Finance and General Purposes Committee 24th January 2011

Wheatley Parish Council

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 24^th JANUARY 2011 IN THE PARISH OFFICE AT 7.30PM

PRESENT: Councillors:  G Birks (Chairman), S Coleridge, R Old, J Reilly, J Carr, R Bell, P Devlin

& E Stacey

OFFICER THE CLERK: Gareth Morris

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. There were no such declarations

105. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE had been received from Cllr Fyffe

106.       MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING held on 13^th December 2010, which had been circulated previously, were signed as a correct and accurate record.

107.       DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None

108. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES  13^th December 2011

i. Minute 94(i) – Grit Bins in the Village. The clerk had been informed that there would be no more bins supplied this financial year. The OCC Highways dept. would check to see if the locations suggested were suitable. Councillors expressed concern re pot holes in  Wheatley’s roads. Agreed that the clerk write to the Highways Dept.

ii. Minute 949iii) – Oxford City’s Management of Shotover Park – no feedback as yet on the meeting held on 11th January

iii. Minute 69(iv) – Christmas tree – this had been a success and the lights had remained on throughout the period. The clerk to write to Mr Tandy thanking him for supplying the electricity.

109. TO REPORT PROGRESS RE REFURBISHMENT OF CULLUM ROAD RECREATION GROUND

Cllr Dalton was arranging the planting of shrubs along the top boundary.

It was reported that barbed/razor wire had been put along one of the fences at the back of one of the houses on Miller Road. The clerk to investigate.

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

The application to SODC for grant aid had been sent off.

111. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PARISH COUNCIL’S REQUEST TO SECTION 106

FUNDING FOR PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC SAFETY MEASURES.

The Clerk to contact Anne Purse re the request for the original and current costings for the 2002 pedestrian safety plans for the village.

The clerk and Chairman of the Council reported on a further meeting at Thame Police Station re the car parking along Waterperry Road etc

112. TO CONSIDER THE NEED TO PROVIDE A NEW BURIAL AREA WHEN THE CURRENT CHURCHYARD RUNS OUT OF SPACE

This item had been referred to the F&GP Committee from the Parish Council meeting   of 10^th January. Mr Sprent, churchwarden, had suggested the Parish Council eg write to the Diocese of Oxford asking for part of the vicarage garden to be used.

Agreed that the clerk check the legal position re Parish Councils’ ‘duty’ to provide a burial ground. It was noted that Mr Sprent had already written to the Diocese along the lines he suggested at the Parish Council meeting

113. CLERK UPDATE

i)   Computer back up – The internet back –up facility has now been installed

ii)   An e-mail had been received from a resident asking the Parish Council to note his correspondence to SODC re the non adoption of the sewerage system in Elton Crescent

iii)   The Clerk had been informed that the road through Littleworth would be closed for a few days from 14th February whilst sewer repair works are carried out.

iv)   The Clerk requested permission to attend the training day/ conference organised by the  Oxfordshire branch of the Society for Local Council Clerks on 16^th February. This was Agreed. It was further Agreed that the council pay the conference fee of £40.

114. GRANTS, LICENCES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

i) Sage Instant Accounts Cover for 2011 – £174.00 (inc VAT) – Agreed

ii) Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers, Oxfordshire – 16 disabled members and 3 volunteers in this area – Agreed £100 under Section 137 of the 1972 Local Government Act

115. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

i)   Scrutiny of budget to end December (see enclosed paper) and signing of completed copy of reconciled bank statement by Chairman & RFO

ii) Balances

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

24^th January 2011 will be as follows:              Community     £2,122.07

Tracker           £48,110.22

Treasury         £60,034.07

SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS TO BE AUTHORISED

Cheque no.	Payee	Payment details	Amount
	Cheques paid
105236-240	GM/SW/JF/OCC/HMR&C	Dec wages/pen/PAYE/NICs	3,362.41
105241	WPSFMC	Quarterly Payment	2,000.00
105242	South and Vale Carers	Grant Aid	150.00
d/d	Siemans Financial Services	Photocopier lease	383.05
d/d	Bank charges	6/9 – 5/12	81.89
		Total	£5,977.35
	Cheques to Pay
105243	Sage (UK) – Accounts	Instant accounts cover for 2011	174.00
105244	Claire Logic	IT Support	93.60
105245	Southern Electric	Electricity 1/10 – 7/01	60.81
105246	Whetter, Duckworth and Fowler	SODC Land in High Street	348.75
105247	Sage (UK) Accounts	Accounts stationery	63.46
105248	Thames Water	Memorial gardens	8.28
105249	Berinsfield Business Community	Grass verge contract	542.26
105250	Merry Bells Management C’ttee	Hire of Hall 15/11/10	25.00
105250	Merry Bells Management C’ttee	Rental Increase 18/10/10–25/12/10	42.34
105250	Merry bells management C’ttee	Gas recharge 1/6/10 – 31/12/10	247.50
105251	Oxfordshire Business Alliance	Grant Aid 2009-2010	150.00
105253	Swift Digital Services	Charge for photocopies	51.41
	GM/SW/JF/OCC/HMR&C	Jan wages/pen/PAYE/NICs	3,500
		Total	£5,307.41

INCOME RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING

Income details	Amount
Tracker Interest	7.04
Newsletter Advertising	5,382.00
Total	£5,389.04

116. PUBLICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND NOTED

i)        The Haseleys – Newsletter January 2011*

ii)        Wheatley URC Newsletter January 2011*

iii)        Little Milton Newsletter January 2011*

iv)        Great Milton Bulletin January 2010*

v)        Holton, Waterstock and Waterperry News – December  2010*

vi)        SODC Minutes of Standards Committee 25^th November 2010*

vii) Letter from resident expressing concern over the education provided at the Primary and Secondary schools within the village – Agreed that the clerk would reply to the effect that  this matter does not fall within the Parish Council’s remit and that he might wish to contact the Chairman of the Governing body of each school

viii) Local Government Boundary Commission – Electoral review of Oxfordshire. Agreed that the matter be placed on the next F&GP agenda and that the clerk sends each councillor the Boundary Commission correspondence.

ix) Thames Valley Primary Care – Application By Morland House Surgery to provide pharmaceutical services – refused

x) Clerks and Councils Direct*

xi) Request from resident for double yellow lines along the road leading up to the Caravan Park from Littleworth Road opposite the Primary School. Agreed that the clerk reply saying that this road is a private Road.

xii) E-mail from resident pointing out the removal of the solar powered real time bus indicator from the bus stop on Church Road by the SODC car park – Noted The clerk reported that the County Council would be erecting a ‘normal’ real time information post during February

xiii) OCC Snow guide for Oxfordshire Communities – Noted

xiv) The Royal British Legion request to hold or support ‘The Great Poppy Party Weekend’ on 10^th,11^th & 12^th June 2011 – to celebrate 90 years of the Royal British Legion – Noted

xv) 2011 Census – request to help those who need help to complete the forms, consider venue and volunteer resource for assisted sessions. This to be discussed at the next F&GP meeting

xvi) To consider a request from the PCSO that given the recent outbreak of graffiti in the village the Parish Council provides a ‘graffiti wall’. Agreed that no action be taken on this.

*On display in Parish Office

117. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 21^st January 2011 – Noted

118. RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC

Cllr Carr proposed and Cllr Reilly seconded that “Under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded on the grounds that   it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph X of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, namely private contractual and employment matters”

Agreed nem con

The meeting closed at 9.00pm following the confidential items