Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 10 July 2000 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

All Councillors were present.

Accepted and signed as a true record.

The Councillors agreed to bring this item forward in the agenda as seven residents of Westview Close and Villa Court were present.

The Chairman outlined the proposal to build 11 houses in Westview Close. Cllr. Walker explained that the Parish Council, whilst having a statutory right to make comments on planning applications, was only one part of the planning chain and that it would be the City of York Council who made the final decision on whether the planned development would be allowed. The residents were then invited to make comments. Mr Bird of Villa Court spoke for the residents and made the following points: -

The proposed development would be intrusive as far as the majority of the existing dwellings in Westview Close and Villa Court were concerned; the size of the proposed plots is not in keeping with existing plots; the open aspect of fields and trees would be removed; there is concern over the access from and exit to the A59; the proposed designs are not commensurate with local designs; the proposed houses, with their high roofs, would dominate the Close; too many houses in too small a space are proposed; the existing services would be overloaded, especially the sewerage system; the road would not be wide enough for emergency vehicles; previous applications for fewer houses have been refused by Harrogate Borough Council; the plans do not mention the materials to be used.

Several other residents made comments about the proposed plans.

The Chairman thanked the residents for attending the meeting and said that the Parish Councillors would take all their comments into account when replying to the City of York Council.

The residents then retired from the meeting and the agenda was resumed.

1. Turn engines off signs (Min. 00.09)

Councillor Smith reported no progress on this subject.

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

Councillor Smith reported that he was experiencing difficulty in obtaining written quotations for the conversion. Cllr. Thompson agreed to ask the Parochial Church Council who installed the pay meters in the main hall.

3. Swimming pool progress (Min. 00.51.4a)

The Clerk was asked to solicit from Mr Richardson the name of his contact on the City of York Council.

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

The Clerk reported having had no further correspondence on this subject and was asked to contact the City of York Council's Assistant Director (Development & Transport).

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

The Clerk reported receipt of a letter from Yorkshire Water advising the Parish Council that the hydrant installation would be carried out in week commencing 31 July 2000 under Section 159, Water Industry Act, 1991. No payment of an easement would be forthcoming.

6. Yorkshire Planning Aid course (Min. 00.81)

Chairman Cllr. Walker reported that the three Councillors who had attended the course had found it enjoyable. The Clerk was asked to arrange for a handout received from the course to be copied and distributed to the Councillors. On the recommendation of the Chairman the Councillors agreed that the Parish Council should obtain a copy of the HMSO publication Statutory Instrument 419, Town & Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 for a cost in the region of £10. The Clerk was asked to acquire the publication.

7. School entrance and parking (Min. 00.82)

The Clerk reported having received no notice that the zig zag lines outside the school entrance would be reinstated and was directed to ask the City of York Council when the lines would be repainted.

8. Chantry Green kerbing (Min. 00.83)

The Clerk reported no progress on this subject.

9. Village seats refurbishment (Min. 00.84)

It was reported that Ken Falkingham had treated the nine seats as per his quotation. It was also reported that Mr Falkingham had agreed to mend the damage to three other seats and treat them for the sum of £45 each. The Councillors agreed to this retrospective request. The Clerk reported having received an invoice for £540 for treating twelve seats and £32 for repainting the bottom of the maypole; a total of £572. The Councillors agreed to pay the invoice.

10. Village signs - planning permission (Min. 00.65)

The Clerk reported having received an email from Julie Hurley who is still waiting for all the statutory undertakers to respond to her enquiries.

 

11. Provision of 'pin kerbs' round the pump on the Green (Min. 00.79bi)

Cllr. Parker reported that Ken Falkingham is going to provide a quotation for the work including two new wooden posts.

12. Potholes (Min. 00.95d)

The Clerk read a letter from Mr Mark Moran, a City of York Council's Engineering Technician, who wrote that both the pothole by the War Memorial and the pothole in Westfield Lane had been repaired and that the other potholes which meet the City Council's intervention levels had been marked up for repair.

13. Vandalised Street signs (Min. 00.78a)

The Clerk read a letter from Mr Phil Irwin, a City of York Council's Engineering Technician, who said that an order to deal with the signs covered in paint had been sent and they should be dealt with next week. Unfortunately the letter was nearly a month old and the signs hadn't been restored. The Clerk was directed to enquire when the work would be done.

1. Financial Report;

The Clerk presented the Councillors with a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year period to 10 July 2000. The report showed that, after adjusting for the items of expenditure listed below, the bank balances at 10 July were: -

Current Account £50.00

High Interest Account £8,269.85

2. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

Ken Falkingham, £540 for the seats refurbishment £572.00

£32 for repainting the bottom of the maypole

3. Accounts paid

None

4. Donations

The Clerk handed out a schedule that listed all donations made by the Parish Council for the last five years. The Clerk read a letter from Poppleton Under Fives that outlined the implications of having been registered with York's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. Cllr. Parker gave more information about the running of the Group after which the Councillors agreed to increase the Parish's donation from £50 to £200. The Councillors agreed to duplicate the other donations made last year i.e. Theatre Royal £50, All Saint's for grass cutting £100, St Leonard's Hospice £50, Martin House £50, Poppleton Luncheon Club £50.

5. Auditors' report on accounts for 1999-2000

The Clerk reported that he had received the accounts back from the auditor and that they had been passed without adverse comment.

6. Review of Clerk's honorarium

The Clerk produced a table showing the increase in Clerk's salaries as from 1 April 2000. After a short discussion during which Councillor Smith remarked that the Clerk was worth his weight in gold (Clerk's note £564,000) it was agreed that the Clerk should progress one point on the incremental scale and be paid at the new rate as from 1 April 2000.

7. Banking by telephone

The Clerk explained that the Parish Council's bank, HSBC, is introducing a new telephone banking system which allows the transfer of funds and the checking of balances through the use of a touch button telephone. To enable the Clerk to take advantage of the system it would be necessary for the Chairman and another Councillor to sign a mandate to that effect. The Councillors agreed this and the Clerk was authorised to complete the appropriate document to be signed at a later date.

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

The Clerk reported having received seven packs, not six as requested at the June meeting. The Councillors agreed to fund the extra Pack. All seven packs were given to the Councillors present.

It was agreed that it would be a good idea to produce a "Parish Plan".

1. Vandalism;

Councillor Parker reported that the fencing round a tree opposite the bus stop on the Green was damaged. It was agreed that the fence no longer served a purpose and it could be removed. Councillor Parker agreed to arrange for the removal of the fence.

2. Lampposts;

No report

3. Vegetation in the gutters

The vegetation in the gutters has been sprayed with weed killer. The dead vegetation is still in the gutters. The Clerk was directed to contact the City of York Council to ask for the gutters to be brushed and to ask why the brushing was no longer a regular occurrence.

4. Village Traffic Survey

Councillor Peck produced a plan showing various places in the village where provision could be made for wheelchairs and cycles. It was agreed that Councillors Smith and Watters take the plans to the Halcrow Fox Consultancy meeting at the Community Centre on 19 July.

1. Trees

The Councillors directed the Clerk to ask David Gregory to trim the suckers off the trees in the Green as per the existing arrangement.

2. Maintenance

1. Grass cutting – further review of the operation of the contract.

The Councillors again 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 current state of the Greens was unsatisfactory. The Clerk was directed to tell Mr Downie that the Parish Council no longer wished him to undertake the grass cutting. The Clerk was directed to contact Baron Landscapes to determine if they would be willing to take on the contract on the same terms as the quotation they sent in March.

2. Boundary fence in the car park by the Lord Collingwood

Cllr. Walker reported that the General Purposes Committee had met in the car park and were recommending the reinstatement of the boundary with a post and rail fence leaving a 3-foot pedestrian access from the car park to the Lord Collingwood. To stop vehicles from crossing the grass verge it is proposed to put white painted stones along the verge. The Councillors agreed with the recommendations of the General Purposes Committee. The Clerk was directed to obtain three quotations for the proposed fencing and to ask Baron Landscape for an estimate for clearing the verge where it is proposed to put the white painted stones.

3. Path outside the Methodist Hall

It was reported that the state of the footpath from the car park by the Lord Collingwood to the Manse is in a state of disrepair. The Clerk said he would look at the footpath and report its condition to the City of York Council.

3. Events

No future events were reported.

Cllr. Thompson read the following information received from the York Local Council's Associations about a recent Court of Appeal ruling on hedgerows.

"We have now received information, which has been drawn together by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. This follows on from the 1997 Flamborough case and affects roadside hedges. Previously, highway authorities took the view that they only owned land to the edge of the roadside ditch. The Court of Appeal has taken the view that where the land was conveyed to the adjoining landowner by reference to Ordnance Survey mapping then the adjoining landowner only owns to the middle of the hedge so the other half of the hedge and the roadside ditch must then be the property of the highway authority. This, in effect, means that the highway authority owns half of the hedge and consent given by the planning authority for removal of the hedge cannot be binding on the highway authority. Further, the highway authority has a duty under Section 130(1) of the Highways Act 1980 to protect the use and enjoyment of the highway. Several Department of the Environment Inspectors have concluded, following public inquiries, that a roadside hedge falls within the word 'enjoyment' and so the highway authority has a duty to maintain a roadside hedge. The decision may also have application where hedges have previously been removed and there is a local wish to see them restored. Where roadside hedges are under threat, YLCA consider that parish councils should vigorously point out to highway authorities the possibility that they may have a duty to maintain the existence of the hedge concerned".

The Clerk was directed to write to the City of York Council to ask if they accept the Court of Appeals ruling.

Cllr. Peck agreed to make a map of the roadside hedges in the parish.

The Clerk produced this document sent from the City of York Council. Cllr. Thompson agreed to deal with it on the Parish Council's behalf.

1. Copy of the minutes of the Nether Poppleton Parish Council meeting of 19 June 2000
2. YNET minutes of 29 June
3. NY Police West LAP minutes of 5 April
4. White Rose update for June 2000
5. York Challenge Fund pack

Gave a report on the inaugural Ward Committee meeting held on 4 July at the Community Centre.

Councillors Hopton and Macdonald chaired the meeting as the two appointed members of the Ward Committee.

1. A sum of £14,934 (less a 5% possible administration charge by the City of York Council) is available to spend in the area of the Ward which covers seven parishes.
2. The object of the Ward Committee Meetings which will be held quarterly is for residents of the Ward to generate ideas for expenditure. The ideas will be costed by Officers of the City of York Council and re-submitted for residents' consideration at a subsequent Meeting.
3. There is a tight timescale in the current financial year.
4. Residents at the Meeting suggested the following ideas.

1. A local bus service to collect and take disabled people to a swimming pool/library/hospital.
2. Improves bus services to Knapton, Hessay, the Askhams etc.
3. Play facilities for children at Askham Bryan now that there is restricted access to the play area at the College.
4. More money for the proposed Poppleton Junior Football Club playing field in Millfield Lane.
5. Clean out the ponds in Askham Bryan and Rufforth.
6. Funds for the Poppleton Community Centre.
7. Improvements to the car park at Poppleton Station
8. Support for village halls
9. Recycling waste schemes.

In a question and answer session the following points were raised.

1. The planning application for eleven houses in Westview Close
2. The extension of the Harewood Whin waste site
3. Lack of village policing
4. Speeding cars through the Poppletons
5. Desirability of re-opening Low Poppleton Lane to motor vehicles
6. Adequacy of proposed new roundabouts on the A59 and A19

Reported that there are loose manhole covers on the paths round the Green. The Clerk was directed to ask the Cable Company, Cable and Wireless, now known as 'ntl' to have a look at the covers.

Reported that the No Parking sign on the Green opposite All Saints Church Hall is damaged. The Clerk was directed to contact Ken Falkingham for an estimate for its repair.

11 September 2000 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.50pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

uppc mins 07/00