UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL

 

JAMES MACKMAN

(Clerk)

Tel:  01904 781752

 

CHAWTON COTTAGE

22A LONG RIDGE LANE

NETHER POPPLETON

YORK         YO26 6LX

 

Minutes of the meeting of UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 9 November 1998 at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall, Upper Poppleton, York.

 

PRESENT

Councillors:  Mrs N E Fowler (Chairman), Mr K Smith, Mrs J M Bushby, Mr N G M Fellows, Mrs E A Parker, Mr A J Peck, Mrs K Richardson, Mr R Walker and Mrs R Watters.

Mr B J W Mackman (Clerk)

Three members of the public

 

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillor Mr G Moore (City of York)

 

2.      MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Accepted and signed as a true record.

 

3.      MATTERS ARISING

(a)   Satellite dish in conservation area

There had been no response to the Clerk's letter of 24 October 1998 to the City of York's Environment and Development Services department when he asked for answers to several questions about the satellite dish and for the Parish Councillors to see the correspondence relating to the satellite dish.

 

(b)   Highway and footway repairs 

No one was sure if the Ebor Way sign had been replaced.

 

(c)    Station Road/A59 Junction

The Clerk read out a letter from the City of York Council which stated that, whilst there are no plans to improve the junction of Station Road with the A59, there are plans to enlarge theA59/A1237 roundabout.  This should reduce the length of queuing back to Station Road thereby making it easier for traffic to exit from Station Road.

The Clerk was asked to write to the City of York Council to see if they would consider putting a yellow box junction at this busy road junction.

 

(d)   Bus Service

The Clerk reported having written to Rider (York) Ltd about the provision of a bus service from Poppleton to Acomb and was hopeful of an early reply.

 

(e)    Cycle Rack

Councillor Parker had spoken to Mrs Barber at the Post Office about a cycle rack.  Mrs Barber's initial reaction was that there was plenty of hedge.

 

4.      FINANCE

(a)   Financial Report

The Clerk presented the Councillors with a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure to date and the expected income and expenditure for the current financial year.  The report showed that, after payment of the bills listed in (b) below current balances were:

Current Account                                                                 £200.00

High Interest Account                                                      £8,511.43

 

(b)   Accounts to pay - cheques signed at the Meeting

Audit Commission - annual fee                                          £195.76

York Waterworks - Allotment water charge                            £5.80

J Lister - mending light in the bus shelter                            £110.45

Ken Falkingham - Bus shelter repairs                                 £198.75

 

(c)    Accounts paid

None.

(d)   Proposal to give £625 to the School for pool cover repairs

The Councillors asked the Clerk to contact Ron Hansell, Clerk to Nether Poppleton Parish Council, to discuss the idea of donating £625 to the school.

 

(e)    Moat Field £750 grant

The Councillors agreed to pay the sum of £750 to the Poppleton Moat Fields Management Group.  This sum had been provided as a contingency in the current financial year.

 

(f)     1999-2000 Budget

The Clerk presented the Councillors with a budget of income and expenditure for the 1999-2000 financial year.  There was a discussion about the probable income and expenditure and the fact that without an input of finance there would be a net deficit for the year in the region of £3000.  The Clerk was asked to advise the City of York Council that the Parish Council wished to levy a precept for 1999-2000 to produce the sum of £3000.

 

5.      PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT

(a)   Presentation of monthly report

Councillor Smith said that the Planning Committee should involve the whole of the Parish Council.  Councillor Smith mentioned in particular the felling of the poplar tree at Maypole House.  If the Parish Council had been aware that the six months moratorium on the tree was nearly up, the tree might still be standing.

On the subject of the poplar tree, Councillor Peck suggested that there had been maladministration by the City of York Council and that the Ombudsman could possibly be approached.

Councillor Smith had asked for a report on the subject of the poplar tree from Ian Thomson and asked when the report would be available.

It was agreed that the Clerk would append a note of the Planning Committee's comments on the monthly report to the Parish Council of plans pending

 

(b)   Plans pending (as per the weekly list posted on the All Saints Church Hall notice board)

      i.        Ref:  97/02578/OUT Outline application for erection of buildings for B1, B2 and B8 use at Northminster Business Park, Northfield Lane.

    ii.        Ref:  98/00673/OUT Erection of building at Northminster Business Park for Business and Storage & Distribution for Northminster Properties Ltd.

  iii.        Ref:  98/01273/TPO Crown lift and thin A2 chestnut covered by a Tree Preservation Order at 22 Bankside Close for Mr R Partington.

  iv.        Ref:  98/01801/FUL Two storey extension to front at 16 Dikelands Close for D McLaughlin and S Hainsworth.

    v.        Ref:  98/01752/FUL Erection of pitched roof first floor extension to rear at York House, Hodgson Lane for Simon Morgan.

  vi.        Ref:  98/01752/FUL (amended) Two storey pitched roof extension to rear, together with demolition of part of boundary wall and outbuildings (Retrospective) at York House, Hodgson Lane for Simon Morgan.

vii.        Ref:  97/00257/FUL Erection of dwelling at The Croft, Hodgson Lane for Mr S Morgan.

viii.        Ref:  98/02271/TPO Crown thinning of two sycamore trees in rear garden at 4 Bankside Close for Bryan Lay.

  ix.        Ref: 98/02371/FUL Variation of condition 3 of approval 97/00238/FUL to extend hours of operation at Northfield Business Park by Northfield Lane Management (York) Ltd.

    x.        Ref:  98/02390/FUL Erection of two storey pitched roof side extension with dormers for Mr B Britton.

  xi.        Ref:  98/02454/TCA Crown clean of Beech, Thorn and Prunus SP in a Conservation Area at 2 Beech Grove for Mr & Mrs Addy.

xii.        Ref:  98/02499/FUL Erection of single storey part pitched roof, part flat roof rear extension at The Lord Collingwood for Mansfield Brewery plc.

 

(c)    Plans accepted by the City of York Council

No plans had been accepted by the City of York Council since the October Parish Council Meeting.

 

(d)   Plan refused by the City of York Council

No plans had been refused by the City of York Council since the October Parish Council Meeting.

 

(e)    Plans withdrawn

No plans pending in October had been withdrawn.

 

6.      HIGHWAYS FOOTPATHS & LAMPPOSTS

(a)   i, Traffic island sign at the junction of the A59 and Station Road

Councillor Peck produced photographs of the bollard in the middle of the road which showed that it obscured the traffic coming in from Harrogate.  The Clerk was instructed to write to the City of York Council asking for action to be taken to alleviate the problem.

 

(a)   ii, Pollution in Station Road

Councillor Peck raised the problem of pollution in Station Road.  There are now 34 trains every day.  The crossing gates are closed for approximately 4 minutes every time there is a train (2 hours 16 minutes per day).  If there are 10 cars waiting with their engines running every time the gates close there is potentially over 20 hours of engine pollution every day.  Councillor Peck proposed that two notices be erected to say "TURN ENGINES OFF".  Councillor Peck agreed to compose a letter for the Clerk to send to Railtrack requesting that notices be erected.

 

(b)   Horse manure

The Clerk reported having written to Andy Hudson of the City of York Council about the incidence of horse manure on footpaths.  The Clerk was asked to write further letter to local stables asking them to respect footpaths and keep horses to the roads and unadopted verges.

 

(c)    Vandalism

It was reported that the cycle post in Brackenhills was insecure.

The Clerk was asked to send a letter to the estate agents with regards to the loose drainpipe outside their premises.

 

(d)   Lampposts

Councillor Smith said he would present his survey at the January Parish Council meeting.

 

(e)    Drop Kerbs

Councillor Watters said that there was a need for drop kerbs to be provided at the end of Chantry Gap and Lime Garth for wheelchair users from Limetree House.  There was a need for a drop kerb by the Youth Club for prams going to and from school.

 

(f)     30mph limit in Hodgson Lane

Councillor Parker said that there should be a 30mph limit on Hodgson Lane from the Green to the Red Lion as the grass verges were not cut and it was dangerous for pedestrians who had to use the road to walk on.  The Clerk was asked to write a letter to the City of York Council asking for the installation of the limit.

 

(g)   Grass Cutting in Hodgson Lane

A consequence of the installation of a 30mph limit in Hodgson Lane is that the grass verge would be cut as of right.

 

7.      POPPLETON COMMUNITY CENTRE VILLAGE TRUST

Report from Council Representative

Councillor Smith reported the following points

      i.        At the AGM Brian Park had been elected as Chairman for another year.

    ii.        Funding last year was down £4,000 owing to the lack of a Garden Trail.

  iii.        The books balanced.

  iv.        There is £15,000 in the Development Fund.

    v.        Resurfacing the car park would cost about £40,000.

 

8.      VILLAGE GREENS

(a)   Trees

The Clerk confirmed that the electric cable between the White Horse and the adjacent tree had been taken down.

The Clerk is to advise Ryland Horticulture to commence the work on the trees on the Green.

 

(b)   Parking

Councillor Smith reported having been in contact with the DETR with regards to the level of fines that can be imposed, under the 1982 Criminal Justices Act, for transgressing by-laws.  The figure could be £100 or £250.  The DETR will confirm the sum in due course.

 

(c)    Signs

The Councillors expressed their dislike of street signs being attached to lampposts much preferring street signs to be displayed at the corners of streets on posts in the ground.  The Clerk was asked to write to the City of York Council to ask them not to install any signs on lampposts without first consulting the Parish Council.

 

(d)   Maintenance

It was reported that the Coronation seat by the Library bus shelter was unsafe.  Councillor Parker agreed that her husband would remove the seat to a safe place.  It was pointed out that there was now a space available for a memorial seat.

 

9.      MILLENNIUM FUND

The next meeting of the Millennium Committee will be on 26 November 1998.

 

10.  CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

It was agreed that the correspondence received since the October Parish Council Meeting, as listed below, be circulated to the Councillors:

(a)    Minutes of the meeting of Nether Poppleton Parish Council on 29 October 1998.

(b)   Minutes of the meeting of Poppleton Ward Residents Association on 23 September 1998.

(c)    City of York Consumer Advice Service pamphlet.

(d)   White Rose update.

(e)    City of York Council's publication on Rights of Way.

(f)    CPRE news.

(g)    City of York Council's leaflet on the pitfalls of Homeworking Schemes.

(h)   City of York Council's Economic Development note on 'Bioscience'.

(i)     Information from OFFER about the deregulation of electricity supplies.

(j)     A discussion document on the closure of Queen Anne's School.

(k)   Minutes of a meeting of the Young People in Poppleton on 22 October 1998.

 

11.  COUNCILLORS' COMMENTS

(a)   Councillor Smith

      i.        Pointed out that Hodgson Lane was not on the list of roads to be salted and the Clerk was asked to write to the City of York Council in order to ask them to put Hodgson Lane on the list.

    ii.        Thanked Councillor Peck for the work done on the War Memorial Garden.

 

(b)   Councillor Richardson

The Poppleton History Society had expressed their appreciation of the fact that the Parish Council had passed on the letter regarding the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the York Knaresborough Railway.

 

(c)    Councillor Watters

Mentioned the removal of trees in Black Dykes Lane.  Councillor Parker explained that the trees had been planted two generations ago and had now passed their useful life.  The previous generation had not planted trees so there was a gap when trees had to be taken down.  New trees had now been planted to replace the old trees taken down.

 

(d)   Councillor Bushby

      i.        Asked that the subject of the car parks on the Green be put on the next agenda.

    ii.        Expressed appreciation of the work done by Jim Campbell at the Community Centre.

 

(e)    Councillor Parker

Asked that the subject of grass under the maypole be put on the next agenda.

 

12.  DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

 

11 January 1999 at 7.30pm.

 

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.55pm.