Chairman’s Report for Year April 2017-March 2018
The Parish Council is again very thankful of the hard work put in by the parish clerk Samantha Hatwell during the past year on the council’s behalf. Also for being the Council’s active point of contact with the various organisations, and local authorities.
Planning and Village Development
During the last 12 months the Parish Council received very few planning application to comment on, most of which relate to tree works in the conservation area. The largest application was for a new dwelling just south of the railway line at the end of Mansmore Lane; along with local objections, the planning authority refused this application. Other applications have been approved, with two very recent applications going through the planning process at this point in time.
Markham Court (formally Peacehaven) has now been completed, and we wish all the new residences a warm welcome to our village.
Charlton-on-Otmoor Conservation Area
It has been several years since the local authority reviewed the Conservation Areas within Cherwell District Council region.
An initial village consolation meeting is scheduled for some time April/May when local resident will be invited to review and remark on any of the proposed changes, plus also comment if they feel a relevant area have been missed.
Playing Field and Playground
The popularity of the Playing Field and Playground continues, it is pleasing to the area being well used with the various activities.
The football club continue to improve the facilities at the Pavilion, and is well worth consideration should you wish to hire a room for an event or party. For more details please contact the football club direct.
It has been many years since the last update of the play equipment was undertaken by the village. With a new generation and enthusiasm in the village the Parish Council is supporting a new group who are looking to raise sufficient funds to carry out a refurbishment of the area. The Parish Council ask the residents also to support the group with their fund raising activities, also take time to look at the various proposals they are developing when they are available.
Allotments
It is disappointing that some allotments although taken up were not worked last year, as a consequence these became overgrown affecting other allotments. The Parish Council are looking various ways to address the problem. The Parish Council wish the allotments holders’ success with their crops, and as always enjoy the rewards from their efforts.
Finance
Unfortunately the Parish Council had to raise the precept for 2018-19 by £500 to £6,500. The precept is the money the Parish receives from Cherwell District Council to provide facilities in the parish. It is not a large sum and without the voluntary work that individual residents and counsellors carry out, the precept figure would be very much higher which in turn would need to be raised through the local “Council Tax”.
Old Cemetery
The Parish Council would like to thank Eric Cooper for continuing with his tender loving care he gives to the old cemetery, as always, a delightful sight through spring to early summer.
New Cemetery
Last spring and summer there was a delightful display of bee orchids, worth a visit to see some very pretty wild flowers. A very thoughtful resident last year marked their location with small sticks which was a great help in identifying their location. Help like this is very much appreciated.
The Crown
It is with great sadness that during 2018 we will be losing Max and Louis from The Crown, along with their family they have worked extremely hard and have delivered to the village a local hostelry to be very proud of. Many of you will be giving them personal best wishes, collectively we are sure the whole village wishes them well in the future and look forward to see them at times around the village when able to visit many of the friends they have made during their time in the village.
As one chapter closes another one will start, understandable a hard act to follow. The village needs to give encouragement and support the new owners of The Crown when they take over. A village pub is a very important and valuable asset to the community; if you don’t use it, we will lose it.
Dogs Fouling Footpaths and Grass Verges
Dogs fouling the footpaths, and grass verges continues to be the major complaint from people in the village, also there are some perpetrators who have a habit of bagging up the dogs “pooh” and dumping it in the ditches or grass verges. There are three bins in the village for easy disposal should you not wish to take the mess home. The Parish Council also acknowledge a vast majority of the dog owners are very diligent in cleaning up, it is just a few that are fault. Not cleaning up after your dog and proper disposal is very anti-social act as well as a health hazard, for which the offenders can be fined.
Whilst we suffer in the village, the problem is nationwide, are we that point where we need to name a shame the offenders with photographs?. The situation appears to be greater in the periods of longer dark nights, Perpetrators beware as with fly tipping, camera technology will catch up with those offenders.
Parking On Pavements and Grass Verges
Thoughtless parking is another area of complaint and upsets the harmony of residents in the village. Please think before you park, causing an obstruction that prevents farm machinery, and the likes of Charlton Services buses from passing through are inconsiderate. More seriously, wouldyou want to be the one to cause a delay to the emergency services by thoughtless parking?.
Pavements are there for pedestrians and obstruction from parked cars cause problems for people in wheel chairs and those with youngsters in prams or pushchairs. Any obstruction whether complete or partially is committing an offence and therefore can be subject to a fixed penalty notice.
The grass verge at the bottom of Church Lane continues to be regularly damaged and turned into a muddy mess, we ask those responsible, just look and think about the damage that is being caused.
All the Parish Council asks is when parking; please give consideration to others who use the paths and roads.
Village Community Works by Others
The Parish Council wish to thank thanks all those individuals who carry various “housekeeping” tasks around the village, from grass cutting to litter picking.
Possible changes to the County and District Councils
Oxfordshire County Council along with South Oxfordshire District Council and the Vale of the White Horse District Council submitted their proposal to central government in March 2017 for one unitary council covering the whole of Oxfordshire which is strongly opposed Cherwell District Council, West Oxfordshire Council, and Oxford City Council. No decision has been made to date. In the Oxfordshire County Council proposal, the start date for the new council was April 2019 which is now looking very unlikely.
As previously reported the Parish Council are not in support of the single authority whose present track record shows very little support to the local rural communities.
Parish Council Website
The Parish Council WEB site is now live can be viewed on www.charltononotmoor-pc.gov.uk.
Finally…
I would like to thank the other councillors and parish residents for their support during the past 12 months.
Bryn Walker
Chairman
Charlton-on-Otmoor Parish Council