There were no declarations of interests

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C W Chisholm and J Lloyd.

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17 February 2003 were approved and signed.

1. Section 106 Developments - Poppleton Park (Min. 03/027)

The Clerk reported that the sum of £12,005.60 had been received from the City Council as a Section 106 payment for Millfield Gardens. Councillor Hopton agreed to find out exactly how the sum was made up. The Clerk was directed to search the files to find out how it had been agreed that the payment would be spent.

Payment is still awaited for the Section 106 relating to Poppleton Park. Prices are being obtained for the cost of installing railings round the open ground in front of the children's play area.

2. Improving The Use Of York’s Rivers And River Banks (Min. 03/029)

No reply had been received from the City Council with regards to the restoration of the footpaths along the river banks.

3. City Of York Local Plan: 3rd Set Of Changes (Min. 03/030)

The sub-committee had met, prepared and circulated comments on the 3rd Set of Changes. These had been sent to the Clerk who had forwarded them to the City Council.

4. Speeding Through The Village (Min. 03/031)

The Clerk confirmed that he had sent a letter of reply to Roper Langford. It was agreed that the Clerk should advise the Councillors of a reply he had received in response to a letter he has sent to the Chief Constable. The Clerk had been contacted by Martin Hemenway of the North Yorkshire Police who had carried out research into the use of speed guns. The police had agreed that they would not support the speed gun initiative. Speed guns cost about £6,000 each and cost £180 to recalibrate. The police would not train civilians in their use or accept any liability for the safety of civilians using speed guns. Mr Hemenway did say that consideration was being given by the police to a new system which may be introduced in a few months. The Councillors noted these comments.

5. Reception For Ron Hansell (Min. 03/037)

Ron Hansell had agreed to attend the reception for him on Friday 25 April at the Tithe Barn. The Chairman and the Clerk are to arrange to ask past councillors and their partners to the event. It was agreed that a finger buffet would be provided at £3 per head. Tickets are to be printed at a cost of £10.00 for 50. Councillor Powell is arranging the drink and the glasses. The Councillors gave consideration to a memento for Mr Hansell. Councillor Hopton agreed to see if the Lord Mayoral car would be available to collect Mr Hansell and take him to the Tithe Barn.

6. Parish Councils Open Day 22 March 2003 (Min. 03/038)

The Joint Parish Council Open Day is being held at the Methodist Church Hall, The Green, Upper Poppleton between 10.00am and 4.00pm on Saturday 22 March. Seventeen local organisations have asked to take part in the Open Day as well as both Parish Councils. No organisation is being charged for their pitch. Free tea and coffee will be available during the day. The sub-committee has organised a variety of Parish Council displays. Councillor Acomb is producing a display about the Moat Field. A4 notices of the Open Day have been put on all the notice boards in the villages. Local traders and public houses have been given A4 notices. The Library has received 50 A5 flyers. It is hoped that the Open Day will be advertised in the Evening Press and mentioned on Radio York.

7. Millfield Lane Cycle Lane (Min. 03/008)

A revised scheme for the cycle lane had been received from the City Council. The 'jug handle' had been removed which was welcomed by the Councillors. The Councillors were disappointed to see that their suggestion of a central refuge at the junction of Long Ridge Lane with Millfield Lane had not been included. The revised scheme would mean that white lines would be painted on Millfield Lane. The Councillors considered this to be 'urbanisation' of the village. Following discussion the Councillors agreed that they could see no reason why an extension to the cycle lane was needed in Millfield Lane. The Clerk was instructed to write to the City Council to say that the scheme is unreasonable, unnecessary and unwanted and to ask for a site meeting to be held between the City Council's officer and the Parish Councillors at an appropriate time.

The Clerk either read or referred to the following correspondence: -

1. A letter from the Information Commissioner confirming that he has accepted that the Parish Council Model Scheme is an appropriate scheme for Nether Poppleton Parish Council. It has been approved for the period to 28 February 2007. During this period the Parish Council is obliged to publish information in accordance with the Model Scheme. At the end of the period the Parish Council will be required to adopt a revised model publication scheme or submit its own bespoke scheme.

2. A letter from the City Council's Electoral and Civic Services Manager asking for the Councillors opinion on the possibility of counting the votes made at the Parish Council election on Thursday 1 May on Friday 2 May. Ward votes and Parish Council votes are placed into the same ballot box. At the end of polling at 9.00pm the votes are separated and the ward votes counted and the results declared before commencing the parish count. It is common practice in surrounding districts to count Parish Council votes the day after an election. It helps with staffing as it is difficult to provide vote counters willing to work as late as 2.00am. The Councillors agreed that the votes could be counted at the Guildhall on Friday 2 May.
3. A letter from the Poppleton Wildlife Trust informing the Parish Council that some of the posts in the fence between the green sward and the pond are rotten. They asked if the Parish Council would agree to fund the replacement of the fence. After discussion it was agreed that there was no need for a fence at all. No other pond in the area has a fence. The Clerk was asked to convey this decision to the Wildlife Trust and ask them to remove the existing fence in due course.
4. Mayfair Group Response's report for February 2003. It was noted that no problems had been reported during the month. It was agreed to circulate the report.
5. A letter from the Jonathan House, the City Council's Senior Neighbourhood Co-ordinator, asking for information to back up the Parish Council's request for Ward Committee funds to replace the nine trees that died in the Broad Lane Linear Park. It was agreed that the loss of nine trees out of more than 100 trees planted was quite a low figure. The oak trees that had been planted had survived. It was agreed to supply Mr House with the information he had requested and to suggest that the nine dead trees be replaced with oak trees.
6. A letter from Hart & Co, solicitors acting on behalf of Wetherby Whaler, who had submitted drawings of the extension to the Wetherby Whaler and a notice of application for consent to alter licensed premises. The Councillors had already agreed the plans to alter these premises and the letter from Hart & Co was noted.

7. A letter from Poppleton Junior Football Club requesting that the Parish Council release the £1,000 provided in this year's budget. The money would be applied to the cost of building the car park. It is a requirement of the planning permission that a car park is built before football can be played on the new football field. The Councillors agreed to the request.

1. A letter from Mazars, the external auditors, confirming that they had successfully audited the accounts for 2001-02. To comply with the Audit regulations, the first three Sections of the audited accounts are on display in the window of the Library in Main Street. Mazars had also submitted an invoice for £120, net of VAT, which the Councillors agreed to pay.

1. Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 17 March 2003. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 17 March were:

Current Account £100.00

Business Money Manager Account £17,361.51

2. Income Received

The Clerk reported that the City Council had responded to his request for confirmation of outstanding planning applications. Currently there are eight applications outstanding. The Clerk had produced a detailed list and circulated this prior to the meeting.

Consideration was given to the following new applications:

Location Whitbread plc, Plot 1D, The Millfield, White Rose Close

Reference 03/00687/FUL

Development Erection of three storey pitched roof extension to Travel Inn

It was noted the Local Planning Authority had granted consent for the following:

Volvo Car UK Ltd, Plot 2C, Ings Lane, 02/03625/FUL - Display of internally illuminated 4.5m high free-standing pylon sign.

On the proceedings at the York Local Councils Associations meeting and said that the minutes of the meeting would be circulated.

The draft of the Clerk's contract had been circulated round the Councillors. Some comments had been made and it was agreed that the contract should be recirculated so that all Councillors could read the comments. The Clerk's Job Description was to be added.

The Clerk reported that the solicitors for the new owners of Woodside, formerly known as Windy Knowe, at the corner of Riversvale and Main Street had offered the sum of £4,960 to secure an easement to have access to their property over the Parish Council's Common Land. It was agreed that Graeme Burn of Burn & Company, Solicitors, should act as solicitor for the Parish Council and draw up the easement but that the new owners would be expected to pay the Parish Council's costs.

Councillor Acomb reported on his inspection of the Common Land by the river. The end of the track down to the river is a quagmire. It was agreed not to deal with the area for the time being. Councillor Powell agreed to obtain a quotation for clearing the rubbish in the verge between Ousemoor Lane and the pumping station.

The Councillors agreed that the Parish Council should have its own section on poppleton.net. They considered various ideas suggested by the Clerk and, with minor amendments, agreed the content of the website.

1. The City Council is holding a conference entitled "Without Walls - Building a Future for York" at the Merchant Taylors' Hall on 20 March. The Chairman will attend on behalf of the YLCA.
2. YRCC are holding the Village Halls Conference on 5 April. It was agreed that the Chairman would attend and claim mileage.
3. The CPRE are holding their presentation at the Community Centre on 16 April. All are invited to attend

Tuesday 22 April 2003 at 7.00pm.

The Annual General Meeting will be held at 8.00pm.

The meeting closed at 10.20pm

James Mackman, Clerk 22a Long Ridge Lane, Nether Poppleton, York YO26 6LX

Telephone 01904 781752 - Fax 0871 4331325 - email jmackman@tesco.net