CUDDESDON AND DENTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
10th February 2009 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall
Present: Martyn Percy (Chairman) MP
David Keene (Vice Chairman) DK
Nick King NK
Cyril Sellar CS
Katrina Sheldon KS
Lynda Ware LW
Mike Mount (Clerk) MM
Apologies: Kathy Hawley KH
Elizabeth Gillespie (SODC) EG
David Turner (OCC) DT
12 MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting were approved with one minor modification.
13 MATTERS ARISING
13.1 Trees
• The OCC arboriculturalist had sent a report confirming that the horse chestnut in Denton between White Cottage and the brook should be felled. She had inspected other trees in the village and recommended some work should be done to some of them.
• The general view was that it might be necessary to remove some other trees which the Parish Council did not consider safe.
• OCC had pruned the trees in the High Street which were their responsibility and also done some work on the row of trees on the south side of Cuddesdon Green. This had caused disquiet to some local residents.
• It was agreed that there should be a meeting with local residents at Denton Green at 10.00am on Saturday 28th February to discuss the state of the trees in that area, and whether others should be felled. Sue Thomson agreed to advise the local residents. The meeting would then move to Cuddesdon Green for further discussion.
• It was stated that excessive trimming can damage the tree bases and lead to infection, and that the grass cutting contractor should be advised of this. Action: MM
• MP asked that the arboriculturalist was advised of the Parish Council’s view.
Action: MM
13.2 Web Site
• KS, NK and MM had been trained in maintenance of the web site.
• They would discuss separately how to manage the site and put their proposals to the Parish Council.
• It was suggested that there should be a link to the College web site.
• Mark Chapman had written asking that a section was included for the Church.
13.3 Grass Cutting
• It had been agreed at the previous meeting that prices should be sought from other sources for the grass cutting.
• MM had contacted ten local Parish Councils, and three had responded with usable alternative grass cutting contractors:
o Young Brothers had not quoted because they estimated the annual amount would be £4000.
o Robinsons Garden Care had only quoted for the Recreation Ground at £100 per cut (compared with £57.75 from Berinsfield).
o Mick’s Garden Services was yet to quote.
• Berinsfield had advised that they would keep the grass short on the Recreation Ground by using cut and collect at the start of the year (costing £80 to £100) and cutting with a gang mower at other times. They had also advised that additional cuts could be done if needed at short notice. It was agreed that cuttings could be tipped over the bank behind the site of the bonfire.
• It was agreed that a decision would be made on who should do the cutting when the quote from Mick’s Garden Services had been received.
13.4 Moles
The pest controller who advertised in the Newsletter had agreed to catch the moles on the Recreation Ground and he expected it to cost £100.
14 FINANCE
14.1 Payments
NK: Parish Plan Questionnaire prize: £25.00
OGBN: Annual subscription: £15.00
SODC: Dog bin emptying October to December: £22.18
Easykey: Web site January 2009 to January 2010: £368.00
SODC: One third of election expenses: £172.24
CS: Hedge trimming: £62.10
14.2 Receipts
VAT: April to December 2008: £516.75
14.3 Budget
A revised budget was presented showing that the likely available funds at the end of the financial year would be £4288.
14.4 Bank Balances
At 31st December 2008:
Current account £8193.43
Deposit account £2703.37
Total £10898.80
15 PARISH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
LW: The recent bad weather had highlighted that the village had no contingency for residents who might need assistance in times of difficulty. NK agreed to investigate whether this could be included in the Parish Plan. Action: NK
There was to be another concert and dinner at Denton House in the summer. LW asked if the Parish Council’s insurance would cover this. Action: MM to contact Allianz
NK: The notice board’s lock had been vandalised. MM had repaired it.
The “Cuddesdon” sign on the Wheatley Road had been removed. MM advised that OCC had said they would replace it, but it might take a little time.
A litter pick was planned for 28th March at 2.00pm.
DK: The Village Hall building work was to start on 23rd February. It was agreed that a skip could be put just inside the gate on the Recreation Ground during the work.
There was some rubbish in the gateway of one of the fields on the Wheatley Road which needed removal. Action: MM to contact SODC
CS: There was some rubbish near the sewage works on the Chiselhampton Road which needed removal. Action: MM to contact SODC
16 CLERK’S BUSINESS
• SODC’s waste contractor had been appointed and some presentations on the new service were being held at SODC’s offices during March.
• OCC had asked whether the Parish Council would be prepared to agree to some of the street lights being switched off between 12.30am and 5.30am to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. It was agreed that the one at the junction of Denton Hill and the High Street, and the one at the junction of The Green and Church Road could be turned off. Action: MM to inform OCC
• Ryder Cheshire Volunteers had written asking for a donation. This was declined.
• NALC had advised that their new model standing orders would be available in April.
• OCC wanted to include a page on the village in Oxfordshire County Council’s web site. It was agreed that they could use information from the village web site.
Action: MM to advise OCC
17 CHRISTMAS TREE
It was agreed That the permanent tree on the Green should be used next Christmas and that a cable should be run to it from the existing distribution box.
18 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Since the Village Hall would not be available for March’s meeting because of building work, it was agreed that the meeting on 10th March should take place at Ripon College in the Seminar Room. Action: MM to advise EG and DT
19 OUTSTANDING
19.1 Chippinghurst Manor Footpath
The status of the footpath at Chippinghurst Manor needed investigation. Action: DT
19.2 Basketball Fund
Details of the grant payment with SODC needed confirmation. Action: EG
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