UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL, UPPER POPPLETON AT 7.00 PM ON MONDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2007

 

PRESENT

Councillor Greg Watson (Chairman)

 

Councillor Kathie Brydson

Councillor Vivien Crabb

Councillor Peter Hawkins

Councillor John Pannell

Councillor Stuart Robson

Councillor Rae Youngman

 

City Councillor Ian Gillies from 9.10pm

 

 

 

Mr James Mackman (Clerk)

 

TO RECEIVE AN ADDRESS FROM CAROLYN VAUGHAN-DOWNES ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Carolyn Vaughn-Downes, the York Rural Housing Enabler from the YRCC, accompanied by Jane Davies, the Housing Policy Officer at the YRCC, addressed the meeting.  Councillors Powell and Tomlinson of Nether Poppleton Parish Council were in attendance for this part of the meeting.  The Councillors took the opportunity to ask questions of Carolyn and Jane.  Below is a summary of the points covered.

·          The provision of affordable housing is not aimed at providing new houses for new people to the village but to allow young village people to stay in the village or allow people to move back to the village

·          Affordable housing covers rented accommodation as well as house ownership.

·          A housing needs survey could be carried out to ascertain the housing needs of the village.

·          If a need were established Carolyn would endeavour to find land.

·          Green Belt rules can be over-ruled for the building of affordable housing.

·          Housing Associations would be invited to take part.

·          Housing Associations retain the freehold and a share of the property.

 

Councillors were given a YRCC leaflet outlining the ten steps to achieve affordable housing on rural exception sites.

 

The Chairman thanked Carolyn and Jane for their presentation.

 

07.158 - CO-OPTION AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNCILLORS

It was unanimously agreed that Kathie Brydson and Rae Youngman be co-opted on to the Parish Council.  The Chairman welcomed them to their first meeting.  They introduced themselves to the Councillors present who introduced themselves in turn.

 

07.159 - CONFIRMATION OF SIGNING THE DECLARATIONS OF OFFICE

The Clerk confirmed that both Councillor Brydson and Councillor Youngman had signed a Declaration of Office.

 

07.160 - DECLARATION OF INTEREST ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS

None.


 

07.161 - TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kate Richardson.

 

07.162 - TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 9 JULY 2007 

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2007, having been circulated and read, were accepted and signed as a true record.

 

07.163 - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

None

 

07.164 - TO RECEIVE CITY COUNCILLORS' COMMENTS

This agenda item was taken when City Councillor Ian Gillies arrived at 9.10pm.  Councillor Gillies reported that:-

·      There is now an increased police presence in the village and that he is meeting with Chief Superintendent Spittal every month.

·      The street cleaner is working in the village with his barrow and brush.

·      He has found 14 different types of light standard in the village.  He is consulting with Paul Thackray of the City Council who is drawing up a lighting policy for villages.

 

07.165 - TO RECEIVE THE CLERK'S REPORT

(a)   Progress on the provision for parking bicycles by the shops (Min. 07.142a)

The Chairman reported that the manager of the Co-op has agreed to the installation of a cycle rack outside the premises.

 

(b)   Progress on replacing the litter bins around the Green (Min. 07.142b)

No progress on this subject.

 

(c)    Progress on Easement (Min. 07.142c)

The easement has been signed.  The Parish Council has received a cheque for £1,000 which has been banked.  A receipted invoice for the third party expenses has been received.

 

(d)   Progress on new cycle racks on the Green (Min. 07.147d)

Andy Vose, the City Council’s Cycling Officer, is scheduling the installation of cycle racks around the city and Poppleton is on the schedule.

 

07.166 - 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 10 September 2007.  The report reflected the receipts and payments below.  The bank balances at 10 September were:

 

Current Account                                                                                                                 £400.00

Business Money Manager Account                                                                                £18,184.69

 

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

1016

YRCC

Subscription

£35.00

1017

Poppleton Community Trust

First half year’s grant

£3,750.00

1018

YLCA

Councillor course

£25.00

1019

James Mackman

Clerk’s salary - August

£409.43

1020

Post Office Ltd

Tax & NI

£143.73

1021

Yorkshire Water

Allotment water

£9.97

1022

James Mackman

Clerk’s Expenses

£12.69

1023

James Mackman

Clerk’s salary - September

£409.65

1024

Post Office Ltd

Tax & NI

£143.51

1025

Baron (Landscape Contractors) Ltd

Grass cutting

£270.00

 

(c)    To receive a report on income received

City of York Council

Bus shelter grant 2006-8

£529.75

Denison Till

Easement

£1,000.00

HSBC

Bank interest

£133.24

H M Customs & Revenue

VAT refund

£152.56

Allianz Cornhill

Insurance claim for damaged seat

£160.00

 

(d)   To receive and approve the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2007

The Clerk presented the Income and Expenditure Account, the Balance Sheet and the Supporting Statement for the year ended 31 March 2007.  The figures were agreed and the Chairman and the Clerk signed the accounts.

 

(e)    To consider Internet banking

It was agreed that the Clerk should complete the appropriate forms to enable him to transfer money between the Parish Council’s two bank accounts using the Internet.  (Action Clerk)

 

(f)     To consider transferring the £100 donation from the 3rd Poppleton Brownies to the 2nd Poppleton Brownies

A letter had been received from 2nd Poppleton Brownies to thank the Parish Council for the donation of £100 to the 3rd Poppleton Brownies but as the two packs had now been amalgamated please could they have the £100 donation instead.  The Councillors agreed to this request.

 

07.167 - TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

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

(a)      A copy of a letter that the City Council had sent to residents in the Low Poppleton Lane area giving details of the proposed rising bollard and the reasons that it is being proposed.

(b)     Correspondence from npower asking for payment of £513.13 for the use of electricity in the bus shelter on the Green.  The Clerk had reported to npower on a number of occasions that there was no longer a bus shelter on the Green and therefore no supply of electricity.  Hopefully npower will accept this and cancel the two invoices they have sent.

(c)      A letter from Poppleton Luncheon Club thanking the Parish Council for its donation of £50.00 and asking that the amount be increased to £55.00 next year.

(d)     Notice from the City Council of a training session entitled “Understanding the Revised Code of Conduct” on 31 October.  Councillor Hawkins said that he would attend the session at 10.00am.

(e)      A Membership certificate from the YRCC.

 

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

(a)      Clerk & Councils Direct - September 2007, Issue 53

(b)     CPRE - Michaelmas Newsletter 2007

(c)      CPRE - Fieldwork, Sep 2007

(d)     CYC - York Community Pride Challenge Fund

(e)      CYC - Streets Ahead - July 2007

(f)       CYC - Future York Group - Consultation report

(g)      HBC - Consultation on the Harrogate District Local Development Framework

(h)      HBC - Local Development Framework - Draft

(i)        Local Works - Sustainable Communities Bill – House of Lords

(j)       North Bank Forum - Access to health services in Selby & York

(k)     Nether Poppleton Parish Council - Minutes of 18 June

(l)        Nether Poppleton Parish Council - Minutes of 16 July

(m)    NYCC – North Yorkshire Minerals & Waste Development - site allocations

(n)      SLCC - The Clerk, September 2007

(o)     Yorkshire Forward - advance notice of LEADER event

(p)     YLCA - White Rose Update, August 2007

 

07.168 - 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. 

 

(b)   Councillors' comments

No comments.

 

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

(a)   To consider reports on vandalism

No reports.

 

(b)   To receive other reports

The issue of cars being parked for a long-term on the verge in Black Dike Lane has been raised with the police who are dealing with the matter

 

07.170 - TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO THE VILLAGE GREENS

(a)   Trees

The work to the trees on the Green has been carried out by Ryland Horticulture.  A number of dead branches were removed from the tree opposite the White Horse.

 

(b)   Events 

No report

 

(c)    Car parking - review

The Chairman is setting up a meeting with the City Engineers to discuss parking issues and will report back to the Parish Council in due course.  (Action Councillor Watson)

 

(d)   Maintenance

None.

 

07.171 - TO RECEIVE COMMITTEES' REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS

Councillor Watson reported on:-

(a)      The Police Liaison meeting held on 20 August.  A number of issues were discussed including the problem with speeding vehicles over the whole area

 

(b)     The Rural West York Ward Team meeting on 21 August when the bids were discussed and decisions taken as to which projects would be carried to the next stage.

 

07.172 - 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 June to August.  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 eleven incidents in Upper Poppleton.  These were: three cases of burglary business, two burglary shed/garage, one other theft, two of criminal damage and three nuisance youths (one arrest).

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

 

07.173 - TO RECEIVE REPORTS ON A CLAIM FOR TWO EASEMENTS OVER THE GREEN TO LAND ASSOCIATED WITH BLAIRGOWRIE AND CONSIDER FURTHER ACTION

The Chairman reported that, after consultation with the solicitors, Burn & Co, a letter was sent to the Land Registry.  The Land Registry’s response had been considered by Burn & Co who had advised that there was no point in continuing to protest over the claim for a right of access over the two entrances on to the land in which Blairgowrie is situated.  The fact that the Parish Council owns the land is not being questioned and does not affect the Parish Council’s right to take action in the future.

The Councillors approved the action taken by the Clerk in conjunction with the Chairman with regards to the communications with Burn and Co and the Land Registry

Councillor Hawkins reported that he had been looking at documents relating to the ownership of land on a recent visit to the Public Records Office at Kew.  There had been a detailed recording of land in 1910.  The only piece of land in Upper Poppleton where the ownership was not shown was the piece of land between Dene Holm and where the surgery is now located.

 

07.174 - TO CONSIDER PROGRESS ON THE PROVISION OF A YOUTH SHELTER

The Clerk reported that Nether Poppleton Parish Council had agreed in principle to the idea of a youth shelter in the village and had appointed Councillor Bradley to be the Parish Council’s representative.  The Councillors appointed Councillor Pannell to be the Upper Poppleton Parish representative and he is to liaise with Councillor Bradley to see how the project can be taken forward.  (Action Councillor Pannell)

 

07.175 - TO CONSIDER PARISH COUNCILLORS PUBLISHED DETAILS

It was agreed that the details currently published on the All Saints Church Hall notice board and the Parish Council’s website were acceptable and the Councillors did not wish any more details to be shown.

 

07.176 - TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS/ADVANTAGES OF PARISH COUNCIL CLUSTERING

Councillor Hawkins said that clustering had been mentioned at the training course he had attended at Dunnington.  He thought it might be a useful method of dealing with the requests for funding from the Poppleton Community Centre.

 

07.177 - TO NOTE FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

Date of Meeting

Meeting

Venue/ Time

Councillor Attending

15 September

Harewood Whin Open Day

9.00am to 1.00pm

All invited

27 September

Ainsty Group

Askham Richard Parish Council Hall/ 7.30pm

Watson, Clerk

17 October

Ward Committee

TBA

All

19 November

Police Liaison

To be arranged/ 2.00pm

Hawkins, Robson , Watson

 


 

07.178 - TO RECEIVE COUNCILLORS' COMMENTS

No comments.

 

07.179 - DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 8 OCTOBER 2007 AT 7.30PM

The date of the next meeting was agreed as Monday 8 October 2007 at 7.30pm. 

 

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.14pm.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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