Minutes of a meeting of the STANFORD IN THE VALE PARISH COUNCIL held on Wednesday 4th March 2009 in the Millennium Hall Stanford in the Vale.

 

Present:          Cllr.P.G.McMorrow(Chair)               Cllr.S.Bambury(Dep.Chair)               Cllr.P.Gill

                        Cllr.G.Hughes                                    Cllr.Mrs.G.McMorrow                     Cllr.M.Isaacs

                        Cllr.D.Monahan Smith                      Cllr.M.Vallis

 

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

                        Mr.C.Blackwell(County Environmental Officer)                 M/s C.White(Internal Auditor)

                        1 Parishioner

           

Questions/Comments from Parishioners

 

A Parishioner asked Council to consider concerns from those living close to the Grange and around Church Green when considering the planning application  STA/7828/10 – 11CA extensions to the Grange. She pointed out that several people had not received notification of proposed planning. The application comprised a 20% increase, loading bays , a wider entrance plus three others an increase in vehicle movements and noise.. Council advised the Parishioner that her comments would be taken into account when discussing the application.

 

Craig Blackwell ( OCC Ecologist) talked to council leading on from Rob Dance’s discussion with council at the previous meeting. He talked of his suggestion for a Community Woodland in area previously discussed and areas to be fenced and hedged. Suggested involvement with children during planting (School?) and that work would be carried out by a contractor under OCC supervision including  two year maintenance by contractor. Suggested a meeting of all involved in the Summer to discuss design, paths and trees. Planting would begin in November. Following a question he said that the trees would need some maintenance eg destroying foliage around base of trees to ensure tree growth – not strimming .

The council resolved that the scheme be accepted and that during the Summer months the Chairman would contact CB to arrange an inspection and a design meeting.

M/s C.White informed council on progress made with previous years accounts , now working on 2006/07. Talked about new accounts systems and value for money packages. The purchase of a new package has already been agreed by council and clerk and auditor would decide which package meets the needs of council.

 

1/03/09 Apologies

 

     Cllr.B.Burls (Personal)

 

2/03/09  Declarations of Interest by Councillors on any agenda item

 

              Cllr.G.Hughes 5/03/09 Charitable donations

              Cllr.D.Monahan Smith 6/03/09 Millennium Green transfer

 

3/03/09  Minutes of previous meeting 7th January 2009 to be received and signed as a true record

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr GILL

              SECONDED BY Cllr.G.HUGHES

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

 

1/4

4/03/09  Report of County Councillor

 

              No further developments on A420 diversion plans. Had spoken to Hatford landowner regarding use of field as footpath but not in favour due to horses in field. Council thanked the Councillor for her efforts .

 

5/03/09  Report of Clerk

 

a)      Accounts software – as previously discussed

b)      Parking on Greens – Situation had improved. Letters sent to occupants of Manor Green

c)      Charitable donations – Detailed applications received

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.Mrs.McMORROW

SECONDED BY Cllr.D.MONAHAN SMITH

IT WAS RESOLVED that the following donations be made

 

Stanford United Reformed Chapel (New Heaters)                     £200

South  & Vale Carers Centre                                                    £125

Community Responders                                                                        £125

Independent Advice Centre                                                      £  50

 

6/03/09  Report of Chairman

 

              The Millennium Green transfer has been completed from our end and the documents are with the other side’s solicitors. Cllr.Isaacs distributed maps and details of gates etc on footpaths as proposed by him and County Footpaths Officer Mark Sumner at a cost of £4666 plus labour. OCC would ask for a contribution of 50% after a grant from TOE. The Parish Footpaths Officer will be contacting landowners regarding the gates and Cllr.Isaacs will be discussing with M.Sumner tendering for installation. Chairman to apply for grant when further details are known

 

7/03/09  To consider purchase of Heavy Duty Mower

 

              A demonstration by ARC of a mower that can cope with wet and longer grass had been held and had impressed both lengthsmen and the Chairman. It was not new but had been used very little. The purchase of the mower would save the money being spent on contracting out the areas that are unable to be cut by our present machines.  PPC had been approached regarding a grant towards the purchase of the mower and as will be seen from correspondence a max. grant of  50% of cost had been approved by them .

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.G.McMORROW

              SECONDED BY Cllr.D.MONAHAN SMITH

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the mower be purchased

 

8/03/09  Correspondence

 

  • Public Purposes Charity – Confirmation of grant for mower – Noted with thanks
  • OPFA – Roadshow  10 June 2009 Request permission to use children’s playarea – Approved. Village Hall booking to be their responsibility
  • Parishioner – Copy of letter to Planning Auth re dwelling at 22 Horsecroft – Noted

 

2/4

9/03/09  Report of District Councillor

 

             

              Shared management team now in place. Savings of £280,000 for Vale. Community charge increase by 4.8% Band D £1417.40

              Proposed reservoir suggested putting back 5 years and a decrease to 2/3rds capacity.

              Following recent tarmac of village roads had requested that surplus grit be collected.

              Cllr.Isaacs asked about cycle routes – This was probably a county issue

 

10/03/09          Planning applications

 

              STA/7828/10 – 11CA The Grange Nursing Home Church Green – Not supported. It was felt that this application was not in keeping with the village and would affect the view of the Church and Green. Other objections included increase vehicle movements (Loading Bay) and noise. Parishioners objections were also noted.

 

              STA/8827/6 Stanford Park Cottage Park Lane – Supported

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr S.BAMBURY

              SECONDED BY Cllr.P.GILL

              IT WAS RESOLVED that these decisions be approved

 

11/03/09          Power of Wellbeing

 

              The Clerk explained the principles of wellbeing powers and four conditions that it involved. Some Councillors were not happy with having to be “trained” in the use or understanding of the power although they accepted that it was an aid to helping the community and an improvement on s137 which limited their expenditure by statute. Clerk explained that he had been selected to tutor councils in the power of wellbeing but needed to pass an “examination” himself before he could carry out this function. Once he had completed this task he was willing to impart this information, one of the conditions, to the council and would waive the fee set by Government. Council noted that there were no extra Government funding for wellbeing and any finance would have to be met from the precept.

 

12/03/09          Monthly Statement of Accounts

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.G.McMORROW

              SECONDED BY Cllr.Mrs.G.McMORROW

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the Monthly Statement of Accounts be approved

 

13/03/09          To Approve Accounts for Payment

 

              D.M.Dew                                           Salary & Expenses                               1244.69

              C.J.Rolls                                            Mowing                                                  529.25

              CPRE                                                Membership                                             29.00

              Sweetfuels                              Mower Diesel                                         214.14

              ARC                                      Mower Service                         1516.63

 

3/4

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr. G.McMORROW

              SECONDED BY Cllr.Mrs,G.McMORROW

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be paid

 

 

14/03/09          To approve Planning and General Purposes Committee decisions Jan/Feb 2009

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cll.Mrs.G.McMORROW

              SECONDED BY Cllr.G.McMORROW

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the decisions be approved

 

15/03/09          Environmental Sustainability

 

              Cllr.Isaacs presented his report to Council. It was agreed that from this planned future report that the words Wind Turbines and Solar Panels be deleted and replaced by Micro- Regeneration. Council thanked Cllr.Isaacs for his work on the report and that it would be used in any future parish planning . It would be ideal to share views at the forthcoming Parish Meeting.

 

16/03/09          Recreation and Leisure Report

 

Projects: -

 

  • Higher fence at Football Club to assist residents at Perrys Road. Formal Planning Permission awaited.
  • Have other costings for Lockable steel vault- to house tennis nets , netball posts etc. This will improve the accessibility and safety of our equipment.
  • Also costings for cricket nets and surfaces, football posts wheel-away etc.

 

Maintenance

 

  • Fencing still needs fixing at Recreation Ground
  • Weed control issue for this Spring?
  • The Jubilee Garden and area has been cleared and hedge trimmed in Toddlers Area.
  • Grass cutting has started again

 

Apparently our “kick wall” is now an official graffiti area amongst street artists.

There was discussion regarding the damaged fencing at the football field. Council had repaired this several times and felt that this was being caused by the football club not unlocking a gate during matches and were loathe to repair it yet again. Due to other gates being left open and dogs being allowed on the pitch this had caused a game to be delayed while dog mess was cleared

 

17/03/09    Dates of Next Meetings

 

                  Annual Parish Meeting Wed 22nd April 2009

                  Annual Meeting of Parish Council Wed 13th May 2009

 

 

4/4