Minutes of Nettlebed Parish
Council meeting held on November 1st. 2011
in the Village Club
Members present - Councillors B. Lewis (chair), N. Gibson, J. Simon, M.
Atkins, D. Butler. P. Leigh, R. Collier, J. Sedwell and the clerk D. Elms
Also present - Police Inspector Mark Harling, D. Brierley - owner of
properties in Watlington St. and M. Lewis - Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator
and District Councillor A. Paterson ( part time)
Apologies for absence - R. Belson - County Councillor
Declaration of Interests - None declared.
1. Police Matters - Mark Harling was recently appointed Inspector at
Henley – an area with which he is very familiar and which covers 21 parishes. He
said that without being complacent he was pleased that whereas the crimes
committed between April and October 2010 totalled 40, this year during the same
period the crimes totalled, 21 of which 5 were for non payment at the Nettlebed
Filling Station. From November 14th. the number to ring for non emergency
matters will be 101 instead of 0845 5 505 505. He said that the police will be
doing no paper work during the busy times in the mornings and afternoons.
Various personnel changes re the allocation of PCSO’s have taken place and we
were sad to learn that P.C.S.O. Janice Smith will no longer be covering our
area- a job which she has done so well. Our new neighbourhood specialist officer
will be PC Barbara Taylor who will be assisted by P.C.S.O. Colin Boyes and
P.C.S.O. Mark Bell and they are responsible for 10 parishes besides Nettlebed.
Graham Pink, the neighbourhood Sergeant will be our main point of contact.
2. Housing Development Watlington Street - 2 years ago Mr. Brierley
applied for planning permission to replace three flats at the southern end of
Watlington Street with 4 two bed houses, to extend numbers 4 and 5 Watlington
Street, to remove the old Dalton Offices and to build two new dwellings . We
were invited to numerous meetings with the owner and the architects when several
amendments were agreed. Many obstacles had to be overcome. Apart from being in a
conservation area, old petrol tanks had to be removed, the ground had to be
excavated to ensure there was no subsidence as had been found in other areas,
asbestos had to be removed and assurance had to be given that bats and certain
reptiles would not be affected. The contracts have now been signed, planning and
conservation permission granted and Manor Grove Homes should be able to start
work by January 2012. Every effort will be made to keep upheaval to a minimum
during building.
3. Salt bin and salt supply. A salt bin has been ordered and paid for and
it will be positioned in Priest Close. It will be filled when delivered as will
the bin already in the Ridgeway. In addition two 1tonne bags of salt have been
delivered to manor Farm where they are being stored by kind permission of Mr. J.
Blythe. The bag for replenishing the original bin in the Ridgeway will be free
of charge but the second bag has cost us £100.
4. Bus Shelter. It was decided that the large bus shelter was in need of
some remedial work particularly since some form of art work is being donated by
the art society to commemorate their 60th. birthday in 2012. It was impossible
to remove the graffiti without damaging the brick work, hence the decision to
paint some of the brick work white. The timber seats have been replaced and the
whole place generally cleaned.
5. Audit Results. The audit for year ending March 31st.2011 now approved.
Several small matters raised by the auditors. A. more than 10% increase in
expenditure this year – easily accounted for. B. Assets should not show increase
resulting from insurance increases – only original costs to be shown (complete
change of policy). New notice board to be included in assets.
6. Commons. Councillors all agreed that the P.C. should take over the
management of Crocker End Common from S.O.D.C. under the regulatory scheme. A
sub committee to be set up, the meetings of which to be advertised. Councillor
Simon to contact Mr. Dominic Lamb, the Countryside Officer for S.O.D.C. The
Green Gym will carry out some of the work involved e.g. removal of scrub. Letter
of thanks to be sent to Mr. R. Hunt who has kindly cut the grass on Crocker End
Green.
7, District Councillor A. Paterson explained that Biffa have taken over
from Verdant who manage all our waste. Oxfordshire is highly commended since
it’s percentage of recycling is the highest in the country.
8. Jubilee Plans. Plans are going ahead for the Jubilee celebrations.
Councillor Leigh will be doing the bookings as he did for the Royal Wedding
celebrations. Alan Elston has offered his services for helping with the
organizing – since it is his usual occupation. The food is being organized by
the same team who covered the wedding arrangements. A hog roast will take place
and the hog is already ordered together with sausages and other barbeque items.
Plans to make full use of the land to the rear of the Club, including the
bowling green which will be safer for children’s activities.
9. Election Costs. As always, when elections are held the cost is shared
with all the parishes involved. A letter from Mr. Buckle stated that
compensation has been received from the printers who were responsible for the
difficulties encountered in May’s election. Also, due to the dissatisfaction
caused, Mr. Buckle has decided not to claim the fee to which a returning officer
is entitled.
10. News Sheet . News sheet no.10 has just been printed and delivered .
In this edition there is a very informative article on the local ponds written
by the Commons Project Officer of the Chilterns Conservation Board. Items for
inclusion in the next news sheet to be sent to the editor - J. Simon
11. Footpath along Port Hill. A letter was sent to Highways stating our
dissatisfaction re the state of the footpath at Port Hill. Years ago weedkiller
was used, after which men on standby for road gritting and salting in the winter
cleared the footpath overnight. Since these men have not been available for the
last two years the footpath has become so overgrown with weeds it was impassable
in places resembling a grassed verge. Highways agreed that the weeds have so
disrupted the path that it now needed to be resurfaced. It has been listed for
this work to take place if and when the money is available.
12. Electric Blanket Testing. On learning that the trading standards
department in conjunction with Fire and Rescue were offering free blanket
testing in Didcot, Abingdon, Oxford and Wantage, enquiries were made re the
inclusion of this offer to Henley and surrounding parishes. We learned that SODC
would need to pay £700 for two days testing or £350 for one day. The
participating parishes were sponsored by local businesses.
13. Meetings. Our three newly elected Councillors agreed to attend a
training meeting at Kidlington on November 8th.Chairman and clerk to attend
planning meeting on 31/10 and Town and parish forum on 22/11
14. Emergency plans. Although these plans are mainly with flooding in
mind, it would be helpful if we could compile lists of facilities which could be
made available should feeding or temporary housing be required should an
emergency occur. A list of names and contact numbers should also be supplied.
15. NSCC. Cllr Lewis announced that Bob Worsell has resigned as Headteacher and this will be his last year, but he will continue in post until a
replacement as been appointed. The post of caretaker us still vacant. The Joint
Use Committee (JUC) has agreed a decision for notices to be placed in the car
park stating ownership. This was key to SODC's granting retrospective planning
approval for 'The Field Kitchen'. The JUC has agreed that the OCC notice will be
placed in the SW corner and Robert Laycock will place a similar notice to
identify ownership of the land round the business premises. Cllr Lewis has also
written a letter in the PC Newsletter (issue number 10) explaining this and
asking for consideration by users of the car park, especially during school
drop-off and pick-up times.
In addition to the All-Weather Pitch being hired out on three evenings a week
for junior and senior football, the Ladies' Monday Netball Club will soon meet
on Fridays and they are soon to be sponsored. A Scout Troop is being set up and
an 'Open Evening' will be held in NSCC on Tuesday 29 November at 6.00pm.
16. Update on Sports Pavilion. Malcolm Jackson has been elected chairman of the Sports Association. Bookings for parties, meetings etc. in the
pavilion contact Jane Ashby. Shed to be demolished and replaced by container
large enough to accommodate all ground equipment. Pathway to the pavilion to be
constructed as money is raised. Next fund raising event – Saturday, December 3rd
– table top sale with inexpensive lunches.
17. Planning. a. 1,Old School Green – re-siting shed and fuel tank b.
White House, Priest Hill
rear extension, c. 38, High Street – rear extension d. Manor Farm Barn – solar
panels. No objections by P.C.
18 Roads and Footpaths. Chapel Lane hedge has been cut back. Additional
deer signs requested to be positioned along A4130 at strategic crossing points
thought to be used by deer.
19. Appeals. These received from numerous good causes but decision to
donate to the W.I. who
organize the Senior Citizen’s Christmas Party, the Henley C.A.B. and the Air
Ambulance.
20. Public Question Time. 8 parishioners present
21. Date of next meeting – Tuesday, January 10th. 2012
Meeting Closed at 10.15p.m.
These minutes will be signed at next meeting subject to
approval of Councillors