SOUTH LEIGH AND HIGH COGGES PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Thursday 27th March 2025, 7:30pm
in the Village Hall
Councillors Present: Lysette Nicholls (Chair) (LN)
Caroline Auger (CA)
Caroline Gane (CG)
Peter Grant (PG)
David Auger (Clerk) (DA)
Attendees 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1 Parishioner, Cllr Carl Rylett (arrived part way
through meeting)
MINUTES
Apologies and Councillors and not present. Introduction to the conduct
of meeting – Apologies from Jacqui Napier-Munn, Cllr Dan Levy, Cllr
Carl Rylett and Cllr Andy Goodwin
Declarations of Interest – none
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 – approve proposed CG, seconded CA
Item 8 moved up the running order. Donald Urquhart (DU) co-opted to
vacant place on Parish Council – proposed CA, seconded CG, carried
unanimously. LN thanked Donald and welcomed him to the PC.
Low Carbon presentation CAPZero – Low Carbon Hub, in partnership
with Project LEO, West Oxfordshire District Council, and Eynsham
Green TEA. Sent apologies and postponed by Low Carbon Hub this
morning, to be re-scheduled. Clerk to offer Low Carbon time at May’s
PC Meeting (Thursday 29th)
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.
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Finance and payments to approve, AGAR update – payments as list in
appendix 1 plus clerk salary £204.00, HMRC £50.80 and WODC Rates
£207.49 and £200.00, proposed PG seconded CG. VAT submitted by
RFO (AJ). Annual accounts are due and been contacted by OALC to
check everything in place.
Updates and reports and / or info.
(1) Traffic Calming Update – still waiting for the Contractor
regarding the crossing at Lymbrook Close, damaged bollard
has now been repaired.
(2) Shore’s Green – Temporary road and footpath closures in
May will be circulated nearer the time. Compulsory purchase
of land on south side has not yet been completed yet,
although contractor has authorised access. CA attended site
12th March, majority of work to date has been setting up of
the site compound, now started clearing south side. Traffic
lights may be held at red when lorries are delivering which
will cause a slight delay, unavoidable due to space
constraints and for safety reasons. LN thanked CA for
attending the meeting.
(3) Conservation Area – meeting with Tara rescheduled for 16th
April
(4) Flooding – Awaiting updated flooding report to include High
Cogges. LN emailed Eynsham Estates; they are willing to
empty ditches but warned that machinery used will likely tear
up verges in the process.
(5) Village Security Plans – fly-tipping signs up, CCTV warning
signs up, playground sign received but wrong size, correct
size being sorted. LN has stickers saying “no visitors” for
people to display if they want them to deter unsolicited
callers.
(6) Hearing loop for Village Hall – survey quote received, VH in
favour, T&Cs to be signed and returned to initiate work.
Proposal to go with just the one quote as we have looked at
other quotes, obtaining 3 quotes would require 3 survey
payments required which would incur additional cost to the
PC. Proposed CG, Seconded PG and approved.
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(7) Playground – playground sign received, needs to be bigger,
MS may need to assist with fitting.
(8) Local Plan / Neighbourhood Plan – still waiting, likely to be
after elections 1st May.
(9) Twelve Acre Farm Solar Farm – LN has chased to find out
why PC weren’t informed Contractor amended application to
reduce the planting in original planning permission.
(10) Tar Farm Solar Farm – Contractor has agreed extra £100k,
bringing total to £400K. LN asked for advance, Contractor
will pay up £80k for costed up projects, possibly improving
playing field but lease needs to be signed. Suggestions –
Lymbrook Close play equipment move to playing field?
Lymbrook close made into community orchard and/or
allotments? We have the lease for the current playground.
Co-Opt Parish Councillor Update – see above
Review of actions or discussions from last meeting – DU to produce
risk assessment for bus stop.
Planning applications – Demolition of Dutch Barn at Tar Farm, moving
barn owl box and other bird boxes and check for bat boxes – no
objection. Replacing conservatory roof at Beacons View, Chapel
Road. PG left the room. No objection, unanimous.
Opportunity for any County Councillor and / or District Councillor to
update the Parish Council on any matter of relevance or concern – Cllr
Carl Rylett (CR) – update on proposed unitary authority: – Option 1
merging of district and county councils merge to make one council for
the whole of Oxfordshire – Option West Oxfordshire would merge
Cherwell and balance of Oxfordshire would merge with West
Berkshire. District Council to look at pros and cons of each. Third tier
i.e. Parish councils CR understands they won’t be changed.
Date of next Parish Council Meeting Thursday 24th April 2025 7:30pm
(Parish Council meetings are generally the last Thursday of the month
unless notified otherwise). Annual Parish Meeting Tuesday 29th April
at 7:30pm
Points of information – none
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