Duns Tew Parish Council

Duns Tew Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Village Hall on Thursday 14 March 2013 at 7.30 pm.

Present: - Cllr C McBean (Chair), Cllr R Stranks, Cllr F.Gilje, Cllr P. Gregory,Cllr J. Scotchbrook, County Cllr R. Jelfs, District Cllr M. Kerford-Byrnes and five members of the public Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Mr. & Mrs. Hammond and Mr. A Castle Miller.

In attendance: Mrs. H Skaar (Clerk)

13.13Apologies for absence – . Cllr. S Keeping and Cllr P Giorgi

13.14Declarations of Pecuniary Interest & Requests for Dispensation – None

1315Minutes of the last meeting held on January 10th wereRESOLVED as a true record of the meeting and signed by the Chair.

13.16Finance

Accounts for payment

It was RESOLVED to make payments as listed above and cheques were signed by Cllrs Gregory and Scotchbrook.

Income – CDCAdopt a Site £ 44.32

Quarterly Financial Report – was accepted by the Council and the Certificate of Internal Control signed

13.17Public Participation – The members of the public present at the meeting all expressed concern about the proposed extension of Horsehay Quarry. The owners Smiths of Bletchington are currently consulting prior to drawing up a planning application.

It was RESOLVED that the Council would

1) Request that Smiths arrange a site meeting for the members of the public present at the meeting.

2)Place a summary of the extension plan in the April newsletter inviting the village to submit questions in writing or by email to the Clerk by 14th April. This will give time for answers to be formulated for publication in the following (May) Newsletter.

Action Chair and Cllr Gregory

1318Clerks Report

Cypress In garden of Highclere

White Fences and speed signs at entrance to village

Road Markings on Main Road

Extra Salt

It was RESOLVED that

a)County Councillor Jelfs would enquire if there is any assistance available for the pruning the cypresses Clerk to email Councillor Jelfs regarding this. Action Clerk

b)Clerk to contact Highways re the gates as to number ordered and request advice as to positioning. Action Clerk

13.19Parish Matters

• Community.-.

A) Emergency Plan

B)Neighbourhood Watch

In the absence of Cllr. Giorgi, due to illness, the Clerk reported that she had received the information re

the Emergency Plan and Neighbourhood Watch from the outgoing Councillor. Both these areas need to

be updated. The information will be forwarded to Councillor Giorgi.Action Clerk

• Services –

A)Speeding North Aston Road – see Clerks Report

B)Road Markings on Main Road –See Clerks report

• Communications –

Web Site. – In the absence of Cllr Keeping the Clerk reported that the web site had been designed and was currently being set up and populated by the Web Master Peter Weston. He has approached all those who details will be published for their permission to do so. The projected launch date is May1st. The site can be accessed by the Council to see “work in progress”. Most Councillors had already done this and were very pleased with the site.

• Planning –

A)Longfields – Cllr Gregory reported that two of the non-discounted housing properties were still available. The 3 bedroom discounted housing property had been sold but there were no takers for the 2 bedroom properties. Pye Homes in consultation with Cherwell District Council have decided to sell these to a Housing Association who will offer them for sale on a Shared Ownership basis. This requires a lower deposit and more lenders are prepared to offer mortgages on this type of Scheme. Only one lender was prepared to offer a mortgage on the discounted housing scheme.

B)Pavement Wall Lining – Cllr Gregory reported that the bank will be leveled and re-seeded next week.

C)Neighbourhood Planning – Following discussion at previous meetings and advice from ORCC; it was RESOLVED that a Neighbourhood Plan was not required. The Village Plan and Cherwell District Councils Local Plan should be sufficient. Duns Tew is classed as a Category C Village where the only new development that will be allowed is Conversion of existing buildings.

D)Community Assets – Cllr Gregory reported that he and Cllr Stranks will prepare a list of possible properties and land to be designated Assets of Community Value for discussion at the meeting in May. Action Cllr Gregory & Stranks

E)Horsehay Quarry – See Public Participation.

• Amenities –

A) Play Area – Cllr Scotchbrook reported that he is still receiving feedback from the Questionnaire. A final decision regarding refurbishment will be made once this is all received.

• Parish Council –

A)Standing Orders – It was RESOLVED to adopt the new Standing Orders as circulated.

B)Parish Remuneration Panel Report- It was RESOLVED that Councillors would not take any remuneration other than expenses.

C)Clerks Salary – It was RESOLVED that the Clerks’ salary would be increased from £9.941 by one increment to £10.198 per hour from 1st April 2013.

1320County & District Councillors' Reports - . District Councillor Mike Kerford-Byrnes reported that The District Council component of the Council Tax would not increase for 2013/14. The county Council component will increase by 1.9%.

Cherwell District Council have reduced expenditure by5.4% and are looking to reduce by 14% to 15% over the next year. Considerable benefits have come from the joint working with South Northants, particularly in the IT area. This is being carried out in the third level.

The wind farm at Ardley has been stopped mainly due to the London-Oxford airport, as the wind turbines would affect the radar software. This may change with future software developments.

The Local Plan is in final consultation and expected to be submitted for examination in May.

13.21Correspondence

It was RESOLVED that:

1)The Spring Clean weekend would be on 20th/21st April and some equipment to be ordered from Cherwell Action Clerk and Councillor Scotchbrook

2)The Council did not require the local Rambler Association to monitor the footpaths.Action Clerk

For circulation

13.22Reports from Meetings –

Parish Transport Representative Meeting –This was attended by Councillor Gregory who reported that most items on the agenda including those of interest to Duns Tew were not dealt with as the person

responsible for dealing with these items was ill.

13.23Reports from committees/working groups –

• Planning.

Applications

Reference Number 13/00039/TCA. Mrs. Jenny Bezencenet

Duns Tew Village Hall, Middle Barton Road, Duns Tew OX25 6JN

T1 x Maple-Crown reduce by 30% and crown thin by 15%

T2 x Silver Birch-Crown reduce by 20%

T3 x Silver Birch-Crown lift by 1 metre.

No Objections

Reference Number 13/00040/TCA. Mr. Brian Kay

The Old Post Office, Main St, Duns Tew OX25 6JR

T1 x Spruce-Fell.

No Objections

Reference Number 13/00424/F. Greene King PLC

The White Horse Inn, Main Street Duns Tew OX25 6JS

New Oil Tank.

No Objections

Decisions –

Reference Number 12/01657/F Mrs. F Gilje

Priory Court, Main Street, Duns Tew, Duns Tew OX25 6JL

Replacement of sheet metal roofing with slates and insertion of new conservation rooflights to attic floor of barn. Reconfiguration of stone external access steps.

Granted with Conditions

Reference Number 13/00040/TCA. Mr. Brian Kay

The Old Post Office, Main St, Duns Tew OX25 6JR

T1 x Spruce-Fell.

Granted

13.24Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Parish Council Meeting – It was RESOLVED that this would be advertised in the usual way in the Newsletter and on the noticeboard

The meeting closed at 930 pm

Date of next meeting – Thursday 9th May following The Annual Parish Meeting

Signed by Chairman………………………………… Date……………………

1

Chair’s initials…………………………