Annual Village Meeting 2017

Draft minutes

Salford Parish Council

www.salfordvillage.org.uk

Minutes of the Annual Village Meeting

Salford Village Hall

4th April 2017

1.  Present

Parish Councillors: N. Hill (Chairman), R. Caldin, N. Colston, H. McGlynn District Councillor: N. Colston

County Councillor: H. Biles

Chairman, Village Hall Committee: W. Ross

Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer: C. Ross

16 Parishioners

2.  Apologies

Apologies were received from S. McBride.

3.  Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the last meeting on 5th April 2016 were approved and signed.

4.  Matters arising from the minutes

The Clerk had complained to West Oxfordshire District Council that The Leys had not been swept for a long time. The village should be swept every twelve weeks and the Clerk had been assured that this would now be carried out, including The Leys.

5.  Chairman’s Report

Mr Hill explained that the Parish Council had requested an increase in the precept, which would raise council tax by a very small amount. This was to ensure that there was enough money to carry out improvements to areas such as the playground if necessary. The Queen’s Birthday Tea-party in June had been very successful and thanks were due to all who helped and those who came. A profit of £90 had been given to village hall funds. The Fete had been a great success and thanks were due to Mayur Amin and the Fete Committee. Dog-show revenue had been given to the Pets as Therapy charity and other profits to Lawrence Home Nursing as well as village organisations.

Mr Hill explained that the government Transparency Fund, created to enable the public to be fully informed of activities by bodies such as Parish Councils, had financed a new village website, and residents were urged to use it to access village and local information. It was hoped that one day an online mailing list could be created so important information could be sent direct to residents.

6.  Financial Report

Mrs Ross, Responsible Financial Officer of the Parish Council, discussed the previous year’s accounts and the projected income and expenditure for 2017-18, as set out in the Village Newsletter and the Website.

7.  District Councillor’s Report

Mr Colston explained that he represented Enstone, Rollright and Kingham, which had entailed attending ten Annual Village Meetings, and there were more people per head of the population at this one than at all the others. Andrew Beaney was the other District Councillor for this area. The WODC was responsible for planning, collection of waste and recycling, collecting council tax, overseeing licencing, street services, and local elections, and housing allocation and provision of affordable housing. Many financial services were now shared with Gloucestershire. A revised Local Plan, rejected in 2015 because of insufficient housing provision, had been re-submitted to the Inspector. A large amount of local development was planned, including a new garden village at Eynsham, and substantial housing addition in Chipping Norton, which had infrastructure implications.

Mr Colston explained that progress towards making the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty a National Park was in early stages.

Local government was under discussion, and the County Council was pressing for a unitary council for Oxfordshire. WODC was against this, feeling that this area had unique needs which could best be served by a local council.

In response to questions he confirmed that most of Chipping Norton was in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

8.  County Councillor’s Report

County Councillor Biles reported that difficult decisions had had to be made regarding budget cuts. £300 million pounds had been saved and all parties in the Council had supported the decisions made. Efforts had been made to protect vulnerable adults and children, 50% of the budget going to 2% of the population. There had been a 2% precept increase and 3% of the budget for the next two years would be allocated to social care.

The adult care budget had increased by 94% since 2010. An additional £600,000 had been invested in children’s social care. The public health budget, which included school nurses, was ring-fenced. The beds and nurses at Chipping Norton Hospital needed to be supported and there may be a battle to be fought. The police station would stay but might move to the fire station so that all blue-light services were in the same place. £1.3 million had been added to the pothole repair budget.

Cllr Biles was in favour of the OCC’s position on devolution, in that she supported One Oxfordshire, the unitary council proposition, in which the District and County Councils would both be dissolved with one Council taking its place. Two independent reports had said this project would save money.

New building infrastructure was taking place at Tank Farm: a new primary school was already earmarked and a spine road which would take 30% of the traffic out of Chipping Norton.

Questions put to Hilary Biles concerned the footpath to Chipping Norton (it would be cut twice per year and she should be contacted when it needed doing), the future of West Oxfordshire District Council (the devolution proposals were now with the Secretary of State), and the lack of a proper local tip now that Dean was closed (Alkerton was the nearest and there were no plans for a nearer one).

Cllr Biles thanked that Parish Council for their work and said it was a pleasure for her to serve the local community.

9.  Village Hall report

Mr Willie Ross reported on a good year for the Village Hall. The 50/50 Auction raised £981 and the Christmas Table-Top Sale £375 towards Village Hall funds; thanks were due to PJ Seccombe for initiating and co-ordinating both events. The remainder of both events’ takings were donated to the Lawrence Home Nursing Team. A successful Quiz Night raised £473 and special thanks were due to the cooks and helpers and to Nigel Colston for compiling the questions.

The Village Hall had been used for village events, such as the Fete and the Street Parties, as well as hired out for adult and children’s parties, fund-raising coffee mornings, National Childbirth Trust classes, fitness, yoga and kick boxing classes, etc. There was a separate Hall Maintenance Fund which would finance major works in the hall in the future, including the ceiling which would be painted the following week. Sarah Weston kept the hall clean on a regular basis, and a thorough clean took place quarterly. Some tree branches had been cut down outside and thanks were due to Mr Timms for keeping the outside area in good order. The village was grateful to Mr McBride for donating an annual Christmas tree and lighting it.

Future events being investigated included a Gardener’s Question Time evening and possible film showings. Mr Ross was looking at the possibility of installing WiFi. An AGM would take place in June. He thanked his Committee for their efforts and was himself thanked for running the hall so well.

10.  Report from Police Community Support Officer

The PCSO was unable to be there in person but had sent a report. There were 16 reported crimes in the Salford area, 9 of which were non- crime incidents, for example Adult Protection, Child Protection and Domestic Incidents. In addition there were 2 drink-drive incidents, 2 thefts, 1 dangerous dog, and 2 assaults. General advice on crime prevention was given in the report, as last year.

11.  Any other business

·  Richard Lane’s grass-cutting was appreciated.

·  The Clerk would ask Mr Lane and Newman’s to leave the daffodils in the grassy areas to die back, in order for them to flower next year.

The meeting closed at 9 pm. Refreshments were served.

The next Annual Village Meeting would take place on 3rd April 2018.

Chairman ……………………………………………… Date ………………….

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