Neil Hildreth addressed the Councillors on the subject of the new Co-op on the Green which had recently opened for trading. He said he was being disturbed by the noise of early morning deliveries and trolleys being pushed in front of the shop. There is an increased amount of litter on the Green outside the shop. He said he was having a problem with cars being parked in front of his driveway.

Unfortunately, the subject of Mr Hildreth's complaint had been received too late to be included on the agenda for the June meeting. It was agreed that the subject be included on the agenda for the July meeting.

Richard Kirby-Brown was co-opted as a Parish Councillor and introduced to everyone present.

The Clerk confirmed that Councillor Kirby-Brown had signed the Declaration of Office.

There were no declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bill Bunyan, Pat Gillies, Liz Reese and Kate Richardson and Councillor Janet Hopton (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. 04.086a)

The work to the Green has still not been done. Councillor Watson agreed to speak to the contractor.

2. Brackenhills/The Green snicket (Min. 04.086c)

The City Council had agreed that it would be willing to make the snicket a Public Right of Way providing that the current owners would agree to it. The Clerk was directed to write to the occupiers of the properties adjoining the snicket to ask if they had a claim to any part of the snicket.

3. Deed of Easement - Chantry Green (Min. 04.086e)

The Deed of Easement had been received and was ready to be signed. The Councillors agreed that the Chairman should sign the easement.

4. Insurance (Min. 04.087e)

The Clerk informed the Councillors that he had been able to secure a refund of £210.30 on the Parish Council's public liability insurance premium which is calculated on a per capita basis. Apparently, the insurance company had a record of 5,000 residents of Upper Poppleton and not the 2,000 that do live in the village.

5. Deed of Easement-Westgarth (Min. 04.099)

Mr & Mrs Tulley had accepted the charge of £1,000 plus the cost of the Parish Council's legal fees and disbursements. The legal work is progressing.

1. Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 14 June 2004. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 14 June were:

Current Account £100.00

Business Money Manager Account £15,258.77

1. Accounts to pay (net of VAT);

James Mackman Clerk's salary - May £260.37

James Mackman Postage, telephone and stationery £20.83

City of York Council Bus shelter graffiti removal £275.00

Yorkshire Water Allotment water £2.91

2. Accounts paid (net of VAT)

npower Electricity for the bus shelter light £18.58

Baron Landscape Grass cutting - April £250.00

Allianz Cornhill Insurance premium £918.50

3. Income Received

City of York Council first half year's precept £5,500.00

HSBC Bank interest £49.17

Allianz Cornhill Insurance premium refund £210.30

3. To receive and approve the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2004

The Clerk presented the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 March 2004. It was agreed that the Chairman should sign the latter.

4. To sign the Annual Return

The Clerk also presented the Annual Return and explained the significance of Section 2 the "Statement of Assurance". Each Councillor had been given a list of the eight statements making up Section 2. The Councillors agreed with all eight items and the Chairman and Clerk signed the document.

5. To agree to accept the quotation of £125 for reducing the height of the hedge at the Main Street allotments.

It was agreed that the quotation from Ryland Horticulture be accepted.

* Councillor Bradley arrived at this point on the agenda.

6. To discuss the Main Street allotments water supply

A tenant who has an allotment near the Garden Guild building had requested that a water tap be installed. The Councillors were informed that Yorkshire Water would charge over £400 for installing a water meter to which would be added the cost of installing the tap. It was agreed not to proceed with this request.

7. To consider buying the latest SLCC Clerk's Manual

The SLCC has stopped supporting the old Clerk's Manual and has produced a new, more user friendly manual. As a member of the SLCC and having a copy of the old manual the new Clerks Manual is available for £24 including postage and packing. The cost to a non-member would be £69. It was agreed that the Parish Council should buy the new manual.

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.

None

1. Vandalism

Concern was expressed about the effectiveness of Mayfair Security. It would appear that Mayfair's drivers are friendly with the youths who congregate in the village. Problems occur when Mayfair is not in the village. The use of mobile phones is believed to be a factor in warning youths that Mayfair are travelling round the village so little unsociable behaviour occurs at these times.

*Councillor Tomlinson retired from the meeting at this point in the agenda

2. Other reports

It was requested that the subject "to discuss traffic calming measures" be put on to the next agenda.

1. Trees -

The City Council has said that it would not be possible to graft branches on to the flowering cherry tree in Station Road.

2. Events

It was agreed that the Clerk should write to the Children's Sports Day Committee to express the Parish Council's appreciation on a successful event.

3. Car parking

Two problems with the car park outside the White Horse were reported.

1. The kerb is much higher than it used to be before the car park was resurfaced. Many drivers have complained that they have hit the kerb when parking.
2. Two pools of water occur whenever it rains. The Clerk was directed to contact the City Council to ask if work could be carried out to remedy these problems.

It was agreed that the subject of car parking on the Green should appear on the next agenda.

4. Maintenance

It was reported that one of the downpipes on the bus shelter is missing. It was agreed to ask Ken Falkingham to carry out the necessary repair.

1. A letter from Ian Collinson expressing concern at the increasing amount of vandalism in the village and that there appeared to be no visible action by the law enforcers to curb the escalation of the problem. He asked for the Parish Council to call a meeting in the village to explain the current situation, seek views of the residents and discuss possible courses of action to re-establish peace and tranquillity. He mentioned the introduction of CCTV into a village in Hampshire and suggested a similar scheme could be introduced in Poppleton. The Councillors agreed that the subject of Mr Collinson's letter should be on the agenda for the July Parish Council meeting.
2. A letter from Mrs Routledge advising that All Saints Church Hall has been booked by Poppleton Players in March 2005 so will not be available for the March 2005 Parish Council meeting. The Clerk was directed to book a room at the Methodist Church Hall.

1. Clerk & Councils Direct - May 2004, Issue 33
2. CPRE - Countryside Voice, Summer 2004
3. CPRE - Details of a visit to The Old Vicarage at Tadcaster
4. Mayfair Group Response - April report
5. Poppleton Ward Residents Association - Minutes of 28 April
6. YLCA - White Rose Update April 2004 etc

1. CPRE - Village Speedometer
2. CPRE - Fieldwork - June 2004
3. CYC - Information about the Licensing Act 2003
4. A letter from CYC -requesting the names of organisations who may be able to provide volunteers to deliver 'Your Ward/Your City' leaflets on a quarterly basis for 6.6p per household.
5. Mayfair Group Response - May report
6. YCVS - Voluntary Voice June 2004

Councillor Pannell reported on the proceedings at the YLCA York Branch meeting held on 3 June 2004. All officers were re-elected after which there were discussions on York Pride, planning protocol, crime reports, double taxation and cemeteries.

Discussion on this subject was again deferred.

As four Parish Councillors were absent from the meeting it was agreed to postpone the photo session until another meeting.

It was agreed that the Newsletter which had been circulated to the Councillors prior to the meeting should be printed by the Printing Department at Lowfield School and distributed by the Councillors.

Prior to the meeting the Clerk had circulated a letter received from Chief Inspector Andy Bell received in response to his letter to the Chief Constable in which he had complained that clear-up statistics on crime were not available. CI Bell had written to say that District Commanders and senior managers receive daily crime statistics and that clear-up rates have increased over the last eight months. The Councillors were delighted to learn that the statistics were being produced and directed the Clerk to write to CI Bell to ask that they be made available to the Parish Council. The Councillors expressed their concern that petty crime and vandalism appears to be on the increase.

After discussion it was agreed that two areas where residents are suffering double taxation are the emptying of dog bins and the bus shelters. Dog bins and bus shelters are provided by the City Council in unparished areas of the city. Poppleton residents pay for these in the Council Tax and for the dog bin emptying and bus shelters in the Parish Council precept.

Councillor Bradley reported that 15 tonnes of garden waste had been collected during the recent green waste collection.

Monday 12 July 2004 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.17pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE