Crofton Parish Council
Minutes
of the meeting held on
Tuesday
15 October 2002 in The High School at 7.00 pm.
Present: Councillors: S Bennett, L Coates, T
Gomersall, D Crowcroft,
J
M Feeney, G P Jackson BEM,OBE,JP, A Ripley & J Voros
Residents: Mrs P Baines, Mrs R Salt,
Mrs P Walker,
Mr
G Scofield, Mrs Hemingway &
Amber
Hemingway
Wakefield
MDC Cllr Wayne Jenkins
West
Yorkshire Police: Inspector
Heptinstall, Sgt Raworth,
Sgt
Hawcroft & PC Whitworth
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: I Beckett, P Beckett, J R
Hewitt & G Scargill
The chairman,
Cllr Ripley, presided over the
meeting.
02/154 Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda
Cllr Jackson
declared an interest in agenda item number 02/165 Special Services, application
for financial assistance from the cricket club.
02/155 Miss A Hemingway
Amber attended the meeting to give a short presentation to members
following her recent success as part of the Great Britain gymnastics team
competing in Germany.
The team competed in two disciplines eventually beating the USA to
Bronze medal.
The chairman thanked Amber for attending, congratulated her on the teams
performance and the quality of her presentation.
02/156 Public Participation Session
1.
Yorkshire Electricity Sub
Station – High Street
It was reported that Mr Cook had arranged for the area around the sub
station to be cleared.
Thanks to Mr Cook.
2.
Play Area.
Cllr Ripley informed the
meeting that all the schools had now submitted their ideas for the redesign of
the play area.
Meetings with officers of the authority are now being arranged to
progress the project.
3. Hedge –
Pontefract Road.
Residents reported that
the hedge adjacent to the Priory Centre playing fields was still in need of
trimming.
The clerk to chase
the matter.
4.
School House – High Street
Concerns were raised over the condition of the chimneystacks at the
schoolhouse adjacent to the infants school in High Street. The chimneystacks
have trees growing from them, rendering them unsafe.
It was agreed that the clerk writes to the housing department on the
matter.
5.
Middle Lane
Residents reported that there was a burnt out car on land between
Nostell Brickworks and the Moorhouse Opencast.
PC Whitworth agreed to pass on this information to PC Andy Rogerson, the
abandoned car officer.
02/157 Wakefield Youth
Services
Cllr Wayne
Jenkins, WMDC Cabinet Member for Education addressed the meeting.
Wayne explained
that the education department have plans to replace the facilities at Crofton,
a bid of £300k had been considered by the resource board on 7th
October but not accepted. This is not
the result with he had hoped for and was disappointed by it. The scheme was
still on the priority list and would be considered again later in the year, but
no guarantees could be given. Should a
high priority scheme from another department materialise then that may take
precedence.
Cllr Jackson
replied by stating that Crofton is used to bad news such as this. Three years ago the authority had promised
that the development would go ahead and yet we still wait. The numbers of youths in the parish is
growing and the facilities are deteriorating, the youth club is a horrible place.
Cllr Jenkins
accepted all that had been said regarding the situation adding that he was not
in the game of making promises he couldn’t keep. He would continue to support
the application for funds from the supplementary capital fund and do all in his
power to secure a new youth facility for Crofton, however there are many worthy
demands on the councils purse which may in the eyes of the majority take
precedence over youth services.
Cllr Jenkins
promised to keep the clerk up to date with any developments.
02/158 West Yorkshire Police
PC John Whitworth
introduced Sgt Paul Raworth who would be taking over from Graham Hawcroft as
safe scheme liaison officer and Ins Heppenstall who has overall operational
responsibility for the Crofton area.
PC Whitworth
commenced by informing the meeting that operations at the Crofton Triangle were
still
quiet, in the main
due to the lack of a haulage contractor, youth problems persist and
drug/alcohol related offences continue.
The police
continue to strive to improve matters especially in relation to the youth,
drugs and alcohol related problems. A recent operation in the Ashdene area was
successful in apprehending a speeding taxi driver (70/74 mph along High Street)
the new traffic calming measures should prevent motorists travelling at such
speed. A stolen motorcycle was
recovered and a grateful resident informed that his garage had been left open.
PC Whitworth
stated that car crime is far too high and much more can be done to prevent
this, the crime reduction officer, Peter Walker could attend a future meeting
if members wished. It was agreed that
this be arranged.
Cllrs informed the
police that Ashdene stores have stated that they are willing to stop the sale
of alcohol to everyone after 6.30 pm, if all the other off licences were
prepared to do the same. This was
thought to be extremely commendable but practicably impossible to achieve. However PC Raworth would take the matter up
with the shopkeepers.
Cllr Gomersall
informed the police that due to prioritising a recent incident at Crofton Park
wasn’t responded to for 7 hrs, surely this isn’t acceptable.
The priorities
for October/November to be:
Foot Patrol – As
required, concentrating on the village centre, Post Office closing, windows
rear of High School, Crofton Infants, Royal Oak etc.
Continue to
discourage anti social behaviour by the minority.
Monitor the area
adjacent to the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings
Seat – Priory
Ridge/Santingley Lane.
Visit schools to
advise parents on the dangers of indiscriminate parking adjacent to schools.
The chairman
thanked the police contingent for their attendance.
02/159 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.
02/160 Minutes
It was agreed that
the minutes of the meetings held on 15 October were a correct record and signed
by the Chairman.
02/161 Matters Arising
1. 521
Doncaster Road
Cllr Ripley
reported that he had discussed this development with the owner; Mr Smith, who
had
informed him that
he was going to formally apply for permission to take over some of the verge
adjacent to his property.
It was agreed that
the clerk write to the highways officer concerned asking that they be mindful
of sightlines when considering any applications.
2. Speed Cameras – Doncaster Road
The
clerk reported that Wakefield MDC were unable to install Speed Detection
Cameras along Doncaster Road due to the area failing to meet all the strict
criteria set by the Home Office.
Denby
Dale Road and Horbury Road did meet the criteria and as a result 23 camera
housings and three cameras would be erected.
02/162 Community Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish
Centre
Cllr Bennett
advised that the plumber hadn’t as yet visited the centre but would be doing so
in the near future.
2.
Village Centre
Cllr Bennett
informed members that the pavilion roof had been inspected and was in good
condition; the plumber was now to inspect the internal connections to ascertain
where the water is coming from.
The plumber and
electrician have still to carry out work on the heating system.
02/163 Allotments - Convenors Report
Cllr Voros asked that the pest control officer visit Hare Park
Allotments.
Cllr Ripley informed members that the clerk had identified Mr BW Smith
form Pontefract Road as a possible contractor to clear the Pontefract Road
site. During a site visit Mr Smith had
quoted for clearing the site and asked if it would be possible to rent the area
as grazing land.
It was agreed that members meet Mr Smith on site to discuss details.
02/164 Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report
It was reported
that the timer on the footpath light needs adjusting to take account of the end
of BST.
T & D to be
asked to clear the walled bins. Rubbish
into the euro bin, soil to be spread.
The clerk to
source a supplier of concrete plinths similar to those at Crigglestone
Crematorium
02/165 Special Services - Convenors Report
Discussed and
minuted under item 02/173
02/166 Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee
Cllr Gomersall
reported that a safe area around the site is to be created in order that
walkers can cross the area. No date available at this stage.
Cllr Bennett
expressed the opinion that since commencement of work at the Moorhouse site the
dust levels throughout the parish have increased.
Cllr Gomersall
reported that regular air samples were tested and nothing undue found, however
he would ask UK Coal to widen the area and frequency of testing.
02/167 Old Library Site
Cllr Jackson
reported that a meeting with the head teacher and officers of the authority had
taken place to discuss development of the site.
Representations
were now been made to WMDC Highways and Property Services. Highways to check
the acceptability of the scheme and property services to investigate transfer
of the site to the parish council.
02/168 Planning
a.
Application No 02/99/07547/M –
Birkwood House Farm
Application for plant machinery demonstration and operator training
area. The clerk to obtain more details,
especially relating to access.
b.
Application No 02/99/19322/U –
Redbeck Filling Station
Application for permission to sell motor vehicles from site. The clerk to object on highways grounds.
c.
All other applications received during the
period were found to be acceptable.
02/169 Financial Matters
a.
Accounts
The following
accounts were submitted and approved for payment.
£
Miss Reid 48.00
Mrs Hardwick 249.60
PHS Group
163.89
PWLB 2,726.25 (Loan charges)
Yorkshire
Electricity 61.19
Wakefield MDC 305.00 (Leases)
West Yorkshire
Police 2,000.00
Crofton Cricket
Club 350.00
02/170 Correspondence
Wakefield
MDC -
Minutes
- Libraries Newsletter
- Horizons, Environmental Action Forum
- Hemsworth Area Assembly Meetings Calendar
- Listening Days
YLCA -
White Rose Update
- Wakefield Branch Minutes
- Executive Committee Minutes
-
Freedom of Information Act (2000)
- Race relations
West
Yorkshire Police -
Forum agenda and minutes.
Homestart -
Letter of thanks
Wakefield
Hospice -
Letter of thanks
Relate -
Letter of thanks
02/171 Parish Matters
1.
Care in the Community
Cllr
Jackson asked if a follow up to Peter Loosemore’s public meeting could be arranged
with officers of the authority.
It
was agree that Elaine McHale, Social Services, be invited to attend a future
meeting to explain how Wakefield MDC are to implement the changes to community
care.
02/172 Date of next Meeting
Tuesday
19th November 2002.
02/173 Matters Discussed in Private
1.
Crofton
Cricket Club
After
discussion it was agreed that the cricket club be awarded a grant of £350.
Chairman 19th
November 2002