Crofton Parish Council
Minutes
of the Parish Council Meeting held on
Present: Councillors: Mrs K Duffy, Mrs G Towns, Mrs W
Wrigg, T Chalkley, JR Hewitt, G Makin,
GP
Jackson, P Jacques, A Ripley & J Voros
Residents: Mrs P Baines, Mrs C Dickinson,
Mr.
B Murphy & Mr H Shaw
District
Councillors Ms M
Cummings
&
A Manifield
Strategic
Health Authority Dr John Beal
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: S Bennett & S Duffy
The chairman Cllr
P Jacques presided over the meeting.
04/128
PC Paul McMahon
presented the safe scheme report for June.
There had been some disturbance on the last day of term, but this had
been successfully contained as officers had received intelligence prior to the
event enabling them to prepare
All the priorities had been dealt with as per the clerks’ instructions,
youths in
Paul advised that the seat adjacent to
Councillors were still of the opinion that the seat should be maintained
and the clerk was asked to write to housing accordingly.
Paul reminded councillors that further funding of the safe scheme was
due.
It was agreed that the usual £2,000 contribution be made.
The chairman thanked Paul for his attendance and wished him a trouble
free summer.
The priorities for the
summer to be:
Foot Patrol – As required,
concentrating on the village centre,
Discourage the playing of Ball
Games on Bedford/Towers Close.
Monitor the
Discourage illegal use of
motorcycles at Priory Ridge, Towers Close and adjacent land, High Street and
Hare Park Sidings.
Address problem with youths in
the vicinity of
Monitor the area adjacent to
the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings.
04/129 Public Participation Session
1. School House – High Street.
Mrs Baines reported that vegetation was again
growing form the chimneystack of the schoolhouse and two adjacent properties.
The
clerk to report the school house to the education department and write to the
residents of the adjacent properties
2. Grass Cutting –
Mrs
Baines reported that residents of
Cllr Chalkley and Makin agreed to make the
necessary arrangements.
3.
Residents
reported that another lorry had
been stuck under the
The clerk to contact highways asking that
bridge warning signs similar to those at Ackworth be installed on
4. Walton Reclamation Site.
Mr
Shaw asked councillors if they were aware that several trees had been cut down
and the footpaths widened within the site, rendering access by motorcycles much
easier.
Cllr Ripley replied stating that the work was
part of the sites planned maintenance and subjects to planning permission,
nothing untoward were taking place.
5.
Mr Shaw asked
whether the council would be objecting to the planning permissions being sought
by Hanover Developments to bury waste at the Bedford Farm site.
The chairman
explained that this matter would be discussed under planning on the agenda.
6.
Councils’ attention was
brought condition of the gardens surrounding
It was agree that the clerk writes to environmental services asking if they could look into the matter.
04/130 Dr John Beal –
Presentation on the Fluoridation of Water Supplies
Dr Beal opened by thanking councillors for inviting him and giving him the opportunity to address them on the benefits of fluoridation.
Dr Beal explained
that fluoride appears naturally in water, in Wakefield the concentration is 0.1
parts per million parts of water, representing one end of the spectrum, at the
other end, water supplies in Newcastle and Hartlepool naturally contain 1.0
part per million. The water in
Artificial
fluoridation of water first took place post war in 1945 and the benefits with
regards tooth decay have shown to be over whelming.
In areas with low
levels of fluoride 50% of children under 5 shows signs of tooth decay compared
to 35% in areas where the concentration is 1.0 part per million. The average
decay in fluoridated areas is 1 tooth per child compared to 2.1 teeth in
non-fluoridated areas.
Current
legislation under the 1985 Health Authority Act has proved to be inadequate,
Health Authorities and water suppliers being able to ignore the issue, new
legislation to be agreed in the near future compels Strategic Health
Authorities to consult widely before making a decision whether to fluoridate or
not. If it goes down the fluoridation
route, the water suppliers must comply, the only exception being where a water
supplier supplies two authorities from the same source and one authority
rejects fluoridation.
The water
suppliers will adopt stringent controls to ensure that the concentration levels
never rise above approved levels.
Cllr Ripley stated
that fluoride is a toxic poison, which is not only dangerous the humans but
will damage the infrastructure by reacting with the pipes, surly a better way
to fight tooth decay was to educate the population against the use of sugars.
Dr Beal agreed but
at 1.0 part per million fluoride is not toxic and to re-educate the populous
would take many years.
Mr Murphy put many
cases to Dr Beal of studies which showed that fluoride is dangerous in
particular the one of Basle in
Dr Beal explained
that Basle had gone down this route because many areas within
Dr Beal stated
that, whereas many studies came out against fluoridation, as a whole these
formed a small fraction of the total studies carried out, the majority of which
favoured fluoridation.
The chairman
thanked Dr Beal for giving up his valuable time to talk to members; Cllr
Jackson also asked that Mr Murphy be thanked for bringing the matter to
councillors in the first instance.
04/131 Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda
No declarations
were made.
04/132 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.
04/133 Minutes
It was agreed that
the minutes of the meetings held on 15th June were a correct record
and signed by the Chairman.
04/134 Matters Arising
1. Crofton Carnival –
Cllrs reported that the pour weather had kept
many people away from the Carnival but for those who had attended the day was a
reasonable success.
It was agreed that the clerk writes to the
Carnival Committee, congratulating them on a successful day and thanking them
for all their hard work.
2.
Youth Services
Cllr Manifield informed members that there had been a problem
surrounding access to the proposed youth centre, which had delayed the
submission of the planning application. This problem has now been resolved; the
access will be via the High School.
Submission of the planning application is therefore imminent with a
start date planned for October.
Cllr Cummings informed the meeting that the Sure Start Scheme was in receipt of additional funding and were looking into extending the Children’s Centres into Crofton.
Cllr Cummings undertook to keep members up to speed on developments.
3.
Henry Daley Memorial
The clerk reported that Leisure Services have now placed orders for
repairs to be carried out on the Henry Daley Memorial Clock.
4.
Lighting Columns
Cllr Ripley reported that he had made initial contact with
representatives of Wakefield MDC and AMEY.
The replacement of lighting columns is due to commence in February 2005
therefore very little in the way of Christmas lighting will be achievable this
year
AMEY are in the process of appointing a new member of staff to
coordinate the requirements of minor authorities, once this person is in post
the sub committee would meet with them to discuss the councils’ requirements.
5.
Health Centre - Seat
The clerk reported that the seat belongs to the
6.
Crofton Triangle
The clerk reported
that he had received responses from both planning and environmental services.
Planning state that up to fourteen off road motorcycle events per year
can be held without planning permission, the planners ask that councillors keep
a record of all events in order that enforcement action can be taken should the
numbers exceed fourteen.
Environmental services state that in order for them to carry out any
monitoring they first need to receive a formal complaint from any residents
affected by noise from the site.
Cllrs also reported that excavation work was once again in full flow at
the site, leaving the road muddy and creating lots of dust for residents.
Cllrs expressed the view that once again Wakefield MDC had let down the
parishioners of Crofton by falling to enforce planning conditions. It was
agreed that the clerk writes to the Chief Planning Officer expressing
councillors’ disappointment.
7.
Footpaths
The clerk reported that he had spoken with Virginia Moulton, Countryside
Unit. She advised that;
·
the vegetation overgrowing
footpath No 12 would be attended to and ;
·
forms to claim twenty years
continual usage of the railway tunnel as a right of way were in the post.
04/135 Community Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish
Centre
Cllr K Duffy
reported that the heaters had now been turned off for the summer.
The clerk reported
that he had still not heard from Design Services regarding the survey, he would
follow up on the matter.
2. Village
Centre
Nothing new to
report members were still struggling to sort re-surfacing of the road out.
Remedial action was now urgently needed to fill potholes in the road.
04/136 Allotments - Convenors Report
1.
The clerk was asked to write to Mr Hill giving him notice to quit Mr
Whitemens’ allotments, as
Mr Whiteman wished to give up his lease.
It was agreed that Cllrs Hewitt and Voros carry out an inspection of all
allotments instructing the clerk of any action required.
The clerk to provide Cllrs Hewitt and Voros with an up to date site
plan.
2.
The clerk reported, that he had received further correspondence from Mr
Salt copies were supplied to councillors.
It was agreed that the clerk acknowledges the letter and supplies Mr
Salt with a copy of the signatures on the
3.
Middle Lane
Cllrs asked who is responsible for the allotments along
The clerk informed members that the site was part of the Nostell Priory
site. It was agreed that the clerk contacts the estate asking that they tidy
the area.
04/137
Cllr Ripley reported that along with Mr Schofield he had met Mr Joyce on
site and agreed a method to strengthen the fence posts, which Mr Joyce would
implement.
04/138 Special Services - Convenors Report
1.
Home Start
The clerk reported that he had not heard further form Home Start.
It was agreed that the matter be left in abeyance until Home start made
contact again
2.
Crofton Rainbows
Crofton Rainbows were seeking financial assistance for the purchase of
equipment needed to continue following recent changes in the organisation of
the Girl Guiding Association.
It was agreed that the Parish Council would make a grant of £150. This
grant to be made using powers granted under section 137 of the LGA 1972
amended.
04/139 Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee
Cllr Ripley
reported that a meeting was to be held to discuss the restoration scheme with
particular emphasis on the slurry tanks. The appearance of water vole, a
species protected by law, at the site has complicated matters.
Cllr Ripley
informed members that he would be representing the Parish Council at the
meeting and would be pursuing the health and safety aspects of the area.
04/140 Old Library Site
Nothing further to
report.
04/141 Cleansing
Cllr Jacques
commented that he considered that the standard of service from cleansing had
slipped back this month and he would be taking up the matter with John
Skidmore. Cllr Duffy reported that she had seen the Road Sweeper in the village
recently.
The poor condition
of both the front and rear entrances to the Chinese restaurant on
04/142 Planning
a.
Councillors discussed Hanover Developments application to dispose of
waste building materials proposals at the rear of the development on
It was agreed that the clerk write opposing the application on the
grounds that nobody had control of the site and what was to be buried and the
site was only 10 metres from the water course.
b. Other applications
All other
applications received during the period were found to be acceptable.
04/143 Financial Matters
a. Income &
Expenditure Report
The clerk presented the I & E report for the period April to June
2004. The report was noted by councillors and signed by the chairman.
b. Accounts
The following
accounts were submitted and approved for payment.
£
Ms Reid 106.40 (July & August)
Mrs Hardwick 276.64 (July)
276.64 (August)
PHS Group 141.92
N Power 246.06 (P Centre)
Vale 63.04 (Plaque)
60.81 (Plaque)
Crofton Rainbows 150.00
Mr R Jennings 40.00 (Flag Laying)
04/144 Correspondence
- Libraries Newsletter
- Community Assembly, Agenda and Minutes
YLCA -
Notice of Annual Conference
04/145 Parish Matters
1.
Cllr Hewitt reported that the surface of
The clerk to inform Highways.
2.
Contactors working on Hanover Developments site at Bedford Farm are
parking their vehicles in Towers/Bedford Close, compromising road safety.
The clerk to write to Highways/Hanover Developments.
3.
Garage Site –
It was reported that the Business Proprietor operating from the garage
in
The clerk to inform Highways accordingly.
4.
Tress –
Cllr Towns reported that youths are once again using the crab apples as
missiles and that there is a wasps nest in the tree adjacent to No 29.
The clerk to contact both the arboriculturalist and environmental
services.
5.
Tree -
The clerk to
report an overhanging tree alongside
6.
Safe Travel to School
The chairman informed members that Cllr Norman
Hazell had advised him, that
Pupils having showed that they can travel to school safely in an orderly manner.
7.
Flood Alleviation Scheme
Cllrs Jacques and Ripley reported that they had attended meetings
convened by Mark Copley, Wakefield MDCs drainage engineer to discuss options
for flood alleviation throughout the parish.
In the main these focused on the routing of water away from Ashdene via
The creation of the wetlands at Hare Park Sidings would involve
re-siting the planned skateboard circuit. Cllr Ripley was of the opinion the
there are betters options involving use of the BMX Track which he would put to
Wakefield MDC for consideration.
Cllr Ripley undertook to keep members appraised of developments.
04/146 Date of next Meeting
04/147 Matters Discussed in Private
Minuted under item
04/136.
Chairman