Minutes of a meeting of Standlake Parish Council, held in the Standlake Youth Club, on 10th January 2017 at 7.00pm.
Present:
Mr. J Rippin
Mrs. B Smith
Mr. N. Owens
Mr. J. Hunt
Cllr (OCC) Mr. C. Mathew, Cllr (WODC) Mrs. H. Fenton, Mr. S. Ellis
1. APOLOGIES – were received from Mrs. J. Clements, Mr. P. Willis.
2. PUBLIC ITEMS –Mr. Ellis said he was present to hear the discussion on the 29A High St. planning application and also to report an injury to his wife while using the public Right of Way by the fishing lakes – see Footpaths below.
3. COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS – Mrs. Fenton said that the revised Local Plan has been in consultation and will now go back to the inspector. Councillors expressed their concern at the length of time this process was taking as it made the district vulnerable to developers using the argument that WODC has not demonstrated a sufficient land bank for housing. There was some discussion as to whether the government’s recently announced ‘Garden Villages’ project would be included in required housing figures: neither councillor could confirm nor deny this.
Mr. Mathew said the OCC consultation on the A40 traffic management scheme closed on Thursday 12th January and it was imperative that the views of all be heard. It was agreed that the scheme as put forward was so flawed as to be useless in alleviating the current congestion let alone the future traffic generated by the proposed house building plans in West Oxfordshire. Mr. Naylor will draft a PC response and pass it around the councillors in time to meet the deadline.
4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Mr. Naylor, Mr. Hunt and Mr. Owens declared an interest (not pecuniary) as members of the Lower Windrush Tennis Club
5. PLANNING
16/04194/HHD; Erection of first storey extension and ground floor alterations; 29A High Street. Object: same objections as previous app - overdevelopment, light and overlook adjacent property, parking.
6. MINUTES - Minutes of the Meeting held on 20th December 2016, copies of which had been previously circulated to all members, were agreed as a true record and signed by the chairman.
7. MATTERS ARISING
Traffic/Speeding Community Speedwatch – Mr. Naylor reported that another check was carried out today (10th January) on the Abingdon Rd. During the session 28 vehicles were checked and there were no speed limit violations but it was noticed that some vehicles slowed down when sighting the SID.
Playground/Recreation Ground & Maintenance – Mr. Owens noted some non-urgent maintenance required and, in the light of the overspend on maintenance this year, it was decided that this would be deferred until the beginning of the coming financial year. It was also decided that the main notice board in the playground should be replaced.
LWTC Club House- Following last month’s discussions the matter was again discussed at some length. Mrs. Smith and Mr. Rippin, supported by Mr. Naylor, argued that the building should not take up any more of the open space on the recreation ground and, in particular, must not encroach in any significant manner on the children’s playground.
Mr. Hunt, seconded by Mr. Owens proposed: that the club house be built on ‘dead’ land at the north corner of court 1 and the minor alignment of the picket fence around the playground and making good the boundary be carried out by the club; furthermore, LWTC will make court 3, with nets in place, open to the public at all times. This was passed with a vote of four in favour, with Mr. Rippin voting against.
Footpaths – Mr. Ellis said his wife hadv fallen and injured herself quite badly on the second bridge on footpath 4 near the fishing lakes. He asked if action could be taken to either have the obstruction removed or highlighted. The clerk will contact the paths warden to examine the site and contact OCC Rights of Way office.
Flooding/Sewers/Winter – nothing further to report
Roads, Newbridge –. nothing further to report
Busses, Bus Stops –. nothing further to report
Highway Maintenance - nothing further to report.
8. CORRESPONDENCE – an email has been received from Spitfire Homes Ltd. informing the council of their intention to apply for permission to build 50 dwellings on ‘land to the South of Abingdon Road’; in fact this site is the Malthouse Farm land bounded by Lancot Lane and the Abingdon Road. The company request a meeting with the council to discuss the proposal and it was agreed that they should be invited to the February meeting.
The Standlake WI has asked for the council’s opinion on the placing of a floral planter either by the notice board/bench or opposite the Post Office. The council welcome any initiative to brighten up the village and the clerk will reply offering the council’s encouragement.
9. ACCOUNTS
For payment:
C R Naylor – chairman’s expenses 128.15
Cottsway Housing – Wway ground rent 2016/.17 10.00
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS – The clerk asked that the March meeting be put back to Tuesday 21st March because of his absence on 14th; this was agreed. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.10pm.
...................................................................................... Chairman .................................................................... Date