Documents

2025 January Minutes

EPC Minutes Uploaded on January 31, 2025

D R A F T   M I N U T E S

ENSTONE PARISH COUNCIL

Held in Enstone Parish Hall on Thursday 23rd January 2025 at 7.00 pm

PRESENT: PCs. N. Knott, P. Shaw, J. Ferguson-Davie, D. Robottom, C. Glendinning, H. Bourne-Taylor, N. Peart, DCs Andrew Beaney & Alex Wilson and CC Geoff Saul

APOLOGIES:  Apologies of absence were accepted due to ill health and work commitments from PCs. A. Ward, M. Gomm & C. Millar

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs. Beth Sinclair, Clerk & Mr. M. Cummings from Alpine F1

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND MEMBERS’ REGISTER OF INTERESTS:

  • PC N. Knott declared an interest in item 7, Planning Applications (Broad Close).

2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

  • The minutes of the Parish Council Meetings held on Wednesday, 11th December 2024 were circulated, adopted and signed by Cllr. Knott.  It was noted that a member of the public had raised concerns regarding the draft minutes, which were subsequently revised where needed.

PLANNING APPLICATION:-

  • Whiteways Technical Centre, Enstone, 24/03099/FUL – Erection of an extension to the R and D building together with associated development and hard and soft landscaping – Mr. Martin Cummings from Alpine F1 was welcomed to the meeting and gave a brief summary of the proposal.  This application will provide a state-of-the-art R&D facility.
  • In answer to a question about parking capacity, Mr. Cummings explained that work on the temporary car park will commence shortly in order to cater for the need for additional parking space during building work.  There had been no expansion of parking since 2020 and further car park spaces would be required – the difficulty occurred especially during the overlap of shifts.  He also commented that car sharing was increasingly popular among employees.
  • It was resolved that the Parish Council had no objection to this planning application and the inclusion of swift bricks within the nine-metre walls would be welcomed.

3. MATTERS ARISING:-

  • Overgrown vegetation at The Planks – wait until Spring
  • Overgrown Himalayan Balsam on private land around Enstone – wait until Spring
  • Gagingwell signs – CC Geoff Saul confirmed that £1,000.00 had been approved from the Councillor’s Priority Fund towards new signs in Gagingwell.  It was resolved that the clerk would await payment before ordering the new signs.
  • Neighbourhood Plan/Housing Needs Survey – ongoing
  • EPFA – The drainage report had been received by the Enstone Playing Fields Association.  Noted
  • Damage to The Planks – OCC to repair in Spring

4. Public Participation:-

  • Cllr. Knott updated the Council regarding Lidstone where there is now permanent flooding and potholes within the flooded areas as well as silt on both sides of the hill.  She had contacted various members of both the District & County Councils to undertake an urgent site visit which will be carried out shortly.
  • The owner of the shop reported parking difficulties for many residents during the festive period.  It was resolved that an article will be placed in the Ensign magazine and website in November requesting that the parking restrictions are observed.
  • Parking difficulties at Church Enstone – residents had contacted the Chair concerning parking difficulties in Church Enstone.  A site visit had been carried out several years ago by Highways who reported that double yellow lines cannot be implemented.
  • A resident in Church Enstone had contacted Cllr. Ferguson-Davie about the wall of her property falling down alongside a footpath.  It was resolved that the resident will be sent the details of whom to contact at OCC regarding this.

5. County Councillor’s Report:-

  • CC Geoff Saul updated members on the proposed White Paper regarding Devolution and plans for the reorganisation of Local Government in order to free up resources and place more responsibility on Local Government.   In Oxfordshire, a potential scenario could be the proposal for one Mayor and the introduction of a combined Authority i.e. the current two-tier system with District & County Councils would be replaced by this. There would only be one Councillor within the Unitary Authority liaising with Parish & Town Councils.
  • County Council’s Budget – CC Saul reported circa £13 million black hole within its budget.  The council tax for the 2025/2026 financial year totals 4.99 % with 2.99 % and 2 % for social care needs.  £2 million has been earmarked for flooding measures; £1 million towards rail transport; £300 K to improve Banbury Town Centre and £400 K to keep current car parking fees the same.

6. District Councillor’s report:-

  • DC Beaney reported that the Botley West Solar Farm planning proposal will only be discussed at National level.
  • With the proposed White Paper, District Councils will cease to exist by 2028.
  • The Local Plan consultation will begin in May 2025 following the Council elections.
  • DC Wilson explained that the District Council’s part of the council tax will be increased for a Band D property by £5.00 for the 2025/2026 financial year.
  • Green Bin Waste Licenses will cost £52.50 from 1.4.2025.

7. CORRESPONDENCE:-

West Oxfordshire District Council:-

  • Delivery of social housing and temporary accommodation – Noted
  • Devolution and local government reform discussions – DC Beaney advised the Parish Council to move forward with Enstone’s Housing Needs Survey.  The clerk will contact Community First Oxfordshire and Edgars Planning Consultants following its presentation last year.

Oxfordshire County Council:-

  • Climate Engagement Webinar-29.1.2025 – PC Peart agreed to attend this.
  • National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey – Noted
  • Annual Community Emergency Plan Survey – The clerk will update the emergency plan.
  • Parish Transport Representatives Meeting – The date of the next meeting was noted.

Parish Council – Correspondence:-

  • Grass Cutting Contract for 2025 – It was resolved to award the contract to Thomas Fox Landscaping.   
  • Quote for Dragons Teeth, A44 & B4022 – It was resolved to fund £2,150.74 for Dragons Teeth towards road safety.
  • The Marshall Fountain – PCs Ferguson-Davie & Robottom updated the Council on plans to conserve the Marshall Fountain and the grants available for this.  Ongoing
  • Noticeboard Church Enstone – A quote for a new noticeboard was circulated.  It was resolved to seek residents’ opinions on whether a new noticeboard was necessary for Church Enstone (circa £3K) and the best position for it to be placed.
  • Sports Club – Storm damage to boundary wall – Ongoing
  • S106 monies for recreation and art – After discussion, it was resolved to obtain all the necessary information and then to arrange a public meeting/parish questionnaire seeking residents’ views on the most appropriate use of these monies.
  • Green Gym – Hedge laying at Enstone Corner – It was resolved to ask for a quote for this work as well as clearing up the area, as per the Parish Council’s Biodiversity Report.
  • Date for Spring litter picking – Saturday 22nd March & Sunday 23rd March.  The clerk will advertise in the Ensign magazine and PC Shaw agreed to co-ordinate the weekend and was thanked for this.
  • Cleanslate – Following the last meeting, the clerk checked the accounts and the PC had donated £100.00 in June 2024 so a further donation was not made at this time.  Noted.
  • OALC:-
  1. December’s Update – circulated to all members
  2. Local Government Standards Consultation – Noted

8. Planning Applications:- (Chaired by PC Philip Shaw, Vice-Chair)

  • Broad Close, Little Tew Road, Church Enstone, 24/03003/HHD – Construction of an ancillary building to the main dwelling – No objection
  • Whiteways Technical Centre, Enstone, 24/03099/FUL – Erection of an extension to the R and D building together with associated development and hard and soft landscaping – No objection
  • The Great Barn, Oxford Road, Old Chalford, 24/03275/FUL – Installation of solar panels to roof and various external condenser units to serve internal air source heat pumps and heating/air conditioning units – No objection
  • The Great Barn, Oxford Road, Old Chalford 24/03276/LBC – Internal & external alterations to install solar panels to exterior of roof along with an air source heat pump, to be placed internally with the condenser unit outside and heating/air conditioning units to be placed internally, with the condenser units sited outside – No objection

Decisions Received:-

  • The Harrow, Enstone, W/24/01255/PRMAPremises License Granted
  • Honister, Chapel Lane, Enstone, 24/02662/HHD – Erection of single storey extension to west elevation and two storey extension to east elevation together with associated works – Approved
  • Methodist Chapel, Chapel Lane, Enstone, 24/02711/FUL – Conversion of former Methodist Chapel into a dwelling (amended plans) – Approved

9. Finance:-

a) To agree the following accounts for payment:-

  • Clerk’s salary, pension, NI & Tax £1093.88
  • NEST Pension Scheme (er) £31.55
  • Vodaphone £19.72
  • Currys, printer £109.99
  • Stationery £11.99
  • Galvanised Bin £19.85
  • Enstone Parish Hall, Rent £75.60
  • HMRC, NI/Tax £205.74
  1. Statement of Affairs to 31.12.2024 – These had been circulated to all members prior to the meeting.  It was resolved that Cllr. Glendinning will check through all the paperwork as part of the Parish Council’s financial risk controls.
  1. Scribe Software from 1.4.2025 – The latest guidance from the National Association of Local Councils recommends that Councils purchase financial software for their accounts rather than using Excel spreadsheets.  The clerk and Cllr. Glendinning requests that the Parish Council purchases Scribe software, to commence from 1.4.2025.  Scribe will set up all the appropriate codes required on behalf of the Parish Council and this was unanimously agreed.   It was resolved that the clerk would contact Scribe.

10. Dates of Next Meetings:-

  • Thursday 20th February
  • Thursday 20th March
  • Thursday 24th April

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.30pm.