2020-09-07 - Drayton Parish Council Minutes

Drayton Parish Council Minutes

of the Remote Meeting held on 7th September 2020 at 7:30pm.

Drayton Parish Councillors Present:

Tamsin Crane (Chairperson)
Patricia Athawes (Vice Chairperson)
Richard Wade
Pervin Shahin
Shane McAleavey
Garin Schoonhoven
Irma Schoonhoven
Claire Woollard (a poor internet connection meant that she was not able to participate in all of the meeting)
Susan Harris
Graham Webb

Drayton Parish Councillors Not Present:

All Councillors were present.

In attendance:

Lorraine Watling (Clerk and RFO)
Christopher Price (Deputy Clerk)
Andrew Cooke (VWHDC)

Public:

2 members of the public were present

126/2020 Apologies for Absence.

None.

127/2020 Parish Councillor Vacancy.

It was noted that the VWHDC had not received any requests for an election, therefore this vacancy can be filled by co-option. The Deputy Clerk will display notices to this effect on the noticeboards and the Parish Council website.

128/2020 Declarations of Interest, Dispensations or Use of Delegated Powers.

Claire Woollard has an interest in the Walnut Meadow development by virtue of being a resident on this development.
Tamsin Crane has an interest in the Manor Farm development by virtue of being a resident on this development.
Richard Wade has interests in the Millennium Green by virtue of being a member of the Millennium Green Trust Committee and the Allotments through being an allotment holder.
Susan Harris has an interest in the Manor Farm development by virtue of being a resident on this development.
Garin Schoonhoven and Irma Schoonhoven both have interests in the Dovecote development, by virtue of being residents on this development and a member of the residents’ association, and in the Allotments by virtue of being allotment holders.

129/2020 Report from OCC Councillor Richard Webber.

Not present and no report received.

Cllr Woollard lost her internet link at this point.

130/2020 Report from VWHDC Councillor Adrian Cooke.

Cllr Cooke’s report included the following points:

East Way BW1 Potholes. It was noted that the VWHDC planning enforcement team are currently about 58% down on manpower. Andy Cooke will continue to monitor progress.
Dove Cote Residents Association. It was noted that there is now a Dovecote residents’ association. Andy Cooke agreed to look into the RA’s query, as set out in their recent letter.
New Cycle Path in Abingdon. Andy Cooke would like this cycle path extended so that it goes all the way to Drayton.
Walnut Meadow Sports Field. It was noted that Emma Turner (Development Management Team Leader (Enforcement), VWHDC) has confirmed that Miller Homes will be required to reduce the level of the land back to its previous level based on the base plans they provided in their original planning application. If they do not do so, then an enforcement notice will be served to require them to formally comply.
New Emergency Assistance Grant Funding Scheme. It was noted that funding is available in South Oxfordshire to help vulnerable residents affected by Covid-19. Voluntary or community groups. can apply for grants of up to £5k. £43k is available across the district, and the deadline for the 1st round of applications is 15th September 2020. It was noted that the timing of these grants was difficult as it was too late to help people affected by the initial epidemic, and too early to know what might be needed if and when a second wave occurs. Cllrs suggested that it might have been useful to have the money pre-allocated to parishes, or to hold some back for organisations like Drayton PC who could use such a grant, but do not currently know what they need.
Oxfordshire Investment Plan. It is hoped that the new investment plan will create £25k jobs.
Unitary Council for Oxfordshire. Adrian Cooke updated the Council.

Cllr Woollard rejoined the meeting at this point.

131/2020 Neighbourhood Development Plan Working Group. (Item expedited).

HM Land Registry Transfer of Part of Registered Titles (TP1) from Miller Homes to Drayton Parish Council. It was noted that the Parish Council had received legal advice about this matter from its solicitors. It was resolved to take ownership from Miller Homes of 3 areas of land on the Walnut Meadow development site (not including the sports field), and to sign the form TP1 which is the form to legally transfer such ownership.
Proposed: Tamsin Crane Seconded: Claire Woollard Resolved: Unanimous
ACTION: The Clerk will arrange for the document to be signed, copied and returned to the Council’s solicitors.

132/2020 Public Participation.

A member of the public expressed an interest in the agenda item ‘Footpath fencing at junction between Abbot Crescent and Gravel Lane.’

133/2020 Minutes of the Previous Parish Council Meeting.

The minutes of the previous Parish Council meeting were approved and signed by the Chairperson.
Proposed: Tamsin Crane Seconded: Susan Harris Resolved: Unanimous

134/2020 Action Checklist from the Previous Meeting – Appendix A.

was reviewed and updated.

135/2020 Finance and Personnel Committee (Patricia Athawes) – Appendix B..

Payments. The list of August payments for approval at the September meeting had been circulated prior to the meeting. The 2 councillors authorised by the Council to approve the online payments at the beginning of September were Patricia Athawes and Shane McAleavey.
Bank Reconciliation had been circulated prior to the meeting and was noted.
Disposition of Council Funds had been circulated prior to the meeting and was noted.
NALC/SLCC National Salary Award. It was noted that the National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC) has agreed the new pay scales for 2020-21 to be implemented from 1 April 2020. The Clerk and Deputy Clerk are paid the NJC scales so the Clerk will action the pay adjustments.
Grass Cutting. It was noted that the grass cutting contractor had made a mistake when quoting for the grass cutting in Drayton. The total expected cost per season is £3,920 instead of £3,500.
Allotment Quotation for Fencing. It was noted that there was a mistake on the original quotation that had been received by the Council. The rabbit netting should have been priced at £3.41 per metre. The £341.00 that was originally quoted would not even cover the cost of the materials. The contractor has been asked to send a revised quotation for the Council to consider.

136/2020 Planning Committee – Appendix C.

Chairperson. It was resolved to ratify Graham Webb as the Chairman of the Planning Committee.
Proposed: Tamsin Crane Seconded: Patricia AthawesResolved: Unanimous
OALC Planning Survey. It was noted that the Council has been invited to comment on 2 consultations. Graham Webb and Garin Schoonhoven will draft the Parish Council’s response.

137/2020 Neighbourhood Development Plan Working Group (Continued).

Walnut Meadow and Manor Farm Grassy Areas. It was agreed in principle to hire a Horticultural expert to give the Council an opinion on the grass and trees at Walnut Meadows and Manor Farm.
ACTION: The Clerk will investigate whether CIL money can be used for this purpose.
Walnut Meadow Children’s Play Area Trees. It was noted that 1 of the trees is dead and 1 does not look very well. Action: Claire Woollard will report the tree to Miller Homes.
Footpath fencing at junction between Abbot Crescent and Gravel Lane. This footpath is too steep for wheel chair and mobility scooter users. It was suggested that it might be worth investigating whether a post and rail fence and handrail, and a bollard might improve the situation. It was noted that Cala were meant to use self-binding gravel along the footpaths and had not done so. Loose gravel is currently migrating and could cause a slip hazard in winter. It was agreed to ask Cala Homes to remedy this problem.

138/2020 Public Art Working Group (Pervin Shahin).

Entrance Gates Artist. The selected artist with the most votes following the publication in the Chronicle was ‘C’ – Planet Arts. Pervin Shahin will send all information to the Clerk. Action: the Clerk will discuss the process for release of s.106 funds and next steps with David Cookson (Infrastructure Implementation Officer, Development and Regeneration, VWHDC).
Village Green Bollards. It was noted that concrete is a more affordable material for the walnut shaped bollards. Pervin Shahin will circulate for the October Council meeting details of what the artist proposes.

139/2020 Sutton Wick Lane Pond Risk Assessment.

Action: Garin Schoonhoven and Richard Wade will meet and discuss the risk assessment. The final document will be bought to the October Parish Council for consideration and approval.

140/2020 New Fence Installed at 26 Corneville Road.

Tamsin Crane and Richard Wade reported to the Parish Council on this fence. It was noted that the Parish Council considers that the new fence is a great improvement and has no objection to the homeowner extending it.

141/2020 Annual RoSPA Reports.

The annual RoSPA reports were received and noted.

142/2020 Conservation Area.

ACTION: The Deputy Clerk will confirm the status of the Drayton Conservation Area Appraisal.

143/2020 New Phone for Clerk.

It was noted that the Clerk has a very old mobile phone and very poor mobile reception at home, and would look into purchasing a new phone on a monthly subscription.

144/2020 Burial Ground.

Ashes Interment. The Council discussed a request for an ashes interment, for someone who had not lived in the village, by their spouse who had lived in Drayton as a child. The request was for a double cremation plot. There is limited space available in the burial ground and the number of Drayton residents is increasing. The Council therefore needs to ensure that the burial ground is available for people who live in Drayton when they need it. It was agreed that the applicant did not have ‘strong links’ to the village, and it was therefore decided to refuse the application.
ACTIONS: The Clerk will notify the applicant of the Council’s decision.
Susan Harris will make suggestions for further clarification of the non-resident burial guidelines.
Rules for the Burial Ground. It was resolved to approve the updated rules for the burial ground.
Proposed: Tamsin Crane Seconded: Susan Harris Resolved: Unanimous

Reserved Business. Exclusion of the Public and Press. In view of the nature of the business to be transacted any members of the public and press would have been temporarily excluded from the meeting (Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s.1).

145/2020 Burial Ground Covenant.

The matter was discussed.

End of Reserved Business.

146/2020 Items to be noted from Parish Councillors.

None.

147/2020 Date of the next Meeting.

5th October 2020.

The Chairperson declared the meeting closed at 10:39pm.

Signed:

Name:

Date:

Appendix A
Actions Checklist

Appendix B

Finance & Personnel Committee

Payments: £500 or more

Salaries

1,451.47

Caretaker

655.00

The Landscape Group

588.00

Jenks

900.00

Disposition of Council Funds as at 01st July 2020

ACCOUNT

REF

BALANCE

INTEREST RATE

ACCOUNT TYPE

Unity Bank

674

£184,214.57

0%

Current Account

NS&I

779

£20,341.19

0.80%

Savings Account

Unity Bank

554

£15,185.52

0.10%

Projects Account

Total

£219,741.28

Appendix C

Planning Committee Applications

P19/V2428/FUL.

Single dwelling house with detached double garage. 208 Steventon Road Drayton Abingdon OX13 6RN.

PC: Support: No objection.

VWHDC: Pending.

P19/V2428/FUL Amendment: No. 1 – dated 29th November 2019.

Single dwelling house with detached double garage (as amended by plans and additional information received on 29 November 2019). 208 Steventon Road Drayton Abingdon OX13 6RN.

PC: No comment.

VWHDC: Pending.

P20/V0494/FUL.

Farm building with access and apron. Land to West of 7 Oday Hill Drayton Abingdon OX14 4AB.

PC: Objection: See June 2020 Planning Minutes for details.

VWHDC: Pending.

P20/V0550/O Amendment: No. 1 – dated 16th May 2020.

Provision of a covered horse-riding arena on equestrian land (Additional justification received from agent on 16 May 2020). Stonehill Farm (Riding School) Stonehill Drayton Abingdon OX14 4AA.

PC: Objection: Drayton Parish Council’s previous objections have not changed: 1. That the proposed building is going to be visually intrusive due to the ridge height, it will be visible from the main road between Abingdon and Drayton. 2. Is of an inappropriate size for the limited band of open country separating Abingdon and Drayton as the proposed area is around the size of two football fields and is disproportionate for other buildings on the site.

VWHDC: Outline Planning Permission on 29th July 2020.

P20/V1310/FUL.

Proposed replacement of two existing residential mobile homes with 2 dwelling houses. 5 & 6 Mill Lane Sutton Courtenay Abingdon OX14 4BE.

PC: No Comment.

VWHDC: Pending.

P20/V0654/FUL Amendment: No. 1 – dated 24th June 2020.

New workshop (Amended plans received 23 June 2020- To include an MOT pit and amended certificate of ownership). Windy Ridge, Workshop Rear of 1 Milton Road Drayton Abingdon OX144EZ. 16th July 2020.

PC: Objection: The amendment relating to application number P20/V0654/FUL does not change the Parish Council’s previous comment.

VWHDC: Planning Permission on 24th July 2020.

P20/V1493/HH.

Single storey link between house and detached games room. 45 Hilliat Fields Drayton Abingdon Oxfordshire OX14 4JF.

PC: Support.

VWHDC: Pending.

P20/V1867/FUL.

Variation of conditions 2, 5 and 10 of applications P19/V3186/FUL and /P19/V3187/LB-amendments to window sizes, porch amended from flat to pitched roof and brick bond details. Proposed new 3 bedroom dwelling with integrated garage and creation of new dropped kerb and vehicular access by demolishing a section of the boundary wall Address: 3a Church Lane (land adjacent to 3 Church Lane), Drayton Abingdon OX14 4JS.

PC: Support: Drayton Parish Council notes that there is already Planning Consent for this land. And if you look at the composite street view, Anderson Orr’s design sits very well in height and detail with the houses either side, so we wouldn’t comment. We would like to point out that, as the surface water drain recently overflowed, you might consider raising the floor level a course or two? The Parish Council also notes that the entrance to the site is about where there’s a road gully. Bearing in mind the state of the drain, we wonder if that’s wise, or might even necessitate modifying the drain in the vicinity of the drop kerb and crossover?

VWHDC: Pending.

P20/V1862/HH.

Single storey side and rear extensions and associated internal alterations. 32 Steventon Road Drayton Abingdon OX14 4LE.

PC: Noted.

VWHDC: Pending.

P20/V2047/FUL.

Variation of condition 2 (approved plans – to allow minor elevational amendments and the inclusion of a raised patio) and discharge of conditions 3 – materials, 9 – landscaping details and 11 – boundary treatments on application ref. P19/V1992/FUL. Demolition of a pair of semi-detached cottages & outbuildings & construction of a new detached dwelling & detached garage. 3 Mill Lane Sutton Courtenay Abingdon OX14 4BE.

PC: Noted.

VWHDC: Pending.