Odstock Parish Council
The Annual meeting of Odstock Parish Council was held on 20 May
2019 in the Nunton Recreation Field Pavilion.
Present: Sally Nelson (Chairman), Nigel Start (Vice-Chairman),
Colin Berry, Rod Poynting, Stephen Stapley, Richard Parsons (Clerk),
Wiltshire Cllr Richard Clewer and seven members of the public.
Apologies Accepted: Thomas Newman and Barry Norris.
12/19 Annual Parish Meeting: a) A request from Downton Football
Club to use the Nunton Recreation Field for football between
September and April was considered by those present. Cllr
Poynting reminded the meeting that preparing the field for
football would involve a significant upgrade. The Downton FC
representatives advised they would provide whatever was needed
and ensure that there would be no inconvenience to parishioners.
It was agreed to permit Downton FC the use of the field for an
initial period during which time parishioners would have the
opportunity of determining the practicality of the arrangement.
b) The Chairman reported on OPC’s activities during the year.
The timber bus shelters had received some attention. The A338
shelter had been re-roofed and the Odstock crossroads shelter had
been cleared of weeds and brambles. OPC is grateful to those
parishioners who contributed to the refurbishment. OPC regularly
inspects the play equipment in both the Nunton and the Odstock
Recreation Fields. The Nunton Play area will soon need
substantial maintenance for which funds have been set aside.
Maintenance requirements to the river banks at Jubilee Gardens
are also being scheduled. Cllr Berry has continued to hold
Wiltshire Council to account for the promised resurfacing of the
village roads. Cllr Start continues to encourage responsible
parking next to Odstock Play School. The Community Speed Watch
initiative is now maintained by an expanding group of volunteers.
The Chairman reports regularly to News and Notes about issues
raised at OPC meetings and arranges meetings with the Agent for
the Longford Estate when necessary.
c) The perennial problem of dog fouling was raised by a
parishioner. OPC may have to introduce measures to control this
behaviour.
13/19 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman: Cllr Start proposed
and Cllr Poynting seconded, Cllr Nelson as Chairman. Cllr Nelson
proposed and Cllr Poynting seconded, Cllr Start as Vice-chairman.
14/19 Declaration of Interest: None.
15/19 Minutes of the Ordinary OPC meeting held on 11 February
were approved and signed by the Chairman.
16/19 Delegation of Functions: LGA 1972 s101 allows for the
functions of a statutory authority to be discharged through a
committee, sub-committee, officer or any other local authority.
It was unanimously agree that when necessary, statutory functions
would be delegated to the Parish Clerk as Proper Officer of
Odstock Parish Council.
17/19 Meeting Dates: 1 July, 9 September, 9 December, 10 February
2020 and the Annual meetings on 18 May 2020. In accordance with
LGA72 sch.12 s.9(1), Extraordinary PC meetings can be called by
the Chairman at any time or by any two councillors and may be
subject to LGA72 sch.12 s.10(2) requiring three clear days notice.
Meeting cancellations will be similarly advised.
18/19 Community Initiatives:
a) Radnor Hall Committee: Cllr Poynting, as OPC’s
representative on this committee, believes OPC might need to take
a more proactive role in the running of the regular Car Boot
Sales.
b) Annual Parish Meeting: It was resolved to make more effort to
increase the level of attendance at future Parish meetings.
c) Annual ONB Village Fete: Grass cutting will be scheduled to be
performed at least 8 days before 6 July.
19/19 Nunton Recreation Field:
a) Downton Football Club: Cllr Start proposed a probationary
period to allow Downton FC to play football between September and
April 2020. Cllr Start agreed to draft a licensing agreement
which will set out the terms of the arrangement between OPC and Downton FC.
b) Play Area: Cllr Poynting is in contact with Playdale regarding
the refurbishment of the play equipment.
20/19 Transport, Roads and Footpaths:
a) Wiltshire Council Highways: Wiltshire Cllr Clewer advised that
equipment will become available in June to clear and refurbish
the roadside footways along the A338 between Britford and Downton.
b) Community Speed Watch: Cllr Start reported that he had handed
over leadership of the volunteers to another parishioner.
c) Speed Indicator Display (SID): There may be an opportunity to
share the expense of a dedicated SID with a neighbouring parish.
d) A338 Bus Shelter: The seating has been damaged and Cllr Berry
agreed to effect a repair.
21/19 Planning: No new Planning Application to consider.
22/19 Reports and Correspondence:
a) Wiltshire Council: The next Area Board meeting is at Coombe
Bissett Village Hall on Thursday, 11 July.
b) Grob Tutor Aircraft: There has been concern about overflight
activities from Boscombe Down. Cllr Start agreed to follow up.
23/19 Finance:
a) Budgeting Spreadsheet: Cllr Stapley produced a cashflow
spreadsheet and it was agreed to adopt this to help with
budgeting.
b) Annual Internal Audit Report 2018-2019: OPC’s Internal
Auditor signed off OPC’s Accounts on 13 May.
c) Annual Governance Statement 2018-2019: Section 1 of the AGAR
was considered and unanimously approved.
d) Bank Accounts: It was agreed to continue maintaining Odstock PC's
Bank Accounts with Lloyds Bank plc.
e) Staff Costs for 2018-2019: The Parish Clerk's salary of £53.08p
per week was in line with expectations.
f) Accounts for 2018-2019: OPC's Internal Auditor had verified
Odstock PC's accounts as presented. Income of £12,241.64p for
the year includes donations of £120, bank interest of £61.64p
and the balance of £12,060 from the precept. Expenditure of £8,486.01p
includes £3,452.56p on rents, grass-cutting and maintenance,
Capital spending of £250 on website development, £600 on grant
support for village groups and £4,183.45p on general
administration.
g) AGAR Certificate of Exemption: Since neither Income nor
Expenditure exceeded £25,000, OPC will not be required to have a
Limited Assurance Review for 2018-2019. Unanimously approved and
signed by the Chairman.
h) AGAR Accounting Statements for 2018-2019: Unanimously approved
and signed by the Chairman.
i) Chairman's Allowance for 2019-2020: Up to £100 will be made
available to the Chairman for expenses of office.
j) Zurich Municipal Insurance Premium for 2019-2020: The
invitation to renew, for £504.56p, was approved.
k) WALC Membership for 2019-2020: Subscription renewal of £180.56p
ex VAT was approved.
l) Earmarked Reserves: OPC is carrying forward £18,548.98p of
which £9,800 is earmarked for Recreation Field and Pavilion
maintenance and £4,000 is in a Capital fund.
m) Budget for 2019-2020: Bus shelter and Play Area refurbishment
is likely to use a substantial amount of resources.
n) Transparency Fund Grant: OPC is carrying forward £957 of the
£1,207 grant to cover the ongoing cost of website maintenance,
hosting and GDPR compliance for the publication of OPC’s
Policies and Documents.
o) Receipts: The following were acknowledged:
Wiltshire Council – First instalment of the precept – £6,030
p) Payments: The following were approved:
Bawden Contracting Services Ltd – Grass Cutting BACS £415.31p
Wiltshire Association of Local Councils – Subscription BACS
£216.67p
Community First Trading – Zurich Insurance Renewal BACS £504.56p
R Parsons – Clerk's salary and expenses, on account BACS £975.00p
Bawden Contracting Services Ltd – Grass Cutting BACS £424.87p
Southern Electric – Nunton Field Electricity DD £43.94p
24/19 Any Other Business (for information only): None.
25/18 The Next Ordinary OPC meeting is scheduled for Monday, 1
July 2019.
The meeting closed at 8:47pm
Signed without amendment by the Chairman, Cllr Sally Nelson, as a true record on 1 July 2019.
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