Minutes of the Annual Parish Assembly
held on
Tuesday 20th April 2004 in The
High School at 7.00 pm.
Present: Councillors: Mrs K
Duffy, Mrs G Towns, Mrs W Wrigg, S Bennett,
T
B Chalkley, J R Hewitt, P Jacques, G
Makin, A Ripley & J Voros
Residents: Mrs P Baines, Mrs M Brown, Mrs R Salt, B
Murphy
&
G Schofield.
All
Saints: Rev A Jordan
West
Yorkshire Police: Inspector Heppenstall
& PC Paul McMahon
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: S Duffy, G P Jackson JP, MBE, OBE, D
Marshall & A Manifield
The Chairman
Cllr A W Ripley presided over the meeting.
1. Declarations
of Interest in Items on the Agenda
No declarations
made
2. Minutes
The minutes of
the Annual Parish Assembly held on 15th April 2003 had been accepted
as a correct record of the meeting and signed accordingly at the Parish Council
meeting held on 19th May 2003.
3. Matters Arising
The Parish
Council had dealt with all matters arising from last year's annual parishioners
meeting throughout the course of the year.
4. Chairman's Report
The Chairman
presented his report to the meeting, a copy of which is attached.
5. Charity
Trustees Report
Cllr Jacques
presented the Trustees report to the meeting, details of which are attached.
The accounts of
the Pinder’s and Constable’s Charity show total balances of £1,439.90
6. Parish Matters
No Parish
Matters were raised at this time.
As there was no
further business, the Chairman closed the Annual Parishioners meeting
Chairman 18th
May 2004.
____________________________________________________
Chairman's
Report to the Parish Council
2003/2004
First of all, 1 would like to thank the members
of the Parish Council for all their hard work over the past year. Much has been
achieved during this year, although some work is still ongoing.
Traffic Calming Scheme
v
Results
of the survey by Highways Department do show a reduction in the speed of
traffic through the village.
v
Consultation
has taken place between Highways Department, and the Parish Council, and
further tests have to be carried out regarding traffic taking shortcuts through
the Ashdene estate, and checking speeds in some areas about which parishioners
have raised concern, ie Shay Lane Primary School.
v
Highways
have promised a meeting next year when all this information is collated, which
will give a more accurate overview of the traffic and, if any alterations need
to be done, then these can follow through from that.
Car Parking Area
The new car park has eased the car-parking
situation in the village, and much work has been carried out to increase safety
with regard to buses entering and leaving the terminus.
There are still some items, which require
attention, and this work is to be carried out by Highways Department, ie
dropped kerbs.
Results achieved
1. The members of
the Parish Council were delighted to hear that £400,000 has been earmarked for
the new Youth Centre. Work has already progressed with regard to the removal of
the Old Hall and the old Youth Club.
Regret was expressed
that the Old Hall could not be incorporated into the design of the new
building, but Wakefield Metropolitan District Council gave their reasons for
the demolition of the property.
Plans for the new Youth
Centre have been produced, and appear to be of good design.
Hopefully, the work will
commence on time, with building work commencing sometime in June ‑
fingers crossed!
2. A request for the
£4,000 pledge has been received from the Community Centre, and it appears that
this work will be progressing in stages. The members of the Parish Council wish
them well!
£1,000 has been awarded to Crofton Youth
Football teams; £1,000 has been promised towards the repair of the road to the
cricket pavilion; and £10,000 has been requested for the Crofton Community
Centre, in order that work may start on the new all weather surface.
All
monies from the Opencast Mining grants scheme have now been allocated.
v
Work
is progressing now on the new footpaths through Santingley.
v
Coal
and clay removal has been completed.
v
Work
on restoration is proceeding very well. Hopefully this will help with the links
between the Havercroft and Ryhill footpaths, and also the links from Nostell
through to Anglers Country
Park.
The Police Safe Scheme, and changes to it, have
achieved good results, with arrests; removal of illegal motorbikes and scrap
vehicles; and general co‑operation with the police. We hope that this
situation will continue into the future. Problems have been highlighted
regarding unsociable behaviour of youths in the village, particularly around
Rectory Crescent.
The hanging baskets were a picture, and we hope
they will be the same next year, if we are able to achieve agreements for the
lampposts.
The possibility of providing Christmas
decorations has been discussed. Some information needs to be gathered regarding
sizes and types, and when the lampposts are to be changed throughout the village.
As a result of the changes made when the new car
park was created, the Christmas Tree
Box was removed. A new box has
been provided, and future Christmas tree installations should take place
without further problems being experienced.
Work is being carried out to remove hedges where
unsociable behaviour is taking place. It is also necessary to remove several of
the trees, in order to protect retaining walls and to allow other trees to
mature properly.
Over the past year the roof has been a problem,
on more than one occasion, but hopefully this has now been sealed and will give
the parish council time to do all the agreed assessments and produce a long‑term
strategy for the site.
Modifications to the UDP, which were relevant to
the Parish, were checked. Recommendations and alterations were brought before
the Parish Council and approved. These were submitted to Planning Department,
but we await their decisions to see if any are accepted.
These have been carried out, and adopted, for
the Hare Park Allotments, the Parish Centre, and the Parish Cemetery. The
assessment to be completed is for the Cricket Pavilion and changing rooms.
The Parish Council will have to remain vigilant
regarding any activities on, or proposed, for this site.
The group is progressing well towards its first
goal of building the Skate Park; grants from WREN and The Scarmen Trust have
been secured ‑ £30,000 in all. The group is waiting to hear from Living Spaces regarding another £25,000.
This will allow the first phase to commence. The group has been fundraising as
well and has over £3,000 in its own account.
It is hoped that all problems have now been
resolved, and that all parties may work together to establish good
relationships.
The council has issued grants for Children's
Story Sacks, Scouts, Rainbows, Guides and Brownies ‑ all these groups do
fantastic work, and 1 am sure you wish them well in the future
We
have had the following speakers:
a speaker from Yorkshire Water, regarding
chloride;
Elaine McHale, regarding
elderly care and care in the community; and
Lister Baynes regarding youth services.
We hope to have further speakers in the future,
as we feel this to be informative both to the Public and the Council.
Arthur Ripley
20th April 2004
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Pinder’s
and Constable’s Charity
Trustees
Report 2003/04
The Charity trustees have met on three occasions since April 2003. We discovered that the Charity had been removed from the Register of Charities as being inactive but after correspondence the Charity was re-registered and is functioning properly again.
During
the last year Len Coates and Terry Gomersall have resigned as trustees and been
replaced by Glenda Towns and Wendy Wrigg. Dennis Crowcroft remains as Treasurer
Meetings
are fully minuted and recorded in the original minute book dating from 1908.
Because
of the limited amount of capital we have in the Charity, the Trustees do not
invite applications from interested parties but rather make donations to worthy
causes in the village, which fulfil the Charity’s requirements. Thus a donation
of £100 was made to the Crofton Play Area Association in October.
At
the last meeting the account balances were:
Current
Account - £124.43
Deposit
Account - £1,315.47
The
next meeting will be on 6th October 2004.
Peter
Jacques
Chairman.
Crofton Parish Council
Minutes
of the Parish Council meeting held on
Tuesday
20th April 2004 in The High School at 7.00 pm.
Present: Councillors: Mrs K Duffy, Mrs G Towns, Mrs W Wrigg,
S
Bennett, T B Chalkley, J.R Hewitt,
P
Jacques, G Makin, A Ripley & J Voros
Residents: Mrs Baines, Mrs Brown, Mrs Salt,
Mr
B Murphy & Mr G Schofield.
All
Saints Rev A Jordan
West
Yorkshire Police Inspector
Heppenstall &
Pc
P McMahon
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: S Duffy, D Marshall, A Manifield
&
G.P Jackson JP, MBE, OBE.
The Chairman Cllr A Ripley
presided over the meeting.
04/066 West
Yorkshire Police
Pc McMahon (Paul) presented the police report for March.
Mrs Brown reported that the position appertaining the passenger shelter at rectory crescent was 90% better this month than last and thanked PC McMahon for all his hard work.
Unfortunately it appears that the youths have moved on from Rectory Crescent to the Health Centre, braking bottles from the Royal Oak in the car park. A vehicle headlight also being broken.
Cllr Towns thanked Paul for his work at the library, advising him that the library now closes an hour earlier at 6 pm.
Cllr Hewitt reported that a house window had been broken in Hare Park Lane, the police arrested and charged the youth responsible.
Ins Heppenstall stressed that policing was built on commitment; the police are committed to the safe scheme and asked that residents kept in regular contact with the police; only by reporting incidents can the police assess the level of the problems. Should a particular problem be reported excessively WYP will engage the twilight team.
Cllr Bennett expressed the view that whilst residents do report incidents, to be told by some faceless call centre operative that there aren’t enough resources and that your incident is low priority is not acceptable.
Ins Heppenstall explained that police priorities are set by the Home Office along with Key Performance Indicators, a burglar on the premises will attract a priority one whilst nuisance youths
in the passenger shelter will unfortunately be well down the list.
Cllr Ripley asked if Paul could explain the high level of police activity along Doncaster Road recently.
Paul explained that road traffic were using the Automatic Number Plate Reader (ANPR) system to detect vehicles and drivers without insurance, MOT and car tax, The results being outstanding, leading to several arrests some of which being known criminals.
Mrs Baines explained that recently along with her husband she had detained several youths who had been trespassing, causing damage to a haystack. On ringing the Police she was told that there was insufficient resource to deal with the matter, she then rang the parents of the youths asking that they arrange for them to be collected. One of the parents contacted the police who in turn rang
Mrs Baines advising her that detaining the youths was unlawful. Mrs Baines asked Paul what she should have done.
Paul explained that trespass was a civil matter rather than a criminal offence and the Police wouldn’t wish to be involved. He agreed to visit Mrs Baines to discuss the matter fully.
Paul advised council that Joanne Posonby had completed work on the design of the wheely bin stickers and would attend next months meeting to arrange details of the launch.
The chairman thanked Ins Heppenstall and Paul for their attendance.
The priorities for April to
be:
Foot Patrol – As required,
concentrating on the village centre, Crofton High School, Crofton Infants,
Royal Oak along with any other areas brought to the attention of the safe
scheme officers.
To patrol Springhill Drive
following recent incidents of stolen wheel trims and loosened wheel nuts.
Monitor the Parish Cemetery.
Discourage illegal use of
motorcycles at Priory Ridge, Towers Close and adjacent land, High Street and
Hare Park Sidings.
Address problem with youths in
the vicinity of Rectory Crescent
Monitor the area adjacent to
the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings.
04/067 Public
Participation Session
1. Car Sales –
Doncaster Road
It was reported that residents in
the vicinity of Weeland Road/Doncaster Road is selling cars from the public
highway.
The clerk to report
the matter to the appropriate officer at Wakefield MDC.
2. Footpath – Slack
Lane
The clerk to ask highways for a
progress report on plans to extend the footpath from the bus stop in Slack Lane
opposite the weavers Green to Doncaster Road.
3. Footpath –
Doncaster Road to Pontefract Road.
Mrs Salt reported that Mr Ramskill had reinstated the footpath.
4. Seat – Sycamore
Court
Mr. Schofield
reported that tenants of the flats in Sycamore Court are experiencing problems
with youths congregating on the seat adjacent.
It was agreed that
the clerk asks housing to erect fencing between the flats and the seat, hence
distancing the problem from the residents.
5. Seat – Towers Close
The clerk to request Wakefield MDC to carry out repairs to the seat in Towers Close.
04/068 Declaration
of Interests in Items on the Agenda
No declarations were made.
04/069 Minutes
It was agreed that the minutes
of the meetings held on 18th March 2004 be signed by the Chairman as
a correct record.
04/070 Matters
Arising
1. Youth
Services
It was again reported that no formal planning application for the new youth centre had yet been submitted.
2. Stocks
Lane/Harrison Road
Cllr Ripley reported that he had contacted environmental services on this matter. Environmental services have visited the site and cleared a blocked drain, (damaged during recent works) which seems to have stemmed the flow of foul water onto the road.
Cllrs reported that this had been the case but unfortunately foul water was flowing again.
Cllr Ripley to speak to environmental services again.
04/071 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.
04/072 Community
Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish Centre
Cllr Duffy reported that the
repairs to the roof were in good order and the centre was dry. The grass needs cutting.
The clerk to contact Alan Pine,
at building control for advice as to who may be willing to carry out a survey
of the parish centre.
2. Village Centre
Cllr Bennett reported that
there is a dispute between the association and contractors over the cost of
work to the access road. Once resolved work to the road should commence.
04/073 Allotments
- Convenors Report
The clerk
distributed to members a copy of a letter received from Mr Salt concerning the
Pontefract Road site. He explained that he had now sent a file to the Yorkshire
Local Councils Association (YLCA), detailing events at the site requesting that
they review the legal position. YCLA have in turn forwarded the file to the
national association.
Cllrs agreed that the
clerk write to Mr Salt informing him of the above.
04/074 Parish
Cemetery - Convenors Report
Mr Schofield reported work on
the perimeter fence has still not commenced and that T & D Contractors have
cleared the shrubs and roses from the garden of remembrance. Work on the trees
will be fitted in as and when during routine visits.
04/075 Special
Services - Convenors Report
No matters to report this
month.
04/076 Fluoridation
All councillors had been
provided with copies of papers supplied by Mr Murphy.
Mr Murphy requested that Dr
Beal of the Strategic Health Authority be invited to attend a council meeting
to present the Health Authorities views on fluoridation of water supplies.
It was agreed that the clerk
arrange.
04/077 Cleansing
Cllrs agreed that conditions
throughout the village have improved dramatically since meeting John Skidmore,
the Road Sweeper has been seen in the parish twice in one week.
Cllr Jacques agreed to pursue
Martin Wolmersley for a map identifying the locations of waste bins throughout
the parish.
The clerk to arrange a further
meeting with Cleansing Services early May.
04/078 Moorhouse
Opencast Liaison Committee
Nothing further to report
04/079 Old
Library Site
The clerk to write to the architects
department, Tim Abbott, to enquire what action is being taken to encourage
contractors to complete the dropped kerbs.
04/080 Planning
1. App No 04/99/47047/F –Freightliner Group - Santingley Lane, Sidings
The clerk to seek full details of the application, initially objecting on the grounds of noise, nuisance to residents and planning conditions previously imposed which address the removal of the sidings.
2. Other
Applications
All applications received during the period were found to be acceptable.
04/081 Financial
Matters
The following accounts were
submitted and approved for payment.
£
Ms Reid 53.20
Mrs Hardwick 276.64
Wakefield MDC 570.00 (Parish Centre Rates)
163.33 (Parish Centre Refuge)
72.50 (Cricket Lease)
232.50 (Football Lease)
10.00 (Pavillion Lease)
West Yorkshire Police 2,000.00
PWLB 2,726.75 (Loan Interest)
SLCC 83.00 (Subs)
YLCA 535.00 (Subs)
04/082 Correspondence
Wakefield MDC - Minutes
-
Area Panel Face to Face meetings
-
Community Assembly
YLCA - White Rose
Update.
West Yorkshire Police -
Forum Note
Jon Trickett MP - Anti social
behavour
04/083 Parish
Matters
1. Pollution of Red
Beck
The clerk to
contact the environmental agency asking that they check the water quality of
Red Beck in the vicinity of Bombardiers factory.
2. Venture Scouts –
Old Telephone Exchange
The clerk to
contact the venture scouts concerning the condition of the area surrounding the
Old Telephone Exchange, which is in need of some serious attention.
3. Land adjacent to 11
High Street
Cllr Ripley
reported that Cllr Jackson had asked councillors be made aware that the owner
of 11 High Street, Mr Burfitt, may be about to dispose of the area of land
adjacent to his property.
It was agreed that
the clerk write to Mr Burfitt asking to be kept informed.
4. Cock Lane Mini
Roundabout
The clerk to
suggest that roundabout is removed and the T junction re-established, falling
this remind highways that the roundabout needs white lining and to ask that
additional signage is erected on the approach roads.
04/084 Date
of next Meeting
Tuesday 15 June 2004.
04/085 Matters
Discussed in Private
Not minuted.
Chairman 18th
May 2004