Monthly Archives: May 2015

Accounts 2014-2015 Supporting Statement 2014-2015  

Minutes of Fritwell Parish Council Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday, 18^th May 2015 following the AGM in the Village Hall

Present: Councillors Ultsch, Foster, Reeves, Rooth, Stillgoe, Barlow.  District Councillor Kerford Byrnes (arrived 8:55pm), Colin Smith, Jenny Paviour, Mike and Rosemary Dockrey Jenny Edgecombe, Alistair and Glynis Lowdon, Hope Price and the Clerk.

1. Apologies: District Councillor Macnamara, Police Constable Caroline Brown and Tony Zinopoulis.

2. Minutes of APM held on Monday, 19^th May 2014

Read, agreed and signed by the Chair as a true record.

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes

• Pond: The interim repairs were acknowledged as a great improvement although it was noted that final repairs will not be completed until 2019.
• Cherwell Local Plan: Progress has been slow but it is hoped that this will be agreed by the end of May 2015.
• Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan: The area for the plan has been approved by Cherwell District Council and the Plan is now in the process of being drafted.  Interest groups will be formed and representation from Fritwell will be vitally important.
• Raghouse Lane: The position of a large trailer on the verge continues to cause concern. Various authorities have refused to help move the container.

4. Financial Report and Matters

The annual accounts were presented and accepted.

5. Public Participation

• Glynis Lowdon commented that after all the difficulties caused by the asbestos collected during the annual Spring Clean, operatives from Cherwell District Council collected it without hazardous waste precautions.
• Flytipping (a mattress and carpet) has been noted, since the Spring Clean, on the Souldern Road, just beyond the motorway bridge on the right, heading away from Fritwell. Action: Clerk to notify CDC to arrange for its removal.
• Colin Smith: Raised the issue of the sewerage facility. He noted that recent repairs have been successful in reducing the number of tankers visiting the site but raised concerns about the impact of further development in the village. Councillor Ultsch explained that sewerage is the responsibility of Anglian Water and that Fritwell Parish Council has established regular communications with them.
• Colin Smith also requested that residents be made aware of planning applications at the earliest opportunity. Councillor Ultsch explained that these are minuted at every meeting and that minutes are routinely posted on the website. Residents can also view applications by appointment with the Clerk. Additionally, planning applications can be scrutinised via the Cherwell District Council website. Councillor Ultsch continued to explain that the delays on approval of the Local Plan are still causing problems.
• Colin Smith expressed his best wishes to the new Parish Councillors.
• Mike Dockrey (Retiring RFO) provided notes for guidance to assist the new Responsible Finance Officer and Clerk, who will meet to arrange handover of documentation and processes.
• Mike Dockrey will also continue to mark out burial plots in the Cemetery for the time being.
• Councillor Reeves added that her family could provide backup cover for grass mowing if necessary.
• District Councillor Mike Kerford Byrnes explained about the Electoral Commission requirement for new ward boundaries to be established to equate electorate numbers as far as possible. Thus Fritwell will now become part of the 3 Councillor super-ward of Deddington. He added that significant financial savings by CDC have resulted in the District part of the Council Tax for residents being kept at the same level for the previous six years. These savings have been brought about by shared service provision with South Northamptonshire and with Stratford councils. He indicated that this has been so successful that further services will now be shared. He also highlighted the many recent awards won by CDC, in particular Best Housing Authority in the Country 2015. CDC are assuming that all Government grants will be cut by 2020. They are budgeting with this in mind and are planning to foster business development in the area as business rates and new homes bonuses will be considerable sources of income in the future. He thanked Fritwell Parish Council for their continued support.

Dates of Next Meeting: Monday, 13^th July 2015, Monday 28^th September 2015 and Monday 7^th December 2015, all at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

Minutes of Fritwell Parish Council Annual General Meeting held on Monday, 18^th May 2015 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

Present: Councillors Ultsch, Foster, Reeves, Rooth, Stillgoe, Barlow.  District Councillor Kerford Byrnes (arrived 8:55pm), Colin Smith, Jenny Paviour, Mike and Rosemary Dockrey Jenny Edgecombe, Alistair and Glynis Lowdon, Hope Price and the Clerk.

1. Apologies: District Councillor Macnamara, Police Constable Caroline Brown and Tony Zinopoulis.
2. Minutes of AGM held on Monday, 19^th May 2014

Read, agreed and signed by the Chair as a true record.

3. Financial Report and Matters

• The end of year accounts were circulated and discussed.
• Councillor Foster asked for details of how the New Homes Bonus was spent. Councillor Ultsch explained that it was used along with other income to enhance the village environment and to keep the Precept from rising.
• Councillor Rooth asked for clarification of the cover provided by the insurance policy. Councillor Ultsch explained that cover was provided against damage to assets and to provide indemnity for Parish Councillors and Officers.
• It was resolved that the accounts be approved. These were signed by the Chair.
• Audit: Councillor Barlow queried the Precept figure for 31.3.14 and it was explained that there was a shortfall, made up with a grant from Cherwell District Council. Council approved the Accounting Statements for 2014/2015 and the Statement of Governance in readiness for the Annual Audit (proposed by Councillor Barlow / seconded by Councillor Foster). The documents were duly signed.

4. Chairman’s Report

Councillor Ultsch welcomed the five new Councillors and the new Clerk.

She explained that 2014-15 had been a busy year with the defibrillator now in place and operational, revised Standing orders adopted, the Emergency Plan almost complete and plans approved for The George and Dragon and Village Hall sites.

It was noted that the fencing to the pond has been much improved, although no final repairs are likely to be completed until 2019. Thanks were expressed to County Councillor Fatemian for his support for this issue.

A donation of £600 has been made to the Forget-Me-Not Club, potholes have been filled in on Church Drive and the annual village Spring Clean event was successfully held. However, the importance of not moving fly tipped hazardous materials such as asbestos were emphasised.

Thanks were expressed to Clive Shepherd for maintaining the speeding signs in the village.

Issues for the forthcoming year include undertaking the Community Speedwatch, liaising with Ardley Parish Council to progress the footpath between Ardley and Fritwell (funded in large part by a grant from Viridor. Clive Shepherd will continue as Fritwell Liaison), dredging silt from the pond (once the ducklings have fledged) and working with other villages to develop the Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan, where representation on the various sub-committees from Fritwell will be vitally important.

Councillor Ultsch concluded by expressing her thanks to the outgoing Councillors and Clerk.

Councillor Reeves queried the order of progress on the George and Dragon / Village Hall sites and Councillor Ultsch explained that the planning approval stipulates that the new Village Hall must be operational before the rest of the development can progress. Councillor Reeves also asked about any stipulations regarding the Gabel End Stones, currently situated within the George and Dragon. Action: Clerk to investigate.

Councillor Foster was present at the Election Count for Fritwell on 8.5.15. She commented on the large number of blank voting papers and suggested that this may be because many residents could not readily identify the candidates.  Mike Dockrey added that similar comments had been addressed to him. Councillor Ultsch noted that there had not been an election for Parish Council for at least 15 years. Should the necessity arise again, the Parish Council will need to address this issue, taking care to operate within the election rules.

5. Election of Officers

Councillor Ultsch was elected as Chair – proposed by Councillor Foster and seconded by Councillor Rooth. Councillor Ultsch was duly elected.

Responsible Finance Officer: Councillor Barlow was nominated by Councillor Ultsch and seconded by Councillor Foster. He was duly elected. Cheque signatories will be Councillors Ultsch, Foster and Rooth.

Village Hall Committee Representative: Councillor Stillgoe.

Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan Representative: Councillor Ultsch; it was noted that representation from Fritwell would be necessary on a number of sub-committees and it was agreed that Councillors would share this as necessary. Councillor Ultsch will co-ordinate attendances.

6. Any Other Business

None

7. Date of Next Meeting: to be determined following the Annual Parish Meeting