MINUTES – December 2023

Crs Crowley, Cook, Frank and Sparks.

District Councillor Cox and Lugova were unable to attend the meeting.

RECEIVED:

Cr Henderson – North Radley Community Room, Radley Village Hall (Trustee of both) and Woodlands Defibrillator.

Cr McDermott – North Radley Community Room (Trustee of the North Radley Room CIO)

Cr Johnston – Radley Village Hall (Trustee)

Cr Crowley – Radley Village Shop and Radley Lakes (Trustee)

·       20mph survey results challenged. Member of public advised to contact the Highway Officer Geoff Barrell to raise their views.

i.         RESOLVED to co-opt David Tannahill.

ii.         RESOLVED that the new councillor could defer signing his Declaration of Acceptance of Office to the January meeting.

·       AGREED that the clerk would report the drug dealing and the anti-social motorbike via 101.

1.     RESOLVED to engage a professional fundraiser for the Village Hall Refurbishment and the Lawns Community Building projects. Funding to be capped at £2,000.00 and to be reviewed once this has been spent.

2.     Gooseacre:

i.         APPROVED to delegate to the Clerk with the Gooseacre team and the Chairman to agree Gooseacre heating solution and landscape consultant quotes

ii.         NOTED that the Lottery grant application had been unsuccessful.

iii.         RESOLVED that Cr Moggridge will help put out communications for future village hall meetings.

3.     Lawns Community Building:

i.         NOTED that the Rotunda quote is fixed until February 2024.

4.     Road safety around the school: None

5.     Radley Lakes:

i.         AGREED that Cr Crowley will continue as Parish Council trustee for Radley Lakes Trust.

6.     Cemetery extension:

i.         RESOLVED that Cr Henderson to get an update from PCC from their meeting with the Diocese on the potential use of the Glebe Lane.

7.     Welcome Leaflets:

i.         NOTED that the contents of the welcome leaflets will need updating.

8.     Car Park: None

1.     NW Radley (Church Farm):

i.         RESOLVED for the Clerk to arrange a meeting with Pye to push for progress regarding the replacement trees and the “spare piece of land” at Whites Lane which was holding up the junction changes. The Clerk to contact OCC to understand exactly which part of land it is.

2.     North Abingdon: None

3.     South Kennington (The Lawns): None

1. Old Coalyard:
   1. NOTED that the Enforcement notice had been served.
2. ROMP: No update.
3. Terra Firma:
   1. RESOLVED to raise with Cr Lugova what the next steps are to progress this.

1.     RESOLVED: Scrutiny and acceptance of the bank statements and reconciliation were confirmed. The chairman confirmed this by signing the statements and reconciliation.

2.     NOTED that the overpayment to Lubbe & Sons had been refunded.

·       NOTED the budget update.

      i.         APPROVED a grant of £500 to Oxfordshire Mind.

ii.         APPROVED that the grant payment would be added into December’s cashbook and to be paid this month.

i.         The Council acknowledged scrutiny of the invoices for payment in December 2023. Cr Henderson confirmed this by signing the cashbook.

ii.         RESOLVED, and approved that the accounts as itemised on the monthly cashbook for December should be paid.

iii.         APPROVED the Gooseacre Quantity Surveyor invoice to be added into the December cashbook and to be paid.

i.         APPROVED the

a)     Updated Business Continuity Plan and the

b)    Review of the effectiveness of the 2023 Internal Audit.

ii.         NOTED that the financial Risk Assessments was due for review in March 2024.

i.         NOTED the tax base for 2024-25 was1131.7 compared to 1002 in 23-24.

ii.         AGREED that the Clerk should request from OCC a breakdown of the properties inhabited and where they are located.

iii.         RESOLVED to increase the Band D equivalent by 5% to £63.06. This would produce a precept of £71,365.

·       RESOLVED to accept a quote of £7,326 to completely replace the roof covering. This would have a 15-year guarantee. This would be funded from the Playing Field budget.

·       RESOLVED that the Clerk to get a quote to remove the meter to compare to the cost of the standing charge.

·       NOTED that the plumber was booked to replace the tap on 18^th December, and if it did not resolve the water pressure issues next options would come to the January meeting.

·       RESOLVED the Clerk would seek quotes for the roadside trees to be crown lifted.

·       NOTED that the defibrillator training was held on the 11^th December, with positive feedback received from attendees.

1.     The contract for the slips at Lodge Hill has now been let to Balfour Beatty.  It is hoped for a spring start.  It is fully funded.

2.     The contract for the associated traffic calming has been let to the County’s internal contractor for works such as the traffic calming in Sugworth Lane etc.  It is hoped for a spring start and it is fully funded.

3.     The Enforcement Notice for the Old Coal Yard has now been issued.

4.     The County budget is now mostly in place, currently there is a shortfall of £9.1 million pounds, which is not unusual at this stage of the budget.  It is hoped to close the gap by the time the budget is tabled in February.

5.     OCC will increase the council tax increase by 4.99%.

1.     Vale together with SODC are preparing to launch a second round of Joint Local Plan consultation early next year to develop their new Joint Local Plan to 2041. The consultation was built using latest technologies and made visual and interactive to encourage residents to participate. Will inform PC and share the link when it’s live.

2.     Site of 1 Sugworth Lane Planning Application P23/V0528/FUL Appeal outcome. The planning application for 2 dwelling which was rejected by Vale Planning Committee, won on Appeal. The Planning Inspectorate noted that they cannot change or revoke the outcome of this decision. We can share the copy on request.

3.     Sandford Land flooding: Vale drainage team was working on Sandford Lane as we were informed by Kennington PC Cllr and also Layla Moran is on the case, she is in communications with Redrow.

4.     Terra Firma Planning Application. The application withdrawal and notification of the application is planned for the beginning of next week. We will keep monitoring the progress.

i.         NOTED that an abandoned vehicle on the Whites Lane layby had been reported to the VoWH for them to deal with.

ii.         RESOLVED to report that the drains down Foxborough Road, the corner of Whites Lane and at the bottom of Church Road are full up with silt and require the attention of the “gulper.”

·       NOTED the activities carried out by the Lengthsman in the last month.

–      Routine checks and inspections – Litter picking, playground checks, regular air-sweeping of the playground and pathways. Cleanliness of benches. Functionality of AEDs and SIDs. SID battery replacement (4 batteries weekly). Rotation of SIDs. Meter readings. Tree inspection.

–      Brush clearance of village hall grounds.

–      Leaf clearance of village hall grassed areas with college boys.

–      Litter pick of Radley Lakes with college boys.

–      Remaining soil mounds cleared away.

–      Litter pick of Kennington Road, Whites Lane, and Church Road.

–      FMS reports. Reviewed FMS repairs. Liaised with Highways.

–      Check of outer-Parish areas.

–      Reported abandoned bicycle for collection.

–      Excavated allotment stopcock.

–      Minor housekeeping activities and emails.

i.         CONSIDERED the resident’s concern on the safety of pedestrians emerging from Footpath 8 onto the Radley Road roundabout.

ii.         RESOLVED report the residents and Radley Parish Councils concern to OCC.

·       NOTED that work is currently being undertaken to improve the condition of Sandford Lane.

·       NOTED the file from Kennington Parish Council Freedom of Information Request on Fix My Street statistics.

·       Cr Moggridge was due to meet the Radley College Estates Bursar to discuss plans for the car park frontage and details of the proposals would be shared at Januarys Radley Parish Council meeting.

·       Parish council car park landscaping proposal

·       Garden competition

·       Development Steering Group: Thursday 11^th January at 7pm.

·       Planning committee: Thursday 25th January 2024 at 7pm (if needed).

·       Ordinary Parish Council meeting: Thursday 25th January at 7.30pm

All to be held in the Church Room.

·       NOTED the full list of dates of meetings for 2024.