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Parish Council Minutes - Wednesday, 31st August 2022

on Thu, 13/10/2022 - 2:24pm

SPARSHOLT PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of Sparsholt Parish Council held on

Wednesday 31st August 2022 at Griffin Memorial Hall starting at 7.30pm

Present: Councillors Comyn, Corfield, Jacobs and Jones, DC Barrow, the RFO and Clerk and 6 parishioners.

 

 

ACTION

1

Apologies:  None.

 

2

Co-option of new Parish Councillor:  Cllr Comyn proposed that Hedley French should be co-opted to the Parish Council, seconded by Cllr Jones and agreed unanimously.  Cllr French signed the declaration form and was invited to join the Parish Councillors table.

 

3

Declaration of Interests:  Cllr Jones works part time for Lonsdales Estates who own Westcot Farm, planning application discharge for consideration below.

 

4

Queen’s Jubilee Memorial Bus Shelter:  The Parish Councillors had a site visit to the existing Bus Shelter and Cllr Comyn suggested that the specification be circulated, along with the costings and it would be discussed at the next meeting.  Three quotes need to be obtained as the expenditure is likely to between £3,500.00 and £6,000.00.  The RFO agreed to also produce a projection of the cash remaining if £6,000.00 is spent on this project.  Cllr Comyn said that OCC Highways would have to be contacted as they own the land and may add conditions that will add to the cost.  Cllr Comyn will contact Lee Turner of OCC Highways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr Comyn

5

Minutes of the Sparsholt Annual Parish Meeting held on Wednesday 25th May 2022 starting at 7.00pm:  The minutes were proposed as a true record by the Chairman, Cllr Comyn and seconded by Cllr Jacobs and agreed unanimously.

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Sparsholt Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 25th May starting at 8.00pm:  The minutes were proposed as a true record by the Chairman, Cllr Comyn and seconded by Cllr Jacobs and agreed unanimously.

 

6

Matters Arising: 

  1. The change of styles to kissing gates:  Cllr Comyn will speak to Simon Jenkins from Uffington Parish Council.  Cllr Comyn said that parishioners should identify the styles that they want replacing and then the landowner’s permission would have to be agreed.  Cllr Jones stated that the style at the top of Westcot Green could just be removed if Sparsholt Manor agreed.
  2. Lost Footpaths:  DCllr Barrow said that John Gordan from the Ramblers Association has agreed to hold an online meeting with local Parish Councils to help identify any lost footpaths.  Cllr Comyn said that evidence must be produced supported by historical documents.     
  3. Vegetation on Orchard Bend:  Cllr Comyn to speak to Lee Turner at OCC Highways about this.
  4. Data Protection Officer:  Cllr French will investigate the definition of this position on behalf of the Parish Council and report back at the next meeting.
  5. Two Trustees for the two Village Trusts and separate Bank Accounts:  £4,230 has been transferred to a NatWest account but there are no signatories/mandate etc on the accounts.  Cllr Corfield will require this to close the accounts.  Approx £10,000.00 is available in both the recreational and educational trusts.  Ongoing.
  6. Cracked slabs on Westcot Green:  Cllr Jones agreed to contact AIRBAND who had caused the damage when fitting the fibre optic cables.

 

 

Cllr Comyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr Comyn

 

Cllr French

 

 

 

 

Cllr Corfield

 

 

Cllr Jones

7

Finance:

  1. Approval of the monthly Financial Statement up to 31st May 2022:  Cllr Comyn proposed acceptance, seconded by Cllr Jacobs, and agreed unanimously. 

Approval of the monthly Financial Statement up to 30th June 2022:  Cllr Comyn proposed acceptance, seconded by Cllr French, and agreed unanimously. 

Approval of the monthly Financial Statement up to 31st July 2002:  Cllr Comyn proposed acceptance, seconded by Cllr French, and agreed unanimously.

  1. Approval of payments:  Cllr Comyn proposed payments for Cllr Jacobs for Jubilee Expenses £109.22, Ruth Corfield for Jubilee Expenses £62.94, the Clerk’s salary for August £82.39, RFO’s salary for August £49.20, the Clerk’s salary for September £82.39, the RFO’s salary for September £49.40, seconded by Cllr French and agreed unanimously.
  2. RFO extra hours payment for Audit:  Four hours extra pay for the RFO for work regarding the internal audit was proposed by Cllr Corfield, seconded by Cllr Jones and agreed unanimously.
  3. Any other finance matters:  Cllr Comyn proposed that both Clerk and RFO have their pay increased using an increase in spine points, seconded by Cllr Jacobs and agreed unanimously.  The RFO to advise the new pay scale amount.

The RFO confirmed that Metro Bank will agree to open a new deposit account for the Trust and two Parish Councillors will have to sign the form to agree the account opening.  Cllrs Comyn and Jones signed the form to remove Ian Barnes as a signatory from the Parish Council accounts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RFO

8

Planning:

New Applications:

P22/V1996/DIS Westcot Farm House, OX12 9QA:  Discharge of conditions 5 – biodiversity mitigation and enhancement strategy, 8 – landscaping scheme & 9 – landscaping scheme on application ref. P20/V0526/FUL Application for planning permission for conversion of existing farm buildings to form seen family homes with associated parking, amenity areas, landscaping and associated works.  Cllr Comyn explained the discharge application.  Cllr Comyn stated several items on the application are incorrect; it is not clear what is included, the red line should be around the application.  The grey and dark green areas are not listed on the plan key.  The leylandii hedge, which was agreed to be retained, is not mentioned in the Ecological schemeCondition 6 there is no implementation program, not designed in tandem with the drainage scheme as stated.  Cllr Comyn proposed putting together a draft response to be circulated before submission, this was seconded by Cllr Jones and agreed unanimously.  DCllr Barrow said that there was no plan for the owl box and Cllr Comyn said that they are normally placed on trees, but the developer may not have control of the trees outside the application boundary.  DCllr Barrow also mentioned that the wildlife garden that is mentioned in the application is no on the plan.  A parishioner has concerns over surface water drainage and Cllr Comyn agreed that this should be mentioned on the application.  The parishioner asked if Cllr Comyn could enquire about a surface water plan.  Cllr Jones said that a lot of concrete would be removed which should help the drainage.

Decisions INFORMATION ONLY:

P22/PV1475/HH and P22/V1476/LB Sparsholt Manor, OX12 9PT:  Refurbishment and extension of Sparsholt Manor, within its association parkland.  Installation of solar PV. Demolition and replacement of stable yard.  Removal of 20th Century additions to the Manor and provision of additional incidental structures.  Removal and re-modelling of elements of parkland (resubmission of previously approved application P18/V2371/HH & P18/V2372/LB) – PART RETROSPECTIVE.  No decision.

P22/V0848/AG Broadleaze Farm, Westcot Lane, Sparsholt, OX12 9PZ:  Proposed new portal frame hay store.  Granted.

  P21/V2824/FUL – SPA Westcot House, OX12 9QA:  Propose

  and change of use of existing ancillary residential accommodation,

  amended by revised application form, amended plans and additional

  information submitted on the 4thApril 2022).  Granted.

  P21/V2825/FUL – SPA Westcot House, OX12 9QA:  Proposed

  alteration, conversion and change of use of existing ancillary

  residential accommodation ‘The Coach House’ to long-term lettable

  accommodation (as amended by revised application form, amended

  plans and additional information submitted on the 16thMarch 2022).

  Granted.

  P22/V0445/FUL The Star, Watery Lane, OX12 9PL:  Extension to

  customer-facing rear entrance to The Star Inn.  Granted.

P21/V3492/HH Sparsholt Manor, OX12 9PT:  Replacement and repositioning of entrance gates.  No decision.

P21/V2824/FUL Westcot House, OX12 9QA:  Propose change of use of existing ancillary residential accommodation for holiday and short-term lettable accommodation.  Granted.

P21/V2825/FUL Westcot House, OX12 9QA:  Proposed alteration, conversion and change of existing ancillary accommodation for holiday and short-term lettable accommodation (amended composite plan received on 15th October 2021).  Granted.

  P21/V3243/FUL Land to the north of 5 West Street, Sparsholt,

  OX12 9PR:  Change of use of land to residential (garden extension).

  Granted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr Comyn

9

Highways:  No issues reported.

 

10

DCllr Barrow Report:  See attached.

 

11

Correspondence Sheet:  No comments.

 

12

Any other Business:

Website:  Nick Price is moving out of the Village and is giving up running the website.  There has been no response to his request for someone to take this over.  Cllr Jones wanted to offer thanks to Nick Price for setting up and running the amazing Village website for over 10 years and proposed a voucher of £200 for a meal at the Star Public House should be awarded to him, seconded by Cllr Corfield and agreed unanimously.  It was suggested that the Clerk should contact Nick and ask him if he would consider running the website still but be paid for it.  The Clerk suggested that maybe the website could be combined with Childrey as they need to revise their website and the cost could be shared.

It was agreed unanimously that the Jubilee event was a great success and thank you to the organisers on behalf of the Village and the Parish Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

13

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 12th October 2022 or may move to a Monday evening if the Hall is available TBC starting at 7.30pm in Griffin Memorial Hall, Sparsholt.

The Parish Council may need to change this date as necessary.

 

Meeting closed at 9.25pm.

Minutes prepared by Mrs D Lewis-Pryde, Parish Clerk

Signed........................................................................................Date.......................................................

SPC 31st August 2022