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

Cllr. Mrs L R Acomb, Cllr. G B Davies, Cllr. A J Peck and Cllr. J D G Thompson

Accepted and signed as a true record.

1. Bus service, change of route (Min. 99.111c)

The Clerk informed the Councillors that Terry Walker, the City of York Council's Public Transport Planner, had written to say that John Laking at the North Yorkshire County Council's Passenger Transport Group was the correct officer to ask about the diversion of the 142 bus service through Upper Poppleton. The Clerk had written to Mr Laking but had not yet received a reply.

1. Turn engines off signs (Min. 00.09)

Councillor Smith asked for this subject to be referred to the November meeting.

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

The Clerk reported having written to ask the York Gas Company to install a £1 coin-in-the-slot meter for the gas supply to the reading room at All Saint's Church Hall where the Parish Council meetings are held. The installation hadn't been done and the Clerk was directed to ask the York Gas Company to carry out the work as soon as possible.

3. Swimming pool progress (Min. 00.51.4a)

Councillor Parker produced some literature about the swimming pool in Tadcaster. It was agreed that the literature should be circulated to the Councillors and the subject of the proposed swimming pool at the school in Poppleton be discussed at the November meeting. Councillor Hopton agreed to speak to Mr Phil Richardson who is one of the main supporters of the pool.

The Clerk reported no progress on this subject. It was pointed out that a new brick structure, probably larger in size than those proposed for the village, had been erected at the entrance to Poppleton Park. The Clerk was directed to contact Julie Hurley and ask her to report on progress before the November Parish Council meeting

6. Chantry Green kerbing (Min. 00.83)

The Clerk reported having asked Mr Hallam for a written statement of how the kerbs came to be damaged. The statement will accompany the completed insurance claim form when it is hoped that the insurance company will make a contribution to the cost of replacing kerbs damaged by the Council's refuse wagons.

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

The Clerk reported having received a quotation of £695.46 from Ken Falkingham for supplying labour and materials for removing two oak posts and replacing with new and refitting existing pipe work; supplying and fitting pin kerbs around all four sides; supplying labour and materials for breaking up old concrete and re concreting to all one level. After discussion the Councillors agreed to accept the quotation.

8. Boundary fences at the allotments (Min. 00.102.3)

The Clerk was directed to see if the contents of an allotment agreement mentioned the upkeep of the adjoining hedges and paths.

9. Banking by telephone (Min. 00.107g)

The Clerk reported that the on-line banking system was now working and that he had used it to transfer the cash to cover the cheques to be signed during the meeting.

21. Boundary fence in the car park by the Lord Collingwood (Min. 00.110bii)

The Clerk reported having received no quotation from Mr Cook. The Councillors agreed to accept the quotation of £457.80 from Ken Falkingham for the work to extend the fence.

11. Loose manhole covers in the Green (Min. 00.114.2)

The Clerk reported having written to ntl about the loose covers and was waiting for a reply.

12. Provision of school bus from Poppleton Park (Min. 00.118i)

The Clerk read correspondence received from Terry Walker, the City of York Council's Public Transport Planner. The letter said "Children in Poppleton Park will not be entitled to provision of transport by the Local Education Authority on distance grounds. The law expects children under 8 to walk up to two miles to school and children over 8 to walk up to 3 miles. City of York Council exercises its discretion to reduce the distance threshold from 3 to 2 miles for 8 to 11 year old primary scholars. If they are entitled to travel assistance at all it will depend on an assessment of whether or not the walking route is considered safe against set criteria….. No funds are available in Education, Public Transport, or any other Council budgets to introduce bus services in response to home to school travel demands from children not entitled to the provision of free travel.

13. Planning regulations on fences in front gardens (Min. 00120.2a)

The Clerk reported that he had received the following note from Jonathan Carr of the City of York Council Planning Department. "If the fence is adjacent to a highway then permission would be required if the height exceeded 1 metre".

14. Community Centre sign (Min. 00.121ai)

The Clerk reported having notified the City of York Council that the sign had fallen over and had been informed that the Council was going to re-erect the sign within the next few days.

15. Relocation of street light (Min. 00121bii)

The Clerk reported that, despite repeated requests to the City of York Council Street Lighting Department, he had not been given any indication as to when the street light would be moved from the entrance to the Community Centre to the bridge by the new entrance to the tennis court. The Clerk was directed to write to the City Council to express the Councillors displeasure.

16. Telephone posts in Black Dike Lane (Min. 00.121c)

The Councillors discussed the subject of the four telephone poles that have been erected in Black Dike Lane. The poles are in a Conservation Area. In the Harrogate Borough Council's 1995 publication "Upper Poppleton Conservation Area" one of the Enhancement Proposals is that there should be long term undergrounding of overhead wires. The Clerk was directed to write to the BT Wayleaves Manager in Shrewsbury to advise him of the Parish Council's desire to see all wires placed underground and not to have any new wires suspended between poles. Councillor Hopton agreed to speak to Ian Thomson, the City of York Council's Assistant Director (Planning & Design) and ask him if the City's aims are the same as those of the Harrogate Borough Council.

1. Financial Report;

The Clerk presented the Councillors with a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year period to 9 October 2000. The report showed that, after adjusting for the items of expenditure listed below, the bank balances at 9 October were: -

Current Account £50.00

High Interest Account £10,760.10

2. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

Audit Commission - District Audit fee £206.40

Clerk's Fee (July - September) £602.62

Clerk's expenditure on postage, telephone

and stationery £21.03

Poppleton Community Trust - second instalment

of the donation for this year £750.00

3. Accounts paid

YNET subscription £25.00

Baron Landscape - Grass cutting in August £125.00

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.

There were no comments but the Clerk read a letter from Mr P A H Britton which said that the land which would form part of the turning circle at the end of the proposed development in Westview Close belongs to his father and is not for sale.

At this point (9.15pm) Councillor Hopton retired from the meeting.

Councillor Parker talked about Parish Plans. A Parish Plan could be entitled "Where you want to see your village in the next four years". The Plan would be drawn up and agreed by Parish Councillors and villagers at village meetings. Policies for many aspects of a village would be decided. Amongst the more important issues would be planning. This would provide guidance for any prospective developer. Councillor Parker said that there is to be a meeting at Rufforth Village Hall at 7.30pm on 13 November. The Councillors agreed that Councillor Parker should attend this meeting.

1. Vandalism;

1. Councillors Parker and Richardson reported having attended the CAP meeting in the Community Centre on 20 September when the subjects of vandalism and drugs were discussed. The police are aware of the problems round the Library.
2. The new seat opposite Montague Walk in Dikelands Lane has been badly damaged. Ken Falkingham has been asked to see if the seat is repairable.
3. The 'School' sign outside the Bowling Club in Main Street is standing at an angle. The Clerk was directed to ask the City Council to make the sign safe.
4. The post supporting the dog bin in Black Dike Lane has been knocked over by a builder's lorry. The Clerk was directed to write to Simmons to ask them to reinstate the post.

2. Lampposts;

No report.

3. Councillors Comments

1. It was reported that dogs are fouling Footpath No. 1. The Clerk was asked to inform the dog warden about the fouling and Robin Carr, the City of York Council's Public Rights of Way Officer, if he would arrange for a No Fouling sign to be put up in the area of the kissing gate.
2. It was also reported that the passing place in Black Dike Lane, opposite what used to be the Joinery but is now where several new houses are being built, is often used as a parking space. The Clerk was directed to contact the City Council to arrange for a sign to be erected to inform motorists that the space is a passing place.
3. It was reported that molehills have appeared at the corner of Dikelands Lane and Long Ridge Lane. The Councillors agreed that the Clerk should ask Mr Ferguson to remove the moles.
4. The Clerk was directed to contact the City of York Council to ask if it is responsible for cutting the grass verge outside the Bowling Club in Main Street

1. Trees

1. For Chantry Green

Councillor Parker reported a conversation with David Gregory who had said that it is currently the practice to put three trees together in a clump. The Clerk was directed to ask the City of York Council to provide three silver birches with decorative bark. The three trees would be planted in Chantry Green near the brick building that forms part of the Blairgowrie boundary.

2. General

1. Maintenance

1. Moles

It was reported that Mr Ferguson had caught the mole that had been making molehills by the seat outside All Saints Church.

2. Chantry Green access road

1. Remembrance Day arrangements

The Clerk was asked to establish in which church the Remembrance Day service would be held and to ensure that the Chairman had a copy of the Order of Service and the Roll of Honour.

2. Provision of wreath

The Clerk was asked to obtain a wreath to be placed, by the Chairman, in front of the War Memorial on behalf of the Parish Council on Remembrance Day.

3. War Memorial Garden

The Clerk reported that, in response to his letter to the Local Government Commission for England about the Periodic Electoral Review of the City of York Council, he had received a letter to say that the Parish Council's comments were received after the end of the advertised consultation period (4 September). There will be an opportunity to make the Parish Councillors' views known to the Commission when it publishes its draft recommendations for consultation towards the end of the year. The Commission will be sending the Parish Council a copy of the report on publication.

The Councillors agreed that they would consider items for inclusion in a Newsletter to be published in January 2001.

The Clerk informed the Councillors that details of the offer of a free group photograph had been circulated after the September meeting. As the circulated items hadn't been returned no details were available other than the offer would expire before the November meeting. The Councillors agreed not to take the matter any further.

1. A letter from the City of York Council to say that the Council has decided to postpone the scheme to enlarge the A59/A1237 Roundabout for a short while to enable a longer term solution to be found to the problems at the junction including those for pedestrians and cyclists.
2. A letter from Mrs E A Thompson drawing the Parish Council's attention to the increasing urbanisation creeping towards the village and that there is a proposed park and ride site for the A59 corridor.

1. Nether Poppleton Parish Council minutes of meeting of 18 September
2. Details of Tadcaster swimming pool supplied by Councillor Parker
3. A letter to parents from Upper Poppleton Junior & Infant Schools Governing Bodies regarding parking outside the School
4. YNET minutes of meeting on 26 September 2000
5. Details of Beacon Millennium Ltd's idea of lighting a beacon on 31 December 2000
6. Martin House Newsletter - Autumn 2000
7. City of York Council's Economic Bulletin - Edition 20
8. Feedback from the Green Belt Review Conference held on 6 September
9. YLCA White Rose Update - September 2000
10. Neighbourhood Watch Association's minutes of meeting on 14 September and Issue 11 of the Association's 'Guardian'
11. Details of Working Families Tax Credits

Asked if the Parish Council would acquire the publication 'The Essential Guide to Parish Councils' from the YLCA at a cost of £2.83.

Mentioned the problem of cars parking on Station Road when the station car park is full. The Councillors said that the problem might be solved if the proposed Park & Ride scheme for the A59 corridor is implemented especially if the transport provided is trains from the station.

Before retiring from the meeting Councillor Hopton asked that the Parish Council might like to consider making a donation to the Millennium Green Celebration. The Countryside Agency is offering up to a £400 grant towards celebrations in the year 2000 providing that it is matched by other funds. This item is to be put onto the agenda for the November meeting when more details will be available.

13 November 2000 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.58pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

uppc mins 10/00 ………………………….DATE