Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting of Cholsey Parish held on 23 March 2005 at 730pm at The Pavilion, Station Rd, Cholsey, Oxfordshire
Present: Chairman: Mr A Dawe
Councillors: Mrs F Aska, Mr J Aska, Mrs V Bolt, Mr J Butler, Mr R Cory-Wright, Mrs P Dawe, Mrs M Dyer-Lynch, Mrs G Kelly, Mr G Lewis, Mrs P Turner
Also present: Mr P Greene, County Councillor, and WPC Pip Walker, Area Beat Officer, Mr I Miles, Parish Clerk and 20 members of the public
- To receive apologies
Apologies received from Mr P Jenkins.
2. Confirmation of minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2004
Mrs Dawe proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved, seconded by Mr Aska. All in favour, CARRIED
3 To receive reports
a) Parish Council Chairman, Mr Alan Dawe: a copy of Mr Dawe’s report is contained in the Annual Newsletter. Further to his report on Allotments, Mr Dawe added that owing to the efforts of CAPA and other allotment holders, the Ilges Lane site has been transformed during the last year and has a much higher occupancy rate than before.. He offered his thanks to all concerned. The joint PC/Allotment Holders advisory group seems to be working well. Further to ‘Crime and Vandalism’, he reported that although the additional lighting to the MUGA has been installed, ball games are still taking place in front of The Pavilion with consequent damage to the building and, in particular, the garage doors. Claims that the lighting is still inadequate have not been substantiated; it was never intended that the area should be wholly floodlit. Further to ‘Highways’, he reported that to combat speeding in Wallingford Rd, a ‘pinch-point’ is planned for installation in conjunction with the Cycle Route. The ‘pinch-point’ will, however, go ahead even if the Cycle Route is abandoned. Further to Finance, he reported that preliminary ye figures show actual receipts slightly up on budgeted receipts and actual expenses £10k less than budgeted owing mainly to suspension of action re the Cholsey Centre. Parish Precept for 2005-06 shows an increase of c20% over previous year, equivalent to £47.49 per Band D Household (increase of £7.49). Increase owing largely to necessary provision for foreseen replacement of Childrens’ Play Area items, potential work required for tree maintenance for which a maintenance programme is being developed, provision for extra ground for a Burial Ground extension, provision for alterations to The Pavilion to meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements, a fireproof cabinet for storage of valuable documents and records and 3% wages and salaries increase. In conclusion, he thanked his fellow Councillors, the Parish Clerk and staff, Patrick Greene, County Councillor, Pat Dawe, District Councillor and WPC Pip Walker, Area Beat Officer for their efforts and support during the year. He took questions from the floor. Mr Sheldon spoke of the Parish Precept increase which he realised had been discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the Parish Council which he had not been aware that he could attend. He considered that the Parish Council could be accused of being profligate; for instance, why could the Playground equipment not be paid for from reserves? Did PC give adequate consideration to imposing such a large increase? He does not receive a 20% increase in his pension. Mrs Morgan considered that the Parish Council should include a financial report within the Newsletter to advise parishioners as to how money is spent and to provide a comparison with the previous year. Mr Lewis pointed out that the increase represents only about £7 per Band D household per annum and parishioners do have the comfort of knowing that all the money will be spent within the parish. Mrs Morgan asked what PC balances are> Clerk: about £43k.Mr Jeskins hopes that future years may show lower precept increases.
b) County Councillor, Mr Patrick Greene: a copy of Mr Greene’s report, is attached to the minutes. Mr Greene went on to answer questions as follows:
Footways: further work is planned in Cholsey on Larkfield, Papist Way (Reading Road – Station Rd) and Honey Lane. Cycle Track could be installed in 2005-06 but may slip back. Re school kitchen reinstatement, he will find out and advise Mrs Morgan. Re SERA, he is not sure how it was appointed but considers it undemocratic. Mrs Morhgan agrees it may be undemocratic bu has, nevertheless, huge powers and must be taken into account.
c) District Councillor, Mrs Pat Dawe: a copy of Mrs Dawe’s report is attached to the minutes.
Mrs Dawe emphasised the importance of parishioners making their views on the SERA Development Plan known via the Your Shout questionnaire.She expressed pleasure in the news that Cholsey 1000+ has expressed interest in participating in production of a Parish Plan.
d) Thames Valley Police: WPC Pip Walker, the Area Beat Officer presented her report, copy attached.
4. Questions and Comments from the Floor
Mr Jeskins raised questions regarding the proposed extraction of gravel. Patrick Green advised that there is now no strategic county plan. Need for gravel extraction will be considered as it arises by the appointed CC Committee. He cannot rule out some local extraction work.
Mrs Kaposy asked re SODC policy on travellers. Mr Greene spoke of the difficulties of dealing with problems where trespass is not an issue ie where travellers purport to own the land. However, policy is generally that even when land is owned by travellers, illegal setting up of settlements will not be countenanced.
Mrs C Allwright asked if ugly bollards erected by SoHA adjacent to her house could be removed. Mrs Dawe undertook to investigate.
Mr A Jennings expressed concern that the ‘pinch-point’ referred to earlier may be deferred owing to delays with the cycle way; can it not be treated separately and installed sooner? Mr Greene undertook to investigate and report to the next parish Council meeting.
Mrs T Lewis raised concerns as to the content of the Parish Council web-site. Some ‘links’ she considers most inappropriate. Mr Aska agreed to review it and report with recommendations to the Parish Council.
Mrs Morgan expressed concern at public use of bad language by teenagers and wondered
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 940pm.
