Crofton Parish
Council
Minutes
of the meeting held on
Tuesday
11 March 2003 in The High School at 7.00 pm.
Present: Councillors: S Bennett, D Crowcroft, T
Gomersall,
J
R Hewitt, G P Jackson, A Ripley, G Scargill, & J Voros
Residents: Mrs Baines, Mrs P Walker, Mr & Mrs Scott &
Mr
G Schofield
Wakefield
MDC Mr J Foster – Chief
Executive
West
Yorkshire Police: PC P Raworth
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: I Beckett & P Beckett
The chairman, Cllr
Ripley, presided over the meeting.
03/040 Presentation by Mr.
J Foster, Chief Executive, Wakefield MDC
Mr Foster
introduced himself, he started at Wakefield MDC in January 2003, during the
previous five years he had served as Chief Executive at Middlesbrough, the
previous five in Tyneside. An
experienced local government officer, head hunted by Wakefield to help lift the
authority.
The authority was
rated in the bottom thirteen local authorities in England by the National Audit
Office, the comprehensive performance assessment identified many weaknesses in
the main stemming from poor leadership at senior officer level, a lack of
direction and little forward planning. However there were still some strengths
on which to build upon.
The Education Dept
lead by John McLeod is an area of strength in Wakefield which has been
commended by offsted, Social Services, however has been rated extremely poor.
Mr Foster
explained that it would be his job in liaison with the politicians to turn
things round. In the first year he is
tasked with producing an improvement plan in line with government guidance with
the assistance on a lead officer from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The improvement plan will be complete and approved by April.
The help him
achieve this his has brought in a new
Corporate Management Team, all Chief Officers with the exception of John
McLeod (education) and Elaine McHale (social service) have been replaced, a new
post of Director of the Environment has been created and this post will be
filled shortly.
Wakefield MDC
employs 16,500 staff with a turn over of £750 million per annum serving 300,000
citizens, an organisation this size deserves the best. A team capable of
returning the goods.
Cllr Jackson
thanked John for giving up his time to speak to the council, he expressed the
view that for many years the service offered by Wakefield had been poor and
looked forward to changes.
Mr Foster
explained that within a district the size of Wakefield you have many
communities, communities which want the best service for them. The task for his team was to ensure that the
whole authority has a service which suits them. Some communities have excellent youth facilities other don’t;
improvements could be made by better community use of the many buildings owned
by the authority.
Cllr Crowcroft
asked when we might see signs of improvement.
Mr Foster
explained that the new budget recently set in Wakefield, albeit a rise of 13%
still leaves Wakefield with the lowest community charge in the whole of
Yorkshire, this will raise enough money to improve services, new services were
been introduced, which would be visible from April 2003.
The establishment
of a rapid response team for example. A multi tasked, multi skilled team who
will be deployed at short notice the anywhere in the authority to solve
problems, clear up mess, anything that needs doing.
Also, a team which
can be dedicated for periods of time to one area, to do anything, even clear up
private land. However, once cleared,
should that area fall behind again, enforcement action will be taken.
There will be a
rationalising of existing services; a Fly Tipping Service and a Car Removal
Service have already been established.
Officers of the
authority will be made accountable, replies will be more forthcoming and problem
faced not forgotten. A senior officer
will be given responsibility for liasing with the Parish and Town Councils.
The chairman
thanked Mr Foster for attending, adding that it was a pleasure to meet the a
Chief Executive who appeared to be approachable and had his finger on the
pulse.
03/041 Declaration of Interests in
Items on the Agenda
Cllr Scargill
declared an interest in item 20, The lighting of the Church Tower.
03/042 West Yorkshire Police
PC Raworth (Paul) gave
a breakdown of Februaries crime figures, these show 26 crimes in total
including 11 vehicle related offences of which 4 were making off without
payment from the Redbeck filing station and 1 burglary dwelling. 35 calls were received from the public, in
the main nuisance calls from the Ashdene, High Street and Parish Cemetery.
Paul stated that
during the year to date 56 hrs of officers time had been used on the safe
scheme, leaving about £3,000 in the kitty.
Cllr Voros
informed the meeting that last Friday whilst the landlord and chef of the Royal
Oak were waiting to board a bus to Wakefield, a group of about twenty youths
jumped the bus, throwing stones and hanging on to the side of the bus whilst it
was trying to move off.
Mr and Mrs Scott
reported that twice in a month they have had a wing mirror ripped off the side
of their car, presumably by one or more of a group of twenty to thirty youths
who often walk along Churchfields from Ashdene to the Cemetery.
Paul advised that
safe scheme officers were aware of both incidents and would concentrate their
efforts in those areas.
The priorities
for March/April to be:
Foot Patrol – As
required, concentrating on the village centre, Ashdene, Churchfields and Parish
Cemetry.
Continue to
discourage anti social behaviour by the minority. Coppers Lake/Hare Park
Monitor the area
adjacent to the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings
The chairman
thanked PC Raworth for his attendance.
03/043 Public Participation Session
Cemetery
Mr Schofield advised that the bins have not been emptied and the tap
isn’t working. However on a positive
note the concrete plinths were a vast improvement.
The clerk to
pursue the emptying of the bins, Cllr Scargill to look at the tap.
03/044 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.
03/045 Minutes
It was agreed that
the minutes of the meeting held on 18th February 2003 were a correct
record and signed by the Chairman.
03/046 Matters Arising
1. Car Sales –
Weeland Road
The clerk reported
that this matter has been passed to the Planning Enforcement Officer, Amanda
Dodson who will take the appropriate action.
2. Turf
Accountant – Slack Lane
The clerk reported
that, Building Services have visited the site and agree that the building needs
attention; unfortunately they do not know who owns the property. Enquiries at the land registry have been made;
once ownership information is available the appropriate action will be taken.
3. Hare Park
Avenue - Flooding from Cock and Crown Car Park
The clerk reported
that the planning department had investigated this matter and report that no
infringement of planning was evident.
Cllr Jackson
expressed the view that even if this was the case, the drainage system was not
adequate to cope with the amount of water form the car park, and the matter
needed to be put right.
Cllr Ripley agreed
to look into the matter.
03/047 Community Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish
Centre
It was reported
that the repair work to the roof had commenced and the the Play Group have all
but finished work on the rubberised surface.
2. Village
Centre
Cllr Crowcroft
reported that there had been a small fire at the Pavilion, no damage had been
caused but one of the fire extinguishers had been used and needed recharging.
The clerk to
arrange.
03/048 Allotments - Convenors Report
1.
Hare Park
The clerk reported that the Pest Control Officers have now visited the
Hare Park site.
The collection of rents took place on 22 February 2003, only one remains
outstanding.
Cllr Hewitt reported that one of the tenants was keeping a dog on the
site, which was creating a nuisance barking through the night. He undertook to ascertain who was
responsible and take the appropriate action.
2.
Pontefract Road.
The clerk reported that he had replied to Mr Salt’s letter as agreed at
the last meeting. He has also written to Mr Smith regarding clearing the right
of way and signing of the lease, he had had no further correspondence from
either.
Cllr Ripley agreed to speak with Mr Smith.
03/049 Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report
The clerk reported
that he had received a letter from Mr Hunter of Sandown Ave, asking that the
fence be fastened to the steel post rather than his garage wall.
Cllr Scargill
agreed to look into the matter.
03/050 Special Services - Convenors Report
The
clerk reported that Mr Malcolm has submitted a request for financial assistance
for a follow up trip Belarus.
It
was agreed that this matter be discussed at the April meeting.
03/051 Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee
Cllr Gomersall
reported that the committee has extended the deadline for grant applications to
31 March 2003, this would be the last extension, grants and pledges would be
made in April.
03/052 Old Library Site
Cllr Jackson reported that a meeting had
taken place between the school and officers of Wakefield MDC’s Planning and
Highways Department.
Details of the facilities to be offered had been
agreed; these included pedestrian access via the school end of the terminus and
Walton View, vehicle access from the center of the terminus, fourteen parking
bays and five bus bays alongside the terminus.
Cllr Bennett reported that the planning application
had been submitted and rejected over a technicality, it had now been
resubmitted and should be passed this tiem.
03/053 Wakefield MDC – Periodic Electoral Review
The clerk reported that the Boundary
Commission had returned its draft report on the Periodic Electoral Review for
the District Wards, the recommendation was to create a new district ward to be
named the Crofton, Ryhill and Walton Ward.
Birkwood Avenue was to be moved form the Crofton
Ward to the Featherstone Ward, this would create the anomaly that the Parish of
Crofton would be split between two district wards until such a time that the
Parish boundaries can be adjusted in line with the district wards.
The recommendation therefore is to ward the Parish
of Council into two wards, Crofton West (12 cllrs) being the bulk of Crofton
and Crofton East (1 cllrs) being Birkwood Avenue.
Cllrs have had no strong objections to this, however
if it means holding another parish election in 2004 at a cost to the Parish
this was thought to be a little excessive.
The clerk to make representation on the matter.
03/054 Planning
All applications received during the period were found to be acceptable.
The clerk distributed plans of the Bedford Farm application for information.
03/055 Financial Matters
Accounts
The following
accounts were submitted and approved for payment.
£
March
Miss Reid 50.90
Mrs Hardwick 264.68
Mr Earle 25.00
Wakefield MDC 125.00 (New lease)
3,034.09 (Priory Maintenance)
10.00 (Pavilion)
All Saints Parish
Church 2,000.00
April
First Impressions 4,032.50
Zurich Municipal 2,881.81
03/056 Correspondence
Wakefield
MDC -
Minutes
-
Changes to the constitution of School Governing Bodies
-
Libraries Newsletter, Issues
-
New lease, Hare Park Sidings
-
Community assembly elections.
-
Invite to Lord Mayor’s Civic Procession, 13 April 2003.
West
Yorkshire Police -
Invite to Community Forum, 6 March 2003.
03/057 Parish Matters
1.
Weavers
Green/Ashdene
Cllr Bennett
reported that the area of land between the Weavers Green Public House and the
Supermarket was becoming littered with rubbish.
The clerk to
report the matter.
2.
Dog Waste
Bins
The clerk to
ask the authority to provide more bins,
3.
Cock Lane
Cllr Bennett
reported that Cock Lane is to be surface dressed during March.
4.
Elm
Street/Santingley Lane
It was
reported that the road surface at the junction of Elm Street with Santingley
was breaking leaving large pot holes.
The clerk to
report this matter.
5.
Hare Park
Lane
Mrs. Baines
reported that large potholes have appeared to the top of Hare Park Lane.
The clerk to
report the matter.
03/058 Date of next Meeting
Tuesday
15th April 2003.
03/059 Matters Discussed in Private
1. All Saints Parish Church – Request for
financial assistance.
It was agreed that the Parish Council make a grant of £2,000 towards the
cost of lighting All Saints Parish Church Tower.
2. Adoption of
Risk Assessment Plan, Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
Detailed discussions took place, amendments,
deletions, additions and corrections were made to all three documents.
It was agreed to adopt all three as amended.
Chairman 15th
April 2003