Page 1. Crofton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 21 January 2014.
Present; Councillors; Chalkley, Bennett, Hewitt, Kimbley, Ripley,
Schofield, Towns, Wrigg and Wilby.
Clerk to the Council; Barry Riley
In attendance; 6 members of the public
District Councillors; Cummings, Manifield and Heptinstall
PC France and PCSO Corcoran.
2 Members of the Scout Group.
01/145 Report
from W.Y.Police Officers working on Crofton Safe Scheme PC Jamie France, presented the Safe Scheme report
covering December and January. Cllr
Wilby stated that her car which was parked on Meadowfields Drive, had been
damaged several times during December and January. PC France duly noted the
comment and having ascertained that the incidents had not been reported, suggested
that any further incidents should be.
Cllr Hewitt was concerned about youths with an approximate age of 12, loitering on Hare Park Lane after 9.30pm, there had been incidents of waste bins being stolen, contents emptied onto the street and being set alight, there had been an increase in the number of cars loitering in the area. PC France duly noted the comments.
01/146 Wakefield MDC District Councillors
Report
District Councillors provided information to enquiries made individually by Parish Councillors, and gave an update on previous matters raised;
Action had now been taken to remove the leaves at Rectory Crescent.
The pot hole outside Crofton Junior School on Slack Lane had been attended to.
The ridge on the play ramps at the Sidings had been removed.
Despite making enquiries, District Councillors were not hopeful that a crossing point would be provided for Doncaster Road/Kendal Rise/Cambridge Crescent.
Following the last meeting the Clerk had reported that there was a dead tree on the cemetery footpath, this had now been removed.
A planning meeting had been held to discuss the application for a Sports Facility at Walton (see minute 01/156). A decision was deferred, District Councillors were not sure of the reason for the deferment but would ascertain the reason in due course, but suggested that the Walton Neighbourhood plan and opposition from other local sports clubs may have had some influence on the decision.
Cllr Bennett asked for District Councillors to enquire about having the footpath from Priory Ridge through to Springhill Avenue repaired or resurfaced as it was in a poor condition (see minute 01/147).
Comment was made that bin collection for plastic waste had not occurred for several weeks and that a garden waste collection although not due till March, should be requested as the recent milder weather had created more waste.
The Clerk had received notification from WMDC Planning about a road closure for the Deanfield mining site, clarification was sought from District Councillors why such a notification had been received before planning permission had been granted.
Cllr Cummings informed members that the subject of HS2 would be discussed by the District Council the following week, she was aware that an alternative route had been
Page 2.
Suggested, when she had more information she would send it to the Clerk for circulation to members.
Cllr Chalkley asked District Councillors to provide information to be considered for placing on the new web site (minute 01/154).
01/147 Public Participation session
A resident stated that the kerb stones at the parish Council
car park entrance were not properly set, Cllr Bennett offered to carry out an
inspection
The Scout Group wanted the Council to reconsider its decision that the Group remove their goods and equipment from the Scout Hut (minute 12/144), following discussion it was agreed to uphold the original decision. As an alternative the Group would be allowed to place a portakabin on the Sidings fields in which to hold their meetings, but they would need to seek the necessary permissions to do so.
The footpath from Priory Ridge through to Springhill Avenue had accumulated much rubbish and was in a poor condition, the resident was given contact information to report the matter to WMDC Neighbourhood Action.
01/148 Apologies for absence
Councillor Makin.
01/149 Declarations of Interest
None declared.
01/150 Minutes
of the previous meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 December 2013, were signed as a true record by the Chairman.
01/151 Matters arising from previous
minutes
Cllr Bennett informed members that there was a meeting to be held the next day, Wednesday 22 January, to discuss the toddlers group (minute 12/141).
WMDC Highways Maintenance had been contacted about gully cleansing at High Street/Harrison Road, Ashdene Drive and Hare Park Lane, Cllr Bennett stated that he had noted that they had been ,dealt with.
The Clerk had contacted WMDC Street Lighting about the provision of lighting for the Church ginnel, he had been referred to Amey Street Lighting to progress matters.
WMDC Highways had requested that their contractor for resurfacing works to footpaths contact the Clerk to provide a quote for a surface coating of the ginnel.
01/152 Community Facilities
Report Parish Centre
Members were informed that the Yoga Group would no longer be using the Centre as they were moving class to St Josephs Church, as they needed larger premises. They wished to thank the Parish Council for their support over the last few years.
Report Village Association
Following discussion, the Clerk was asked to arrange a meeting with WMDC Environment (Parks), to discuss the planting of trees on the Sidings.
Report Allotments
Cllr Hewitt reported that;
The Allotments collection day had been very successful
compared to recent years
Page 3.
with over 82% of payments received.
Outstanding payments were still being received and some tenancies had been relinquished.
Report Parish Cemetery
Cllr Schofield reported that;
A contractor had recommended that the metal covering on the lower section of the garage door be replaced and the metal covering on the upper section be re-painted
Subject to the cost of obtaining the metal, the work would cost approximately £200. Following discussion members agreed to the work being carried out and the metal be painted black.
01/153 Traffic issues
Cllr Chalkley commented that the independent survey to be carried out by WMDC Planning for the Priory Ridge housing development (minute 12/128), had yet to take place. As the High Street was having a surface upgrade at the present time, the Clerk was asked to contact WMDC Planning Officer Ruth Backhouse (the responsible officer concerned with the development), and request that the survey should not take place during the works as this would not present a true account.
01/154 Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr Chalkley informed members that the web site was now in operation, some information had already been placed on the site, members would be welcome to provide further information.
With regard to minute 01/158, the Clerk would seek further information from YLCA.
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Neighbourhood Group would take place on Sunday 16 February at 6.00 pm.
01/155 Cleansing/Environment
Comment was made that the waste area of land opposite Crofton WMC, had a wrecked car on it. The land was now owned by a resident thought to be a car mechanic, the Clerk was asked to contact WMDC Neighbourhood Action to have it removed.
01/156 Planning
Notifications
With regard to planning application 13/03291/FUL, members
were concerned that the extension may restrict parking and cars would be forced
to park elsewhere.
Members duly noted the content of the letter received from WMDC Planning concerning the application for a Sports Facility at Walton (see minute 01/146).
01/157 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 (and budget monitor document
for appropriate governance.).
Following discussion, it
was resolved that the Precept be set at £48442
01/158 Correspondence received
Members noted the content of the information received, in particular
Note 1; Cllr Hewitt was given the factsheet and map received from HS2 Ltd.
Note 2; The Clerk would make further enquiries about
submitting an application and
Page 4;
confirm how many delegates from the Parish Council could attend the YLCA training course for Neighbourhood Planning at York.
01/159 Parish matters
Cllr Wilby had met with a delegation from the Altofts area regarding the HS2 route. They had expressed an interest in attending a Parish Council meeting, following discussion members asked Cllr Wilby to contact them and confirm that the Parish Council were interested in arranging a meeting and to give the Clerks contact details to enable this.
Following the District Councils decision to not supply a free Christmas tree and with regard to the cost incurred by the Parish Council to provide one for the village, Cllr Hewitt had made begun making enquiries about a new one. Cllr Chalkley offered to make enquiries about the cost of providing lighting for the tree.
Members discussed in brief the condition of the Copse, it was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting.
It was noted that there were overgrown hedges on Priory Ridge that needed attending to.
Since Crofton now had a designated neighbourhood area, it was felt that the boundary could now be identified with signage.
01/160 Date
of next meeting
Resolved; that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 18 February 2014 at 7pm in Crofton Parish Centre, High Street, Crofton.
01/161 Members
of the public and press were to leave before agenda no.18
It was agreed
01/162 Matters to be discussed in private
The expected employee update had not been received.
Signed
Date
.. Chairman Crofton Parish
Council