Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 10 February 2003 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs P R Gillies and Mrs R Watters.

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

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

The chairman reported no progress on this subject.

2. Manse Land (Min. 02.064e)

The Clerk reported that he had spoken to Dr Jackson who has drafted a letter to be sent from the Old Forge Surgery. The Clerk was asked to follow up on this lead. The Clerk reported that a minute in the 1969 Minute Book stated that Noel Kay had been appointed the solicitor to act on the Parish Council's behalf in the transfer of the land on the Green to West Riding County Council. The Clerk was asked to follow up this lead with Ware and Kay, Solicitors.

3. CPRE presentation at a public meeting (Min. 02.148)

It was reported that the subject had been discussed at the Ainsty Group of Parishes meeting on 28 February and that a date had been set. The CPRE are to give their presentation at the Community Centre at 7.30pm on Wednesday 16 April 2003.

4. "No Parking" signs replacements (Min. 02.163a di).

The No Parking signs have not yet been replaced.

5. Greenthwaites fence report (Min. 02.163a dii)

It was reported that the fence has not yet been reinstated

6. Repairs to the pump at the junction of Main Street with Limegarth (Min. 02.163a diii).

The repairs to the pump have not yet been done.

7. Broken Station Road sign (Min. 03.006a)

The City Council has asked the blacksmith to make a new sign which should be in place within the next two weeks.

8. Missing Burlands Lane sign (Min. 03.006bii)

The City Council has agreed to replace this sign.

9. Burlands Lane rubbish (Min. 03.006biii)

The rubbish has been removed.

10. Hodgson Lane salting (Min. 03.006biv)

The City Council had replied to the Clerk's letter. The City Council will not be putting Hodgson Lane on the list of roads to be salted in the foreseeable future. Here are three excerpts from the reply.

"Firstly I feel I ought to inform you that there is no legal duty on any council to prevent the formation of frost or ice on the highway.

"… the Council carried out an extensive review of its winter maintenance service, following which a report was taken to Council members in September 1998 when they agreed the policy for the future taking into account a number of factors. This policy has subsequently been reaffirmed following subsequent reviews in the summers of 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

"……drivers should drive with due care and attention and to the prevailing conditions, and in wintry conditions all drivers should take more care when driving on any road particularly if it is not a road that they do not normally use."

The Clerk reported that he had included the above wording on the 'Hodgson Lane' page on the Parish Council's website.

11. Hole in the Green (Min.03.007d)

The hole in the Green had been dug by McAlpine who are subcontractors to Transco. They are endeavouring to replace 55 metres of asbestos gas pipe. Apparently there are few plans of the gas pipe network so the contractor is having to dig holes to locate the main gas pipe. Unfortunately, work had begun before the City Council had been informed but assurances have been received that the Parish Council will be notified of any similar future occurrences. It was agreed that members should be vigilant in bringing any similar instances to the attention of the Clerk.

12. The Future of the Poppleton Internet Website (Min. 03.014)

Although Steve Craig, the webmaster of poppleton.net, is giving up the site Peter Hawkins, the Managing Director of Local Telecom Service Limited, a local supplier of business telephone systems and broadband services based on Clifton Moor, has agreed to host the site. Peter says "initially, it will simply be a matter of keeping the site alive in its present format as a useful local resource but it is hoped that it will be developed further in the future."

13. Abandoned car in Chantry Gap (Min. 03.016)

The car was removed shortly after the January meeting.

1. Financial Report

Prior to the meeting the Clerk had circulated a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 5 February 2003. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 10 February were:

Current Account £60.23

Business Money Manager Account £9,103.70

npower Bus shelter electricity £18.58

3. Accounts paid (net of VAT)

Poppleton Community Centre Trust Donation £500.00

York Open Planning Forum Subscription £20.00

HSBC Bank Interest £0.01

Northern Electric Wayleave £11.50

Prior to the meeting the Clerk had circulated 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.

No comments.

No report.

1. Vandalism

1. Coping stones had been taken from the top of the wall outside the library and been broken and scattered around the bus shelter. The local special constable had made arrangements with the City Council to have the area cleared.
2. Youths had been seen on the school roof.
3. The Youth Club building where POPSOC meets had been broken into.

2. Other reports

It was pointed out that, in January, Mayfair Security had been making their first visit to the village between 3.00pm and 3.30pm on most days. It was agreed that this was far too early in the day and that the Ward Committee's money was being wasted. It was agreed that Mayfair Security be told to make their first visit much later and definitely after dark.

3. Replacement of missing gate at the Main Street allotments

The Clerk showed the Councillors a copy of a photograph from the Poppleton Archive showing the gate in the allotments' hedge in 1896. The Councillors considered replacing the missing gate with hawthorn hedge to match the existing hedge but agreed to replace the gate. The Clerk was asked to make the appropriate arrangements with Ken Falkingham.

1. Trees -

2. It was reported that the Jubilee Fund had cash available to provide a Jubilee Tree and seat. It was agreed that Councillors Swann, Walker and Tomlinson look at areas in the village where it may be possible to plant a 'Jubilee Tree'. It was agreed that they should complete the appropriate paperwork.

2. Events

No report.

3. Car parking

No report.

4. Maintenance

No report

1. A letter from Northminster Properties asking if a representative could address the Parish Council about developments at their site in Northfield Lane and answer any questions that councillors may have. It was agreed to invite a representative to address the Parish Council at the beginning of the meeting in March.
2. A letter from the City Council advising that the rest of Upper Poppleton would be included in the metal/glass/paper collection later this year.
3. A letter from Roper Langford giving details of an article in a recent Sunday Times Drive section about a radar speed gun which is available for hire. The speed gun has been used by volunteers in the South of England with some success. The Councillors discussed the idea and deputed the Clerk to write to the Chief Constable and Peter Evely of the City Council to advise them of the Parish council's interest in the subject and to ask for their views.

1. Mayfair Security reports for January 2002
2. YCVS - Voluntary Voice February 2003 and other papers
3. CPRE - Planning Update 1/03, Rural Matters Issue 26
4. Ainsty Group of Parishes minutes of 17 September
5. CRY News Volume 1, Issue 7 - Jan 2003
6. Minutes of North Yorkshire Police CaP meeting of 15 January
7. Poppleton Ward Residents Association meeting minutes of 27 November
8. YNET minutes of 28 January
9. York Open Planning Forum - Newsletter 2
10. York & North Yorkshire Playing Field Association Newsletter
11. Local Councils Update - November 2002

1. Councillor Thompson reported

1. Having been to a Ward Committee meeting held on 23 January when he raised the subject of double taxation on the emptying of dog bins on the basis that the Parish Council was being charged for emptying when areas where the City Council had provided dog bins were not being charged.
2. That at the Ainsty Group of Parishes meeting held on 28 January there was discussion on the way that new uses of Green belt were being introduced undemocratically. That landfill sites and mineral extraction were to be permitted uses were given as examples. Councillor Thompson used the occasion to make the point about double taxation on dog bins when he learned that the bins provided by Copmanthorpe Parish Council, which had been emptied free of charge by Selby Council, were now emptied free of charge by the City of York Council.
3. That a Public Inquiry had been held to determine new Parliamentary boundaries for York and North Yorkshire. For York there will be two seats with either a central and outer ring or a split across the centre with mainly the River Ouse as the dividing line.

1. Councillor Tomlinson reported

On the proceedings at a CaP meeting held on 22 January when the subject was Policing in the 21st Century. The police explained why there was a proposed increase in the precept from £1.70 to £3.00 per household per week. Much of the increase in crime was drugs related. The increase would enable many policemen and support staff to be recruited with the intention of preventing an increase in crime. In conjunction with the recruitment there will be a programme for developing the wider use of technology to support the core policing work. Councillor Tomlinson had asked if the police were setting performance indicators so that the public could see how performance compared to targets. He was informed that no targets were being set at this stage.

2. Councillor Richardson reported

On the recent Youth Action Group meeting when two new youth workers were introduced. It is hoped to run the Youth Club for youths aged 13 -17 years. Discussion included the provision of a shelter as a place for youths to meet and the provision of a skate board park. The latter could be built in the car park behind the Community Centre but it would need a sufficient amount of parental interest before it could proceed.

The sub committee reported the results of their meeting and it was agreed that the research needed would be carried out to enable display material to be gathered. Several Councillors agreed to do the research. It was agreed that local organisations be invited to take part in the Open Day and produce their own displays. The Clerk agreed to write and invite more than 20 organisations that had been identified. They would be allocated space, free of charge, on a first come first served basis. Councillor Thompson volunteered to provide free tea and coffee for the Open Day. It was agreed that Nether Poppleton Parish Council be invited to take part in the Open Day.

A copy of the Consultation Draft had been circulated to the Councillors prior to the meeting. It was agreed to "support the opportunity to be given adequate time to respond to consultations" and "to welcome the opportunity to present cases of double taxation to the City of York Council."

A letter from the Village Design Statement Group had pointed out that there are fewer trees with Tree Preservation Orders in Upper Poppleton Parish than Nether Poppleton Parish and could the Parish Council add to the current schedule. It was agreed that Councillors would bear this in mind when travelling round the village and would note any trees they wished to be considered.

Members were urged to consider the Plan before the next meeting. The Plan is available for viewing at the Library and on the website www.nystructureplan.org

The Councillors agreed that this was an important addition to future planning.

1. Councillor Thompson

1. Asked that the subject of Yorkshire and Humber Assembly - Regional Planning Guidance be included on the agenda for the March meeting.
2. Drew attention to the 3^rd Set of Changes to the City of York Local Plan. It was agreed that members would examine these changes and formulate suitable replies before the next meeting.
3. Agreed to read through and comment on the draft of a proposed Contract of Employment for the Clerk.

Monday 10 March 2003 at 7.30pm.

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.38pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE

UPPC mins Feb 03