Crofton Parish Council

 

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on

Tuesday 20th  May 2003 in The High School at 7.00 pm.

 

 

     Present: Councillors: T Gomersall, J R Hewitt

                        G P Jackson OBE BEM JP, P Jacques,

                        A Ripley & J Voros

 

                                                     Residents:     Mrs P Baines, Mrs P Walker, Mr S Bennett

                                                                      Mr H Shaw & Mr G Scofield

 

                                                     The Clerk:     J F Shillitoe

 

     Apologies: Councillors: G Scargill

 

                 The chairman Cllr A Ripley presided over the meeting.

  

03/ 78       Appointment of Chairman 2003/2004

 

                 It was proposed, seconded and agreed that Cllr A Ripley be appointed Chairman for the forthcoming year.

 

                 Cllr Ripley accepted, thanking council for re-electing him to the Chair.  He also asked that the minutes note his thanks to those councillors who had chosen not to seek re-election this year, Cllrs I Beckett, P Beckett, L Coates, D Crowcroft and J Feeney. The clerk to also write to all retiring councillors thanking them for their contribution to the parish.

 

03/ 79       Public Participation Session

 

1.      Parish Cemetery

 

       Mr Scofield reported that T & D Contractors had visited the cemetery today, cut the grass, emptied the soil bin into the waste bin, but not cleared up afterwards.

 

Discussion took place on what was expected from T & D after which it was agreed to meet T & D on site to discuss matters and to draw up a contract to formalise everything.

 

2.      Pot Holes – Hare Park Lane.

 

       Mrs Baines reported that the pot holes at the junction of hare park lane with High Street are getting bigger.

 

The clerk to report the matter to highways.

 

03/ 80       Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda

 

                 No declaration were made.

 

 

 

 

 

03/ 81       Appointment of Vice Chairman 2003/2004

 

                 It was proposed, seconded and agreed that Cllr Jackson be appointed Vice Chairman for the forthcoming year.

 

03/ 82       Appointment of The Responsible Financial Officer, RFO

 

                 The clerk was appointed RFO for the forthcoming year.

 

03/ 83       Co-option of Councillors

 

                 The clerk reported that following the recent election only seven of the thirteen council vacancies had been filled, the remaining six now needed to be filled by co-option.

 

                 The clerk informed councillor that he had received two expressions of interest in the vacancies, one from Simon Bennett and other from David Marshall, both of whom were councillors prior to the election.

 

                 Both candidates were discussed and reference made to David Marshall’s poor during his last term of office a separate votes taken.

 

                 It was agreed that both candidates be co-opted and that the rules on attendance be brought to David Marshall’s attention.

 

                 It was then agreed that the remaining vacancies be advertised throughout the parish, on the website, the library, smoke signal and the Wakefield Express.

 

03/ 84       Appointment of Committee Convenors

 

                 It was agreed that this matter be deferred until the July meeting when hopefully more councillors will have been co-opted. In the meantime existing convenors would continue to over see matters.

 

                 a. Allotments - Cllrs J Voros

                 b. Community Facilities - Cllr S Bennett - Village Centre

                        Cllr G Scargill - Parish Centre

                 c. Parish Cemetery - Cllr G Scargill

                 d. Special Services - The clerk

 

03/ 85       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/ 86       Minutes

 

                 It was agreed that the minutes of the meetings held on 15th April were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

03/ 87       Matters Arising 

 

1.      Wall – Harrison Road

 

       It was reported that Wakefield MDC has carried out some remedial work to the retaining wall alongside

 

 

Harrison Road. This amounted to removing the top 30 cms for 7 to 8 metres and had taken a whole week to complete.

 

The clerk was asked to write to Wakefield MDC asking when the work was to be completed.

 

2.      Car Sales – Weeland Road

 

                 The chairman and Cllr Jackson reported that car with for sale signs had returned to Weelend Road.

 

       The clerk to inform the enforcement officers of the matter and that Cllr Ripley is willing to keep a diary of events.

 

03/ 88       West Yorkshire Police

 

                 The clerk reported that due to the length of the agenda he had agreed with PC Whitworth that the police could be excused tonight.

 

                 Cllrs thought that it would be useful to hold a special meeting to discuss policing in general.

 

                 The clerk to arrange.

 

03/ 89       Community Facilities - Convenors Report

 

                 1. Parish Centre

 

            Nothing to report.

 

                 2. Village Centre

 

            Nothing to report.

 

03/ 90       Allotments - Convenors Report

 

Cllr Voros reported the Mr Hill’s allotments were in need of attention.

 

The clerk to contact Mr Hill.

 

03/ 91       Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report

 

                 The clerk reported that Mr Hunter of Sandown Ave had written again asking that the council take the necessary action to secure the cemetery fence.

 

                 It was agreed that Mr Joyce be contracted to carry out the work.

 

03/ 92        Special Services - Convenors Report

 

1.      Mr Malcolm Stead

 

The clerk reported that Mr Stead had forwarded a letter of thanks along with an offer to attend a future meeting to address the council on his experiences.

 

 

 

03/ 93       Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee

 

                 Cllr Gomersall reported that the next meeting was to be held later this month, he would give a full report at the June meeting.

 

 

03/ 94       Old Library Site

 

            Discussion took place on the progress of the project and that school governors would like work to commence mid July.

 

                 The consensus was that it was all in the hands of Wakefield MDC, Education Dept, Planning Dept, Designs Services, Building Services and Property services.  If work didn’t commence mid July WMDC could only blame themselves.

 

                 As for transfer of ownership to the Parish Council, that could take place at any time.  However, the Parish would not make a financial contribution until the transfer had taken place.

 

03/ 95        Planning

 

1.      Babylon Takeaway

 

The clerk reported that the appeal by Mr Singh against Wakefield MDCs decision to not to allow an extension in the opening hours of his takeaway has been dismissed by the Inspector.

 

2.      Crofton Triangle

 

The clerk reported that he had received a request from Mr George Wright, Mr Peacock’s Planning Advisor to meet the Parish Council to discuss workings at the triangle.

 

It was agreed that Mr Wrights request be turned down, at least until the current matters before the planners have been before the Planning Board.

 

3.      Other Applications

 

                 All applications received during the period were found to be acceptable.

 

03/ 96       Financial Matters  

 

a.       2002/2003 R & P Accounts

 

The clerk presented a statement of accounts for financial year 2002/03 on which the annual return to the external auditors is based.

 

Councillors noted the contents and agreed that the figures be used.

 

b. 2002/2003 Audit Return

 

The clerk presented the annual audit return to council.  Councillors found the return to be acceptable and the chairman signed it accordingly.

 

 

 

 

c. Asset Register

 

The clerk presented the asset register.

 

Clerk agreed that the register reflected an accurate assessment of the council’s assets.

 

                 d. Salaries

 

It was agreed that all salaries be increased in line with national recommendations, the effect being to increase the hourly rate for Mrs Hardwick and Miss Reid from £5.09 to £5.32 and to increase the clerk’s salary from £3,402.36 per annum to £3,521.44.

 

                 e. Accounts            

 

                 The following accounts were submitted and approved for payment.

                        £

                 J F Shillitoe                                    957.89

                 Ms Reid                                           55.50

                 Mrs Hardwick                                 264.68

                                                              23.92 (back pay)

                 Mr G Terry                                     480.00 (cemetery plinths)

          Yorkshire Electricity                      193.55 (P Centre)

                

03/ 97       Correspondence

 

     Wakefield MDC - Minutes

- Libraries Newsletter

          YLCA                               - White Rose Update

                                                     - AGM Notice

                                                     - New Audit Procedures

                        - Executive Committee Minutes

                        - Wakefield Branch Minutes

     YRCC - Country Air

                        - Sports News

 

03/ 98       Parish Matters

 

1.      Turf Accountants- Slack Lane

 

                 The clerk to follow up with Wakefield MDC.

 

2.      Service Road – Sewage Works

 

                 The clerk to request that the Rapid Response Team clear the road of debris.

 

                 The clerk to ascertain who owns the service road.

 

3.      School House

 

                 It was reported that the tree growing from the chimney of the school house was still there.

 

                 The clerk to contact housing.

 

 

4.      Londis - Shop Frontage

 

The clerk to contact Union Enterprises, to ask if they could take action to ensure that vehicles delivering to Londis don’t obstruct the pavement and the junction of Slack Lane with the High Street.

                

 

03/ 99       Date of next Meeting

 

            Tuesday 17th June 2003..

 

03/100       Matters Discussed in Private

 

          None discussed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Chairman                                                                           17th June 2003.