Minutes of a meeting of the STANFORD IN THE VALE PARISH COUNCIL held on Wednesday 1st November 2006 in the Millennium Hall Stanford in the Vale.

 

Prior to the meeting a presentation was made by the Chairman on behalf of the Council to M.Holder who has recently retired from being “our” village policeman. After being presented with the cut glass decanter and vellum manuscript which acknowledged his tremendous contribution towards the village , he replied that he was overwhelmed with the gift and the flowers for his wife. The Chairman also thanked him for his help in obtaining grants for various projects,  especially those for the  youth of the village. Mr. Holder also thanked the council for the tremendous amount of work that they did for the community which had made his workload easier.

 

There were no questions from parishioners.

 

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

                        Cllr.G.Hughes(Senior Cllr.)                           Cllr.P.Gill

                        Cllr.B.Burls                                                    Cllr.M.Mullen

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

 

                        M.Dew(Clerk)                                                2 Parishioners

 

1/11/06            Apologies

 

                        Cllr.M.Isaacs(Business)

            Mrs M.Tilley(County Cllr)  Mr.R.Sharp(District Cllr) both at Reservoir meeting and attended

                        later at 8.30 pm

 

2/11/06            Declarations of Interest by Councillors on any agenda item

 

                        Cllrs. Bambury, P.G.McMorrow, Shires and Gill – Item 14 – Accounts for Payment

                        Cllrs. P.G.McMorrow, G.McMorrow, Gill and Mullen – Item 11 – Planning Applications

 

3/11/06            Minutes of Previous Meeting 6th Sept.2006 to be received and signed as a true record

 

                        Item 7/09/06

                        Point 3 delete PPP insert PPC

Point 4  delete had been completed – insert will be completed

 

                        Following these changes

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.BAMBURY

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.Mrs SHIRES

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

 

4/11/06            Cooption of member to fill Council casual vacancy

 

                        Following the resignation of Cllr.Miles, the Clerk reported that he had informed the District

                        Council Electoral Officer of the vacancy. Following the statutory public notification of the

 

 

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                        vacancy the District Council had informed the Clerk that the Parish Council could co-opt

in order to fill the vacancy. One person, Mr.D.Monahan-Smith, had offered his services to the Council and  was invited to attend the meeting

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.Mrs G.McMORROW

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.MULLEN

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that Mr Monahan-Smith be co-opted to fill the vacancy

 

                        Details: Cllr.Derek Monahan-Smith

                                     22 Ock Meadow Stanford in the Vale SN7 8LN  01367 718781

                       

 

5/11/06            Report of County Councillor

 

                        Cllr. Tilley apologised for being late due to attending a meeting of the proposed new reservoir.

                        Cllr stated that the reservoir was not yet approved and that the three councils involved were not

                        convinced of the need for this reservoir and are challenging Thames Water.

 

6/11/06            Report of Clerk

 

  • Complaints received regarding the position of the new dog bin in Cottage Rd/Chapel Rd

due to pedestrian safety. Will contact District Council to investigate.

  • Using RoSPA guidelines a Conditions of Use notice has been compiled and will be made

Into permanent notices by Falcon Signs for placing at Parish Council recreational facilties

 

7/11/06            Report of Chairman inc items for next agenda

 

  • Chairman stated that complaints/petition had been received regarding STA/8763/4

erection of small wind turbine 3 High St SIV. Originally the planning committee had no

objections to the application as no objections from parishioners had been received, but subsequently learned that those most affected in Horsecroft had not been informed by the District Council. Cllr.Bambury, who declared an interest through residence, explained the situation as the objectors had contacted him as a Councillor. Clerk to inform District Council of the council’s objection due to parishioners objections.

  • Drainage Chapel Rd/Frogmore Lane – Following the 2001 application the recent work has revealed that 3 flood drains had to be linked and flow into the River Ock. Jubilee Green to be restored by OCC
  • Village of the Year Awards – 10 awards since 2000 – For 2006 Environmental Village and Highly Commended County Youth Award
  • Rec Field – Replacement stretch of fencing by Cotswold Playgrounds
  • Playarea – Train was in place but no seat, it was decided following comments from children that the seat should be installed. Reported attending Standlake play area for OPFA AGM
  • Bow Road speeding – Chair to meet Oxfordshire Highways 10/11/06 – Clerk to contact TV police regarding speed devices
  • Church Green Houses – Owners had started moving back. Refurbishment of Green corner should be of a substantial material according to OCC Highways and should be funded by the property/builders insurers.

 

 

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  • Cllr.Gill reported that friends of the young person who had recently died had been collecting money in his memory and he thought that it would be appropriate to have a tribute to the deceased who was a keen skateboarder.
  • Items for next agenda 1) Honours Board 2) Football Club Fencing 3) Playarea Equipt

 

8/11/06            Millennium Green Trusteeship

At a recent meeting the Trustees considered it appropriate due to their financial situation to pass

Control to the  Parish Council. They are unable by law to sell the Green. Clerk notified Council of

an objection to the proposal by a Trustee which was noted

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.BAMBURY

SECONDED BY Cllr MULLEN

IT WAS RESOLVED that the Stanford in the Vale Parish Council take the Stanford in the Vale 

Millennium Green Trusteeship subject to the approval of the Charity Commission

 

9/11/06            Approval of Revised Accounts 1997/98,1998/99,1999/00,2000/01 for Audit Commission

 

                        These were the re-worked accounts previously presented to Council as produced by Ms C.White

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.BAMBURY

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.MULLEN

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the revised accounts be approved

 

10/11/06          Correspondence

  • Parishioner – Wind Turbine Following the discussion under 7/11/06 it was decided that this be noted
  • OCC – Changes to Bus Services 67/67a – noted
  • Stanford Village Hall – Litter problem and local police involvement – noted
  • Wantage Dickensian Evening – Stanford involvement – Noted
  • NALC – Bursary approved for Clerks’ training
  • Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor PC – Co-Funding of Youth Worker – Funding of worker could be a stumbling block (£30K per annum)

11/11/06 Planning Applications

 

               STA/18466/2  12 Chapel Road Change of use from commercial (A1) to residential.Proposed new

                                    Roof with dormers and roof lights. Rebuild front garden wall

 

STA/18466/3-CA 12 Chapel Road Demolition of  front garden wall Erection of new wall using

                        Existing bricks

 

STA/3986/2  13 Chapel Road Erection of a wooden gazebo

 

ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.Mrs SHIRES

SECONDED BY Cllr BAMBURY

IT WAS RESOLVED that there were no objections to these applications

 

12/11/06          Report of District Councillor

 

 

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                        Had also been to reservoir meeting. Commented on fact that cooperation between groups of

                        Councils was ongoing in an attempt to save money

 

13/11/06          To approve monthly statement of accounts

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr Mrs SHIRES

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.MULLEN

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the statement of accounts be approved

 

14/11/06          To authorise accounts for payment

 

                        Portwell Press                          Repro                                                     30.87

                        HJ Webb & Son                      Building Materials                                 207.67

                        Peter Gerring                            Mowing                                                  94.00

                        D.M.Dew                                 Salary & Expenses                               930.88

                        J.Northcote                              Salary                                                   132.00

                        Royal British Legion                  Poppy Wreath                                        30.00

                        D.Rolls                         Salary & Expenses                               405.74

                        CPN Gill                                  Skatepark poles etc                                19.97

                        F.Shires                                    Presentation Glassware               81.49

                        P.G.McMorrow                       Presentation flowers                                23.50

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr Mrs SHIRES

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.MULLEN

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the accounts be paid

 

15/11/06          To approve Planning and Finance(Bills) committee decisions October 2006

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr BURLS

                        SECONDED BY Cllr.MULLEN

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the decisions be approved

 

16/11/06          Budget/Precept 2007/2008

 

                        Following discussions regarding the budget and expected income it was proposed that other further

                        expenditure could be met from reserves held and there could be a reduction on the present year. It

was therefore proposed that the precept be set at £23,100

 

                        ON THE RESOLUTION OF Cllr.P.G.McMORROW

                        SECONDED BY Cllr MULLEN

                        IT WAS RESOLVED that the precept for 2007/08 be £23,100

 

                        This was carried with one vote against  

        

17/11/06          Recreation and Leisure Report

           

Leisure and Recreation Report November 2006

 

 

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Projects:

The contractor Cotswold Playground have installed and renovated the Play Unit in the Toddlers Area and replaced the “Duck”with a train. Also a Talking Tube and a Log Roll have been installed.

The Swings are almost complete alongside smaller items that were highlighted in the ROSPA safety report:

·        Pressure clean wet pour areas as moss and other growth creating a slip hazard

·        Attend to bolts on play apparatus

·        Placing turf in front of bench-trip hazard

·        Some timber pieces to be non-slip by the addition of surface textures or cross-cutting

·        Replace swing seats in Toddlers Area

Also now that the Log Roll is being used the grass underneath has become mud and now slippery- Propose we install carpet under and around. Have asked Cotswold for costing.

Maintenance:

  • 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) Cotswold Playground have started this work with a tender which was half as much as others.
  • Following concerns from parishioners in the Perrys Road Bungalows- councillor McMorrow and I have asked the contractor to cost for a stronger and higher fence to protect windows etc from flying footballs. Propose we share half of cost with the Football Club.
  •  Skate Park Ramps have been painted. ( Young People)
  • Bin has been placed in Village Hall Car Park Area.(D.Rolls and PGill)
  • 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)
  • The Youth Shelter is being well used again but this now means we have a very slippery and mudded area- propose we install slabs or similar as a safer surface.
  • Floodlights have been troublesome of late and we need to take a different approach- will discuss at our meeting.

 

As I write this report all grassed areas are reasonable apart from the High Street and verge on A417.Darren and Chris should be cutting today in the sun and chilly conditions using our normal mower plus the Ransom which should give a shorter and finer cut. If the cold weather persists it hopefully should stem the growth. Darren is understanding of our concerns to have consistent cutting from now on and this should be much better. We as a Council must ensure we give our maintenance persons adequate resources to do the work and systems to suit the needs of the Village.

Resources-

·        to transport green waste from pruning and fallen leaves.

·        a blowing machine to remove grass from paths etc.

 

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As I discussed, at the last meeting we now, I believe, need to put in place those planned systems to ensure the Village is kept tidier and cared for.

 

See example below of maintenance schedule for discussion:

Recreation Ground

  • Grass Cutting-1hour around MUGA, Skate Park, Aerial Runway Bank every 2 weeks March to October
  •  Grass Cutting small pitch- 1 hour every 10 days March to October
  • Strimming around perimeter of fence/ MUGA- 2 hours every 4 weeks March to October
  • Weed Kill around MUGA and Perrys Road side of field- March /April by contractor.
  • Pruning of shrubs/trees Spring or Autumn
  • Health & Safety check- weekly
  • Empty bins –weekly
  • Paint skate ramps every 6 months
  • Wood treatment to notice board every year.

 

Each area we maintain could have a similar schedule.

 

 

Since the last meeting I have checked with the County and District Councils as to their responsibilities re maintenance of pathways, road and pavements.

 

The District council should sweep every 40days- last visit 26th October. To sweep every adopted road in the village that has a kerb to sweep against.

As well as litter bin collection there is also a litter pick and hand sweep on all adopted pavements again every 40days.

 

The County Council is responsible for footpath maintenance- eg. between Rec.Ground and Perrys Road Bungalows. Also the Hatford Path and behind the Anchor to Horsecroft.

Weed control did not reach Stanford as budget has run out - but have agreed to send the Village Team to clear weeds. We must remind Highways to visit Stanford by letter each February.

They also said a meeting should take place between Peter Ede & Partners, County and this Council as soon as possible to remedy the Village Green problems.

 

18/11/06          Date of next meeting

 

                        3rd January 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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