Salford Parish Council

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting Salford Village Hall 15 April 2008 at 7.30pm

1. Present Parish Councillors: Nigel Colston (Chairman) George Fawdry, Liz Leaper, and Dennis Stickley County Councillor: Hilary Biles, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) District Councillors: Tony Walker and Andrew Beaney, West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) Police Community Support Officer: Kirstyn Tyrer Clerk: Carol Ross 12 parishioners

2. Apologies Apolgies were received from Cllr Nick Hill.

3. Minutes of the last meeting The minutes of the last meeting held on 17 April 2007 were approved and signed as a correct record, with two alterations: 1) David Neudegg was the Chief Executive of WODC and 2) the net operating budget of WODC was £13.2 million.

4. Matters arising from the minutes (a) Cllr Biles was aware that the draining of the ditch was a long-term issue which needed resolving, and had asked Cottesway Housing whether they were responsible for the ditch. Cllr Beaney undertook to pursue the matter; it was possible that the WODC would have to clear the ditch. Action: AB (b) The OCC Highways department were commended for repainting the white lines and replacing the sign on Salford Hill. (c) Mr Ian Hoare asked that there should be public access to the village noticeboards. The Parish Council would review the matter. Action: CR

5. Police Report Police Community Support Officer Kirstyn Tyrer had taken over from PC Gordon Monks. She explained that she liaised between the community and the police in order to foster good relationships and gather intelligence. PCSOs did not have powers to arrest but could detain a suspect for up to 30 minutes. From April 2007-8 44 calls were made from Salford to Thames Valley Police. Seven crimes had been reported, one down on last year, and no burglaries. Chipping Norton police station was open to the public from 8am to 4pm and manned until 2am; there was a yellow telephone at the front door which would summon a police officer between 4pm and 2am. To report a non-urgent crime or antisocial behaviour the number is 0845 8 505 505. PCSO Tyrer was thanked for her report.

6. Chairman’s Report The Chairman reported that it had been a busy year. The Parish Council continued to oversee the public areas in the village, including the footpaths and play areas. The playground cradle swings had been replaced, and at the next meeting it was hoped to agree to replace the playground fence, which at 2 present was in a poor state. A timetable case would shortly be put up in the bus shelter. The noticeboard on the village green had been renovated. David Bayliss and Newmans had continued to do the grass-cutting, and the patch of grass in Orchard Close had been maintained by the Parish Council. There was now a contract with the OCC which the Parish Council had had to enter into to maintain the grass-cutting. Fly-tipping was a continual problem and raised at almost every meeting. Planning applications were taken seriously and comments sent to WODC. The Parish Council had had communications with the Housing Association and also the OCC Highway Department regarding the drains and other issues. The Parish Council now had a website – www.salfordvillage.org.uk – which the Clerk was maintaining. For those not on-line, information would be put up on the noticeboards in the usual way. The Chairman thanked the Councillors for their work in the last year. Four were standing again, but Cllr George Fawdry would be retiring. The Chairman thanked him warmly for his contribution over many years, saying his sound advice would be much missed. A parishioner stated that the grassy area near Chapel Lane was overgrown and the Chairman agreed to discuss this at a future PC meeting. Action: CR

7. Finance The provisional accounts for 2007-8 (attached) were presented and approved, proposed by Mr Ray Timms, seconded by Cllr Stickley. Mr Andrew Thomas, Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, stated that the Parish Council would shortly be sent an invoice for £1895 including VAT, as the final settlement on the village hall renovation.

8. Report from Cllr Hilary Biles, OCC Cllr Biles had had a busy year, serving on the Oxfordshire Planning Committee and the Adoption Committee and Democracy and Organisation Committee.  The Council tax had increased by 3.875%.  There had been increased partnership working between the District and County Councils, following the decision not to go ahead with a Unitary Council.  There was a Public Service Board in Oxfordshire comprising the key public sector organisations, whose job was to agree the management of resources.  The County Council had now become a ‘Good’ Council, down from an ‘Excellent’ one last year, largely because of downgrading in school attainment. Measures had already been put in place to rectify the situation. However, Chipping Norton School’s GCSE and A Level results had been very good, making it one of the best schools in the County.  The Government were seeking to amend the planning regulations.  Chipping Norton theatre had lost its Arts funding but there had been a transitional settlement since.  The Chipping Norton Hospital/Care Home project had been approved but was now behind the original schedule. 3

 It was hoped that a permanent environmental weight restriction would be imposed on lorries in the area eventually. Trading Standards would be doing spot checks and weighing lorries on the A361 and A44. It was hoped eventually to re-route lorries away from the centre of Chipping Norton. Meetings had taken place and a new route added to the AQA Consultation which would take traffic around the Kings Stone and therefore not affect the Rollright Stones. The road would need to be strengthened as well as work done at either end. This would give the opportunity for the Rollright Stones Trust to use the area appropriately. The route would need to be looked at by SEEDA who would have the final say as to whether or not it could proceed. Nothing had yet been decided as to what measures would be taken to help with Air Quality and it could be that this route would not be chosen.  2 out of 3 stars had been awarded for local social care.  There would be government help for flooding but it would not be received till 2010. Cllr Biles concluded by saying she enjoyed representing Salford and working with Tony Walker, and wished him well in his retirement. Discussion  There was discussion about the lorry situation and the possible use of the diversion around the Kings Stone. This road was thought by the Parish Council to be unsafe for heavy traffic, a concern already put forward to WODC in connection with the application for a new entrance road for the Quarry.  The new road cameras at Chipping Norton Police Station were there to pick up reported vehicles and registration numbers.  The Parish Council would keep an eye on the maintenance of the Kennel Hill hedge.

9. Report: District Councillor Tony Walker  The government settlement this year was only 1% and for the next two years would be only ½%. The WODC had succeeded in making more than 3% savings without cutting services. Extra responsibilities were being imposed with no additional Government funding.  There was ongoing work to do with last year’s flooding. The WODC were mapping the area’s ditches and informing landowners of their responsibilities in clearing ditches. The European Union had allocated £142 million to the UK towards flood relief.  Affordable housing was a top priority.  The WODC Council Tax remained the second lowest in England and Wales.  The Marriott’s Close retail development in Witney was scheduled to open in autumn 2009.  £260,000 had been allocated by the Government for the National Buss Pass scheme.  A new waste contract was being negotiated and the food waste scheme would be delayed until it was settled. 4

Discussion  There was some discussion about what happened to the recycled waste. Cllr Biles stated that it was all recycled in West Oxfordshire and that in 2009 there would be EU fines at £150/ton for any waste over target going into landfill. In answer to questioning, Cllr Bleaney stated that the waste went to Enstone. Action: Cllr Bleaney  The drainage in the village was discussed and the Parish Council would investigate the water coming down behind the village hall. Action: CR  The question of why the Yellow Pages were not made of recyclable paper was raised. Cllr Bleaney would investigate. Action: Cllr Bleaney  Cllr Walker would not be standing for re-election due to family matters, and Mr Stickley would be taking his place. The Chairman said that in the 24 years that Cllr Walker had been our District Councillor he had only missed one Salford Parish Meeting, and he warmly thanked him for his considerable contribution.

10.Fawdry Welfare Trust This was administered by George Fawdry, Roma Smith, and Hugh Williams. £40 had been distributed to elderly needy people in the village.

11. Neighbourhood Watch Cllr Fawdry stated that, as last year, only himself and Mr Druce were prepared to coordinate Neighbourhood Watch. The Parish Council would discuss whether it should be continued. Action: CR

12. Village Hall Mr Andrew Thomas, Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, said that it had been a good year with increased hall hire. New chairs had been bought. Some fund-raising had occurred, notably the Salford Players successful productions. The bank balance was £900 in credit. The stage had been removed and stored.

13. Any other business Mr Timms stated he had been very upset to see that the tree on the village green which he had nurtured, had been broken off in an act of vandalism.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm and was followed by refreshments.

……………………………………………… …………………. Chairman Date