: The Chairman suggested it would be a good idea to use CCTV on litter hot spots; the Clerk was asked to find out if N&SDC has mobile units for this purpose.

MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT:

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It was agreed to hold this item over to the next meeting.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS?

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Recycling Facility: Mrs. Jones said she had reported the bottle bank full and had been required to give full name & address etc which she considered unnecessary, the Clerk said he had a similar situation every time he reported litter – simply saying Oxton Clerk was insufficient; the Clerk is to ask for a more customer friendly system.

The meeting closed @20.30

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