Oakington and Westwick Parish Council
Information available from Oakington & Westwick Parish Council under the model publication scheme
We are the elected Parish Council for Oakington & Westwick and we are responsible, on a voluntary basis, to act on behalf of that local community in accordance with the legislation that governs the modus operandi of such organisations.
The Council operates as a whole and does not normally utilise separate committees.
Clerk (Mrs L. Laurence) resides at 4 Meadow Farm Close, CB24 3AS 01223232398
Chairman (Mr A.J. Milton) resides at 46 Coles Lane, CB24 3AF 01223232343
Parish Council office is at Clerk's home address.
This information can be obtained as follows:
Hard copy from Clerk or Chairman: F.O.C.
Parish Council website: F.O.C.
Oral from any Parish Councillor: F.O.C.
Our income is primarily raised by means of Precept, set annually, usually at December meeting. Variable, small amounts are raised by fees for use of our cemetery. All payments are duly authorised by a formal resolution passed at a Parish Council meeting.
This information can be obtained as follows:
From minutes of meetings which are on our website and on display at Histon Library: F.O.C.
Hard copy from Clerk: 10p per sheet
This information can be obtained as follows:
From Clerk: 10p per sheet
Under normal circumstances past history, modest plans and prudent provision of reserves year on year is sufficiently accurate to satisfy our budgetary needs.
Exceptionally, we cannot possibly predict the income or the running costs for our new Sports Pavilion and MUGA and so we have kept our reserves high in order to be sure of having the necessary funds.
Our Precept for 2008 - 2009 is
The P.C. has no Borrowing Approval at this time
All payments are duly authorised by a formal resolution at a Parish Council meeting, with details recorded in the Minutes. Standing orders for utility services to the Sports Pavilion are dealt with retrospectively, as are the occasional urgent ones that crop up between meetings in respect of goods or services that have already been duly authorised by the Parish Council.
Cheques are duly authorised by any two of the nominated signatories, usually at a P.C meeting
Transfers between our deposit and current accounts are authorised by any one of the duly authorised signatories using a security code.
Payments into both accounts are duly made by the Clerk.
A grant of
None at this time
None apart from Chairman's allowance of
There is no Parish Plan, because the imposition of Northstowe on us proves that such things only have impact when it suits higher authorities, otherwise they have no real value
Copy hand delivered to every household a few weeks prior to A.G.M. and available at that meeting
This information can be obtained from the Clerk, F.O.C., subject to availability, else 10p per sheet.
Not applied for, because there is no perceived significant benefit, and the fact that there have been insufficient candidates at successive elections we cannot satisfy one key requirement.
None
By discussion and the passing of resolutions at Parish Council meetings.
Between meetings planning applications are circulated and the responses of Parish Councillors are summarised by the Chairman/Clerk and a response is made.
Exceptionally, when there is not a clear consensus a special meeting is convened
This information can be obtained from minutes of meetings, 10p/sheet for hard copy.
Included in Annual Newsletter and can be obtained from the Clerk or any Parish Councillor, F.O.C.
Agendas are included on the call out notices to Councillors and on the public notices.
The minutes of the previous meeting form the agenda for ongoing matters and are dealt with under the agenda heading "matters arising"
This information can be obtained from public notice-boards.
N.B. These will exclude matters that are properly regarded as private and confidential
Reports are normally given verbally, and key features are included in the minutes.
This information can be obtained from minutes of meetings, 10p per sheet
Responses to consultation papers that require a consensus of opinion are circulated and the Clerk/Chairman then respond accordingly. In the event that there is not a consensus a formal meeting is held and a response is agreed.
This information can be obtained from the Clerk, 10p per sheet.
Between meetings planning applications are circulated and the responses of Parish Councillors are summarised by the Chairman/Clerk and a response is made.
Exceptionally, when there is not a clear consensus a special meeting is convened.
This information can be obtained from: SCDC Planning Dept, (refer to SCDC); the Clerk, 10p per sheet.
We depend on the District & County Councils
Our Chairman encourages openness and informality, but is quick to act and deal on the rare occasion that this situation is abused by councillors or members of the public.
Formal resolutions are proposed, seconded and agreed on all matters relating to charges and payments, and those relating to policy.
Parish Councillors discuss, rather than debate matters at parish council meetings and our Chairman makes a point of getting any District or County Councillors to take part whenever he judges that they can contribute. In appropriate cases when he judges that it is beneficial he permits members of the public to speak briefly to make a point, but he is quick to bring the meeting to order on the rare occasion that there is a risk that things could get out of hand.
The only officer employed by the council is the Parish Clerk and she is empowered to purchase items such as stationery that are essential for her everyday work. She also sorts out incoming mail and decides what to put before the council and what is circulated amongst members. She also banks cheques and cash and writes cheques, but she is not an authorised signatory for our cheques.
We have signed up to the model code of conduct.
Declarations of interest is always an agenda item to act as a timely reminder to all.
We regard policy statements as only being necessary whenever there is a perceived need, for example in connection with the running of the Sports Pavilion. In all such cases a formal resolution is passed and details are recorded in the minutes of meetings.
We have a policy of charging non village residents triple the normal amount for anything to do with our cemetery, primarily to preserve it for use by village residents, but also because Bar Hill does not have their own, and it is by no means certain that Northstowe will have one, at least during its early days.
We have a policy of maintaining a healthy monetary reserve, and this has proven to be correct because we have so far managed to support our new Sports Pavilion project without having to apply for a loan. It is not yet finished, but we are putting money aside, year on year, so that future Parish Councils will be ready prepared when it comes to having to fund maintenance work that will surely come up in less than a decade.
We are always looking to obtain land suitable for use as allotments so that we can provide such facilities, if and when the existing privately owned ones should be no longer available.
The only service that we provide is that of a Burial Ground, for which we keep records in writing as well as on our computer. Our charges are reviewed annually and our terms and conditions in respect of memorials are included on each and every letter of approval that we send to providers and installers of memorials. Undertakers provide and are fully responsible for grave diggers, but we do monitor what they do.
We treble our charges for non village residents and impose a
We rarely employ committees, but when we do the specific tasks are agreed at a PC meeting and these are recorded in the minutes
Our only officer is the Parish Clerk and her authorities are defined by national legislation.
To the best of our knowledge and belief we accord with national legislation and guidance
To the best of our knowledge and belief we accord with national legislation and guidance.
Our children's play equipment is inspected annually by a suitably qualified contractor and we review their findings and act when we judge necessary, considering that the reports are based on legislation and national guidance that applies to new provision, but in most cases there is no obligation to apply the rulings retrospectively.
We judge that it is best for all concerned that employees should reside in our village and so we advertise locally in the first instance, but if no suitable candidate comes forward we advertise more widely.
The vast majority of requests for information are presented verbally, and in the vast majority of cases a verbal response satisfies those concerned. Similarly, in the vast majority of cases an informal discussion satisfies those who make a written request for information. Written information in hard copy or via the internet is provided free of whenever it is already available in a suitable form. When it is necessary to prepare or collate information, carry out research, or involve expenditure of any kind, an assessment of the likely costs is made. If it is judged that this effort would be of benefit to us we go ahead and do it free of charge, otherwise we discuss the likely effort and costs involved with those concerned and agree the way forward.