M inutes of T h ea l e P a ri sh Co un ci l
O ctob er 20 1 5
MINUTES OF THEALE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting held on Monday 5th October 2015 in the Peter Gooch Room, Theale
Pavilion, Englefield Road, Theale
Present: Councillors D. Wood, J. Richardson, C. Bateman, N. Flint, B. Jones, A. Clark, B.
Williams, S. Coker, Z. Fenwick and I. Hopcroft
In attendance: Mrs J. Friend, Clerk to the Parish Council
Apologies received: Cllr A. Macro
Declarations of Interest: None
102/15/16
Open Forum for members of the public
There were no members of the public present.
Notifications of Chairman’s remarks – None.
SECTION A
103/15/16
MINUTES
The minutes of the Council Meeting of 7th September 2015 were adopted a correct record.
Proposed Cllr Williams; seconded Cllr Richardson. Approved nem con.
104/15/16
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 7th SEPTEMBER 2015
67/15/16 AWE – Cllr Jones has attended her first AWE Local Liaison Committee meeting.
SECTION B
105/15/16
Report from District Council
Cllr Macro was not present and had not provided a report.
106/15/16
Clerk’s Report
Parking Issues, Play Platt – Cllr Williams commented that the new double yellow lines were
shorter than they had previously been. Clerk to contact WBC about this.
West Berks Cycle Group – Cllr Hopcroft, a regular cyclist, will comment to WBCG on what
measures he thinks could be taken to improve conditions for cyclists.
107/15/16
Planning Applications
15/02345/
FUL
Raising the height of bridge
parapets to comply with
electrification regulation
15/02246/
Change of use from 3 separate B8
units to one B8 unit with ancillary
offices; alterations to external
appearance; external plant;
FUL
Network Rail
Asteral Ltd
1972
Motorway bridge
over railway
adjacent to
Arlington
Business Park,
Theale
Unit 4, 5 & 6 Ely
Road, Theale
RG7 4BQ
No objection
No objection
M inutes of T h ea l e P a ri sh Co un ci l
O ct ob er 2 0 1 5
internal alterations.
15/01312/
FULD
Change of use from PH to
residential, demolition of former
skittle alley & outbuildings
replaced with new 2 storey side
extension comprising additional 7
dwellings
Red Line Land
Ltd
The Red Lion, 5
Church Street,
Theale RG7
No further
comments
submitted
Bigger cycle store – Amended
plans/additional drawings
108/15/16
Grievance and Disciplinary Policies
Cllr Jones recommended an amendment to both policies to take into account the small
size of the council’s workforce.
Members RESOLVED to adopt the parish council’s Grievance Policy. Proposed Cllr Flint;
seconded Cllr Jones. Approved nem con.
Members RESOLVED to adopt the parish council’s Disciplinary Policy. Proposed Cllr
Wood; seconded Cllr Fenwick. Approved nem con.
109/15/16
Staffing Sub-Committee
Members RESOLVED to adopt the updated terms of reference for the Staffing SubCommittee. Proposed Cllr Jones; seconded Cllr Hopcroft.
110/15/16
Financial Update and Annual Return
Members noted the external auditor’s approval of the 2014-15 Annual Return. Members
agreed to meet on 16th November 2015 for an initial budget discussion.
111/15/16
Benches/Picnic Tables
Members RESOLVED to purchase the following for the recreation ground (a) 1 x picnic
table with games top – for area near playground (b) 2 x cast iron + wood benches – one
for area near cricket boundary and one for area to the north of rear football pitch (c) 2 x
green RE benches for skatepark area. Proposed Cllr Wood; seconded Cllr Clark. The
purchases will be staggered owing to a lack of storage space at the council offices. Further
provision of outdoor furniture will be considered at a later date.
112/15/16
Training Courses
Cllrs Richardson and Williams plus the Clerk will attend the Finance & Budgeting course
on 21st October 2015.
Cllrs Richardson, Clark, Fenwick, Hopcroft and Coker expressed an interest in attending
the Planning course on 24th November 2015.
113/15/16
Website
Members noted the new website. A decision whether to have individual councillor photos
on the site will be taken at the next meeting.
114/15/16
Housing Needs Survey
Members agreed that the survey should be delivered to residents the week commencing
2nd November 2015 with responses required by 5th December 2015. Based on the
responses received, the Rural Housing Enabler would produce a report early in the New
Year.
1973
M inutes of T h ea l e P a ri sh Co un ci l
115/15/16
O ctob er 20 1 5
Pension Auto-Enrolment
Members RESOLVED that the current pension scheme in place at the council does qualify
under the Pensions Act 2008. Proposed Cllr Jones; seconded Cllr Coker. Members
agreed that the Clerk should speak to individual staff members about the forthcoming
auto-enrolment legislation.
116/15/16
Authorisation of Payments
It was RESOLVED that items on sheets no.436 and 437 and dated 5th October 2015 be
approved for payment. Proposed Cllr Bateman; seconded Cllr Flint. Approved nem con.
SECTION C
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Items for Information
Noted.
SECTION D
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CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
None.
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Part II
In view of the confidential nature of business to be conducted it is in the public interest that
the public and press be excluded and are instructed to withdraw.
No public or press present.
There being no other business the Meeting closed at 9.30pm.
................................... ............................
Chairman to the Council
1974