Finance and General Purposes Committee 20th February 2012

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Wheatley Parish Council

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2012 IN THE MERRY BELLS HALL AT 7.30PM

PRESENT: Councillors: J Carr (Chairman), J Reilly R Bell, S Coleridge, E Stacey, G Birks (until 8.40) & J Anderson

OFFICER THE CLERK: Gareth Morris

Also Present: 16 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

Cllr Carr, as Vice-Chairman of the Committee, took the Chair for item 1

139. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Cllr Carr was proposed by Cllr Birks and Seconded by Cllr Reilly.

As there were no further nominations Cllr Carr was declared Chairman of the Committee

140.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE had been received from Cllr Old

141. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None

142.  MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD 16th January 2012, which had been circulated with the Agenda, were agreed as a correct and accurate record

143.  UPDATE ON ITEMS FROM THE MINUTES 16th January 2012

i) Minute 129 (i) removal of sign to toilets in SODC car park. – Cllr Carr has been assured by SODC that this sign will be removed. At the moment the directions to the toilets are taped over.

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

To recommend to Full Council a way forward following SODC’s letter informing the Parish Council that their grant would not be awarded until further consultation had taken place with residents and young people.

The Clerk had tabled, for each Councillor, a further 4 letters/e-mails of objection. One letter of in support received just before the meeting started was read out.

A number of councillors spoke saying that given the level of objection to the project the Parish Council should review their decision.

Cllr Birks proposed and Cllr Stacey seconded the motion that ‘The issue of the proposed shelter, including its location, should be reviewed at the next parish Council meeting.’

This was Agreed by six votes in favour with one against and no abstentions.

145.  TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON PROGRESS ON THE PARISH COUNCIL’S BID TO THE OCC BIG SOCIETY FUND FOR YOUTH PROVISION IN THE VILLAGE – the Draft Service Agreement from Neil Holman.

The total cost was much higher than had been anticipated when the bid to the ‘Big Society Fund was initially made. The Clerk was asked to ask for a breakdown of the staffing costs. The Chairman of the Council would contact Fusion Youth and Community who run ‘Youth Cafes’ in the County

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

One resident has come forward with ideas and is interested in arranging a meeting of interested parties plus one organisation (The Royal British Legion). Cllr Birks said she was going to attend this meeting and would report back to the Parish Council/Finance and General Purposes Committee

147.  TO CONSIDER THE POLLARDING OF THE TREES ALONG THE CHURCH ROAD WALL OF CHURCH ROAD RECREATION GROUND.

SODC have given their permission to pollard the 8 lime trees along the Church Road wall.

The cost will be £1,000 ex VAT – Agreed to go ahead with the work.

148. TO CONSIDER REQUESTS FROM VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS TO USE CHURCH ROAD   RECREATION AREA.

i)   Fusion Youth and Community – St George’s Funday – Saturday – Agreed

ii)  Wheatley May Day Committee – Monday 7th May – morning – Agreed

iii) Wheatley Scouts –Fete – Monday 7th May – afternoon – Agreed

149.   CLERK UPDATE

i) Acknowledgement from SODC of 2012-2013 precept request – Noted

ii) Trees and graffiti at Littleworth Bridge – The Clerk had been in touch with the British Railways Residuary Body – the trees had now been cut back and the graffiti removed.

iii) Parish Council Web site

iv) OALC Training on Data Transparency – Agreed that the clerk attend if it is deemed relevant

8.40pm Cllr Birks left the meeting

150.  GRANTS, LICENCES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

i) Sage Cover 2012 – £174.00 – Noted

ii) Wheatley Boys Football Club – (£140 granted in 2010) – AGREED £150

iii) St Mary the Virgin, Wheatley – request for grant aid for upkeep of graveyard – agreed £500

iv) Oxford green Belt 2012 Subscription – £15.00 – AGREED

v) Oxfordshire Business Education Alliance (£150 last year) – AGREED –  £160

151.  FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

a) The budget to end January 2012, which had been circulated with the Agenda, was scrutinised and a  copy of reconciled bank statement was signed  by the Chairman & RFO

b) Balances

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

20th February 2012 will be as follows:                        Community       £1,633.86

Tracker           £84,786.60

Treasury         £60,252.64

SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS AUTHORISED

Cheque no. Payee Payment details Amount
Cheques paid
105451-5 GM/SW/JF/OCC/HMR&C Jan  sal/wages/pen/PAYE/NICs 3,203.88
105446 Sage (UK) Ltd Sage Cover 2012 174.00
105449 Southern Electric Electricity 05.1.11 to 06.01.12 70.05
d/d Orange Internet charge Dec 18.37
105456 The Post Office Stamps 174.00
Total £3,640.30
Cheques to Pay
105448 Swift Digital services P’tocopies 17.10.11 to 16.01.12 174.00
105450 Stanton Hope Ltd RoundUp weed killer 327.54
105457 Merry Bells Office rental increase 18/10-24/12 40.05
105457 Merry Bells Office rental Dec-Mar 1,046.01
105457 Merry Bells Hire of Hall Jan-Mar 2012 132.00
105458 Sportsfield management Committee 4th Quarterly payment 2011-2012 2,000.00
105460 Berinsfield Community Business Farm Close Rd patio – winter tidy 84.00
105460 Berinsfield Community Business Cullum Rd–weeding/ tidy(3 days) 432.00
105461 Mr Roberts cost of electricity for tree lights 35.12
105462 G Birks Travel expenses to EIP, SODC 15.26
105463 J Watson Feb-March newsletter 680.00
105464 Parchments of Oxford Feb-March newsletter 1,484.90
105465 Lyreco UK Ltd paper 64.98
105466 Berinsfield Community Business Verges –Jan2012 567.66
105478 Oxfordshire County Council 4 Grit bins 1,200.00
GM/SW/JF/OCC/HMR&C Feb sal/wages/pen/PAYE/NICs 3,600.00
Total £11,883.52

[Two invoices have been received and paid since the Agenda was sent out:

Cheque No.105467 – BT   –    Telephone              –          £139.41

Cheque No 105468 – SODC – dog waste bin emptying  – £98.60]

INCOME RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING

Income details Amount
Newsletter Advertising 200.00
Tracker Account interest 12.20
Treasury Deposit Interest 45.28
Photocopying 10.20
Newsletter Subscription 6.00
Total £273.68

152.  PUBLICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND NOTED

i)        The Haseleys – Newsletter February  2012*

ii)        Little Milton Newsletter February  2012*

iii)        Great Milton Bulletin February  2012*

iv)        Wheatley URC Newsletter – February 2012*

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

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

vii)        Shotover Preservation Society – Winter Newsletter 2011

viii)        ‘Trees’ – Journal of the International Tree Foundation – January 2012*

ix)        Wheatley Park School – letter of thanks for grant aid for prizes

x)        Thame CAB – letter of thanks for grant aid.

xi)        Invitation to CPRE AGM, Punches Barn Waterperry Rd on Tuesday 6th March 2012 at 8.00pm

xii)        Copies of correspondence from High Street residents to Barclays Bank re new parking restrictions in front of the bank

xiii)        Tiddington with Albury & Milton Common – February/March 2012*

xiv)        Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association ‘The Playing Field’ – Winter 2011-12*

xv)        NALC/CPRE Meeting Exeter Hall – Cllrs Bell and Stacey to attend

xvi)        ORCC News Bulletin February 2012*

xvii)        Letter from resident re bollards at bottom of Friday Lane – Noted

xviii)        SODC Reviews of District Councillor Numbers briefing session 29th February – Clerk to atend

xix)        Local Government Boundary Commission – Electoral Review of Oxfordshire – Final Recommendations*

xx)        SODC Invitation to the Chairman’s Charity Dinner Friday 30th March

* On display in Parish Office

153.  DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 19th March 2012 – Noted

The meeting closed at 9.03pm

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