Page 1.                                    Crofton Parish Council

 

     Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 21st December 2010.                             

 

Present;          Councillors,    Chalkley (Chair), Bennett, Duffy, Hewitt, Makin, Ripley, Schofield, Towns, Voros and Wrigg.

           

In attendance;                       2 members of the public

                                                District Councillor Cummings.

 

12/127             Report from W.Y.Police Officers working on Crofton Safe Scheme PS Day presented his report covering 16th November to 21st December.

He informed members that he was monitoring the situation concerning congestion at the Infant School (see minute 11/109), he would continue to do so in the New Year.

Cllr Towns asked if he was aware that a member of staff from the High School, had been struck by a car on the day that the High School closed for the Christmas holiday, such an incident needed to be addressed and she asked that a solution be found to the lack of crossing facilities.

It was suggested that a meeting should be held with all relevant parties to ensure the initiative was progressed.

Cllr Cummings suggested that she would raise the matter with the Head of the School who she was due to meet in the New Year.

Cllr Bennett stated that the remains of previous vehicle accidents had been left on Doncaster Road and therefore presented a hazard, PS Day duly noted this.

Cllr Chalkley asked PS Day if he had arranged a meeting with Inspector Carlson, which he had requested in November, PS Day had yet to do so.

Cllr Bennett asked what the likely effects would be of the report issued about financial constraints within the local Police Force, he stated that approximately 20% of the workforce would be reduced over a 4 year period, but it was hoped that much of this would be through natural wastage.

Cllr Towns reported that light bulbs were being stolen from the Christmas tree.

PS Day was asked to ensure that adequate cover was provided to cover the Christmas and New Year festivities.

 

12/128             Wakefield MDC District Councillors Report

Cllr Cummings updated members on previous matters raised and provided information to enquiries made individually by Parish Councillors.

WMDC Highways had issued a response to address the concerns raised at the recent meeting with Parish Councillors (see minute 11/110), the Clerk would circulate the report to members.

Further to the request that an inspection was to be arranged during a spell of wet weather to identify flooding (see minute 11/110), WMDC Officer Andy Varley had attended and had witnessed the flooding at Sandown Avenue/Harrison Road, he would arrange for the drain to be inspected to identify possible damage.

Comment was made that the pot holes on the track from the Pavilion to Shay Lane had still not been resolved.

The trees at the junction of Shay Lane & Hawthorn Avenue, had been inspected and

were considered a danger, they had now been removed, Cllr Wrigg thanked the

District Councillors for resolving the matter.

Page 2.

Boarding had now replaced the windows on the shop at Hawthorn Avenue.

Cllr Cummings informed members that Coppers Lake had now been fished, it was reported that it was not well stocked to make fishing viable and it would need a financial commitment to remedy the situation. It was felt that previous promises made by WMDC Officer Graham West concerning this matter had not been kept.

With regard to the report that the bollards in the cycle track had been removed but were still there, WMDC Officer Brian Smith required clarification as to the location of the bollards.

Further to the request for action that could be taken to address the problem concerning the number of accidents and fatalities on Doncaster Road, information had been received from WMDC that there was no monies available to resolve the problems. Cllr Cummings informed members of a proposed licensing application to extend the licence for The Slipper public house for the provision of adult entertainment, she assured members that the situation would be monitored.

Cllr Hewitt commented on the lack of action to clear roads of snow within the village  but had been informed that the Gipsy site off Doncaster Road had been.

Cllr Bennett commented on the recent bad weather affecting the collection of refuse.

The latest correspondence received about waste and recycling collection dates, states that if the Council is unable to collect your bin or box due to bad weather it will be emptied as soon as it is able to make collections, but this had not occurred, such a situation may have also contributed to rats being sighted near the accumulated rubbish. Cllr Cummings was asked to seek an explanation from the Corporate Director responsible for this situation.

 

12/129             Public participation session

A resident asked Cllr Cummings to investigate a previously reported problem about overgrown trees at a WDH owned property on Santingley Lane.

A resident asked if anyone could provide information on the promised opening of the bridge on the locally known ‘Pit Lane’, which was a continuance of the cycle track from the Sidings. Comment was made that the bridge was a hazard and had therefore not been opened.

There had been an instance of foul smelling drains in a residents house, it was thought that it may be connected to recent flooding at the rear of Sainsbury’s supermarket. . Further comment was made about other flooding occurring in the area and that such problems may be part of a major problem with the drain and sewer systems within the village (see also minute 12/128).

A resident asked if the Parish Council could make representation to WMDC Environmental Health concerning problems with a property on High Street.

 

12/130                         Apologies for absence          

District Councillor Manifield, none received for District Councillor Lodge.

Councillors; Jacques and Healy

 

12/131                         Declarations of Interest

None declared.

 

12/132                         Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16th November 2010, were subject to change prior to signing.

Page 3.

 

12/133                         Discuss matters arising from previous minutes

The Scout Group had yet to supply the keys for the Scout Hut, or a forwarding address to enable the cheque to be sent (see minute 11/115).

Further to issuing the Agenda, the Clerk had now received information that the old Library site was the responsibility of WMDC Property Management, a request to stop the parking of vehicles on the grassed area had now been sent to them.

The disqualification of a Parish Councillor was confirmed and co-option as opposed to an election, would be applicable.

 

12/134                         Community Facilities

Report Parish Centre

It was confirmed that the Cherry Tree had now been pruned.

Report Village Association

Members agreed to discuss both subjects under item 18 on the Agenda.

Report Allotments

Cllr Hewitt stated that there would need to be a visit to the Pontefract Allotment site

to establish the number of plots created following ploughing of the field.

It was resolved that a meeting of the Working Party would take place at the Parish Centre on the 09th January at 6pm, to agree charges and confirm any changes, for the new allotment year.

It was agreed that that the collection of allotment garden tenancy payments, would take place at the Parish Centre on 15th January.

Report Parish Cemetery

Further to the recent Public Notice issued to attract quotes for the erection of new fencing, only one had been received. Subject to the quote being to budget expectation,      

the Clerk would issue a contract to enable work to commence, Cllr Bennett asked that confirmation was sought to confirm that there would be no additional cost involved.

 

12/135                         Discuss Traffic issues

It was reported that the bridge control lights on Doncaster Road were not functioning.

Other matters were raised regarding traffic in the village (see minute 12/127).

 

12/136                         Parish Plan

The Plan was due to be finalised and prepared for consultation at the January meeting.

 

12/137                         Cleansing/Environment

Comment was made about the potential danger presented by the conifers opposite 595 Doncaster Road, the Clerk was asked to report the matter to WMDC Environment Services.

Cllr Schofield stated that the previously reported problem (see minute 06/038) of debris and road chippings at Shay Lane School had reoccurred, The Clerk was asked to report the matter to Councillor Cummings for action to be taken.

 

12/138                         Planning Notifications

Members raised no objections.

 

12/139                         Financial matters

The Clerk informed members of invoices to be paid

Page 4;

 

The Clerk was asked to explain the benefit of the payment to the SLCC for his membership and was asked if he was aware that the expense could be claimed via his tax return. He informed members the benefit derived from being a member and confirmed that he did not claim the expense.

Members were in agreement with the content of the monthly accounts.

Further to the interim budget figures being issued, it was agreed that a precept planning meeting would be held on Sunday 16th January in the Parish Centre at 6pm.

                                                                       

12/140                         Correspondence received

Members noted the content of the information received, in particular

Note 2; Cllr Bennett informed members that the Wakefield spending review had been cancelled because of the weather, it had been rescheduled for January.

Note 5; Members asked the Clerk to make representation to the District Councillors to

oppose the proposed changes for hospital services provided by Pontefract Infirmary.

Note 10; The Wakeybus information was given to Cllr Makin to study.

Note 12; The letter from Ruralis was given to Cllr Bennett to study.

 

12/141                         Parish matters

Cllr Schofield informed members that Shay Lane School had asked if the School Council could attend a Parish Council meeting, members were in agreement for this to take place subject to certain conditions.

Cllr Towns informed members that due to the doubt over the future of the library, the High School had been approached to ask for assistance, members were also asked to offer their support.

Cllr Hewitt had been approached by a resident, concerned that a cycle track would be constructed on the existing public footpath in front of their property, however it was confirmed that the information they had received was incorrect.

 

12/142                         Date of next meeting

Resolved; that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday, 18th January 2011 at 7pm in Crofton Parish Centre, High Street, Crofton.

 

12/143             Members of the public and press were to leave before agenda no.18

It was agreed

 

12/144                         Matters to be discussed in private

The cost incurred for the wind turbine would be allocated as a Section 137 payment.

Members expressed concern about the quality of the drawings for the wind turbine and the lack of support information (see also minute 11/121).

Further guidelines would need to be implemented when a capital expense project is decided.

The Clerk would check for an existing job description for the cleaner and inform the CVA Working Party.

 

 

Signed                                                                         Date                                        Chairman Crofton Parish Council