Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 8 May 2000 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

Cllrs. Mrs L R Acomb and J D G Thompson

1. Chairman Councillor Mr K R Smith indicated that he was not willing to serve as Chairman for a second year. The Councillors then appointed Cllr. Walker as Chairman and he assumed the chair.
2. Vice-Chairman Cllr. Mrs E A Parker
3. Clerk Mr B J W Mackman
4. Joint Emergency Committee Councillors Mr R Walker, Mr K R Smith and Mrs R Watters
5. General Purposes Committee Councillors Mr R Walker, Mrs E A Parker, Mr G B Davies and Mrs R Watters.
6. Planning Committee Councillors Mr R Walker, Mrs E A Parker, Mr G B Davies and Mrs K Richardson
7. Community Centre Councillor Mr K R Smith and Mrs K Richardson
8. Local Councils Association Councillor Mr K R Smith

Councillor Davies thanked the retiring chairman, Cllr. Smith for the hard work that he had put into his year in the chair.

Accepted and signed as a true record with three minor amendments which has been corrected for the published record.

1. Turn engines off signs (Min. 00.09)

Cllr. Keith Smith reported that he and his wife, Pat, had been the subject of an article in the Yorkshire Evening Press. They hold opposing views on the subject of turning engines off and had had their photo taken by the level crossing in Station Road. Cllr Smith informed the Councillors that Peter Everly of the City of York Council says that the subject of ‘turn engine off signs is still under consideration.

2. Reading Room gas meter conversion (Min. 00.31)

Cllr. Smith reported that Mr Edwards says that a new gas meter would now cost £195. The Councillors decided to defer a decision until the June meeting.

3. White vehicle parked in Station Road (Min. 00.33.3)

The Clerk was directed to write to PC Williamson to inform her that there are now three vehicles parked on verges and to ask for her advice as to what to do about them.

4. Swimming pool progress (Min. 00.51.4a)

The Clerk reported having spoken to Mr P Richardson to ask about progress on the swimming pool. Mr Richardson said that there was opposition from the people who live on the school grounds. The initial plans have been sent to the City of York Council. The Clerk was directed to write to ask Mr Richardson for the contact on the City of York Council so that he could write to them directly.

5. Fly tipping in Newlands Lane (Min. 00.58c)

The Clerk reported having received no reply to his letter to the City Council.

6. Notice Board lettering (Min.00.66)

The Clerk reported having seen Mr Lunan who would paint ‘Parish Council Notices’ on a strip of wood painted black to be fixed to the top right hand side of the notice board. He would also paint a white line down the notice board to separate a 50cm (20") area specifically for Parish Council notices. Mr Lunan would charge £30 for carrying out the work.

7. Brackenhills street light (Min. 00.67)

The Clerk reported having received no reply to his letter to the City Council.

8. Modernising York

The Clerk reported that the meeting about the new City of York Council arrangements had been postponed to the 23 May and that he had advised all the Parish Councillors of this fact.

9. Football Field comments

Councillor Peck asked for an assurance that there would be a cricket square within the proposed new football field in Millfield Lane. The Clerk was directed to obtain such an assurance from Mr Shaw.

1. Financial Report;

The Clerk presented the Councillors with a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year period to 8 May 2000. The report showed that the bank balances at 8 May were: -

Current Account £508.00

High Interest Account £11,429.98

Still no invoice for £458 has been received from Grimston Landscapes for turfing and edging the Green.

Cornhill Insurance for the annual premium £496.28

POPSOC £100.00

First instalment to Poppleton Community Trust £750.00

Cllr. Smith for travelling expenses to the Village

Halls Conference (Minute 00.59) £9.20

3. Accounts paid

None

4. Capital items

The Clerk explained that the City of York Council will not be putting aside a capital sum for the Parish Council this year but is incorporating the amount into the revenue sum. The total revenue to be received in the current financial year will be £5,610

5. Donations

It was agreed that the subject of donations should be put on to the agenda for the June meeting.

6. Receipts

The Clerk reported having received the first half year’s precept of £2,250, the revenue grant of £2,805 and the grass cutting allowance of £832.30 from the City of York Council.

7. Cost of emptying dog bins

The Clerk read an email received from the City of York Council informing the Parish Council that the charge for emptying dog bins would be £100 per Bin (£600 in total) for 1999-2000 as agreed. In 2000-2001 the charge would be £160 per bin (£960 in total).

The Clerk presented the list of plans and comments made by the members of the Planning Committee on each planning application received. The list is attached as Appendix 1 at the end of these minutes.

None

It was agreed that a redesigned form should accompany planning applications so that the members of the planning committee could have more space to write their comments and be able to note whether or not they had contacted neighbours.

1. Vandalism;

2. Lampposts.

3. Resurfacing Footpath No. 1

This footpath has now been resurfaced from the area by the new kissing gate back to Bankside Close. The City of York Council has agreed to cut the vegetation at the sides of the footpath twice a year. It is hoped that the footpath will be resurfaced back to Riversvale Drive during the coming year.

1. Trees;

The Clerk was asked to obtain a number of plans of the village from the City of York Council that would show all the trees subject to Tree Preservation Orders.

2. Maintenance.

Cllr. Parker showed the Councillors a plan of the pump on the Green that showed the ‘pin kerbs’ that separate the pump area from the grass. It was agreed that Cllr. Parker asks Ken Falkingham for a written quotation for providing the pin kerbs.

2. Request by Yorkshire Water to install a hydrant in Chantry Green

The Councillors agreed that the Water Authority be granted permission to install a hydrant but that they should pay a wayleave for the privilege of £25 per annum.

3. Retrospective permission to reconnect a road gully to the public sewer

The Clerk read an email received from Richard Challand of the City of York Council asking for retrospective permission as shown above. The Councillors agreed to grant the permission. The Clerk was directed to inform Mr Challand of this and to point out that, in future, permission should be requested before and not after the event.

4. Repainting the base of the maypole

The Councillors discussed the condition of the base of the maypole. It was thought that the marks had been caused by footballs being kicked against it. Cllrs. Parker and Watters agreed to wash the base of the maypole and report on its condition to the Chairman who was given authority to organise for the base to be painted if necessary.

3. Events

The following organisations had asked for permission to use the Green on the dates shown. The Councillors agreed that permission should be given.

1. Poppleton Sports day 29 May.
2. Community Church Service 25 June
3. Poppleton Gardens Guild Show Day 26 August

Cllr. Smith, supported by three other Councillors, attended the Inquiry on 3 May.

The Councillors discussed the forthcoming training seminar on Planning to be held at the Priory Street Centre, York on the evening of 15 June. Two Councillors agreed to attend the meeting and two others said they would inform the Clerk of their intention in due course. The cost of the seminar is £5 per Councillor. It was agreed that the Clerk should arrange for the appropriate fee to be sent when the actual number of Councillors wishing to attend was known.

The Councillors, having noted that the new pathway to the school had been completed, discussed the problem of parking outside the school. The Clerk was directed to write to the City of York Council to ask for the reinstatement of the zigzag lines on both sides of the road and ask what the procedure is for arranging for an enforcement order to be made so that parking on the zigzag lines is an offence.

The Councillors discussed the driveway in Chantry Green. There has been a considerable amount of damage caused in the past by the City of York Council’s refuse collection lorry. The Clerk was asked to see Mr Hallam and work out the length of the damage to the driveway and then inform the Council’s Cleansing Section and ask them to make a contribution to the cost of repairs.

The Clerk produced a schedule showing the condition of the seventeen seats located in Upper Poppleton. The Councillors discussed the subject and directed the Clerk to obtain quotations for cleaning and painting nine of the seats that were not actually damaged.

The Clerk read a letter from Mr & Mrs Long who wish to change the name of their house from ‘Cestria’ to Church View. The Councillors had no objection to the change of name and directed the Clerk to make a suitable reply thanking Mr & Mrs Long for advising the Parish Council and suggesting that they advise the Royal Mail.

It was agreed to put this item on the agenda for the June meeting.

1. Copy of Nether Poppleton Parish Council minutes of 17 April
2. Copy of Nether Poppleton Parish Council Annual Parish meeting minutes of 17 April
3. Letter from the City Council about the Green Belt Boundary Review
4. Literature about being a Lay Visitor
5. YNET – notice of meeting on 30 May and minutes of meeting on 25 April
6. White Rose update from YLCA
7. North Yorkshire Police Authorities Annual Report – 1998/99
8. Minutes of the Village Halls Conference, Helperby, 29 April 2000

Gave an amusing account of an actors group he saw at the Village Halls Conference.

Asked about the new fence that is being erected at the corner of Beech Grove. He was advised that a retrospective planning application is being sought as the fence is in the Conservation Area.

1. Reported a pothole on the road outside the Methodist Chapel.
2. Reported that the hedge at Holly House in Main Street was getting long.

1. Reported that the fence behind the allotments by the Library has been mended.
2. Reported that the nettles at the bottom of the hedge in front of the allotment in Main Street are now a problem.
3. Reported that drug users have been using Blairgowrie.

Stated that anyone wanting to place a rubbish skip in the road should have permission from the Highways Authority and the skip should be marked with lights at night.

12 June 2000 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.32pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

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