Monthly Meeting of the Council - 12th June 2006
- Agendas/Minutes

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73. PRESENT

Councillors:

Officers:

74. APOLOGIES

Councillors Ms C Newberry (holiday), Mrs A Service (sick), Dr D Giaretta (business) and Mr R Jeffreys (business)

75. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

There were no declarations of interests.

76. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

11/5/06 Election of new Chairman
South Oxfordshire District Council		 Mayor & Mayoress
12/5/06 RESTORE Official Launch Mayor & Mayoress
12/5/06 Charity Golf Awards Day
Hadden Hill 		Mayor & Mayoress
18/5/06 Reception following Election to the Mayoralty
City of Oxford		 Mayor & Mayoress
18/5/06 Didcot and District Womens Darts League Awards Mayor
19/5/06 British Red Cross
An evening of Retail Therapy		 Mayor & Mayoress
22/5/06 Opening of new IT suite, Didcot Library Mayor
11/6/06 Didcot Leisure & Pleasure Show Mayor & Mayoress

77. MINUTES

RESOLVED that the minutes of the annual meeting held on 8th May 2006 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

CARRIED

78. COMMITTEE REPORTS

(a) Arts and Grants Committee - 15th May 2006

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained therein be approved.

UNANIMOUS

(b) Planning and Development Committee – 17th May 2006

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained therein be approved.

UNANIMOUS

(c) Personnel and Administration Committee – 22nd May 2006

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained therein be approved.

UNANIMOUS

(d) Finance and General Purposes Committee – Special Meeting - 25th May 2006

RESOLVED that report and recommendations contained therein be referred back to the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

CARRIED

(e) Planning and Development Committee – 31st May 2006

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained therein be approved.

UNANIMOUS

(f) Arts and Grants Committee – Special Meeting - 12th June 2006

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained therein be approved.

UNANIMOUS

79. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

The report of the Annual Town Meeting held on 18th May 2006 was received.

NOTED

80. FINANCIAL STATEMENT

(a) RESOLVED that, the payments of bills for June 2006 amounting to £22,009.92 be authorised for payment.

UNANIMOUS

(b) RESOLVED that the payments of bills made since the last Full Council meeting on 8th May 2006 amounting to £10,938.85 be authorised.

UNANIMOUS

(c) RESOLVED that the payments of bills made by direct payment, manual cheque, direct debit or Standing Order since the last meeting of Council on 8th May 2006 amounting to £34,048.21 be authorised.

UNANIMOUS

81. APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO THE CIVIC HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

RESOLVED that Councillors Mrs M Davies, Mr P Read, Mrs A Service and Ms A O’Brien be appointed to serve on the Civic Hall Management Committee.

CARRIED

82. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO OTHER BODIES

RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs A Service be appointed to serve on the Ladygrove Community Centre Management Committee.

UNANIMOUS

83. THE SOUTH EAST PLAN

The Leader outlined key points in the draft response to the South East Plan and advised that factual and typographical errors would be amended prior to the response being sent.

During discussion concern was expressed about the impact that further housing could have on the local water and power supply. It was also considered that there is insufficient labour and resources to build the proposed number of houses within the Plan’s timeframe with other major developments planned, such as the reservoir development at Steventon.

RESOLVED that subject to factual and typographical errors being corrected the draft response to the South East Plan, as attached at Appendix A, be approved.

UNANIMOUS

84. DIDCOT HEALTH CENTRE

RESOLVED that, subject to all legal, financial and planning considerations appropriate, the following be approved in principle:

(a) Siting of temporary accommodation on, and access to, the grassed area at the side of the Civic Hall for the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2008, including access prior to 1st October 2006 for testing of the site for suitability;

(b) an unspecified number and unrestricted use of parking spaces in the Civic Hall car park while the temporary buildings are in use;

(c) the allocation of 20 parking spaces in the Civic Hall car park for staff of the health centre once the new building is complete and occupied (any charge for this to be considered during the current review into a possible charging structure for the car park);

(d) all legal and associated costs to be met by the developer.

UNANIMOUS

85. CORRESPONDENCE

(a) Oxfordshire County Council

Oxfordshire Fire Authority’s Integrated Risk Management Action Plan 2006 – 2007.

It was agreed a letter be sent to Oxfordshire Fire Authority welcoming the addition of a rescue tender at Didcot Fire Station.

UNANIMOUS

(b) TRAIN

Newsletter May 2006.

NOTED

86. QUESTIONS TO THE LEADER

(a) Mr T Harbour asked the Leader if she was aware of the poor state of the fence and gate at Ladygrove Park.

In response the Leader confirmed that the matter needs proper consideration and will be referred to the Environment Committee.

(b) Mr B Cooper asked the Leader about the recent report regarding extra housing in Didcot.

In response the Leader stated that she wished the matter could have been included on the agenda, however confirmed that the Town Council has not received any official notification from South Oxfordshire District Council about extra housing in Didcot.

She also stated that the Town Council should be kept informed in a timely way on matters concerning the Town.

(c) Mrs D McNulty asked the Leader if a letter could be written to South Oxfordshire District Council about the improvements to the Lower Broadway and the consultation undertaken with the Town Council throughout the project.

In response the Leader agreed and specifically made reference to Paul Earley, South Oxfordshire District Council and Dave Baldwin, Monson.

The Meeting commenced at 7.30pm and closed at 8.28pm

Mayor