Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 9 February 2004 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

A resident of 42 Station Road gave a brief history of the drainage problems he has experienced at his home. The Councillors agreed that the Parish Council minutes from 1965 to 1968 should be searched to see if there was any reference to the drainage problem.

There were no declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor John Pannell, Councillor Janet Hopton (City of York Council) and Councillor Glen Bradley (City of York Council).

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

1. Reinstatement of the Green where is has been damaged by McAlpines (Min. 04.004a)

The repair work will be carried out as soon as the weather allows.

No progress on this subject.

3. Missing signs (Min. 04.004c)

The Brackenhills and Chantry Grove signs had still not been replaced. The Clerk was directed to chase the City Council and ensure the work was carried out as soon as possible.

4. Lime Garth notice board (Min. 04.004d)

The work had been completed and an invoice from David Palmer for £80.00 had been received. Payment was approved by the Councillors.

5. Lime Garth lime tree works (Min. 04.009a)

The City Council has pruned the lime tree at the corner of Lime Garth and Main Street.

1. Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 9 February 2004. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 9 February were:

Current Account £100.73

Business Money Manager Account £13,764.14

James Mackman Clerk's salary - January £260.37

James Mackman Postage, telephone and stationery £26.54

David Palmer Repairs to Lime Garth notice board £80.00

All Saints Church Purchase of Christmas Tree £90.00

3. Accounts paid (net of VAT)

Poppleton History Society Donation £50.00

4. Income Received

HSBC Bank Interest £0.01

There was a discussion on the form of presentation of the monthly financial statement. Councillor Hook agreed to present a revised statement.

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.

No comments. Councillor Tomlinson mentioned that alterations had been made to the roof of a house in Station Road. As the Parish Council had received no planning notification from the City Council the Clerk was directed to find out if planning permission was needed and had been sought.

1. Vandalism

Youths had been seen on the flat roofs of the Library and the School.

Cars had been broken into in various streets in the village

Several burglaries had taken place recently

Notice had been received from the Neighbourhood watch of a burglary by men claiming to have been directed to prune trees.

2. Other reports

Councillor Watson had obtained details of various "variable message signs". He said he would continue to look into the subject and try to obtain some costings.

1. Trees -

No report

2. Events

No report

3. Car parking

No report

It was reported that the No Parking sign outside the Methodist Chapel had been knocked over and that the base needed to be made more secure. The Clerk was directed to ask Ken Falkingham to make the appropriate repair.

1. Learning + Skills Council - a poster and information about Bite Size Intros giving details of opportunities to learn new skills and develop new hobbies.
2. A letter from the City Council giving the opportunity for an officer to attend a Parish Council meeting and listen to the Councillors' views on local transport issues. The Councillors agreed that this would be a good agenda item for the next Joint meeting scheduled for 29 March.
3. A letter from the Marston Moor Internal Drainage Board asking for permission to use the Parish Council's notice board

1. Details of the City Council's Rights of Way Improvement Plan launch at the Royal York Hotel on 30 January.
2. Various documents from the Wheatlands Community Woodland

1. Askham Bryan College Training Services advert
2. CPRE - TCG news, Issue 28 - December 2003
3. CPRE - planning update, issue 1/04 - January 2004
4. Mayfair Group Response - January report
5. Nether Poppleton Parish Council - Minutes of 17 November
6. Ward Committee - schedule of grants awarded
7. WaterVoice - a leaflet entitled "Are You Being Served"
8. YCVS - Voluntary Voice, February 2004
9. YLCA - Schedule of meetings for 2004
10. YLCA - White Rose Update, January 2004
11. York Hospitals NHS Trust - Foundation Trust, Consultation Document

1. Councillors Tomlinson and Watson reported on their attendance at the Ward Committee meeting on 5 February.

2. Councillor Hook reported on her attendance at the City Council's Rights of Way Improvement Plan Launch Event on 30 January. She suggested that Councillors should set an example and not use their cars on short trips within the village.
3. The Clerk reported on the Ainsty Group meeting held on 27 January. The next meeting will be held on 22 April at the Poppleton Community Centre.

No name was put forward for consideration. The Councillors agreed to continue to look for a suitable candidate. It was agreed that the vacancy should be advertised on the village notice boards

As Councillor Pannell was on holiday it was agreed to defer his report for another month. The resident addressed the meeting and told the Councillors about his problem. For details, see the minute above.

The Councillors looked at the information supplied by the City Council. This showed that over the last three years there had been eight accidents at the junction of Hodgson Lane and the A59, five of which occurred when the road was wet. In order to reduce the risk of accidents the City Council is proposing to put down an anti-skid surface on the A59. The Councillors agreed that this was a good idea.

After discussion it was agreed that no Councillors would attend the conference.

It was confirmed that the April Parish Council meeting would be held on Easter Monday.

Councillor Walker advised the meeting of the recent death of Noel King. Mr King had been, until a couple of years ago, a regular attender at Parish Council meetings. He would enter through the side door on his electric buggy. At the close of each meeting he would, when asked, make comments on the concluded proceedings and communicate his extensive knowledge of village affairs. The Councillors observed a minute's silence in memory of Mr King. It was agreed that a condolences card should be obtained and signed on behalf of all the Councillors and given to Noel's widow, Mrs Cath King, who had served as an Upper Poppleton Parish Councillor and had been its Chairman for many years.

Monday 8 March 2004 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.47pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE