Minutes of a Meeting of the STANFORD IN THE VALE PARISH COUNCIL held on Wednesday 6th September 2006 in the Millennium Hall Stanford in the Vale.

 

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

                        Cllr.P.Gill                                                        Cllr. B.Burls

                        Cllr.Mrs G.McMorrow                                 Cllr. Mrs. F.Shires

 

                        Mrs M.Tilley (County Councillor)      Mr.R.Sharp (District Councillor)     M.Dew(Clerk)

 

There were no questions/comments from Parishioners

 

1/09/06            Apologies

 

                        Cllr.G.Hughes – Cllr. M.Mullen – Cllr. M. Isaacs

 

2/09/06            Declarations of Interest by Councillors on any agenda item

 

                        Cllr.Bambury and Cllr Gill – Item 12 – Accounts for payment

 

3/09/06            Report of County Councillor

 

                        Due to having to attend another meeting the council agreed that the County Councillor could

                        speak at this time.

                        Mrs Tilley stated that starting 16/10 was Local Democracy Week when she will be attending

                        Local schools to tell pupils about democracy and usually included a mini-election. A waste

                        management partnership to include all Oxfordshire Councils is proposed to become more

                        efficient and meet Euro targets. Led by OCC it will include new treatment processes. A new

                        gully emptying machine which runs on rape seed oil has been purchased by OCC, a “green

                        machine”. OCC were were looking a “shared services” system where all service back ups ie

                        computers will be in one place in order to save money.

 

4/09/06            Minutes of Meeting 5th July 2006 to be received and signed as a true record

 

                        Item 6/07/06 Page 2 Line 13 delete Honour – Insert Honor. After this change

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr. BAMBURY

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.GILL

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

 

5/09/06            Report of Clerk

 

  • Bow Road Speeding – Spoken to Highways who arranged to meet Chairman on site

Clerk arranged for hedges around 30mph signs to be cut back

  • New Dog Bins – Joyces Rd and Cottage Rd – Emptying contractors aware
  • Pensions/PAYE – Clerk would soon be liable under PAYE system was trying to avoid

this by using self assessment. Reported that he was the only employee who wanted a

pension consideration.

  • Trees/path adj recreation field Cottage to Joyces rds – Complaints re tree roots –

Ownership could be an issue further enquiries required

 

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  • Clerks training – requested accountancy course which could possibly be paid by

Govt bursary. It was proposed by Cllr Burls seconded by Cllr Shires that the clerk

proceeds with this.

  • Accounts software – Impact software had ceased to exist following death of owner.

There might be a future need to change to another company if there unsolvable problems

  • Budget 2007/08 – Reminded Council that next meeting would be setting precept
  • Council casual vacancy – Following the resignation of Cllr. Miles the Electoral Officer at

District Council has been notified and clerk will be placing out vacancy notices

 

6/09/06            Audit Commission Report & Observations 4 years 1998/2001

 

                        Following a discussion about the report which endorsed the Chairman’s comments (Appendix A)

                       

                        It was further proposed by Cllr.P.G.McMorrow ( Chairman)

                        Seconded by Cllr.S.Bambury (Dep.Chairman) that:

 

                        This Parish Council have received and support the Chairman’s observations on the Audit

                        Commission report ( 31st July 2006), and his recommendation to formally complete the audit of

                        financial accounts 1997 – 2001 inclusive. Spurious points raised by Mr.S.Warren’s observations

                       will be raised elsewhere, if necessary.

 

                        This resolution was passed unanimously. This minute to be passed to Sir Michael Lyons chair of

                        Audit Commission and Mr S.Warren

 

7/09/06            Report of Chairman

 

·        PC Holder retirement – Cllr’s Shires and McMorrow to choose and purchase an engraved decanter or similar in appreciation.

·        Bow Road – Further to Clerks report,Highways proposed gates,dragon teeth and calming

Bumps and considered that the 30mph signs were not located in the best place

·         A decision from the PPP regarding grant for a new grass mower is expected next week.

 If the decision is favourable to the Council it was agreed that Chair & Clerk would

 purchase the mower already viewed and discussed. Space will be made for machine

 at Millennium Green

  •  New drainage /soakaway had been completed at Chapel Road/Frogmore Lane
  •  Hero of Year Award – The nominations for this award had been unsuccessful although

 they had been presented with mobile phones (Chair wishes to record that he as  a

 nominator had also received one)

  •  Damage to Church Green – OCC are involved with insurers and builders regarding

 repairs and restoration of this corner

  •  There will be a vacancy for a street cleaner as from January 2007.
  •  Village of Year competition – a different format involved 16 villages in 6 categories and

 following visits and interviews results are expected shortly

 

8/09/06        Correspondence

        VWHDC  Community Forum 21/9/06 – Noted

             Chairs charity dinner – Noted

 

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             Housing Strategy Forum – Noted

             O.C.C.    Local Transport Plan 2006 – 2011 – Noted

                            Summary of pupils’ journeys to school – Noted web site for hard copies

 

            Thames Water  - Major Resource Development exhibition – Noted

            RoSPA – Request use of skatepark for Playsafety training – approved

            PPC – Approval of £6000 grant towards replacement play equipment Toddlers area

            FAP - £25 cheque paid to Cllr Gill for his talk to ECOVAST re Skatepark and donated to 

                        PC for assistance to park upkeep

            1st Stanford Scouts – Following their request for funding towards World Jamboree it

                                                proposed by Cllr Bambury seconded by Cllr Gill that £100 be

                                                donated to the County Assoc to help the 4 scouts from Stanford

                                                involved – approved

           University of Glos. – Addressed to Chairman – Informing Council of Clerks success in

                                               gaining a BA(Hons) degree in Local Policy and thanking Council

                                               for their support in helping the Clerk. Council showed their

                                               appreciation for the Clerk gaining this award

 

           SEERA – Review of SE Plan provision for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites – Noted

 

9/09/06        Planning applications

 

                        STA/8837/11 White Horse Business Park (at Independent Distillers Site) for Timbmet Ltd

                                                Demolition of 3740 sq metres of building. Erection of 9901 sq metres of

                        extension to the existing ClassB8 storage and distribution building to provide additional

                        warehousing with ancillary office accommodation,vehicle maintenance workshop and canopy

                    over loading bays

 

                    Council was concerned about Vehicle movements 130 x 2 daily, Access through village to A420

                    and landscaping of area

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr Mrs.McMORROW

SECONDED BY Cllr.GILL

IT WAS RESOLVED that on the proviso that the Councils’ concerns were noted there were no

further objections

 

10/09/06          Report of District Councillor

 

                        Noted that we had received our cleaning grant. West area only receiving 30% of requests while

                        Abingdon for example receives 100%, and parishes are having to pay twice for cleaning. DC

                        mechanical sweeper should clean High St every week and remainder of village every 40 days.

 

11/09/06          To approve monthly statement of accounts

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr BAMBURY

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.SHIRES

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be approved (Att)

 

 

 

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12/09/06          To authorise accounts for payment

 

                        Playsafety Ltd (RoSPA)                       Playareas Inspection                             193.88

                        Stanford Village Hall                             Rec & Leisure Committee                         2.10

                        Portwell Press                                      Notices                                                  37.00

                        KJM Garden Services                          Mowing                                                  80.00

                        Peter Gerring                                        Mowing/Hedging                                  282.00

                        Oxfordshire Scouts                               s137 donation                                       100.00

                        J.Northcote                                          Salary                                                   132.00

                        D.M.Dew                                             Salary & Expenses                               902.31

                        C.P.N.Gill                                            Mower belt & Fuel                               52. 41

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr Mrs McMORROW

                        SECONDED BY Cllr BURLS

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be paid

 

13/09/06          To approve Planning and Finance(Bills) committee decisions July 06

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr Mrs McMORROW

                        SECONDED BY Cllr BURLS

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the decisions be approved

 

14/09/06          Recreation and Leisure Report

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr Gill

                        SECONDED BY Cllr BAMBURY

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the committee minutes 26th July 2006 be approved (att)

 

Projects:

Please see L&R sub-comm. Minutes and proposals. Further to the minutes the Parish Council Chair Gerry McMorrow has been discussing the Village Park installations with the contractor Cotswold Playgrounds.

Maintenance:

  • MUGA fencing has been repaired and we now have spare bolts and security key for locking bolts.
  • Costings have been sought for repair of chain link fencing around Recreation Ground and concrete posts (hope to share at next meeting 06.09.06)
  • Paint Skate Park Ramps. ( Young People)
  • Bin to be placed in Village Hall Car Park Area.(D.Rolls)
  • Gate and timber rails to be placed 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 Dog Bins have been placed by the District Council on Cottage Road and Joyces Road.

 

Grass cutting will always give us some difficulties depending on weather conditions etc but the opportunity to purchase a newer and larger machine, hopefully, will put us in a better situation

 

 

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for the coming year 2007. This also depends on ensuring we have a village handy person able to

do the cutting when most needed and regularly. This has not always been the case through this year. We now, I believe, need to put in place planned systems to ensure the Village is kept tidier and cared for. We have further opportunity, to plan something different, now that our present Street Cleaner intends to retire soon. I would like to continue with this theme at our meeting.

 

                    Following a discussion  several changes were agreed to the original recommendations

                    ie 8ft wooden swings, polypropelene “Wicksteads” train, Cotswold Playgrounds having

                        discussions

                        Cllr.Gill also showed photos of areas of village that needed work to be done and thought

                        that consideration should be given to a regular work maintenance schedule. Gate and rails

                        require replacement at village hall. Football Club fencing needs repair. M/Bikes on rec field

                        has been reported to police. Clerk reminded Council that this would cost money and the budget

                        calculations at next meeting should reflect this expenditure. Mr. Rolls is primarily employed to

                        mow grass on a part-time basis but has been more and more been used for maintenance work

                        The present precept produces £23,200 and as a guideline a levy of £1 per household per week

would produce approx £36,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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