Minutes of the ANNUAL MEETING of the STANFORD IN THE VALE PARISH COUNCIL held on Wednesday 16th May 2007 in the Millennium Hall Stanford in the Vale

 

There were no Questions from Parishioners but Mrs J.Greenwood through Cllr Gill,on behalf of the Village Hall Management Committee asked if they could erect an events board at the hall in order that people would be aware of coming events. The Council had no disagreement with this request but asked that the board be kept tidy.

 

Present:          Cllr.P.G.McMorrow              Cllr.S.Bambury          Cllr.G.Hughes

                                    Cllr.P.Gill                                Cllr.B.Burls                Cllr.Mrs G.McMorrow

                                    Cllr.M.Isaacs                         Cllr.D.Monahan Smith          D.M.Dew (Clerk)

 

1/05/06            Apologies        Nil

 

2/05/07            Declarations of Interest by Councillors on any agenda item

 

                        Item 16 Accounts for payment – Cllr Gill – Cllr Hughes

 

3/05/07            Election of Officers

 

                        Chairman                    Cllr.P.G.McMorrow

                                                            Proposed Cllr S.Bambury Seconded Cllr M.Isaacs

 

                        Deputy Chair              Cllr.S.Bambury

                                                            Proposed Cllr.Mrs McMorrow Seconded Cllr.M.Isaacs

 

                        Hon.Secretary            Cllr.S.Bambury

                                                            Proposed Cllr Mrs McMorrow Seconded Cllr Isaacs

 

              Senior Councillor     Cllr.B.Burls

                                                            Proposed Cllr.P.G. McMorrow Seconded Cllr.S.Bambury

 

4/05/07            Election of Trustees as required

 

                        Village Hall Management Committee -  Cllr Gill – Cllr Burls

 

                        Stanford Relief in Need – Cllr.M.Isaacs – Cllr.D.Monahan-Smith

 

5/05/07 Election of Working Parties/Committees

 

                        Recreation & Leisure

                        Cllr Gill (Chair) Cllr P.G.McMorrow, Cllr Mrs McMorrow, Cllr Bambury, Cllr Burls

                        Cllr Monahan Smith

 

                        Disputes

                        Cllr.P.G.McMorrow, Cllr.Mrs McMorrow, Cllr.Bambury,Cllr Isaacs, Cllr.Burls

 

 

 

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                        Delegation

 

                        Cllr.McMorrow, Cllr Bambury, Cllr Hughes D.M.Dew (Clerk)

 

Planning and Finance(Bills)

                        All Councillors

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr ISAACS

                        SECONDED BY Cllr HUGHES

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that these be elected

 

                        At this point Councillors signed their Declaration of Acceptance of Office and Register of

                        Members Interest Declaration

 

6/05/07            Minutes of previous meeting 7th March 2007 to be received and signed as a true record

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr ISAACS

                        SECONDED BY Cllr MONAHAN SMITH

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

 

7/05/07            Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting 18tApril 2007 to be received and signed as a true record

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr BURLS

                        SECONDED BY Cllr Mrs McMORROW

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

 

8/05/07            Report of County Councillor

 

                        Nil

 

9/05/07            Report of Clerk

 

  • Vandalism       There has been an increase in vandalism including damage to the newly

repaired rec field fence, some notice boards and setting fire to the wetpour surface in the playarea. A person has been charged by the police for the fire damage and will have to pay for repairs including approx £87 for fire extinguisher refill. Vandalism is costing a lot of money that could be used for the benefit of the village.

  • Diesel             There have been difficulties in obtaining diesel for the mowers as part of

 the arrangement with M.Cox. Clerk has agreed that following discussion with Sweet Fuels that they would supply diesel at cost in exchange for acknowledgement in the newsletter. It was agreed that Coxs, Cobra and Sweets be thanked for their past and future co-operation and generosity.

  • Conferences   There are several conferences due to be held and Clerk will detail these

under correspondence as there are some that might be of interest

  • IT Admin        A message had been received from Microsoft that the Windows

programme being used was not official and has to be changed. It is

possible through the trade to obtain a new programme at 50% discount

 

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at about £100. Our IT expert also informs me that the graphics card needs

replacing. Council agreed that Clerk should proceed as necessary.

  • Council            Following the non-contested election the remained two vacancies on the

Vacancies      Council which should be filled by co-option. Chairman asked if      Cooption        Councillors would canvas for interested persons.

  • Mower            The John Deere mower had not been serviced as per purchase guarantee

and there was a hydraulic problem. ARC had visited but had not cured the fault (No tools) Following “words” from the Chairman this will be remedied and also an inspection of the old mower with view to selling to ARC

  • Local               Complaints have been received regarding the confusing use of

Elections         two polling stations in the hall and also the attitude of the polling

Polling staff. Clerk has written to the MP, District Councillor and Chief

                        Executive District Council. Council are also concerned about the cost

                        which due to new regulations were due to rise anyway but could have

                        less if fewer staff had been employed as they knew there would be no

                        Parish elections.

 

10/05/07          Report of Chairman

 

                        Reported that the Best Kept Village competition had changed to a Village of the Year format. Of

                        all the counties that took part in 2006, Oxfordshire had the most entries which made the two

                        prizes that Stanford won all the more significant.

                        Cllr.Isaacs showed Council the environmental DVD “ Instant Truth” by Al Gore which he asked

                        that all Councillors view. He also asked that with a view to an  environmental policy if future

                        development in the parish be “Carbon Friendly”. Clkerk to inform Planning Team at District

                        Council

 

11/05/07 Correspondence

 

  • Earthline – Speeding A417 Drivers had been warned. Observation vehicle monitoring

       Cllr.Isaacs asked at what frequency

  • Dept of Communities & Local Govt – Increase S137 to £5.64
  • CPRE – Newsletter and Events
  • VWHDC – Response Local Elections complaints
  • VWHDC – Appraisal Scoping Report – Committee to be informed of our situation re

       lack of recreation land

·        VWHDC – copies of letters sent to various Govt agencies re Upper Thames resources

       Development (Reservoir)

·        Standards Board – New “Code of Conduct”

·        Thames Valley Police – Stakeholder Forum 5 June – Cllr Gill to attend

·        Public Purposes Charity – Approval of grants Church Green path and Road Sweeper

·        OALC – Notification of various training courses – Councillors showed interest in “How

Local Councils Fit Into The Planning System – Effective Responses to Planning Applications” Members to attend Cllrs. Isaacs,Gill,Monahan Smith and the Clerk

 

 

 

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12/05/07 Report of District Councillor

 

               Nil

 

13/05/07 Planning Applications

  

              Nil

 

14/05/07 Annual Accounts 2006/2007

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.ISAACS

              SECONDED BY Cllr. HUGHES

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the Annual Accounts 2006/2007 be approved and signed

 

15/05/07 Monthly Statement of Accounts

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.HUGHES

              SECONDED BY Cllr. ISAACS

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the Monthly Statement of Accounts be approved

 

16/05/07 Accounts for Payment

 

              Stanford URC                                    Hall Hire                                               16.00

              D.Rolls                                               Salary and Goods                               720.99

              P.Gerring                                Mowing                                                94.00

              P.Gill                                      Diesel                                                   22.39

              Handy                                                Spares                                                  85.66

              Cotswold Playgrounds                        Footpath                                          4494.38

              ORCC                                               Membership                                         20.00

              TVE Hire                               Shredder                                              31.73

              Challow Station Garage          Mower Service                       125.60

              P.Gill                                      Diesel                                                   21.55

              Allianz Cornhill                       Indemnity Ins                                    1237.21

              OALC                                               Membership                                       366.04

              D.M.Dew                               Salary Expenses Casual Wages      1256.59

              Allianz Cornhill                       Mower Ins                                         364.02

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.ISAACS

              SECONDED BY Cllr MONAHAN SMITH

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be paid

 

17/05/07 To Approve Planning and Finance (Bills) Committee Decisions April/May

 

              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.HUGHES

              SECONDED BY Cllr.BURLS

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the decisions be approved

 

18/05/07 To Discuss and Adopt The Local Authorities(Model Code Of Conduct)Order 2007

 

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              ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.GILL

              SECONDED BY Cllr.MONAHAN SMITH

              IT WAS RESOLVED that the Model Code of Conduct be adopted inc para 12(2)

 

19/05/07 Recreation and Leisure Report

 

Projects:

 

·        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- This has been done as well as the Jubilee Garden and all is now looking well maintained.

·        We still have quotations for other items to be considered for the Play Areas into the future.( Pyramid climbing frames and Rocks)

·        The group of young people we were supporting in their bid to build a mini ramp have successfully obtained monies through The Youth Opportunities Fund. We are now in a position to erect the Mini Ramp. Having talked to the Playing Fields Officer and to residents nearest to the proposed siting it is now clear we need to erect in between the Skate Park and the MUGA In doing this we will build a Ramp that will be smaller but will meet ROSPA guidelines. Contractors will submit costings which will now be less than the original costs.

·        Place Picnic Tables in Village Hall Play Area. Need to get costings.

 

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. Perhaps we should consider a different type of gate- one that does not so much noise on closing. Need to get some costings.
  • 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).
  • 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)
  • Tarmac around Youth Shelter has been laid and grass seed sown on areas affected by contractor’s vehicles.
  • 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 diesel Toro mower still to be serviced. Servicing to be done at Challow Station Garage at lower rate than other places.

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      We have purchased Grass / Leaf Blower to be used after strimming and cutting.

  • We still await the County Council Village Maintenance Team to clear footpaths and grass in road verges.
  • Church Green- damaged corner by the tree has been renovated and a new tarmac path laid across the Green.

 

20/05/07 Date of next meeting

 

              4th July 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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