David Benson addressed the meeting with regard to vehicular access to the Common Land. (See agenda item 05/141 for more details). Mr Benson has been confined to a wheelchair for a number of years. Until the boulders were put on the Common Land to prevent vehicular access he had used the track to drive his car to the riverbank. Now that the boulders are there he can no longer gain access to the riverbank in his car so is prevented from being able to fish. Mr Benson said that he would be prepared to make a financial contribution to an alternative means of preventing vehicles from gaining access to the Common Land but which would allow for vehicular access for the disabled.

Mr Lennox addressed the meeting and said that he been concerned about vehicles being parked on the Common Land for a number of years. He had written to the Parish Council about it being a criminal offence to drive vehicles on Common Land after seeing twelve cars parked by the "Lido".

None.

Apologies for absence were received from City of York Councillor Janet Hopton.

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

It was agreed that agenda item 05/147 be brought forward to this point in the agenda.

The Parish Council had received several letters objecting to the proposed extension of the closing time for the Lord Nelson. The Clerk advised the Councillors that a Parish Council couldn't object to the proposed licensing hours on its own behalf but only on behalf of specifically named residents. It was agreed that the Parish Council takes no action on this subject.

See agenda item 05/142.

There has been no progress on this subject. It was agreed that the subject should remain as an agenda item for the time being.

05/138/1 - The Clerk read or referred to the following item of correspondence

A letter from Ali Middleton asking for a donation towards her forthcoming VSO. The Clerk advised the Councillors that the Parish Council had no power to authorise a donation to an individual. The Councillors agreed that no donation would be made and asked the Clerk to write to Ms Middleton and wish her well on her travels.

1. York CAB - Literature on becoming a Friend
2. Mayfair Group Response-July report
3. A letter from the City Council giving brief details of the Draft Second Local Transport Plan consultation and where the information is to be found on the City Council's website.

1. Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 15 August 2005. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 15 August were:

Current Account £100.00

Business Money Manager Account £14,457.17

National Savings Investment Account £12,611.40

4. To receive and approve the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005

The Income and Expenditure Account and the Balance Sheet were presented to the Councillors. These were accepted and then signed by both the Chairman and the Clerk.

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 seven applications:

Ref: 05/01018/FUL - Conservatory to rear at 7 Severn Green by Mr Brookes-Humphrey.

Ref: 05/01164/TPO - Crown lift and crown clean and thin by 20% Sycamores (T1-T2); Crown clean Ash removing lower limbs (T4); Install cable brace and crown lift and crown clean multi-stemmed Ash (T3) protected by Tree Preservation Order 14/1996 at 3 Fox Garth by Mrs Aubrey.

Ref: 05/01165/TCA - Fell Cherry (T3-T4) and Hawthorn T7; Remove Ivy, crown reduce and crown lift to 3.5m Holly (T5-T6) in the Conservation Area at 3 Fox Garth by Mrs Aubrey.

Ref: 05/01295/TCA - Crown clean and reduce Limb overhanging neighbour garden Ash (T1); Crown clean and formatively prune Thorn (T2); Remove crossing limbs and formatively prune Oak (T3) in the Conservation Area at Town Farm, 27 Church Lane by Dr & Mrs Jackson.

Ref: 05/01338/TCA - Various tree works inc. Fell Sycamore, Ash x 4, Willow and remove Blackthorn in the Conservation Area at the River Ouse Manorial Land, Main Street by Mr J Mackman.

Ref: 05/01349/FUL - Conservatory to rear at 12 Severn Green by Mr & Mrs Franklin.

Ref: 05/01409/FUL - Two-storey single and single-storey rear extension at 46 Calder Avenue by Mr & Mrs D Monkman.

1. Grass cutting

1. The Clerk reported that Mark Dean is to cut the grass by the riverbank within the next few days.
2. It was agreed that the branches of the trees alongside the field in Main Street should be trimmed to a height of 2.5 metres. Councillors Powell, Robinson, Tomlinson volunteered to carry out the pruning. The Clerk said he would help.
3. It was also agreed to trim the branches of the trees along the riverbank.
4. The Clerk reported having received several letters about the boulders. The Councillors agreed that the boulders should remain in place but that advice should be sought as to whether the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 overrides the 1876 Act that prohibits vehicles from being driven on Common Land.

The Clerk confirmed that the No Parking signs have been ordered. The Councillors agreed that they would like the signs to be erected.

The Clerk had circulated a suggested set of Standing Orders prepared by Councillor Powell prior to the meeting. These were discussed at length and a number of alterations were made. The revised Standing Orders are to be printed, given to each Councillor and formally adopted at the meeting in September. The Councillors expressed their thanks to Mrs Anne Powell who had created the document and its many revisions.

The Chairman and Clerk reported having spoken to the Parish Council's solicitor, Graeme Burn. The Councillors agreed that Mr Burn should continue to try to gain the maximum amount for the easement.

There were no takers for this seminar.

It was agreed that the Parish Council should take out liability insurance on the War Memorial.

It was agreed that the following questions be put to the Leader.

1. Although turned down at the last Review could you see a time when the whole of the city and County of York would be parished: if not, why not?
2. Could you confirm that consideration is to be given towards the direction that public transport i.e. bus services is routed prior to a final decision being made on the siting of a Park and Ride site?

See page 1 above.

A letter received from BT says that the increase in mobile phone usage has reduced the number of calls made from public payphones. BT has identified the payphone in Church Lane as having little usage but rather than remove it are proposing, subject to an Ofcom review, to change the cash payment facility to a cashless payment option. The Councillors agreed that this proposal was preferable to the payphone being removed and agreed to accept it.

Councillor Robinson reported that 33 survey papers out of a distribution of 900 had been returned. Of these there were ten that mentioned crime of varying degrees. 23 showed that the responder had not suffered any crime. It was agreed that the low numbers of returned papers was disappointing and that there was no indication that the police were wrong in maintaining that Poppleton is a low crime area.

It was agreed that no response be given to the consultation.

Councillor Partington reported that the Millennium Green Trust had held its Annual General Meeting on 21 July. The AGM was poorly attended. There is to be a Silent Auction at the Tithe Barn on 17 September to raise funds.

No reports

It was agreed the next meeting would be held at 7.30pm at the Community Centre on Monday 19 September 2005.

The meeting closed at 10.05pm

Chairman………………….…… ………………………..2005

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

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