 |
|
|
Sunningwell Parish Council
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 28th MAY 2008
Present: Cllrs E
Bennett, T Foggin, H Lynam-Smith, & J Russell
In attendance: M W
Rothery (Clerk)
49/08 Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from OCC
Cllr B Johnston.
50/08 Election of Chairman
Cllr Elizabeth
Bennett was unanimously elected Chairman for the forthcoming
year.
51/08 Chairman’s Declaration of Acceptance of
Office
Cllr
Bennett formally declared her acceptance of the office of Chairman of the
council.
52/08 Committees
It was agreed to continue with
the existing Finance and Planning Committees, of which all councillors would be
members. Cllr Lynam-Smith will continue to handle planning applications and
involve other councillors in site visits as appropriate.
53/08 Treasurer’s Annual Report & Financial
Statement
The Clerk & Responsible
Financial Officer presented his annual report and financial statement for the
year ended 31 March 2008
(copy attached). The accounts had been audited by the Internal Auditor, and
will now be submitted to the External Auditor. The report was adopted.
54/08 Declarations of Interests
Cllr Lynam-Smith declared a
personal and prejudicial interest in the surface water flooding project.
55/08 Minutes of the Meeting held on 30th
April 2008
The minutes were approved, and
signed by the Chairman.
56/08 Matters Arising from the Minutes
41/08 Parish Notice Board The Clerk reported that Oxford Beaumont
have confirmed their agreement, to the proposed location of the notice board,
and that this has now been ordered. The parish council logo is believed to be
white with a George Cross, but the Clerk was asked to check the website.
41/08 Children’s playground Cllr Foggin reported that he had
attended a useful OPFA event on 14 May. It was essential to find out what
residents and their children wanted; a business case was essential to making
applications for the grant money that was available.
Action: It was agreed that Cllr Foggin
would prepare and circulate a flyer at the summer fete, the pre-school
playground, and the school.
|
41/08 Cricket Field The Clerk
reported that Janis Macknamara of Hedges
Solicitors had been informed by the Church Commissioners that the cricket field
land had been conveyed to the incumbent and church wardens of St Leonard’s, and
advised the council to meet with them to discuss the proposed transfer to, and
registration in the name of, the parish council.
Action: The Clerk was asked to write
accordingly to the church wardens, and to ask Janis
Macknamara for clarification regarding the provision
of a new burial ground.
|
41/08 Dirty Water Flooding The Clerk reported that Thames Water had responded to the effect that the all
information had been passed to the Engineering department for further action.
In the meantime Thames water asked that residents
affected by sewer flooding incidents should complete the sewer flooding
questionnaire so that the company could be kept completely up to date. Copies
of the questionnaire would be circulated to houses known to have been affected
in the past.
Action: Clerk to arrange publicity on the
website.
|
42/08 Surface Water Flooding
Action: It was
agreed that Cllr Lynam-Smith would invite Peter Dela of VWHDC to a meeting
with members of the council to discuss the proposed project.
|
57/08 Finance
(a) The following accounts were
approved for payment, and the cheques signed:
Cheque no.
|
Payee
|
Details
|
Total
|
VAT
|
1143
|
B Cross
|
Letter Warden (5 weeks to 31 may)
|
110.61
|
|
1144
|
Oxfordshire Association of Local Ccouncils
|
Annual Subscription 2008/9
|
166.24
|
24.76
|
1145
|
Oxfordshire Rural Community Council
|
Annual Subscription 2008/9
|
20.00
|
|
1146
|
Open Spaces Society
|
Annual Subscription 2008/9
|
30.00
|
|
1147
|
M W Rothery
|
Clerk’s salary & exps April & may
|
994.68
|
4.19
|
1148
|
Zurich Municipal
|
Annual premium
|
447.09
|
|
1149
|
RLS (IA) Ltd
|
Internal Audit fee 2007/8
|
247.50
|
|
(b) The Clerk reported that
RJS(IA)Ltd had completed the internal audit of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2008, and signed the Annual
return that would now be submitted to the External Auditor. The only matter
that he wished to bring to the council’s attention was the need for the Clerk
to have a proper contract of employment; the Clerk was asked to progress this
matter.
58/08 Planning
The following planning application
was discussed:
SUN/ 6450/1 Construction of new boundary wall at Oakridge, Copse
Lane, Boars Hill, Oxford.
It was agreed to object to this application on the grounds that the proposed
wall was inappropriate as it would not be in keeping with the fences and hedges
of the neighbourhood; also, at 1.8m it would be too high.
59/08 Correspondence
The full list of correspondence
received had been circulated to councillors by e-mail.
Item 27 Thames Water consultation on draft water resources
management plan – this would be discussed at the next meeting.
Item 38 OCC consultation on bus subsidy policy – comments are required by 6 June; Cllr Bennett agreed to review and
advise Clerk if comments need to be submitted.
Item 49 VWHDC invitation to briefing on the Vales’ position on
Thames Water’s draft water resources management plan on 21 July
Item 55 OCC consultation on local information required to validate
planning applications – comments required by 27 June
Item 56 VWHDC Planning Enforcement policy – comments required on
draft of new policy by 30 June. Cllr Lynam-Smith agreed to review this document
and advise the Clerk of any comments.
60/08 Other Business
·
Cllr Graham stated that the verges in Bayworth
have not been cut; it was agreed that the Clerk report this, and the worsening
state of the roads, to OCC Highways (Brian Short).
·
Cllr Russell stated that the overhanging trees
between Sunningwell and Long Furlong were becoming a danger to road users. Cllr
Bennett agreed to discuss this with Chris Softley.
61/08 Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on
Wednesday 25 June at 7.30pm in
Sunningwell Village Hall.
62/08 Village
Hall Car Park
The council resolved to exclude
the public for the rest of the meeting, due to the confidential nature of the
business to be discussed.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.20pm.
|
|
