Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 7th January 2025 at 19:30
PRESENT: –
Tim Shreeve Councillor & Chairman Parish Council (Chair)
Mark Davis Councillor
Ashley Byrne Councillor
Kate Flanagan Councillor
Greg Lismore Parish Clerk
2025.01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None required – all members present.
2025.02 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS – None.
2025.03 PERSONNEL MATTERS
The Parish Council have received the resignation of Cllr. Rhys Stone. The electoral office at South Oxfordshire District Council have been informed and the official notice asking if 10 or more electors wish to hold a by-election has been posted. If the Electoral Officer confirms there is no request after the appropriate period then the Parish Council will seek to co-opt a new member.
2025.04 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – 18 members of the public were present.
The Parish Council received the introductory presentation from the “Phoenix Energy Community”. A copy of the presentation is available on the Parish Council Website.
The matter of potholes on Fairies Lane was raised by the public. As ownership of this access road is unclear the Parish Council will make further enquiries into the ownership (and hence maintenance responsibilities).
2025.05 MINUTES and MATTERS ARISING.
The minutes of the meeting held on 3rd December 2024 were approved by Council and signed by the Chairman.
2025.06 UPDATES FROM OCC and SODC WARD COUNCILLORS – A written report was received from our SODC ward representatives and taken as read.
2025.07 PLANNING MATTERS
The Parish Council ratified their PC Consultation response to P24/S3879/S73 – Stable Yard to east of Chinnor Road Chinnor Road Towersey OX9 3QY
Variation of conditions 2 (approved plans) on application P24/S0998/S73 (Variation of conditions 2 (Approved plans) – dormer window to south west elevation plot 2.
“Towersey Parish Council has no objection to the latest proposed amendment to the approved plans (dormer window) as the window will face onto an open field and does not inappropriately overlook neighbours.”
Application P24/S3973/HH – Mole End Chinnor Road Towersey OX9 3QY
Change of levels to create wheelchair accessible entrance and single storey rear extension.
The Parish Council had NO OBJECTION.
2025.08 FINANCE
The receipts and payments schedule was reviewed. Cheque payments were approved and signed by 2 Councillors. The Bank Balance as at 7 January 2025 was read out.
The Clerk confirmed that the CIL reports to SODC for YE 2023 and 2024 has been issued.
The Clerk confirmed that the Councilor’s Grant (£5K) spending report to SODC for YE 2023 has been issued (this was for contribution to the bus shelters project).
The Parish Council reviewed the 2024-2025 budget actuals to date, outlook for the remainder of financial year and thoughts on anticipated 2025-2026 spending. The Parish Council approved the 2025-2026 budget and precept request in the sum of TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS. The Clerk will inform our collector at South Oxfordshire District Council. The Clerk will load up the accounting system as agreed.
The Clerk was requested to determine the ownership of the Memorial Hall, village pond and the green. We may need to engage legal support.
2025.09 PARISH BUSINESS.
Spending up to £2,000 for a new metal bench and base for the village pond was approved.
For Information: Oxfordshire County Council Highways Engagement Team will meet with us on 5th February 2025 at 2pm starting at the Memorial Hall. The Clerk has raised the following items for that on-site meeting
* dangerous overtaking on the derestricted part of Kingsey Road outside the residental premises named “The Pump House”
* speeding past the residences at the entrance to the 30MPH section on Thame Road adjacent Helpful Hirings.
* additional matters that can be covered on other Parish Roads (Manor Road danger to ambulatory pedestrians and animals – dogs/horses etc, vehicles failing to stop at the Crossroads – claims that they did not see the signs? or road markings , Chinnor Road – speeding up after the SID and generally ignoring the 20MPH posted limit, Windmill Road – excessively large HGVs damaging the verges as they should not be using narrow country lane type roads rather they should use the main classified roads etc). Additionally due to issues at the roundabout in Thame – ring road junction with Kingsey Road B4012 and Thyrop way – many drivers in the morning and evening use Windmill Road, Thame road, and Chinnor Road through the village as a bypass to avoid this roundabout – most exceed the speed limits and pay little attention to the fact they are on a country road in a residential area.
2024.112 ANY OTHER BUSINESS –
The grant application to SODC for a replacement Speed Indicating Device is being processed and we should hear back by 25th February 2025.
Reminder re Christmas tree collections. Residents can leave trees up to Sunday 19 January 2025 to be collected on Monday 20 January from the Playing Fields Car Park and from the Village Green.
The Playing Fields Committee have agreed a plan with the Parish Council to create a wildflower meadow and planting of some trees in a currently unused corner of the fields.
The next meeting of the Towersey Parish Council will be Tuesday 4th February 2025 in the War Memorial Hall at 19:30.
The village “work party” is proposed to take place on the same day every year rather than moving around. It is proposed to hold it on the FIRST SUNDAY IN OCTOBER. Please put the date in your diaries.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 21:01
Print Name: ………………………………………… Signed ……………………………….
Date …………………….