Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 5th November 2024 at 19:30
PRESENT: –
Tim Shreeve Councillor & Chairman Parish Council (Chair)
Mark Davis Councillor
Ashley Byrne Councillor
Kate Flanagan Councillor
Greg Lismore Parish Clerk
2024.93 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Rhys Stone – Councillor
2024.94 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS – Cllr. Tim Shreeve declared a personal interest in respect of a grant application for funding assistance for the Parish Senior Citizens annual lunch and did not participate in that matter on the agenda.
2024.95 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – 15 members of the public were present including South Oxfordshire District Councillor Ed Sadler.
A member of the public addressed the Parish Council on matters relating to dangerous overtaking outside their home and excess speed at a dangerous junction on A4129 Kingsey Road adjacent the Pump House. The Parish Council agreed to contact the Oxfordshire County Council Road Safety Department and request double white lines (no overtaking) and signage at that point. The resident offered to attend any on-site meeting that might take place to further illustrate the dangers with personal testimony.
A member of the public addressed the Parish Council on matters relating to excess speed adjacent the residential properties at the entrance to the 30MPH limit on Thame Road. Despite the clear mandatory speed limit signage and the obvious nature of it being a residential area there are still a number of drivers who believe the law does not apply to them. The resident will write to Oxfordshire County Council requesting additional road markings.
2024.96 MINUTES and MATTERS ARISING.
The minutes of the meeting held on 8th October 2024 were approved by Council and signed by the Chairman.
2024.97 UPDATES FROM OCC and SODC WARD COUNCILLORS – A written report was received from our SODC ward representatives and taken as read.
2024.98 PLANNING MATTERS
FOR CONSIDERATION:-
P24/S3180/PIP Planning Consultation – Westbrook Farm Chinnor Road near Towersey OX9 3RB – Residential property for the occupation of an agricultural worker and family.
NO OBJECTION and any application expected to comply with the NPPF.
FOR INFORMATION:-
P24/S2894/HH – Oak Cottage, Lower Green, Towersey, OX9 3QW – Installation of solar panels on garage block roof, with battery and electric car charger within garage block. APPROVED by SODC
Planning Appeal Consultation – P24/S2018/DA and Planning Appeal Consultation – P24/S0941/FUL – TOW in respect of Emmanuel Ranch, Windmill Road, Towersey, OX9 3QQ. The dates for the public hearing as part of these appeals is set for 19 & 20 November 2024 at 10.00 am. The hearing will be held at South Oxfordshire District Council offices at Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, OX14 3J. The hearing will be a structured informal discussion led by the Inspector. The written statements submitted by the council and the appellant for the hearing are now available on the District Council’s website
2024.99 FINANCE.
The receipts and payments schedule was reviewed. Cheque payments were approved and signed by 2 Councillors. The Bank Balance as at 5 November 2024 was read out. The Parish Clerk confirmed CIL receipt in the sum of £2,437.56 in October 2024.
The Parish Council resolved to approve a donation to the Towersey Memorial Hall Committee in the sum of £200 to assist with the costs associated with providing the senior citizens annual lunch in January 2025.
The Parish Council noted the “Local Government Services Pay Agreement 2024/25” and that it was implemented in the October 2024 payroll.
The Parish Council was informed that SODC have requested the CIL Annual report on receipts/payments for 2023-2024 to be completed by end December 2024.
2024.100 SIGNIFICANT LETTERS not dealt with elsewhere – None
2024.101 PARISH BUSINESS.
The Parish Council noted the receipt of invoices from RJ Groundcare Limited for grass maintenance in respect of the Playing Fields and that arrangements for insuring the Parish Council storage unit at the Playing Fields had been made between the Clerk and the Treasurer of the Playing Fields Committee on a cost neutral (to the Playing Fields Committee) basis.
2024.92 ANY OTHER BUSINESS –
The remaining speed indicating devices in the village will be installed in the coming weeks (one on Windmill Road and one near the playing fields on Thame Road)
The grant application to fund the cost of the replacement of the one that was stolen has been issued to SODC and District Cllr. Ed Sadler was made aware.
The proposals for a new wild & wet area in the corner of the Playing Fields has been explored in detail by the working party and they will meet with the Playing Fields Committee shortly. It is anticipated that a grant application will be made to TOE in the region of up to £15,000 to defray cost of the works. Melanie Walsh, Cllr. Tim Shreeve and Cherry Nurse are working on the proposals.
The existing microphone system in the memorial hall can be used by the Parish Council in their meetings. Cllr. Rhys Stone offered to facilitate in the future.
The Parish Council will host tea & sherry in the Memorial Hall on Remembrance Sunday after the wreath laying.
The next meeting of the Towersey Parish Council will be Tuesday 2nd December 2024 in the War Memorial Hall at 19:30. Christmas pies and mulled will be available gratis for the attendees and provided by the Parish Councillors.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 20:10
Print Name: ………………………………………… Signed ……………………………….
Date …………………….