UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL, UPPER POPPLETON AT 7.30 PM ON MONDAY 11 JUNE 2007

 

PRESENT

Councillor Greg Watson (Chairman)

 

Councillor Vivien Crabb

Councillor Peter Hawkins

Councillor John Pannell

Councillor Kate Richardson

 

 

 

City Councillor Ian Gillies

 

Mr James Mackman (Clerk)

 

The Chairman welcomed City Councillor Ian Gillies to the meeting.

 

07.115 - DECLARATION OF INTEREST ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS

There were no declarations.

 

07.116 - TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stuart Robson.

 

07.117 - TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 14 MAY 2007 

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2007, having been circulated and read, were accepted and signed as a true record.

 

07.118 - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Harold Pickup addressed the meeting and gave details of the proposed refurbishment of All Saints Hall and asked for the Parish Council to give a donation of £2,700 towards the refurbishment.  Some of the points that Mr Pickup mentioned were:-

·          The provision of necessary additional emergency lighting in the passageway from the meeting room where the Parish Council holds its meetings, provision of two new fire doors from the meeting room and improvements to the existing emergency lighting in the main hall. Also, if funds allow, we would hope to redecorate the meeting room, renew the flooring and improve the lighting.

·          The Hall is currently well used by the Church Sunday School, Church Youth Groups and various Church Meetings. Other major users are Poppleton Players Amateur Dramatic Society (2 plays per year, 4 nights each play) plus rehearsal time; Poppleton Arts; Dancing Classes on Mondays and Thursdays for children of all ages, plus various other users including coffee mornings for RNLI, Cystic Fibrosis, Inner Wheel and Poppleton Conservatives.

·          In addition, the Hall is used annually on Poppleton Sports Day for the display of handicrafts, etc. and in August for the village Flower and Vegetable Show; is a Polling Station at both Local and General Elections, and is used for the distribution of travel tokens to Poppleton residents.

·          The aim is to have the work completed by the Hall’s Centenary Year in 2009 and, as can be seen from the above, a large number of Poppleton residents will benefit from the refurbishment of the building.

·          The All Saints Hall Development Fund has recently received a donation of £10,000 from All Saints Church and the sum of £2,000 from a user of the Hall who wishes to remain anonymous. It is intended to use this money for the refurbishment of the toilets (including one for the disabled), provision of disabled access works to the main entrance and provision of suspended ceiling in the corridor.

 

07.127 – TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A DONATION OF £2,700 TOWARDS THE ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL DEVELOPMENT FUND

It was agreed that this item be brought forward in the agenda so that Mr Pickup would be available to answer any questions.

After discussion it was resolved unanimously that the Parish Council would donate the sum of £2,700 towards the capital works at such time as the works have been completed and the appropriate invoices are presented as proof.

 

07.119 - TO RECEIVE THE CLERK'S REPORT

(a)   Progress on the provision for parking bicycles by the shops (Min. 07.102a)

The City Council officer involved in this subject has been on holiday for some time so no progress was reported.

 

(b)   Progress on replacing the litter bins around the Green (Min. 07.102e)

The Clerk reported that the City Council has ordered the six new litter bins for the Green and that it is expected that they will be installed soon.

 

(c)    Progress on consultation over the proposed beech tree on Chantry Green  (Min.07.102f)

It was agreed that this subject be removed from the agenda as the consultation will be carried out in the autumn.

 

(d)   Progress on Easement (Min. 07.102g)

The Council’s solicitors have received an undertaking that their costs will be covered and will be sending out the documents for the other party to sign within the next two days.

 

(e)    Progress on putting up the plaque on the maypole (Min. 07.104.1d)

Councillors Watson and Pannell have attached the plaque to the maypole.

 

(f)     Progress on refurbishing some of the village seats (Min. 07.111)

Ken Falkingham has been asked to refurbish the seats.

 

07.120 - FINANCE

(a)   To receive a financial statement

The Clerk presented a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the current financial year for the period to 11 June 2007.  The report reflected the receipts and payments below.  The bank balances at 11 June were:

 

Current Account                                                                                                                 £400.00

Business Money Manager Account                                                                                £20,501.69

 

(b)   To agree accounts for payment (net of VAT);

995

YNET

Annual subscription

£30.00

996

Allianz Cornhill

Insurance premium

£846.75

997

Yorkshire Water

Allotment water

£6.30

998

James Mackman

Expenses

£15.17

999

Post Office Ltd

Tax & NI

£143.73

1000

James Mackman

Clerk’s salary - June

£409.43

1001

Baron Landscape Contractors

Grass cutting – May

£370.00

1002

Baron Landscape Contractors

Grass cutting - April

£135.00

 


 

(c)    To receive a report on income received

City of York Council

First half-years precept

£8,000.00

Allotment holders

Annual allotment rents

£135.00

NEDL

Wayleave

£11.50

HMCE

VAT refund

£385.29

 

(d)   To consider donations for the year

It was agreed that the following donations be made during the current financial year:- £100 to 1st Poppleton Scouts, £100 to 2nd Poppleton Guides, £100 to 3rd Poppleton Brownies, £50 to Poppleton Luncheon Club, £150 to All Saints Church towards grass cutting in the churchyard, £50 to Martin House and £100 to St Leonard's Hospice. 

 

07.121 - TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

07.121.1 - The Clerk read or referred to the following item of correspondence

(a)      Notification from the City Council of a Development Control seminar on 16 June – Councillor Crabb agreed to attend.

(b)     A letter from the City Council regarding the ownership of a piece of land to which Councillor Pannell supplied details.

(c)      Notification from the City Council of new replacement staggered junction warning signs for both inward and outbound directions on the A59 at the above location. There is a problem of collisions involving right turning vehicles from Northfield Lane and the use of more prominent advanced warning of the staggered junction ahead is proposed.

(d)     Two invoices for an unmetered supply of electricity to the bus shelter on the Green which no longer belongs to the Parish Council.  The Clerk reported that he had written an appropriate response.

(e)      A guide to members of the new Code of Conduct which was given to each Parish Councillor present.

(f)       An invitation to the CPRE’s forthcoming visit to Askham Bog.

 

07.121.2 - It was agreed that the correspondence received since the May Council meeting, as listed below, be circulated to the Councillors

CPRE-Fieldwork, June 2007

(a)      Nether Poppleton Parish Council - Minutes of the meeting on 16 April

(b)     North Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board - North Yorkshire CJB, Issue 3

(c)      YRCC - Guide to Planning for Parish Councils

 

07.129 – TO DISCUSS THE NEW REGULATIONS REGARDING ROAD CLOSURES WITH RESPECT TO REMEMBRANCE DAY

It was agreed that this item be brought forward in the agenda so that Special Constable Jerry Holland could address the meeting.

Jerry said that the police were no longer responsible for road closures in non-emergency situations.  The City Council now have the responsibility for road closures.  The change was noted.

Jerry said that the Community Police Team will consider the Remembrance Day Service to be a Community event and that he would be in attendance.

 

07.122 - TO RECEIVE THE PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT

(a)   Plans pending and Planning Committee Comments

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.

 

(b)   Councillors' comments

No comments.

 

07.123 - TO CONSIDER ITEMS RELATING TO HIGHWAYS, FOOTPATHS, LAMPPOSTS & SIGNS

(a)   To consider reports on vandalism

No report

 

(b)   To receive other reports

The dog bin in Black Dike Lane has been knocked over and is to be reported to the City Council. (Action Clerk)

 

07.124 - TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO THE VILLAGE GREENS

(a)   Trees

Dave Gregory has been asked to carry out the work on the trees on the Green.  He has scheduled the work and expects to be carrying out the work towards the middle of July.

 

(b)   Events 

The Chairman congratulated the organisers of the Children’s Sports Day event and said that the Green had been left in an excellent condition.  The Clerk was asked to write a suitable letter to the organisers.  Appreciation was also expressed to the Community Police Team and it was agreed that the Clerk should write a suitable letter to Chief Superintendent Spittal.

 

(c)    Car parking

It was agreed that the Chairman and the Clerk would discuss the possibilities of a change of parking arrangements on the Green with the City Council’s Traffic Management Officers and report back to a subsequent meeting. (Action Councillor Watson & Clerk)

 

(d)   Maintenance

i.        Agree to repair two No Parking signs at a cost of £260.00

It was agreed that Phil Lunan be asked to repair the two damaged No Parking signs.

 

ii.      To reconsider the positioning of a new cycle rack on the Green

With the City Council Cycling Officer having not yet returned from holiday it was agreed that a decision would be deferred until the July meeting when it was hoped that information would be available. (Action Clerk)

 

07.125 - TO RECEIVE COMMITTEES' REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS

(a)      Councillor Robson had circulated a report of the Joint Police Liaison Group meeting of 21 May prior to the Parish Council meeting.  The main points were:-

i.      The police reported a successful visit to the Community Centre car park on 13th May when they electronically tagged approximately 140 cycles.  The Community Police vehicle also visited the Poppleton Children’s Sports Day on 28th May when the Community Policeman was present to answer questions from members of the public.

The police are trying to maintain a higher profile to deter any crime although the statistics indicated that crime in the Poppletons was low. However, the objective was to keep it minimal and to avoid any hint of complacency.

ii.     Councillors expressed concern about anti-social behaviour, mainly on the Maypole Green, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings. The police are well aware of the small number of youths responsible. If any are caught breaking the law, the police assured the meeting that they would be prosecuted.  The police will have more foot patrols around the area at appropriate times.

iii.   A further issue was concerns about traffic speeding, particularly along Millfield Lane and Long Ridge Lane. Mobile speed cameras have been used occasionally recently and several drivers caught. The main culprits are Poppleton drivers and the majority were over 50 years of age!

 

(b)     Councillor Watson said that he had been unable to attend the recent YLCA meeting.

 

07.126 - TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON VILLAGE POLICING

Special Constable Jerry Holland had produced a list of incidents in Poppleton which had been reported to the police during the period from April to May.  The figures exclude all road traffic offences and collisions and only include incidents where an offence was found to have been committed.  There had been ten incidents in Upper Poppleton.  These were: one case of theft, two of criminal damage, two nuisance youths, one nuisance noise and four of disorder.

The Clerk produced a spreadsheet showing all the monthly figures from August 2006.

 

07.127 – TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A DONATION OF £2,700 TOWARDS THE ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL DEVELOPMENT FUND

See above.

 

07.128 – TO AGREE TO PUT  “NO SMOKING” SIGNS IN THE BUS SHELTERS

It was agreed that sticky backed “No Smoking in this bus shelter” be acquired from Smokefree England and put into the bus shelters as required by the new smoking regulations which come into force in England on 1 July 2007. (Action Clerk)

 

07.129 – TO DISCUSS THE NEW REGULATIONS REGARDING ROAD CLOSURES WITH RESPECT TO REMEMBRANCE DAY

See above.

 

07.130 – TO CONSIDER THE PROCESS FOR CO-OPTING NEW COUNCILLORS

The Clerk reported that the 35-day period after an election, during which it was possible for a Parish Council to co-opt new Councillors, expires on 26 June.  He will put up the statutory notice advertising the current vacancies.  If no by-election is called the Parish Council will be again in a position to co-opt.  It was agreed that the Parish Council would consider written applications for co-option at the appropriate Parish Council meeting.

 

07.131 – TO CONSIDER PRODUCING A SUMMER NEWSLETTER

It was agreed that the Parish Council would not produce a summer newsletter but aim to produce a newsletter in the autumn.

 

07.132 - TO NOTE FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

Date of Meeting

Meeting

Venue/ Time

Councillor Attending

21 June

Community Centre Executive

Poppleton Community Centre/ 7.00pm

Pannell (as an observer)

4 July

Ward Committee

Poppleton Community Centre/ 7.00pm

All

 

07.133 - TO RECEIVE COUNCILLORS' COMMENTS

No comments.


 

07.134 - TO RECEIVE CITY COUNCILLORS' COMMENTS

Councillor Gillies said that:-

·      For the next year the new administration of the City Council will require that any idea put forward will need two-party support before it can be progressed.

·      He will attend future Parish Council meetings in Poppleton.

·      He was proposing that No Waiting signs be put along Station Road for the duration of The Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate.  The Councillors agreed that this was a good idea.

 

07.135 - DATE OF NEXT MEETING - 9 JULY 2007

The date of the next meeting was agreed as Monday 9 July 2007 at 7.00pm.  The earlier start is to give Paul Bisson time to address the Parish Council on the Poppleton Community Rail Nursery.

 

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.45pm.

 

 

CHAIRMAN ……………………..                                         ………………………….2007

 

James Mackman, Clerk   22a Long Ridge Lane, Nether Poppleton, York  YO26 6LX

Telephone  01904 781752    -    Fax  0871 4331325    -    email  jmackman@tesco.net