yourovca.com

MINUTES OF THE OVCA ‘OPEN GENERAL MEETING’ HELD ON
WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2009 AT THE GRAMPIAN - 7.30PM

Attendees: 14 Community
4 Committee
Chris Mallender (CM) – Chief Exec – CBC
Chair – Judy Caine (JC)

Meeting convened at 7.45pm
JC welcomed CM and members of the community. She put out a plea for more OVCA committee members.

Apologies
David Sims and missing members of the OVCA committee.

Minutes of Last Meeting
JC advised these were now available on the website. Also advised that meet would be split into 2 parts – 1 an update on Phase 5 following on from meet on 8/7/09 and the 2nd part would be to set priorities for the OVCA to look at over the next few months.

Part 1 – update on Phase 5 - points raised at meet 08/07.

1. Primary issue was the incomplete infrastructure - the road system is already struggling to cope etc - particularly at the Garston Road Roundabout. JC reported that all 7 developers, Great Oakley Farms and Deloittes have signed an agreement to release the 2.2 million to make the roads up to adoptable standard. Tenders are going out and work should start mid November – 3-year schedule. CM confirmed this.

2. Multi let properties – gone. Concern over absentee landlords etc.

3. Six bed properties with annexes – gone. Concern over bail houses etc. All properties will have at least two parking spaces.

4. The clause that stated the council would buy to rent any property that remained unsold for 60 has gone. This timescale is now 2 years and 60 days.

5. Build will be phased – i.e. build a small number first and if these sell build more. Have been assured that if they don’t sell building will stop.

6. The proposed playpark on P5 is a separate planning application that we will be sent details of. However have stressed that we’d like to see proper security and lighting at the planned play area from the start – something that was not considered, and has caused problems at the playpark off Butland Way. Have been advised that this should be possible and that P for P are aware of the issues and will give this due consideration.


JC handed over to CM for any additional comment:

Kick Start scheme, P for P have withdrawn from this. They will not start building until some time in the new year. Have to start within three years, but no immediate start planned at present. Chris will keep us informed. Additional funding has come through for regeneration.

CM then took a Q and A session:

Q: Is council still committed to buying houses if they don’t sell.

A: P for P don’t want council to do that, they feel they have enough options to dispose of them themselves. They have funding arrangements for two years – hence the new 2 years and 60 days clause set for CBC buy-backs if property is left unsold.

Q: Is Council committing to millions more pounds in council tax, and how will this affect us?

A: Council rental income would cover capital costs. Can borrow long term at 3%. Won’t be reflected in council tax. It’s Capital Funding rather than revenue so should not have huge increase in council tax – should not be move than 5%.

Q: Phase 5 site, fencing knocked down in several places, down by railway. Gates not secure. Concern that in 5 or 6 months could get travellers.

A: JC said would email P for P and ask to secure perimeter fencing.
CM said Council can legitimately move travellers straight on. Ring council switch board - Environmental Team/ County Travellers Unit. Can serve ‘notice to move’.

Q: Wooden palletts plastic piping along Lyveden and Butland – fire hazard – how can we get this cleaned up ?

A: Arson Task Force, Mick Runt, check drums at Butland. Ron Morey and Pete Ceely agreed to chase this up once received number from JC.

Q: Major concerns about gritting the roads in winter.

A: No salting during winter without adoption. 2.2 million ear-marked to bring roads up to adoptable standard, ie: black top, should start end November, three years for whole program. Phase by phase, have to adopt main roads before side roads. Not passing the buck but it is a NCC issue – they won’t grit side roads, only commited to A roads. Grit bins will also not be filled. Need to get on CC.

JC said she was very frustrated and advised all that tomorrow (17/09) the petition we all signed is to be presented to NCC with Phil Hope at CTC – 12 noon – all welcome. CM said he will be there.




Part 2 – priorities for next few months.

Street Lights – CBC agreed to be responsible for now. So call the one stop shop with any problems. Pete Ceely to get copy of Audit done by CBC from David Sims as lights in some cases have been out for 3 years with nothing done. Will also ask David to help. JC and Pete to go and see David on Sat at Harpers Surgery. One resident Peter Forrest got his road sorted via the builder - done within a week – worth contacting your own builder, give them the lamppost number and see what happens. Also forward these numbers to David Sims and Craig Spence.

Fly Tipping, Blocked Gulleys - Craig Spence is the man to call. Fly tipping will be collected once
reported to Council, this is happening.

Road Adoption – Petition being handed in tomorrow by our local MP Phil Hope, along with OVCA
representatives and residents at Brooke Weston noon. All welcome to go and lend support. JC
pointed out that parts of OV have now been adopted through the efforts of Cllr. Sims and CBC so
we are on the way! Thank you to all those who signed up and wrote personally to the council.

Fishing – Peter Fagg from OVCA updated as below:

The OVCA has teamed up with the council and the boating lake committee with the aim of making the lakes on our estate a community supported facility. Currently we are looking for ideas and volunteers to assist in developing the lakes – contact Pete via lakes@yourovca.com. Pete’s ideas at this stage include :-

Lake one (‘Fountain Lake’):Silver fish lake for general fishing with fishing pegs for the disabled.

Lake two (Dock Lake):Remote controlled boat lake & stock lake for lake one (not for fishing).

Lake three (Tear drop pond):To be left as a natural pond - full of frogs, newts & toads.

Need to put some predatory fish in the lakes to keep stocks down. Looking at having one fishing pass for all lakes in Corby at local rate. Wellingborough lakes do daily, weekly and yearly, Corby passes can be purchased from boating lake, so no need for ticketing booth at our lakes. In return for handling the passes the Boating lake will take some of our reeds (of which we have plenty) to help filter ‘white water’ stream at boating lake. We will also give them stock from our lake.

Q: Fear of tents around lake.

A: There will be no overnight fishing and pegs will be put in for the disabled.

Q: Who will monitor fishing, fish hooks, litter, what about birds and swans getting caught up.

A. Same structure as boating lake, Pete Floody can help with this from CBC. We will have no competition fishing as they do at the Boating Lake. Pete also said if people were against it that it needn’t go ahead, send views to PO Box or email.

Litter Bin – please can OVCA ask for a bin at the bus stop on Lyveden Way. JC will talk to David
Sims and Anita Hambly.


AOB
Playpark
JC updated on measures taken in response to the children attacked at play park and the request
for action at our OGM in May.

CCTV has been put back and is working.
We have more PCSO, neighbourhood warden monitoring and better lighting.
There are aparently less older children there now as a result of this and fewer incidents.

A lighting grant has been applied through Craig Spence – WREN - landfill tax people who have funding for community projects such as this. Proposed that proper lighting in that area, till about 8pm in evening would facilitate kids playing properly, being seen and thus not causing trouble.

This has gone to a second bid as first bid was unsuccessful, hoping this will come through, but not this side of Christmas.

Also, the CCTV camera now has night vision.

Committee Members
JC pleaded again for more committee members / volunteers – the more of us there are the more
we can do – please get in touch with chair@yourovca.com if interested in using your ideas and
skills to help Oakley Vale.

Litter Picks
JC advised that the next litter pick is this Saturday – 10.30 – meet behind Harpers Brook – Please
join us if you can.

Railway Halt for Oakley Vale
Administrators trying to sell off the railway halt, phase 4 area next to local center and second
school site. All owned by administrator so could potentially be sold off for more houses.

Railway Halt - Council’s option to develop expired. Can this be readdressed rather than selling the land. Council not interested in buying it. Trying to schedule trains on one track is very difficult. Lobby group, David Furzdon, for rail services. Currently working with Oakham to get Corby service extended to there. JC perhaps all groups in Corby could get together and lobby something could be done ? Corby train is being used more than had previously been anticipated. No definite commitment to look further into this by anyone present.

Wasteland beside Q Day Nursery’s
Administrator owns it and trying to sell it – most likely for housing. No money to maintain but CM will ask administrator if they can maintain it till sold. JC to remind CM.

Second School Site
P for P still show school on their plans, but council not giving guarantee. School was part of the original planning approved by county council. Did not submit application but approved it. Request from residents to ask Current head of Govs and Head of Oakely Vale Primary School to next meeting to discuss the schooling of Oakley Vale Children – in particular admission criteria and how they see the future with just one school or 2 ?


Anglian Water
Why won’t Anglian Water adopt the sewers ? Confusion about some water going into lake not
sewers and question asked as to whether or not we can get a discount on sewer charges.
Why do we pay for sewerage if sewers not adopted ? Sewerage is 90% of water consumption,
not just for drains (including processing at sewerage station). Request from residents to ask
Anglian Water to next meet to clarify.

Speeding.
Request from residents to ask Anita Hambly to next meeting for update on calming measures.

Also to help with a particular problem of silver coupe, and burgundy car screeching up the road in
the middle of night, too fast to get number. Along Lyveden Way.

Pocket Park
Pete Fagg mentioned pocket park extra funding being looked at to upkeep area of stream above the ‘Dock Lake’.
JC advised that if we can do this then possible the the Newton Field Centre could be persuaded to come and talk to kids (Oakley Rangers ?) about the local environment. Good to get them to respect where they live.

Bin Emptying
Pete Ceely happy to talk to Kier about not putting bins back properly after emptying – it is felt they
are not providing an acceptable service.

Oakley Rangers Youth Group
JC reported that the Oakley Rangers music group (‘Oakley Rascals’) together for just 18 months,
got through to finals of Wickstead Got Talent last month. Did not win but have got a gig at
Raunds at a football field. Going to be paid £50, which will help them to get more gear. Also help
to pay for insurance and gear storage / rehearsal venue.

Meeting Closed 20.50