Page 1. Crofton
Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 19 November 2013.
Present; Councillors; Chalkley, Bennett, Hewitt, Kimbley, Makin, Ripley
Schofield, Towns, Wrigg and Wilby.
Clerk to the Council; Barry Riley
In attendance; 5 members of the public
District Councillors; Manifield and Heptinstall
PCSO
Stevens
11/109 Report
from W.Y.Police Officers working on Crofton Safe Scheme PCSO Stevens, presented the Safe Scheme report
covering October and November.
It was noted that the report did not contain information which was reported on the daily briefing that the Parish Council received, such as the assault of a Police Officer on Doncaster Road and the brandishing of a knife on Ashdene Avenue. However due to the date of the incidents, these may have occurred after the date the safe scheme report was produced
Comment was also made that the car that crashed through three gardens near to the roundabout at Hare Park Lane and High Street, was not on the report either, PCSO Stevens duly noted the comments.
Cllr Bennett thanked the Police for their efforts to address speeding within the village. There were traffic offence reports for vehicles exceeding 30 mph on Shay Lane, motorists were stopped in the 20mph zones in different parts of the village for exceeding the limit, and there had been the issuing of 13 speeding tickets following the speeding operation conducted on Doncaster Road in conjunction with recent RTC's (road traffic collisions) in the area.
11/110 Wakefield MDC District Councillors
Report
District Councillors provided information to enquiries made individually by Parish Councillors, and gave an update on previous matters raised;
Further to the resident comment that there was reduced visibility when turning right onto Doncaster Road from Slack Lane (minute 10/093) WMDC Highway Maintenance had written to the farmer and requested that the hedge be cut back.
Cllr Heptinstall commented that the presentation by HS2 Ltd
at the Community Centre (minute 10/092), had 200 people in attendance, much of
the information provided was already known, an environmental impact assessment
would not be available till 2015.
A meeting with WMDC Planners and the developer had taken place on 14
November, with representatives from the Parish Council and residents from
Priory Ridge. It was felt that the meeting was a positive experience. District
Councillors were thanked for arranging the meeting.
District Councillors stated that they had received positive comments about the
staging of the family fun day.
Cllr Manifield informed members that he had contacted WMDC
following complaints received about the poor state of
the Christmas tree which the Parish Council were contributing to the cost of
this year. He had been informed that it would be checked and be replaced.
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Cllr Kimbley had contacted Cllr Cummings following a previous request to WMDC Street Scene to carry out strimming work on the watercourse to the rear of Holly Close (minute 09/079). As no action had been taken, he asked District Councillors to provide an update.
Cllr Bennett asked District
Councillors to provide an update for the next meeting about the watercourse at
the bottom end of the cemetery (minute 10/092).
*Cllr Chalkley stopped the meeting so members could offer their condolences to Cllr Kimbley as his wife had recently died.
11/111 Public Participation session
A resident enquired what the Parish Council ruling was on shared allotments. He was advised that this was classed as sub letting and was not permitted under the allotment rules. Each allotment was allocated to one individual.
11/112 Apologies for absence
District Councillor; Cummings.
11/113 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Chakley declared a prejudicial interest in discussions concerning Priory Ridge.
11/114 Minutes
of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 September 2013, were subject to change prior to signature.
11/115 Matters arising from previous
minutes
The Clerk reported that;
All Saints Church had sent a letter confirming a meeting date for Wednesday 04 December 2013 at 11.00am, to discuss the condition of the ginnel from Ashdene Crescent to the church grounds. Members duly noted the date and time.
He had received notification from
the Valuation Office stating they were unable to provide the number of
households for Crofton, as it was not part of their publications policy to
produce statistics at town or postcode level. The Clerk had now produced and
circulated to members figures from the Precept information for the number of houses in Crofton from 2009 to 2012.
He had contacted WMDC and submitted comments concerning planning application 13/02788/FUL, Birkwood House Farm.
WMDC Neighbourhood Action had been contacted via the online notification site on the WMDC web page, and asked to remove the litter outside the shops on High Street.
Prior to arranging a meeting with WMDC about the planting of trees (minute 10/097), he had sought clarification that the tree pack allocation for March 2014, was still available and would be granted to the Parish Council as certain criteria was applied when making an application. The main entry criteria was that the trees were for shared spaces that would benefit the wider community. Having considered the information, members agreed that a meeting be arranged.
Cllr Bennett informed members that a further discussion had take place regarding the closing of the gate leading to the car park (see minute 09/075 and 10/097), as the gate was painted black it was considered difficult to see and closing it may cause further
Page 3.
problems, consideration would be given to painting the gate a different colour to resolve the problem
11/116 Community Facilities
Report Parish Centre
Nothing to report
Report Village Association
Cllr Makin reported that;
The Family Fun Day had proved to be a success (see also
minute 11/110).
Report Allotments
Cllr Hewitt reported that;
There was still some grass that needed removing from the Pontefract Road allotment site which would require further use of the tractor and trailer as previously agreed (see minute 09/080).
Report Parish Cemetery
The Clerk informed members that three applications concerning burials and memorial plaques, had been received from Harpins funeral directors but only one cheque. This would cause a problem with the accounting function, he would therefore have to return the cheque and request three separate ones. Members were in agreement but asked that an explanation be provided to the funeral director.
11/117 Traffic issues
See minute 11/109.
11/118 Neighbourhood Plan
Members were informed that notification had been received confirming the formal designation of the Crofton Neighbourhood Area by Wakefield Council. A meeting was now required with WMDC, to discuss the development of the plan and the respective roles of the Parish Council and the District Council in the process. The Clerk was asked to arrange a meeting in December.
Cllr Chalkley asked members to provide some personal information that could be used on the web site (minute 09/082), the Clerk was also asked to provide the previous months minutes and the annual accounts for the previous year ended.
11/119 Cleansing/Environment
Nothing to report
11/120 Planning
Notifications
Members offered no comment to the applications and decisions received.
Members noted the information received concerning the revised plans for the Deanfield mining site.
11/121 Financial matters
The Clerk having
informed members of invoices to be paid received no objections.
Members noted the content of the monthly accounts.
The Clerk informed members that the Electricity accounts for the Sports Pavilion and the Parish Centre were due 14 days from date of invoice, due to the timings of the meetings this could result in the signing of the cheque being too late. Members agreed
that the Clerk could pay the invoices by BACS transfer, if the cheque signing was
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going to be too late.
11/122 Correspondence received
Members noted the content of the information received, in particular Note 1; Members agreed to take a delivery of 2 tons of salt in small bags. Note 2; Cllr Bennett was disappointed with the attendance at the Parish Centre for the HS2 information event that was held there. Note 5. The Clerk was asked to order the booklet from YLCA about what local councils are required to do and what they are permitted to do, at a cost of £45.00. Note 7; Members agreed to discuss this under item18. Note 11; Some members had participated in the survey regarding community matters for the updated Police and Crime plan.
Note 13; Members agreed to a payment of £40 to the Crofton Beacon.
11/123 Parish matters
Members agreed to discuss the future of the Scout Hut under item 18.
Members agreed to discuss a meeting with UK Coal about a road safety scheme under item 18.
Cllr Kimbley informed members that fly tipping of asbestos had occurred at the footpath entrance opposite the Sidings playing fields entrance on Shay Lane, he had contacted WMDC who had cleared the debris.
11/124 Date
of next meeting
Resolved; that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 17 December 2013 at 7pm in Crofton Parish Centre, High Street, Crofton.
11/125 Members
of the public and press were to leave before agenda no.18
It was agreed
11/126 Matters to be discussed in private
Members agreed that the Scout Group would be given 3 months notice to remove all goods and equipment from the Scout Hut and surrounding area.
The Clerk would write to Emsleys and clarify the responsibility for the manhole.
The Clerk would make arrangements for a meeting with UK Coal to discuss a road safety scheme.
Members duly noted the information provided by the Clerk concerning a member of staff.
Signed
Date
.. Chairman
Crofton Parish Council