Minutes of a meeting of Standlake Parish Council, held in the Standlake Youth Club, on 15th January 2019 at 7.30pm.

Present:

          Mr. C. Naylor      Chairman

          Mr. J. Rippin       Vice-Chairman

          Mrs. S. Adams

          Mrs. S Garrett

          Mr. B. Parnham

          Mr. S Hoskin

          Mr. D. Bevan   Clerk

 

Mr. C. Mathew (OCC councillor), Mrs. H. Fenton, Mr. S. Good (WODC councillors) Ms. L. Kennery (LWVP), Ms. L. Watson and 5 other members of the public.

1.      APOLOGIES – Mr. S Jones.

2.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – There were no declarations of interest.

3.      LOWER WINDRUSH VALLEY PROJECT (LWVP) - With the agreement of the council the chairman invited Ms. Kennery to speak first.

Ms. Kennery explained the project – promoting diversity, landscape and nature reserves - with emphasis on the Thames path, mosaic trail and nature reserve in the Standlake area. The path/trail has been upgraded and the interpretation boards refreshed partly with funding from Standlake parish council. The project has a steering group which consists of OCC representatives and local community to deliver what communities want and representation by parish councils was desirable and always welcome. Mrs. Garrett volunteered to represent Standlake and was thanked by Ms. Kennery. After further questions Mr. Naylor thanked Ms. Kennery for coming and giving an interesting outline of the project.

4.      PUBLIC ITEMS – Mr. Naylor asked the public for their comments but they indicated they were attending only out of interest except Mrs. Watson who raised the matter of the Post Office and Stores being offered for sale. Mrs. Watson said that the Standlake Post Office and Stores was up for sale with an asking price of £500K and she wanted to explore the possibility of generating enough interest in the village to see if money could be raised in the community to take over the business and run it as a community shop/post office. She has had experience or knowledge of other villages in Oxfordshire that have done this. There was some discussion and the obstacles were pointed out but Mrs. Watson said she would like to try and gauge opinion in the village, probably by means of advertising and a public meeting. It was agreed that the council would support Mrs. Watson’s initiative while bearing in mind the very real obstacles to such a project.

5.      COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS – Mr. Mathew advised that a 2.99% increase in OCC element of the council tax should be expected.  Mrs. Fenton and Mr. Good had nothing of importance to report.

6.      PLANNING – there were no planning applications.

7.      MINUTES - Minutes of the Meeting held on 15th December 2018, copies of which had been previously circulated to all members, were agreed as a true record and signed by the chairman.

8.      MATTERS ARISING

Roads/Traffic/Speeding – still no OCC action on parking lines in the High Street despite the clerk and Mr. Mathew contacting them again.

Recreation Ground – the work on the back to the basketball net, bench and cutting of the hedges at the Windrush Way playground has been completed. Mr. Hoskin suggested that, in the light of the possible high cost of the replacement fence at the Rack End playground, more estimates should be obtained. This was agreed and the clerk will obtain two more estimates.

The Bell – The public exhibition of the proposal was held in the Youth Club on 10th January between 4pm and 7pm and seemed to be well attended. There was no indication from the developers as to when a planning application will be made.

Flooding/Sewers/Winter – the winter grit bins have now been installed at Cow Lane/Standlake Road and at the top of Downs Road.

School Warning Lights – OCC now have our request in hand and expect to carry out the work in February.

Footpaths – see item 12.

9.      CORRESPONDENCE – there was no significant correspondence.

10.   ACCOUNTS – the following accounts were approved for payment.

C R Naylor – chairman’s expenses                                                                                            45.10

Abs Sols – Hornsway clearance                                                                                                65.00

Abs Sols – litter pick car park, recreation ground                                                                    30.00

Abs Sols – repairs p’ground, basketball net, clearance/cutting Windy Way                            380.00

Cottsway – ground rent Windyway playground                                                                         10.00

11.   LWVP - presentation by Lucy Kennery - see item 3

12.   FOOTPATH AT THE GREEN – Mrs. Adams has been approached by a resident with mobility problems regarding the overgrown trees/bushes and footpath contaminated with leaves. It was agreed that the path be cleared and residents advised that trees/hedges over hanging the public footpath were their responsibility. Mrs. Adams said that the resident of 2 Rack End has tried in the past to get advice from WODC regarding the large willow on his property which is the subject of a Tree Preservation Order but with no result and asked if the council could help. The clerk will take this up with Mr. Good.

13.   COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PARKING – Residents have complained about the parking of commercial vehicles in Church End and High Street. The clerk and Mr. Naylor said that, unless the vehicles were causing an obstruction (in which case it is a matter for the police) they were parked legally and had a right to be there.

14.   ANY OTHER BUSINESS – The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 19th February at 7.30pm. There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.35pm.

 

 

....................................................................................... Chairman   .................................................................... Date