Parish Council Responsibilities:
The Council funds and maintains:-
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The children’s playground in Badgers Walk and the new playground in the Memorial Hall playing field, (the construction of which was organised by the Council during the last year)
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Four bus shelters, all of which have just been substantially renovated and painted, and various benches in the village
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Field Gates on the A4155
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In addition, Councillors monitor the operation of all the streetlights throughout the village and the condition of street signs and roads, reporting problems to the appropriate authorities.
Other Activities
These include having a representative on the Memorial Hall Board and the Board of Governors of Shiplake Primary School, as well as on the Townlands Hospital Steering Group. The Council provided financial assistance to the Thames Valley Police Shiplake Burglary Reduction Initiative and continue to work with Network Rail in developing their plans for a safer level crossing. The Council also monitors the state of footpaths, bridle-ways and rights of way within the Parish on behalf of Oxford County Council’s Highway Authority.
The Council considers all local planning applications and submits its comments on these to the Planning Authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, (SODC), who make the final decisions. The Council also has right of representation on structural plan proposals, such as that to include Shiplake and five neighbouring parishes in the Blackwater Valley Development Area, (now successfully rejected).
Budget: The Parish Council receives a small percentage of the Council Tax collected by SODC. For the 2007-08 Financial Year this will be £24,000, the same as the current year. Like all public bodies the Parish Council must prepare accounts each financial year which have to be independently audited and made available for inspection. The Council also supports local voluntary organisations through its annual Grant Scheme. Applications for a grant should be submitted to the Parish Clerk no later than the end of September each year.
Shiplake Village Newsletter
Shiplake Village Newsletter is published by the Parish Council three times a year on the 1st February, June and October. It is delivered free to all homes and businesses in the parish and copies are also available at the village shop. The Newsletter includes up to date Neighbourhood Watch information.