MINUTES – July 2024

·       Councillor Barnfather, Frank, Johnston and Sparks.

·       District Councillor Cox was unable to attend and sent his apologies.

RECEIVED:

i.         Cr Henderson – North Radley Community Room CIO, Radley Village Hall (Trustee of both).

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

·       3 members of the public attended.

·       A member of the public raised concerns over the most recent response from Thames Water regarding the Lower Radley sewer issues.

1.     Gooseacre:

i.         Noted that the Gooseacre committee meeting was not held on 24^th July due to the resources focused on the Rotunda project.

ii.         MRH would be asked to carry out the work to create the exploratory holes required.

2.     Lawns Community Building:

i.         Noted that the land transfer is still to be completed, due to a request for an updated ground condition report. RESOLVED that the Council will not take further action with this request. Rotunda was happy with the original ground report provided, and nothing has changed to warrant the expenditure of an updated report.

ii.         RESOLVED to ask Cr Lugova to contact the VoWH to understand why the Vale deemed the information on the drains not to be sufficient on the planning application. They are requesting more information than is usually expected.

iii.         Noted Rotunda were struggling with the energy calculations that are required as part of the building regulations. This in turn was preventing them from starting on the next phase of the build.

iv.         Noted that the project manager’s fee will be reviewed at the next meeting.

3.     Cemetery extension: None

4.     Radley Lakes: None

1.     Church Farm: Noted a site visit is being arranged for the 9^th August.

2.     North Abingdon: None

3.     The Lawns: None

1.     Old Coalyard: RESOLVED for the Council to send a written complaint to Layla Moran MP regarding the hearing and the lack of output since.

2.     ROMP: RESOLVED that the Clerk to find if there is any information on Tuckwells’ future plans.

3.     Terra Firma: RESOLVED for the Council to request an update from the Vale of White Horse and David Perriman.

·       RESOLVED that the Council would write directly to Thames Water Chief Executive requesting a full comprehensive response to the sewer issues by September, otherwise RPC will take the matter to Ofwat and Layla Moran.

·       RESOLVED for Cr Henderson to draft a response and circulate to all councillors for feedback.

i.         ACKNOWLEDGED and APPROVED the scrutiny and acceptance of the bank statements and reconciliation for the month of June.

ii.         Noted the budget update.

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

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

iii.         RESOLVED that invoices for August should be paid after checking by councillors and verified at the September meeting.

iv.         APPROVED a monthly payment of £9.99 to the clerk for the phone line (paid at cost).

v.         RESOLVED that the preferred method of payment of invoices will be online banking.

·       DEFERRED the approval of the new drafted regulations until the September meeting.

·       RESOLVED to delegate to the Clerk with the Chairman and Chairman of the F&A to accept the Internal Auditor’s quote for services for the 24-25.

i.         Noted the Lengthsman vacancy has a closing date of 20^th August, and adverts have been circulated.

i.         Noted the Radley Parish council stall had various discussions with visitors regarding the website.

ii.         Noted REG held their competition and displayed the winning entries at the fete.

i.         Noted comments on the new agreement with the football club.

ii.         RESOLVED that the Clerk will advise the football club must provide Radley Parish Council with copies of the written documents, and act on all the other requests on the agreement.

iii.         Noted concerns about waste and litter found at the pavilion.

i.         Noted the website reports.

ii.         APPROVED to hire Netwise to become the Approved Registrar.

iii.         APPROVED the new website domain name to be: radleyparish.gov.uk

iv.         RESOLVED for the Website Working Group to come back to the Parish Council meeting with a recommendation on how to manage historical content on the org.uk website.

1.     Lengthsman Shed

i.         Noted that Radley College are currently storing equipment until it can be moved into the shed.

ii.         Noted that a shed for the Lengthsman tools has been purchased and is awaiting installation.

iii.         Noted the SID sign batteries have gone flat.

2.     Defibrillator

i.         Noted that weekly defibrillator and play area checks were completed.

ii.         Noted that quarterly play area check was completed, and report awaits.

3.     AGAR

Noted: The 2023-24 Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) has been sent off to the external auditors. Posted the Notice of Public Rights on the Noticeboard at the Village Hall as well as on the website along with the Unaudited Annual Governance & Accountability Return as required.

1)    The only relevant local matter to report is a conversation I had last week with David Periam from the County Planning Department. I noted that it had gone very quiet on the gravel extraction application for the ROMP. His reply was to the effect that following the applicants unsatisfactory environmental impact assessment, the applicant has had to do and redo much extra work to get the assessment up to an acceptable standard. In consequence little was now expected from the applicant before next spring.

1)    Planning policies changes were declared by new Labour government. At the moment the only thing that came through is onshore Wind Farms ban lift (the ban was introduced by David Cameron government). We are waiting for further policies changes and will update you when we know more.

2)    Summer holidays. Didcot will play host to a bonanza of free activities as the Didcot Garden Party returns this summer. The festival begins on Saturday 27 July with a day of events in the courtyard at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Station Road, kickstarting more than a month of fun and excitement around the town. Garden party 24 (southoxon.gov.uk)

3)    SSEN Resilience Fund is accepting applications. It can include purchase and installation of LCT in community buildings for public use and aggregated domestic properties. Technology could include solar panels, battery storage, EV charging, heat systems, renewable energy sources, smart heating controls, and energy efficient measures. In most cases, you can apply for funding from £1,000 up to a maximum of £20,000 in this category. In exceptional circumstances, multi-community area funding to a maximum of £40,000 can be considered. Guidance and Form attached.

i.         RESOLVED for the Clerk to investigate if Radley Parish Council would get SSEN resilience fund for the heat pump at the community building.

·       Noted the highway maintenance team have offered a site visit on the 2^nd September. All councillors invited to come along.

·       DELEGATED to the Clerk to seek a contractor to strim the car park frontage.

·       Planning committee: Thursday 22^nd August at 7pm (if needed).

·       Ordinary Parish Council meeting: Thursday 22^nd August at 7.30pm (if needed)

·       Development Steering Group: Thursday 12^th September at 7pm

·       Planning committee: Thursday 26^th September at 7pm (if needed).

·       Ordinary Parish Council meeting: Thursday 26^th September at 7.30pm

All to be held in the Church Room.

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