MINUTES
OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN SUTTON HALL
STOCKCROSS,
ON OCTOBER 3rd at 7 p.m.
PRESENT: E
Vandyk ( Chairman) G Foulkes (Vice Chairman) WRB John
C Woodhead R Tolcher
K Titcombe A Snook J Huntingford ( Clerk)
District Councillor:
Paul Bryant
Members
of the Public: Newbury Weekly News Representative. 1 Other
1.
APOLOGIES T Tyler. A Martin.
M Butcher. S Thomas (all acceptable reasons)
2. DECLARATION
OF INTEREST - there were no declarations.
3.
MINUTES - after three minor queries
and one spelling alteration the Minutes were duly agreed
and signed.
4.
MATTERS ARISING
a) Cllr
M Butcher had been upset to see the list of Keys and their
holders in the last Minutes, on the Parish Notice Board.
E Vandyk explained that it was just a record of how many
we held and the Clerk’s position. This was clarified
and the Clerk has now received one full set and the key
to the Filing cabinet in the garage to complete her holding.
b) A letter from WBC regarding A4 Speen indicated that no further help
can be gained from them at present. The 30 mph ‘roundel’
markings need approval from the Secretary of State, and
have already been refused once.
c) WRB
John reported on the situation with the proposed new
( repaired ) bus shelter in Stockcross. He had
obtained two Quotes, that
had merged into one, as they appeared to work together,
and it was for
£1200 to provide all the necessary work. A discussion
took place, and
Cllr John was asked to get two more quotes, as
per Standing Orders. The Chairman
asked if everyone agreed to go further with this, and
all were in
favour. Maintenance of the bus shelter was discussed
and WRB John was
asked to speak with the tradesmen to see if they
could follow up with a
wood treatment programme. This would have to go
into the Budget.
Clerk noted. The Bus Shelter is to be an Agenda
item at the next Meeting.
- DISTRICT COUNCILLOR – Cllr P Bryant introduced himself
and gave a short update on general matters. E Vandyk
thanked him for coming.
- COUNCILLOR VACANCY
- A Letter from Roger Wilson of Foley
Cottages, Stockcross was read out. This was his second
application, the first having been declined in the early
part of 2002. Many Councillors know Mr
Wilson and E Vandyk was happy to put to the Vote. Cllr
WRB John
proposed and was seconded by G. Foulkes. All
in Favour except one
abstention ( R Tolcher).The Clerk was asked to
write a letter to Mr R Wilson and
organise Code of Conduct.
- PRESS REPORTS – As the matter has
been brought out into the Open by the Press,
this could be discussed in the Meeting without asking
anyone to leave the room. The Chairman said that the
whole matter was unfortunate, and in the matter of the
letter from JeZ Murray it was not clear what substance
his letter contained. With regard to the Press Reports
regarding the Clerk receiving unwanted faxes from Chairman
S Pascall, the matter was in the hands of the Standards
Board and it was better left at present until further
details/action is known. E Vandyk reiterated
that S Pascall has been asked to meet with us
on two occasions and has refused each time to discuss
all his grievances with us
( the
Chairman, Vice Chairman and Clerk).
- LETTER FROM J.MURRAY – the Chairman
would like the Council to agree that his letter was
not a substantial complaint, and affirm in a Vote of
Confidence in the Clerk, A J Huntingford. This was proposed
by E Vandyk, 2nd by C Woodhead and Voted
all in Favour except one – Mr R. Tolcher.
E Vandyk said that it was
unfortunate that R Tolcher does not support the
Clerk, and asked him why not? R Tolcher would
not enlighten. E Vandyk said
we ‘must go forward’. E Vandyk to write to JeZ
Murray saying his complaint had been rejected by Speen
PC.
- LETTER FROM RESIDENT’S RELATIVES, re Hedge Cutting.
A letter had been received accusing the Council of a
bullying letter regarding the hedges overhanging the
Speen Recreation Ground. On looking at our round-robin
letter ( 40 had been sent out ) the wording was the
same as two years ago, when it was last sent out. Whilst
not wishing to cause the elderly lady any distress,
the Clerk was asked to write and explain that we could
not refund the £35 as it would set a precedence, but
we were very concerned that she had been so upset.
Both the Clerk and K Titcombe had spoken with her on
the phone, and she had not complained then. However,
it was agreed that the original letter should be re-written
before sending out in the future.
- VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT – this had
been adopted this week with no queries at the Newbury
Area Forum. Cllr G Foulkes was asked to contact Mary
Lavelle and thank her for her participation.
- FOOTPATH 15 – a letter from West Berks
Council was discussed. Cllr P Calder knows the most
about this Footpath, but he was not present. There is
a long history to the matters concerning this Footpath.
The Clerk was asked to get the file out from the storage
room. E Vandyk suggested he wrote a letter to West Berks
and the Countryside Agency.
- LANDOWNERS PROJECT – The two copies
(identical) of this map were produced, and A Snook has
done a great deal of work to identify owners of the
Land in Speen boundaries. C Woodhead updated the second
copy, and they were returned to the Clerk to retain
one copy and sent one copy back to Newbury.
- CHANGING ROOMS
– A lengthy discussion took place on the merits
of the proposed Changing Rooms Facilities at Stockcross.
We may well be able to get all the cost by Grants. So
far the criteria fits those required by the Football
Association, and Landfill Credits CroW. And others.
In principal do we support the provision of Changing
Rooms on Stockcross Recreation Ground, and if so do
we need a brick built building or a Steel portacabin?
The Parish Council supported this, but altered Brick
Building to ‘Vandalproof’ brick building. WRB John proposed
and C Woodhead seconded. As long as it is “multisport”
with tennis facilities ie unrestricted – E Vandyk proposed
and WRB John seconded. If it were not to be vandalproof,
the Council would have to reconsider. The next intention
is to get the Plans update for planning permission,
then finances can be attended to, and Quotes obtained.
All in favour. E Vandyk expressed a great deal of appreciation
for the work A Snook has done on this project and the
Council duly thanked him.
- FINANCE – the following cheques have
been signed since the last Meeting and were approved.
|
SPEEN CHEQUES REPORT 02.10.02
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VAT
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960
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A E Butcher
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3.99
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Refuse sacks
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961
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Cornhill Ins
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832.21
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Insurance
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962
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Clerk
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366.19
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0.37
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Salary/Stny/Postage
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963
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Cottrells
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31.94
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4.75
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Stationery
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964
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Water Servs
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15.40
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re Speen rec
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965
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A Kirke
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125.00
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Internal Auditor
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966
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Audit Commission
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666.23
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99.23
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to 31/03/01
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967
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Clerk
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415.58
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Salary/postage/book
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968
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SEC
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156.45
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23.30
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M'tence
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969
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Southern Electric
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80.49
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3.83
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unmetered supply
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970
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AE Butcher
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130.00
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litterpick/tiles
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2823.48
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The
Clerk was asked to get details of the Bank of Ireland’s
charges, and offers for Parish councils, with a view to
possibly moving the Deposit Account there.
INTERNAL AUDITOR –
a visit had taken place by Mr A Kirke and he reported
well-presented accounts. He had taken away several items
of background information and realised that most of his
work would be at the end of the Financial Year. He would
like to see an Asset Register – but after discussion the
Council suggested that we wait until we hear from Hacker
Young on the accounts up to 31/3/02 with probably the
same request.
15
PLANNING - A.Snook reported very quiet on the Planning
front at present. . He also reported on attending the
Planning and Development Training Day in the Council Chamber
recently. He found it very informative, and explained
that the officers have tough targets to get the applications
turned round.
16
ABANDONED CAR - J Huntingford updated the Council
with details of the owner. The matter is now in West Berks’
hands, and should not cost us anything to move – which
will happen very shortly.
17
STOCKCROSS PARISH CHURCH APPEAL- letters had already
been circulated, and a discussion took place. E Vandyk
proposed a gift of £500 and
C
Woodhead seconded. This means that both Speen Church and
Stockcross will have received the same sum during the
year.
18
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Flood Wardens:
the Clerk a letter from S Pascall, and a training day
recently. The following are Flood Wardens: C Woodhead,
K Titcombe, WRB John and they do not wish their telephone
numbers to go on the Notice Board, just their addresses.
( In accordance with a motion passed earlier in the year
regarding telephone numbers ).
2)
The Junior Citizen of the Year Award was mentioned.
3)
B4000 map of proposed weight limit from West Berks Council.
E Vandyk to reply.
4)
Speen Lane – R Tolcher reported that the time scale has
been missed by the builders. Two houses only are occupied.
The legal notices are coming out shortly.
4) R Titcombe reported
a very good job indeed for the cut on Speen Rec hedge,
by Waterers. It was trimmed nice and low and looked much
better.
5)
R Titcombe reported that the lower half of the garage
door in the Speen pavilion was rotting, and it might not
be safe to leave things in there. He was asked to get
three Quotes for a steel replacement.
6)
K Titcombe asked on M Butcher’s behalf if the Clerk could
arrange for two wreaths for Remembrance Sunday, one for
Speen and one for Stockcross – from the British Legion
approx £25 each. This was agreed by the Council.
7)
R Tolcher asked why the Agenda was not on the Webbsite.
G Foulkes, and J Huntingford thought it was, as the date
had been wrong, and altered. However it was agreed that
in future the Agenda and Minutes of at least the previous
3 Meetings should be on there. Clerk agreed to arrange.
8) R Tolcher asked
if the accounts were ready for the first and second quarters
of the year. The chairman and clerk reminded him that
it was today 4th October and Bank Statements
would not arrive showing end September until later in
October. The Clerk said that end June Quarter was ready
and she would photocopy them for inclusion with the next
Agenda.
9)
E Vandyk reminded the Council that the Precept had to
be agreed and discussed in January next year. The Clerk
said that she had not yet found a copy of the 2002/03
Budget and R Tolcher said he would send her one.
The
Meeting finished at 9.40 p.m. and the next Meeting is
scheduled for November 18th at 7 p.m. in Speen
Village Hall.
Edward
Vandyk
Chairman
