Minutes of a meeting of the STANFORD IN THE VALE PARISH COUNCIL held on Wednesday 7th March 2007 in the Millennium Hall Stanford in the Vale.

 

Prior to the meeting a presentation was made to Ms J.Northcote on behalf of the Council and the Community in appreciation and recognition of 25 years as a Council employee and her dedication to the Community. Ms Northcote who is moving from the village thanked everyone and said how much she had enjoyed her work over the years

There were no questions from Parishioners

 

Present:          Cllr.P.G.McMorrow(Chair)                           Cllr.G.Hughes

                                    Cllr.P.Gill                                                        Cllr.B.Burls

                                    Cllr. Mrs.G.McMorrow                                Cllr.M.Mullen

                                    Cllr.M.Isaacs (2015)

 

                                    Mrs.M.Tilley(County Cllr)                R.Sharp(District Cllr)            D.M.Dew(Clerk)

 

1/03/07            Apologies

 

                        Cllr.D.Monahan-Smith (Personal)         Cllr.S.Bambury(Business)

 

2/03/07            Declarations of Interest by Councillors on any agenda item

 

                        5 ( c )– Hall Hire – Cllr Hughes              11 – Accts for payment – Cllr.P.G.McMorrow

 

3/03/07            Minutes of previous meeting 3rd January 2007 to be received and signed as a true record

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.HUGHES

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.Mrs.G.McMORROW

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

 

4/03/07            Report of County Councillor

 

                        School results – village schools in the area did very well including Stanford Primary although

                        Shellingford did better. County have allocated more finance towards gifted/talented children

                        Earthline – OCC are keeping a close watch on the quarry due to muddy state of A417

                        Road Repairs – OCC have been allocated £60 million for repairs

                        Foster Parents are urgently required – any age/sex – item to newsletter

                        Cllr.Hughes asked about extra classroom at the primary school which was supposed to be

                        provided by “Planning Gain” from “Forest Grove” as he had been informed that new entrants

                        age was 5 ½. There followed a discussion as to what had the money been spent on and that the

                        governors would have decided rather than OCC

 

5/03/07            Report of Clerk

 

                        a)Street Cleaning Machine – Council informed of vacuum machine demonstration which was

                           in the village hall carpark. The other machine hired from Cannings was rather cumbersome

                           and more suitable for larger areas eg skatepark,MUGA and carpark. Clerk felt that this

                           machine could be hired (approx £90 perday) say quarterly while the purchase at approx.£5000

                           for the vacuum was a better option

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                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr Mrs.G.McMORROW

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.B.BURLS

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that a grant application be made to the PPC for funds to purchase the

                        vacuum. It was further resolved that the sweeper be hired as per Clerks suggestion

 

                        b)Weed Control – following OCC inviting the Parish Council to tender for weed control, the

                            OCC no longer have responsibility for this function and therefore will not contract the PC to

                            carry out this task.

                        c)Hall Hire Charges

                            Previously the Council have not been charged for use of the Millennium Hall but had paid in

                            kind ( ie tables) The new Minister was not happy with this situation as were both Chairman

                            and Clerk. Following discussions with Cllr Hughes in his role as official of the Chapel it was

                            agreed that a fee of £8 per meeting be presented to Council to commence from the previous

                            meeting.

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.GILL

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.BURLS

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the hire fee of £8 per meeting be accepted

 

                        d)Casual Litter Picker – It had been discovered that Mr.C.Stallard had been picking up litter

                            during his daily walks and following many complimentary remarks Clerk has added Mr.

                            Stallard to the paid work force in part replacement of Ms Northcote

 

e) War Memorial - As previously stated we are not allowed to use public money to erect a new     memorial but are allowed to refurbish an existing one. The War Memorial Trust have confirmed this and having heard our circumstances have agreed with the Clerk’s suggestion that the Millennium Green stone be used/refurbished as a War Memorial, registered at the Imperial War Museum and dedicated by the Royal British Legion

 

                        f) A417 Mud – Several letters and oral communications had been received regarding the mud

                           some quite abusive towards the Council for not doing enough to improve the situation.

                           Clerk reiterated that he was in constant touch with both OCC Highways and the Police about

                           the situation and that Parishioners should be aware that it was not in the Parish Council’s

                 remit to solve the problem

 

                        g) Bus Routes – Now that the Church Green road is open again it appears that the buses are

                            varying their routes via Joyces Road and Cottage Road causing confusion to passengers

                            making the bus shelter redundant and causing school bus users to get wet. A complaint to

                            OCC Transport Officer resulted in the fact that more use is made of buses travelling via

                            Joyces Road and as routes are for review soon perhaps this is the best way to go

 

6/03/07            Report of Chairman inc. non-agenda items and items for next agenda

 

a)Salaries – Following discussion regarding present and future salaries and hours it was

    suggested  that the following rates be adopted:

 

            Clerk    22 hours per week @ £11.22 (NALC  rates) Clerk to be paid at lower rate

            when not engaged in Clerk duties

 

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            Mowing/Maintenance     £7 per hour

 

            Litter Picking                £5.75 per hour

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.ISAACS

SECONDED BY Cllr.BURLS

IT WAS RESOLVED that the pay awards be approved

 

b)Church Green Path – Following complaints re disabled access across the green a quote of

    £3825 (Cotswold Playgrounds) was obtained. It was felt that concrete edges and green tarmac

    was in keeping and to this end an application would be made to the PPC for grant aid. Having

    heard nothing from OCC regarding the corner refurbishment, a quote from the same company

    of £525 was obtained although Council considered that they had not quoted for sufficient area

    and the quote could be up to three times higher. It was not intended to include this in the grant

    application.

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.HUGHES

SECONDED BY Cllr.BURLS

IT WAS RESOLVED that a grant application be made

 

c)General – Playarea train seat installed – Honours Board being prepared – Meeting with Vale

    Officer regarding litter, collections and cleaning. She will contact CO-OP regarding their yard

 

 

 7/03/07           Correspondence

 

a)      VWHDC – Carbon Savers Action Day 10 March – Noted

b)      VWHDC – Post Office Network – Noted

c)      VWHDC – District & Parish Elections 3 May 2007 - Noted    

d)      VWHDC – Communications – Noted

e)      Audit Commission – Appointment of External Auditors

f)        Audit Commission – Audit of Accounts 4 years ending March 2001

 

8/03/07 Planning applications

 

            STA/19973 15 Hunters Field – Erection of 1.82m high fence – Not supported highway visual

                                                               restriction.                

 

            STA/19980 Between 25 and 27 High St. – Change of use from storage building to retail –

                                Supported ( 1 against  1 abstention) there were concerns regarding parking

 

            ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.Gill

            SECONDED BY Cllr.HUGHES

            IT WAS RESOLVED that these decisions be approved

 

9/03/07 Report of District Councillor

 

 

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            2007/08 budget set at 4.99% increase – Band D  £1316,23  E £1608.72  F £1901.22

            Old Goal Abingdon several interested but uses and improvements limited as it is listed

 

10/03/07 To approve Monthly Statement of Accounts

 

            ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.ISAACS

            SECONDED BY Cllr.BURLS

            IT WAS RESOLVED that the statement of accounts be approved

 

11/03/07 To Authorise Accounts for Payment

 

            D.M.Dew                                 Salary, Casual and Expenses                             1114.59

            D.Rolls                         Salary & Fuel                                                     193.37

            CPRE                                      Membership Fees                                                 27.00

            Handy Garden              Mower Spares                                                     51.02

            P.G.McMorrow                       Presentation Flowers                                            23.50

            Waste Recycling Group            Grant Starter                                                      178.00

 

            ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.ISAACS

            SECONDED BY Cllr.GILL

            IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be paid

 

12/03/07 To approve Planning & Finance(Bills) committee minutes/decisions Feb 2007

 

            Delete Cllr. D.Moreton-Smith insert Cllr. D.Monahan-Smith

Following this change:

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.HUGHES

SECONDED BY Cllr.Mrs.McMORROW

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

 

13/03/07 Recreation and Leisure Report

 

            There was a discussion regarding the forming of picnic areas within the village and in general

            a brightening of the village. D.Rolls had started by renewing the flower boxes and the Clerk

            asked that Council give further thought to this subject,  flower beds etc. as we are considered by  

            authorities to be an active village

 

Projects:

 

·        One swing seat had become loose and has been sorted by the          contractor.

·        Contractor has replaced the Spring Duck and will erect seat in the train as soon as possible.

·        Some timber pieces to be non-slip by the addition of surface textures or cross-cutting. D.R. or P.G to do.

·        Weed and cut back hedge in Toddlers Area- D.R.

 

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·        We still have quotations for other items to be considered for the Play Areas into the future.

·        The group of young people we were supporting in their bid to build a mini ramp have submitted an application to The County Opportunities Fund.

·        We have trialled two hand controlled road sweepers and need to discuss at March meeting.

.

 

Maintenance:

 

  • Two gates on the Recreation Ground do need fixing (wire has been kicked loose). Also have locked one of the gates nearest to the Bungalows as a temporary measure to see if this lessens the amount of noise disturbance. Have given a key to the nearest bungalow and to the Chair of the Football Club.
  • Also have discussed the higher fence issue with the above Chair and suggested a different type of fence being erected (different to below) to stop balls flying into the Bungalow area (will share this idea).
  • Following concerns from parishioners in the Perrys Road Bungalows- councillor McMorrow and I have asked the contractor to cost for a stronger and higher fence to protect windows etc from flying footballs. Propose we share half of cost with the Football Club.

     Further report and discussion at our meeting Jan 3rd 2007.

  • Gate and timber rails have been placed (Some still to complete) at Huntersfield side of Village Park Fencing to improve entrance / exit from park and Village Hall. The intention to discourage climbing and further breakages.(D.Rolls)
  • The Youth Shelter is being well used again but this now means we have a very slippery and mudded area- propose we install slabs or similar as a safer surface. To combine with tarmac repair at the Millennium Field when contractor is ready.
  • A second hand John Deer cylinder cut, a replacement to the Ransom we were trialling in October, and is being put to good use and proving more acceptable to our needs.
  • The Toro mowers will need to be serviced before the new cutting season. Petrol mower has been done. We will continue to receive diesel sponsored by Martin Cox who owns the Challow Station Garage where servicing takes place. There will be a charge for servicing but at a lower rate than other contractors.
  • We have purchased Grass / Leaf Blower
  • We still await the County Council Village Maintenance Team to clear footpaths and grass in road verges.
  • Also quotations for refurbishment of the Church Green

 

 

 

 

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