Page 01 Council activities 2013-14 HEATON-WITH-OXCLIFFE COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 Clerk Tel 01524 858557 28 Wilson Grove,Heysham LA3 2PQ www.heatonwithoxcliffepc.org.uk clerk@heatonwithoxcliffepc.org.uk
Page 02 Council activities 2013-14 Parish Council activities 2013-14 The Council has worked hard to plan ways forward, to carry out its responsibilities to residents and to try to make local improvements. It has been rewarding to be part of this work A Parish Councillor Key Achievements A major piece of work undertaken by the Heaton-with-Oxcliffe Council in the early months of 2014 has been the development of a draft Parish Plan for the three year period 2014 17. This has largely involved a review of a range of data and intelligence on the economic, social and environmental demographics of the local area; consideration of the issues facing the parish community now and in the future; identification of what the Council should do to address these issues; and agreement on the means through which the Council can consult with the parish community on the Plan. The draft Plan contains six priority outcomes (with associated key actions): reduction of flytipping; improvement of the local environment and its attractiveness; ensuring that roads, paths and footways are safe and well maintained; identification of, and response to, the needs of vulnerable residents; development of community facilities and events; and improvement of flood risk management with clarification of the Council s role. Throughout the year, the Council has undertaken a number of activities to address matters of concern to our residents and to improve our parish community and environment. These have included: Working closely with Grosvenor Park Primary School to highlight road traffic issues on Roeburn Drive at school drop off and pick up times. As a result, Lancashire County Council are now monitoring the situation with a view to engaging with residents on the introduction of Speed Indictor Device(s) (SPiDs). Discussions are also underway with the County Council and the Police to develop schemes to raise awareness of safe and considerate driving and parking and the enforcement of sanctions where necessary Raising serious concerns with Lancashire County Council about the environmental and road traffic risks from the build-up of traffic on Ovangle Road and Lancaster Road at peak times. This is now being monitored and will now be considered for attention as part of the associated Heysham M6 link schemes Tacking Anti-social behaviour at Grosvenor Park Playground, resulting in regular patrols by Police Community Support Officers (PCSO s) in the Anti-social behaviour vehicle Dealing with potholes; litter and fly-tipping; overgrown hedges and trees and other environmental matters including the abandoned former site of Capsticks Ltd on Westgate
Page 03 Council activities 2013-14 I would like to thank the Parish Council for the Newsletter. I found it a very interesting read and look forward to being kept informed of the Parish Council s activities through further publications A local Resident Progressing the Priorsgate Young Peoples project - a joint project between the council and Lancaster City and Town Councils which was completed in September. This project has greatly improved the Priorsgate Playground, including the installation of a Jungle Climber. It that was funded through a successful lottery bid by the Parish Council and 4,500 of its own funds. In November 2013, the Heaton-with-Oxcliffe Parish Council Newsletter was produced and distributed for the very first time. The Newsletter set out some high level information on the responsibilities and duties of the council and described its recent activities. The Council plans to produce a Newsletter twice a year. In addition, although the Council does not have the power to grant or refuse planning applications, it has used its special knowledge of the local environment, local needs and views to make effective observations on planning applications and influence planning policies on behalf of the local community. Strategic Highlights During 2013-14, the Council has taken a keen interest in, and has made representations on, matters of strategic importance to the local area and the wider Lancaster district including: Lancaster Local Plan 2011-2026 setting out the long term planning aspirations in Lancaster, and the rural districts. Direct representation by the Council has helped to refine and shape the Local Plan and its components, in particular the Area Action Plan (MAAP). Consideration of and responding to a number of consultations, policies and strategies developed by City and County Council s and other public sector organisations Representation at meetings and forums to discuss key issues and plans that may have an impact now, or in the future, on our local area and the wider Lancaster District Review of data and intelligence on a wide range of information informing the economic, social and environmental demographics of the local area and the wider district Consideration of plans by the City and County Councils to outsource service delivery and the impact and opportunities of these for the parish. Following representation by the Council and others, Lancashire County Council withdrew plans to reduce bus services at off-peak times in the parish and wider district Consideration of numerous publications, bulletins, briefings and guidance from public sector organisations and agencies including various schemes, funding opportunities, plans for future flood risk management and the Heysham M6 link road
Page 04 Council activities 2013-14 School Governors and the school community greatly appreciate the contribution being made by the Parish Council in our attempts to tackle traffic problems at the start and end of the school day Headteacher Grosvenor Park School Financial Summary The Council must conduct the administration and management of its financial affairs and spend its money in accordance with its legal powers and legislation. The Parish Clerk is the appointed Responsible Spending Officer with responsibility for maintaining the accounts and providing advice and support to the Council, ensuring value for money and sound financial management. The Council is responsible for setting a budget and for regularly monitoring income and expenditure against the approved budget, which is done at least quarterly. For the financial year 01 April 2013 to 31 March 2014, the Council estimated that 9,009 was required to fund Council business and its plans for the year (compared to 9,000 in the previous year). This is almost entirely funded by the precept, which is the council tax collected by the City council on behalf of the parish council. In 2013/14, however, because of funding cuts by the Government the actual precept paid was 7,439 with the balance of 1,570 being paid by a one-off complementary grant from the City Council. This additional grant helped to ensure that the shortfall was not passed on to our residents through their council tax payments. The total income for the year (excluding VAT refund from the previous year) was 9,012, out of which the council has spent 8,620, representing a surplus on the year of 392. A summary of expenditure is set out below: Expenditure Amount ( ) Clerks Fees & Expenses 4,210 Operating Costs 1,670 Insurance 451 Subscriptions & fees 600 Publications & Training 241 Grounds Maintenance & Repair 1,004 Miscellaneous 47 VAT Recoverable 397 At the time of writing, the detailed year-end accounts were being drawn up for subsequent internal and external audit, approval by the council and publication in June in line with legislation.
Page 05 Council activities 2013-14 Looking Ahead The Annual Report highlights the key activities of the council during the municipal year 01 May 2013 to 30 April 2014. Our actions have been aimed at developing Heaton with Oxcliffe Council into an active and quality council that engages with, represents and listens, to its community and has the well-being of its residents at heart. Going forward there is an exciting opportunity for the Council to extend its support for the economic, social and environmental well-being of the parish community through enabling local action and working in partnership with, and benefiting from the support of, the City and County Councils and other public sector organisations. The Council sees the Parish Plan as a first major step along what may be a challenging and, at times, difficult road but which promises potentially great results! The draft Parish Plan will be published in the coming months and made available to all residents for comment. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to shape our parish community for the future. 14 May 2014
Page 06 Council activities 2013-14 Contact Information Councillor William Lyon (Chair) Westgate Ward 20 Cathedral Drive, Priors Gate LA3 3RE Tel: 01524 400360 Email: clerk@heatonwithoxcliffepc.org.uk Councillor Steven Edmondson Winster Park Ward 14 Winster Park, Scale Hall Lancaster LA1 5TH Tel: 01524 841339 Email: st.v.edmondson@gmail.com Councillor Margaret Baxter Rural Ward Green Hedges, Heaton Bottom Road LA3 3EU Tel: 01524 858375 Email: clerk@heatonwithoxcliffepc.org.uk Councillor Ian Clift Westgate Ward 6 St Oggs Road, Westgate LA4 4 RJ Tel: 01524 420111 Email: ianwclift@aol.com Councillor William Jackson Winster Park Ward 12 Lawnswood Drive, Westgate LA3 3LT Tel: 01524 417035 Email: william_elke_jackson@yahoo.com Councillor Ginny Kelly Torrisholme Ward 12 Washburn Court, LA3 3RJ Tel: 01524 381239 Email: ginnykelly.1@btinternet.com
Page 07 Council activities 2013-14 Councillor Keith Percy Torrisholme Ward 21 Lune Drive, Grosvenor Park LA3 3RZ Tel: 01524 380412 Email: k.percy@hotmail.com Bob Bailey Clerk 28 Wilson Grove, Heysham LA3 2PQ Tel: 01524 858557 Email: clerk@heatonwithoxcliffepc.org.uk