Crofton Parish Council

 

                                             Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on

                             Tuesday 19th  April 2005 in The High School at 7.00 pm.

 

 

Present : Councillors: P Jacques, S Bennett, J Voros, R Hewitt, G Jackson, K Duffy, G Makin,  

G Towns, W Wrigg, T Chalkley, G Schofield, A Ripley

 

Acting Clerk: : M A Cummings           

 

Residents : 2 Residents

 

District Councillors :  G Isherwood, M A Cummings, A Manifield

 

Apologies: Councillors S Duffy

 

WYP         P C McMahon

 

The chairman Councillor P Jacques presided over the meeting.

 

 

05/71         WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE

P C McMahon circulated a written report and updated members on actions taken on their behalf and priorities addressed during March 2005.  There had been 10 crimes in total during that period with officers of the scheme spending 30 hours in the village.   Offences included damage to property and theft of motor vehicles.  SAFE Scheme officers had received reports of drug offences being committed in the deep valley which leads up to the church yard at the bottom of Sandown Avenue.  Youths had created a den with chairs and other items of furniture and were congregating before, at lunchtime and after school.  Working with District Councillors and Wakefield’s Neighbourhood Environment Teams the area has now been cleared and cleaned up, visibility is much better.  Work continues on finding and funding some youth activity in the area, P C McMahon and Councillor Cummings have been discussing with Youth Services the possibility of a Youth Art Worker to hold a session in the Parish Centre on Wednesday nights.  Works would include the designing of a logo for the new Youth Club.  Funding through the Community Chest  has been applied for.  Previously Crofton High School had been offered but was now not a possibility.

 

Resolved 1) that PC McMahon is thanked for his report.  2) that District Councillors are also thanked for the speedy cleanup of the Sandown Avenue area. 3) That the use of the Parish Centre is offered free of charge on Wednesdays to allow Youth Services to hold the art class. 4) That the Chief Executive of WMDC John Foster is written to highlighting the problems experienced in using schools for out of school activities.

 

The priorities for April 2005 were confirmed.

 

 

 

05/72      WARD COUNCILLORS REPORT

 

                   Councillor Isherwood reported:

 

·        Decisions have now been taken on the installation of sensors and flashing warning lights at the Doncaster Road bridge site.  The electricity supply  has been ordered but the works could take upto 12 weeks to complete with the whole job being concluded in approximately 4 months.

·        Upgrades to Council housing were now being discussed with tenants in the Crofton area and works should be commencing within the next 12 months, tenants are delighted with the situation.

    

                   Councillor Cummings reported:

 

·        The field on Doncaster Road has now been sold to a farmer who lives in the Pontefract area, this should put the minds of the people living opposite the site at rest.  The farmer has promised to put up substantial security arrangements.

·         Other items dealt with had been discussed under the Police Report namely  Youth provision and the Sandown Avenue scenario

 

               Councillor Manifield reported:

 

·        That no decision has yet been made with regards to the Cenotaph on Doncaster Road but that news would hopefully be available at the next meeting

·        Following an Estate Tour recently Hawthorn Court had been identified as requiring more parking, this was being actively pursued.

·        The work on Crofton Play Area is scheduled to begin early in May with a view to being finished by the end of June.

·        Residents had approached Ward Councillors regarding the provision of Notice Boards in the Village.

 

Resolved: 1) regarding Notice Boards there was only one, this was in poor order and required a good clean up, Councillor Ripley to organise, the price of a second notice board would be sourced by Councillor Duffy, 2) that Councillors, Isherwood, Manifield and Cummings are thanked for their report. 

 

05/73      PUBLIC SESSION

              

               2 Members of the public were present, issues raised:

                  

a)      The roller shutters at the Pavillion were proving to be difficult to open and close.

b)     The path Pinfold Drive to Doncaster Road does not appear to go anywhere.

 

Resolved:  1) that a) is discussed under item 9 b) Village Association.  2) that b) the number of the footpath is reported to the Countryside Unit by Councillor Bennett.

 

05/74      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

               Councillor Bennett declared an interest in Item 15 Planning.  

 

 

05/75      MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 15th March 2005

 

               Resolved: that these are accepted as a true record.

 

05/76      MATTERS ARISING FOR INFORMATION ONLY

                  

               Minute 05/52 b) Rubbish Doncaster Road bridge area – now removed

                   Minute 05/52 c) Allotments – to be discussed under agenda item 9

                   Minute 05/55 Still not heard from PHS

                   Minute 05/57 No quotation received regarding electrics – Councillor Bennett to pursue

                   Minute 05/65 Clarification still required on finance items – Councillor Ripley to pursue

                    

                   Resolved: that the actions above are noted.

 

05/77      TO AGREE THAT THE PRESS AND PUBLIC LEAVE THE MEETING FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20

 

               Resolved that the press and public are asked to leave the meeting following agenda item number 20

 

05/78      COMMUNITY FACILITIES – CONVENORS REPORTS

               Parish Centre – Safety film has now arrived                             

                                      The centre will be used for General Election purposes.

                                                New notice board quotes will be actively sourced.

 

                   Village Association – Pavilion shutters will be sorted out by the Association.  

 

               Resolved 1) that Councillor Duffy fits the safety film to Parish Centre windows.  2) that the District Council are charged £10 per hour for use during the General Election.  3) That Councillor Bennett investigates the problems with the shutters at the Pavilion.

 

05/79       ALLOTMENTS

               There are now 6 allotments available on Oak Street and 2 on Hare Park.

              

                   Resolved that 1) the acting Parish Clerk writes to those on the waiting list offering the allotments for rent and that 2) Councillor Hewitt is copied with those letter to enable him to show available allotments and to explain administration procedures.

 

05/80      CEMETERY

The cemetery was reported to be tidy now grass cutting had commenced.  Some 12 months ago the Parish Council discussed the possibility of re fencing the boundary..

 

Resolved:  that Parish Councillors meet to walk the graveyard boundary on Tuesday 3rd May 2005 meeting at 7pm and to discuss the way forward.

 

05/81      SPECIAL SERVICES

               Nothing to report

 

 

 

05/82      ROAD TRAFFIC ISSUES

               The junction of Slack Lane/Doncaster road island is still the wrong way round with regard to plans seen by the Parish Council some 2 years ago.  

 

                   Resolved: that Councillor Cummings contacts the District Council regarding this issue to ascertain if it will be corrected.

 

05/83      CROFTON WAR MEMORIAL

               Nothing to report.

 

05/84      CLEANSING

              

a.      The ginnel Church Way is full of cans

b.      The Scout Hut area requires a good clean up.

 

                   Resolved:  a) that the clerk informs the District Council, b) that the address of the Scout Master is obtained from Parish Clerk John Shillitoe

 

05/85      PLANNING

               a) Members discussed applications before them.

 

                   Resolved: that no action is necessary

 

b)     Members discussed the recent Planning Seminar at which they were informed Parish Council would be given more say in planning matters.   Councillor Cummings informed members that objections were acknowledged and that Parish Council members could go and speak against applications in their area.  Many other Parish Council took up this facility and were getting some favourable results.

                  

 

05/86      FINANCIAL MATTERS

                                                                                                                          £

Mazars      

External Audit Fee

411.25

West Yorkshire Police

SAFE Scheme

2000.00

Mrs Dodson

Caretaking Parish Centre

54.70

PHS

Sanitary Equipment Pavillion

156.10

YLCA

Annual Subscriptions

539.00

PWLB

Loan Charges

2726.75

WMDC

Parish Centre rates and refuse charges

485.11

WMDC

Pitch Leases Hare Park

305.00

Mrs Hardwick

Salary by monthly Standing Order

Amount unknown

 

               Resolved that with the exception of the payment to PHS all above payments are agreed.

 

05/87      CORRESPONDENCE

              

               Tabled

 

               Resolved: that the correspondence is noted.

 

05/88      PARISH MATTERS

              

a)      Sign at Pinfold Lane now done

b)     Grass cutting Springhill Drive hit and miss during wet weather

c)      Trees Springhill Drive, holes still there.

 

Resolved: that the Clerk takes up the issues with the appropriate authorities.

 

05/89      DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

 

               Resolved: that the next meeting of the Parish Council is held on Tuesday 17th May  2005 which will commence at 7pm in Crofton High School, High Street, Crofton.

 

               PRIVATE MATTERS

 

05/90      TO DISCUSS PARISH CLERK ARRANGEMENTS

 

               Resolved: that the Clerk from West Bretton is approached with regard to clerking future meetings at the hourly rate level in the NALC Guidelines, spinal point 15.

 

05/91      TO DISCUSS LETTER RECEIVED FROM NOSTELL MINERS WELFARE U13’S GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM

 

               Resolved: that the Clerk writes to them asking for financial records and that the item is placed on the May agenda for consideration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed                                                                                                Date                                                   

              CHAIRMAN CROFTON PARISH COUNCIL