Crofton Parish Council

 

                                                                   Minutes of the meeting held on

                                              Tuesday 21 January 2003 in The High School at 7.00 pm.

 

 

                 Present:                                    Councillors:                  S Bennett, T Gomersall, D Crowcroft,

                                                                                                     J R Hewitt, G P Jackson, A Ripley,

                                                                                                     G Scargill, & J Voros

 

                                                                 Residents:                     Mrs Baines, Mrs R Salt, Mr P Jaques &

                                                                                                     Mr G Schofield

 

                                                                 West Yorkshire Police:  PC Raworth

 

                                                                 The Clerk:                    J F Shillitoe

 

                 Apologies:                                Councillors:                  I Beckett, P Beckett & L Coates

 

                 The chairman, Cllr Ripley, presided over the meeting. 

 

03/001      Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda

 

                 No declarations made.

 

03/002      Public Participation Session

 

1.      Flooding – Land adjacent to Spring Lane.

 

                 Mr Schofield reported that the area of land adjacent to Spring Lane was badly flooded following recent heavy rain rendering the footpath unwalkable.

 

                 It was agreed that the Clerk contact Yorkshire Water over the matter.

 

2.      Pontefract Road – Vehicles parking adjacent to The Priory Centre.

 

Mrs Salt expressed concern over the number of vehicles parked alongside Pontefract Road during football matches staged at The Priory Centre, enquiring whether it would be possible to park inside the grounds adjacent to the pitch.

 

Cllr Bennett informed the meeting that the conditions of the lease for this land did not make any provision for parking at the centre.  Cars parked alongside Pontefract Road were parked legally and all parents have been asked to be mindful of road safety when visiting the site.

 

3.      Crofton Community Centre

 

Mrs Salt asked councillors why the Community Centre doesn’t feature on Parish Council agendas and why reports of Community Centre activities and rarely minuted.

 

The Chairman explained that the agendas are limited to topics in which the Parish Council is directly involved.  The community centre has appeared on the agenda when appropriate.

 

 

 

Cllr Gomersall who attends Community Centre Committee meetings informed the meeting that the committee had not met for almost a year, to place it the agenda would therefore would have no purpose.  Any news worthy of report will be addressed under Parish Matters.

 

4.      Street Cleansing – Cock Lane

 

It was reported that the condition of Cock Lane was deplorable; road sweepers have not been in the area for months perhaps years.

 

It was agreed that the clerk contact cleansing services.

 

5.      Parish Cemetery – Water Supply

 

                 Mr Schofield reported that the water tap adjacent to the garage was in need of repair.

 

                 The clerk to arrange.

 

6.      Parish Cemetery – Waste bins

 

Mr Schofield advised that the waste bin has now been emptied but the area surrounding it was still untidy.

 

The clerk to contact cleansing services once more.

 

03/003      West Yorkshire Police

 

                 PC Raworth informed the meeting that PC Whitworth had contacted the Highways Enforcement Officer over the condition of Church Lane.  Cllrs had seen an improvement in this area, but felt that improvements could still be made.  The clerk to contact the enforcement officer directly.

 

                 Several vehicles have been reported for the offence of no vehicle excise license.

 

                 Once works are completed on the 20 mph zone highways are willing to carry out a traffic survey of the area.

 

                 Groups of youths gathering at Coppers Lake and Hare Park are proving to be a nuisance; safe scheme officers continue to keep a watch over the areas.

 

                 The number of crimes reported so far in January was 12 including a making off without payment from Redbeck and 2 detected shoplifting offences.

 

                 Reports of a bogus water board inspector have also been received.

 

                 The priorities for January/February 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/Hare Park

 

                 Monitor the area adjacent to the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings

                

                 The chairman thanked PC Raworth for his attendance.             

 

03/004      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.

 

03/005      Minutes

 

                 Mr Jaques asked that December’s minutes be amended to include his criticism of the Parish Council for taking such a long time in arranging a meeting of the Constable and Pinders Charity Trustees. The clerk had accepted responsibility for this and undertook to get the trustees together prior to the January meeting.

 

                 With this amendment it was agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 21st December were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

03/006      Matters Arising 

 

                 1. Slack Lane – Traffic Calming                       

 

                 The clerk reported that Leigh Ogden from Highways was unable to put a precise date for the completion of works, but everything would be complete by 4th March when the 20 mph traffic scheme comes into force.

 

                 2. Hanging Baskets

 

                 The clerk reported that the council owned 36 pairs of metalwork not 31 as reported last month. It was therefore agreed that that 2003 order be increased from 36 to 41 pairs.

 

                 3. Wakefield MDC

 

                 The clerk reported that he had written to Wakefield MDC’s Chief Executive as instructed, resulting in Mr Foster agreeing to attend the March meeting.

 

                 4. Christmas Decorations.

 

                 The Chairman reported that he had spoken with WMDC regarding the provision of Christmas lighting decorations.                 

 

                 It transpires that the neighbouring parishes contribute towards the cost of their decorations.

 

                 The clerk to make inquiries as to the costs.

                

03/007      Community Facilities - Convenors Report

 

                 1. Parish Centre

 

                 Cllr Scargill reported that the centres roof was leaking.  Mr Roy Greatorex will carry out repairs when weather permits.

 

                 Also the storage cabin to the rear of the centre is in need of replacing.  The clerk was asked to investigate the cost of a replacement.

 

                

 

                 2. Village Centre

 

                 Cllr Bennett reported that he was now in receipt of a quotation for the surfacing the drive to the pavilion; he could therefore now submit an application for funding from the Moorhouse Opencast fund.  

 

                 The association are also experiencing problems with the alarm system, these should be corrected during the annual service inspection due shortly.

 

03/008      Allotments - Convenors Report

 

1.      Hare Park

 

Cllr Voros reported that the Pest Control Officers had not yet attended at Hare Park.

 

The clerk to remind them.

 

Rents to be collected on 22 February 2003.

 

2.      Pontefract Road.

 

The chairman reported that the clearance of Pontefract Road allotments was almost complete; unfortunately problems between the contactor and an adjacent landowner over access to the site had arisen.

 

Much debate took place around access to the site; the main consensus being that access was via Pontefract Road and not Doncaster Road.

 

The clerk was asked to make inquiries into the access keeping Mr BW Smith informed of developments.

 

03/009      Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report

 

                 The clerk reported that he had received a quotation for the creation of a gate in the perimeter fence amounting to £520.00

 

                 Cllrs agreed that this was a fair price and asked the clerk to instruct Mr. Joyce to carry out the work

 

03/010      Special Services - Convenors Report

 

                 Cllr Scargill produced an estimate for work to light the Church Tower.

 

                 It was agreed that this be placed on the agenda of the next meeting.

 

03/011      Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee

 

                 Nothing to report.

 

03/012      Old Library Site

 

It was reported that David Brown from the Education Department was now liaising with property services regarding ownership of the site and Highways regarding road traffic issues. Design services will then be asked to produce detailed drawings.

03/013       Planning

 

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

 

It was reported that the application to build five new dwellings at Walton View has been deferred for a site visit to examine site/roof lines.

 

03/014      Financial Matters    

 

                 a. Accounts

 

                 The following accounts were submitted and approved for payment.

                                                                                         £

                 Miss Reid                                                       50.90

                 Mrs Hardwick                                              264.68

                 Wakefield MDC                                           305.00 (Hare Park Leases)

                                                                                       73.00 (Rainbows)

                 PHS Ltd                                                       133.34

                 West Yorkshire Police                               2,000.00

                 YLCA                                                            12.93 (Literature)

                 BW Smith                                                 1,762.50 (Pontefract Road)

 

                 b. Precept

 

            The clerk presented details of the estimated expenditure for the financial year 2002/2003 along with a suggested budget and precept for the year 2003/2004.

 

After detailed discussions it was agreed that the budget for 2003/2004 would be set at £74,750

broken down into the following headings.

                                                                                                         £

                        Administration                                                  13,750.00*

                        Cemetery                                                           1,950.00

                        Parish Centre                                                      2,240.00

                        Allotments                                                             110.00

                        Parish Church                                                     4,500.00

                        Donations                                                           3,500.00

                        Village                                                               37,700.00**

                        Hare Park                                                         11,000.00

 

                        *Includes £8,000 expenditure on safe scheme.             

 

                        **Includes £25,000 for development of Old Library Site.

 

                        It was agreed that a precept a £40,000.00 be set, the balance to be met from reserves.

 

The clerks salary to be increased in line with the national pay award for local government officers.

 

03/015      Correspondence

 

                 Wakefield MDC                                   - Minutes

- Libraries Newsletter

- Cleansing Services Survey

                

                 YLCA                                                  - White Rose Update

- Wakefield Branch Agenda

- Wakefield Branch Minutes.

                 YRCC                                                 - Country Air               

 

03/016      Parish Matters

 

1.      Hanging Baskets.

 

The clerk reported that Mr Hamby had miss-calculated the number of hanging baskets owned by the Parish Council, the number being 36 as opposed to 31.

 

It was agreed that the additional five pairs are still ordered making a total 41.

 

Total cost £4,375.

 

2.      Constable and Pinders Charities

 

The trustees proposed that Mr Jaques be appointed as a forth trustee. Cllrs unanimously agreed to the nomination.

 

The trustees agreed to meet on Thursday 30th January.

 

3.      Car Sales – Weeland Road.

 

Cllrs reported that the practice of illegal car sales was still continuing in the vicinity of Weeland Road and Kingsley Close.

 

The clerk to pursue the matter.

 

4.      All Saints Parish Church

 

Cllr Scargill reported that during the interregnum at All Saints church staff will be available on saturday mornings at church to discuss any church related matters.

 

5.      Surface Water – Hare Park Lane

 

Cllr Hewitt reported that the properties at the bottom of Hare Park Lane were suffering from flooding, one contributory factor being the lack of roadside drainage.

 

The clerk to contact Yorkshire Water.

 

03/017      Date of next Meeting

 

                 Tuesday 11th March 2003.

 

03/019      Matters Discussed in Private

 

None.

 

 

 

 

                 Chairman                                                                                                          18th February 2003