Page 1.
Crofton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 15th January 2008.
Present; Councillors, Chalkley (Chair), Bennett, Duffy K, Duffy S,
Hewitt, Jacques, Makin, Ripley, Schofield, Towns, Voros and Wrigg.
In attendance; 3 members of the public
District Councillors; Cummings and Isherwood and Manifield
01/931 Receive
report from West Yorkshire Police
PC Daley presented his report for the Safe Scheme covering the month of December 2007. Cllr Towns had reported to a PCSO that a blue car was persistently parking on Slack Lane causing an obstruction, PC Daley duly noted this.
Cllr Hewitt informed him of a conversation he had overheard that someone had been shooting a ‘bb’ gun. Cllr Jacques commented that whilst his report was very informative, would it be possible for him to identify which crimes had been detected from the use of Safe Scheme monies, PC Daley stated such information would be difficult to supply. Cllr Chalkley informed members that people had been seen fox baiting in the field adjacent to Priory Ridge, also that eggs had been thrown at the houses bordering the field, Cllr Bennett asked that speed checks be conducted in the school crossing area, Cllr Manifield made him aware that youths had been seen on the roof of the Parish Centre, PC Daley duly noted all the comments and would take appropriate action. He was also asked to speak to the owner of the white van still parking on Harrison Road, previously reported (see minute 11/903).
01/932 Receive
briefing from Wakefield MDC District Councillors
Further to issues raised at the previous Parish Council meeting, District Councillor Cummings informed members that a litter bin had been requested to be sited near to the Community Centre, there was no statutory enforcement that could be applied to solve the problem of litter at the shops and there were 15 signs indicating the presence of a one-way system on Cock Lane, this was felt to be sufficient and no further action would be taken. Other information given to members were that street surgeries were due to start again, the programme of work to install dropped crossings was near to completion and there had been a Police meeting arranged for 7pm on the 28th January at Shay Lane Primary School.
Cllr Schofield informed Cllr Manifield that the drain was still overflowing (see minute 10/878), Cllr Manifield stated that WMDC Environment action team were not able to locate where the problem was, members were willing to meet him to provide the exact location.
Cllr Towns enquired as to the ownership of the site on Slack Lane previously the bookies shop, as it was in a poor condition, the Clerk was asked to make enquiries to establish ownership and if there was to be any intended use.
Cllr Ripley had noted that there was a build up of water on Doncaster Road coming from an adjacent field, it did not seem to drain in a sufficient manner, the Clerk was asked to notify WMDC Highway Maintenance about the situation.
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With regard to this, Cllr Hewitt informed members of a similar problem being experienced on Hare Park Lane where the road bends adjacent to the entrance with Larkhill Farm, the Clerk was asked to report this as well.
01/933 Public
Participation session
A resident in attendance, praised the work so far undertaken by the Parish Council in trying to resolve the rat problem in the area, he asked if the Parish Council could assist further by establishing the ownership of the allotments at Santingley Lane/Beech Avenue and if rat bait could be placed there to help eradicate the problem. Another resident asked the Parish Council for assistance in establishing ownership of land on Spring Lane which housed a dilapidated barn and storage shed, also thought to be contributing to the problem. The Clerk and the Chairman, Cllr Chalkley, agreed to meet with residents at the site to discuss the matter further.
01/934 Apologies
for absence
Councillor Brown
01/935 Declarations
of Interest
Cllr Bennett declared his interest with regard Planning and Highway matters
01/936 Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18th December 2007, were subject to amendment before being signed as a correct record by the Chairman.
01/937 Discuss
matters arising from previous minutes
Although it had been confirmed by WMDC Neighbourhood Environment that the planting of bulbs had taken place, concern was raised whether they had been planted.
WMDC Highway Maintenance confirmed that Crofton had received an annual clean in the current financial year and was therefore not due another till the next financial year, the Clerk was asked to respond by stating that there was good reason why Crofton should receive more than the statutory single clean, this being the amount of traffic experienced in the village and having several schools. No response had as yet been received about the request for extra pedestrian crossings.
01/938 Community
Facilities
Report Parish Centre
Cllr Jacques updated members on the progress made on the refurbishment, he also gave thanks to other members of the working party for their time and effort given to the project. There was a floor, kitchen area and decorating still to be completed, he asked the other members to allow the working party to make decisions on quotes received which would help with completion of the works without further delay. Members decided to vote on an amount of money to be spent on the final works, following a tied vote of; 5 For; 5 Against; the Chairman cast his deciding vote in favour of a limit of £2000 for the floor and £1000 for the other works.
Report Village Association
Nothing to report.
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Report Allotments
The Allotment Committee had held a meeting on the Sunday previous to the Parish Council meeting, a number of issues were resolved, amongst them was that Allotment Rents Collection day would be Saturday 02nd February at the Parish Centre.
Report Parish Cemetery
Nothing to report
01/939 Discuss
Traffic issues
Nothing to report.
01/940 Parish
Leases
Nothing to report.
01/941 Cleansing/Environment
Cllr Ripley commented that the litter bin that was expected to be placed on Doncaster Road by WMDC Neighbourhood Environment had not occurred, the Clerk confirmed he had received an e-mail stating that the three expected bins would be placed sometime in November/December 2007. The Clerk was asked to enquire further if this had indeed occurred.
01/942 Planning
Notifications
Members raised no objections.
01/943 Financial
matters
The Clerk having
informed members of invoices to be paid received no objections,
Members were in
agreement with the content of the monthly accounts. The Clerk presented his
estimate for the Precept, after some discussion it was authorised by members. A
meeting to discuss the Village Association finances was arranged for the Parish
Centre on Sunday 10th February, at 6pm.
01/944 Correspondence received
Members noted the content of the information received, in particular note 1; Cllr Ripley agreed to attend the Climate Change seminar on behalfof the Parish Council.
01/945 Parish
matters
Cllr Bennett reported that the tree on Springhill Drive which had been expected to regenerate or be replaced, had not occurred, he asked the Clerk to contact the WMDC Arboriculture Manager and request that it be removed along with the stake. Cllr Makin informed members that with the considerable efforts of Cllr Chalkley, Crofton Juniors football team had achieved ‘Charter Standard’.
01/946 Date
of next meeting
Resolved; that the next meeting to be held on Tuesday, 19th February 2008 at 7pm in Crofton High School, High Street, Crofton.
01/947 Members
of the public and press were to leave before agenda no.18
It was agreed
01/948 Matters
to be discussed in private
There were none
Signed Date Chairman
Crofton Parish Council