Gerald Bilbrough was co-opted as a Parish Councillor and introduced to everyone present.

The Clerk confirmed that Councillor Bilbrough had signed the Declaration of Office.

There were no declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C W Chisholm.

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17 May 2004, having been circulated, were approved and signed.

1. Access over common land - easement (Min. 04/075a)

The Councillors were informed that the Chairman and the Clerk had seen the Parish Council's solicitor, Graham Burn. The latest information is that the easement may not be signed but that there is reason to be optimistic. The registration of the Common Land is nearly complete.

2. Mill Bank House easement (Min. 04/075b)

See the minute above.

3. Access to shops from Montague Walk (Min. 04/075c)

There was no news on this subject. It is hoped that money will be available from this year's City Council budget to complete the work. It was agreed to leave the matter on the agenda.

4. Time Team dig update (Min. 04/079d)

Channel Four's Time Team have arrived in the village and have set up their equipment in the Tithe Barn ready to start filming tomorrow. Residents who have volunteered to have one-metre square holes dug in their gardens will meet at the Tithe Barn at 9.00am tomorrow. Filming will take place over the three days 22-24 June. The programme will be broadcast early in 2005.

1. CPRE - Details of a visit to The Old Vicarage at Tadcaster
2. CPRE - Countryside Voice, Summer 2004
3. CYC - Information about the Licensing Act 2003
4. Open Spaces Society - Open Space Vol 27, No 10 and Annual Report
5. Poppleton Ward Residents Association - Minutes of 28 April
6. CYC - details of a Green Fair - "Towards a sustainable York" - to be held on 30 June at the Guildhall when information on reducing waste, saving water, saving money, investing ethically etc will be available. Also available will be free energy efficient light bulbs, stalls and a bus travel voucher.

04.093.2 The Clerk read or referred to the following item of correspondence

1. An email from Alec Acomb pointing out that the Wildlife Trust had cut the hedge round the wildlife area at the heart of the bird nesting season and had cleaned out the bottom of the hedge. Councillor Robinson, the Parish Council's representative on the Wildlife Trust, said that the hedge was cut after the first nesting brood of the season had finished. Only one nest had been found over the 100-metre length of the hedge. This was an unoccupied hedge sparrows' nest. The Clerk was asked to respond to Mr Acomb's concerns.
2. A letter from CYC -requesting the names of organisations that may be able to provide volunteers to deliver 'Your Ward/Your City' leaflets on a quarterly basis for 6.6p per household.
3. A letter from Paul Sanderson advising that after many years as a Representative Trustee George Bolton had resigned as a Trustee of the Nether Poppleton Charity Lands and Unknown Donors Dole. This Trust runs the allotments in Millfield Lane. Barbara Ballard is willing to stand as a Representative Trustee. The Parish Councillors had no objections to this appointment.

1. Upper Poppleton Parish Council - Minutes of 10 May
2. Mayfair Group Response report for May 2004
3. CPRE - Fieldwork, June 2004

1. Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 21 June 2004. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 21 June were:

Current Account £100.23

Business Money Manager Account £12,262.87

National Savings Investment Account £12,251.11

4. To receive and approve the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2004

The Clerk presented the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 March 2004. It was agreed that the Chairman should sign the latter.

5. To sign the Annual Return

The Clerk also presented the Annual Return and explained the significance of Section 2 the "Statement of Assurance". Each Councillor had been given a list of the eight statements making up Section 2. The Councillors agreed with all eight items and the Chairman and Clerk signed the document.

*Councillor Bradley arrived at this point in the meeting

6. To agree to accept the quotation of £125 from Ryland Horticulture Ltd for reducing the height of the hedge at the Allerton Drive garden.

7. To consider quotations received from J P Services for cutting grass.

A quotation for £100 had been received from J P Services for cutting the grass between the pumping station and the triangle in Main Street. The quotation was accepted.

The Clerk had circulated a detailed list of current outstanding planning applications prior to the meeting.

Consideration was given to the following new applications:

There were no further comments from the Councillors on any of the planning applications.

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

Ref: 04/00992/TCA - Fell Leylandii in the Conservation Area at 5 Church Lane by Derek Tolley.

Ref: 04/01162/FUL - Single storey pitched roof link extension to existing garage and single storey pitched roof side extension at 65 Millfield Lane by Alan Saxon.

Ref: 04/01176/FUL - Pitched roof single storey rear extension and formation of pitched roof over existing flat to garage and porch at 6 Linton Road by Mr & Mrs Johnson.

Ref: 04/01236/FUL - Two storey pitched roof side extension at 35 Calder Avenue by Mrs & Mrs A Mullis.

Ref: 04/01258/FUL - First floor pitched roof side extension at 31 Calder Avenue by Mr R McBoyle.

Ref: 04/01292/TCA - Fell Leylandii (T1-2) in the Conservation Area at 7 Church Lane by Mr & Mrs Casperson.

Ref: 04/01300/FUL - Removal of existing four wheel drive vehicle track, regrading and resurfacing to extend external vehicle display area at Mitsubishi Dealership, Great North Way by The Harper Motor Group.

Ref: 04/01581/TPO - Crown clean two sycamores protected by Tree Preservation Order 1/1970 at 4 Poppleton Hall Gardens by John Hegaty.

Ref: 04/01714/ADV - Display of two non-illuminated wall mounted signs at Wetherby Whaler, Plot D, Ings Lane by Wetherby Whaler.

It is expected that the grass in the garden by the Allerton Drive shops will be cut within the next two days.

The Councillors discussed the contents of the Newsletter that had been circulated prior to the meeting. It was agreed, subject to a couple of amendments, that the Parish Council should have the Newsletter printed by the Printing Department at Lowfield School and that the Councillors would distribute the Newsletter to all the houses in the village.

The condition of the paintwork of the bus shelter in Main Street was discussed. It was agreed that a quotation should be obtained for repainting the bus shelter internally and externally with white paint.

Prior to the meeting the Clerk had circulated a letter received from Chief Inspector Andy Bell received in response to a letter he had sent to the Chief Constable in which he had complained that clear-up statistics on crime were not available. CI Bell had written to say that District Commanders and senior managers receive daily crime statistics and that clear-up rates have increased over the last eight months. The Councillors were delighted to learn that the statistics were being produced and directed the Clerk to write to CI Bell to ask that they be made available to the Parish Council.

After discussion it was agreed that the two areas where residents were suffering double taxation were the bus shelter and the Community Centre. Bus shelters and Community Centres are provided by the City Council in unparished areas of the city. Poppleton residents pay for these in the Council Tax and for the bus shelter and the Community Centre in the Parish Council precept.

It was agreed that the next Joint Meeting agenda should include policing and that Chief Inspector Andy Bell should be invited to address the meeting. It was agreed that the subject of Conservation should be on the agenda. On learning that the Upper Poppleton Parish Councillors had not discussed an agenda for the Joint Meeting it was agreed to postpone the meeting until Monday 27 September.

1. Councillor Powell

Reported on the YLCA meeting held on 3 June 2004 when he was re-elected as Chairman. Matters discussed included Councillor allowances (no progress), parish reviews (in hands of electoral office), Ward budgets and match funding. Also discussed were the ending of Vital Villages funding from the Countryside Agency, adoption of the Charter with the City of York Council, double taxation claims system, Quality Parish Council status and a lack of rural policing.

2. Councillor Bradley

Reported on the current situation at the Community Centre.

• Dave Doggett is now the Chairman of the Trust.
• A newsletter is being planned. It will be delivered to all residents and will include a questionnaire about future financing.
• Peter Powell and David Frazer have carried out a Disability Discrimination Act audit.
• A Fund Raising Committee has been formed to seek grants.
• The possibility of a footpath round the car park is being considered.
• Money is to be spent on the servery area. This will include reflooring with a hygienic, non-slip surface.
• The Junior Football Field was officially opened by Ann Mackintosh MP at 11.00am on Saturday 19 June.
• It is hoped that grants will be available for changing facilities on the Football Field.
• On Sunday 20 June a girls' football tournament was held on the Football Field, the first time that this York City Football Club sponsored event had been able to be held in the village.

2. Councillor Robinson

Reported on the latest news on the Wildlife area. The moorhens have had a second brood. The new nesting raft in the middle of the pond is being used by the wildfowl.

3. Councillor Partington

Reported on the litter pick on held on 19 June which produced 12 bags of litter. Councillor Partington was thanked for organising the event. It was agreed that the next litter pick will be held on 25 September. Upper Poppleton Parish Council is to be invited to participate.

1. Reported that the Leisure & Heritage Study Group have been looking at cycle routes. A Poppleton to Hessay route is being considered as well as a cycle route over the River Ouse.
2. Reported that discussions with the Safer York Partnership had taken place. Mayfair Group Response's contract is for the period from 8.00pm until midnight. As Mayfair are concerned mainly with social disorder problems any incidents after midnight should be reported to the police.

04/105 - TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING AS MONDAY 19 JULY 2004

It was agreed the next meeting would be held at 7.30pm at the Community Centre on Monday 19 July 2004.

The meeting closed at 10.31pm

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

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