UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL, UPPER POPPLETON AT 7.00 PM ON MONDAY 8 OCTOBER 2007

 

PRESENT

Councillor Greg Watson (Chairman)

 

Councillor Kathie Brydson

Councillor Peter Hawkins

Councillor Kate Richardson

Councillor Stuart Robson

Councillor Rae Youngman

 

 

 

City Councillor Ian Gillies

 

 

Mr James Mackman (Clerk)

 

07.180 - CO-OPTION AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNCILLOR

There was no new Councillor.

 

07.181 - CONFIRMATION OF SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF OFFICE

There was no one to sign a declaration.

 

07.182 - DECLARATION OF INTEREST ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS

Councillor Brydson declared a personal interest in any discussion about School Lane.

 

07.183 - TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Vivien Crabb and John Pannell.

 

07.184 - TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10 SEPTEMBER 2007 

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2007, having been circulated and read, were accepted and signed as a true record.

 

07.185 - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

None

 

07.186 - TO RECEIVE CITY COUNCILLORS' COMMENTS

City Councillor Ian Gillies reported on the following points:-

·      The increased police presence in the village is still being felt.

·      The City Council’s report on Street Lighting has been before the City Council’s Executive and the party leaders have seen it.  The report does not distinguish between urban and rural lighting and is being revamped.

·      There is a sum of £10,000 in the City Council’s budget for improving parking facilities on the former Railway Nursery land by Poppleton Station.

·      That the Parish Council should consider having a formal Planning Committee meeting, say before each Parish Council meeting.

 

07.187 -TO RECEIVE THE CLERK'S REPORT

(a)   Progress on the provision for parking bicycles by the shops (Min. 07.165a)

We anticipate that Andy Vose will liaise with the manager of the Co-op on this subject.  Nothing appears to have happened at the moment.

 

(b)   Progress on replacing the litter bins around the Green (Min. 07.165b)

As there has been no visible movement on this subject the Clerk said that he had arranged a meeting with Angus Young on the Green at 11.30am on 9 October.

 

(c)    Progress on new cycle racks on the Green (Min. 07.165c)

We are still waiting for Andy Vose to have the new cycle racks installed.

 

07.188 - 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 8 October 2007.  The report reflected the receipts and payments below.  The bank balances at 8 October were:

 

Current Account                                                                                                                   £100.00

Business Money Manager Account                                                                                   £22,013.16

 

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

1027

Baron (Landscape Contractors) Ltd

Grass cutting - August

£270.00

1028

Mrs L Cariss

Internal audit fee

£80.00

1029

Mazars

External audit fee

£135.00

1030

Baron (Landscape Contractors) Ltd

Grass cutting - September

£135.00

1031

James Mackman

Clerk’s Expenses

£31.70

1032

James Mackman

Clerk’s salary - October

£409.65

1033

Post Office Ltd

Tax & NI

£143.51

 

(c)    To receive a report on income received

City of York Council

2nd half year precept

£8,000.00

 

07.189 - TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

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

(a)      A letter from the City Council advising that a Community Speed Watch campaign is starting in October when residents will be invited to sign a pledge card when they agree to drive within the speed limit.

(b)     Two letters of complaint about the proposed re-routing of the No. 10 bus.

(c)      The Annual Return from Mazars who say that the Parish Council should put in place a system of internal audit checking during the current financial year.

(d)     A letter from a resident regarding the need for trees and bushes at Poppleton railway station to be pruned.

(e)      Notification of a Seminar to be run by the YCVS on 22 October on the subject of Black and Ethnic Minorities in York.  Councillor Watson said he will consider attending the seminar.

 

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

(a)      CYC - Local Development Framework information

(b)     CYC - York World Heritage Working Group report

(c)      Martin House - Martin House News, Autumn 2007

(d)     Nether Poppleton Parish Council - Minutes of 20 August

(e)      Standards Board - Standard, September 2007

(f)       Yorwaste - Environmental Report, April 06 - March 07

 

07.190 - 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.  After some discussion it was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would object to application 07/02200/FUL and 07/02196/FUL and that Councillors Watson, Robson and the Clerk be authorised to submit appropriate documentation on behalf of the Parish Council with respect to these two planning applications.

 

(b)   Councillors' comments

Councillor Richardson announced her resignation from the Planning Committee.  The Chairman thanked Councillor Richardson for all her work on planning matters over many years.

 

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

(a)   To consider reports on vandalism

i.           There has been damage to the Hudson Moody pillar on the Green.  Some of the rendering has been removed.

ii.         Youths have been causing damage to the school buildings, especially the roof and some of the lights.

 

(b)   To receive other reports

No reports.

 

07.192 - TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO THE VILLAGE GREENS

(a)   Trees

No report.

 

(b)   Events 

No report

 

(c)    Car parking - review

The Chairman is still waiting for the City Engineers to arrange a meeting to discuss parking issues.  (Action Councillor Watson)

 

(d)   Maintenance

None.

 

07.193 - TO RECEIVE COMMITTEES' REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS

Councillor Watson reported on the Ainsty Group meeting held on 27 September.  A number of issues were discussed including affordable rural housing, Parish plans, profiles of parish councils in their communities, the City Council Charter with Parish Councils and the closure of Post Offices.  Minutes will be available and distributed in due course.

 

07.194 - 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 September to October.  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 twenty-one incidents in Upper Poppleton.  These were: one burglary dwelling, four burglaries shed/garage, three thefts from vehicles, two other thefts, two of criminal damage and eight nuisance youths (four at Poppleton School) and one case of disorder.  It was noted that Satnav systems left in vehicles including in garages continue to be a target for thieves.  It was also noted that three of the four vehicles parked on the verge in Black Dike Lane have been removed and the last vehicle is to be removed imminently.

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

 

07.195 - TO DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF BLAIRGOWRIE ON THE USE OF SCHOOL LANE

It was agreed that the Parish Council would keep a watching brief on this subject.

 

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

In the absence of Councillor Pannell there was no discussion on this subject.

 

07.197 – TO CONSIDER THE WAY FORWARD ON THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE VILLAGE

It was agreed to defer discussion on this subject until the results of the forthcoming survey in Rufforth were available.

 

07.198 – TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE POPPLETON RAILWAY NURSERY PROJECT

Paul Bisson’s address to the July Parish Council meeting was considered.  It was agreed that no further action be taken on the subject.  If the project is re-established in the future then the Parish Council wishes to be represented.

 

07.199 - TO CONSIDER THE PRODUCTION OF AN AUTUMN NEWSLETTER

Councillors agreed to submit their ideas for articles for the Newsletter to the Clerk.  (Action all Councillors)

 

07.200 - TO NOTE FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

Date of Meeting

Meeting

Venue/ Time

Councillor Attending

17 October

Ward Committee

Askham Bryan Village Hall/ 7.00pm

All

22 October

YCVS – BME seminar

Main Hall, Priory Street Centre/ 9.30am

Watson

31 October

Code of Conduct Seminar

Guildhall/ 10.00am

Hawkins

1 November

SLCC, North Yorks Branch AGM

Galtres Centre, Easingwold/ 9.30am

Brydson, Hawkins, Clerk

19 November

Police Liaison

To be arranged/ 2.00pm

Hawkins, Robson, Watson

 

07.201 - TO RECEIVE COUNCILLORS' COMMENTS

Councillor Richardson said that the Youth Action Group has supported the youth clubs for the last five years.  Hope Church is withdrawing its support for the Thursday Youth Club from the end of October.  The person who runs the Wednesday Youth Club is giving up.  The City Council’s Youth Service doesn’t support the Youth Clubs in Poppleton any more.  The Youth Action Group has money to pay for Youth Clubs to be continued.  What it doesn’t have are people who are willing to run the Youth Clubs.  Councillor Richardson asked if anyone knew of someone who would be interested in being a Youth Club leader.

 

07.202 - DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 12 NOVEMBER 2007 AT 7.30PM

The date of the next meeting was agreed as Monday 12 November 2007 at 7.30pm. 

 

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.10pm.

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

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