MINUTES – February 2024

Crs Barnfather, Sparks. District Councillor Cox was 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 Trust (Trustee)

A Kennington resident raised concerns regarding the flooding issues on Sandford Lane. Cr Johnston requested issues to be registered to Oxfordshire City Council (OCC).

o   Chairman was listed as Cr Henderson, and to be amended to Cr Crowley.

1)    Gooseacre:

i.         Noted there is a delay to the programme of works and the estimated start date to be end of June 2024 at the earliest.

ii.         Noted that Cr Henderson spoke at the cabinet meeting requesting VoWH CIL funding for the village hall and awaiting a response.

iii.         Noted the letter sent to Mark Hewer to discuss funding on Barrow Hills / BMX track the week commencing 26^th February.

iv.         RESOLVED that the Clerk will circulate email correspondence to all councillors of original request of VoWH CIL support.

v.         Noted there is a 200k funding gap for the Gooseacre project.

vi.         Noted that the Gooseacre committee have a preference on the option that is also suited to cooling. The M&E consultant would be asked to examine each quote to validate choice.

vii.         Noted that the History club storage of archives is being arranged to be held elsewhere, but they would like a small cupboard to store a small amount of paperwork available for local surgeries at the village hall.

viii.         RESOLVED that any tree works will be deferred.

2)    Lawns Community Building:

i.         Noted that the Rotunda final layout and revised quote has not yet been received.

ii.         Noted that the updated budget has not yet received.

iii.         Noted that the land transfer document has been received from Redrow and is with the solicitor.

iv.         RESOLVED that the Clerk will ask the solicitor to add to the land transfer contract for Redrow to provide a ground investigation and consolidation report, along with a report from Redrow structural engineers to confirm the land is stable to build a community centre upon. Otherwise, Radley Parish Council would need to purchase insurance to cover these eventualities.

v.         APPROVED the submission of the S106 application for funding for artist led design and installation of canopies for the proposed North Radley Room.

3)    Radley Lakes:

i.         Noted the Radley Lakes Trust application for funding has not yet been received.

4)    Cemetery extension:

i.         Noted that advice from CDS cemetery consultants has not been received yet and would be discussed at the Development Steering Goup.

5)    Lower Radley sewage issues:

i.         Noted Cr Henderson joined a call between Thames Water and Lower Radley residents to provide Parish Council support.

ii.         RESOLVED that Cr Henderson will check if residents have or are able to get samples of contaminated water to send onto Thames Water.

1.     NW Radley (Church Farm):

i.         Noted the OCC and Pye response on the street lighting.

ii.         Noted that one tree has been replaced, but no confirmation received from Pye of clearing and replacing the dead trees.

iii.         RESOLVED that the Clerk will press Pye to arrange a meeting with the Pye planning manager to discuss the Church Farm development to discuss street lighting and the tree replacements. Crs Frank, Johnston, Moggridge and Tannahill to attend.

2.     North Abingdon: None.

3.     South Kennington (The Lawns):

i.         Noted that councillors have concerns about the balancing pond and a potential blockage in the normal stream underground culvert.

ii.         Noted that Oxfordshire Highways are responsible, but not responding to concerns raised from Cr Johnston.

iii.         RESOLVED that the Radley Parish councillors support Kennington Parish Councils request to set up a working group with Radley Parish Council to help bring Redrow into the Sandford Lane flooding discussions.

iv.         AGREED that the Clerk will check the land registry to find the landowner for the Copse.

v.         Noted that Footpath closure is extended to 2025, and Kennington parish has been updated. The information would be shared via the communication channels.

1)    Old Coalyard:

i.         RESOLVED that Cr Johnston will attend the appeal with the Planning inspector. The date of the hearing is to be confirmed. No date or location yet of when it will be held – TBC. PRC agreed.

ii.         The Clerk is to reiterate and resend Radley parish Councils response.

iii.         AGREED that Cr Frank will meet with residents.

iv.         The Clerk will re-share the enforcement notice with all councillors.

2)    ROMP: None

3)    Terra Firma:

i.         Noted that Cr Johnston has discussed this with VoWH, and has requested D. Cr Lugova to provide support on the matter.

·       Noted a request to consider what residents put down their drains is being included in the Parish Council March communications.

·       RESOLVED: to confirm scrutiny and acceptance of the bank statements and reconciliation. The chairman Cr Crowley confirmed this by signing the statements and reconciliation.

i.         Noted the budget updates in the file.

ii.         Noted the summary budget update.

i.         The Council acknowledged scrutiny of the invoices for payment in February 2024. Cr Crowley confirmed this by signing the cashbook.

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

·       APPROVED the financial risk assessment for 2024.

·       APPROVED the purchase of grass cutting equipment.

·       Noted the January play area quarterly report indicates that the majority of the equipment will require attention this year.

·       APPROVED the destination of the maturing Nationwide deposit.

1.     The only item of note is budget day yesterday for the County Council.  The minority Liberal Democrat/Green administration put forward its budget.  It needed one of the other two bigger Groups to either support it or to abstain in order to get it through.  At first it looked as though a deal with Tories was possible.  They started off with a request for an extra £1 million pounds for potholes in return for their abstention.  However as the day went on their demands escalated and they ended up with quite a lengthy list, which made any deal with them unacceptable.  So in the end a Labour amendment was accepted.  The ruling Group was initially uneasy about the Labour offer because amongst other things it involved an extra £25 million pounds of borrowing which would result in extra revenue charges in the future of some £1.5 million pounds a year ongoing.  However the amendment had been signed off by the Section 151 Officer as being legal, so it was accepted.  Nothing was lost from the original budget and all the rest were additions including an extra £5 million pounds to repair potholes.  The budget confirms a Council Tax rise of 4.99% which equates roughly to about £60 per annum for a band D  property.  It provides for a real terms increase of 10.6% for Children’s Social Services and 8.6% for Adult Social Services.

1.     Flooding Financial support. Vale is working to get funding to distribute financial support for residents and businesses affected by the recent flooding, caused by Storm Henk in January 2024. As soon Vale commences payments, update will be provided to all affected: Vale team will contact anyone who has already reported flooding to Vale or Oxfordshire County Council (through the flood toolkit) to let them know how to access available funds.  People impacted by Storm Henk are encouraged report property/business flooding if they haven’t already done so. The link is here: Report a flood – Oxfordshire Flood Toolkit

2.     Vale Budget/Council Tax.  Vale Council voted for the Budget and Council Tax for 2024/2025 during the Vale Council meeting on 21st February 2024. Vale Council Tax will be increased by 3.30% – for example band D council tax for 2024/25 will be £156.69, which is an increase of £5 from £151.69 in 2023/24.

3.     Old Coalyard Enforcement Appeal update. As you know, the applicant launched an Appeal as a response to OCC Enforcement Notice issued in November 2023. The Appeal will proceed by scheduled hearing in May 2024. PINS were a little slow in coming through with the paperwork, but I think they were trying up front to iron out that the appellant had asked for a Public Inquiry (which was way over the top and probably an attempt to delay matters further).  OCC made representations against the Public Inquiry request and it has been settled for a Hearing.

i.         Noted that the Lengthsman has added Lower Radley potholes back on fix my street.

ii.         Noted the residents request for support from Radley Parish Council to resolve the drainage challenges on Whites Lane.

iii.         RESOLVED that the Clerk will write to Pye to explain the challenges of Whites Lane and the mud coming from the housing site is causing issues with the drainage.

iv.         Noted concerns with flooding on Sugworth lane. Advised that the sewer was damaged when 1, Sugworth Crescent was demolished and it was a condition of the planning permission for new houses that it should be resolved.

i.         RESOLVED that the Council would ask OCC to investigate the possibility of installing bus shelters at the Church Road St James the Great bus stops.  OCC should also be asked to install Real Time Information on the stops.  Both could be funded through S106 agreemetns.

i.         Noted that any funding for 20mph changes is central Government funding which cannot be diverted anywhere else such as potholes etc.

ii.         RESOLVED that Radley Parish Council will not object to OCC’s draft layout, and advice but to push for the changes to Sugworth Lane and Trupp

·       Noted the residents feedback and 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. Meter readings. Tree inspection.

–      College boys partnership – edging St James Road pathway and drive approaches and a grass verge in Little Howe Close.

–      St James Road and Little Howe Close – post partnership clean up. Tree debris raked up. Soil waste and tree waste removed and disposed of. Pavements and roads swept.

–      Review of FMS repairs. Marked up road and footpath defects. Submitted repair reports. Re-marking FMS defects washed away in rain.

–      Litter pick of PC Church Road car park and surroundings.

–      Litter pick of closed cemetery.

–      Litter pick of 30mph Sugworth Lane (Oxford Road end).

–      Minor housekeeping activities and emails.

·       Heard the biodiversity competition plans. Decision to be deferred to the Parish Council meeting in March.

i.         Noted that the litter pick is being held on Sunday 3^rd March.

ii.         The Lengthsman was asked to consider adding The Lawns as one of the litter picking routes.

i.         Noted a second quote for the allotment pipe has not yet been received. Item deferred to the Parish Council meeting in March.

·       Planning committee: Thursday 28^th March at 7pm (if needed).

·       Ordinary Parish Council meeting: Thursday 28^th March at 7.30pm

All to be held in the Church Room.

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