Crofton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on
Tuesday 20th January 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, S Duffy,
J R Hewitt, P Jacques, D
Marshall, A Ripley & J Voros
Residents: Mrs Baines, Mrs Salt, Mr G Schofield &
Mr H Shaw
West Yorkshire Police PC P McMahaon
WMDC Road Safety Joanne
Posonby
Yorkshire Water Dave Wulloff & Richard Sears
The Clerk: J F
Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: G P
Jackson
Due to the Chairman attending a
meeting of the opencast committee, Cllr D Marshall presided over the first ten
minutes of the meeting.
04/001 Yorkshire Water
The chairman welcomed Dave
Wulloff and Richard Sears, representatives of Yorkshire Water.
Mr Wulloff addressed the
meeting by firstly explaining that although the purpose of his attendance was
to brief council on Yorkshire Waters’ stance over fluoridation of water
supplies, there was very little that he could say.
The 2003 Water Act states that
Water Authorities must add fluoride to the water supplies if requested to do so
by the area health authority.
This in itself could pose
difficulties for Yorkshire Water, in that the company supplies water across
three health authorities, also water companies now freely move water from
company to company. Should an authority requested fluoridation, the water
supply for that area can be treated but to do so would be disproportionate more
expensive that treating all the water supplied by Yorkshire Water and of course
the cost of this would be passed onto the end user.
As yet no formal decisions have
been taken by any health authority and no dates set by which such decisions
have to be made. Mr Wulloff advised that if council had strong opinions it
should contact their Strategic Health Authority prior to any decision being
made.
General
discussion took place on costs, human rights and whether fluoridation of
supplies was beneficial or not.
Cllr Ripley asked why if
fluoridation is a safe process has Yorkshire Water applied for indemnity from
prosecution of all matters arising from fluoridation.
Mr Wulloff replied that this is
poorly precautionary, as nobody knows exactly what lies ahead.
The chairman thanked Mr Wulloff
and Mr Sears for attending and presenting Yorkshire Waters’ view point.
04/002 West
Yorkshire Police
PC McMahon (Paul) presented the December Police report to the meeting.
Paul advised councillors that during December the safe scheme officers had concentrated on road traffic and youth problems.
Four unlicensed vehicles have been reported and six drivers prosecuted for speeding.
Youths have been moved on from the cemetery and some taken home and spoken to in the presence of their parents, officers being fully supported by the parents involved.
The library has been visited as requested.
Paul then moved on to discuss the 20 mph legislation, informing councillors that the centre of Crofton was a 20 mph zone, clearly marked at all the entry points and as such the 20 mph was treated differently to normal speed limit, ie no 20 mph roundels (repeaters) were required.
Paul then introduced Joanne Posonby, a Wakefield MDC Road Safety Officer, who had come along to advise councillors on the legality of placing stickers on the sides of dustbins.
Angela explained that to place 20 mph roundels on dustbins would render enforcement of the 20 mph zone virtually impossible due to legal loopholes. However, stickers advising motorists to slow down were acceptable. The cost of producing such stickers would be £270/100 or £365/1000.
Angela agreed to take the matter away, produce some designs and come back to a future meeting.
In the meantime the clerk to arrange a meeting with Highways engineers to discuss the effectiveness of the 20 mph zone.
The priorities for January
to be:
Foot Patrol – As required,
concentrating on the village centre, Crofton Library (Friday 6.30 to 7.00 pm.),
Crofton High School, Crofton Infants, Royal Oak along with any other areas
(Priory Ridge) brought to the attention of the safe scheme officers.
Monitor
the Parish Cemetery.
Discourage
illegal use of motorcycles at Priory Ridge, Towers Close and adjacent land,
High Street and Hare Park Sidings.
Monitor
parking in Walton View.
Monitor
the area adjacent to the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings.
04/003 Public
Participation Session
Due to time
constraints no matters were taken.
04/004 Declaration
of Interests in Items on the Agenda
No declarations were made.
04/005 Minutes
It was agreed that the minutes
of the meeting held on 16th December 2003 be signed by the Chairman
as a correct record.
04/006 Matters
Arising
1. Cleansing
Councillors reported that there was still no sign of the road sweepers or cleansing team visiting the parish.
Agreed that the clerk contact cleansing again.
2. Waste
Bins
The chairman reported that at a recent Area panel meeting he had been advised that eight additional waste bins were to be placed through out the Parish.
04/007 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.
04/008 Community
Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish Centre
Cllr Ripley reported that the
roof at the centre was leaking again. He had met with Paul Kelly who had agreed
to seal the leak at no cost. However
the long-term durability of the roof and the viability of the centre need
addressing.
It was agreed that councillors
meet at the centre on Monday 2 February 2004, 7.30 pm to discuss the way
forward.
2. Village Centre
Nothing
of significance to report.
04/009 Allotments
- Convenors Report
Cllr Hewitt
reported that the water tap had been damaged again, which would no doubt lead
to a bill larger than normal.
Cllrs Hewitt and
Voros were asked to investigate and advise a way to protect the tap from
damage.
The clerk advised
that he hoped to be able to collect rents during February.
04/010 Parish
Cemetery - Convenors Report
The clerk to contact Mr Joyce
regarding repairs to the fence.
The clerk reported that the
Church Wardens had made contact advising that monies donated by the Parish
Council for work on lighting the tower were to be returned. They also reported
that youths had been on the church roof damaging lights placed there on a trial
basis.
04/011 Special
Services - Convenors Report
No matters to report this
month.
04/012 Village Signage
No
response from Wakefield MDC Traffic Department. The clerk to follow up.
04/013 Moorhouse
Opencast Liaison Committee
Cllr Ripley reported that he
had attended a meeting of the committee earlier this evening.
It had been agreed that £1,000
would be made available to Crofton Village Association towards improvements to
the road.
04/014 Old
Library Site
Nothing
further to report.
04/015 Planning
1. Residential Development –
Pinfold Drive/High Street
Cllr Ripley reported that Helliwell and Crosby had applied for outline permission on two sites. One opposite the Weavers Green in Pinfold Drive, the other at Hill Farm, High Street.
It was agreed that the clerk object to both applications.
Pinfold Drive – on the grounds that the site is in the green belt.
Hill Farm – on the grounds that residential development of the site would be detrimental to road safety and that the infrastructure of the village is unable to cope with any further development.
2. Reserved Matters –
Residential Development, Towers Lane.
The clerk to seek details of the reserved matters,
3. Other matters
All other applications received
during the period were found to be acceptable.
04/016 Financial
Matters
a. Precept
Due to time
constraints it was agreed that discussions on the precept be held over until 2
February 2004.
b. Accounts
The following accounts were
submitted and approved for payment.
£
Ms Reid 53.20
Mrs Hardwick 276.64
PHS Group 137.63
Wakefield
MDC 305.00 (Pitch
leases)
24.33 (Rainbows)
143.13 (Scouts)
Crofton
Community Centre 4,000.00
Mr K Wood 73.00 (Parish Centre)
04/017 Correspondence
Wakefield
MDC - Minutes
-
Community Assembly Minutes, 26 November 2003
-
Community Assembly Agenda, 22 January 2004.
-
Parish Council Allowance Scheme
-
Disruption Caused by Road Works
West
Yorkshire Police - Independent Custody Visiting Scheme
YLCA - White Rose Update.
-
Wakefield Branch Calendar
-
JEC Minutes
04/018 Parish
Matters
None
raised.
04/019 Date
of next Meeting
Tuesday
16 March 2004.
04/020 Matters
Discussed in Private
1
Co-option of Councillor
The
clerk reported that Electoral Services have now advised that the Parish Council
could now co-opt to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of George
Scargill.
It
was agreed that, if still willing, Mr Gordon Makin be co-opted.
Chairman 17th February 2004