BARKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting of the Barkham Parish Council held on 9^th January 2007

in Barkham Village Hall at 8.00 p.m.

Present: Mrs P. Stubbs (in the Chair), Mr. M. Clark, Mr F. A. Scott, Mr.J.Shepherd, Dr. R. Loader, Mr. P. King

Mr. S. Goldring, Mr. R. Newman, Mr. D. Oxbrough, Mr. F. Postlethwaite and the Clerk.

Apologies:

07/889 Minutes of meeting held on 12^th December 2006 were approved and signed as a true record.

07/890 Matters arising

06/882  Reply received from Sergeant Mike Cull regarding the speed survey on the Bearwood Road ,  He states that the Police are unable to carry out a speed survey of the type BPC have requested.  The police can on an add hock basis use officers with a speed gun or they can provide volunteers from the area with a speed indication device (SID) on loan, for them to use to monitor speed and note registration numbers of any offenders who would then receive follow up letters and possible action from the police.  Sergeant Cull suggests WDC Highways Dept. may be able to provide the survey equipment we require.  Clerk has written to WDC.  To date there has been no response from WDC, Clerk to remind them that this is still required.

06/874     Reply received from Department of Trade and Industry regarding our letter about the closure of rural Post Offices.  The letter explains how over the last 10 to 15 years with the improvement in technology the need for a post office has declined, many people pay their bills by direct debit and have pensions and benefits paid direct into bank accounts.  Four million fewer people are using post offices each week compared to just 2 years ago.  The Government is committed to allow people to access their pensions and benefits in cash at the post office if they choose.  The current Post Office card account contract ends in 2010 and the Government has decided that it will continue with a new account after 2010.  Of 11 million pensioners, 8.5 have their pensions paid into a bank account & most new people making a state pension claim choose to have their money paid this way, this has taken its toll on the Post Office network and losses have risen to almost £4 million a week this year.  There is widespread recognition that the current size of the network is unsustainable.   When the Government reaches its final decision on the proposals following the outcome of the national consultation the Post Office will be tasked to implement restructuring.  Decisions of closures and locations will be a matter for the company POL will be limited to a maximum of 2500 compensated closures nationally over an 18 month period from summer 2007.  The last date for responses is 8 March 2007.

07/891 Public Session

A member of the public reported that the two lamp columns at Barkham Bridge are still not working, and the Give Way sign is still flickering, Clerk to chase WDC, these two repairs were reported to SEC last month but are still outstanding.

07/892 Youth Workers Report – received from Louise Morris

Mobile Provision

Still very quiet in relation to young people although we are building up relations with local residents and are welcoming any feedback and suggestions that they have.   Myself and the team have put together a new leaflet and will be delivering to households in the area over the next few weeks.  We will also be carrying out a door to door survey to gain a perspective on what the young people would like at the Elizabeth Park area.  We are also putting together a programme for the February half term for activities during the day for young people. These will include 5-a side football, basketball, street art and others. Days and times will be confirmed shortly.

I feel that our presence at Elizabeth Park is being responded to very well and over the next few months we hope to build up better relationships with the young people and the residents. Also the weather will be on our side!

Barkham Junior Club

The Junior Club is going from strength to strength the group are working together more as a group.

The group will also be purchasing new equipment this term for the cosy area that they received funding from.

We had to postpone the sleepover due to competition from the under 18s disco in Wokingham although we are planning to carry it out this term.  The young people are also taking responsibility of the healthy tuck

and are helping to make the food themselves to sell to their peers.

Both projects are moving forward and I am very positive about the future of Barkham’s Youth Provision.

07/893 Planning

The only planning of significance to report from the Planning Meeting is:-

F/2005/6223                           Barkham Post Office, 50 Bearwood Road                                    Dismissed  At Appeal

                                                Proposed demolition of existing dwelling and shop                     

                                                and erection of 8 flats and retail unit.

07/894 Highways

The drains are still blocked along Bearwood Road from Sandy Lane travelling down the hill, this has been reported to WDC on numerous occasions, Clerk to write again stressing that with the recent heavy rain the road is awash with water.  Also, along Barkham Ride, in the dark evenings when travelling in the rain the road is very dangerous with standing water.

The pavement along Barkham Street needs sweeping from The Well House along to the end, Clerk to request WDC sweep the pavement.

Numerous areas of road and pavement in Elizabeth Park have been marked for repair, some have been done but the contractor seem to have disappeared without finishing the job, Clerk to remind WDC that this work still needs to be completed.  The main areas are outside no. 3 The Junipers and 5 – 9 Sandy Lane .   Also it was noted that the road repair outside Barkham Lodge at the brow of the hill on the Bearwood Road is gradually sinking.  Clerk to request that this is attended to.

07/895 Finance

H M Revenue & Customs – Tax & N.I. for November, December, January               54    £49.95

Barkham Village Hall – rent for Sept, October, November & December                      55    £84.00

WDC – 1 skip at the Junipers & 1 refuse lorry for December                                       56    £259.68  (£221 exc VAT)

Neat Ideas – 2 ink cartridges & paper                                                                              57    £59.63 (£50.75 exc VAT)

Standing Order for Clerk’s salary for January                                                                         £485.76

Standing Order to Royal Bor. Windsor – Pension Fund for Clerk                                        £89.76

for month of January  (Employee & employer contribution)

The Finance Committee reported that a preliminary meeting had taken place to discuss the Precept for the forthcoming year, and the recommendations were discussed. The following is the recommendation of the Council, which needs to be agreed for forwarding to WDC at next month’s meeting, which is the day before the deadline. This allows Councillors one month to consider the recommendation and to contact the Clerk ASAP if there needed to be any further research to be conducted for consideration at this final meeting next month.

The suggested expenditure is :-

Village Hall rent                                    £250

Postage, stationery                              £800

Audit fee                                               £350

BALC fee                                               £329

Insurance                                          £1700 General Insurance £1100, War Memorial £300, additional bus shelter

                                                                      at Biggs Lane & half the cost of insuring the new bus shelter

                                                                        opposite Rickman Close with Arborfield PC.

Clerk’s salary                                        £6313  Clerk awarded one spinal point to SCP 23 + 2.5% increase suggested

                                                                            by BALC, new salary scales not yet set.

Travel & home office expenses         £360    Increased to £30 per month from £28  

Clerk’s employer pension cont.         £884    Contribution will rise to 14% from 12%.

Courses & seminars for Councillors £200

Courses & seminars for Clerk            £100

Society of Clerk’s membership          £90

SPISE                                                     £30

Veteran Tree Project                            £295

Total                                                       £11701

Grants

Village Hall Maintenance                    £2,200

St James Church – Burial Ground      £0            No funds needed this year, if they have any project they need help

                                                                        with, to approach BPC.

Youth Worker in Barkham                  £3,600   Exact figure not yet received from WDC

Rubbish skips                                       £2,000   Suggestion is to reduce to one lorry on a Saturday only.

Senior Youth Club                               £4,500   To fund club until Easter 2008.

Total                                                       £12,300

Other Donations S137 (£5.64 per electorate maximum)

Arborfield & Barkham Junior         £1000      Request received to provide a new dome for the swimming pool

School                                                              cheque only to be sent when the building work is to commence.

Royal British Legion                            £100

WADE                                                   £250

Wokingham Volunteer Group            £0            No request has been received

BVRA Newsletter Contribution         £400

Keep Mobile                                          £250

Citizens Advice Bureau                      £300

Thames Valley Air Ambulance          £0

Sam Hosgood Sporting Fund            £500

Barkham Pre School                             £300

California Football Club                      £0        This year funds are being directed into the Youth Club, hope to

                                                                      support CFC in future years.

Relate                                                     £250

Total                                                       £3350 (£1.80 per electorate proposed)

Contingency & Allocation

Village Design Statement                    £200   In case of future need & possible mounting of maps

Computer equipment                        £0       Computer equipment 2.5 years old but operating efficiently

                                                                            and with computer prices dropping £750 already allocated.

Total Expenditure                                £27,551

Suggested Precept of £28,000, a rise of £6,000 from last year which would add £5 to each Barkham residence

Council Tax bill.  Last year £22,000 was requested which amounted to £18 per residence (£23 for this year).

To date 815 books have been sold, an income of £4272.24, thus leaving 185 unsold, and the Council is now in credit to the amount of £306.57.

07/896 Unitary Authority Councillor's Report

Mrs Stubbs commented that there was very little to report, the Council Tax for the year 2007/08 was to be set soon.

07/897 Correspondence

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions issued for the period 27.11.06 – 1.12.06.

WDC Agenda for Meeting of the Planning Committee to be held on 20.12.06.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 2.12.06 – 8.12.06.

BALC The Berkshire Communicator Issue 52.

Mid and West Berkshire Countryside Local Access Forum.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions Issued for the period 11.12.06 – 15.12.06.

WDC Staff Bulletin Issue 25.

WDC Waterford Times Issue 7.

WDC Environment Bulletin January 2007.

NALC  Local Council Review.

WDC Staff Bulletin Issue 1.

WDC Planning Applications Input & Decisions issued for the period 18.12.06 – 29.12.06.

Meeting closed at 9.20 p.m.

Next meeting of full Council will be held on 13^th February 2007 at 8 p.m.

Next meeting of Planning Committee will be held on 23^rd January 2007 at 7.30 p.m.