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| February 2002 |
Minutes of a meeting of the STANFORD IN THE VALE PARISH COUNCIL held on Wednesday 6 February 2002 at Stanford Village Hall.
Questions/Comments from Parishioners.
For the Football Club,Mr.Grimes asked if the decision regarding the new lease had been made by the P.C.Chairman.Chairman replied no and that decisions were being made by specialists and the P.C. has no impact on the figures produced by the specialists,valuers,solicitors and lawyer and although the Football Club had received notification of the terms of the new lease,the matter still had to be discussed by Council although he thought it inadvisable to disagree with the specialists recommendations.Mrs.McMorrow stated that due to the differences at this meeting it was obvious why legal advice had to be taken and asked Mr.Grimes was his question really,had the Chairman made the decision.Mr.Grimes admitted this,to which the Chairman said no he had not.
Mr.Grimes asked about the new fencing around the recreation field,questioning the height,no gate behind goal area(to fetch ball) and did the Council not feel that some consulatation would have been appropriate especially as the football club will be maintaining the fence.Mr.Gill explained the construction of the fence and agreed that the club should have been talked to.Mr.
Williams requested to speak as this part of the meeting was open.Chairman pointed out that Mr.Williams,in his previous position as Chairman had visited a solicitor and offered to extend the existing lease on the same terms of £1 per annum plus grass cutting.Mr.McMorrow pointed out Mr.Williams had failed to declare an interest in this.Mr.Wentworth asked Mr.Williams if his signature on the original lease was not on behalf of the football club
Discussions with P.C.Holder regarding village parking problems.
P.C.Holder stated that there were two problems - inconvenience and danger and there is a difference,only the latter can he act upon ie parking on bends,yellow lines,zig-zag markings and footpaths.Parking on grass verges is safer than the road even if unsightly.He also stated that he would only ask once and asked for instances where parking was becoming a problem and dangerous.Several sites were mentioned including Chapel Road,Huntersfield especially around the school which he will be dealing with.Mr.Gill thanked P.C.Holder for his help in obtaining the £1000 grant from the area Police fund towards the youth shelter.Chairman thanked our village policeman for attending the meeting.
Mr.P.Gill
Mrs.R.Packer
Mr.A.Bungay
Mr.S.Bambury
Mr.B.Burls
1/02/02 Apologies
Mrs.M.Sandels Mr.G.Hughes
2/02/02 Minutes of meeting 5 December 2001
3/12/01(15/11/01) insert specialist before lawyer.Proposed by Mr.Gill seconded
by Mr.Williams that after this amendment minutes be approved Carried.
3/02/02 Matters arising
Due to his absence from the previous meeting Mr.Bambury asked for clarification
on the following points 3/12 Bow Road a planning issue 6/11 the 6 acre
standard as set out by OPFA.
13/11 Chairman detailed difference in cost playarea footpath surface,between
£1000 - £2000.Wickstead safety grass to be costed.
7/12 Apostles trees.Tree officer had agreed trimming and growth cutting
otherwise the trees are OK
14/12 The Brambles have been attended to
15/12 New computer purchased
4/02/02 Report of District Councillor
1.At all the recent Council Meetings it has been revealed that unless recurring savings
of £348,769 are made each year;by 2006 general fund balances would be exhausted
2.The Council has recently adopted a Property Investment Strategy.If services are to
remain at the same level 2002-3,£1.1 million extra will have to be spent.
3.At the Area Committee,two strategies for dealing with young people were outlined.
A new Community Safety Strategy has been formulated.Overall the Vale is still a
Safe place to live,but 11 community safety issues were pin-pointed.
4.Area committees are to administer Community grants and Village Improvement grants
The Community grants are allocated to each area on a population basis,but obviously
towns will not benefit from the second type.The initial scheme will run from April
2002 and will be reviewed after 1 year.
5.Improvements to Faringdon market Place will hopefully take place early in 2003.
6.The Model Code of Conduct will be adopted bt all Parishes and the District en bloc.
5/02/02 Report of County Councillor (Read by Clerk)
COUNCIL TAX At the full meeting of the County Council yesterday,the annual
Budget was debated and it was agreed that the County Council tax
for 2002/2003 would be £767.66 for band D equivalent properties,which represents a
tax increase of 9.8%.There would have been a percentage increase of 4.2% just for a
standstillbudget.However,together with cooperate measures(Broadband,ICT and
modernisation),strategic measures(including restoring balances) and the enormous
spending pressures on Social services(due to underfunding by Central Government)
the percentage increase comes out at 9.8%.Social services in other Counties have
similar problems with underfunding from Central Government and will no doubt have
to have similar percentage increases.
MEETINGS WITH TOWN AND PARISH COUNCILS Environmental Services is
organising another round of its regular meetings with town and parish councils during
March.The meeting for the Vale district is on 18 March in Abingdon and this is a very good
opportunity to raise local issues of concern.Councillor Roy Tudor-Hughes who is the Executive
member for Transport will also be present.
WINDMILL FARM UPDATE
In my report tp the parish in December,I said that the decision had not yet been made
on whether there would be an Environmental Impact Assessment on this project.It has
now been confirmed that an assessment should be done and usually these reports take
about 6 months to complete
COUNCILLOR SURGERIES I would like some feedback from Parish Council
Members and local residents as to whether holding a surgery would be of benefit to the
community.I welcome anyone getting in touch with
me at the present either by phone,letter or e-mail(anda.Fitzgerald@talk21.com)but
wonder if holding a surgery
would be beneficial views please.
6/02/02 Report of Clerk
Ethical Framework Chairman and Clerk attending OALC meeting 12/2/02.March
Meeting for signing of statements/declarations.Clerks role to
ensure that Councillors sign and to liase with monitoring officers/Standards Officer
regarding update of registers and to be the Council point of contact with the mo/so
Transco It seems that rather than the whole village being piped Transco might be
willing to convert individual roads.They certainly cannot feed from the new
development.
Website The website is registered www.stanfordinthevalepc.com.uk and although
still under construction will include minutes,accounts,newsletter,notice
board,and village calendar.Both Central Government and County Council were
encouraging parish councils to go electronic and the Best Kept Village competition have
included it in their questions.The cost of constructing the site was £100 but this
includes indefinite support.
Standing Orders Awaiting approval of New Ethical standards
Jubilee Several organisations are holding events.Council will be completing Jubilee
projects Green,seats,garden.Mrs.Packer suggested 5 new Lime Trees on
Church Green.Chairman to liase with arbourists.
Internal Audit Clerk reminded Councillors that under the new Account And Audit
regulations 2001 an independent internal auditor has to be appointed
effective 1 April 2002,not necessarily qualified,but having no ties with the Council.
Item to March agenda.
Planning Green Paper Clerk detailed concerns by County Council and others regarding
the Green Paper.Clerk to duplicate response sheet to all Parish
Councillors.Chairman read response from Countryside Agency
who welcome the new Paper.
7/02/02 Correspondence
a)Best Kept Village Entry Form Mr.Williams to produce map for judges
b)ORCC Member of staff to speak at Parish Meeting Agreed to invite
c)Stanford Primary School Request for funding for Childrens Jubilee momento
Proposed Mr.Williams seconded Mr.Bungay that £175
(50% of cost) be donated approved.
d)Vale of WHDC New planning response form Supported
e) *********** - Twinning,German - placed on notice boards
f) *********** - Spring Clean 13/21 April 30 bags requested
g) *********** - West Area Forum Noted
h) *********** - Fuel Poverty Notice boards and Newsletter
i) *********** - Goods Vehicle Operators License Arrived to late for comment
but planning application had been approved by PC subject to route
strategy
j) *********** - Parish Boundary review Noted
k) Oxfordshire C.C. Cottage Road Approval of roadworks/footpath
l)
************* - Toilet
facilities mobile Library Resolved
m) Oxfordshire C.C - Rural Traffic Zone Noted
n)
R.Jackson MP Re:B& Q awards/grants Passed to Youth Club
o) Public Purposes Charity Re:Application for grants approved in principle further
details required.
8/02/02 Planning applications
STA/17231 9 Glebe Road Previously approved
STA/8716/3 LB Coxs Hall Previously approved
STA/17280 8 Church path - Rear extension Supported Matching materials
STA/6665/3 27 Chapel Road Barn change of use to B&B accomm Strongly
objected to this application regarding parking and access and objections received.
STA/3373/5 Hills Farm Gainfield Change of use Agric.to B1& 7 B8 use. Not
supported due to objections, previous refusals
of near properties and vehicle movements.
9/02/02 Monthly statement of accounts
Mr.Williams and Mrs.Packer objected to the accounts.proposed by Mr.Bambury
Seconded by Mr.Burls accounts be approved carried
10/02/02 Accounts for payment
D.M.Dew Salary & Expenses
J.Northcote Salary
Impact Accounts software £ 45.00
Goodwood Tree Care Tree surgery £ 320.00
Natures Keepers Tree Planting Rec.Field £ 812.00
Betta Fencing Rec Field Fence £9679.00
It was proposed by Mr.Bambury seconded by Mr.Burls that the accounts be paid.
It was resolved that payment to Goodwood Tree Care would be withheld until items
detailed were completed,and further that Betta Fencing were to be consulted about
damaged posts before their payment.
11/02/02 Grant applications
It was proposed that this item be placed on the next agenda
12/02/02 Salary & hours review Clerk,cleaner & handyman.
Dealing with the Clerk first the Chairman stated that the hours had not been changed for
many years while the village had grown in size and the Clerks responsibilities and work
greatly increased,especially in these times of new legislation,green papers etc.It was
proposed by Mr.Bambury seconded by Mr.Burls that the Clerks hours be increased to 14
per week(from 10) as suggested by the Chairman Carried
The hours for cleaner and handyman to remain as they are
13/02/02 Newsletter
Mr.Bambury had noted various items from the meeting and correspondence to include in
the next newsletter.
14/02/02 Recreation & Leisure
Mr.Gill reported that the fencing is complete but was concerned regarding pathways to
the gates which at present were mud.He talked about clear fence lines for
easy gra
area fund not the Youth and Justice Board,therefore this source was still open and also
further grants had been applied for.
There were further complaints regarding Dog Excrement in the Rec.Field.Now that it
is completely fenced with self-closing gates it was proposed by Mr.Williams seconded
by Mr.Bungay that there be a complete ban on dogs in the Recreation Field Carried
Clerk to arrange further larger weather proof signs and will check with Vale of WHDC
regarding local bye-law.
Chairman gave details of proposed playarea improvements of both equipment and
surrounds and detailed costings as proposed by Mr.Herring.Playarea to next agenda.
Agenda item also to include discussions on signage(Jubilee Green) and a development
Plan for the next 3 4 years.
15/02/02 Football Club Lease
Mr.Williams and Mr.Bungay declared an interest and left the meeting as did the members
of the public.
The Chairman explained the use of the specialist lawyer and his advice was as had been
sent to the Football Club - £600 per annum plus 25% and plus inflation rate added every
third year.There were various discussions regarding other means and amounts,but
Chairman reminded Councillors that this was less than other village organisations were
paying for their facilities including the Brownies and Playgroup and even the Parish
Council for their meetings.
It was proposed by Mr.Bambury seconded by Mr.Burls that the finance be as
recommended.- The voting was 3 for the proposition 2 against carried.
Mrs.Packer asked that her preference for a 5 year increase be minuted.
Chairman stated that in that case he wanted minuted that this would be contrary to
legal opinion.
16/02/02 Other urgent business
Nil
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