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