MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APPLETON WITH EATON PARISH COUNCIL

Held on Monday 6th December 2010 in the Village Hall at 7.15pm

PRESENT: Mrs Claire Salmon (Chairman), Mrs Sue Hine, Mrs Liz Gilkes, Mr Keith Stammers, Mr Phil Neale and Mr Andy White.

Also Present: Mrs Pam Feast, Mrs Tian Davidson (Clerk), Mr John Woodford (District Councillor) and later, Mr Anthony Gearing (Oxfordshire County Councillor)

10/152 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Mrs Sara Murray (due to bad weather – travel delays) and Mr Alan Feast.

10/153 PUBLIC SESSION: Mrs Pam Feast, Churchwarden Appleton PCC, reported to the Council on the costs of the up-keep of the churchyard and reminding us that all members of the parish are entitled to be buried in the churchyard and that it be seen as a village asset. Mrs Feast requested that the Council continue to support the grass cutting for the forth coming year, thanking the council for its support over previous years. This request was also supported by a letter from Mr Peter Day, Churchwarden. Mrs Salmon mentioned that when Council reviews their tendering process for grass cutting, once the play area is built, it might be possible for the Council and PCC to approach contractors together for competitive quotes.

Mrs Hine reported on the progress of Playground project and Council was pleased that consultation day has been set for 29th January 2011 and hoped that Mrs Salmon would be present. The Playground committee has to get planning application and they have selected their preferred landscape designer.

Since the agenda had been published correspondence had been received by the Council from our Solicitors Hodsons; requesting payment of £500 plus VAT to be made available to A.H. Cornish’s Solicitors to enable them to proceed with lease preparations. Due to the need for this to take place quickly the council resolved to pay the fee as requested.

Cllr. Woodford mentioned that the noticeboard on the Great Green has to be less than 1.2m squared and no higher than 2m. Cllr. Woodford asked if we had heard anything from Mr Paul Yaxley concerning building works at the river and it was agreed that Mr White would progress this further. Mr Woodford mentioned that there may be money available for grants at beginning April 2011 for capital expenditure which may be relevant to Besselsleigh Wood group and the Playground committee (e.g. adult fitness equipment) and the person to contact is Judy Roberts (District Councillor).

10/154 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 1st November 2010: The minutes of the November meeting were agreed to be a true record except for one amendment relating to Mrs Hine leaving the planning application meeting of the 8th October and signed as such by Mrs Salmon (Chairman).

10/155 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE 1st NOVEMBER MEETING:

1. Signs – All signs were done except for one, regarding the position of pedestrian sign going from A420 to Oaksmere was misleading and needed to be rectified.
2. War memorial – Council has to look at the plaque before the decision can be made regarding re-positioning.
3. Flooding issues – Details of key holders would be made available on website and noticeboards.
4. Village Pond – Nick Hester has started preparatory work.
5. Public Transport – Critical reviews would be taking place in April 2011. The Clerk would insert a message in Advertiser to encourage residents to use the bus services.
6. Northmoor Weir – Council congratulated the work of WAG on the progress they had since April. Mrs Salmon advised that pending possible changes regarding the management of The Thames which were to be discussed early next year, the earliest any work to replace the weir could commence would be April 2012.WAG will continue to monitor the situation. Winter work to replace posts in the lock is continuing.
7. Great Green – Mrs Salmon met with Mr and Mrs Martin who were happy with the works being carried out at the Great Green. However they requested that the proposed seat be placed further away from their property – after discussion the council agreed to this request, it was also felt by the council that the seat would be safer positioned further away from the road. Mrs Salmon also advised that Mr and Mrs Martin wanted to have the height reduced of the hedge/trees on the joint boundary and would pay for associated works to be done. Clerk would arrange a quote to remove the Cypress trees with the other tree works (in the spring).
8. Loan for Tennis Pavilion – The Council discussed the initial response from Cliff Lambert and decided to make further enquiries from Mrs Jan Gossett, OALC. It was delegated to Mrs Salmon and Mrs Davidson to reply and restate our position that the loan was for Council to pay costs of building the Pavilion and that the Tennis Club is a subcommittee of the Parish Council and therefore not a third party.
9. Leisure and Recreation Committee – minutes of 8th November meeting were received. It was agreed that this committee would meet 3 times a year with representations from Sportsfield, Tennis Club and Playground Committees.
10. Fidelity Guarantee – The Clerk reported that Council has cover for £9k but would get quotes to extend cover to £15k and £20k.
11. New web page for volunteers – Mrs Gilkes reported the progress made and illustrated how it was going to work. Mr G Rose has conducted a trial run and Council would like it to go ahead ASAP in 2011. 

10/156 PUBLIC SESSION CONTINUED: Cllr. Gearing reported the following:

1. OCC proposed to close 23 libraries (Botley is on the proposed closure list) with increased hours of opening in hubs (Oxford and Abingdon) and mobile libraries. There will be a consultation in Feb/March for e-books;
2. Youth services – Eynsham will be potentially be affected but Oxford and Abingdon will remain as Hubs;
3. Broadband – Race for infinity by BT update;
4. Adult services are being reorganised into one place for the Vale of White Horse;
5. Weather – with cold weather, priority routes will be preserved but he was going to come back to Council on the priority routes, provision of additional grit boxes and their possible costs and whether farmers are allowed to use their tractors to plough away snow.

Mr White left the meeting (due to an emergency at work).

10/157 BUDGET FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2012 – The Clerk presented the draft budget for approval. The following items were budgeted: Insurance for the Tennis Pavilion (to value of £20,000 to replace); Insurance for the Playground; Sportsfield £600, Parish Council Election fees of £1,000 estimated; donations to other local groups to be considered: Village Hall £1,000, and Church £600. The Clerk emphasised the need for the Playground Committee to fundraise each year to meet some of the running costs of the playground and to be engaged in the management of the playground. The budget would be increased to cover the costs of two grit boxes. Council approved the increase of parish precepts by £1,500 to £15,455 for year 2011-2012.

10/158 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

(b) New applications:

(i) APT/6276/2 10/02044/FUL Erection of a two storey side e extension and rear conservatory 5-7 Badswell Lane, Appleton, Oxon, OX13 5JN Response of Council: No objections.

10/159 LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 3: Council agreed to the LTP3 objectives and responded to schemes VWH8 – Tubney wood/Appleton bus lay-by with cycling parking – approved the scheme; West Oxfordshire – Bablock Hythe – cycle and pedestrian bridge across the Thames – objected to the scheme on the grounds of safety issues with cars going down the lane and that no feasibility studies were carried out to consider the use of Rainbow or Skinner’s bridges.

10/160 CONSULTATION ON CONCESSIONARY BUS FARES: Council agreed with OCC on starting travel at 9am; free travel for companion assisting disabled users; no alternatives to concessionary bus pass to use a senior rail card or national travel tokens. Council disagreed with OCC on its plans for dial-a-Ride and Community Transport services and would want bus pass to be eligible for use on dial–a-ride or door-to-door, as they offer an invaluable service to disabled users.

10/161 TREE WORKS: The Clerk would contact Mr Richard Upton to look at trees at War Memorial, Tennis Club, Village Hall and Great Green, and provide a quote for consideration at the next meeting.

10/162 OIL BUYING SCHEMES: The Council had been advised by Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) of their intention to set up ORCC Trading Ltd.; a pilot scheme has been running for a short while. It would differ from the village oil buying groups already in place, in that those wishing to join would pay £20 per year membership. It would require an area co-ordinator to contact members once a month, to check requirements. Mrs Salmon has been in contact with ORCC concerning the scheme and after discussion the Council has decided to wait until early next year to see how the scheme progresses. A volunteer could be sought via the new volunteering page on the website.

10/163 SLIPWAY AT EATON/BABLOCK HYTHE: Mr White was not available for discussion and this item will be considered next month.

10/164 ACCOUNTS: Payments authorised:

1. 276 Aon Ltd – Insurance premium to 30.5.11 for Tennis Pavilion £238.73
2. 277 Appleton PCC – Mrs W Todd waived her internal audit fee £120.00
3. 278 Mrs J Dymock – caretaker’s salaries and expenses to 25th October £422.81
4. 279 Mrs T Davidson – November salary (net), expenses £225.47
5. 280 Yew tree Contractors Ltd – Grass cutting-playing field -17/9; 21/10 £234.41
6. 281 B.C. Contracts–Cut Appleton Landing and Doctors Lane (inv2010-14) £111.57
7. 282 Medical Solutions Consultancy Ltd, reimb. purchase of Acer computer £535.96
8. 283 Pittaway Fencing Ltd – supply, install fencing to new Tennis pavilion £2,062.13
9. 284 Hodsons solicitors – legal fees for playground (re Darbys’ fees) £587.50

10/165 LETTERS AND PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED: They were circulated to Councillors.

1. South & Vale Carers Centre – request for funding – none available;
2. Health News – registering for Talking Health –Clerk has registered; to consider in future;
3. Sustainable Community Act proposal – email, the Clerk to ask Mrs Rosie Page to consider as community project;
4. Broken stiles – OCC –re Oaksmere paddock – an email received from Mark Sumner;
5. Letter from Mr Peter Day, Church Warden of APCC requesting grant of £600 towards maintenance of churchyard – agreed to consider possibility of joint grass cutting.

10/166 MATTERS TO REPORT WITHOUT DECISIONS OR ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA. The items raised and related to:

1. Doctor’s surgery – access and availability to residents;
2. Appleton Trust –The Council to nominate a Trustee to replace Mr Peter Carter;
3. Besselsleigh Wood Group – AGM report

10/167 DATE OF NEXT MEETING: To confirm that the next meeting of the Parish Council is to be held on Monday 10 January 2011 at 7.15pm, in the Village Hall.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.15pm

Signed by Chairman: Claire Salmon Dated: 10th January 2011