Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 12 February 2001 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

Cllr. Mrs L R Acomb, Cllr. A J Peck and Cllr. Mrs R Watters

Mr A D Scott-Coveney, having been elected to the Parish Council as a result of an uncontested election signed the Statutory Declaration and was welcomed by the Chairman.

Accepted and signed as a true record.

2. Turn engines off signs (Min. 00.09)

Councillor Peck, who was absent from the meeting, had sent several photographs of two "Stationary vehicles switch off engine" signs taken at the level crossing at Starbeck.

3. Swimming pool progress (Min. 00.51.4a)

Councillors Parker and Hopton had met with Mr Phil Richardson and others to discuss the swimming pool. It was suggested that Cllr. Watters be the Parish Council co-ordinator with the Poppleton Pool Group.

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

The Clerk reported no progress on the subject of the Village Signs.

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

The pin kerbs have not yet been put in place.

5. Community Centre sign (Min. 00.121ai)

It was reported that the sign had been put on the lamppost by the Community Centre.

Relocation of street light (Min. 00121bii)

The Clerk reported that since the January Parish Council meeting one of the residents in Main Street had complained about the fact that the lamppost in question was to be moved. She did not want the light to shine on the windows at the front of her house. The Councillors thought that it would be possible to put a shield on the front of the lamp and directed the Clerk to ask the City Council if this would be feasible. The Councillors agreed that they should visit the site one evening to observe the level of darkness for people leaving the tennis court by the bridge over the ditch.

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

The Clerk reported no further progress on this subject.

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

It was reported that the School sign has now been fixed.

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

The Clerk read a letter from the City Council agreeing that the grass will be cut from now on. The letter went on to say that the City Council would arrange for the branches behind the dyke to be cut back away from the footpath.

9. York House fence (Min. 00.146.3)

The Clerk reported having received a letter from Clare Eynon, the City Council's Principal Development Control Officer, saying she was not in a position to be able say if the fencing was temporary or not.

10. Blocked gulleys in the car parks on the Green (Min. 01.006cii)

The Clerk reported having informed the City Council about the blocked gulleys. To date they had not been unblocked.

11. State of the drives over the Green (Min. 01.007b)

The Councillors agreed that the Parish Council could not spend money repairing drives to private houses over the Green. It was agreed that householders could fill in the wheel tracks with suitable material after reference to the Parish Councillors. The Clerk was asked to contact Reverend Bowman for help in identifying the organisers of societies such as the Luncheon Club and the Play Group whose members regularly drive vehicles to the door of the Methodist Chapel.

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

The Clerk reported that Ken Thorpe had written to say that there had long been a verbal agreement that allotment holders should cut the hedge by their own allotment. The Clerk was directed to mention this when he wrote in March to ask the allotment holders for their annual rent.

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

It was reported that the surface of the footpath had been repaired.

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

Cllr. Thompson drew the Councillors attention to the wording of the letter from Mr Laking stating that the time penalty for the diversion could not be accommodated within the current timetable. The Clerk was directed to write to Mr Laking to ask if the diversion could be incorporated into any new timetable.

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 12 February 2001. The report showed that, after adjusting for the items of expenditure listed below, the bank balances at 12 February were: -

Current Account £49.71

High Interest Account £8,521.25

2. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

None

3. Accounts paid

None

4. Confirmation of the 2001-2002 precept

Chairman Richard Walker reported that the information from the YLCA meeting at Dunnington, confirmed by email, is that there will be no contribution to the Parish Council from the City Council with the exception of a grass cutting allowance. The Councillors agreed the Budget for 2001-2002 and both the Chairman and the Clerk signed the official Precept Notice requesting a precept of £10,500.

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.

Councillor Davies reported that he had attended both the site visit to Grove House by members of the City's Planning Committee and the Planning Committee meeting at the Guildhall. He said that there had been unanimous agreement that the revised plans met the previous objections and that the plan had been passed. Councillor Hopton, as a member of the City's Planning Committee, outlined the reasoning behind the decision.

Councillor Hopton reported that a date for an introductory talk on preparing a Village Design Statement, by Mike Dando of Planning Aid, had been fixed for 21 March at Rufforth Village Hall. A training day will be held on 31 March at the Tithe Barn and Councillors Parker and Davies agreed to attend. The Councillors agreed that as many interested people as possible should attend the introductory talk and the Clerk was directed to write to representatives of organisations and societies in the village to ask if they will attend the same.

The Clerk reported having received another six letters from residents of West View Close complaining about the revised plans for the building development in the Close.

1. Vandalism;

1. The City of York would be asked to help by providing a Detached Youth Worker to carry out a survey of young people roaming the streets of Poppleton to obtain views about their perceived needs. The Worker would put to them two suggestions (see below) and would also ask them for their own comments and ideas. The results of this survey would serve as a basis for a further village wide consultation to see what might be done.
2. The Youth Club was discussed and was considered not to be meeting the needs of these groups. What was needed was a "Drop-in Centre", preferably organised by the young people themselves, under adult supervision, but not directed by adults - this was felt to be an important distinction. The Centre would be based on the existing Youth Club and would need to be open at least until 10.00 p.m. and on as many evenings as could be afforded, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays.
3. A further facility, which had been found to be successful in other places, was a youth shelter, with a facility such as a skateboard park/BMX cycle track/roller blade area. This need not necessarily be very large, but would be open-air and not under close supervision. The Community Trust is to be asked to consider allowing part of its car park to be used for this purpose. There would be a need to extend the car park behind the tennis courts, if it were to agree.

2. Lampposts;

Councillor Thompson reminded the meeting that no news had been received about moving the lamppost at the end of Westfield Lane so that the light shines down the footpath towards the Green. The Clerk was directed to find out what progress, if any, was being made.

3. Councillors Comments

1. It was reported that the school gate is often left open and that gangs of youths go into the school grounds.
2. The subject of the loose ntl covers by the dentists, Lord Collingwood and Beech Grove was raised. The Clerk reported having had no response from his letter to ntl and was directed to write again.
3. It was reported that there was mud on the road opposite the entrance to Willow Croft. The Clerk was directed to contact the City Council.

1. Trees

1. The Clerk reported that the City Council has agreed to provide three trees to be planted in Chantry Green. Councillor Watters agreed to be the Parish Council contact.
2. It was reported that the willow tree in the hedge behind the Garden Guild hut on the Main Street allotments is in a poor condition. The Clerk was directed to obtain three quotations for either making the tree safe or removing it completely.

2. Maintenance

No report

No report

Councillors Hopton and Davies gave a summary of the meeting held at Askham Richard Church Hall on 23 January.

The Councillors agreed that the newsletter should contain information about the increase in the precept, the previous chairman's annual statement, vandalism and parking. The Clerk was asked to produce a draft to be considered at the March meeting

The Clerk was directed to ask Ken Falkingham for a quotation for repairs to the seat.

A plan was submitted to the meeting showing a possible area for car parking adjacent to the dentists' surgery. It was agreed that any decision should be deferred until after the Halcrow Fox Traffic Study meeting to be held at the Tithe Barn on 19 February.

Consideration was given to a letter dated 3 January from the Scrutiny Manager, City of York Council, asking for information on railside safety in the York area such as broken fencing/gates, where children and intruders could gain access to and trespass on the railway giving concern for safety. The Councillors, whilst acknowledging that the York Harrogate line runs through Upper Poppleton and that the Poppleton station is in the Parish, had no knowledge of any problems and directed the Clerk to inform the Scrutiny Manager of that fact.

Recent changes introduced by the City Council include a new scrutiny process which involves council members in reviewing an area of council policy or operations. A Scrutiny Committee has been set up to examine the relationship between the City Council and Parish Councils to identify areas of concern and make recommendations for improvement. A seminar is to be held at Huntington School on 3 March to discuss issues raised to date. Councillors Davies and Richardson volunteered to represent the Parish Council at the meeting.

The latest information regarding the effect of the proposed boundary changes on the village is that Upper Poppleton would be part of a three-member ward that would include Copmanthorpe. The Councillors agreed that this would be acceptable as it was felt that the ward would still be rural in character.

The Councillors agreed that the Chairman, Richard Walker, should attend the Yorkshire Rural Community Council 2001 Parish Government Conference at Scarborough and that the Council should pay for the £100 cost of the Conference, two night's bed and breakfast and the appropriate travelling expenses.

The Councillors had been asked to consider a replacement for Councillor Watters as a representative of the 'minor authorities' as a School Governor. No Councillor expressed a wish to have their name put forward and the Clerk was directed to inform the School Governors accordingly.

Following the payment of a grant of £500 towards the Poppleton Community Archive in January 2000 a request for another £200 had been received. The Councillors agreed to defer discussion on the subject until the new financial year beginning on 1 April 2001.

The Clerk read a letter from the City Council giving details of a project aimed at generating funding for the improvement of public rights of way. The Councillors noted that Upper Poppleton has only one public footpath and whilst it would benefit from improved surfacing and clearance of vegetation there were no funds available to contribute towards the project in the current financial year. The Councillors agreed to defer a decision until the new financial year commencing in April.

The Clerk reported on the Calor Gas/Daily Telegraph Information Technology Award for village communities that are either already on the technological road or are about to start the journey. Given the existence of both the Poppleton website and the Poppleton History Society's CD-ROM, entry to the category may be worthwhile. Given that the closing date for entry is 5 October 2001 the Councillors asked that details be circulated and a decision made at a subsequent Council meeting.

The Clerk, having circulated the Councillors with a note about his need for the Parish to acquire a shredder to destroy old papers that would otherwise end up on the tip was directed to buy a shredder for £49.99 plus VAT.

The Clerk reported having received an email from Shaun Donnelly, the City Council's Waste Management Officer, who said he would be happy to address a future meeting on the subject of environmental recycling. The Councillors agreed that Mr Donnelly should be invited to address the Parish Council at the meeting on 14 May when the meeting would start at 7.00pm.

1. A letter from Robert Brydson pointing out the incidence of litter on the ground by the bus shelter opposite the Library and asking if a waste bin could be provided. The Councillors directed the Clerk to write to Mr Brydson to say that the City Council would probably not accept responsibility for emptying waste bins and that it was hoped the initiative described in 01.020a above might lead to a better educated youth who would be less likely to scatter litter in the street.
2. A letter from York Consultancy informing the Parish Council that the 'Executive Members of the Planning and Transport Officer in Consultation approved the Damaged Grass Verge Policy' on 7 December 2000.
3. A letter from POPSOC asking for a donation of £1,000 towards the cost of purchasing and installing an outdoor storage facility for sports equipment and large toys. The Clerk was directed to write to POPSOC and explain that there were no Parish funds available for a donation and suggest that they apply to the Ward Committee.
4. A letter from Yorwaste advising that they could provide matured compost from their green waste recycling initiative to local villages in the area, free of charge. There is to be a National Peatfree Compost Week commencing 12 March 2001 and Yorwaste could deliver a skip of compost to a central area in the village. The Councillors directed the Clerk to advise representatives of the allotments in Main Street and Beech Grove of Yorwaste's offer.

1. Nether Poppleton Parish Council minutes of meeting of 15 January 2001
2. North Yorkshire Police Authority CaP minutes of meetings on 20 September 2000 and 17 January 2001.
3. Poppleton Ward Residents Association meeting minutes of the meeting on 22 November.
4. City of York Council's Economic Bulletin 21 - January 2001.

01.036.3 The Clerk agreed that, in future, he would circulate relevant correspondence to Councillors on a weekly basis.

Mentioned that the police response time to a couple of recent incidents at the Chemist shop had been much longer than he considered appropriate. The Clerk was directed to write to the Chief Constable to ask for an explanation for the delay.

1. Mentioned that the boundary markers alongside the fields in Westfield Lane had been removed and questioned whether this had been done illegally.
2. Mentioned a vehicle parked at night on the footpath in Ebor Way. It was agreed that he would find out the name of the owner of the vehicle and report to the March meeting.

Reported that the cars belonging to the men working on the Antler Homes development at the corner of Station Road and the A59 were causing an obstruction. The Clerk was asked to write to the site agent to ask if the cars could be parked off the road.

1. Asked if white lines could be painted in the road by the new drop kerbs outside the Post Office.
2. Reported that the "School Lane" sign is on the ground.

12 March 2001 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 11.07pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

uppc mins 02/01