Annual Report 2011-2012
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ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012 www.urchfont-pc.gov.uk 1 CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW (Mrs. Nicky Mitchell) Life is never dull in Urchfont is it? In addition to all the usual items we have had to deal with over the course of the year, we had 2 major, contentious issues to consider: 1. The Development of Manor Farmyard reappeared in November, historically controversial; and 2. In January the news that Wiltshire Council had decided to sell Urchfont Manor. The impact of this news being twofold, firstly the loss of the Residential Adult Education College with the related economic implications for the village and secondly the potential threat to our community facilities which occupy part of the Manor estate. This year I feel I must begin my report by highlighting our volunteer Parish Councillors. They have put in a particularly enormous amount of work due to these 2 major issues arising within a very short space of time requiring our immediate action as well as the general running of Parish business. When you look at the display boards and listen to the Chairmen’s reports to come, you may not realize the time and effort that goes into it all. Our thanks go in particular to Liz Clifton-Page for updating the photos in the display for this year. Have you ever thought what would happen if we didn’t have a Parish Council? How would all these things be accomplished and issues be coordinated? Many are statutory requirements but many are to deal with our own Parish requirements, requests from you, the residents, to improve our facilities. Once in place they have to be managed. These activities include: Financial management - You will find the latest unaudited accounts below and you will be pleased to hear that we have kept the precept at the same level this year as last. Insurance; Risk and H&S Assessments; We are regularly updating Policies to ensure we deal with matters correctly; Grant Applications to assess; Setting up Working Parties to deal with specific problems; Agendas have to be drawn up; Minutes written and approved; Planning Site Meetings to be arranged; Website to be managed; Consultation on wider issues; and External Meetings to attend. The list goes on and it’s a very long list! The Chairmen bear the brunt of this. Peter Newell, our Vice Chairman is the fount of all Parish knowledge and again he has been a tremendous support to me in my role over the year, but all the councillors contribute a great deal and we work as a team. 2 We don’t always agree ------ That’s Democracy! So please, reflect on their generosity, giving their time to the Parish and join me in thanking them. In addition we have 2 other vital members of our team who we employ: Bob Lunn and Sandra Johnston Bob has been our Parish Clerk for almost a year now and he’s really got to grips with the job, admirably managing financial and administrative matters in a very professional manner, keeping us in order, he has updated the Cemetery Records, competed the Parish Contractors contract and has been very active in evaluating bids for and building the new Parish and Community Website, now taking on the role of Webmaster; and of course Urchfont Manor deliberations remain ongoing as do other interactions with Wiltshire Council. Now ALL he’s got to do is find time to complete the demanding CILCA course required for our Quality Status renewal in September – no pressure Bob! Sandra, our Planning Administrator, works with the Planning Chairman, Simon Holt. Due to the large number of applications we receive she deals with reams of paperwork from Wiltshire Planning. This entails sorting and distributing plans, informing applicants and neighbours of planning meetings, arranging site meetings where necessary and she has had the significant additional workload dealing with the Manor Farmyard Development. Imagine taking the minutes of that Planning Meeting!! Equally important, they are both great to work with and we certainly appreciate all they do - Thank you both. In November Robert Anderson joined us on the Council as a Wedhampton representative following Colette Culligan’s resignation and is now an active participant. He is due to retire in a few months and was looking forward to having more time to give to his new role. Reluctantly, however, due to personal reasons, he and his partner, Dayne, are leaving Wedhampton and will therefore have to leave the Parish Council in the near future. This is a great shame as I am sure he would have been a strong member of the team but we’ll hang on to him as long as possible as will Wedhampton! In March we were very disappointed that Andy Stephens had to resign due to heavy work commitments at Flying Pictures which take him all over the world; it is this work that is responsible for his absence tonight! He joined us in 2008 and 2 years ago he took on the Chair of a newly created Highways Committee to deal with the appalling state of the roads in the Parish. Andy is a bit like a dog with a bone and he took on Wiltshire Highways and consistently nagged and chased them until things happened in Urchfont. Potholes filled, stretches of roads resurfaced and flooding issues were addressed. Wedhampton remains an ongoing issue. However, last year it was felt that Highways could be re-merged with Amenities as councillor numbers were spread rather thinly across the committees. He also instigated the Community Speed Watch Programme, initially requested by a resident on the B3098 and until recently he was involved when time allowed. I’m not sure that I agree with James Bond taking precedence over us but we do understand the nature of the man------- he can’t be a councilor if he can’t commit 100%. Thank you for your significant contribution, Andy. We are currently seeking applications to fill the vacancy created by Andy’s resignation, so if you or anyone you know could be encouraged to apply, do express an interest by contacting Bob Lunn. Simon Holt will update you on Manor Farmyard Development in his Chairman’s report. 3 The latest news we have on Urchfont Manor is that Wiltshire plan to market it in May or shortly thereafter. As you know, at the Wiltshire Council Cabinet Meeting in January, they did include an amendment to protect the community facilities which are currently part of the Manor estate. Following a meeting with Mark Stone from Wiltshire Council the Parish Council drew up a set of proposals which we submitted to Wiltshire and have been informed that they are progressing with OUR proposals regarding the Playing Fields and the Cricket Club; Proposals from Friends of Oakfrith Wood; and they hope to meet with John Snook who generously allows the Cricket Club to use one of the fields he leases from Wiltshire Council. Wiltshire Council hope to respond next month. We have also been informed today that there is a petition on the Wiltshire Council Website for signatures of anyone opposing the sale of the Manor; a link to this will be put on our Parish website as well. I would like to thank all those who contribute to the work of the Parish Council: Lionel Grundy, our Wiltshire Councillor who continues to support us and attends many of our meetings. Co-opted members of Committees and Working Parties Paul Papworth-Smith our internal auditor Friends of Farmer’s Field, Elaine Bancroft and her friends for looking after the ducks and geese in all weathers and when they are ill; these ducks are a great attraction for the Village. June Turnbull and her green fingers planting the Triangle. The Rights of Way Group who continue their good work and undertook some serious construction work through the wood in the Bottom. I met a small army of workers there when walking my dogs. Richard and Janet Hawkins for their work on the Parish magazine ‘News and Views’ which has now been amalgamated with Redhorn Team News to become ‘Redhorn News’. Also for their design skills for Parish Council posters, of which we’ve had quite a few lately for hot topics! John and Carole Snook for the electricity supply for lights around the pond at Christmas and other festive events during the year. They make a significant impact. All those who helped with erection of lights and the tree at Christmas. I apologize for accidentally omitting a ‘thank you’ from the February edition of News and Views. That was Richard --- wasn’t me! Mark Goddard, the Parish Contractor, who is now signed up to keep the Parish looking smart for the next 5 years. Kevin Summers who provides the skips at the Playing Field, The Croft and Wedhampton and until recently the volunteers for the cardboard and plastic skip at the Village Hall which has now become a kerbside collection. Clare Milanes for sharing the task of weekly checks of the Defibrillator with me. Colin Whitehead for his work coordinating Neighbourhood Watch. Marion Whitehead keeping a watching brief when the Clerk is absent. Members of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group – Stuart Davies, Julie Elliott, Bill Donald, Richard Hawkins, Alex Hiscock, Simon Holt, Linda Jennings, William Lang, Dave Mottram, Geoff Potter, Andy Stephens and Colin Whitehead. The Parish Steward employed by Wiltshire Council to undertake minor highways maintenance. Last year, at the Village Welcome event, it was amazing to see how many organizations we have in the Parish and it highlighted just what a busy and vibrant community we are.