Apologies for absence  Cllr. P Tomlinson.

Minutes of meeting held 11 May 2009 
These had been posted on the parish notice boards prior to the meeting and were agreed by the meeting and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising  - There were none.

Chairman's report  2009-2010 Appended.
  n.b. N Northcott has resigned from the council so this was by email.

Sandford on Thames Parish Council Chairman's Annual Report - May 2010 - Dr Nigel Northcott Traffic - The County Highways Authorities have now complete their post roundabout assessment and within existing criteria do not have grounds to undertake additional traffic calming measures in the village. However, the small sum of money left will enable two measures to be taken that might be helpful. Research suggests that removing white lines can help reduce speeds and this will be requested. In addition the installation of posts on several grass verges in the village will put cars back where they belong on the road and thereby create a traffic calming feature. In addition this will prevent the damage being done to grass verges by parking - the verges to be protected are: opposite the Wharf in Church road and either side of the Henley road close to the village hall. The mini roundabout has been a phenomenal success - it is a great shame that we have been unable, despite years of concerted effort to do more to reduce the impact of speeding traffic in the village. Hall - the village hall management is in good order and the latest play - Peach Boy was a resounding success - many thanks to Kevin for promoting this event. Sadly the village residents could have done more to support the play but a 'house full' and indeed happy is reward enough. The hall continues to be an excellent resource for the village and the move by the Parish Council to the Welch room to accommodate the Yoga group means more activities for the villagers. Police liaison - Police activity within the village has continued to be low key and thanks go to Kevin for maintaining effective dialogue with our Community Support Officer. The 'surgeries' offered by TVP have had little uptake and I cannot say we have effective community policing. Recreation/play areas - The hand over of the play equipment in Jananway has still not happened! The village play areas are in good condition and are well used. It is with regret that the village youth club has folded - after years of sterling work Michelle stood down and no one came forward to take up this challenge. Greenbelt - The debate about house building South of Grenoble road still rumbles on and with land near Sainsbury's up for sale the village may see further challenges to its rural nature. Orchard House - The house has been bought by the Botley Alzheimer's association and we look forward to a new building on the site and new neighbours. This is a great decision for the village bringing the derelict site back into use and which may bring local employment. The opening of the home will also help reduce traffic speed - with vehicles turning in and out of the home. We also hope that the other long closed house - the Fox - will soon be occupied by a family. Fly-tipping - In a few places the village is being spoilt by fly-tipping - this is mainly dumping garden waste on public land - including play areas; residents should be aware that the maximum fine is £2500. The SODC new waste collection system and new wheeled bins are a great success; and encourage re-cycling. Appreciation - is extended to the council for its hard work over the past year and thanks to the villagers that attend meetings and help represent views. This is my final report as the chairman of the Parish Council and I offer my thanks to my fellow members of the council who have given friendship, support and challenge over the years as we say farewell to Sandford. Nigel Northcott,   Chair, Parish Council   nigeln @ globalnet.co.uk

District Councillor's report  

South Oxfordshire District Council This year the council introduced the new waste collection to 56,000 households, a huge challenge for the council and residents. We received a national award for the communication methods to residents. We worked with the contractors for nearly a year prior to the actual start date. Recycling rates have gone from being 48% to 70% which means less land fill and more money for the council in the form of recycling credits. There were problems to overcome in some parts of the district which we have been discussing with those residents concerned. Then we had the hardest winter with snow which caused further problems but everyone working together enabled us to get back on track and continue the high recycling rates. Nexus Leisure have taken over the running of our four leisure centres introducing a membership card which means members can use any of our centres activities. We have invested capital money into improving the facilities which will continue in 2010. Working in partnership we have Go Active which has been well supported plus a sports development officer working with communities to gain sport out in the rural areas. The Economic Development worked with consultants and the three market town partnerships and town councils which means we were able to get SEEDA grants, which the council will match, to enable some work to be carried out in the towns. We are employing three town coordinators to help businesses in the market towns. It is vital that we all do what we can for the local economy that is reasonable and achievable. We are involved in South Vale UK which is Harwell, Culham, Milton Park, OCC, OEP working together to achieve inward investment. This will create more jobs especially taking into consideration all the new houses being built at Didcot and around the district. The Orchard Centre is a great success even in the recession with plans in the pipe line to have stage 2. Cornerstone continues to be successful with many events being sold out within days. This means that they are improving their financial position but we still need the subsidy which hopefully will reduce. PCSO's are working well in both the towns and villages. This is a joint project with the police and residents are now aware of their presence. CCTV will be reviewed this coming year as they are partly paid for by the town councils, police and ourselves. We need to know if we receive value for money and that our residents feel happy. Housing, with the national economic situation we have not been able to deliver as many houses as we had expected. However working in partnership with housing associations we have built on sites in Wallingford with smaller in-fills in the villages. We do hope that this year will see the start of sites in Didcot, Fairmile and Chinnor Choice Base lettings which was introduced has been a success in that those requiring homes have been able to bid for properties and have seen the openness of the process. Planning, there has been a downturn in applications which again is mainly due to the recession. We have introduced a new process for referrals which has had some bad press but this has mainly been to misunderstanding the process. This process does mean as a district councillor we need to work closely with our parishes on applications especially those contentious. Enforcement cases have reduced dramatically during the year but there are those cases that do take along time due to the complexity. The local development framework (LDF) is the new planning system which sets out in the form of a portfolio, the local development documents which collectively deliver the spatial planning strategy for South Oxfordshire District Council's area. The core strategy sets out the spatial vision for the local area to 2026 taking into account national and regional plans. This is a very controversial issue especially when we have to decide these sites. Joint working with the Vale of White Horse District Council has caused some uncertainty for staff but we have now got a joint Chief Executive, Directors, Heads of Service and Managers. This has meant a reduction in staff but definitely given us more efficiency savings. The council tax over the last five years has given an average of 1% increase due to three years of no increase. Once again we are able to have a nil % increase in council tax. This is a very good record and welcomed by the residents of South Oxfordshire. Once again councillors agreed to no increase in allowances making us one of the lowest paid in the South East. The Audit Commission has scored us as being one of the top councils in the country. We will continue to strive to be even better over the coming year and value for money. On a personal note, I have again enjoyed working with you and look forward to another year with, hopefully, no major problem areas. Pamela Tomlinson May 2010

County Councillor's report   April 2009 - April 2010

The Incinerator The single biggest issue for the County Council over the past year has been where to build an energy from waste incinerator. After many years of consultation two contractors were short-listed. WRG submitted a planning application to build at Sutton Courtenay, Viridor to build at Ardley near Bicester. In September the County Council Cabinet resolved to give preferred bidder status to Viridor. Planning applications from both companies were heard at the Planning & Resources Committee on 19th October. Both were refused permission. Viridor has lodged an appeal against the decision and this will be heard at a Public Inquiry between 6th - 10th July 2010. They have also put in another planning application for the incinerator on the same site using the same technology which will run concurrently, or may even be heard before the Inquiry. The possibility that an energy from waste plant could be built at Sutton Courtenay caused considerable concern among some residents in this area. This situation is not yet resolved since WRG still have the option to seek planning permission for an incinerator and are no doubt awaiting the outcome of the two Viridor hearings. The County Council continues to negotiate on the terms of a 25 year contract with Viridor. The Oxford Green Belt Another long-running matter for local concern has been the proposed development of 4,5000 houses in the Oxford Green Belt at Grenoble Road, south east of the City. The County Council supports the protection of this part of Oxford's Green Belt, and local opposition to the development has been strong and united. Following five separate legal challenges to the South East Plan, the Secretary of State has conceded that insufficient consideration was given to reasonable alternatives to the proposed urban extension and although precise details are still unclear it is likely that the plan will not go ahead. Biogas Plant at Upper Farm, Warborough The application for an anaerobic digestion biogas plant received the go ahead at the County Council Planning & Regulation Committee meeting held on 14th September. The unit will recycle commercial food waste and pig slurry and convert them into fertilizer which will be spread on the surrounding fields. The biogas produced during the process will generate electricity. This green technology is needed within the County to deal with commercial food waste. Permission for a similar plant at Yarnton was granted last month. Some local residents expressed concerns over the impact this development would have upon traffic movements on the A329. The applicant has committed to a maximum of 3 delivery trucks per day, a level of increase found to be acceptable by the Highways Authority, taking into account that trucks could approach the plant from either direction ie come through Warborough or Stadhampton and Newington. Any waste produced by the plant will be used as fertilizer on the surrounding farmland resulting in no further vehicle trips. Deliveries will be limited to times outside peak traffic hours. It is to be hoped that these measures together with the implementation of a 50mph speed limit between Warborough and Newington will alleviate undue impact upon local residents. Gravel Extraction In 2003 eight local parishes came together and successfully defended the area from massive gravel extraction plans. At that time I was pleased to be involved with the Parishes Against Gravel Extraction action group, running the archaeological fieldwalking and co-writing the archaeological report with John Howell MP. Now this area is being forced to defend itself again. The first stage of the consultation process on the Core Strategy of the County Council's new Minerals & Waste Development Framework was completed in March 2010. This Strategy which is due to be completed by 2011 features five Strategic Spacial Options, four of which include this area as potentially viable for new gravel extraction. This Strategy is being driven by a regional target that significantly overestimates demand. I believe the pressure to open new areas for extraction should and must be challenged. It must be proved once and for all that this is not the right area for gravel extraction. As County Councillor for seven threatened Parishes I will continue to do all I can to help them protect their environment from destruction. County 'A' & 'B' Roads Speed Limits Review As result of the review in October several of our local roads will have speed limit reductions. The Transport Decisions Committee met on 11th February 2010. The following decisions were taken: A4074 Shillingford/Warborough/Dorchester Area New 40mph limit from Dorchester turn towards Shillingford/30mph speed limit on the approach to Shillingford to remain unchanged. A329 Newington to Warborough New 50 mph limit confirmed. B4015 Clifton Hampden to Chiselhampton New 50 mph speed limit confirmed. Request for 30/40mph at Little Baldons Farm/Marylands to be reviewed at a later stage. A4015 Clifton Hampden and Burcot Suggested rise of limit from 30mph to 50mph rejected. Order will now be revised to implement a 40 mph limit. Berinsfield Pre-school to get £300,000 new building Berinsfield Pre-school has been successful in winning their bid to the County Council for a new building. The brand new, modular unit will provide separate facilities for staff and a far larger play area for the children. The proposed building will be moved closer to the road to enable improved, direct access for parents. Training Event at H Riders Cafe A new initiative this year has been the County Council's commitment of funds for a series of training and speed awareness events for motorcyclists. The initiative for this involvement came from the H Riders Club committee who are based at the H Cafe on the Berinsfield roundabout who are very aware and concerned about the rising number of complaints from local residents about noise and dangerous driving. Two very successful Training Days have been held on 19th September and 7th March 2010 which were supported by the Police, the Fire Service, the Advanced Motorists Association and the County Council. These successful events have been featured in the local press, on the radio and BBC TV news. Many riders have filled out a Questionnaire produced by the County Council which was intended to demonstrate a willingness to search for a comfortable balance between the needs and expectations of our local communities and the motorcycle fraternity. The data has been collated and used to inform future actions and policy by the County Council. As a result a bikers' newsletter is now being produced, a County Council web page designed and I have been appointed Motorcycle Champion for the County. Personal Progress I was elected to the County Council in June 2009 and was appointed to sit on the Planning & Regulation Committee and the Growth & Infrastructure Scrutiny Committee. Deputy Leader - Backbench I have just been elected Deputy Leader Backbench. This role makes me the Leader of the 42 backbench Conservative Councillors, and their representative to the 10 Cabinet members. It also entitles me to attend Cabinet meetings. Heritage Champion The Cabinet has just appointed me Heritage Champion for Oxfordshire. I am delighted to take up this position, particularly in light of the PAGE campaign and the potential threat from gravel extraction to nationally important archaeological remains in the Dorchester, Warborough, Benson area. Apart from my very local concerns I look forward to the opportunities this appointment may give me to fight for heritage issues across the County. Lorraine Lindsay-Gale County Councillor Dorchester & Berinsfield 7.04.2010.

Items for discussion
 
Police Report
PCSO Dawn Hunt said that the statistical crime year had finished in April. Crime over the Wheatley and Thame police area had dropped 18% overall - some categories had gone up and others down. Sandford had logged 59 calls in the period 8 Nov to 7 May of which 15 were classed as miscellaneous, 8 'fear for welfare' eg not seeing elderly neighbours, 5 were theft from motor vehicles and 7 were road related.
According to police monitoring figures Sandford did have a problem with speeding vehicles through the village notwithstanding OCC reports, she would try to get some statistics sent to us. Her division was trying to get another SID camera and there was a possibility of some of the NAG parishes helping with funding - that is of an additional camera. K Welch would carry this forward at the next NAG meeting.
In July, Sandford was scheduled for the next round of NAG consultation. i.e. 70 voluntary questionnaires to be distributed and filled in.

Statement of accounts 2008 - 2009
Before presenting the accounts, the clerk expressed the thanks of the parish council to Mr N. Mckisack who once again had so generously acted as the parish hon. internal auditor. Sadly Mr Mckisack had died last September and would be much missed.
Mrs E Skelly has generously agreed to act as the council's internal auditor in future for which we are grateful. The accounts were presented by the Clerk and adopted by the meeting.

Matters raised by parishioners   There were none

Meeting closed at 8.45 pm