PC Minutes 26th June 2025 - South Leigh and High Cogges Parish Council

SOUTH LEIGH AND HIGH COGGES PARISH COUNCIL

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Thursday 26th June 2025, 7:30pm

in the Village Hall

Councillors Present:Lysette Nicholls (Chair) (LN)

Caroline Auger (CA)

Caroline Gane (CG)

Donald Urquhart (DU)

Jacqui Napier-Munn (JNM)

Peter Grant (PG)

David Auger (Clerk) (DA)

Attendees 3 Parishioners

AGENDA

1. Apologies and Councillors and not present. Introduction to the conduct of meeting – apology received from Cllr Dan Levy, no response from other councillors

2. Declarations of Interest – JNM, CA and DA have gardens contiguous with Haley Cottage (Planning Application item 8)

3. To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as being a true record of the proceedings – a copy having been circulated in advance to the Councillors – approved, proposed DU, seconded PG

4. Opportunity for any parishioner to raise a matter of concern. This will not normally be minuted fully but issues that are raised and which the PC consider need to be looked at will be noted in the minutes and appear on next agenda. This is the only part of the meeting where members of the public are permitted to speak which will be limited in time and the Chair will determine how long each member of the public may speak for and each person shall not exceed three minutes. Nothing raised

5. Finance and payments to approve. – all anomalies sorted by RFO, accounts uploaded, error was due to a figure carried over in the wrong place in a previous submission. Acceptance proposed DU, seconded CG,carried unanimously signed Chair and Clerk. Payments to approve (see appendix 1) proposed JNM, seconded DU, carried unanimously.

AGAR update –

1) Notice Of Public Rights of Inspection published 15th June 2025 (Has been published in accordance with the regulations)

2) To Approve Accounting Statements – AGAR 2024/2025 – upon approval by the PC the Chair and Clerk will sign the AGAR for submission to the auditors. AGAR approved unanimously, proposed by DU and seconded by JNM, signed by Chair and Clerk.

6. Updates and reports and / or info.

(1) Traffic Calming Update – SID (speed camera) not recording data, LN contacted manufacturer, to be sent away for repair. Footpath at Lymbrook, OCC still waiting for quotes, LN to keep pressure on.

(2) Shore’s Green Update – occasional traffic light waiting time issues;tends to be when they have deliveries of/by large vehicles. Unfortunately, these issues like will occur occasionally but unavoidable, LN has received very few complaints.

(3) Conservation Area – open meeting (29th May); 40 villagers attended,only villager one against, one villager complained that High Cogges wasn’t included but supported the proposal, we had two other objectors but the rest of the public response was generally very positive. LN thanked to MS for display boards. Central Governmenthas withdrawn funding for neighbourhood plans it appears.

(4) Flooding – still issues at High Cogges and ditches not cleared, LN to contact landowners.

(5) Village Security Plans – LN had received a card pushed through her letterbox offering tree cutting services; although it may be genuine, villagers should be wary of cold callers offering to work. PC to consider sending out e-mail to residents warning residents to be vigilant if thought necessary/appropriate. JNM pulling comms together.

(6) Hearing loop for Village Hall – installed Tuesday 24th – LN pleased with installation, VHC feedback that contractors had done a good job. DA to chase access code.

(7) Playground – lease has paid for; as invoice had been sent to wrong email – this is for Cottsway lease.

(8) Local Plan / Neighbourhood Plan – hold off updating current NPhaving reviewed it, waiting for WODC local plan to be finalised. WODC want SLHCPC to comment on latest Local Planning Policy Consultation, but they are not releasing information on sites for development until later in the year. LN pointed out that it would have been better to submit comments in regard to this knowing where the sites are. LN asked PC councillors to comment back to her to enableconsolidation of PC response, to be circulated to the parish,

(9) Twelve Acre Farm Solar Farm – nothing further

(10) Bus Shelter – Risk Assessment – done. Guidelines Update – DU to send to GN to be put on website. Book to be produced to celebrate 5 years and 30th edition of bus shelter decorations, hard copies will be available to order in due course.

(11) Part Night Light Consultation – not an issue for SLHC as no street lighting however individuals can comment

7. Review of actions or discussions from last meeting – proposal for wildlife/bio-diversity survey of the village (cost to be in region of £500 per survey), likely to be next spring due to workload. LN had put £10k in budget for bio-diversity survey etc., proposed JNM, seconded CA, carriedunanimously.

8. Planning applications

Planning Application 25/01367/HHD Haley Cottage – Removal of existing conservatories and erection of rear single storey rear extension – no objection

Planning Appeal Updates – Field House – still not resolved; Shuttles Cottage – has gone to appeal hearing.

Enforcement – PC were updated on enforcement cases

9. Opportunity for any County Councillor and / or District Councillor to update the Parish Council on any matter of relevance or concern – Dan Levy report see appendix 2.

10. Date of next Parish Council Meeting Thursday 31st July 2025 7:30pm (Parish Council meetings are generally the last Thursday of the month unless notified otherwise).

11. Points of information – parishioners should be aware of (temporary?)congestion charge in Oxford; trimming of grass at Marjory Cross to improve visibility has been done; CG to look pot holes, mark and report on fix my street; Coronation bench (previously located on green at Church End) has been refurbished and is waiting for quotes for plinth; PC have had offer of a marquee, PC / VH to decide whether to accept; LN thanked the two new footpaths wardens for volunteering and previous Footpath Wardens as well as PC councillors for their help in running PC; thanksalso to MS for all his efforts and hard work.

SLHCPC

26th June 2025

Appendix 1

Schedule of payments since last PC Meeting

27/05/2025	£275.28	Print Ready	Printing for Conversation Area
29/05/2025	£125.00	Cottsway	Playground lease
29/05/2025	£10.46	South Leigh Village Hall	VAT under payment
29/05/2025	£51.00	HMRC Payroll/NIC Cumbernauld	Clerk PAYE & NIC
02/06/2025	£204.00	Mrs C Auger & Mr D Auger	Clerk wages
02/06/2025	£275.28	Print Ready	Invoice paid twice, will be offset against newsletter
02/06/2025	£564.96	AJGIBL GBP Client	Insurance

Appendix 2 – Cllr Dan Levy report

County Councillor report, June 2025

South Leigh and High Cogges PC

Please find my monthly report. As ever, you can contact me at dan.levy@oxfordshire.gov.uk

News from County Hall

Following the elections on May 1, there is now a majority Lib Dem administration at Oxfordshire County Council.

There are now two opposition groups with 12 members each, ie Labour and the Tory/Independent/IOA alliance. Unfortunately, the constitution of the county council never envisaged this happening, so both are the “official opposition”. They were offered the opportunity to come to an amicable agreement over splitting opposition roles and over sharing special responsibility allowances. However, that came to nothing and both groups have chosen to take the full allowances they are allowed.

We need to amend the constitution, not least to save the £44k pa this is costing. In the meantime, the administration is getting on with the job it was elected to do.

Local Government Reorganisation.

The government has now responded to the three possible options for setting up unitary arrangements for Oxfordshire. As expected, they demanded more details for each option. The City Council has now released the map of its preferred expanded Oxford City – it takes nearly all of the Green Belt around Oxford, and key places like Kidlington and Culham. It does not include Abingdon or Eynsham. It is hard not to think that it is an attempt to build on the green belt and to try to avoid too many Lib Dem voting areas.

The other options are a) a whole Oxfordshire unitary, which would avoid breaking up key services like Adult Social Care and Children’s Services and b) a two unitary option with Oxford City, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell in one unitary and Vale of White Horse, South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire in another.

The government will make the final decision. Whatever happens, we need to make sure that decisions are taken at as local a level as possible, especially for things like planning applications, and that there is an enhanced role for town and parish councils.

Buses

There will be a new school service to Bartholomew from Standlake and Stanton Harcourt starting in the new school year in September. The numbers of pupils using the service provided by First and Last Mile, who run a scheduled service, has increased to the point where a school specific service can be provided by Pulhams and in which F&LM would have had to make a majr investment in new buses. In turn this has called into question whether a scheduled “ordinary” bus route can be provided by F&LM. County officers are working to maintain a regular service from south of Eynsham.

The Witney to Oxford Services run by Stagecoach (E1, S1 and S2) and Pulhams (H2) continue to offer an excellent service for Eynsham residents. The H2 is an excellent way to get to the JR or to the coaches to London, and it runs every 30 minutes.

Roads

The Shores Green junction work is going well. You will have seen that huge amounts of earth need to be shifted to build the slipways. There will be some overnight closures of the route to Witney over the next month.

You will also see increased activity fixing our roads – for instance the route to Stanton Harcourt has recently been relaid. This is because of the record amount of money put in the budget for the year that commenced in April. Local Cycling and Walking plan The County Council is working with the parish council, with residents and with local groups to develop a

Local Cycling and Walking plan.

This looks to improve the places in which there are obstacles to getting around and to prepare for bigger projects if the money becomes available. The emphasis is on routes within the village, but it will also draw attention to the routes between the Eynsham and its neighbours, including the currently sub-optimal bridleways to South Leigh and to Stanton Harcourt.

Sue Osborne and Tricia Crowley joined a set of county council officers, and me, for a long walk around the village pinpointing areas to improve.

There is time for residents to contribute by adding to the interactive map which can be found at https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/eynsham-lcwip engagement/places/eynsham-and-the-surrounding-area-lcwip-area-map

Car access to Oxford

The County Council is looking to introduce an interim version of the bus filters scheme, while Botley Road remains closed to motor vehicles at the station. This is designed to make bus travel quicker and has been called for by the two main bus companies.

Most of the features of the originally planned filter scheme have remained, but because of the removal of the Botley Road access to the city centre for cars, it has moved from a “penalty” scheme to a “pay for access” scheme. It will cost £5 per day to pass a camera point – but it remains possible to get to everywhere outside a very small area (which includes County Hall, by the way) by car, by choosing your route. The intention is to discourage the use of the city centre as a through route. £5 is of course less than the return bus fare.

There will be exemptions for small businesses that need to use the city, and a limited number of passes for residents. The charging period is proposed to be 7am to 7pm. It should have a small effect for Eynsham Division residents, who will still be able to choose the best access point off the ring road to get to their city destination, if they choose to drive. There will be a consultation on the proposed scheme, which will be launched in a few weeks.