South Stoke Village Plan 8th Steering Group Meeting 16.12.09

Present:Roy McMillan

Tina HaslamNicky Kennedy

Diana Hathaway Paul Jenkins (Sec)

Apologies: Rod Payne & Kevin Flynn

  1. The notes of the previous meeting on 9.11.09, version 2 were agreed. Paulto send to PC and Councillors. Action Paul
  1. Paul had sent the notes of the meeting on 12.10.09 to the PC and Councillors.
  1. The Strictly South Stoke event was held as planned, with a large display of the main issues raised by the villagers in the preliminary survey. The display has remained in the hall, and it was agreed that Kevin would be asked to remove it either just before or after his next playground event. Action Kevin

Drinks and snacks were served to between 25 and 30 attendees.

Some further discussion with villagers took place, and some attendees expressed interest in assisting with driving forward actions such as the proposed footbridge.

We also obtained some further comments from villagers:

-Lets have a monthly dance

-More people are now aware that others also object to the shooting on the water meadow

-Footpath improvements are needed and especially an off-road cycle route to Little Stoke

- A foot-bridge or ferry to Moulsford

-Improvements to bus services and routes

-Traffic calming on the Wallingford Road

-Wonderful rural place no need for streetlights

-Could the Parish Council have a monthly surgery in the pub?

-A shop would be good but probably not practical?

The group were a bit disappointed at the turnout to the event, and it was felt that this was due in part to the lack of posters in the village in the preceding week. Future events need to have something more than simply free drinks and snacks, in order to attract larger numbers.

  1. Top Ten Wants list: progress
  1. Rec/Youth sport/play area: Kevin seems to be making good progress here, no doubt he’ll report in more detail at the next meeting
  1. Shop: nothing to report. A champion is needed to explore this issue
  1. Speeding/traffic calming: The PC has agreed to support entry of this issue into OCC’s LTP3 consultation. Roy will be progressing this. Action Roy
  1. Village Hall: nothing to report. A champion is needed to explore this issue
  1. Public transport/Bus: Roy has had various discussions with adjacent parishes, OCC and Heyfordian, and the PC has also agreed to support entry of this issue into OCC’s LTP3 consultation. Roy will be progressing this, as well as further work with neighbouring parishes. Action Roy
  1. Footbridge/Ferry: Some background research is underway. It appears that Moulsford & South Stoke are the only pair of villages on the non-tidal Thames that have no bridge. There are lessons to be learned from the recent proposal for a footbridge at Keen Edge Ferry, north of Shillingford. This had a budget of £600,000 and has apparently stalled because a landowner became unhappy with the design: which had to be suitable for wheelchair access. This issue will be promoted to LTP3 by either this group or the PC. Roy to progress. Action Roy
  1. Social/Affordable Housing: nothing to report. A champion is needed to explore this issue
  1. Cycle route to Little Stoke: The right of way is currently a footpath and would need landowner’s consent to upgrade it. The two landowners and their tenant farmers have been identified and initial discussions have taken place with some of them. Generally a positive response, but one of the landowners has expressed a negative reaction, and has promised a further response in due course. Initial discussions have also taken place with adjacent Parishes who appear to be very supportive. Some research is also taking place on the history of this right of way. This issue will be promoted to LTP3 by either this group or the PC. Roy to progress. Action Roy
  1. Dog bins: nothing to report. A champion is needed to explore this issue
  1. Future events, objectives, timing & location: The objective is to engage further with the community, to get people talking with each other, and to get a wider group of people involved in making things happen.

After some discussion, it was agreed that a Barn Dance or Ceilidh would be held on the 22nd May. The concept is to hire a marquee for the weekend, and use it for potentially three events – including an activity for children on the Sunday. An action plan would be discussed and agreed at the next meeting. Action All

It was also agreed that an event for the older villagers would be held in late February. Nicky will consult the WI before the next meeting to get some ideas for this. Action Nicky

  1. Main questionnaire: It was agreed that we would draft a set of questions for each of the top ten issues before the next meeting, to see how much space is left for other issues. The action was divided as follows:
  2. Rec/Youth sport/play area: Tina
  3. Shop: Nicky
  4. Speeding/traffic calming: Roy
  5. Activities: Diana
  6. Village Hall: Tina
  7. Public transport: Roy
  8. Footbridge/ferry: Paul
  9. Social/affordable housing: Nicky
  10. Cycle route northwards: Paul
  11. Dog sh*t: Kevin (serves you right for missing the meeting!)

Roy would re-circulate the format for the questions as used by Whitchurch Parish in their questionnaire Action Roy

It was felt that the questionnaire should not be too long, perhaps 4 sides or maybe even 4 pages, and at the next meeting we will agree the full list of topics for inclusion.

  1. Project Programme: The programme was reviewed. Progress is good and in accordance with the plan. It was agreed that the questionnaire would be distributed in mid May, with collection after the 22nd May. A correction to the plan is necessary for the display at the May day event. Paul would revise the project programme from v2 to v3 to reflect these changes. Action Paul
  1. Finances:

Expenditure of £117.95 was approved for reimbursement to Nicky Kennedy for drinks and food bulk purchase, for the Strictly South Stoke and towards future events.

Diana will check with Kevin to see if he has received any invoices for the use of the Village Hall (for the monthly steering group meetings and for the Strictly event.) Action Diana

Post-meeting note: No invoice has yet been received and Roy has notified Frances Ayres

The budget will be revised to reflect the planned events, and presented at the next meeting. Action Diana

It was agreed that the Treasurer would produce for each of our monthlymeetings, a simple balance sheet showing since the last meeting:-

  • Opening balance -funds held in the PC bank account,
  • Less amount(s) spent- itemised - received by Diana from The Clerk against authorisedinvoices/receipts during period. (all invoices/receipts to be signed/authorised by Diana and one of either Kevin or Paul).
  • Plus amount(s) received (if any)- itemised - received by Diana, and given to the Clerk, against any fund-raising by the SG during period
  • Closing balance, as at this meeting

These will be shown in the meeting notes, together with any item(s) of new expenditure agreed, and, as far as possible the amount(s) expected and timing of same. Action Diana

Next meeting is on 11th January at 20.00 in Village Hall. Note slightly earlier start time!

Paul Jenkins 18.12.09 v2ENDS

Distribution list:

Parish Plan Steering Group

Kevin Flynn – Chair

Paul Jenkins - Secretary

Diana Hathaway - Treasurer

Nicky Kennedy

Tina Haslam

Trudy Scarratt

Rod Payne (also PC Cllr)

Roy McMillan (also PC Cllr)

ORCC representative - Anton Nath

South Stoke Parish Council - Geoff Ward - Chair

Keith Ashworth - Cllr

David Allen - Cllr

Janet Jones - Clerk

SODC Cllrs - Anne Ducker

Pearl Slatter

SODC representative - Emma Morris

OCC Cllr - Dave Sexon

OCC representative - Kathrin Luddecke

MPJohn Howell