Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 13 September 2004 at 7.00pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

No member of the public addressed the Councillors.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no apologies for absence though three Councillors had given notice that they would be arriving later.

John Pickles addressed the meeting and explained the reasoning behind the proposed introduction of the School Safety Zone. The proposed safety zone incorporates double yellow lines as well as the existing road markings and raised sections of road.

Mr Pickles said that

• The proposed double yellow lines would be restricted to junctions and bends. After the introduction of yellow lines people parking cars would be advised not to park on the double yellow lines. If the incidence of parking continued then parking tickets would be issued.
• Control of parking is no longer a police responsibility and that traffic wardens are employed for this task
• Parents perceive a road safety problem with parked cars so use their own vehicles to safeguard their children thereby increasing the problem
• There is no one solution that would please everyone concerned, i.e. residents and parents
• All the affected properties in the vicinity had off-street parking
• Eight years of applying this strategy in York had proved successful

It was mentioned that the recently constructed footpath from the car park behind the Community Centre to the school was being well used. Between 50 to 60 cars were using the car park each day.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been circulated and read were accepted and signed as a true record.

1. Reinstatement of the Green where it has been damaged by McAlpines (Min. 04.127a)

Richard Baron had advised the Parish Council that the best way of dealing with the damaged Green, now that nature has filled the area with weeds and some grass, is to treat the area with weed killer and apply top dressing. The Councillors agreed to this course of action.

2. Brackenhills/The Green snicket (Min. 04.127b)

The Clerk reported having had three replies from residents whose boundaries are adjacent to the snicket. They all say that they have no claim on the land. Just one reply is outstanding, that being from the owners of the White Horse. Councillor Watson said he would contact the owners and solicit an early reply.

3. Westgarth Deed of Easement (Min. 04.127d)

The easement had been signed by the Chairman and the Clerk and a cheque for the sum of £1,000 had been received and banked.

4. Co-op opening - report (Min. 04.137)

The Clerk reported on his meeting with the manager of the Co-op on 19 July when the various points raised at the July Parish Council meeting were discussed. He had communicated the Co-op's responses to the Chairman who had agreed that all the points raised at the July Parish Council meeting had been covered and agreed that it was unnecessary to write to the area manager. All the Councillors had been notified by email of the Clerk's meeting with the shop manager and the majority of those Councillors who had replied had agreed with the course of action taken.

1. Financial Report

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 13 September 2004. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances at 13 September were:

Current Account £268.87

Business Money Manager Account £14,585.84

A letter from Mr & Mrs Whiteley about their objections to the proposed Poppleton Ousebank School Safety Zone.

1. Government Office for Yorkshire & Humber - Revised Regional Planning Guidance
2. Mayfair Group Response - July report
3. Nether Poppleton Parish Council - minutes of the meeting held on 21 June
4. Poppleton Ward Residents Association - minutes of the meeting held on 30 June
5. Selby & York Rural Transport Partnership - publicity for Transport Service
6. YCVS - Voluntary Voice - July/August 2004
7. YLCA - White Rose Update August 2004 etc
8. YNET - minutes of the meeting held on 27 July
9. YNET - September papers
10. York Open Planning Forum - Newsletter August 2004
11. Yorwaste - Yornews - Issue 12, Summer 2004 and Annual Report 2003-04
12. YRCC - Recognising achievement - village ventures

1. Clerk & Councils Direct - Issue 35, September 2004
2. CPRE - Fieldwork, September 2004
3. CYC - Kerbside recycling calendars 2004/5
4. CYC - 40mph limit proposal
5. CYC - Licensing Policy enquiry
6. CYC - Learning for Life - Poppleton
7. Mayfair Group Response - August 2004 report
8. Nether Poppleton Parish Council minutes of 19 July
9. NYCC - details of how to affirm marriage vows
10. ODPM - Consultation papers on local council employees
11. Poppleton Ward Residents Association minutes of the meeting held on 28 July
12. YCVS - Voluntary Voice September 2004
13. YLCA - agenda for the meeting on October and minutes of the meeting held on 3 June

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.

There were no comments.

1. Vandalism

The City Council has agreed that the raised letters on the fascia on the front of the Library, which are constantly being broken, will not be replaced. In future the letters will be painted on the fascia.

2. Other reports

1. There is a pothole below the lamp in Black Dike Lane.
2. There are potholes on the road surface in Dikelands Lane between Montague Walk and Main Street.
3. There is a plant growing on the verge at the corner of Chantry Gap and Dikelands Lane. Ownership of the plant is uncertain so the Clerk and the Chairman agreed to look at the problem and pursue a remedy.
4. The vegetation outside the fence of Ivy House is growing across the pavement. The Clerk was asked to write to the owners of Ivy House to ask them to cut the vegetation back.

1. Trees -

No report.

2. Events

No report

3. Car parking

Car parking is a big problem. It was agreed to make this a separate agenda item for the next meeting

4. Maintenance

1. A proposal has been made to move the existing litter in from one side of the bus stop to the other.
2. The Ward Committee is to consider the provision of new litter bins on the Green.
3. Councillor Watson tabled his report on the condition of the seats around the Green. It was agreed that the seat in memory of Clive Railton in Hodgson Lane be removed as soon as practical as it was in a dangerous condition. A proposal to replace the seat would appear on the agenda for the next meeting.

Councillor Hook reported that she had attended the YNET meetings held in July and August. All Councillors had received the minutes of the two meetings.

Councillor Tomlinson said that he would not be able to attend the Poppleton Community Trust meeting to be held on 16 September.

Councillor Watson presented a report on the cost implications of seeking Quality Parish Council Status. The Parish Council as it stands at the moment is well qualified to apply for Quality Status except for two points. It does not produce at least four newsletters a year and it does not have a qualified clerk. It was agreed that the Parish Council should seek Quality Parish Council status. To achieve this it was agreed that a sum of up to £882 should be provided for the Clerk to recompense him for the study time that he would need to obtain the qualification. It was agreed that the Clerk's Contract of Employment should be amended so that it contains a clause to the effect that the Clerk will repay a portion of the money should he leave the Parish Council's employment within a short period after having qualified. Councillor Tomlinson said that he would draw up the appropriate wording. It was also agreed that the sum of £255 be provided for the Registration Fee, Training Documentation Pack and Portfolio Assessment Panel Fee.

Chief Inspector Bell had spoken to the Clerk and explained that, whilst the police were now very pro-active in dealing with crime, the system for recording crime and incidents is now 16 years old. It is difficult, if not impossible, to produce statistics for small areas such as villages. CI Bell agreed that he or a colleague would attend the next Joint Parish Council meeting and give a more detailed explanation of how the police are dealing with crime in York.

It was agreed to defer this subject until the next meeting and that the subject should be included as an agenda item at the forthcoming Joint Parish Council meeting.

It was agreed that the following items should be agenda items at the forthcoming Joint Parish Council meeting.

1. To receive a presentation from the Police on crime in Poppleton
2. To consider a request for a public meeting to discuss crime and disorder in the Poppletons.
3. To receive feedback from Community Trust representatives on the recent questionnaire delivered to all households in the villages.
4. To discuss the proposed Poppleton Ousebank School Safety Zone
5. To discuss the proposed introduction of a 40mph speed limit on the A59 between Trenchard Road and Northfield Lane.

It was agreed that, in principle, a school safety zone is a good idea but the Parish Council would not wish it to include any double yellow lines painted on the roads. It was felt that double yellow lines are not in keeping with the village. They would be ignored by the drivers that they were aimed at and cause inconvenience to residents living near the school.

It was agreed to accept a quote of £140 from Ken Falkingham for repairs to the seat. It was agreed not to inscribe the back of the seat but to acquire a plaque inscribed with the words "In Memory of Hessie Dudgeon"

Councillors Kirby-Brown and Reese agreed to attend the meeting to be held at the Kingswater Centre, Clifton Primary School, Kingsway North on 20 September.

Councillor Hopton mentioned

1. The publication of the Green Belt Working Group. It was agreed that the Clerk should obtain three copies of the report and distribute them to the Councillors who were asked to make comments on any matter relating to the village.
2. Further to the report of July 2003 (Minute 03.127) when concern was expressed over the progressive loss of cultural activities in the evenings in Poppleton Councillor Hopton was pleased to be able to advise the Councillors that six learning courses are being held in Poppleton this autumn.

Monday 11 October 2004 at 7.30pm

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.45pm.

………………………….CHAIRMAN

………………………….DATE