No member of the public addressed the Councillors.

Councillor Powell declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 04/164. At that point on the agenda he left the room and had no input into this item.

There were no apologies for absence.

Messrs Doggett, Fraser and Hawkins talked about the various options in the business plan. The job of the proposed centre manager was explained. The person would act as both facility manager and development officer. The job description has now been written. Peter Hawkins said that every avenue of financing had been explored to try to avoid the need for asking the Parish Council to raise a precept.

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 18 October 2004, having been circulated, were approved and signed.

1. Access over common land - easement (Min. 04/140a)

The Clerk reported that the Land Registry had now granted the Parish Council possessary title to the Common Land. This means that the Parish Council will become the absolute owner of the land in twelve years time providing that no one in the next twelve years proves they have a better title. The Chairman and the Clerk had signed the Deed of Easement on behalf of the Parish Council.

2. Mill Bank House easement (Min. 04/140b)

The easement for this property depends on proof of ownership of the Common Land. Given that the Land Registry have granted the Parish Council possessary title it is likely that this easement will now proceed.

3. Access to shops from Montague Walk (Min. 04/126c)

It was again agreed to defer discussion on this subject until the Spar extension is completed.

4. Emergency Plan (Min. 04/141/1g)

Councillor Powell reported that he had talked to Barry Kelly of the City Council who had said that no Emergency Plan is required from Nether Poppleton Parish Council. Councillor Powell will remain as the Parish Council's contact.

5. Grass cutting contract 2005-06 (Min. 04/145)

This is in the process of being drawn up.

04/160/1 The Clerk read or referred to the following item of correspondence

1. CYC - Rural West Ward Planning Meeting notice
2. CYC - School Safety Zone. It was agreed that the City
3. CYC - Waste Management workshop invitation
4. Environment Agency - River Ouse Flood Management Strategy

1. Ainsty Group of Parishes - Minutes of 21 October
2. Clerk & Councils Direct - Issue 36, November 2004
3. CPRE - Countryside Voice - Autumn 2004
4. CPRE - Newsletter, Autumn 2004, AGM agenda
5. Local Council Review - Vol 56, No. 24 - November 2004
6. Local Council Review - Rural Services Review 2004
7. Mayfair Group Response, October report
8. North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership - Community strategy
9. North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service - Public survey
10. ODPM - New Ethical Framework regulations
11. Open Spaces Society - Open Space - Autumn 2004, Volume 28 No 1
12. Poppleton Ward Residents Association - Minutes of 29 September
13. Upper Poppleton Parish Council - Minutes of 11 October
14. York CVS - Annual report

1. Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 15 November 2004. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 15 November were:

Current Account £100.00

Business Money Manager Account £10,897.58

National Savings Investment Account £12,251.11

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

Consideration was given to the following new applications:

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

Ref: 03/03092/FUL - Flood prevention works at Saxe Dane Lodge, 22 Main Street by Mr & Mrs Fining.

Ref: 04/03486/ADV - Display of three internally illuminated fascia signs and one internally illuminated free standing pylon sign at Arundale Mitsubishi, Great North Way by York Mitsubishi.

Ref: 04/03548/FUL - Installation of pitched roof dormer to front and flat dormer to rear at 67 Millfield Gardens by Mr & Mrs G Smales.

1. To receive progress reports on works in hand

1. John Pannell had cut the grass in the Allerton Drive garden and also cut the hedge.
2. The grass by the riverbank had been cut again in September. It was agreed that it should not be cut again this year.

1. To agree action to be taken following a request to prune the trees in the area between Riversvale Drive and Riverside Walk

Mr Ayres of Woodside had asked that the trees bordering his land be cut back. It was agreed that Dave Gregory of Ryland Horticulture be asked to survey the whole of the land between Riversvale Drive and Riverside Walk. This would complete the survey of the trees in the river end of the Common Land. Mr Gregory would be asked to comment on the state of the trees by Mr Ayres boundary as a matter of urgency.

Before discussion took place Councillor Powell declared a prejudicial interest in this subject and retired to another room. Councillor Tomlinson, as vice-chairman, acted as chairman for this agenda item. After a lengthy discussion it was agreed not to accept the results of the Community Trust's survey but to conduct a referendum to ask the residents of Nether Poppleton if they would be willing to support the Community Trust by paying an increase in their precept to the equivalent of 20p per week. It was agreed that Councillors Tomlinson and Partington would draw up the questionnaire which would be produced and delivered to each household before 1 December. It was agreed that residents should return their questionnaires to The Library, The Post Office, Cardland or Councillor Bilbrough's house in Poppleton Park by 14 December. A simple majority in favour of supporting the Community Trust was all that would be required. Allowing for the fact that many residents would not respond to the questionnaire it was agreed that a non-response would be taken as a "Yes" vote. The Clerk asked that it be minuted that he had advised the Councillors that, statistically speaking, the overwhelming support of residents for financing the Community Trust the equivalent of 20p per week, as shown in the recent survey, made another survey unnecessary.

After discussion the Councillors agreed to support an awareness day. Councillors Tomlinson and Partington will liaise with Upper Poppleton Parish Councillors to make the necessary arrangements.

Information on the Improvement Plan had been circulated prior to the meeting. No comments had been received from Councillors and it was approved.

Following receipt of a letter from a resident, the Councillors discussed the parking of vehicles, especially parking on the corner of Main Street and Church Lane. It was agreed that the Parish Councillors were sympathetic over the problem but regretted that parking is not within their jurisdiction. They would, however, keep an eye on the situation.

It was agreed that Councillor Powell attend the Conference on the Saturday and that the cost and his expenses would be met by the Parish Council.

It was agreed that Councillors Powell, Robinson and Tomlinson plus the Clerk would attend the seminar.

The proposal to remove the bollards between Esk Drive and York Business Park was discussed. It was agreed that the existing bollards were a great help in preventing another rat run in the village. Apparently some drivers are using the large gap where the footpath and verge are to gain access to and from Poppleton Park. It was agreed that the City Council should be asked to add another bollard to reduce the large gap.

Complaints had been received regarding the number of youths on motor bikes speeding up and down Severn Green. The Councillors agreed that the City Council should be asked to conduct a traffic survey in Poppleton Park. It was also agreed that PC Lee Fickling should be advised that there are many instances of the youths on motor bikes not wearing crash helmets, especially in the late afternoon.

Mrs Dibbs has a tree she would like to donate to the Parish Council. It was agreed that the Parish Council would gratefully accept the tree and that Dave Gregory be asked to plant it in the Common Land near the riverbank.

Councillor Partington raised this item. She agreed to provide some posters for the notice boards to draw public awareness to the issue

1. Councillor Powell reported on

1. The proceedings of a meeting at Pool on 8 November when he had listened to a presentation by the Standards Board.
2. The meeting of the Ainsty Group of Parishes held on 21 October.
3. That he had laid a wreath at the War Memorial at 11.00am on 11 November. A photo of the wreath laying was now on the Parish Council's website.
4. That he had attended the Remembrance Day Service on 14 November and read out the names of the Nether Poppleton soldiers who had fallen in both World Wars. It was agreed that those killed in all wars since 1945 should be mentioned in future. Councillor Bradley and the Clerk would seek to find out the names of any soldier who would come into this category.

2. Councillor Tomlinson reported on the Annual General Meeting of the York Open Planning Forum held on 26 October. After the meeting John Oxley, the City Archaeologist, gave an interesting talk on locally listed buildings.
3. Councillor Bradley, as a School Governor, reported that interactive white boards are being installed in the school. More laptops are being provided. There is a dispute as to who is responsible for salting the new path between the school and the Community Centre car park.

Councillor Hopton asked that the subject of parking on the Common Land be put onto the agenda for the next meeting

04/177 - TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING AS MONDAY 17 January 2005

It was agreed the next meeting would be held at 7.30pm at the Community Centre on Monday 17 January 2005.

The meeting closed at 10.22pm

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

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