Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 11 February 2002 at 7.00pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs R Watters.

Sergeant Armstrong, who is based at Acomb Police Station from where Upper Poppleton is policed, gave an explanation of the police and geographic areas of his responsibility. He had been invited to address the Parish Council because of the Councillors concern about recent vandalism and the need to know what the police reaction has been. Sergeant Armstrong gave the following information.

• The problem of vandalism has been addressed. Operation Print was carried out over three weekends in January when there was a high police presence in the village. Several people were arrested for various offences.
• Intelligence has been gathered and the names of the main culprits are now known.
• From October to December 2001 there was an average of 23 incidents per month reported to the police. In January there were just four.
• A pro-active police team is making the occasional visit to the village.
• It is hoped that outreach workers may be provided.
• It is the Police Authority's remit to reduce crime and the fear of crime.
• There had been no problems on Youth Club nights. The Youth Club is not a cause of concern.

• Councillor Thompson asked if the police are aware that there is no feedback to the Neighbourhood Watch on break-ins in the village.
• Councillor Richardson said that she would like to have a regular report on crime in Poppleton.
• Councillor Hopton asked if Mayfair Group Response should continue to be used. Sergeant Armstrong said that the Police Authority supports the use of Mayfair Group Response. They are an extra pair of eyes in the village and the police can't guarantee police cover.
• Councillor Walker thanked Sergeant Armstrong for his time and answering questions.

Having been circulated and read the minutes were accepted and signed as a true record.

2. Blairgowrie verge (Min. 01.104)

The Clerk reported that Lister Croft have still not received instructions from their clients. Four Seasons had originally misquoted for clearing the vegetation between the path and the fence. The quotation should have said £227 including VAT. The Clerk explained that he had applied to the City Council, on the Parish Council's behalf, for planning permission to prune the trees as they are in a Conservation Area. Providing there are no objections the work can commence on 15 March. It was agreed that the quotation should be accepted. The Councillors agreed that the Clerk should write to Lister Croft to advise that the bill for pruning the trees will be sent to their clients in due course.

At this point Councillor Peck joined the meeting.

3. 30mph limit in Hodgson Lane - Traffic calming measures costings (Min. 01.125.1c)

The Clerk reported that he had written to Bill Woolley, the City Council's Assistant Director (Development & Transport) asking for guidance on the costing of traffic calming measures but had received no reply. The Councillors expressed their concern that no reply had been received and directed the Clerk to write again.

5. Community Policing (Min. 01.150)

Councillor Walker reported having attended a meeting with Mayfair Group Response. It was agreed that Mayfair's monthly reports should be circulated to all the Councillors.

Councillor Peck said that the community should be providing somewhere for the youths of the village to congregate.

Councillor Hopton said that Beckfield Ward is trying to find somewhere for their youths and if provided should stop some youths coming to Poppleton.

Councillor Richardson said that the Youth Club in Poppleton is trying to expand.

Councillor Walker asked if the Ward Committee could give funds to the Youth Club. Councillor Hopton explained that the Youth Club is self-financing.

It was agreed that the problem with providing such things as a skate board park is finding an acceptable location.

6. Joint meeting with Nether Poppleton PC (Min. 01.155)

A joint meeting was held on 4 February at the Tithe Barn when there were eight Parish Councillors from Upper Poppleton and four Parish Councillors from Nether Poppleton. There were three items on the agenda; The Village Traffic Study, One Parish Council for Poppleton and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

The joint meeting agreed that the City Council should provide speed humps in Station Road, Long Ridge Lane, Millfield Lane and Hodgson Lane.

It was agreed that no decision should be made about one Poppleton Parish Council. Before any decision is made the residents should be consulted.

The Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebration report is recorded at agenda item 02.039.

It was agreed that the joint meeting had been very useful and should be held at three monthly intervals. The dates of future meetings to be agreed by the Parish Clerks.

The Clerk reported that three quotations had been received from approved contractors. It was agreed that the City of York Council's Commercial Services Department should be awarded the contract for building the signs.

The Clerk reported that he had written to seven utility companies to enquire about possible pipes, cables and wiring in the vicinity of the bases of the signs. Three replies had been received. It was agreed that when all the replies had been received the work should go ahead.

6. Pothole on The Green (Min. 02.010c)

Councillors Walker and Pannell had looked at the reported pothole. It was seen to retain water after rain but was not considered to be in a state to justify expenditure at this time.

7. Terminus change (Min. 02.023a)

The Clerk reported having written to First Bus to ask that the terminus be moved from The Green back to Main Street, Nether Poppleton. First Bus had forwarded a copy of the letter to the City Council but neither organisation had replied to date.

8. Neighbourhood Watch (Min. 02.023b)

Councillor Thompson had contacted Deborah Lynch, the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator and had been informed that no progress had been made since the public meeting at All Saints Church Hall in October 2001. He agreed to check again on the situation and report at the March Parish Council meeting.

9. Geoff Walker Memorial Seat (Min. 02.017)

The Clerk reported that Mrs Adams had bought the seat and had obtained permission from Mr & Mrs Clerk to locate the seat on the grass outside their house at 37 Station Road. The Clerk had been in contact with the City Council's Highways Department to obtain permission to install the seat.

10. Change of Bus Route

Following a lengthy discussion it was agreed that the Parish Councillors would like to see buses into the village taking alternate routes. The first bus would pass over the bollard at Lower Poppleton Lane, go down Millfield Lane, through Nether Poppleton to The Green in Upper Poppleton, down Long Ridge Lane, back along Millfield Lane and exit the village over the bollard. The second bus would enter the village the same way but on arriving at The Green continue out of the village, down Station Road and turn left on to the A59. This would provide a bus service for the residents in Station Road and allow residents of Poppleton Park to have access to the village amenities and be able to return by bus.

The Councillors discussed the option of allowing taxis over the rising bollard. Councillor Pannell declared an interest in the subject and refrained from passing comment.

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 11 February 2002. The report showed that, after adjusting for the items of expenditure listed below, the bank balances at 11 February were:

Current Account £100.34

High Interest Account £13,450.24

2. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

Mayfair Guarding Group Response Community policing - February 2002 £485.33

3. Accounts paid (net of VAT)

Society of Local Council Clerks Annual subscription £45.00

POPSOC Donation £200.00

4. Income Received

HSBC Bank Interest £6.48

5. New bank mandate to sign

The Councillors present signed a new bank mandate.

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 agreed that Councillors Walker and Pannell would visit Mr Britton of Greenthwaites to discuss the entrance to his property.

The Clerk read two letters from Elizabeth Parker, the Chair of the Poppleton Village Design Statement Group.

1. Vandalism

No report

2. Other reports

Councillor Richardson said that some plastic wheelie bins had been chewed up by the refuse collection vehicle and residents were experiencing difficulty in getting replacements.

1. Trees

No report

2. Events

No report

3. Maintenance

It was agreed that the Parish Council should accept the quotation from Baron Landscaping for cutting the Parish Council's grass for the next two years.

4. Car Parking

No report

1. A letter from Mrs Suzanne Wiper thanking the Parish Council for its support over the Manor School admission policy.
2. A letter from the City Council inviting Councillors to an all day York Green Belt Review Conference on 26 February 2002. No Councillor will attend this meeting.
3. A letter from YLCA advising that the elected Parish Council representative on the City Council's Standards Committee is Cllr M Johnson of Dunnington Parish Council and the Deputy is Cllr K Holdsworth of Haxby Town Council.
4. A letter from the City Council advising that Main Street, Nether Poppleton will be closed from 18 February for up to three weeks for culvert laying works to prevent the footpath from slipping into a minor watercourse.

1. Minutes of Nether Poppleton Parish Council meeting on 21 January 2002
2. Minutes of the YNET meeting held on 29 January 2002
3. Yorkshire Footpath Trust Newsletter - January 2002
4. YLCA Country Air No.83 and other documents
5. Community Regeneration York News - January 2002

6. Mayfair Group Response reports from 6 October 2001 to 16 January 2002

The Clerk reported having received an email from Richard Clark who is the City Council's Registration Officer for Parish Councils. His department is in the process of drafting registration forms and other documentation including guidance on the Code which he hopes to share with Parish Councils shortly. He is keeping in close contact with the YLCA. He suggests that his Department would keep the originals of the completed registrations of interest and that Parish Councils retain copies to form a sub-register which local people could inspect without having to go to the Official Register. The Councillors agreed that this was a good idea.

The next Ward Committee meeting will be held on 23 April.

Councillor Thompson explained that a 'walking bus' referred to a group of children, supervised by adults, who walked to and from school rather than be taken by car. It was agreed that this was a good idea in principle and the Clerk was asked to write to the Headmaster of the school and ask that walking buses be introduced through co-operation between the school and the PTA.

Councillor Hopton informed the Councillors that Upper Poppleton was on the City Council's list of Parishes interested in taking part in kerbside recycling.

Councillor Hopton informed the Councillors that, at the January Ward Committee meeting it had been agreed that the remainder of the current year's budget would be used to subsidise plastic composting containers. These would be available from the City Council on a first come first served basis at a cost of £5 each.

No Parish Councillor had been able to attend the meeting on 31 January so there was no discussion on this subject.

The Clerk reported having received a copy of "Quality Parish and Town Councils - A Consultation Paper". Councillor Tomlinson agreed to provide nine photocopies of the document so that one could be given to each Councillor. Further discussion on the subject would take place in March.

The Councillors were advised that the Poppleton Children's Sports Day Committee were planning to have a Golden Jubilee theme to this year's event. There was a general discussion on various other activities that had been suggested. It was agreed that a local resident should be appointed as a co-ordinator for Jubilee Celebration events. The Councillors were unanimous in whom they would like to act as co-ordinator and the Clerk was directed to write and invite the person to accept the post.

There were no comments from the Councillors.

Monday 11 March 2002 at 7.30pm.

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.40pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

uppc mins 02/02