Parish Council Meeting

WENDLEBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 8 October 2008 in the Village Hall

At 8.00pm the Parish Council welcomed WPC Caroline Brown a Community Police Officer. Caroline and her team, which include the Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), are responsible for policing the 54 villages in the area. PCSO’s are able to issue parking and obstruction tickets but have no legal powers. Their targets, both general and specific, are set by Caroline. Caroline sits on the Neighbourhood Action Group which meet every 5-6 weeks to discuss such topics as speeding, road safety and youth behaviour, the group is made up of representatives from various groups. Crime figures for the last year for Wendlebury is 18 – 5 on the A41, 8 on the M40 and 5 directly connected to the village of which 2 were for harassment, 1 for fraud, 1 for criminal damage and 1 break into a camper van.

One member of the public attended for the start of the meeting who raised the question ‘will the Parish Council be asking the village where increased housing can be placed as a positive initiative’ – this will be discussed under item 6c.

Before the start of the meeting proper the chairperson reported the death of Peter Howard, a past member of the Parish Council, killed in a road traffic collision.

1. Apologies for absence were received from Julian Cordy.
2. There were no declarations of interest at this time.
3. The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 9 July 2008 were approved and signed.
4. Statutory business:

a.the following payments were approved – churchyard lighting £20, newsletter £100, audit £58.75, OFPA subs and grant to Village Hall Play Maintenance Fund £250.

5. Matters arising:

a.Flooding and flood plan – a meeting had been held that morning between representatives from various bodies and the Parish Council – a copy of the minutes which will contain details of proposals for action will be circulated to all councillors. As work is progressed councillors will be kept informed. After completion of any works agreed the flood plan will be developed.
b.Meetings attended on behalf of the Parish Council – Anna had attended various meetings of the Weston Front and will update councillors under 5g.
c.Notice board – new doors have been fitted by George Dumbleton and a thank you note had been sent to him by the clerk.
d.Weight restriction – an update from the traffic technician has been received – the order should be in place early November.
e.Road between Garden Centre and Chesterton Overbridge – new signage is now in place at both points steering vehicles onto the A41 rather than through the village. County Councillor Charles Shouler is raising the issue of the highway in between with the appropriate department and will keep us informed on progress.
f.Outdoor fitness equipment for adults – an article to go into the next newsletter asking for comments and intentions of use before any further action is taken.
g.Proposed new town – the meeting between the developers and the Parish Council had been postponed – a new date of 25 November, when councillors would be available, to be forwarded to the developers. Anna gave an update on what is happening with the Weston Front.

6. Reports:

a. County Council – opposing the proposed new town, the county council do not believe it can be funded. The SE plan confirms that 55,000 homes to be built in Oxfordshire to 2026 – a higher rate of build than anticipated, of which 4900 to be built in Bicester (this included SW option and Gavray Drive). School results show that Cooper School is making continual progress but not the Community College – this was disputed by Jackie. Rectory Close pathway will not be going ahead this financial year but is in the programme for 2009-2010. The County Council has now taken over the management of the 3 City Park and Ride sites and all sites are now free parking – Kathy raised the issue of her being unable to park a campervan because of height restrictions.
b. District Council – also opposing the new town and will fund a Judicial Review if appropriate. Recent LDF consultation contains 2 choices for Bicester that the Parish Council may wish to comment on. The LDF proposes making Wendlebury a Type B village which the Parish Council may wish to object to. The development of Bicester Town Centre has reached an impasse due to the current economic climate. The plans to operate an incinerator at the Ardley Site will be for the County Council to decide.
c.Planning – the council endorsed the following responses to planning applications – Brookside, Countryside properties – approval of Code of Conduct, Elm Tree Farm, Sports Ground in Chesterton, retrospective for College Farm and Farriers Mead. The clerk also reported that following the council’s letter in respect of OS 2000 Land NE Rectory Close a reply had been received updating the council on progress of the enforcement action. Details of e-consultation for planning applications were discussed – when received they will be disseminated by the clerk, councillors will be expected to respond with 7 days and a response then sent. No decision was made in answer to the question posed by the member of public – not all councillors had read the document at this time – a decision will be made after all their views have been received.

7. Other matters:

a.Donation requests for organisations outside the village – the council re-iterated its policy not to make donations – the clerk will send a standard letter to each request.
b.Proposed incinerator at Ardley – this is a complex item – there are many various views on which type is better forthe environment and health – with no report giving a definitive answer – the council decided it was unable to make a decision for or against.
c.Willow trees, Main Street – these had been cut down to below the power cables by the power company – ownership and responsibility for those parts overgrowing the roadway was a ‘grey area’ – it is hoped that clarification on whose responsibility it is will be available shortly.
d.Parish Plan – this had been carried out some time ago and it was felt that the council did not need to carry out another one at this time.
e.Distribution folders and their contents – the clerk will endeavour to ‘weed out’ the catalogues etc that councillors felt they did not need to see.
f.Village fete – supported in principal by the council – to be discussed in more depth at the next meeting.

8.Dates for 2009 meetings – all to be held in the Village Hall starting at 8.00pm.

14 January 2009 – Parish Council meeting (to set budget)
22 April 2009 – Annual Parish Council meeting
13 May – Annual Parish meeting
1 July – Parish Council meeting
14 October – Parish Council meeting

Chairman………………………………… date……………………………….

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