Parish Council Minutes: August 2022
The Minutes of a meeting of Oakford Parish Council held in the Committee Room at Oakford Village Hall on Monday 8th August 2022 at 7.30 pm
Present:
Cllr G Baylis (Chair), R Brain, J Cridland, L Gould. J Mayer and V Stevens.
In attendance:
District Cllr A Moore, Mr J Phillips and the Clerk, Mrs J Larcombe.
50/08/22. To receive apologies for absence.
Cllr Jeff Cousins.
51/08/22. Declarations of Interest.
No declarations of interest.
52/08/22. Public Forum.
Mr Phillips told councillors that he felt he could raise enough funds to pay for additional fencing in the community area by holding a disco in October.
53/08/22. To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 11th July 2022 as an accurate record of the meeting.
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting and were duly signed by the Chair.
54/08/22. Matters arising from the minutes, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.
None.
It was agreed to bring the following item forward on the agenda.
55/08/22. Community Area
b) To receive a report from the working party and to discuss options for making changes to the PSPO.
The working party of Cllr’s G Baylis, R Brain, L Gould, V Stevens and Mr J Phillips met at the community area on August 4th to look at options for fencing off the play equipment. Cllr Baylis reported that their recommendation was to fence off the play equipment using high quality stock fencing. The fenced off area will be quite large(approx. 40m x 25m) and will encompass the two picnic tables sited to the left of the play equipment. Councillors asked if 3 quotes would still need to be obtained if the cost of the fence was paid for from money donated for that purpose. The Clerk advised that the Council still needed to follow its Financial Regulations and try to obtain quotes.
Cllr Brain said he could not support the plan to fence off the play equipment because he was still concerned about the risks to the health of adults and children from dog poo on the area where dogs would be allowed to be walked if the PSPO was changed. He suggested that the Council consider fencing off an area for dogs to be exercised in where they could be let off their leads. Even though the amended PSPO would require dogs to be kept on a lead he felt that some people would let them off. He felt people should take priority over dogs.
Councillors discussed the options and whether parishioners should be consulted about fencing off the play equipment and amending the PSPO. Councillors concluded that they were elected to make decisions and further consultation wasn’t necessary.
It was reported that the PSPO sign was missing from the community area. Cllr Gould felt that offering bags to pick up dog poo at the entrance to the community area was giving a confusing message if dogs were not allowed.
Cllr Baylis said the Council would need something in writing from MDDC to confirm that the PSPO could be easily changed. Cllr Moore said that MDDC will not stop the Council doing what it wants to do if it is in the interest of the community. He will speak to the relevant Officer as soon as possible.
The Clerk reported that she had been contacted by MDDC’s S106 Officer who wanted to find out if the Council had any projects it was considering as approximately £9,000 of S106 funding is available to the small group of parishes that includes Oakford. The proposed fencing could be funded by S106 money.
Cllr Baylis proposed fencing off the play equipment, applying for S106 money to pay for the work. This was seconded by Cllr Mayer and agreed by 5 votes to 1. Cllr Brain asked for it to be recorded that he had voted against the proposal. An application for S106 money needs to be made as soon as possible as the fencing will need to be completed before the community area gets too wet.
Cllr Stevens volunteered to put up the fencing without charging for labour and this offer was accepted.
Mr Phillips will still go ahead and arrange a disco in October to raise funds for other work on the community area. Councillors felt everyone would enjoy a community event.
Mr Phillips left the meeting.
In response to a concern that there might be hidden pipes or wires under the surface Cllr Stevens will check using a CAT scanner.
Actions:
Cllr Stevens to check the area with a CAT scanner before fencing work commences.
Cllr Baylis to check signage and remove the old poo bag holder.
Cllr Stevens to provide the specification for the stock fencing so that quotes can be obtained.
56/08/22. Planning
a) To comment on any planning applications received before the meeting.
No applications received.
b) To note any planning decisions made by MDDC.
No decisions received
c) Any other planning matters.
Cllr Moore said he had received a photo of a building in Great Wood that had been approved under prior approval. There was concern that Town and Parish Councils are not consulted about prior approval applications and therefore cannot comment which could lead to unsuitable buildings being built or additional work being added. Planning Enforcement is struggling with a lack of resources.
57/08/22. Highways: any matters to note or report.
The slippery surface on the B3227 has been resurfaced and there are just the cats’ eyes to be put in.
The closure of Hamslade Hill has been extended for another week.
A number of vehicles unsuitable for the size of the road are using Hangmans Hill as a cut through and causing damage to the banks. One HGV was stuck on the hairpin bend for 5 hours.
It was reported that the developers at Spurway Barton are putting a tarmacadam surface on what is believed to be a byway open to all traffic (BOAT) from the junction with the public highway up the hill. Residents are concerned that this work may not have the approval, if required, of DCC who own the byway. They are also concerned that this may change the rights of way and it may encourage more traffic which will be travelling faster because of the improved surface. Councillors didn’t believe that it would change the rights of way. Cllr Moore will ask Cllr Chesterton to look into this.
Action: Cllr Moore to ask Cllr Chesterton to find out about the work at Spurway Barton and make him aware of the unsuitable use of Hangmans Hill.
58/08/22. Reports
a) County Cllr.
No report.
b) District Cllr.
Cllr Moore reported that an overspend of £250,000 is forecast at the end of 2022-23. The budget includes a pay increase of 2% but it is likely it will be higher than this. There are a number of challenges for this year and it is likely that reserves will be eaten into. 2023-24 will also be difficult.
Three weekly residual waste collection will start in October and this should increase recycling rates. Residents can ask for extra bins or gull sacks instead of wheelie bins.
59/08/22. Community Area
a) Any points to note from inspections of the community area.
No points to note. Cllr Baylis and Cllr Brain are addressing the last couple of points from the Rospa Annual Inspection report. An old bench has been taken down and will be removed.
Action: Cllr Baylis and Cllr Brain to arrange to remove the bench from the community area.
The new entrance gates are now in place. Cllr Stevens was thanked for installing the gates.
b) To receive a report from the working party and to discuss options for making changes to the PSPO.
Discussed under 55/08/22.
60/08/22. Finance
a) To approve any invoices or expense claims presented for payment.
It was resolved to make the following payments:
Wicksteed Leisure Ltd - £1,742.58 new gates for community area (Payment ref: 2223/12)
Mrs J Larcombe - £161.85 Clerk’s salary (Payment ref: 2223/13)
b) To note any receipts since the last meeting and the bank balance.
Since the last meeting there have been no receipts
The Current Account balance is £13,250.67.
61/08/22. To report whether there have been any issues with smell from the sewerage treatment works.
The Council has not received any complaints but Cllr Mayer said she had smelt it on one day.
62/08/22. Correspondence.
DALC Newsletters
MDDC – information about new waste collection arrangements and delivery of wheelie bins.
MDDC – The Biodiversity net gain planning training session that was due to be held on 21st July was cancelled. It is hoped to reschedule this for September.
63/08/22. To agree the date of the next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on 12th September 2022.