Minutes of a meeting of the STANFORD IN THE VALE PARISH COUCIL held on Wednesday 7th January 2009 in the Millennium Hall Stanford in the Vale

 

There were no questions/comments from Parishioners

 

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

                                    Cllr.G.Hughes                                    Cllr.Mrs G.McMorrow                     Cllr.B.Burls

                                    Cllr.D. Monahan Smith                     Cllr.M.Vallis(@2000)

 

                                    Cllr.M.Tilley(County Council)          Cllr.R.Sharp(District Council)

                                    D.M.Dew(Clerk)                                Mr.R.Dance(Oxfordshire CC Planning &

                                                                                                Implementation manager land use)

 

Mr Dance detailed what had been suggested in the past e.g. the lagoon lake but the scheme had run into serious financial difficulties such as clay lining. Also the former landfill site is still active  with gas and must be left as non-usable. This is being monitored every 6 months. He talked of the footpath running along cottage road(coppers) and linking it with path to Hatford. Cllr.Tilley will talk to the owner of a field in Hatford about access The proposed work would entail discussions with the leaseholder farmer for approx 20 metres of land and a planting scheme to shield the recycling site. If this was carried out OCC would probably be looking for maintenance to be carried out by the parish council. Cllr.Gill objected to this stating that OCC had a duty to the upkeep of footpaths. Mr.Dance said that he was talking about the planted area. When it was pointed out that the field opposite the recreation field was of great interest, Mr Dance promised to look into this  and talk to OCC estates and inspect leases. Chairman said that there was finance available and finance should not be a factor in not being able to obtain the land. Mr Dance promised to report back at any scheduled February meeting. Council thanked Mr Dance for attending the meeting and looked forward to hearing from him.

 

1/01/09            Apologies

 

                        Cllr.M.Isaacs(Business)

 

2/01/09            Declarations of Interest by Councillors on any Agenda Item 

 

                        Cllr.S.Bambury Item 6/01/09 Chairmans report – Village Crests for noticeboards

 

3/01/09            Minutes of Previous Meeting 29th October 2008 to be received and signed as a true record

 

                        Item 15/10/08  add d to introduce Following this amendment

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.MONAHAN SMITH

                        SECONDED BY Cllr. HUGHES

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

 

4/01/09            Report of County Councillor

 

                        New diversion signs on A420 - Stated that she was angry that Highways will be saying what will                        be happening and the consulting will happen after. The idea is that following any accident on the 

                        A420  lorries will be kept away from villages.

 

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5/01/09            Report of Clerk

 

  • A417 Flooding – Following conversation with OCC Highways they had dismissed the raising of road/bridge (near Park Lane) due to not wanting a humpback bridge and also the cost (£1,000,000) of raising the road.
  • Mowing – Had contacted P.Gerring regarding areas cut. Clerk to talk to D.Rolls regarding feasibility of mowing these areas, otherwise P.Gerring will be used again.
  • Garaging at Village Hall site. Nothing further had been done as playgroup were also interested in being involved for extra space. Cllr.Gill had been approached by playgroup but as yet no firm plans had been discussed. Chairman said that the scheme including the playgroup had been supported in principle and this included storage space for other village organisations i.e. Scouts
  • Had enquired about new accounts software as previously agreed by Council and they will be coming to Stanford to install the new system when our internal auditor returns. They asked that Council should reconsider the use of the “lighter touch” system as we are only a small council. A discount is also on offer due to council discarding the Impact system now in use.

 

6/01/09  Report of Chairman

 

  • Further progress had been made regarding  outstanding yearly accounts 2005/2006 at present with external audit.
  • Parking on greens – Item to be placed in newsletter stressing penalties for parking on greens. Cllr,Hughes highlighted parking on grass/verges in some areas and

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr HUGHES

SECONDED BY Cllr Mrs McMORROW

IT WAS RESOLVED that the clerk contact Vale Housing and Police regarding parking on Greens, Verges and Housing Assoc land

 

  • Village Crest – Following comments regarding the village crests on noticeboards fading enquiries had been made regarding permanent cut out crests to be fixed to the boards. A quote of £50 per board (six boards) had been received.

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr HUGHES

SECONDED BY Cllr Mrs McMORROW

IT WAS RESOLVED that the crests be purchased from Pete Witney Signs

 

Cllr.Bambury declared an interest and took no part in voting

 

  • The Interest Account monthly interest had fallen from £100 + per month to £15
  • War Memorial – Following a request for thoughts on design/location – reported a nil response
  • Reported passing away of former Cllr.Alan Bungay – Chairman , Cllr Mrs McMorrow, Cllr Gill and the Clerk had attended the funeral service
  • Cllr.Gill had attended a County,District and Parish Liason event where both out County

 

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      and District Councillors were present, Cllr Tilley talking about her role in County

  • cabinet. There were two workshops – Anti-Social behaviour and  Local Strategy Framework. Clerk said that telephone number for anti-social action team had already been made public. Cllr. Gill also produced  NAG2  survey results for the village re Safety and Quality of Life ( Appendix A). Next agenda – Street lighting

 

7/01/09    Correspondence

 

·        Rural Services Network – Inviting membership – Not supported

·        VWHDC – Invite  to Core Strategy Preferred Options discussion 22/1/09 – accepted

·        Information Commissioners Office – Freedom of Information new model scheme. Clerk explained that the new scheme differed from the previous as where electors asked for information it was now the statutory duty for organisations to publish the information. This council already does this and therefore it is a case of rubber-stamping what we already do.

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr MONOHAN SMITH

SECONDED BY Cllr GILL

IT WAS RESOLVED that Model Publication Scheme for Local Councils(Core Classes Only) be

Adopted

  • Several requests for donations had been received from charity and other organisations. To be discussed at March meeting as per normal
  • VWHDC – Flooding emergency plans status and grants – Chairman to deal with

 

8/01/09    Report of District Councillor

 

                The senior management reorganisation was continuing and the Waste Management staffing was also being looked at. It was estimated that 420 houses were to be built in the west area ( Between Kingston Bagpuize and Ashbury) with most probably allocated in Faringdon. Council thanked Cllr Sharp for his help in obtaining a grant towards the higher fencing at the recreation field.

 

9/01/09    Planning

 

                Nil

 

10/01/09  Monthly Statement of Accounts

 

                ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr BAMBURY

                SECONDED BY Cllr VALLIS

                IT WAS RESOLVED that the Monthly Statement of Accounts be approved

 

11/01/09  Accounts for Payment

 

                D.M.Dew                                         Salary,casual and expenses                   1238.38

                Blackwell & Froud                           Hedging                                                  172.50

 

                ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr BAMBURY

                SECONDED BY Cllr GILL

                IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be paid

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12/01/09  To approve Planning & General Purposes Committee Decisions Nov/Dec 2008

 

                ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr GILL

                SECONDED BY Cllr VALLIS

                IT WAS RESOLVED that the decisions be approved

 

13/01/09  Environmental Sustainability

 

                To next agenda

 

14/01/09  Recreation and Leisure Report

               

Projects: -

·         More benches for Recreation Ground by Skate Park and Junior Football Pitch. ‘Rootfast’ did have special offers.

 

  • Higher fence at Football Club to assist residents at Perrys Road. Have 3 tenders. Costs to be shared by Football Club/ District Council Grant / PPC / Parish Council/ Vale Housing. Have discussed with District Councillor and Vale Planning. Formal Planning Application Permission is still being sought.
  • 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 but hedge trim needed in Toddlers Area.
  • Glebe Road / Forest Grove boundary cleared / levelled /seeded
  • Winter clearance and mulching of leaves continues with final grass cuts ready for next Spring.
  • Timber climbing frame in Village Hall Play Area may have passed sell by date. Need to check and discuss with Darren R.

 

Finally we ask all dog owners to ensure they clear dog mess from all areas. It is still causing concern and we ask for your continued support.

In the same way please keep our Village tidy by making sure all litter goes in Bins or take it Home for disposal. Thank You.

 

14/01/09  Date of next meeting

 

                4th March 2009

 

                       

 

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