NETHER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL

NETHER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, UPPER POPPLETON, AT 7.00PM ON MONDAY, 20 AUGUST 2007

PRESENT:

Cllr. D M Tomlinson(Chairman)

Cllr. F A Brown

Cllr. J L Craven

Cllr. P H F Powell

Cllr. C Robinson.

City Cllr. Ian Gillies

Mr D Doggett

Mr R Clark

Mrs J Hopton

Mr B J W Mackman (Clerk)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

None.

07/154 - DECLARATION OF INTEREST ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS

Councillor Powell declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 07/160d.

07/155 - TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. G A Bradley and P Knowles.

07/156 - TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 16 JULY 2007

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 16 July 2007, having been circulated, were approved and signed.

07/157 TO RECEIVE THE CITY OF YORK COUNCILLORS' REPORTS

Councillor Gillies reported that:-

· He was waiting for Peter Steed to return from his holiday and would then press for an official City Council response to the Parish Council’s letter on PCT funding.

· He’d had no feedback about the flooding in Allerton Drive but was aware that a survey had been carried out.

· The police are dealing with the problems experienced at the Bowls Club.

· He had been advised that, as far as street lighting is concerned, the Village Design Statement has no standing but that the City Council are looking at the subject and will report back to him.

· The bollards to be erected to stop pavement parking by the Allerton Drive garden should be installed by the end of the current financial year.

· He has asked Damon Copperthwaite to expedite the installation of the kissing gate adjacent to the Wildlife pond.

· The work on the footpath in Millfield Lane was sub-standard and steps were being taken to remedy some of the problems.

· The proposed implementation of the rising bollard in Millfield Lane has been advertised and consultation will begin shortly.

· Simon Wiles, the Acting City Treasurer, has asked an Officer to look at the PCT funding.

· The Head of Library Services has agreed to a half-page advert in the next Rural West York Ward Newsletter with the aim of increasing Library use.

· It was pointed out that a new youth club had been opened in Huntington totally financed by the City Council. A question was asked about where this funding was coming from and if there was any funding available for Poppleton

07/158- CLERK'S REPORT:

(a) CYC response to NPPC letter re PCT (Min. 07/135a)

See Councillor Gillies’s comments above.

(b) Progress on Footpath No.4 problems (Min. 07/135b)

On 27 July Fred Isles of the City Council responded to the request for a hand rail by saying that “following levels being taken I can confirm that at least 12 metres of hand rail will be erected to assist with the exit from footpath number 4 as you requested. The work should be completed within the next 20 days.”

(c) Progress on replacing the broken concrete rails above the beck in Main Street (Min. 07/135d)

The rail has yet to be replaced.

(d) Progress on new internal audit procedure (Min. 07/135e)

No progress.

(e) Progress on improving access through the kissing gate adjacent to the Wildlife pond (Min. 07/135f)

See Councillor Gillies’s comments above.

(f) Progress on the disposal of old planning applications (Min. 07/148)

The Clerk confirmed that the old planning applications have been deposited in a secure paper bank in the City Council’s recycling facility at Hazell Court and will be taken to a paper mill to be converted into newsprint.

(g) Progress on Ward funding requests (Min 07/149)

The paperwork for the four requests was completed and sent to the City Council. They now appear on a list of Ward funding requests.

07/159 - TO CONSIDER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE CLERK

07/159/1 - The Clerk read or referred to the following items of correspondence

(a) A letter from Julian Sturdy, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate, asking to come and address the Parish Council. It was agreed that the Parish Council write to say that the Councillors would prefer that he held a surgery in the village.

(b) Allianz Cornhill – details of the Public Liability insurance

(d) Notification of the York Community Pride Challenge Fund. It was agreed that the Parish Council should ask for grants towards the Moat Fields seats and bulb planting.

(e) A questionnaire from Yorkshire & North Yorkshire Sub-regional Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure. It was agreed that the Clerk complete the questionnaire.

07/159/2 - It was agreed that the correspondence received since the July meeting, as listed below, be circulated to the Councillors

(a) North Bank Forum - Access to health services in Selby & York

(b) NYCC – North Yorkshire Minerals & Waste Development - site allocations

(d) A regeneration plan from the Poppleton Community Trust

07/160 - FINANCE

(a) Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 20 August 2007. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 20 August were:

Current Account £635.00

Business Money Manager Account £20,836.84

National Savings Investment Account £13,494.03

(b) Accounts for payment (net of VAT);
1050	Poppleton Community Trust	Room hire - June	£16.00
1051	Poppleton Community Trust	Grant - revenue	£2,500.00
1053	Yorkshire & Humberside RTP	YLCA Conference	£226.38
1054	2^nd Poppleton Brownies	Donation	£100.00
1055	FWAG	Moat Fields report	£200.00
1056	Poppleton Community Trust	Room hire – July	£16.00
1057	James Mackman	Clerks expenses	£67.71
1058	James Mackman	Salary – August	£395.70
1059	Post Office Ltd	Tax & NI	£135.17

(c) Income Received
City of York Council	Section 106 payment	£10,082.73
Moat Fields Management Group	Contribution to FWAG report	£200.00

(d) To approve the payment of the balance of the first instalment of this year’s grant to Poppleton Community Trust

Following receipt of a letter from the Community trust asking for a sum of £2,950 towards current capital projects there was a discussion on the merits of giving the whole amount and not just the balance of the first half year’s grant. Councillor Powell left the room prior to a decision being taken. It was agreed that the Parish Council give the £2,950 being asked for. Councillor Powell rejoined the meeting.

(e) To confirm that the Parish Council now has an Internet banking facility

The Clerk reported that the Parish Council’s Internet banking was up and running and that he had already moved funds between the accounts and could access statements.

07/161 - PLANNING APPLICATIONS

(a) To consider the following planning applications

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

Consideration was given to the following new applications:

Ref: 07/01664/FUL - Two-storey pitched roof side extension and single storey extension and new first floor dormer to rear at 9 Midway Avenue by Mr P Earnshaw.

No objections

Ref: 07/01752/FUL – Single storey pitched roof extension to side at 31 Severn Green by Mr & Mrs Taylor.

No objections

Ref: 07/01864/TCA – Crown reduce Hawthorn by 30% Tree in the Conservation Area at 14 Church Lane by Mrs Shewring.

No objections

(b) To note Local Authority Planning Decisions

It was noted that the Local Planning Authority had approved the following six applications:

· Ref: 07/00820/FUL – Display of 2no. internally illuminated fascia signs, 1no. non-illuminated entrance sign, 1no. internally illuminated totem sign and 2no. non-illuminated directional signs, 6no. flagpoles and flag advertisements at Brecks Saab, Great North Way by Brecks.

· Ref: 07/01150/FUL – Conservatory to rear after demolition of existing at 1 Riversvale Drive by Mr & Mrs S Hepworth.

· Ref: 07/01242/TPO – Crown clean and crown lift to 15’ Copper Beech (T1, T2, T3); reduce canopy from dwelling Copper Beech (T4), trees protected by Tree Preservation Order TPO 1/1970) at 36 Church Lane by Miss Jackson.

· Ref: 07/01350/FUL – Erection of single-storey Car showroom (138m2) to side of existing showroom at Brecks Saab, Great North Way by Barnbeck Ltd trading as Brecks Saab/Chevrolet.

· Ref: 07/01353/FUL – Single-storey pitched roof extensions to rear and double garage to side (resubmission) at Hazeldene, 5 Hillcrest Avenue by Mr & Mrs R Birkin.

· Ref: 07/01392/FUL – Conservatory to rear at 1 Midway Avenue by Mr & Mrs A Dean.

07/162 - PARISH COUNCIL LAND - TO RECEIVE PROGRESS REPORTS AND MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS ON

(a) Grass cutting

Following the trimming of trees and bushes in July Councillor Tomlinson had removed 13 trailer loads of debris. On 13 August Councillors Tomlinson and Craven, Mrs H Mackman and the Clerk had removed the remaining trimmings of the trees and bushes in Main Street. Deans Landscapes have been asked to do another cut of all the Common Land grass but have been delayed owing to the cold wet weather.

(b) Bluebell planting

Councillor Brown reported having received several quotations for the supply of English bluebells which are currently in short supply. It was agreed that 500 bulbs be bought from Miniature Bulbs and that Councillor Brown would collect them. It was also agreed that Councillor Brown would enquire about the cost and supply of daffodil bulbs. (Action Councillor Brown)

(c) The Moat Fields

Councillor Craven produced samples of stone for the proposed seats. It was agreed that the Parish Council should purchase three seats made from Yorkshire Stone from a firm in Huddersfield at a cost of £150 per seat and £195 for delivery to site. Councillor Craven is to place an order. (Action Councillor Craven)

It was agreed that discussion on other Moat Fields related subjects should be deferred.

It was agreed that Councillor Robinson would be a second Parish Councillor representative at any future Moat Fields Management Group (MFMG) meeting. The Clerk was deputed to write a suitable letter to the MFMG. (Action Clerk)

(d) Riverside Walk trees

The Clerk reported that the footpath behind the even-numbered houses in Riverside Walk was obstructed by foliage. It was agreed that a working party to clear the foliage would meet at 9.30am on 29 August

07/163 - TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON VILLAGE POLICING

Special Constable Jerry Holland had produced a list of incidents in Poppleton which had been reported to the police during the period from 20 July to 18 August. The figures exclude all road traffic offences and collisions and only include incidents where an offence was found to have been committed. There had been twenty incidents in Nether Poppleton. These were: one of attempted burglary dwelling, one burglary business, two burglaries-shed/garage, five other theft, two acts of criminal damage, one cycle theft, seven nuisance youths/anti-social behaviour (with two arrests) and one disorder/violence.

The Clerk produced a spreadsheet showing all the monthly figures from August 2006 to date.

Councillor Robinson reported that at today’s Police Liaison meeting it had been agreed that Poppleton was a low crime area.

The Councillors expressed their gratitude to the parishioner whose information had led to the arrest of a drug dealer.

Additional Police Community Support Officers have been recruited and are making a difference, especially in Copmanthorpe.

07/164 – TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON THE MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST MEETING AND AGREE POLICY ON PARISH COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT

Councillor Tomlinson reported on the proceedings of a recent meeting of the Millennium Green Committee. It had been agreed that a contractor would cut the grass three times a year. Paths would be cut through the main area to give people the opportunity to see wild flowers. The grass in the Orchard area is to be cut more often and the area treated so as to get rid of the nettles. The Councillors agreed with these proposals.

07/165 – TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON PROGRESS ON THE PROVISION OF A YOUTH SHELTER

With the absence of Councillor Bradley discussion on this subject was deferred.

07/166 - TO DISCUSS THE INSTALLATION OF HIGH-LEVEL STREET LIGHTING BY THE CITY COUNCIL

It was agreed to defer discussion on this subject as Councillor Gillies is progressing the matter.

07/167 - TO DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE IMMINENT RECEIPT OF MORE SECTION 106 MONEY

Janet Hopton was asked to explain the background to the recently received £10,082.73 of Section 106 money. The money was from Barratt Homes and Persimmon Homes from their Poppleton Park development. Originally the money was to be used for a community hall in Poppleton Park. This was turned down by the residents so Barratt Homes and Persimmon Homes agreed that the money could be used for other purposes. Over £5,000 of the original Section 106 money had been used to fence off the play area in Poppleton Park.

The Chairman asked for suggestions for the use of the money and the following ideas were put forward. Funding for the proposed riverside footpath, proposed youth shelter, play facilities for younger children, the School wildlife area and the Junior Football Club. It was agreed that money could be set aside and used to attract grants and funding for the various projects.

07/168 – TO DISCUSS THE CREATION OF A LAND AND ASSET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

After discussion on this subject it was resolved that the matter be left on the table.

07/169 – TO CONSIDER THE CONDITION OF THE LITTER BIN BY THE MAIN STREET BUS SHELTER

The poor condition of the existing bin and the fact that semi-opaque bags had replaced the black bags was discussed. It was agreed that the City Council be asked to replace the bin with a cylindrical bin similar to the one recently installed by the bus stop in Millfield Lane. (Action Clerk)

07/170 TO RECEIVE REPRESENTATIVES' REPORTS

Councillor Robinson reported that the Wildlife Trust working party had been postponed for a week owing to the bad weather last weekend.

07/171 - TO NOTE THE DATES OF FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

Date of Meeting	Meeting	Venue/ Time	Councillors Attending
21 August	Rural West Ward Team	Room 1, Guildhall/ 9.30am	Tomlinson, Powell
22 August	LEADER event	Harrogate/ 5.00pm	Powell
23 August	Community Trust Executive	Community Centre/ 7.30pm	Tomlinson
27 September	Ainsty Group	Askham Richard Parish Council Hall/ 7.30pm	Tomlinson, Powell Clerk
19 November	Police Liaison	2.00pm at a venue to be arranged	Powell, Robinson

07/172 - TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING AS MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER

It was agreed the next meeting would be held at 7.00pm at the Community Centre on Monday 17 September 2007.

The meeting closed at 9.45pm.