Finance and General Purposes Committee 16th January 2012

Wheatley Parish Council

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 16^th JANUARY 2012 IN THE MERRY BELLS HALL AT 7.30PM

PRESENT: Councillors: J Carr (Chairman), J Reilly (from 7.35pm), R Bell, S Coleridge, E Stacey (from 7.52pm) & R Old

OFFICER THE CLERK: Gareth Morris

Also Present: 7 members of the public.

MEMBERS HAD BEEN REMINDED BY MEANS OF THE AGENDA THAT IF THEY   HAD AN INTEREST TO DECLARE IN ANY AGENDA ITEM, THEY SHOULD DO SO IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING IN THE BOOK PROVIDED FOR THIS PURPOSE

The Clerk informed the meeting that Chairman of the Committee, Cllr Fyffe, had tendered her resignation from the Parish Council. In her absence the Vice-Chairman, Cllr Carr took the chair

126.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE had been received from Cllrs Anderson and Birks

127.  DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None

128.  MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD 12^th DECEMBER 2012 – which had been circulated previously, were signed as a correct and accurate record

129.  UPDATE ON ITEMS FROM THE MINUTES 12^TH DECEMBER 2012

i) Minute 116(i) – Sign to toilets on SODC car park. Despite requests to remove this information  SODC had again merely taped over it. Cllr Carr had been in touch again requesting removal.

7.35pm Cllr Reilly joined the meeting

130.  TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED YOUTH SHELTER IN CHURCH ROAD RECREATION GROUND

The Clerk tabled a further letter of objection from a resident in Church Road and also a copy of an e-mail from a resident of Templar’s Close that had been sent to the Grants office at SODC. The clerk had also received a telephone call from Angie Paterson, the Caseworker and Aide to John Howell MP asking for background to the subject as a resident had contacted the MP

The clerk further reported that a new quote had been received from Monster Play UK. Total cost (net of VAT) would be £8,190.00; which is made up of Youth Shelter £5,895.00; Installation £900.00: Steel base plate £895.00; Delivery £500.00.

The Chairman of the meeting invited members of the public present to speak to this item especially those who had not attended/spoken at previous meetings or had something new to add. Residents of Gardiners Close expressed their concern over the new youth shelter and the lack of consultation.

7.52 Cllr Stacey joined the meeting

131.  TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON PROGRESS ON THE PARISH COUNCIL’S BID TO THE OCC BIG SOCIETY FUND FOR YOUTH PROVISION IN THE VILLAGE

Following a meeting with Mr Holman the clerk reported that Mr Holman would send a draft schedule to the Parish Council. It was Agreed not to ask for the Big Society grant from OCC until the Schedule had been seen

Contact would also be made with a Karen Tolley, the Youth Co-ordinator at SODC

132.  TO CONSIDER A PARISH COUNCIL INITIATIVE, INCLUDING FUNDING, FOR THE DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.

It was agreed that the Chairman of the Council would put a short piece in the Feb/March newsletter asking for ideas and volunteers to help organise events. The Parish Council would provide a small amount of funding depending on the extent of the celebrations

133.   CLERK UPDATE

i) Racist words on Asda bus shelter – no more incidents had been reported.

ii) Christmas tree – the tree and the lights had remained untouched again this year. The parish  Council thanks goes to Mr Roberts of the High for allowing power for the lights to be run from his property

iii) Maintenance of Cullum Road Recreation Ground – Berinsfield Community Business had attended

to the beds etc just before Christmas. Further visits would be made starting in the Spring

134.  GRANTS, LICENCES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

i) Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association – 2012 Subscription – £45 – AGREED

ii) Citizens Advice Bureau, Thame  – Agreed to award £1,000 for a further year

135.  FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

a) The budget to December 2011 had been circulated with the Agenda and a completed copy of reconciled bank statement was signed by The Chairman & RFO

b) Balances

After the cheques below had been paid the balances on the council’s accounts as at

16 January 2012 was as follows:                               Community       £2,855.57

Tracker           £96,786.60

Treasury         £60,172.34

136.                            SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS AUTHORISED

INCOME RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING

137.  PUBLICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED – Noted

i)        The Haseleys – Newsletter January 2012*

ii)        Little Milton Newsletter January  2012*

iii)        Great Milton Bulletin December  2012*

iv)        Wheatley URC Newsletter – January   2012*

v)        Holton, Waterperry & Waterstock News – January  2012*

vi)        Thames Valley Police – Wheatley neighbourhood Team January 2012 newsletter*

vii)        Clerk and Councils Direct – January 2012*

* On display in Parish Office

138.  DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 21^st February 2012 – Noted

Meeting closed at 8.45pm