Minutes 26.03.08

Milton Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting duly convened and held in the Community Centre, Milton Heights on 26 March, 2008

Present: Cllrs P Dalby (Chair) K Sadler, N. Adderley, R. Fyfe, and R. Liquorish.

In attendance: District Cllr R.Waite, and seven members of the public.

The meeting commenced with the Chair reporting that the clerk had had a baby girl, Zoe and mother and baby were doing well. All were delighted and wished she were at the meeting, particularly Cllr Sadler who was taking the minutes.

08/21.Public Participation

Mr Houseman said that the footpath beside Q Gardens needs to have the shrubs cut back.

Action: to write to Mr Napper at Q Gardens.

Mr Midwinter thanked the Parish Council for the voucher he received.

Mr Strange was unable to attend, but provided Cllr Adderley with some matters to raise:

- The Christmas vouchers have not been delivered.

- The cemetery hedge: Mr Strange said he had had no response from Cllr Sadler.

- The gate is locked on Footpath 10.

- There is a problem with the bushes overhanging the path/road in Backhill Lane.

- Mr Strange wanted to know who was to have the grass cutting contract for the year.

Action: to write to the footpath officer regarding Footpath 10.

Mr Woodgett spoke about the proposed allotments and the cemetery car park. He raised some helpful points:

• 12 years ago thee was something of a problem with the supply of water that left a bill of £1,000 to be paid. Mr Woodgett understood that the church paid approx. £900 of this and the parish £100.
• The water supply was cut off at that time.
• The area to the side of the hedge is rather a mess at present, and Mr Woodgett, as the Church warden asked how the Council was going to meet its responsibility for the land that it owned.
• Mr Woodgett explained that as the Churchwarden, he had taken responsibility for arranging to ensure that the allotments were developed. He reported that there was a very keen group of parishioners who wished to have an allotment. He was arranging for the land to be rotivated.
• Mr Woodgett asked if the Charity would be willing, at the meeting following the Council meeting, to offer a grant of up to £1,000. He explained that this was required to ensure that a water supply could be provided for the allotment holders and also to make the area attractive.

Action: to consider the request for a charitable grant at the meeting following the Council meeting.

08/22. Reports from County and District Councillors

District Cllr Waite’s report is held on file. He raised a number of matters including:

• The Environment Agency have promised to respond to the flooding in the village, but so far have not done so.
• Cllr Waite encouraged parishioners to use the local post office as Ardington and Upton are currently under threat of closure.
• The Power Station has some funds available to grant to parish councils (it is understood that a total of £10K is available).

08/23. Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from the Clerk, Cllr S Jennings, I von Wendon and District Cllr T Fraser.

08/24. Minutes of the Council’s meeting held on 28^th November 2007

Cllr Liquorish raised a number of organisation and procedural points regarding the preparation of minutes. He said that a list of correspondence should be attached to the minutes. The minutes were agreed as a reflection of the meeting and were signed as such by the Chair.

08/25. Matters Arising

a) Community Centre Access. It was reported that the Clerk ahs written to the school regarding access. Cllr Liquorish raised the issue of costs of the hall. He also said that point 8.4 of the agreement said that there should be an annual report about the Community Centre from the head of the school. 

Action: The Chair to check the agreement and contact the school.

b) Playground areas. The Chair agreed to fix the fallen tree.

c) Cemetery fence. This has been fixed.

d) Bus Shelter. The Chair is actioning this matter.

e) Land at Milton Heights. Cllor Liquourish said that he had expected a response to his request noted at the last meeting. (i.e. a copy of the letter).

f) Moor Ditch. The Chair confirmed the report that Moor Ditch has now been deemed a river course thus providing clarity to the responsibility for it. Cllr Fyfe pointed out that they do have teams to manage rivers.

08/26Planning and Development Matters

a) Applications received from the District Council for consultation and considered by the Planning Committee.

b) Decision(s) of Local Planning Authority

08/27 Financial and Administrative Matters

The following accounts for payment were approved

Revenue and Customs – PAYE & NI  £51.53

P. Browning – Litter Picking March   £34.48

S. Devitt – Litter Picking March   £40.86

 L.Dalby – Clerks Salary & Expenses March   £588.79

VenturPlay – safety inspection - February  £65.80

P.Browning – Rubbish sacks  £15.00

CPRE – Subscription  £28.00

Mrs P. Sadler – OAPs Christmas Vouchers  £525.00

08/28 Correspondence received

Cllr Fyfe has read all the correspondence received and pointed out a few items of interest. A list is held on file. Cllr Fyfe also raised some salient issues particularly the issue of Policy for Trees from the Vale. He suggested that the major issue of dead wood was not dealt with in this policy. Cllr Fyfe was thanked by all for completing the list.

08/29 Grass Cutting

It was proposed, and agreed that we should continue to employ Evergreen for a further year. Proposed by Chairman and seconded by Cllr Liquourish and Sadler.

08/30 Website.

This is now in place and needs to have minutes provided on it. Cllr Sadler said that he would place Milton Matters on the website in future.

08/31 Areas of Responsibility. The following were agreed:

· Footpaths: Cllr Fyfe for the village; Cllr Liquourish for Rowstock; Cllr Adderley for the Heights;

· Liaison with the Power Station: agreed that the Chair should raise this at the Parish Meeting;

· Damascus Project: Cllr von Wendon. Cllr Liquourish pointed out that he did not have time to do this and that he came on the Council to represent the views of Rowstock.

· Milton Matters: Cllr Sadler.

· Play Spaces: Cllr Bradbury.

· Sportsfield and Football Club: Cllrs Bradbury and Sadler.

· Planning: Cllrs Bradbury, Sadler and Adderley.

· Bus Shelters: Cllr Bradbury.

· Cemetery: Cllr Fyfe.

It was recognised that Cllr Jennings is absent. His views would be sought at the next meeting.

08/32 Parish Plan

 It was agreed that a note would be inserted into Milton Matters regarding this.

08/33 Risk Assessments.

The Chairman agreed to check the requirements with OCC.

Matters raised by Councillors/Clerk for

i) Inclusion on the agenda by notice to the Clerk

a) Cllr Liquorish asked if Parish Councillors names could be included in Milton Matters. Cllr Sadler said that this would be done in future.

b) Cllr Liquorish stated that there is now a need to ensure that there is some signage from Chilton into the village in order to limit speeding in Rowstock. Action: Cllr Liquourish to check possibilities of what can be achieved.

c) Milton Interchange: the Chairman stated that the Highways Agency are due to commence work on changes to the interchange.

08/34 Future Meeting

 It was agreed that the next meeting of the Council would be held on April 23^rd 2008 at the Community Centre, Milton Heights commencing at 7.45pm.

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.09 pm.