Crofton Parish
Council
Minutes of the meeting held on
Tuesday 15 April 2003 in The High
School at 7.00 pm.
Present: Councillors: S Bennett, D Crowcroft, T Gomersall,
G P
Jackson OBE BEM JP, A W Ripley, G Scargill & J Voros
Residents: Mrs P Baines, Mrs R Salt, Mrs P
Walker, W Cook,
M
J Dungworth, P Jaques & G Schofield.
West Yorkshire Police: PC
Paul McMann & PC John Whitworth
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: J R Hewitt & D Marshall.
The Chairman
Cllr A W Ripley presided over the meeting.
03/060 Declaration of Interests in
Items on the Agenda
No declarations
made.
03/061 Public Participation Session
1.
Middle Lane
It was reported that Middle Lane was becoming a dumping ground for fly
tippers and general rubbish.
The clerk to contact cleansing services over the matter.
2.
Parish Centre
Mrs Salt asked if it would be possible to use the Parish Centre for
charitable fund raising events (Wakefield Hospice and Crofton Community
Centre).
Mrs Salt was asked to liaise with Cllr Scargill over the matter; he
could then check the diary for available dates.
3.
Parish Cemetery – Lighting
Mr Cook asked if the Parish Council could approach Wakefield MDC’s
street lighting department regarding the possibility of providing street
lighting along the footpath through the cemetery from Stocks Lane to Ashdene
Crescent.
It was agreed that the clerk contacts Malcolm Halstaed over the matter.
03/062 West Yorkshire Police
PC Whitworth
(John) introduced PC Paul McMann, the safe scheme officer working with
Crigglestone Parish Council.and apologised for PC Raworth’s absence.
The crime figures
for the month show 32 crimes in total, these include 3 Burglary others, 5
damage to motor vehicles, 10 damage to buildings (5 at the High School) and 1
assault.
John asked if
Stocks (Church) Lane is maintained at public or private expense as the owner of
a untaxed van parked adjacent to the stocks claims that the road is private. Councillors informed Pc Whitworth that the
road is an adopted road maintained at public expense.
The Coppers Lake
and Hare Park areas of the village have been surprisingly quiet over the last
month; John therefore asked Cllrs if they had any new priorities, which need
addressing.
Cllrs asked that
the safe scheme officers keep the whole parish under review, should any one
area or areas stand out apply the required resource. One area of concern is the
riding of motorcycles through Priory Ridge and Meadowfields.
Cllr Scargill
asked that officers re-visit the problem of cars parking adjacent to
schools. A mother pushing a pram whilst
accompanying her infant to Slack Lane Infants School was reversed into recently
by another parent parking their vehicle.
PC Whitworth undertook to get the Senior Traffic Warden to come and
spend some time in the parish.
The priorities
for April/May to be:
Foot Patrol – As
required, concentrating on the village centre, Post Office closing, Crofton
High School, Crofton Infants, Royal Oak etc.
Discourage illegal use of motorcycles at Priory
Ridge/Maedowfields.
Continue to discourage anti social behaviour by the minority. Coppers
Lake/Hare Park
Monitor the area adjacent to the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings
The chairman
thanked John Whitworth and Paul McMann for making time available to attend the
meeting.
03/063 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.
03/064 Minutes
It was agreed that
the minutes of the meeting held on 11th March 2003 were a correct
record and signed by the Chairman.
03/065 Matters Arising
1. Car Sales –
Weeland Road
The clerk reported
that Wakefield MDC enforcement officers have been unable to sight any
vehicles being advertised for sale in the vicinity of Weeland
Road. They ask if the complainant could keep a diary of any such events on
which future enforcement action can be taken.
Cllr Jackson
commented that whatever action the enforcement officers had taken appears to
have finally got to the culprits involved.
The clerk to
respond to the enforcement officer accordingly.
2. Turf Accountant
– Slack Lane
The clerk was
asked to follow up this matter with Wakefield MDC.
3. Wakefield
MDC – Periodic Electoral Review.
The clerk reported
that the proposed warding of the parish, if agreed, would not come into effect
until the May 2007 elections. Hopefully
by this time the district and parish boundaries should have been brought into
line removing the necessity to ward the parish.
4. Hall Park
Ave – Flooding from Cock and Crown Car Park
Cllr Ripley
reported that he had spoken to planners and residents regarding the flooding of
Hall Park Avenue.
As a result
residents are now in dialogue with the brewery.
03/066 Community Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish
Centre
Cllr Scargill
reported that repairs to the roof have now been carried out,
2. Village
Centre
Cllr Bennett
reported that,
Repairs to the water system at the Pavilion are now complete.
The association
are experiencing a spate of mindless behaviour, users of the pavilion showing
no regard for the facilities or fellow users.
When the culprits are identified they will be barred from using the
facilities.
Cllr Bennett
enquired whether the contents of the pavilion were insured.
The clerk informed
him that they were not.
It was agreed that
the association would provide the clerk with a valuation of the contents in
order that insurance cover can be arranged.
3. Priory
Centre
The clerk asked if
the association had agreed on the level of grounds maintenance required at the
Priory Centre.
Cllr Bennett
reported that the association were to meet on 1 May, when a decision would be
made.
03/067 Allotments - Convenors Report
1.
Hare Park
Cllr Voros reported that the Pest Control Officers had visited the site
on two occasions, the results were very disappointing and vermin was still a
problem.
It was agreed that the clerk contact pest control expressing the
council’s dissatisfaction at the service received. Also to obtain comparative
prices rentokill
2.
Pontefract Road.
The clerk reported that he had received a further letter from Mr Salt.
All councillors present reported that they had had the opportunity to
read the letter and agreed that its contents be noted.
Mrs Salt asked if she could have a copy of the lease, the clerk expressed
the view that as the document was in the public domain a copy could be made
available when agreed by all parties.
03/068 Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report
Cllr Scargill
reported that the tap has been repaired again and T & D have emptied the
waste bins, whilst emptying the bins T & D reported that someone has been
dumping catering waste.
All present were
asked to be vigilant and to make known that the practice of dumping rubbish in
the cemetery would not be tolerated.
03/069 Special Services - Convenors Report
It
was agreed that Mr Malcolm Stead be awarded a grant of £100 towards his
forthcoming trip to Belarus.
03/070 Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee
Cllr Gomersall
reported that the final closing date for applications for grants had now passed
and that final awards would be made at the next meeting.
03/071 Old Library Site
The clerk reported that he had received a
copy of the design showing the alterations to the bus turning circle and the
layout of the car parking area, along with a note asking for comments and
confirmation that the Parish Council was to contribute £25,000 to the scheme.
It was agreed that the clerk writes expressing
approval of the design and to state that £25,000 was available but only if
ownership of the site be transferred to the Parish.
03/072 Planning
All applications received during the period were found to be acceptable.
03/073 Financial Matters
The following
accounts were submitted and approved for payment.
£
Miss Reid 50.90
Mrs Hardwick 264.68
Mr Earle 35.00 (Paid to Cllr Scargill)
Mr Joyce 520.00
Mr Stead 100.00
PWLB 2,726.75
Wakefield MDC
305.00 (Hare Park Leases)
10.00 (Oak
Street Rent)
145.70 (Pest
Control)
144.40 (Scouts
rent at Infant School)
555.00 (P Centre
Rates)
156.28 (P Centre
Trade Waste)
Mayfair Security
458.25
Firescreen 71.68
YRCC 25.00
YLCA 516.00
PHS Ltd
137.63
03/074 Correspondence
Wakefield MDC - Council
Minutes
- Community Assembly Minutes
- Joint WMDC/YCLA Minutes
YLCA - White Rose Update
- Advice Note, Elections
- Advice Note, Accounts and Audit Regs 2003
- Joint Executive Minutes.
West Yorkshire Police -
Normanton Forum, Minutes
Countryside Agency - Parish Plans
03/075 Parish Matters
1.
Electricity
Sub Station – High Street.
The clerk to
contact Yorkshire Electricity again, asking that the site be cleared of debris.
2. Middle
Lane - Flooding
The clerk to
request that the countryside service investigate flooding towards the end of
Middle Lane.
3.
Junction of
Meadowfields Drive with Meadowfields Road.
The clerk to
report that the Meadowfields Drive street sign at its junction with
Meadowfields Road is missing and needs replacing.
4.
Street
Lighting
The clerk to
report that lamp no 4 on Meadowfields Road needs a new door.
03/076 Date of next Meeting
Monday 19th May 2003.
03/077 Matters Discussed in Private
Minuted at 03/069.
Chairman 19th
May 2003