Oakington and Westwick Parish Council
Information available from Oakington & Westwick Parish Council under the model publication scheme (updated March 2011)
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. Lawrence) resides at 4 Meadow Farm Close, CB24 3AS 01223 232398
Chairman (Mr D M Reeves) resides at 10 The Drift, CB24 3AD 01223 234337
Parish Council office is at Clerk's home address.
Staffing Structure: 1 p/t Parish Clerk, 1 p/t Pavilion caretaker.
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 January 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 2011-12 is £35,000.00
This information can be obtained from minutes of meetings.
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.
No grants have been given or received during 2010/11.
Brookfield Groundcare - Recreation Ground & Cemetery grass and hedge cutting. Approx £5500 PA.
None apart from Chairman's allowance of £110 p.a. in arrears
Consideration is like to be given to developing a Parish Plan during 2011-12.
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. Also available on website.
Consideration to be given to applying for Quality Status during 2011-12.
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.
Published on notice boards, website and in Annual Parish Council newsletter. Can also 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. On-going matters from previous meetings are dealt with under the agenda heading 'matters arising'. New items are listed separately on the agenda.
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.
Applications that arrive in time for the publishing of meeting agendas are considered and responded to at that meeting. Other applications are considered and responded to at Planning meetings. These are advertised in advance and notice is given if a meeting is not necessary.
This information can be obtained from: SCDC Planning Dept, (refer to SCDC); the Clerk, 10p per sheet.
We depend on the District & County Councils
Openness and informality is encouraged as all meeting with due regard to Standing Orders.
Formal resolutions are proposed, seconded and agreed on all matters relating to finance and policy.
Members of the public have a time allowance at every meeting in order to express their views and are invited to contribute during a meeting if need be.
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.
The Clerk is responsible for building the agenda for monthly meetings.
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 adopt policies as circumstances dictate. For example there is a policy for the administration of the Pavilion. It is envisaged that the Parish Plan will include policy statements as it is developed.
We have initiated a system of six-monthly reviews for both staff members. The reviews are held by the Chairman currently.
We are currently in negotiations with Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambs District Council for the provision of allotment land.
The only service that we provide is that of a Cemetery, 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 £200 penalty for infringement of our rules. e.g. erection of monuments without our prior written permission.
We pay for the running costs of certain street lights (generally those that CCC do not deem to be part of essential highway lighting) but SCDC assume responsibility for such things as repair and replacement following such things as road traffic accidents.
We depend on the Oakington Sports Pavilion Committee to administer its day to day affairs, but review the arrangements annually so that we have the ways and means of taking back full control of this valuable asset in case of unforeseen problems
We own all of the bus shelters in our village (except the ones for the Guided Bus), but not the land on which they are built, save for the ones at Saxon Close and Forge End
Any committees are given agreed and specific tasks. We currently have a Planning Committee and a Play Area Committee.
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.
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