LITTLE MILTON PARISH COUNCIL

ANNUAL REPORT 2008-09

Chairman’s Overview

The Council met twelve times between May 2008 and April 2009. On average there was an 89% attendance of members at the Council meetings. All meetings are open to the public and the press and extracts of the minutes of the meetings are published in the Newsletter and the approved minutes are available on the website and on the Parish Council notice-board. The Council has diligently discharged its duties and constantly tried to ensure that the interests of the community are fully represented. The needs of the young people are still a concern to the Council and it has in conjunction with OCC Youth Services carried out a survey in an attempt to identify the needs of our young people. Planning and Highway matters dominate the Council agenda but during this past year the Council has worked exceedingly hard with representatives of the Shop Committee to determine a lease between the two bodies. I am pleased to say that a lease was completed in March 2009 and the Council was delighted that this allowed our community shop and post office project to proceed. Although crime levels are low the village is still vulnerable to burglaries and we have worked closely with Thames Valley Crime Reduction. The Council has also made representations to other Agencies on behalf of the Village. The Council has worked hard to improve its competence and I am delighted to report the Council has attained Quality Parish Council Status and is one of two Councils to attain this status in Oxfordshire. Finally the Council has maintained a tight control over its finances and its reserves are at a satisfactory level. The report that follows details certain aspects on the Council’s work during the past year.

Planning Matters

The Council has reviewed and commented on fourteen planning applications during the year and although it makes recommendations the final decision is made by the SODC who are the Planning Authority.

Highway Matters

The Council has established a meaningful dialogue with OCC Highways Department to address the highway issues within the village.  

The Council was very pleased with the work done by OCC Highways that dealt with the water on the Haseley Road and Gold Street . The other major challenge for the Council is the designation of the slip road between the Haseley Road and Gold Street for use by pedestrians and cyclists only. The Council is working closely with the school on this project and hopefully progress will be made during the coming year but it will be subject to available funding.

 Youth activities

The Council have conducted a further survey into the needs of our young people and it would be fair to say that any provision that is made in the future would

be used by a minority. The Council is considering in conjunction with OCC Youth Service the best way to take the results of the survey forward.

Crime

  Although the village has a relatively low crime rate there have been some very distressing cases of burglary in recent months. The Council urge all the residents to

 report anything suspicious to the police. Information on local crime is circulated to members of Neighbourhood Watch.

Village Shop/Post Office

The Parish Council has supported the development of a Community Shop and Post Office by leasing part of the recreation ground to the Independent Provident Society (IPS) at a peppercorn rent for the first five years. The Council believes that the continuation of a shop and Post Office will help to sustain the village into the future.

Related Agency Matters

The Council works closely with the County and District Councils in matters that impact upon the village e.g. Highway matters and the recent new Waste Collection System. It has also liaised with SOHA in respect of security matters in Old Field. The Council has also supported the Chalgrove and Wheatley Neighbourhood Action Group. The Council recognises the importance of maintaining a good working relationship with all levels of Local Government as well as other agencies to try and protect the interests of the Village.

Freedom of Information

The Council adopted the new model Publication Scheme issued by the Information Commissioners Office with effect from 1^st January 2009. Full information on the Code is disclosed on the website or is available from the Clerk.

Power of Well-Being

The Power of Well-Being is a statutory power given to Principal Authorities under, Section 2(1) of the Local Government Act 2000, and the provisions were extended to eligible Parish Councils under section 77 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. The Power of Well-Being enables Local Authorities to do anything they consider likely to promote or improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area unless explicitly prohibited elsewhere in legislation. The Council is actively seeking to meet the necessary criteria to enable it to use the power as it considers it will allow it much more financial flexibility in the support of the wellbeing of the village.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Sources of Income

Expenditure

What is the framework of the Parish Council finances?

The Parish Council is required to set a budget for its income and expenditure and that is part of the process when it sets its precept that is included within the Council Tax charged by South Oxfordshire District Council each year. It tries to anticipate all the sources of income and expenditure so that it sets the correct level of precept and like any family or business it has to decide what it can afford. Your Parish Council is no different. We then monitor the income and expenditure during the year and where necessary take any corrective action to ensure that we live within our overall financial targets.

The Council’s precept accounts for only about 50% of its total revenue and it means that this has allowed the precept to have been maintained at £10,000 for the last four years .This allows increases in expenditure to have been funded through other sources of income.   

Expenditure increased by £6,090 in 2008-09 compared with 2007-08 that is due in part to the legal costs associated with the lease with the IPS of £4,306 and an increase in the cost of producing the village newsletter. The newsletter is a net contributor to the village of £2,518.

The Council continues to invest in the maintenance of the Recreation ground and has spent £1,758 on grass cutting and received a contribution from OCC of £782 in respect of the school’s use of the recreation ground.  The Council Administration includes the Clerk’s salary, Councillor training and postage/stationery. Included within the Other Expenditure of £1,961 is £926 for posts around the village green; £293 for Council Insurance; Audit Fee of £135; Clock maintenance £138 and OALC subscription of £112.

Reserves

The Council’s closing reserves of £23,326 will be needed in the coming year to pay for the re-instatement of the current Post Office when the Post Office moves to its new location, expenditure in respect of the car park to meet the planning conditions imposed when the extension to the hall was approved as well as expenditure on the car park to meet the requirements of shop.

The Council will continue to be prudent with the finances of the Parish.

Council Members

Cllr. Stuart McGill                  01844 279092

Cllr. Barry Coward                 01844 279970

Cllr Mabel Wood                   01844 279670

Cllr Alison Shelton                 01844 278144

Cllr David Wakeling              01844 278014

Cllr Tim Robinson                 01844 278343

Parish Clerk

Mr Raymond Fergusson       01844 279150