MINUTES – July 2023

District Councillor Cox was unable to attend.

RECEIVED:

·      Cr Crowley declared an interest in item 110/23/6 as a trustee of Radley Lakes Trust.

·      Cr Henderson declared interests in item 110/23/1 as members of Radley Village Hall management committee.

·      Cr Henderson & Cr McDermott in item 110/23/2 as committee members of North Radley Room.

·       RESOLVED to defer voting on co-option until the September meeting.

Members of Friends of Radley Station noted that step free access to the up line remained a major deficit. They highlighted that lifts were being provided at Tackley Station where passenger numbers were many times fewer. An unsuccessful grant application had been made to the CCC fund in 2021.

·       RESOLVED that the Council should write to Network Rail and  GWR to request that they look again at providing step free access at Radley Station.

1.       Gooseacre: Planning approval was outstanding pending  a response from OCC on changes to the car park, although more than the required number were still being provided. An extension of time had been agreed until 11^th August. The architect had agreed to a proposed condition on landscaping. It was agreed that no more extensions of time should be agreed.

2.       Lawns Community Building:  The planning application was outstanding pending an amendment to Redrow’s landscaping scheme so that there would be no trees planted in the vision splay for the car park in the future.  Redrow had undertaken to make this change. It was agreed that the planning officer should be asked whether the application could be made conditional on this.

·     RESOLVED that if this was not resolved by 3^rd August, the Council should seek a meeting with the Vale to progress.

Rotunda had provided a revised quote for the prefabricated building which would expire on 25^th August.

·     RESOLVED that

i.       The quantity surveyor should be asked to update his cost estimates for the non-Rotunda work

ii.       The Finance and Administration Committee would meet on 21^st August to  consider and, if necessary, revise the budget and consider from which budget heading any extra funds should be moved.

iii.       The Parish Council would meet on 24^th August to consider the recommendations of the Finance and Administration committee.

3.   Cemetery extension: It was recognised that this was urgent. A meeting should be arranged with the PCC to discuss possible alternative sites.

4.   Road safety around the school: None

5.   Primary school and hall extension:  The school extension had been opened officially on 8^th July with speeches from the chairman, the Radley College bursar and the school head teacher and a ribbon cutting. This project could now be closed.

6.   Radley Lakes:  No report

7.    Drainage issues Lower Radley: No report

NW Radley (Church Farm): Crs Barnfather, Henderson and Moggridge and the clerk had met representatives from Pye on 25^th July. They had updated on progress including landscaping and delays to the proposed Whites Lane – Foxborough Road junction realignment. Technical approval had been much delayed and Pye were now waiting for OCC’s legal department to provide the s278 agreement. Technical approval for the cycle track was still outstanding.

·       RESOLVED that the Council should write to OCC highlighting that the junction alterations were very welcome as the arrangement would become much safer for the parish and also pedestrians and cyclists and demanding that they move forward urgently.

South Kennington (The Lawns):None

Old Coalyard: The Council had understood that enforcement action was being taken against the uses ongoing on the site without planning permission, but a retrospective planning application Oxfordshire County Council Planning Reference MW.0088/23 had been submitted.

·       RESOLVED that the Council objected to the application on the grounds of disturbance to neighbours and traffic issues.

There was no update on the Terrafirma application from the Head of Planning.

·       RESOLVED that the update addressed the Council’s reservations.

·       RESOLVED that the Council would provide VoWHDC with one high level quote to repair the VoWHDC Barrow Hills skate park.

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

·       The Council acknowledged scrutiny of the invoices for payment in June. The chairman confirmed this by signing the cashbook.

·       RESOLVED that the accounts as itemised on the monthly cashbook for July should be paid.

·       NOTED the draft minutes of the committee meeting held on 6^th July

·       RESOLVED to accept the committee’s recommendations that the council should:  

b.   Reinvest the full balance of the maturing one year bond should be invested in a 1 year bond with Cambridge and Counties bank,

c.   Approve the draft Investment policy ,

d.   Approve a quote of £900 from Oxford Tree Surgeons to take down the dead and insect infested tree in the Lower Churchyard ,

e.   Proceed to bring grass and hedge cutting in house. This would be funded through its own reserves;

f.    Increase the football club fee for use of the field and pavilion for the 2023-24 season by 10% to £2,900 and

g.   Apply the following conditions to the football club agreement for the coming season:

i.       The Council recommends that the pavilion is unsuitable for catering and if the football club is catering for the public on a regular basis, they should hold a food safety certificate.

ii.        The Club must ensure that the field is free of litter after every use.

iii.          The club should ensure that all taps, lights, and electrical equipment are turned off after every use.

1.     The decision on approving the Lodge Hill slips will now be an Officer decision and will be taken “very shortly”. I have agreed to this because there are now no outstanding objections from any of the major consultees and otherwise it would have to wait until the 4th of September when the Committee next meetings. The associated traffic calming works are proceeding in parallel and some as in Sunningwell have already been implemented. My understanding that the works for Kennington and Radley are now finalised.

2.     The enforcement notice for the Old Coal Yard is now being finalised. It is my understanding that it has to be absolutely watertight before it can be served to ensure that it does what it says on the tin. A planning application for the site, of which the Parish is aware, has been received. I have asked that it goes to Planning and Regulation and will arrange to attend and speak.

1. P23/V1601/CM Coalyard Thrupp Lane Radley Abingdon OX14 3NG. Officially it states that application is not subject to public consultation, however, it affects significantly the nearest residential property producing noise and pollutions, and we are trying to figure out how we can make our objections count.
2. BMX track repair. We were pushing to include it in CIL budget; however, it will help tremendously  if high level project proposal and budget would be provided by Radley PC.
3. Vale and South organised joint summer activities for families across the districts which will take place from 24^th July till 1^st September. Information is here Lots of fun for everyone this summer! – Vale of White Horse District Council (whitehorsedc.gov.uk)

i.         There were no reports from this meeting.

ii.         There were no updates on reports made in previous meetings.

iii.         The Lengthsman would be trained as a Fix My Street super user.

The Council considered OCC’s invitation to consider applying for 20mph limits in Radley and a draft questionnaire. It was noted that this only applied to roads which are currently 30 or 40mph. With a minor modification, it was

·       RESOLVED to distribute the questionnaire with responses to come to the September meeting.

–      Temporary Road Closure at Kennington, The Avenue, due to essential water connection works 27 July 2023 up to and including 28 July 2023.

–      Road closures –posted on the website, in Radley News and shared to Facebook.

–        The weekly checks and inspections.

–        Weeding and pruning Gooseacre and village hall grounds.

–        Cutting low hanging branches above the village hall car park and Gooseacre pavement.

–        Fix My Street (FMS) training.

–        FMS reports.

–        Litter picking Church Road car park.

Crs Henderson and Moggridge would attend a briefing by St Hilda’s College on ongoing maintenance of Radley Great Wood. A public session 31st July at Kennington Village Centre was advertised on Facebook and had generated a lot of interest. It was AGREED that Crs Henderson and Moggridge would represent the Council’s views.

• Finance and Administration Committee: 21^st August at 7.30pm on Zoom
• Ordinary Parish Council: Thursday 24^th August at 7.30pm in the Church Room