Minutes of a meeting of the STANFORD IN THE VALE PARISH COUNCIL held on Wednesday 4th February 2004 at Millennium Hall Chapel Road SIV

 

There were no questions/comments from Parishioners

 

Present:             Mr.P.G.McMorrow(Chair)                        Mr.S.Bambury

Mr.G.Hughes                                     Mr.P.Gill                                                Mr.M.Mullen                                             Mrs. G.McMorrow

Mrs.F.Shires                                      Mr.M.Isaacs

 

Mr.R.Sharp(District Councillor)

Mr.D.M.Dew(Clerk)                      2 Members of Public

 

01/02/04          Apologies

Mr.B.Burls (Family)      Mrs. A. Fitzgerald-O’Connor(County Cllr)

 

02/02/04          Declaration of Interest by Councillors on agenda items

Nil

 

03/02/04          Minutes of previous meeting3rd December 2003

12/12/03 Typo error delete foe add for

Delete after maintenance costs   insert costs £1300 to check equipment

For 6 months with painting including labour. Insurance a further expense

Following these alterations

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.MULLEN

SECONDED BY Cllr.BAMBURY

IT WAS RESOLVED that the minutes be approved and signed as a true record

 

04/02/04          Report of County Councillor

Nil

 

05/02/04          Report of Clerk

 

  • Audit progression – 1997 – 2001 Items were missing and the auditors had threatened to issue a Public Interest report for failure to keep proper financial records. Clerk had pointed out to auditors that the PC had reported lack of records and the Audit Commission had chosen to ignore that fact at the start of the investigation. Clerk accepted no responsibility for any accounts until 2001 when Impact software computerised records were used.
  • Control of Dogs – police cannot insist that dogs are on leads, only that they are kept under control. Item for next agenda : Provision of dog walking area.
  • Accountancy software – Had contacted software companies. No advantage over existing except our current system was much cheaper.
  • Village Hall/Youth noise – Police will attend if called. It was thought that a
  • meeting with the youth might be of some use to overcome problems

 

 

 

 

 

06/02/04          Report of Chairman

 

 

  • Regarding the WREN grant application – as previously WREN insist that there be a third party involved and with regard to the grant for the Jubilee Garden and the “Flying Fox” ariel wire way the Chairman asked for approval for him to act as third party ie to initially provide the money to kickstart the grant and be repaid by Council,

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.ISAACS

SECONDED BY Cllr.Mrs.McMORROW

IT WAS RESOLVED that the Chairman be reimbursed for any payments connected with the WREN application

 

  • URC improvements – car park and disabled entrance would cost £6400 and asked Council to look favourably on some assistance. At this point Cllr Hughes declared an interest and left the meeting during this debate

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr. ISAACS

SECONDED BY Cllr.Mrs. McMORROW

IT WAS RESOLVED that Council will look as ways of helping  finance the URC project.

 

  • Projects – Pavement Sweeper: Reconditioned machine cost approx £15000 plus £1000 pa maintenance costs.

 

  • Playarea – Cllr Mullen will check each day

 

  • Quality Council status – Once status is achieved all future Clerks must be qualified. Council agreed to continue work towards quality status. Cllr Gill asked about village appraisal/plan working towards the status. There had been no response from parishioners.

 

  • Road crossing – Clerk had been informed that we were in the top 20 for construction.
  • History Society – Had requested permission to use the Fire Engine as their logo

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.MULLEN

SECONDED BY Cllr ISAACS

IT WAS RESOLVED that permission be granted

 

There had been complaints about the new street light in Joyces Road. Cllr Gill is

liasing with complainant and SEC

Cllr. Gill asked that regarding a village plan a survey of the village would make it

clear what was needed. Chairman repeated that there had been no response from the

village and the precept should not be increased to pay for any projects.

Cllr.Isaacs welcomed a list of projects but would always vote for any reduction in the precept

 

07/02/94          Correspondence

 

  • SIV FC – Request for further litter bins in Rec Field - Noted
  • Vale of WHDC – Waste reduction packs- Newsletter

Chairmans Charity Dinner – Noted

Quality Parish Scheme

Cleaning Grants – Applied for. Council unhappy about the  new bid system which means that we could receive nothing towards cleaning our and the DC streets at our expense.

Remuneration Panel – This Parish Council has already informed DC that our Councillors do not receive fees for attending meetings

  • RoSPA – Inspection charges
  • Wantage Town Council – Hospital closures
  • PPC – Re: Application GA9/2003 – Clerk had replied. Council concerned that PPC are enquiring about costs
  • Withy King – Solicitors . Thanks for entrusting them.
  • Boundary Committee – Draft recommendations County Stanford to be removed from Shrivenham and will be in Kingston Bagpuize area.
  • Mr.S.Maskell (Parish Transport Representative) – Comments and opinion on public transport in Stanford including the number of near empty buses passing through the village – Noted

 

08/02/04          Planning applications

 

STA/4278/5  Erection of 1 x 8 metres high floodlight – Recreation Ground

 

STA/18291/1 Change of use and adaption of former loose boxes, yard and calf shed to Art

Gallery and Artist Workshops – Mill Farm. Concern expressed regarding exit

Onto main road and the future use of altered buildings

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr Mrs SHIRES

SECONDED BY Cllr HUGHES

IT WAS RESOLVED that the plans be supported

 

09/02/04          To approve monthly statement of accounts

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.BAMBURY

SECONDED BY Cllr.GILL

IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be approved

 

10/02/04          To authorise accounts for payment

 

D.M.Dew                                 Salary & Monthly expenses                  785.15

J.Northcote                  Salary                                                   120.00

Impact                          Accounts help desk fee               55.00

Simon Jackson Electrical           Floodlight timer                         270.12

University of Glos                     Education Fee                                      640.00

Village Hall                               Hall Hire                                   100.00

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.BAMBURY

SECONDED BY Cllr.ISAACS

IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be paid

 

11/02/04          Report of District Councillor

With regard to the street crossing Wantage were also still waiting after being promised

It was proposed that the site for an ambulance would be Faringdon

The proposed closure of Wantage Hospital was being resisted on the lines that none of

the hospitals should be closed

Although the Tax Base had risen this meant that rate charged will be down

Is angry about the new cleaning grant bid system

Provided easier to read bus timetables that he had produced for the notice board

 

12/02/04          Recreation & Leisure

Extra trees planted in Rec area – Single gate near Joyces road was padlocked and

enquiries had produced no explanation. Lock to be cut off as all gates are treated as

emergency exits. Would soon need to talk to D.Rolls and Wentworth family regarding

grass cutting and servicing.

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.HUGHES

SECONDED BY Cllr.BAMBURY

IT WAS RESOLVED that the Recreation & Leisure report be accepted

 

13/02/04          Resolution from Cllr.P.G.McMorrow

Following discussion with Council the Clerk suggested the following months as being

most appropriate:

 

April                 May x 2                       July                  September

 

November                    December                    February

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.McMORROW

SECONDED BY Cllr.Mrs.SHIRES

IT WAS RESOLVED that the Council meet during these months

 

14/02/04          To appoint Trustees as necessary

Nil

 

ON THE PROPOSAL OF Cllr BAMBURY

SECONDED BY Cllr.GILL

IT WAS RESOLVED that the meeting be closed

 

Parishioners questions/Comments

 

Mr.Sandels stated that he was not happy with the Chairman’s responses to a Councillor. He also asked about the  “footpath” in Faringdon Road near Horse & Jockey Pub.Clerk replied that this had been raised before – It is not a footpath only a County Council verge although DW Homes had put some stone down to counteract the muddy condition