Crofton Parish Council

 

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on

Tuesday 18th November 2003 in The High School at 7.00 pm.

 

     Present: Councillors: Mrs G Towns, Mrs W Wrigg, S Bennett,

                        T B Chalkley,  S Duffy, G P Jackson,

                        P Jacques, A Ripley, G Scargill & J Voros

 

                        Residents: Mrs R Salt, Mr B Murphy & Mr G Schofield

 

                        Wakefield MDC Elaine McHale

 

                        The Clerk: J F Shillitoe

 

     Apologies: Councillors: J R Hewitt & D Marshall

                  

                 The Chairman, Cllr A Ripley presided over the meeting.

  

03/179       Elaine McHale

 

                 The chairman welcomed Mrs McHale to the meeting.

 

                 Mrs McHale detailed the current situation within Wakefield MDC’s Social Care Department, explaining that Wakefield has made great progress since been placed near the bottom of the Local Government league table by the audit commission. The authority has now moved out of the bottom 10 gaining a 1* rating. However still a long way to go.

 

            Examples of the improvement are:-

 

                 The Elderly

                

            145% increase in the take up of home meals.

            3000 Additional home care hours per annum

            Established, out reach teams  to assist hospital patients get back to their own homes.

            Increased respite care in each of the authorities Elderly Person Homes (EPH)

                 An increase from 10 to 35 day care places.

 

                 The transfer of five of the authority nine EPHs to the private sector failed due to lack of interest from the private sector, the authority therefore has now to rethink the future of all nine homes.

 

            Learning Disabilities

 

                 Mrs McHale advised that the 64 patients of Fieldhead Hospital will hopefully be placed into the community before March 2004.

 

            Mental Health

 

            Wakefield was one of the worst spenders on Mental Health provision, 149th out of 150, however a whole tranch of work is now been undertaken in conjunction with the Primary Care Trust and mental health agencies to improve matters.  £1.5m to be spent over the next 3 years to develop services.

 

                

            Children

 

            Some 450 children are in care throughout the authority, for which foster carers are actively been sought.

 

            Children’s homes are being rebuilt or upgraded.

 

            Alcoholism

 

            Many schemes to help combat the problem.

 

                 Mr Murphy asked for details of the formula used for calculating the cost of elderly care within the public sector and why it was so more expensive than the private sector.

 

                 Mrs McHale replied that the formula was in the public domain but the underlying problem was one of inefficiency and poor absence management, these inefficiencies were been addressed.  The cost of private sector care was £327 per week compared to between £400 & £500 in house.

 

                 The chairman thanked Mrs McHale for attending 

 

03/180       West Yorkshire Police

 

                 The clerk presented councillors with a written copy the October Police report, for information. No formal discussion took place.

 

                 The clerk reported that PC McMahon had as yet been unable to obtain the results of the recent Golden River survey of Slack Lane and High Street.         

 

                 The priorities for November/December to be:

 

                 Foot Patrol – As required, concentrating on the village centre, Post Office closing, Crofton High School, Crofton Infants, Royal Oak etc.

 

            Monitor the Parish Cemetery.

 

            Discourage illegal use of motorcycles at Priory Ridge, Towers Close and adjacent land, High Street and Hare Park Sidings.

 

            Monitor use of seat adjacent 11 Santingley Lane.

                

            Monitor the area adjacent to the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings        

                              

03/181       Public Participation Session

 

1.      Christmas Tree

 

Residents asked whether the Parish was to have a Christmas Tree this year and if so where was it to be sited.

 

Cllrs advised that Wakefield MDC had tried to erect a tree on the triangle but due to the recent alterations at the site were unable to complete the task.

 

It was agreed that the clerk/chairman would contact the authority.

 

 

2.      Bedford Farm.

 

       Mrs Salt asked if council thought it worthwhile Crofton Community centre approaching the developers of Bedford Farm for financial assistance.

 

Cllrs agreed that such an approach could be of benefit and agreed to provide Mrs Salt with details of the developers.

 

3.      Cock Lane.

 

                 The clerk to arrange for cleansing services to visit the area.

 

4.      Waste Bins

 

       Two lamppost bins were reported missing, one at the bus stop adjacent to 523 Doncaster Road the other in Cock Lane.

 

The clerk to advise cleansing services.

 

5.      Street Light – Ashdene Avenue

 

          Lamp No 7 Ashdene Avenue was reported faulty, the clerk to advise Street Lighting Section.

 

6.      Derelict Property – High Street

 

       The clerk to contact building services, regarding the condition of the property adjacent to Jackson Supermarket.

 

03/182       Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda

 

                 No declarations were made.

 

03/183       Minutes

 

                 It was agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 21st October be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

03/184       Matters Arising 

 

1.      Drama Hall

 

The clerk reported that planning permission had not been required to demolish the drama hall.

 

The reason that it had been demolished was due to surveyors declaring the building structurally unsafe at short notice, after work had commenced on the Youth Centre. It had been intended to retain part of the original building and incorporate it within the new build. Unfortunately due to a fire, the whole of the drama hall had to be demolished.

 

The clerk to contact the LEA, to ask, if there are any plans to incorporate to Old Stone and roof slates within the new building.

 

The clerk also to invite Youth Service to a future meeting, to discuss plans for the site. 

 

 

2. Resignation of Councillor

 

The clerk reported that he had now been advised that the vacancy created by the resignation of Terry Gomersall could be filled by co-option.

 

After discussion it was agreed that Mrs Kath Duffy be co-opted.

 

The clerk also reported that the vacancy created by the resignation of George Scargill would be advertised during December.

 

2.      Risk Assessments

 

Cllr Chalkley reported that he had completed a Risk Assessment of the Cemetery; a copy of the report was given to the clerk for action.

 

Cllr Chalkley agreed that he would carry out assessment of all council property, The Pavilion, Parish Centre and Allotments.

 

Clls thanked Cllr Chalkley for his assistance with these matters.

 

03/185       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.

 

03/186       Community Facilities - Convenors Report

 

                 1. Parish Centre

 

            Nothing to report.

 

            Following the resignation of George Scargill the position of convenor was now vacant, the Chairman asked for a volunteer, no one came forward, it was therefore agreed that this item be placed on the December agenda.

                              

                 2. Village Centre

 

                 Cllr Bennett reported that Yorkshire Electricity have visited the Pavilion to renew the meters.

 

03/187       Allotments - Convenors Report

 

Cllr Voros reported that a class from Shay Lane School had visited Hare Park Allotments as part of their nature studies.

 

Council whilst not wishing to appear as kill joys, advised that trips of this nature ought not to take place until the appropriate risk assessments have been carried out and indemnities signed.

 

03/188       Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report

 

                 Cllrs reported that they had visited the cemetery as arranged to examine the beck area.  Cllr Chalkley produced photographs of the area, which was considered to be tidy and relatively free of debris.

 

 

                 It was agreed that Cllr Chalkley forward the photos to the clerk for inclusion within a response to Mrs Waite.

 

            Following George Scargills’ resignation, cllrs asked Mr George Schofield if he would take on the role of cemetery convenor.  This he agreed to do.

 

03/189        Special Services - Convenors Report

 

1. Friends of Crofton Infants School – Story Sacks

 

The clerk reported that reason that The Friends of Crofton Infants require their own Public Liability Insurance is that, when they first formed, a condition of them receiving grants was that they were not linked to any public body. So they were unable to operate under the umbrella of the Infants School.

 

It was therefore agreed that a grant of £200 be made.

 

The clerk to advise the friends that cllrs considered that the Story Sack scheme should be self-financing and that they ought to be looking into ways of increasing their visibility in order to achieve this.

 

2. Crofton Cricket Club

 

The clerk presented a request from the Cricket Club for financial assistance towards the purchase of a new mower.

 

After consideration it was agreed that council would not support the cricket club on this occasion, as the lease for the cricket square funded by the Parish Council included the ground maintenance carried out by Wakefield MDC leisure services.

 

03/190       Village Signage

 

                 The clerk reported that before any sign could be built, permission from Wakefield MDC to erect signs on highway verges would have to be obtained and consultation with all the service companies would need to take place.

 

                 The signs erected in Walton had cost in the region of £1500 each.

 

                 It was agreed that cllrs take this matter away for consideration prior to any further action been taken by the clerk.

 

03/191       Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee

 

                 Cllr Ripley reported that the extraction of 300,000 Tons of coal and 150,000 Tons of clay was due for completion late January. Restoration could then commence.

 

                 The ponds are still loosing water and the situation is been monitored closely with planning

 

                 The grant of £1000 for Crofton Juniors is on route via Head Office.

 

03/192      Old Library Site

 

                 Cllr Bennett reported that he was still looking into the situation appertaining the library site and would report at the next meeting.

 

 

03/193        Planning

 

                 1. Property extension – 30 Springhill Avenue

 

                 Both the clerk and chairman reported they had spoken with planner’s regarding the development at 30 Springhill Ave and were still awaiting replies.

                

2. Other matters

 

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

 

03/194     Financial Matters  

 

                 a. Accounts            

 

                 The following accounts were submitted and approved for payment.

                        £

                 Ms Reid                                           53.20

                 Mrs Hardwick                                 276.64

                 Mr Wood                                      131.00

                 Mr Shillitoe                                    969.35

          Yorkshire Water                          188.98 (Allotments)

                                                              21.85 (P Centre)

          Yorkshire Electricity                       98.77

          Wakefield MDC                             24.34 (Rainbows)

                                                            137.50 (Guides)

                                                              85.00 (Brownies)

                                                            143.14 (Scouts)   

          Friends of Crofton Infants             200.00

 

03/195     Correspondence

 

     Wakefield MDC - Minutes

                        - Community Assembly

                        - Area Panel

          YLCA                               - Parish Government Course, 5 -7 March 2004

                                                     - White Rose Update

 

03/196       Parish Matters

 

1.      War Memorial.

 

The clerk to contact the British Legion, to inform them that, the War Memorial on Doncaster Road, requires attention.

 

Also to contact the clergy of All Saints suggest that they may wish the conduct a short service at the memorial in future years.

 

2. Crabb Apple Trees – Springhill Ave

 

The clerk was asked to contact the arboriculturalist asking that a Crabb Apple tree alongside Springhill Ave be replaced by a non fruit bearing variety.

 

 

 

03/197       Date of next Meeting

 

            Tuesday 16 December 2003.

 

03/198       Matters Discussed in Private

 

                 1. Friends of Crofton Infants School

 

            Minuted at 03/189/1

 

                 2. Crofton Cricket Club

 

            Minuted at 03/189/2

 

                 3. Co-option of Councillor

 

          Minuted at 03/184/2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Chairman                                                                           16th December 2003.