Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 9 April 2001 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

Councillor A J Peck.

The Clerk read a letter of resignation from Councillor Lorna Acomb. He informed the Councillors that he had reported this to Elizabeth Ellis, the City Council's Head of Electoral and Civic Services, who had supplied Notice of Vacancy forms which he had completed and posted round the village.

One alteration was made to the minutes in the Minute Book which were then accepted by the Councillors and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

2. Turn engines off signs (Min. 00.09)

Quotations for the provision of two signs had been received from four local companies. After due consideration the Councillors agreed to purchase two 640 mm x 800 mm signs but with the word 'please' added. The Clerk was asked to write to Sign*A*Rama for a revised quotation.

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

It was noted that the Parish Council's claim for a grant towards the provision of a Village Sign was included on the Ward Committee's Local Improvement Scheme Proposals 2001/02. No other information regarding the progress of the signs was available.

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

The Clerk was directed to ask Ken Falkingham to complete the work as soon as possible.

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

The Clerk reported having asked Steve Catt to implement the relocation of the lamppost.

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

No news on this subject.

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

The Clerk reported that the City Council's Commercial Services department should have cleaned the gulleys in the car park outside the White Horse by 16 April. A letter received from Jean Gardner, the City Council's Technician - Highway Maintenance, suggested that the car park next to the Lord Collingwood is not a public highway and that the City Council would not spend public money cleaning the gulleys there. The Councillors disagreed with this statement saying that the City Council had a responsibility for maintaining all the footpaths and the car parks on the Green. The Clerk was directed to obtain a quotation for cleaning the gulleys and to make the point to the City Council that the gulleys were their responsibility.

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

The Clerk reported having received a letter from John Laking, NYCC's Senior Planning and Development Officer, advising that the contract for the 142 service is to be reviewed and that the Parish Council should ensure that the City of York Council raises the issue of the diversion of the 142 service during the review process.

8. Loose covers on the Green (Min. 01.010cii)

Both the Chairman and the Clerk reported continued difficulty in contacting ntl about the loose covers.

9. Moving the lamppost in Westfield Lane (Min 01.020b)

The City Council had written explaining that there is no budget for moving lampposts and pointed out that it costs more to move a lamppost than to erect a new one. They suggested that funds could come from the Ward Committee. The Clerk was directed to obtain a price for erecting a new lamppost.

10. Mud in Westfield Lane (Min. 01.010ciii)

The Clerk reported having had no reply to his letter about the condition of the road. The Councillors expressed their disappointment and directed the Clerk to write to the City Council.

11. Willow tree in the Main Street allotment (Min. 01.021aii)

The Clerk reported having written to Four Seasons to ask them to fell the willow tree as soon as possible.

12. Scrutiny Committee (Min. 01.027)

The Clerk had circulated the minutes of the meeting received from the City of York Council. Councillor Richardson had attended the meeting at Huntington School on 3 March and gave a resume of the proceedings. In general the Parish Councils were not in favour of the way in which Ward Councils affect Parish Councils and were dissatisfied with the City Council's attitude to Parish Councils.

13. Police response time (Min. 01.037.1)

The Clerk read a letter from Inspector K B Gill advising the Parish Council that PC Bentall had taken eight minutes from receiving the call to arriving at the Chemist shop on the Green. She had been delayed at the railway crossing in Station Road. The Clerk was directed to write back to Inspector Gill pointing out that there are three ways into the village without having to cross the level crossing.

14. White lines on the road by the drop kerbs near the Post Office (Min.01.037.4)

The Clerk read an email from Julie Hurley of the City Council's explaining that she was waiting for the 2001-2002 allocation of funds before the white lines could be painted. She expected the lines to be painted soon.

15. Bus shelter light repair (Min. 01.044a)

The Clerk reported having received a quotation of £99.03 from J Lister Electrical for replacing the vandalised light in the bus shelter. The Councillors agreed to accept the quotation.

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 9 April 2001. The report showed that, after adjusting for the items of expenditure listed below, the bank balances at 9 April were: -

Current Account £50.34

High Interest Account £7,394.57

2. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

Yorkshire Local Councils Associations Annual sub 2001-02 £281.00

Yorkshire Rural Community Council Annual sub 2001-02 £25.00

B J W Mackman Clerk's Salary £602.62

Clerk's Expenses £51.43

Charles Anderson Plaque £12.00

Baron (Landscape Contractors) Grasscutting-March £125.00

3. Accounts paid

None

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.

It was reported that the planning application for the West View Close development had been rejected by the City Council but that an appeal was being made to the Planning Inspectorate.

Councillor Parker presented the following report of the meeting held at Rufforth Village Hall on 21 March 2001.

"Speaker MIKE DANDO Planning Aid

This meeting was attended by residents from all parishes in the U.P. Ward.

Mike Dando spoke about how the Countryside Agency (Countryside Commission) had started the Village Design Scheme, and the principles behind it.

The Design statement is a description of the village, principles for future development.

A wide section of the community should be used to prepare the document, i.e., all residents should be aware.

The idea is it becomes Supplementary Planning Guidance; therefore must conform with Local CYC plan or NYCC plan. Must have York on board to go forward, as Copmanthorpe are doing it, suppose York is happy with it.

Funding possibly by Ward Committee and/or local business.

A good number for the group is about 15 to 20.

Benefits - in conservation area good design, could impose good practice on local planning, proactive rather than reactive, which must be better. Easier decisions by parish councils on planning applications, giving an overall cohesive view, helping environmental issues and improvements in the parish".

1. Vandalism;

i. It was reported that yellow paint had been sprayed on the inside of the bus shelter on the Green.

ii. Councillor Parker reported that she had put up No Dog Fouling signs on Footpath No. 1.

2. Lampposts;

No report.

3. Sundry

It was reported that 7.5 tonne limit signs have now been erected at the several entrances to the village.

1. Trees

No report.

2. Maintenance

The Clerk read a letter from Poppleton Luncheon Club about vehicle access to the Methodist Chapel. The Councillors pointed out that the footpath had not been built to carry the weight of vehicles. They had no wish to widen the footpath which is for all the community. The Clerk was directed to write to the Luncheon Club to ask if the provision of a wheel chair would be helpful.

The Councillors agreed to permit the erection of an Easter Cross on the Green

At this point Councillor Davies retired from the meeting.

No report.

It was agreed that the Newsletter should contain elements from the Chairman's annual report, Councillor Parker's notes on the Village Plan and a note on financial matters from the Clerk.

Councillor Parker retired for this item. The Chairman adjourned the meeting so that the Councillors could ask Trevor Parker some questions after which the meeting was resumed. The Clerk reported that the City Council is unable to determine who owns the field either side of Westfield Lane. The Clerk was directed to write to the Land Registry.

Again no Councillor present wished to put their name forward to be a member of this Committee.

It was agreed to refer this item to the next meeting.

1. Notice of a meeting of the Poppleton Ward Residents' Association on 25 April
2. A note of the change of Chair from Poppleton Under Fives.

1. YLCA YNET minutes of 27 February and Chairman's Planning Report. Note the reference to the Westview Close development and the voting of the Councillors on the City's Planning Committee.
2. The City Council's Housing Strategy, Action Plan and Investment Proposals.
3. The City Council's "Your views on the York Green Belt".

1. Nether Poppleton Parish Council minutes of 19 March
2. OFWAT Customer Care package
3. NYPA CaP News, Issue 3, March 2001 Minutes of Neighbourhood Watch Association meeting of 8 March
4. Minutes of the Poppleton Moat Fields Management Group meeting of 26 September, 2000
5. Halcrow UK's plans of the A19/A1237 Roundabout Improvement Scheme
6. Minutes of a YNET meeting of 27 March
7. News about post offices from Alan Johnson MP, Minister for Competitiveness
8. White Rose Update - March 2001 and various documents
9. A letter from the Countryside Agency thanking us for taking part in last autumn's survey and advising us we weren't successful in the draw for a £1,000 community grant.

i. Reported that the exit from Newlands Lane to the A59 was obscured to the right by an overgrown hedge. The Clerk was directed to write to the City Council to ask who is responsible for cutting the hedge.

ii. Reported continuing problems with sewerage backing up the drains in Pear Tree Avenue when it rains. It was agreed to place the subject on the agenda for the May meeting.

Reported that vegetation was growing through the fence between the White Horse and the footpath from the Green to Brackenhills. The Clerk was directed to write to the landlord of the White Horse to ask him to trim back the vegetation.

Reported the incidence of rats in the village and asked for the subject to be put on the May agenda.

14 May 2001 at 7.30pm preceded at 7.00pm by an address on Environmental Recycling by Shaun Donnelly, the City Council's Waste Management Officer.

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.20pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

uppc mins 04/01