The members of the Parish Council discussed the Secretary of State’s proposed changes in the South East Plan for Central Oxfordshire. They were concerned that the alteration to the Green Belt around Oxford to allow house building in the area south of Grenoble Road would not have an impact on any other part of the Oxford Green Belt if the total housing allocation could not be built on that site.
The Clerk had reported a blocked drain cover in Bagley Wood Road. She had also reported the street lights which were out in Meadow View Road. The County Council informed her there was an electrical fault which would require the electricity company to do work which would take longer than usual to repair.
Cllr. Mason, who had undertaken the role of the lead councillor for the proposal to achieve the status of a Fairtrade Village for Kennington, reported back on progress. He would welcome more support and has written an article for this edition of the Chronicle.
A report on the planning for Remembrance Day on Sunday 9th November was received. Soldiers from Dalton Barracks will be attending. The Avenue, Kennington Road and Bagley Wood Road near the War Memorial would be closed from 10.30am on the day for the duration of the parade and service. There will probably be a re-routing of the buses for an hour similar to last year. It would be helpful if residents could let their visitors know as some people were abusive to the road marshals last year. This closure is a small inconvenience to mark the sacrifice many people have made in the two World Wars and conflicts since 1945. The Parish Council agreed a donation of £750 for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
A grant of £500 was made to the Memorial Field Committee towards the project to lay the hedge between the Memorial Field and Playfield Road Playing Field which will be happening during the winter.
The replacement bus shelters at the Upper Road and Sandford Lane stops would be installed in December.
The Clerk had success in getting the vegetation cut that was spreading across the pavement from the garden of house on the corner of Rowles Close. It would be helpful if residents could ensure their hedges or shrubs are cut back from the boundary with the highway verge or pavement. Overgrown hedges can cause a hazard to visually impaired people and children. There is a legal duty under Section 154 of the Highway Act 1980 to keep hedges, trees and shrubs trimmed to allow safe passage for users of the highway.
The Parish Council discussed the new model publication scheme prepared by the Information Commissioner. It was proposed that the scheme and the list of documents, that will be available for members of the public, was considered in detail at the next meeting so that the scheme can be adopted in November.
