Minutes of the ANNUAL PARISH MEETING of Stanford in the Vale held on Wednesday 18th April 2007 in the Millennium Hall.

 

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

                        Cllr.B.Burls                                        Cllr.Mrs G.McMorrow

 

                        Cllr.R.Sharp(District Council)           1 Parishioner

                        D.M.Dew(Clerk & Finance Officer)

 

1.Apologies     Cllr.G.Hughes  Cllr.M.Isaacs  Cllr.M.Mullen  Sgt.E.Tearney(TV Police)

 

2.Report of Thames Valley Police

 

            Sgt.Elaine Tearney offered her apologies due to being “off shift”. The Clerk read her report in which she gave details of the Officer who will be responsible for Stanford as from 9th May 2007. The introduction of Neighbourhood Policing is progressing and hopefully next month will see it in operation and will result in more interaction and public consultation. The antisocial behaviour has been getting their attention including drinking in the village hall carpark and when the new officer takes over (Phil Redmond)  he will become a regular face in the village along with Dave Clarke (PCSO) who will also be following up crime enquiries and antisocial behaviour. Details of compared crime rates were given and the meeting requested that these figures be placed in the newsletter

 

3.Report of County Councillor

 

            Nil

 

4.Report of District Councillor

 

            Councillor Sharp reported that he was coming to the end of his first period as a District Councillor with elections due on 3rd May. He had recently attended a West Area Forum and revealed that Stanford has had their street cleaning grant application approved. He reported that District Council had signed up to “Environmental Declarations” Cllr.P.G.McMorrow said that Cllr Isaacs had stated that the Parish Council should be more involved in environmental issues and this would be discussed at the next Council meeting. Cllr.Sharp had been asked about dog and litter bins in Farm Piece. Chairman said that David W Homes were still responsible and also that several residents had said that they did not want any bins. Cllr. Sharp to pursue this item with DWH. Cllr.Gill remarked that since the site meeting with the appropriate Officer the road sweeper had been in the village for some length of time shortly after. Cllr Sharp said that these contractors were being paid to carry out these tasks and Council should keep an eye on the 40 day cycle.

 

5. Report of Chairman

 

            This year saw significant progress in the correction of past financial accounts that predate and preclude all serving councillors’ and the Clerks’ responsibility. This would not have been easily achieved without the assistance of Ms Cheryl White’s expertise and the generous application of her time. No other Parish Council in the entire UK has faced the unravelling and

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correction of irregularities that date back to 1987. Ms White has dealt with the accounts dating

from 1997,98 and 99 which impact upon our current financial years. It will be a refreshing change to deal with accounts that we are actually responsible for and to be able to reassure you that for the first time in twenty years all is in order and audited as such.

This Parish Council can assure you that since the election of 1999 strict financial control has been introduced leading to the annual reductions of the cost of this council to households. In addition, in each year since 1999 we have steadily built up reserves of capital. These are now at their highest level despite meeting the exceptionally high charges imposed by the Audit Commission in dealing with the shambles that we inherited. We will assist the Public Purposes Charity by confirming their opening balance for 1997 enabling them to bring their accounts up to date.

We continue to invest/spend much more than our annual income that is generated by taxation and we press both District and County to do the same and so recoup, in part, the ever increasing local government tax they collect from our village. This is, unfortunately a slow business that demands patience and frequent reminders from us and can take years for results to show.

We said goodbye to P.C. Martin Holder and Ms Jacquetta Northcote giving each small gifts in appreciation of their service to our community.

The Clerk to this Council gained a 2:1 grading in the specialist BA Honours Degree course designed for local government clerks, Mike Dew completing this degree one year ahead of schedule on a part-time self study basis. We are pleased and proud of his achievement especially with the ever increasing work load all such clerks face.

This years’ Village of the Year Competition meant that Stanford in the Vale was ineligible from the Winners category by virtue of past success. Nevertheless we were awarded two prizes  at local county level for multiple community involvement in conservation and youth activities. We are grateful to Margaret Grant and Kirsty Hughes for their part in our final display and representation.

Improvements this year include resurfacing of Cottage and Joyces Roads, dropped kerbings, refurbishment of equipment and surfacing in the Toddlers, Juniors and seniors playareas and the acquisition of new play equipment. Thanks are due to the Public Purposes Charity for their generous grant towards the play area improvements and also to their funding of the grass cutting tractor. This latest machine not only cuts a wider expanse but does so more quickly. Work will start on an improved pathway across Church Green( requested by wheel chair users and those with push chairs/prams) after 28th April. The corner of this Green nearest the Grange, will also receive attention as directed by Mr.G,Reade District Officer responsible for trees. Two additional dog bins have been installed and are located in Joyces Road adjacent to the Recreation Field and at Cottage Road/Upper Green. The latter will be relocated on the opposite side of the road close to Chapel Road junction.

Oxfordshire Highways have begun to install some traffic calming measures at the entrance to our village , on Bow Road, more will follow in the fullness of time. We have reminded Highways of the condition of Huntersfield and our expectation that this will be resurfaced as promised. Footpaths on Huntersfield and by the football field have also been brought to the attention of the County Council.

Vandalism to the fencing around the football field cost over £500 to rectify whilst damage to litter bins will cost £400 to replace. These sums could be put to much better use within the community.

Proposals to provide picnic benches and climbing apparatus have been agreed by this council with the junior area being the most likely location.

The very long wait for the restoration of the fire damaged cottages on Church Green was over in time for Christmas and the residents again convey their thanks and appreciation to all villagers

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for their good wishes.

Two Councillors , Mrs Fiona Shires and Mr. Michael Mullins will not be seeking re-election due to other commitments. Our grateful thanks for their contributions over the last four years, not only to the Parish Council but also to the other organisations they serve and to our community at large.

  

6. Finance

 

            Clerk reported figures for 2006/2007 and the surplus for the year of £4700. This had enabled the Council to reduce the precept for 2007/08. The precept had been £23200 but thanks to grants,generosity of PPC , outside contracts and bank interest the council had spent £53,500 for the benefit of the village. This figure does not include work commissioned by the Parish Council and carried out by the County Council. He was pleased to report that after much work by Ms C.White it finally appeared that the Audit Commission had approved the accounts, a situation for which they were partly to blame and which has cost this village thousands of pounds in fees and Councillors and Officials much time. Parishioner Mrs Greenwood asked for an explanation of how the situation stood at the moment. Cllr.Gill asked that a more detailed breakdown of figures be supplied in future ie mowing, maintenance. Clerk said he would do his best

 

7.Recreation and Leisure Report

 

            Cllr.Gill had little to add not being covered by Chairmans report except that the area around the youth shelter had been tarmaced because of the mud and commented on the sweeper being used to clean carpark, Muga and skate area  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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