Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 13 May 2002 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs R Watters.

The Clerk read a letter of resignation from Councillor J A Hook.

Councillor Walker announced that he would not be standing for re-election as Chairman owing to work commitments. The Councillors unanimously elected Councillor Thompson to be the new Chairman and he assumed the chair and conducted the rest of the meeting. The following offices were filled as shown below.

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

1. Village signs (Min. 01.161b)

It was noted that no progress had been made on this matter and the Clerk was directed to find out why.

2. Turn Engines Off Signs (Min. 02.048ai)

The Clerk reported that Councillor Macdonald had not given him any news about his progress in pursuing this matter.

3. Missing School Court Signs (Min. 02.048aii)

The Clerk read an email received from Glen Donaldson, a City Council's Highway Regulation Technical Clerk, who has identified that Old School Court is adopted and he will be ordering two new plates to be placed onto the existing wooden back boards.

4. York Green Belt Review Consultation (Min.02.067)

The Clerk reported that the Ainsty Group of Parishes, at a recent meeting, had agreed that the City of York Council Officers be asked to address a joint meeting of Parish Councils on the subject of the Green Belt Review. The meeting had been arranged for Tuesday 25 June at 7.30pm at the Upper Poppleton Community Centre. After discussion the Parish Councillors agreed that they would attend this meeting and not pursue the idea of having their own presentation.

5. Manse Land (Min. 02.064e)

The Clerk reported not having received a reply from the Land Registry.

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 13 May 2002. The report showed that, after adjusting for the items of expenditure listed below, the bank balances at 13 May were:

Current Account £97.03

High Interest Account £13,796.87

2. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

Mayfair Guarding Group Response Community policing - May 2002 £485.33

Cornhill Insurance Insurance premium for 2002-2003 £658.15

3. Accounts paid (net of VAT)

Poppleton Queen's Jubilee Committee Donation £500.00

YRCC Annual subscription £25.00

H M Land Registry Search Fee £4.00

4. Income Received

City of York Council First Half Year's precept £5,500.00

HSBC Bank Interest £4.54

VAT Refund of 2001-2002 Claim £1,178.56

6. Internal auditor

The Clerk reported that the Yorkshire Local Councils Associations are acting as intermediaries to help interested Parish Councils in arranging for groupings of councils to arrange internal auditors amongst themselves. It was agreed that the Clerk should notify the YLCA of the Parish Council's desire to take part in the grouping arrangement.

6. Consideration of Donations

The Clerk had circulated a schedule showing donations made by the Parish Council for the last seven years. After discussion the Councillors agreed to make the following donations immediately and would reconsider the subject at a future meeting. York Theatre Royal £50, All Saint's for grass cutting £100, St Leonard's Hospice £50, Martin House Hospice £50 and Poppleton Luncheon Club £50.

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.

1. There were no comments from the Councillors.

Councillor Hopton reported that the VDS committee had had a small degree of success in gaining grants towards the cost of printing the finished document.

1. Vandalism

1. It was reported that the Anderson seat in Station Road had been damaged. The Clerk was deputed to ask Ken Falkingham to repair the seat.
2. It was reported that Mayfair Guarding Group Response, the company carrying out nightly community patrols round the village, were now making two 30 minute visits instead of the previous three 20 minute visits. This enables them to cover more territory each visit.

2. Other reports

1. It was reported that many drivers are now exceeding the speed limit in Station Road. The Clerk was deputed to write to the Chief Constable to ask for a visit by an officer with a speed gun.
2. The grass on the verges in Hodgson Lane has grown very high. Given that there is no footpath and that cars often speed down Hodgson Lane the Clerk was deputed to ask the City Council if it would arrange for the grass to be cut between the Red Lion and the 30mph sign as soon as possible.
3. The grass verge in Black Dyke Lane has been flattened by parked cars. The Clerk was asked to contact the City Council to see if it would arrange for the verge to be raised and reseeded.

1. Trees

The Clerk yet again reported having received no acknowledgement from the City Council to his request for an officer to look at the lime tree on the Green. The Councillors agreed that the Clerk should write to the Director and complain that Parish Council correspondence was being ignored and that the City Council were not observing their own correspondence monitoring time limits.

2. Events

Permission was given for Poppleton Garden Guild to put stalls on the Green on 24 August.

3. Maintenance - edging the grass between Beech Grove and the surgery and along the opposite side of the Green.

Councillor Pannell and the Clerk agreed to look at the area prior to contacting Baron Landscape, the Parish Council's current grass cutting contractor.

4. Car Parking

No report.

1. A letter inviting Parish Councillors to a meeting on 27 May to consider the formation of a 'York Open Planning Forum'.
2. Notice of a CaP presentation on 12 June entitled "Public Reassurance and Quality of Life for Selby and York" which Councillor Pannell agreed to attend.
3. A letter from the City Council thanking the Parish Council for the joint approach to the traffic calming issue.
4. A note from the YLCA inviting Councillors to attend the Annual Conference in Harrogate on 6-7 September.
5. A letter from the YLCA inviting Councillors to attend a meeting with Paul Hooey, Head of Policy and Guidance at the Standards Board for England. No Councillor would be able to attend.
6. A letter from the York & District Homeopathic Group inviting Councillors to a public meeting on 17 June to discuss homeopathy in York. No Councillor would be able to attend.
7. An invitation from NALC for Councillors to attend the National Conference and Exhibition at Preston Guildhall from 14-16 June. No Councillor would be able to attend.

1. Minutes of the Nether Poppleton Parish Council meeting held on 18 March 2002
2. Minutes of the Nether Poppleton Parish Council meeting held on 15 April 2002
3. Minutes of the Nether Poppleton Annual Parish Council meeting held on 15 April 2002
4. Minutes of the Poppleton Ward Residents Association meeting held on 27 March 2002
5. Community Regeneration York News - April 2002
6. Mayfair Guarding Group Response report for March and April 2002
7. YLCA White Rose Update - April 2002 - and "Country Air" Magazine
8. Minutes of the meetings of the Ainsty Group of Parishes held on 31 January and 16 April 2002.
9. The CPRE membership Welcome Pack and Memorandum of Association
10. The City of York Council's Paving Policy
11. Local Agenda 21 UK "Action for Sustainability" - Issue 6 - Spring 2002
12. The Safer York Magazine - Issue Five Spring 2002

Councillors Richardson and Hopton gave a résumé of the Ward Committee meeting held on 23 April 2002. One item that had caused concern at the Ward Committee meeting was that there was no indication as to which of the projects submitted for consideration had been put forward by the Parish Councils. It was suggested that future applications should indicate any Parish Council connection.

The Councillors present completed their Declaration of Acceptance of Office under the new Code of Conduct with the exception of Councillor Peck. Councillor Peck gave his views on the new Code of Conduct and the requirement to complete a Statutory Register of Members' Financial and Other Interests. Councillor Peck then resigned as a Parish Councillor and retired from the meeting. The Chairman thanked Councillor Peck for his contribution to the Parish Council over the many years that he had served as a Councillor.

The Clerk stressed the need for Councillors to complete their register of interest documents before the 28-day deadline which would be on 2 June.

Discussion on this subject was deferred until another meeting.

The Clerk read a letter from a resident asking for funding towards a street party in the village. The Councillors agreed that such requests should be passed to the Golden Jubilee Committee.

Discussion on this subject was deferred until the June meeting.

1. Councillor Walker

Suggested that enquiries be made of the City Council to ask if there are any plans to spray the weeds on the village pavements.

2. Councillor Thompson

i. Pointed out that two Councillors had now resigned from the Council. The Clerk agreed that he would start the process to recruit two new Councillors as soon as possible.

ii. Said that the Parish Council should publish an Annual Newsletter to be distributed to all residents. The Clerk agreed to prepare a newsletter for discussion at the June meeting.

Monday 10 June 2002 at 7.30pm.

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.47pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

uppc mins 05/02