Crofton Parish
Council
Minutes
of the Annual General Meeting held on
Tuesday
18th May 2004 in The High School at 7.00 pm.
Present: Councillors: Mrs K Duffy, Mrs G Towns, Mrs W Wrigg, S
Bennett, T Chalkley, J R Hewitt, G Makin
G
P Jackson OBE BEM JP, P Jacques,
A
Ripley & J Voros
Residents: Mrs C Dickinson, Mrs R Salt, Mrs J Scott,
Mr Scott, Mr B Murphy & Mr G Schofield
West
Yorkshire Police: Pc P McMahon
Wakefield
MDC Joanne Posonby
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: A Manifield, S Duffy & D Marshall
The chairman Cllr
A Ripley presided over the meeting.
04/086 West Yorkshire Police
1. Safe Scheme
Pc McMahon (Paul)
presented his report for April.
He also informed cllrs that he had addressed all the priorities of the
council, improvements being made in some areas.
Mr Schofield informed council that the situation at the graveyard was
deteriorating, groups of youths can be found at the back of the church at all
hours of the day, even when they are supposed to be in school.
Paul explained that the neither the police in general or safe scheme
officers were in a position to monitor the Parish Church and the cemetery 24
hours a day, any problems need to be rung in and logged at the control centre.
Cllr Jackson explained that Mr Myers and his staff were doing all they
could to keep pupils in check, they had visited the cemetery and spoken with
several youths, some of those questioned by staff were found to be truants,
they were bought back to school and there parents notified.
Cllrs voiced the opinion that more could be done by the school and that
pupils should at least be kept on the premises during breaks. Cllr Jacques
added that he had contacted Outwood Grange with a view to ascertaining how they
deal with the problem.
Cllr Jackson reiterated that the High School was during all it could and
the headteacher wasn’t in a position to force pupils to stay on the
premises.
Cllr Chalkley advised that there had been a big improvement at the
Health Centre.
Mrs Brown asked if Paul could address the problem of teenage girls
congregating at the Rectory Crescent passenger shelter during lunchtime break.
Paul asked councillors if it was acceptable for him to use some safe
scheme resources during weekday lunchtimes at the expense of Friday evening and
weekends. This was agreed.
Cllr Jackson raised concerns over the use of Crofton Triangle by off
road motorcycles. It appeared that this use was more than casual as both adults
and children from as far away as Nottingham are using the site.
Residents of the Brandhill estate had to suffer throughout the weekend,
often while 9.30 pm Saturday and Sunday.
Paul explained that as the vehicles were on private land the matter was
out of his jurisdiction.
The clerk was therefore instructed to contact the planning enforcement
officer and environmental services on the matter to ascertain what action can
be taken.
The priorities for June to
be:
Foot Patrol – As required,
concentrating on the village centre, Crofton High School, Crofton Infants,
Royal Oak, Medical Centre along with any other areas brought to the attention
of the safe scheme officers.
To address the problem of
illegal parking of vehicles on Slack Lane.
Monitor the Parish Cemetery.
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 Rectory Crescent
Monitor the area adjacent to
the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings.
2. Traffic Speed Stickers
Joanne advised councillors that
John Skidmore had approved the use of the Slow Down stickers on wheelie bins
suggesting that council concentrates on the High Street, Harrison Road and
Slack Lane initially.
Joanne had therefore
commissioned speed checks in the area which had shown that 85% of traffic was
traveling at speeds in the region of 27 –29 mph. Once the stickers have been in
use for a couple of months the speed checks would be repeated.
It was agreed that councilors
would meet at 1.30 pm on 28 May to distribute the stickers throughout the area.
Joanne explained that, as the
district was currently in the middle of an election any publicity would have to
be postponed until the elections were over.
04/087 Public Participation Session
Nothing
raised
04/088 Appointment of Chairman 2004/2005
It was proposed,
seconded and agreed that Cllr P Jacques be appointed Chairman for the
forthcoming year.
Cllr Jacques
accepted, thanking council for electing him to the Chair. He also asked that the minutes note thanks
to Cllr Ripley for all the work he has undertaken during his two years as
chairman.
04/089 Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda
No declarations
were made.
04/090 Appointment of Vice Chairman 2004/2005
It was proposed,
seconded and agreed that Cllr Bennett be appointed Vice Chairman for the
forthcoming year.
04/091 Appointment of The Responsible Financial Officer, RFO
The clerk was
appointed RFO for the forthcoming year.
04/092 Appointment of Committee Convenors
It was agreed that
the following act as convenors.
a. Allotments - Cllr J Voros & Cllr J R Hewitt
b. Community
Facilities - Cllr G Makin - Village Centre
Cllr
Mrs K Duffy - Parish Centre
c. Parish Cemetery - Mr G Schofiled
d. Special
Services - The clerk
04/093 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.
04/094 Minutes
It was agreed that
the minutes of the meetings held on 20th April were a correct record
and signed by the Chairman.
04/095 Matters Arising
1. Sewer – Harrison Road
Cllr Ripley advised that he had spoken with Environmental Health once
more who had now confirmed that the problem was the responsibility of Yorkshire
Water and not the householder. The main sewer had become blocked.
The blockage had been cleared but should the problem reoccur Yorkshire
Water would need to carry out some corrective work on the sewer.
2. Youth Services
Both the clerk and Cllr Ripley reported (from differing sources) that
the delays in submitting a planning application for the new youth centre were
down to the anticipated cost of the centre been well above the funds
available. These problems had now been
overcome through the allocation of additional monies. It was therefore anticipated that an application for detailed
planning would be imminent.
The clerk was asked to write to the Chief Executive expressing council’s
disappointment over the delay
04/096 Community Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish
Centre
Cllr Duffy
reported that Mrs Lund of the playgroup had approached her over the prospect of
installing a second toilet, a requirement should the playgroup wish to be
recognised by OFFSTED.
It was agreed that
Cllrs Jacques and Duffy visit the playgroup to ascertain their requirements
whilst also learning a little more about how the group operates.
Cllrs agreed to
defer their review of the hire charges for the Parish Centre until after the
meeting with the playgroup.
2. Village
Centre
Cllr Bennett
reported that the electricity bills at the centre have soared following the
fitting of a new meter by N Power. Investigations were underway as to the
reason why.
04/097 Allotments - Convenors Report
Cllr Voros reported that Lee Potts had been allocated the allotment
vacated by Mr Rushton.
Cllr Hewitt reported that Mr Robinson was prepared to release two
allotments; unfortunately they were not fit for growing as they formed part of
the embankment.
It was agreed that the clerk contact the multi allotment tenants to
ascertain whether they would be prepared to give up allotments to those on the
waiting list.
04/098 Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report
The clerk reported
Mr Joyce would be carrying out the long outstanding repairs to the perimeter
fence on Thursday 20 May 2004.
Mr Schofield
reported that, T & D had not emptied the rubbish bins for four weeks and
that grass around the headstones needs strimming.
The clerk to write
to T & D reminding them of their contractual obligations.
Mr Schofield asked
if the gravedigger could be contracted to lay 25 flags as T & D don’t
appear to have time to complete this task.
Council agreed
that Mr Schofield ascertain the gravediggers costs and report back to the
Chairman who would then give his authority, assuming the price is right.
Mr Schofield asked
if council would consider purchasing a lawn mower in order that he could tidy
up the areas that T & D miss using their tractor.
Councillors
decided that they could not sanction this due the insurance and public
liabilities.
04/099 Special Services - Convenors Report
1. All Saints Parish Church
Councillors considered a request from All Saints’ Church for financial
assistance towards the cost of replacing the central heating fuel storage tank.
It was agreed that a grant of £2,000 be made using the powers given to
council under s137 of the local Government Act 1972.
04/100 Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee
Cllr Ripley
reported that the excavation of both coal and clay was now complete. Work has
commenced on digging the ponds prior to restoration.
04/101 Old Library Site
The clerk reported
that he had emailed Tim Abbott asking that contractors be brought back on site
to complete works, but as yet no reply had been forthcoming.
04/102 Cleansing
The chairman
reported that he and Cllr Ripley has met with John Skidmore and Martin
Wolmersley from cleansing services, they had walked around the village and
noted a considerable improvement in the general appearance.
Martin Womersley
had supplied a map of the village prior to the meeting on which an additional
33 sites had been identified for litterbins; this had been taken away by Martin
for further consideration.
The debris to the
rear of 91/93 High Street was still a problem, which John Skidmore undertook to
resolve.
The Pavement have
not been swept due to the sweeper being broken down, when repaired this would
visit the village again.
The road adjacent
to the Hanover Developments development at Bedford Farm was in need of
attention. The clerk to contact planning.
Discussion took
place on the arrangements for the Keep Crofton Tidy Campaign. It was agreed
that the clerk contact all the schools to canvass the head teachers view on
pupils entering a competition to design a poster to be used in the campaign.
The competition to
be run in three age groups, Infants 5-7, Juniors 7-11 and Seniors 11 plus. A
£10 ridings voucher would be the prize for the best design in each category
with a further £20 going to the overall winner. The overall winner being the
poster to be used in the campaign.
04/103 Planning
All applications
received during the period were found to be acceptable.
04/104 Financial Matters
a.
2003/2004 R & P Accounts
The clerk presented a statement of accounts for financial year 2003/04
on which the annual return to the external auditors is based.
Councillors noted the contents and agreed that the figures be used.
b. Accounts
The following
accounts were submitted and approved for payment.
£
J F Shillitoe 929.01
Ms Reid 53.20
Mrs Hardwick 276.64
Mayfair Security 481.75
Firescreen 115.87
Yorkshire
Electricity 49.80 (P Centre)
Wakefield MDC 68.11 (Election Costs)
Mr G Schofield 80.31 (Lock for Garage)
All Saints 2,000.00
04/105 Correspondence
Wakefield MDC - Minutes
- Libraries Newsletter
YLCA -
White Rose Update
-
AGM Notice
-
Executive Committee Minutes
-
Wakefield Branch Agenda
-
Wakefield Branch Minutes
YRCC -
Country Air
-
Sports News
04/106 Parish Matters
1. Henry Daley Memorial Park
The clerk to
report to leisure services that the memorial clock was in need of restoration
and repair.
2. Wayside Markers – Lodge Lane
It was reported that several of the wayside markers along Lodge Lane had
been vandalised and needed replacing. The clerk to report the matter to
Highways.
3. Grass Verge – Priory Ridge
Cllr Chalkley
reported that Highways were not cutting the grass verges alongside Priory Ridge
The clerk to
contact highways.
.
4. Footpath – Springhill Avenue to Priory Ridge
The clerk to request highways erect a kissing gate at the Priory Ridge
end of this footpath to deter cyclists and motorcyclists driving along it.
5. Hanging Baskets/Street Lighting Columns
The clerk reported that twelve of the councils chosen columns for the
hanging baskets have been rejected by AMEY substitutes have therefore been
submitted.
Cllrs asked that the clerk seek further details as to why the original
twelve were rejected and also to ascertain when AMEY plan to commence the replacement
programme in Crofton.
04/107 Date of next Meeting
Tuesday 15th
June 2004.
04/108 Matters Discussed in Private
Minuted under item
04/099.
Chairman 15th
June 2004.