None

Councillor Powell was re-elected as Chairman for the forthcoming year.

Councillor Powell signed the Declaration of Office.

Councillor Partington declared a personal interest in agenda item 05/093.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bilbrough, Bradley, Knowles and Tomlinson.

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 18 April 2005, having been circulated, were approved and signed.

1. Mill Bank House easement (Min. 05/064a)

No news on this subject.

2. Parish Council's Standing Orders (Min. 05/064c)

The Chairman reported that he was working on the final draft of proposed Standing Orders. When it had been checked it would be circulated to all Councillors for comment.

3. Training needs of Councillors and Clerk (Min. 05/064d)

The Clerk reported that he had been in contact with the YLCA and had been told that no training courses for new Councillors were planned at the moment. The Clerk was directed to pursue the YLCA to see if Nether Poppleton Parish Councillors could form the nucleus of a training session. The Clerk also reported that he had been in contact with the City Council's Planning Department and was following a lead which may possibly result in a City Council run training course on planning matters.

4. The siting of a vehicle activated sign in Long Ridge Lane (Min. 05/064e)

The Clerk reported that two vehicle activated signs had been installed in Rufforth on 10 May. It was hoped that the Long Ridge Lane sign would be installed within a month.

5. Signing of a deed of transfer for Nether Edge

The Clerk reported that the Parish Council had been asked by Mr Prior of Nether Edge, Main Street to agree to the transfer of the right to cross common land to the new owners of Nether Edge, Mr & Mrs Sharp. After consultation with the Parish Council's solicitor, Graeme Burn, the Clerk, as Proper Officer, had signed the document. The solicitor's fee had been paid by Mr Prior so no costs had been incurred by the Parish Council.

05/083/1 - The Clerk read or referred to the following item of correspondence

A letter from the City Council advising that they have now adopted the road in Fox Garth

1. Clerks & Councils Direct - May 2005
2. Local Council Review - Volume 57, No. 1
3. North Yorkshire Police - A reply to the Parish Council's letter regarding the level of service
4. Open Spaces Society - Donation request with regards to threatened urban pathways
5. Poppleton Ward Residents Association - Minutes of 30 March
6. TENYAS - Patient and Public Involvement Forum request for comments on the service
7. Upper Poppleton Parish Council - Minutes of 11 April 2005
8. YLCA - White Rose update May 2005
9. Greater York Community Archaeology project - An Archaeology for Everyone leaflet and details of the programme of free workshops being held up to 25 February 2006
10. York Open Planning Forum - Newsletter - April 2005

1. Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 16 May 2005. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 16 May were:

Current Account £100.00

Business Money Manager Account £17,414.97

National Savings Investment Account £12,611.40

4. To consider a report from the working group on the revised pay scales and conditions of service for Parish Clerks

The working group's report had been circulated prior to the meeting. In view of the absence of both members of the working group it was agreed to defer discussion on this subject until the June meeting. It was asked to be recorded that the Parish Councillors expressed their thanks to the two members of the working group for the many hours of work they had put in to their report.

5. To sign the Annual Return

The Clerk 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. The Clerk gave the Councillors a statement of Income and Expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2005 and explained how these figures were reflected in Section 1 of the Annual Return. The Councillors, being satisfied with the explanation, agreed that the Chairman and Clerk should sign the document.

6. To consider the subscriptions for the current financial year

It was agreed that the Parish Council would subscribe to the following organisations in the forthcoming year. York Open Planning Forum, YLCA, YRCC, Open Spaces Society, SLCC, CPRE and Local Council Review.

7. To consider renewing the insurance policy with Allianz Cornhill -

It was agreed that the Allianz Cornhill invoice of £628.77, being the current year's insurance premium, should be paid. It was noted that the Parish Council is insuring nine seats whereas there are only four seats left. The Clerk was directed to write to the insurance company to ask that the policy be adjusted to reflect the current seat number.

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: 04/03795/TCA - Fell cherry in the Conservation Area at Ferry Cottage, 18 Main Street by F A Bartlett Tree Expert.

Ref: 04/04273/TCA - Fell oak in the Conservation Area at 36 Church Lane by OCA.

Ref: 04/04433/FUL - Conversion of existing covered seating area into snack bar (re-submission) at Plot 1C, Westminster Place, White Rose Close by Mandale Commercial Ltd.

Ref: 05/00241/FUL - Erection of a detached garage at 13 Long Ridge Lane by J R Gittus.

Ref: 05/00318/FUL - Proposed side extension and alterations to existing industrial building and associated offices at London Ebor Developments plc, Millfield Lane by London Ebor Developments plc.

The City Council had notified that the following planning applications had been refused.

Ref: 04/02476/TCA - Fell Sycamore in the Conservation Area at 8 Church Lane by K A Buckham.

Ref: 04/04276/TPO - Fell yew and pine x 2 protected by Tree Preservation Order 1/1970 at 36 Church Lane by OCA.

The City Council had notified that the following plan had been referred to the Secretary of State as there had been an objection to one of the conditions made by the City Council when it granted planning permission.

Ref: 05/00128/ADV - Replacement of wall mounted and free-standing signage at Plot 1D - The Millfield, White Rose Close by Whitbread Restaurants plc.

1. Grass cutting

The first cut of the contract with Deans had been carried out on Tuesday 3 May. During the cutting there was a violent thunderstorm. There was discussion about the merits of having the grass bordering the riverbank cut more than three times a year. The question arose as to who is responsible for the riverbank and the Clerk was directed to find the answer.

2. Boulders

It was agreed that Councillors would meet a City Council's supervisor on 19 May to agree the exact location where the three boulders will be placed.

3. No Parking signs

No movement on this subject.

It was agreed that a Newsletter should be produced. It would be in A4 folded format. Councillors' details would appear on the back page. Details of the crime survey would be printed on the front page. A draft Newsletter would be discussed at the June meeting.

It was agreed that Councillor Robinson's crime survey would be printed and distributed with the Newsletter.

The Clerk outlined the proposal whereby, for no cost to the Parish Council, space can be taken on the Local Channel website either to have a Parish Council website or a direction to the existing website. It was agreed that the appropriate form be signed and the Parish Council avail itself of this offer.

After discussion it was agreed that the Clerk and the Chairman would summarise the Parish Council's thoughts and complete the questionnaire accordingly.

The subject of the questionnaire was the monthly report and not the effectiveness of the company. It was agreed that the monthly reports should give more details of the people mentioned.

The chairman showed a map of the suggested "figure of 8" which the City Council are actively looking into. Most of the land belongs to the City Council. The idea for the figure of 8 was mooted four years ago but put on hold owing to lack of financial resources and personnel.

There is to be a launch of the new CD-ROM at the Tithe Barn on 19 May. The new CD contains over 1000 photos and costs £10.00. CD's can be obtained from the Clerk.

It was agreed that political stickers and notices should not be put on to Parish Council notice boards. The Clerk was given authority to write to anyone who put up stickers to ask them not to do so. Unwanted stickers would be considered to be fly posting and would be reported to the police.

Councillor Powell reported on: -

1. The meeting of the Poppleton Community Centre Social Club AGM on 19 April when it was reported that finances are tight once again and equipment needs to be replaced. The price of drinks is to be increased.
2. The Poppleton Gardens event on 24 April when over £1,300 was raised for the Community Centre. The event attracted many visitors from outside the village. Favourable comments were expressed not only about the gardens but also about the appearance of the village in general.
3. The SLCC seminar held at Wakefield on 28 April which was also attended by Councillor Robinson and the Clerk. It was an interesting day with much information available. Discussions included matters on the Code of Conduct and Clerks new terms and conditions of employment.
4. The Ainsty Group meeting held at Bishopthorpe on 28 April. No agenda was available before the meeting which was poorly attended. There was an open discussion on problems faced by Parish Councils.
5. The Youth Action Group meeting held on 10 May. Discussions about the future of the Youth Centre building are ongoing between the City Council's Education Department, Poppleton Community Trust, PopSOC and other users. The Parish Councillors asked to be kept informed of progress.

Councillor Hopton reported that

1. she, PC Fickling and a City Council Support Officer had met parents who live in Poppleton Park. They had agreed that a basketball facility should be built on the kick-about site but the developers had turned down the idea.
2. Railings have now been erected around the grassed play area.
3. A meeting is to be arranged to see if a Residents Association can be started. This would be an opportunity to organise a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Councillor Bilbrough said that he would be willing to be involved.

It was agreed the next meeting would be held at 7.30pm at the Community Centre on Monday 20 June 2005.

The meeting closed at 10.28pm

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

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