Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 8 January 2001 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

Cllr. Mrs L R Acomb and Cllr. Mrs J Hopton (City of York Council).

Accepted and signed as a true record.

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

The Clerk reported having received a letter from John Laking the senior Planning & Development Officer of NYCC stating that he is unable to divert the service 142 via Upper Poppleton. The primary reason for his decision is that the time penalty could not be accommodated within the current timetable. He has also taken into consideration the commercial service from Poppleton to York where a connection to the 142 can be made and the train service to Harrogate from where a connection with the frequent Harrogate & District Service 36 can be made.

2. Turn engines off signs (Min. 00.09)

Councillors agreed that the Parish should press ahead to erect signs on posts even if it meant providing the posts. Cllr Macdonald said that he would inform the Clerk of the names of three companies that would provide signs so that the Clerk could write and ask for quotations.

3. Swimming pool progress (Min. 00.51.4a)

Councillors Parker and Watters agreed to arrange a meeting with Councillor Hopton to discuss the subject of the swimming pool.

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

The Clerk reported no progress on the subject of the Village Signs. Councillor Macdonald said that the matter had dragged on for too long and that he would contact the relevant City Council Officers in an endeavour to clear the way for the signs to be erected.

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

The pin kerbs have not yet been put in place.

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

The Clerk reported his conversation with Ken Thorpe who said that he would give some thought as to who might be willing to keep the hedge trimmed and the hedge bottom weeded.

The Clerk reported that the post and the sign were still lying on the ground by the entrance to the Community Centre. After discussion the Councillors agreed that the sign could be place d on the lamppost by the entrance to the Community Centre.

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

The Clerk reported that the streetlight had not yet been moved despite assurances from the City Council that it would be moved by the end of November 2000. The Clerk was directed to pursue the matter.

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

Councillor Smith said that he was unable to raise the subject at the last ever meeting of the Post Office and Communications Advisory Committee meeting on 7 December as no-one else turned up for the meeting. The Councillors agreed that the erection of the posts was not acceptable in a Conservation Area and Councillor Macdonald said he would pursue the matter.

10. 'School' sign in Main Street (Min. 00.134aiii)

Owing to the fact that the ground has been frozen whenever the post has been inspected recently it is difficult to tell if the post is still loose. Councillor Walker agreed to check the post and report to the Clerk who would contact the City Council if necessary.

11. Dog bin post in Black Dike Lane (Min. 00134aiv)

It was reported that the actual bin on the post is only slightly dented and is functioning properly. It was agreed to let the matter drop.

12. Passing place in Black Dike Lane (Min. 00.134cii)

No action had been taken on the passing place.

13. Grass verge by the Bowling Club in Main Street (Min. 00.134civ)

The Clerk reported having again contacted the City of York Council to ask if they were responsible for cutting the grass verge and expected a response within the next few days.

14. York House fence (Min. 00.146.3)

The Clerk reported having received a letter from the City Council stating that the fence did not need planning permission. He was waiting for a reply as to whether or not the fence would be removed when the landscaping vegetation had matured.

15. Purchase of Phoenix seat for Dikelands Lane (Min. 00.134civ)

The Clerk reported that he had obtained the appropriate assurances from Glasdon that the Phoenix seat was as near vandalproof as a seat could be and, following the Council's instructions, had ordered the seat. The seat had been delivered and installed by Ken Falkingham. The Councillors agreed the payment of £326.62 to Glasdon for the seat

 

16. Footpath outside The Bungalow in Westfield Lane (Min. 00.147ci)

The Clerk reported having notified the City Council of the state of the footpath. Given the parlous state of other footpaths in York it would no doubt be some time before the footpath was repaired.

1. Financial Report;

The Clerk presented the Councillors with a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 8 January 2001. The report showed that, after adjusting for the items of expenditure listed below, the bank balances at 8 January were: -

Current Account £50.00

High Interest Account £9,968.59

2. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

Clerk's Fee (October - December) £602.62

Clerk's expenditure on postage, telephone

and stationery £21.03

Wallis Business Services Ltd - Filing cabinet and files £75.75

Ken Falkingham - Collingwood boundary fence £457.80

Nether Poppleton Millennium Green - Donation £100.00

YLCA - Essential Guide to Parish Councils £2.83

Yorkshire Water - Allotment water £5.24

SLCC - Annual subscription - £43.00

3. Accounts paid

Glasdon - supplying Phoenix seat £326.62

4. 2001-2002 Budget

The Councillors discussed and agreed the suggested budget presented by the Clerk.

5. Setting the 2000-2001 Precept

The Clerk had circulated, prior to the meeting, a letter from Haxby Town Council which highlighted the difficulties that it was facing this year with the withdrawal of the City Council's contribution of £3.00 per resident. It was agreed that the Chairman and the Clerk should attend a meeting, organised by the YLCA, at Dunnington on 10 January when the subject of Parish Funding would be the only item on the agenda. The Councillors agreed that there should be a provision of £1,500 in the budget for a Village sign. It was agreed that a precept of £10,500 was needed if the City Council's proposal to withdraw the support of £3 per elector (total £5,610) went ahead. The figure would be finalised after the Chairman reported the feelings of the YCLA meeting.

6. Income received

The Clerk reported the receipt of £127.50 from Cornhill Insurance for the claim for damage to the seat in Dikelands Lane. The Parish Council had had to suffer an excess of £75.00 on the claim.

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 on planning matters.

Councillor Parker said she would advise the Parish Council of the date of the next meeting of Planning Aid.

01.005.4 - It was noted that the planning application for the development of West View Close had been withdrawn. The Clerk reported having received another eight letters from residents of West View Close and Villa Court all opposing the development.

1. Vandalism;

1. It was reported that the 'Ebor Way' sign at the junction of Ebor Way and Dikelands Lane had been sprayed with black paint again. The Clerk was directed to advise the City Council accordingly.
2. Prior to the meeting Cllr. Hopton had informed the Clerk that she hoped to call a meeting of Parish Councillors and interested people to be pro-active in discussing the problem of vandalism especially with regards to the Library.

2. Lampposts;

No report.

3. Councillors Comments

1. The fact that Hodgson Lane was not on the list of roads to be salted was still of concern to the Councillors and the Clerk was asked to write to the City Council to ask if the policy had been reviewed since he wrote in January 2000.
2. The gulley in the car park by the White Horse is blocked.
3. Two gulleys in the car park by the Lord Collingwood are blocked. The Clerk was directed to write to the appropriate department of the City Council to ask for the gulleys to be cleared.

1. Trees

The Clerk was directed to write to Miriam Addy of the City of York Council to ask that the three trees promised by Susan Knowles be planted in February.

2. Maintenance

It was reported that several residents in The Green and Hodgson Lane had asked about repairs to the access drives from the road to their property. It was agreed that the General Purposes Committee meet and discuss the subject of the state of the drives over the Green.

The Clerk was directed to write a letter to both Reverend Thomas of All Saints Church and Reverend Bowman of the Methodist Chapel to ask that no erection or dismantling of equipment for events on the Green be carried out on a Sunday.

The Councillors agreed to discuss the possibility of a Newsletter at the February meeting. The subject would be taken earlier on the agenda to allow more time for discussion

The Chairman, Councillor Richard Walker, addressed Councillor Smith who had stated his intention to retire as a Councillor at the end of the meeting. Councillor Walker thanked Councillor Smith personally and on behalf of the Parish Council for being "a right good asset to the Parish". He said he was sorry to lose him and wished him all the best for the future. Councillor Smith suitably replied. It was noted that Councillor Smith had been, at various times, Chairman of both Upper and Nether Poppleton Parish Councils.

The Clerk reported having notified Elizabeth Ellis, the Head of the City Council's Electoral and Civic Services, of the impending vacancy. Mrs Ellis had sent him six copies of the 'Vacancy for a Councillor' notice which he had put up on five notice boards in the Poppletons and given one to the Library. The notices invite members of the public to request a by-election to fill the vacancy. If ten or more members of the public request a by-election within 14 working days of the notice a by-election will be called. If this doesn't happen the Parish Council will be able to co-opt. The Councillors expressed their wish to fill the vacancy as soon as possible and, in case no by-election was called, agreed to call an Emergency Meeting to discuss the vacancy at 7.30pm at Fern House on 29 January.

Councillor Parker reported that the idea of recycling had been discussed at the November Ward Committee meeting. The Councillors resolved that something should be done about recycling of household waste and directed the Clerk to contact the appropriate department of the City Council to ask if a Council Officer could come to a future Parish Council meeting and discuss the subject with the Parish Councillors.

1. Nether Poppleton Parish Council minutes of meeting of 20 November
2. York Consultancy, Damage to Grass Verges - Policy Report asking for comments on the problem of parking on grass verges.
3. Poppleton Community Trust, Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting on 29 September, Minutes of the AGM on 11 October and Minutes of the Finance and Development Sub-Committee on 24 October.
4. YNET Minutes of meeting on 28 November 2000
5. YLCA - White Rose update
6. Newsletter from Friends of Bad Bargain Lane & Outgang Lane
7. Letter from the Chairman of Rufforth Parish Council giving details as to why the proposed extension to the Harewood Whin Tip should be opposed.
8. A brochure from Yorwaste being a Non Technical Summary of the environmental impact statement which has been submitted with the planning application for the proposed extension to the Harewood Whin Tip.
9. North Yorkshire Police Authority CaP News - Issue 2, November 2000

Councillor Watters advised the meeting that it is her intention to resign from the post of Poppleton Infants School Governor.

12 February 2001 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 11.00pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

uppc mins 01/01