Parish Council Minutes

1/ PRESENT

Cllr G Harper (Chairman)

Cllrs I Walker, Mrs J Rogers, Mrs. P Priestley and G O'Neill.

Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk)

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs Mrs D Brock and Mrs V McPherson

2/ MINUTES

The Minutes of the previous meetings of the Parish Council, having been circulated were approved by the Meeting and signed by the Chairman.

3/ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were asked to declare any personal interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Cllr Mrs P Priestley declared an interest in Planning Applications

4/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

a) Meeting with County Executive Officer of BALC, Lesley Blue arranged for Thursday 4th February at 2pm

b) The Live News system and Last Page Updated facility has been added to the website.

c) The number of hits on the website varied from 3 to 31 in a week. All present agreed to advertise the website in the Parish Newsletter and request that the school children visit the site in their IT lessons to raise the awareness. Cllr G O'Neill agreed to approach the school with the suggestion. VM/GON

c) The Risk Inspection report had highlighted a broken bench slat on the Golden Jubilee Seat. Cllr G O'Neill has inspected the seat and arranged for Briants to repair the bench.

5/ FINANCE

Accounts for Payment

Receipts - None

Bank Balance £13,632.14 (allowing for the above entries)

The income and expenditure for January was examined by the Council. All present agreed that the necessary cheques be signed.

6/CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

A. Playing Field

Graffiti on the skate park was highlighted as a medium risk in the Risk Inspection report. Cllr G Harper agreed to remove the graffiti. GH

Cllr G Harper confirmed that the other matter highlighted on the Risk Inspection Report, a tree guard that had fallen over, had been rectified.

B. Children's Play Area

The paviors by the entrance gate to the Play Area were highlighted as a medium risk in the Risk Inspection Report because they were sinking and uneven. The Clerk is requested to issue a work order to have the paviors raised to the correct height. SG

All present agreed for the Clerk to issue a work order for the wooden benches in the playing field, play area, Ilmer and Owlswick to be rubbed down and painted and also the metal seats to be rubbed down and painted dark green. SG

7/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY

The Clerk is requested to raise the following concerns with the relevant local authority: - SG

• The directional signs at the junction of Bar Lane have been knocked giving the wrong direction to Longwick.
• The drains are blocked in Bar Lane resulting in the ditches not draining and flooding over the road
• The black and white posts warning of a ditch are missing in Bar Lane which is very dangerous.
• The 'Road Closure' sign needs to be removed in Bar Lane as the resurfacing work has finished.

Cllr J Rogers has agreed to meet with the Local Area Technician to discuss the above problems in Bar Lane. The Clerk is requested to arrange the meeting. JR/SG

• The mile stone in Longwick on the Thame Road needs reseating after being lifted up in a car accident.
• Trees have fallen across the ditch by the Scouts Path.

All present agreed to attend a litter picking session in the Parish on Sunday 7th March at 10.00am, meeting at Longwick Village Hall. The Clerk is requested to design a poster advertising the Litter Pick and inviting the residents to take part. The Clerk is further requested to write to the Scouts asking if they would like to participate in the litter picking activity as a service to the community. SG/ALL

8/ CORRESPONDENCE:

Restoration of the Coombe Hill Monument

A letter has been received from the Coombe Hill Monument Appeal requesting funding for the repair and restoration of the Coombe Hill Monument. As a former resident of the parish 'Albert Wooster' is recorded on this memorial, it was agreed by all present to donate the sum of £100.00. SG

Wedding reception in a Marquee on the Playing Field

A letter from a resident requesting clarification that agreement has been given by the Parish Council for a wedding reception to be held in a marquee on the playing field on the 18th August 2010. All present agreed that the permission by the Parish Council for the reception to be held in the Marquee is given. The Clerk is requested to respond accordingly. SG

A request for the use of fireworks in the Playing Field at a 25th Wedding Anniversary Party.

Cllr G Harper has received a request for permission to stage a fireworks display as part of the celebrations for a 25th Wedding Anniversary Party on the 26th June 2010. All present agreed to give the permission providing that a risk assessment is carried out prior to the event and that the display is before 10.30pm in the evening. It is also requested that any debris from the display is cleared by 10.00am on the following day. Cllr G Harper agreed to advise the residents of the decision by the Parish Council. SG

Items of general interest on table.

9/ REPORTS

School Governors

Nothing to report.

Local Community Partnership.

Nothing to report.

WDALC

Cllr I Walker reported on the meeting held on the 17th December 2009. The next meeting is on the 16th March which coincides with the Parish Council meeting held on the same night. The Clerk is requested to give the WDALC Cllr I Walkers apologies as he will be attending the Parish Council meeting on that night. SG

Neighbourhood Action Group

Nothing to report. The next meeting to be held is on 21st January 2010.

Newsletter

Nothing to report.

10. THE PREFERRED CONTRACTOR TO SUPPLY AND INSTALL THE ZIP WIRE IN THE PLAYING FIELD.

Three quotations have been received for the supply and installation of a 25m Zip Wire in the Playing Field.

All present agreed that Safe and Sound provided the best value and that they should be the chosen contractor to supply and install the Zip Wire as per their quotation of £8,500.00. The Clerk is requested to issue a work order for the installation to take place in April and to notify the unsuccessful contractors, thanking them for their quotations.

SG

11. A LIST OF POTHOLES IN THE PARISH THAT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED TO THE HIGHWAYS DEPT FOR URGENT REPAIR.

The Clerk is requested to raise the following potholes needing urgent repair with the Highways authority: - SG

3 o/s The Red lion

Chestnut Way near Boxer Road

O/s 4 Lower Icknield Way, B4009

O/s Pettigroves, Lower Icknield Way, B4009

Several on the Lower Icknield Way, B4009 from the roundabout in Longwick by the Total Garage to the Askett turning.

Several in Owlswick Lane especially where the culvert is under the road.

1 at the junction in to Stockwell Lane in Owlswick

Several coming out of Owlswick on the left towards Longwick

Several in Ilmer, particularly from the Church to the end of the road and by the railway bridge

Cllr Mrs P Priestley left the meeting

12. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

A/Progress on applications already considered:

None

B/ New Applications to be considered

09/07444/FUL: Hatchmead Farm Lower Icknield Way Great Kimble. Proposed Change of use of egg house to B1 use (Building F) and south east section of pole barn to B8 use (Building P2). The Parish Council has no objections.

13/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

To decide on the preferred contractor for the grass cutting contract for the Longwick Playing Field for 2010/2011.

To appoint the Internal Audit for the year ending 2010.

To decide on a response to the Freight Strategy Consultation

14/NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 16th February 2010 in Longwick Village Hall at 7.30pm

There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.00pm

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