To fund the cost of running the Parish Council it is necessary to raise a levy from each household in the village. The levy is called 'Precept' and is added to the Council Tax that each household pays to the City Council.

For the year 2003/04 the Parish Council has raised a precept of £11,000 which will be offset against expenditure of £11,670. The money will be spent on:

Although the Parish Council is responsible for ensuring that the grass on the Greens is cut the City Council gives a substantial sum to cover the cost. In previous years the City Council has covered the cost of grass cutting. This year the grant has been reduced so the projected cost to the Parish Council will be £450.

In order to promote the work of the Parish Councils, and to encourage residents to put their names forward for the election on 1 May, the Parish Councils of both Upper and Nether Poppleton combined to hold an Open Day on 22 March 2003. There were displays showing the work of the Parish Councils and a selection of past minutes. Councillors were on hand all day to answer questions posed by visitors. Besides the Parish Councils, 19 local organisations took part in the event which was attended by many residents. It is likely that the Parish Councils will hold another Open Day in 2004.

The Parish Council website can be found on the Internet at www.poppleton.net The website contains a variety of information including the latest planning applications, Parish Council minutes and the agenda for the next meeting.

During the year First Bus moved the No. 10 terminus from the Green in Upper Poppleton back to Main Street in Nether Poppleton. The new timetable for Arriva means that the No. 142 and No. 146 York/Ripon bus now diverts through Upper Poppleton. This gives residents an extra service to and from the City. A revised timetable is to be introduced on 30 June 2003.

During the past year Mayfair Group Guarding has been patrolling the village twice an evening. Recently there has been an increase in vandalism in the village. The Parish Council will continue its efforts to try to increase the level of policing required in the village to reduce the incidence of vandalism.

Remember that the cost of repairing Parish Council property has to be paid by village residents. A reduction in vandalism means a reduction in your taxes. Please don't hesitate to call the Police (Tel. 631321) or Mayfair Group Guarding (Tel. 01757 701596) if you are aware of any vandalism.

One of the Parish Council's projects this year is to investigate the possibility of creating a nature reserve in the field behind the Old Forge Surgery.

Since Blairgowrie was gutted by fire a couple of years ago the remains have been left in a dangerous condition. The Parish Council has made strong representations to have the building either demolished or made safe. There is now a plan to brick up the doors and windows in both the house and the stables so that access is denied to the dangerous interiors.

The Greens belong to the Parish Council and are for the use of all residents. There is a byelaw prohibiting cars from being parked or driven on the Greens. Cars can cause considerable damage to the grass. A copy of the bylaws is displayed on the notice board at All Saints Church Hall. A copy can also be found on the Parish Council's website.

The lime tree near the Methodist chapel was felled on 10 October 2002. There are photographs of the event on the Parish Council's website. The tree has been replaced with a Tilia x euchlora (Crimean linden). This spring the residents living round the Green replaced a poor specimen of an ash tree with a yellow ash. A maple tree, bought from the balance of funds in the Queen's Jubilee fund, was planted on the Green.

The Parish Councillors are grateful to Gordon Benton for continuing to look after the flowerbed around the base of the War Memorial.

The City of York Council is obliged to refer to the Parish Council all planning matters that are appropriate to its area.

Each planning application is considered by the four members of the Planning Committee and their decisions discussed at the next Parish Council meeting.

The main policy that guides our Planning Committee is to ensure that the environment and character of the village is maintained within the constraints laid upon us and the Local Authority by Central Government.

Parish Councillors endeavour to consult the neighbours for every planning application.

Every weekend the Clerk posts a list of current planning applications on the notice board outside All Saints Church Hall. This list also appears on the Parish Council's website.

In the last financial year the Planning Committee dealt with 47 applications.

The draft Village Design Statement was approved to go out to consultation by the City of York Council on 24 April 2003. The results of this are awaited. It is hoped to go to print in July and distribute the document by autumn 2003. The Village Design Statement Group thank those residents who came along and gave constructive comments to both the consultation and the Parish Council's Open Day.

During the last year the Councillors spent much time discussing the problems of speeding traffic and "the rat run". It would appear that the A59 Park & Ride will have to be built before any measures will be taken to solve the problem of speeding vehicles.

These are held on the second Monday of the month. There are no meetings in August or December. All the meetings are held in All Saints Church Hall and usually start at 7.30pm. Members of the public are very welcome to attend. Usually, members of the public are not expected to contribute to the discussion but their presence gives support to the Council in its work. Members of the public who have a specific interest or expertise on an issue that is on the Council's agenda may be invited to speak by the chairman on that issue.