Horton-cum-Studley Parish Council

Minutes of the Meeting

Held on Thursday 14 August 2008 in the Millennium Hall

Present:		David Prosser (Chairman), Colin Badger, Tim Hallchurch (District Councillor), Barbara Jewell, Elizabeth Kenworthy-Browne, Jill Meyjes, Mary Stuck and Alexia Lewis (Clerk).
1.	Apologies and Declaration of Interest – there were no declarations of interest reported.
2.	Public Participation – 37 members of the public attended.
2.1 2.2	Development of the Lodge – a request was made to the Parish Council to rescind their decision to lift the covenant which allows the four town houses to be built on the green belt since the village is an SSSCI, Class 3 village. A request was also made to instruct a specialist solicitor (such as Darbys) to look at all the covenants in the village ,as they are very complex, with the objective of producing a simple guide to understanding them. These documents are stored in the archive section at St Lukes Church. ACTION: Barbara Jewell to contact solicitors. A request was also made to employ a planning consultant to review the Lodge planning applications and relevant covenants and to establish what legal obligations the owner, John Attley, has in relation to this development and how the Parish Council can monitor compliance. It was noted that under the Section 106 agreement, John Attley is required to pay for any village infrastructure improvements necessitated by the development at the Lodge, as well as appropriate landscaping. A parishioner asked to see the deed of release document signed by the Parish Council and it was noted that the Clerk is still awaiting for a copy from the Parish Council’s Solicitor. The Parish Council agreed to employ a town planner to examine the situation past and present concerning the Lodge development. ACTION: Clerk to contact OALC. David Prosser to contact Edward Pilling Solicitors to request a copy of the deed of release.			BJ AL DP
2.3	Proposed development to land adjacent to St Barnabas, Church Lane - Tim Hallchurch reported that Cherwell District Council would go to the Planning Committee with a recommendation for refusal. The Parish Council agreed to object to the proposal.
2.4	Ragwort – there is an increasing problem with ragwort in the village. This plant, which is poisonous to horses, sheep and cattle, is notifiable, therefore parishioners should report bad cases to the local council or to Defra.
2.5	Minutes of Meetings – minutes of the Parish Council meetings are uploaded monthly on www.otmoor.co.uk which is run by Tim Hallchurch. A request was made to archive all minutes of meetings on this web site			TH
2.6	Dormer House – it was reported that there is a skateboard ramp in the garden at Dormer House which is causing noise pollution to neighbouring properties. A parishioner asked the Parish Council to mediate between the owners of Dormer House and the owners of neighbouring properties, to work out a solution, before Cherwell District Council becomes involved. If this is not resolved locally, an enforcement officer will visit from Cherwell District Council to measure the noise and make a judgement of reasonable usage. ACTION: David Prosser will speak to owners of Dormer House.			DP
2.7	Bottle Bank – a request was made for a bottle bank to be sited in the village. Cherwell District Council has recently issued householders a 6 bottle bag to use to recycle their bottles, noting that the local bottle bank is situated at Arncott.
3.	Minutes of the Last Meeting of 10 July 2008 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
4.	Matters Arising –
4.1	Fence along the footpath at Studley Priory, Horton Hill - this matter is being dealt with by Clare O’Sullivan at Oxfordshire County Council.
4.	Councillors’ Reports
4.1	District Councillor – there was nothing to report.
4.2	Police – Mary Stuck reported that our Police Community Support Officer, Andrew Clarke, has not been visible in the village recently. It was agreed to invite WPC Pip Hankoiewicz and Andrew Clarke to the next Parish Council meeting in September.		MS
4.3	Almshouses – there was nothing to report.
4.4	Church – there was nothing to report.
4.5	Village Hall Committee – there was nothing to report.
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