Crofton Parish Council

 

                                                                   Minutes of the meeting held on

                                            Tuesday 19 November 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,

                                                                                                     D Marshall, A Ripley, G Scargill, & J Voros

 

                                                                 Residents:                     Mr P Jaques, Mrs P Walker &

                                                                                                     Mr G Schofield

 

                                                                 West Yorkshire Police:  Sgt Raworth & PC Whitworth

 

                                                                 The Clerk:                    J F Shillitoe

 

                 Apologies:                                Councillors:                  I Beckett, P Beckett

 

                 The chairman, Cllr  Ripley, presided over the meeting. 

 

02/174      Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda

 

                 No declarations made.

 

02/175      Public Participation Session

 

1.      Burnt Out Vehicles

 

                 Residents reported several burnt out vehicle around the village. (Two by the 2nd bridge on the road to Wintersett, one on Nostell Allotments and one along the track extending from Middle Lane.)

 

                 PC Whitworth explained that the police could only remove vehicle on or adjacent to the highway.

 

                 Cllr Gomersall agreed to approach the site manager of Moorhouse opencast with a view to having the vehicles moved closer to the highway.

 

2.      Pedestrian Crossing

 

The gates adjacent to the pedestrian crossing, at the junction of footpath no 8 and the mainline rail track have been damaged by vandals.  

 

The clerk to report to railtrack.

 

3.      Church Lane

 

Residents reported that Church Lane was in poor condition following recent building works at adjacent property.

 

The clerk to report this matter to highways.

 

 

4.      Coppers Lake.

 

Residents reported that a petition has been forwarded to Wakefield MDC Leisure Services regarding unsociable behaviour at Coppers Lake by quite a large group of youths.

 

It was agreed that the police pay attention to this area and the clerk contact leisure services.

 

02/176      West Yorkshire Police

 

                 PC Whitworth informed the meeting that operations at the Crofton Triangle were still quiet due to the Welbeck scheme having completed the task of clay lining, however a new haulage contractor, Scott Plant Hire has been engaged.  Scott Plant Hire has an excellent reputation, they are happy to work alongside the police and local residents in order to keep any disturbance to a minimum.

 

                 Groups of youths roaming the parish continue to be a problem, safe scheme officers stop and search youths on a regular basis, confiscating drink from those underage.

 

                 Eggs and fireworks have been a problem over the last month.  Telephone boxes are having doors blown off them and houses are been pelted with eggs.

 

                 Property on Hare Park Ave has been raided again resulting in the seizure of certain illegal substances.

 

                 Sgt Raworth informed councillors that on the whole crime was low, 26 offences last month, 7 of which were down to driving away without paying from the Red Beck Service Station.

 

                 The priorities for November/December 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.                       

 

02/177      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.

 

02/178      Minutes

 

                 It was agreed that the minutes of the meetings held on 19 November were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

02/179      Matters Arising 

 

                 1. Hedge – Pontefract Road                

 

                 The clerk reported that he hedge adjacent to the Priory Centre field was the responsibility of the Parish Council.  He had therefore arranged for it to be cut back.

                 2. Care in the Community

 

                 The clerk reported that Elaine McHale hoped to be able to attend the February Parish Council Meeting to brief councillors on Wakefield MDC’s approach to care in the community.

                

02/180      Community Facilities - Convenors Report

 

                 1. Parish Centre

 

                 The clerk reported that Crofton Children’s Play Area Association request the use of the Parish Centre on Saturday 8 February 2003 to hold a jumble sale.

 

                 It was agreed that the centre be made available free of charge.

 

                 2. Village Centre

 

                 Nothing new to report.

 

02/181      Allotments - Convenors Report

 

Cllr Ripley informed members that a site meeting had taken place with Mr Smith who had agreed to clear the site for a fee of £1500.  The site would then be leased to Mr Smith for an initial period of three years, the first being free of charge and then at £50 per annum, reviewable annually after the first three years.

 

Mr Smith plans to cultivate the area and sow with a meadow grass/wild flower mix from which he will produce hay for his horses.

 

Councillors agreed with the chairman’s actions, instructing the clerk to put matters in the hands of the parish solicitor.

 

02/182      Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report

 

                 The clerk reported that T & D have cleared the waste bins of rubbish and soil and he had instructed Mr Joyce to repair fence panels, which were loose again.

 

                 Mr Scofield reported that tree cuttings had been left in the Church Cemetery for several months and needed clearing.  Cllr Scargill agreed to deal with this.

                

                 Cllr Scargill reported that the memorial stone on grave number one, Marjorie Carney, has been tipped over by vandals.

 

                 The clerk to ask Oxley-Smith to carry out necessary repairs.

 

02/183      Special Services - Convenors Report

 

1.      Crofton 31st Guides and Brownies.

 

The clerk reported that he had received a request from the 31st Guides and Brownies for continued funding of 25%, £114.00, (Wakefield Youth Service fund 75%) of the charge made by Crofton Junior School for the rental of the school hall.  

 

It was agreed that the Parish Council would fund the £114.

 

 

2.      Crofton History Group

 

The reported that a request had been received from the history group, for financial assistance towards the purchase of an overhead projector and stand.

 

Cllr Scargill advised that All Saints Parish Church had an overhead projector, which could be loaned to the history group.

 

It was agreed that the History Group be advised to contact Cllr Scargill.

 

02/184      Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee

 

                 Cllr Gomersall reported that the next meeting of the liaison group would be on Thursday 21st November 2002.

 

                 The following grants had been made to local organisations, Havercroft Community and Safety Group - £2,000, Crofton Play Group - £2,000, Nostell Village Hall Restoration Project - £7,500 and Crofton Community Association - £10,000(to be made available only as matched funding)

 

02/185      Old Library Site

 

                 Cllr Bennett reported that the education department had made contact with highways enquiring whether a series of amendments to layout of the turning area would be feasible.

 

02/186      Planning

 

a.       Application No 02/99/07547/M – Birkwood House Farm

 

Application for plant machinery demonstration and operator training area. The clerk to seek clarification over the access to the site, objecting to the application should access be via the public right of way. To seek conditions covering any permitted operating hours and noise levels should the application be granted.

 

b.      All other applications received during the period were found to be acceptable.

 

02/187      Financial Matters    

 

a.       Audit

 

The clerk reported that the external auditors had now returned the accounts with the comment that no risk assessment had been carried out during the year.  This was a matter with which councillors were already aware and that the clerk has an outstanding action to resolve.

 

b.      Salaries

 

It was agreed that all salaries be increased in line with national recommendations, the effect being to increase the hourly rate for Mrs Hardwick and Miss Reid from £4.80 to £5.09 and to increase the clerks salary from £3,244 per annum to £3,392.

 

 

 

 

c.       Accounts

 

                 The following accounts were submitted and approved for payment.

                                                                                         £

                 Mr J F Shillitoe                             1,037.53

                 Miss Reid                                                      61.10

                 Mrs Hardwick                                             249.60

                                                                                      68.12 (back pay)

                 Yorkshire Water                                            94.28

                

 

02/188      Freedom of Information Act 2000

 

                 The clerk reported that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) gave everyone the right to request see and request copies of all the information held by the Parish Council.

 

                 Under the act councils now have to publish details of how and where the public can access the information along with details of any changes for copies of the information. A model template, which has already been agreed by the Information commissionaire, is available for use; alternatively councils can devise their own template, this would then need to be approved by the commissionaires.

 

                 Council agreed that the clerk use the model template, publish as much information as possible on the website and should anyone request copies of information charges to be fifty pence for the first A4 sheet (including postage) subsequent sheets to be ten pence each.   

 

02/189      Correspondence

 

                 Wakefield MDC                                   - Minutes

- Libraries Newsletter

                                                                                                                                    

                 YLCA                                                  - White Rose Update

                                 - Freedom of Information Act (2000)

                                 - Annual Conference, Scarborough March 2003                                                       

                

                 West Yorkshire Police                          - Forum agenda and minutes.

                

                 Countryside Agency                             - Vital Villages Update

                                                                             - Rural Transport Schemes

                                                                             - Heritage Grants

                            

02/190      Parish Matters

 

                 1. Reverend John Taylor

 

Cllr Scargill informed the meeting that Rev Taylor was to leave the parish, his last service being

25th December 2002, his new post commencing on 6th January 2003.

 

The Parish would then probably become part of a team ministry centred at Crofton including the parishes of Ryhill, Sharlston and Warmfield.

 

 

 

 

2.      All Saints Church Tower.

 

Cllr Scargill reported that the All Saints Parochial Church Council is in the process of obtaining quotations for the illuminating of the Church Tower with a view to approaching the Parish Council for financial assistance.

 

02/191      Date of next Meeting

 

                 Tuesday 17th December 2002.

 

02/192      Matters Discussed in Private

 

Minuted at 02/183/02

 

 

 

 

 

                 Chairman                                                                                                          17th December 2002