Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 12 June 2000 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

Cllrs. Mrs L R Acomb, A J Peck, Mrs K Richardson and Mrs J Hopton (City of York Council).

Accepted and signed as a true record.

1. Turn engines off signs (Min. 00.09)

Councillor Smith reported receiving a letter from the Tidy Britain Group pointing out that June is Transport Theme Month and suggesting that the Parish Council could raise the debate about turning engines off at level crossings through the local press or through Local Agenda 21.

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

Councillor Smith reported that he had been unable to obtain action from his contact and agreed to seek written estimates for the meter conversion from other suppliers.

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

The Clerk reported having received no written reply to his letter to the police about parking on verges. The Councillors agreed to drop the matter for the time being.

4. Swimming pool progress (Min. 00.51.4a)

The Clerk reported a conversation with Mr Richardson’s wife who said that the subject was on hold at the moment pending a decision about the proposed pool in Poppleton Park.

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

The Clerk reported having received an acknowledgement of his letter on fly tipping from the City of York Council.

6. Notice Board lettering (Min. 00.66)

Mr Lunan had put the ‘Parish Council Notices’ letters on the notice board outside All Saints’ Church Hall. The Councillors agreed to pay Mr Lunan’s invoice for £30. The Clerk reported that he still found private notices pinned to the Parish Council’s section and that he moved them on to the public section whenever possible. The Councillors agreed that the Parish’s section should be devoted to Parish business.

7. Brackenhills street light (Min. 00.67)

The Clerk read a letter from the City of York Council stating that they would not be moving the lighting column in Brackenhills but would be asking the residents of Nos. 15 and 17 to cut back their trees so that the light from the new column would shine further.

8. Cricket square confirmation (Min. 00.75I)

The Clerk confirmed that he had spoken to Peter Shaw who said that the cricket square was still firmly on the plans for the proposed new sports field in Millfield Lane.

9. Yorkshire Water hydrant in Chantry Green (Min. 00.79bii)

The Clerk reported having had no reply to the Parish Council’s request for a £25 easement for the installation of the water hydrant in Chantry Green.

10. Yorkshire Planning Aid courses (Min. 00.81)

The Clerk reported that three Parish Councillors were booked on the Yorkshire Planning Aid course to be held at the Priory Street Centre on 15 June. A cheque for £15.00 has been sent being for three Councillors at £5.00 each.

11. School entrance and parking (Min. 00.82)

The Clerk reported having received a letter from the City of York Council about installing zigzag lines outside the school entrance. The letter referred to a forthcoming transport consultancy exercise by Halcrow Fox who would be contacting the Parish Council to ascertain its views on traffic problems in the village. (See Minute 00.101.1)

12. Chantry Green kerbing (Min. 00.83)

The Clerk reported no progress on this subject. Councillor Parker said that the dustbin wagon had recently been driven across the grass in Chantry Green, not on the driveway. The Clerk was directed to report this incident to the appropriate Council authority.

13. Village seats refurbishment (Min. 00.84)

The Councillors discussed two quotations received for the de-greening and painting of nine seats in the village. After discussion it was agreed to accept the quotation of £45 per seat from Ken Falkingham as this included repairs to the ‘Eastwood’ seat on Chantry Green.

14. Painting the base of the maypole (Min. 00.79biv)

Councillors Parker and Watters reported that they had inspected the base of the maypole as directed at last month’s meeting. The base had needed to be painted. They had informed the Chairman who had instructed Ken Falkingham to paint the base. The Councillors agreed to give retrospective permission for the expenditure in line with the decision made at the May meeting.

1. Financial Report;

The Clerk presented the Councillors with a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year period to 12 June 2000. The report showed that, after adjusting for the items of expenditure listed below, the bank balances at 12 June were: -

Current Account £508.00

High Interest Account £8,819.83

2. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

City of York Council for emptying dog bins

(1999-2000, £600 and 2000-2001, £960) £1,560.00

Grimston Landscapes for edging and turfing the Green £458.00

P R Lunan for lettering on the Notice Board £30.00

Farm & Land Services, an interim payment

for cutting the grass on the Green (Minute 00.59) £242.00

Yorkshire Water for allotment water £4.75

3. Accounts paid

Yorkshire Planning Aid for three Councillors to attend a

Planning course on 15 June (Min. 00.81) £15.00

4. Donations

It was agreed that, as time was short, the subject of donations should be put on to the agenda for the July meeting.

5. 1999-2000 Accounts

The 1999-2000 Income & Expenditure Account, Balance Sheet and Supporting Statement were presented to the Councillors and signed by the Chairman and the Clerk.

6. Receipts

The Clerk reported having received the 1999-2000 VAT claim repayment of £330.22

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.

Ref: 00/00420/FUL - Erection of pitched roof two-storey side, single storey rear extensions and conservatory at 87 Station Road by Mrs M A Kingston.

Councillor Smith told the Councillors that he was having a small side extension built on his new house. He has received a letter from the City of York Council confirming that the extension does not need planning permission.

5. Listed buildings in Upper Poppleton

The Clerk reported that he had received a schedule of the listed buildings in Upper Poppleton from the City of York Council and gave one to each of the Councillors.

The Councillors agreed that the Yorkshire Planning Aid Planning Information Pack that was circulated with the May correspondence should be made available to all Councillors. The Clerk was directed to obtain another six packs at a cost of £2.50 per pack.

1. Vandalism;

None of the street signs reported as broken or painted black have been repaired.

2. Lampposts.

The Clerk reported having received a letter from the City Street Lighting Engineer confirming that lighting column 13 in Main Street will be moved to the new location by the tennis court by this autumn.

3. Vegetation in the gutters

The Clerk reported having received an email from Helen Carter of the City of York Council confirming that weed spraying should be complete by the end of the current week.

4. Potholes

Councillor Davies gave a list of streets in which there are potholes in the road. The list included Main Street by the War memorial, Westfield Lane by the 30mph sign, Dikelands Lane at the Library end, Apple Garth near Cherry Grove, Chantry Gap, Springfield Road near Bankside Close and Pear Tree Avenue near Ebor Way. Councillor Parker said there was a large puddle in the road outside York House. The Clerk was directed to write to the City of York Council to advise them of the problem.

1. Trees;

The Clerk distributed the five plans showing the position of all the trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order in the Poppletons. All the Councillors expressed a wish to have a plan and the Clerk was directed to obtain another five from the City of York Council.

2. Maintenance.

It was reported that Ken Falkingham is going to provide a quotation for providing pin kerbs.

2. Grass cutting – review of the operation of the contract.

The Councillors discussed the problems that have been experienced in having the grass on the Greens cut to the required standard on a regular basis. It was agreed that the grass was not being cut short enough and was being allowed to grow too long between cuts. The Clerk was directed to write to Mr Downie to ask that he cuts the grass every two weeks from now until the autumn, cuts the long grass where the daffodils were as soon as possible and make sure that the grass is cut as short as the City of York Council contractors cut the verges.

3. Events

No future events were reported. The Clerk asked what events would need the permission of the Parish Council. It was agreed that permission would be required for public events where the aim was to raise money.

4. Car Parking on the Green

The Councillors expressed their concern about the problem of cars in the car park adjacent to The Lord Collingwood. Recently the tree in the car park had been hit and cars had been driving across the grass. The Clerk was directed to write to the landlord, Keith Gelderd, to advise him that the car park was part of the Green and is owned by the Parish Council. It was agreed that the members of the General Purposes Committee would visit the car park and look at the possibility of erecting appropriate barriers to prevent cars from driving on the grass.

97. YRCC TRAINING COURSE

The Councillors discussed the two courses available ‘Parish Council Leadership’ and ‘Community Evaluation’. It was unfortunate that the date of the first course was 15 June, the same evening as the Planning Course that three of the Councillors are attending. It was agreed that no Councillors would attend either course.

98. VILLAGE SIGNS – PLANNING PERMISSION

Councillor Walker asked if there had been any progress in the area of planning permission for the proposed village signs. Councillor Parker reported receiving a letter from Julie Hurley of the City of York Council in which she stated that she was waiting for information from the Statutory Undertakers about the position of their equipment and seeking advice from her colleagues in Planning. The Clerk was directed to contact Julie Hurley to see what progress she has made.

A letter from Jonathan Hepton, the Transport Planner (Rail Services) of the City of York Council, advised the Council that there is a sum of money set aside for improvements to the Poppleton railway station and asked for suggestions. The Councillors agreed that they would prefer to see the installation of a customer information system. Also suggested were a lay-by for use as a dropping-off/pick-up point and an enlarged car park. The Clerk was directed to inform Mr Hepton of the Councillors’ ideas.

Councillor Thompson retired from the meeting. The Councillors then discussed a letter from Mr Morgan in which he had made several points. The Clerk was given direction on the contents of the Parish Council’s reply.

1. Copy of Nether Poppleton Parish Council minutes of 15 May
2. A letter from the Local Government Commission for England asking for the Parish Council’s view on the review of electoral arrangements of City of York Council and its constituent parish and town councils. Representations to be returned by 4 September.
3. Minutes of Poppleton Ward Residents Association meeting of 26 April
4. Leaflet from the Safer York Partnership
5. North Yorkshire Neighbourhood Watch Partnership

1. Service level Agreement
2. Crime update
3. Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of 2 May
4. Executive Co-ordinators report for 2 May
5. Financial report for 2 May

6. A letter outlining the promotion of physical activity in Poppleton from the College of Ripon & York
7. A copy of the City of York Council’s admission arrangements to Secondary Schools from 2001
8. Issue three of York Sport
9. The June edition of the City of York Council’s Economic Bulletin
10. A leaflet on the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust – Yorkshire Electricity Conservation Awards, 2000
11. Feedback on the first round of consultation on the ‘York Green Belt Review Draft Framework’

1. Suggested that there should be a larger area for car parking outside the Dentist’s surgery on the Green.
2. Asked if the litter bin that used to be located outside Rostlea on the Green could be replaced.

Mentioned having read an article in the April White Rose Update about roadside hedges and asked for the subject to be included on the agenda for the July meeting.

Asked about the state of the boundary of the allotments in Main Street. It was agreed that the Clerk would meet with two of the Councillors to look at the borders, hedges and paths to work out what steps should be taken to improve their condition.

10 July 2000 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.41pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

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