Page 1.                                    Crofton Parish Council

 Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 20th January 2009.                             

 

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

           

In attendance;                       5 members of the public.

                                                District Councillor Cummings.

                                                Mr Beswick from Metro.

 

01/144                         Receive report from West Yorkshire Police         

PC Daley presented his report for the month of December 2008.

He informed members that Inspector Karen Bailes was to retire, Cllr Chalkley asked the Clerk to send a letter in acknowledgement and in recognition of her efforts on behalf of the Parish Council.

Cllr Bennett had noted an article in the Daily Mirror newspaper about a Government led initiative concerning Policing, which stated ‘ your concerns their priority’, he asked PC Daley if that would result in an increase in attendance within the village.

PC Daley stated that the article was a general comment and not necessarily aimed at any specific location, the article was to enable general comment and feedback.

Cllr Voros informed all in attendance that he had witnessed under age smoking and asked what action could be taken, he was informed that it could be reported to a PCSO who had the power to search and seize tobacco, Cllr Towns queried where and why cigarettes were being sold to children, it was suggested that Trading Standards

be contacted. PC Daley would ask the PCSO’S to liaise with the school about the matter, Cllr Cummings informed members that as she was a governor of Crofton High School, that she would reiterate the point at their next meeting. She would make enquiries with Trading Standards to see if they would be prepared to take action.

 

01/145                         Wakefield MDC District Councillors Report

Cllr Cummings provided members with the following information;  

Rubbish had now been removed from the Parish Centre.

She asked if members had given further consideration to the idea of a can cage, members agreed to discuss this later see minute (01/158).

Information had been provided to Cllr Jacques about a playground initiative.

The problem of the grate/drain cover adjacent to Premier Stores had now been resolved.

With regard to the Slipper having its licence revoked, Cllr Cummings commented that due to the number of incidents reported, Police Inspector Brear had decided not to support working with the brewery to resolve the issues, hence the revocation, Cllr Chalkley thanked Cllr Cummings for her efforts in obtaining such an outcome.

A Police meeting had been arranged for the 10th February.

Stencils which had been made in an effort to combat dog fouling, had now been arranged and placed on the footpaths, Cllr Bennett stated that having observed dogs being ‘let out’ by their owners rather than being walked, was also causing a problem.

Comment was made about there not being enough information about waste

collections following the Christmas period, resulting in people leaving out the wrong

bins, this resulted in a build up of waste. Cllr Jacques suggested that a report of rat sightings may be coincidental with the two weekly collections now in operation.

Page 2.

 

01/146                         Public Participation session

A resident asked if members of the Parish Council were aware of the latest planning application presented by the Community Centre, Cllr Chalkley informed them that the Parish Council was aware and had lodged an objection. The residents were informed how they were able to lodge an objection and that to do so may influence the final decision.

Another resident informed PC Daley, that although the NISA Shop on Ashdene Drive had now closed, it had been observed that the door to the first floor flat had been left open, PC Daley agreed to investigate the matter.

A resident stated that they had not received an update from the WMDC Officer dealing with the improvements to Coppers Lake. The Clerk suggested that since he had a report on the planned works he would copy and distribute to the resident.

A resident enquired about who was responsible for the cleaning of the village as they were concerned about the amount of litter they had observed, Cllr Chalkley informed them that WMDC Environmental Services were responsible for public areas, other areas in the village were the responsibility of the Parish Council, but if problems were being encountered concerning private property they should contact the WMDC Neighbourhood Action team.

 

01/147                         Apologies for absence          

District Councillor Lodge and Isherwood

Councillors; Brown and Duffy S.

 

01/148                         Declarations of Interest

Cllr Bennett declared his interest with regard Planning and Highway matters

 

01/149                         Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16th December 2008, were subject to change before being signed as a true record by the Chairman.

 

01/150                         Discuss matters arising from previous minutes

Mr Beswick was in attendance at the meeting to represent Metro. He explained that for Health & Safety reasons, the brick bus shelter on Rectory Crescent, had been replaced with the new polycarbonate version and stated that the Parish Council had been notified that the replacement shelter would not be brick built.

Members disputed the accuracy of the information given and pointed out the inadequacies of the new type shelter.

Cllr Makin having asked how much the new shelter cost, was informed it was approx £8000, when asked how much repairs to the existing brick shelter would have been, Mr Beswick stated approx £1000.

Cllr Chalkley asked Mr Beswick what were the future intentions of Metro with respect to the existing brick shelters on Shay Lane and Doncaster Road, he stated that

Shay Lane would remain but Doncaster Road would be demolished.

The Clerk had yet to receive a response to the enquiry concerning the suspended bus service on Pontefract Road, however Mr Beswick (see above), informed members that the service had been withdrawn by Arriva (the bus operator), as it was deemed to not

be viable, however he stated that the decision could be reversed should Arriva receive funding, he was asked if Metro could try influence Arriva to re-instate the service.

Page 3.

 

The request for replacement signs indicating the restrictions for parking on Slack

Lane, had been acknowledged by WMDC Highway Maintenance Services. They would conduct an appraisal and inform the Clerk in due course, but warned that funding may be an issue.

The request to WMDC Planning to establish if Crofton Arms had permission to trade as a restaurant had been acknowledged but the Clerk was still awaiting the answer.

The Clerk had been informed that the WMDC Department that dealt with privately owned commercial premises such as those at 4a Hawthorn Avenue, had now changed, he was still trying to establish who was now responsible.

Mr Parkes, the local contractor who had previously repaired the seats in the village had not responded to the letter sent by the Clerk, in view of the positive response received from Cllr Schofield about the contractor appointed to do the work in the cemetery, it was agreed that he be approached to carry out the work required on the bench outside the Health Centre.

 

01/151                         Community Facilities

Report Parish Centre

Nothing to report

Report Village Association

Nothing to report

Report Allotments

Cllr Hewitt reported that;

Payment Day for Allotment Tenancies, which was held at the Parish Centre, had once again been well attended. A number of residents commented favourably on the refurbished facilities.

The Clerk stated there was a 20% deficit in the expected revenue at the present time.

Cllr Ripley queried the charge to B.W.Smith for his lease at Pontefract Road, as it had been increased at the same rate as that of allotment tenants. Having considered the conditions associated with this area of land and that he had a lease as opposed to a tenancy agreement, members agreed to not increase the existing lease payment.

Report Parish Cemetery

Cllr Schofield reported that;

The ground works had been completed in readiness for the new plinths, delivery of which was due on Thursday 22nd January 2009.

 

01/152                         Discuss Traffic issues

With regard to minute (01/150) Cllr Towns suggested that since the bus would no longer travel through the potentially dangerous junction at Cock Lane /Doncaster

Road, it provided an opportunity to request a pedestrian crossing or consideration be given for some traffic calming measure.

An increased number of traffic signs between Crofton and Walton had been noted.

Comment was made about cars were being left on High Street where there was restricted parking, this was on the opposite side of the road to Sainsbury’s where there was designated parking, this constituted a possible hazard, the Clerk was asked to contact WMDC Traffic Dept; to enquire about double yellow lines being placed there.

With regard to (minutes 12/134, 01/150), Cllr Makin suggested that rather than just

replacing the existing signs, the permitted parking times shown on them should be extended, this would help alleviate congestion.  

Page 4;

 

01/153                         Parish Leases

Members noted the content of the information distributed by the Clerk concerning work conducted at the Priory Field.

Cllr Makin was asked to investigate other options for a playing field and inform members in due course.

 

01/154                         Cleansing/Environment

See comments under minute (01/146).

 

01/155                         Planning Notifications

Members commented on the application from Metro for poster advertisements on the new bus shelters, members would discuss the matter further and inform the Clerk at a later date if an objection should to be submitted.

 

01/156                         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 and quarterly accounts.

After giving due consideration to the content of the subject matter, it was agreed to discuss and reach agreement about the Precept on Sunday 25th January 2008 at 6.30pm in the Parish Centre.

                                                                                   

01/157                         Correspondence received

Members noted the content of the information received.

 

01/158                         Parish matters

After giving further consideration for a can/bottle cage, members decided it would not be appropriate. The Clerk would convey this message to Cllr Cummings, who had initially suggested the idea.

Cllr Bennett informed members of his dissatisfaction with the current pharmacist services provided by Lloyds, comments received from other residents and what he had experienced personally, were instances of a pharmacist not being in attendance resulting in prescriptions not being dispensed and prescriptions with medication missing, Cllr Chalkley agreed to prepare and send a letter of complaint to their Customer Services division which was based at Coventry.

 

01/159                         Date of next meeting

Resolved; that the next meeting to be held on Tuesday, 17th February 2009 at 7pm in                               Crofton Parish Centre, High Street, Crofton.

 

01/160             Members of the public and press were to leave before agenda no.18

It was agreed

 

01/161                         Matters to be discussed in private

There were none.

 

 

Signed                                                                         Date                                                Chairman Crofton Parish Council