Crofton Parish
Council
Minutes
of the meeting held on
Tuesday
17 December 2002 in The High School at 7.00 pm.
Present: Councillors: S Bennett, L Coates, T
Gomersall,
D
Crowcroft, J R Hewitt, G P Jackson,
A
Ripley, G Scargill, & J Voros
Residents: Mr P Jaques & Mr G
Schofield
West
Yorkshire Police: PC Whitworth
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: I Beckett, P Beckett
The chairman, Cllr
Ripley, presided over the meeting.
02/193 Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda
No declarations
made.
02/194 Public Participation Session
1.
Slack Lane – Traffic calming
Mr Scofield
expressed concern that work to the road adjacent to Slack Lane School had been
stood for four weeks; no progress had been made and no additional road markings
forthcoming.
Cllr Ripley
explained that the road marks would not be forthcoming until works were
complete.
The clerk to
contact Highways to ascertain why the delay.
2.
Parish Cemetery – Waste bins
Cllrs were informed that the waste bin was again overflowing.
The clerk to make a formal complaint regarding the lack of service whilst instruct cleansing services to empty the bin forthwith, also to ask T&D to add waste disposal to their list of responsibilities.
3. Church Lane
Residents reported that no improvement in the condition of Church Lane was evident.
The clerk to contact Cath Holden, the highways enforcement officer.
02/195 West Yorkshire Police
PC Whitworth
informed the meeting that operations at the Crofton Triangle had not yet
commenced in the main due to the fall off in requirements for fill at Welbeck.
Groups of youths
roaming the parish still continue to be a problem, safe scheme officers stop
and search youths on a regular basis, confiscating drink from those underage.
The number of
crimes reported during November (18) is down compared to last month (26). Of
these, three were detected assaults and one making off without payment from the
Redbeck.
PC Whitworth
commented that Christmas time made easy pickings for burglars, lots of presents
left under trees, he advised that everyone needed to be more vigilant. Burglars
have even taken to arriving by Taxi, entering property and stealing goods while
the taxi waits for them unaware of events taking place.
Mr Scofield
reported that three serious incidents had taken place, which didn’t seem to
appear on the police report. Jackson’s
experiencing trouble with a gang of youths, the swings at Hare Park being fired
and a stolen vehicle abandoned and smashed in the village centre.
Discussion took
place over the effectiveness of the new traffic calming measures in reducing
speed. It was agreed that once works were complete, highways (Craig Turner)
would be asked to complete a traffic survey.
The priorities
for December/January to be:
Foot Patrol – As
required, concentrating on the village centre, Post Office closing, windows
rear of High School, Crofton Infants, Royal Oak etc.
Continue to
discourage anti social behaviour by the minority. Coppers Lake
Monitor the area
adjacent to the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings
The chairman
thanked the police contingent for their attendance.
02/196 Matters to be Discussed in Private
It was proposed,
seconded and agreed that the public and the press be excluded during
discussions involving staffing and the financial status of outside
organisations.
02/197 Minutes
It was agreed that
the minutes of the meetings held on 19 November were a correct record and
signed by the Chairman.
02/198 Matters Arising
1. Hedge –
Pontefract Road
The clerk reported
that he hedge adjacent to the Priory Centre field had been dealt with to the
satisfaction of WMDC.
02/199 Community Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish
Centre
Nothing to report
2.
Village Centre
Cllr Bennett
reported that repairs had been carried out to the roof of the pavilion. The padlock and chain for the Shay Lane gate
had been stolen and several tyres dumped.
02/200 Allotments - Convenors Report
Cllr Voros reported that the perimeter hedge adjacent to Hare Park Lane
allotments needs attention.
It was agreed that Mr Bacon be asked to attend to the matter.
02/201 Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report
Cllr Scargill
reported that Mr Joyce had repaired the perimeter fence once more and on the
clerks suggestion had assessed the possibility of creating a gate to ease
contractors entry to the cemetery. Using the existing fence panels Mr Joyce
could manufacture a pair of gates eight feet wide to be hinged from two new
gateposts.
Cllrs thought this
would be a practical solution to the problem, instructing the clerk to contact
Mr Joyce accordingly.
02/202 Special Services - Convenors Report
Nothing
to report this month.
02/203 Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee
Cllr Gomersall
reported that work at the Moorhouse site was on schedule.
Further to Cllr
Bennetts request, Cllr Gomersall had ascertained that air samples were being
taken from a fairly extensive area stretching as far as Beech Avenue, the dust
levels within all samples tested was below permitted levels.
The next meeting
of the liaison group would be on Thursday 23rd January 2003, the
funding group to meet again in February, when it is hoped the remaining funds
will be allocated.
02/204 Old Library Site
The clerk reported
that he had received correspondence from Wakefield MDC asking that should the
planned regeneration of the Old Library Site take place who would be
responsible for future maintenance and would there be any charge for parking on
the site.
The clerk to
respond stating that the Parish Council would maintain the site and that there
would be no charge made for parking.
02/205 Planning
a.
Residential Improvement Works –
Towers Lane
Cllrs reported that work on extending the property at the western end of
Towers Lane had commenced, apparently prior to granting of planning permission.
The clerk to make enquiries.
b.
All other applications received during the
period were found to be acceptable.
02/206 Financial Matters
The following
accounts were submitted and approved for payment.
£
Miss Reid 50.90
Mrs Hardwick 264.68
Mazars 293.75 (External Audit)
Mr F Joyce 78.20 (Cemetery Fence)
Vale 57.00 (Plaque)
Mr D Bacon 1,162.50 (Maintenance Work)
Mr G Terry 1,280.00 (Plaque plinths)
02/207 Correspondence
Wakefield
MDC -
Minutes
- Libraries Newsletter
- Listening Days survey.
- Area panel, Action Plans
YLCA -
White Rose Update
- Executive committee minutes
- Branch meetings timetable.
- Advance notice of 2003/04 fees.
02/208 Parish Matters
1.
Hedge – Hare Park Lane
Mr Peter Baines to be asked to carry out
necessary works to the hedge bordering his land at Hare Park Lane.
2.
Hanging Baskets.
The clerk reported that Mr Hamby had made contact regarding the
provision of hanging baskets next year.
The costs remain unchanged from this year at £55 per pair for new
metalwork, £50 per basket for filling and maintaining; the council already owns
31 pairs of baskets.
It was agreed that five additional pairs of baskets be procured making a
total of thirty-six pairs to be filled.
Total cost £3,875.
The clerk to canvass local businesses for sponsorship/contributions.
3.
Wakefield MDC.
The clerk to write to the Chief Executive of
WMDC, in light of the recent audit commission report categorising Wakefield as
a poor council placing it within the bottom thirteen authorities in England.
4.
Christmas
Decorations
The clerk to
contact Wakefield MDC regarding the poor standard of the Christmas tree lights
this year.
Also to seek an explanation as to why the
neighbouring villages of Ackworth, Ryhill and Sharlston have not only a
superior tree and lights but are also provided with street decorations.
02/209 Date of next Meeting
Tuesday
21st January 2003.
02/210 Matters Discussed in Private
None.
Chairman 21st
January 2003