Crofton Parish Council

 

                                                       Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on

                                            Tuesday 19th October 2004 in The High School at 7.00 pm.

 

                 Present:                                                Councillors:      Mrs K Duffy, Mrs G Towns, Mrs W Wrigg,  T Chalkley, S Duffy, JR Hewitt,

                                                                                                     G P Jackson, P Jacques, G Makin & J Voros

 

                                                                             Residents:         Mrs C Dickinson, Mrs R Salt,

                                                                                                     Mr G Dickinson plus three residents of

                                                                                                     Rectory Crescent.                                                                                                        

 

                                                                             West Yorkshire Police: Pc P McMahon

 

                                                                             District Councillors                   Ms M Cummings

                                                                                                                             G Isherwood & A Manifield    

                                                    

                                                                             The Clerk:        J F Shillitoe

 

                 Apologies:                                            Councillors:      S Bennett & A Ripley.

                                                                                                     Mr G Schofield

 

                 The chairman Cllr P Jacques presided over the meeting.

 

04/170      West Yorkshire Police

 

PC Paul McMahon presented the safe scheme report for September; again the main concern throughout the village was that of Anti Social Behaviour from a small group of youths.

 

Paul advised that he has commenced the recording of a video log of offenders, which can be used to identify alleged offenders in the future.

 

Paul reminded members that he would not be able to move forward against anyone without evidence. All evidence would be treated in confidence, Paul acting, as a professional witness should cases go to court.

 

A resident of Sycamore Court had been assaulted whilst remonstrating with youths, the culprits have been identified any charged.

 

Cllr Chalkley asked if safe scheme officers could address the problem of youths creating a nuisance around the seat in Santingley Lane. Youths moved on by the removal of seats at Rectory Crescent and Sycamore Court.

 

It was agreed that the seat be removed, Cllr Isherwood to arrange

 

The chairman thanked Paul for his attendance.

 

                 The priorities for the summer 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.

                

                

                 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 and seat on Santingley Lane.

                

                 Monitor the area adjacent to the Pavilion on Hare Park Sidings.

 

04/171      Ward Councillors

 

                 Cllr Cummings presented a short report.

 

·           Following the incident at Sycamore Court where a resident had been assaulted by a youth, ward councillors accompanied by an officer from the anti-social behaviour unit visited the site. As a result additional fencing and security lighting are to be provided.

 

·           Travellers trespassing on the Webfell landfill site have successfully been move on.

 

·           The Community Chest has provided funds for a game workshop for 11 to 19 year olds to be held in the library every fortnight.

 

·           The Community Chest granted funds to the Slipper Football Club.

 

·           Planning Permission was granted for the new Youth Centre on 12 October 2004.

 

·           The Neighbourhood Action Team is working throughout the Parish this week and next.

 

                        The chairman thanked Cllr Cummings for her concise report and all the ward councillors for the hard work put into securing better services and facilities for the parish.

 

04/172      Public Participation Session

 

1.      Pinfold

 

Mrs Salt reported that the Pinfold adjacent to Doncaster Road was in need of good tidy up.

 

The clerk to ask Mr Bacon if he could assist.

 

2.      Footpaths – Moorhouse Opencast

 

            The clerk to contact the site manager to ascertain whether the site is open for the public to walk the footpaths.

 

3.      Rectory Crescent

 

Three residents of Rectory Crescent, who unfortunately arrived after Pc McMahon had left, asked what could be done to rid residents of the nuisance caused by groups of youths gathering adjacent to their properties.

 

                

 

 

     The chairman explained that the Parish Council were committed to solving this problem and are working very closely with the police. Explaining the actions already taken he asked if the residents could come to the next meeting and put their views to PC McMahon. They agreed.

 

04/173      Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda

 

                 No declarations were made.

 

04/174      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.

 

04/175      Minutes

 

                 The following amendment to the minutes of the meeting held on 19th September was made after which the Chairman signed them as a correct record

 

·        04/149       First Sentence of the third paragraph to read: -

                        Cllr Manifield advised members the Crofton residents had made several

                        requests for the removal of the seats at Rectory Crescent and Sycamore           

                        Crescent.

 

·           04/150/ 3  First Paragraph to read:-

                                    Mrs Dickinson produced a letter and several photographs of the allotments                   

                                    at Hare Park, which were not been kept up to by the tenants and probably       

                                    been used for purposes which contravened allotments rules. Mrs Dickinson

                                    asked what action cllrs were taking to improve matters.

    

04/176      Matters Arising 

 

1.           Allotments

 

            Members asked if any progress had been made at Hare Park.

 

Cllr Hewitt advised that he had spoken with several of the tenants advising them to tidy there allotments, he had asked those with multi tenancies to consider giving up one or two allotments and he had provided the clerk with a list of the worst offenders who need writing to.

 

2.           Crofton Triangle

 

            Cllr Cummings reported that ward members have arranged to meet with Ian Thompson, Chief Planning Officer on the 1 November 2004 to discuss the problems at the triangle and how best to address them.

 

3.           War Memorial

 

Mrs Dickinson expressed disappointment that the minutes of the September meeting didn’t reflect the fact that she had been asked to place an article in smoke signal, canvassing opinions on the future siteing of the War Memorial.

 

The clerk agreed to cover the matter in the minutes of this meeting.

 

 

Cllr Jacques informed members that following the smoke signal’s article canvassing opinions as to whether or not the War Memorial should be moved from Doncaster Road to the centre of the village, seven residents made contact one way or another.

Of the seven, five expressed the view that the memorial should not be moved compared with two who would like to see the memorial in the village centre.

The Wakefield Branch of the British Legion expressed no strong views on the matter.

 

It was agreed that members take the opportunity to visit the site over the next month.

 

The clerk to contact Leisure Services to ascertain what funding is available for remedial works. 

 

04/177      Community Facilities - Convenors Report

 

                 1. Parish Centre

 

                 The clerk reported that he had asked Wakefield MDC to provide a specification for the new roof, which could be used to seek quotations from contractors.

                

                 2. Village Centre

 

                 Cllr Makin reported that with the exception of a few minor outstanding repairs everything was running smoothly.

 

04/178      Allotments - Convenors Report

 

1.      Hare Park

 

Discussed at item 04/176/1

 

04/179      Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report

 

The clerk reported that Mr Joyce had completed the work to the perimeter fence.

 

04/180      Special Services - Convenors Report

 

Nothing to report.

 

04/181      Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee

 

                 Mrs Salt asked whether or not the footpaths within the site were open for the public to walk.

 

                 The clerk to make enquiries.

 

04/182      Old Library Site

 

                 The clerk reported that Highways have agreed to provide dropped kerbs at the site.

 

04/183      Cleansing

 

                 Cllr Jacques reported that he had received an update from cleansing services stating that: -

 

·        Additional waste bins have been provided – Not as many as requested but the situation would be kept under review.

·        The condition of 91 High Street has been reported to Public Health.

 

·        Ginnels have been cleaned – The clerk to ask when as there are no signs of improvement.

·        Pavement cleaner visited the area,

·        Road sweeper visited the area.

 

                 There was no mention of the additional dog litter bins.

 

                 The clerk to contact cleansing to clarify the situation surrounding the provision of dog litter bins.

 

04/184      Planning

 

                 a. Freightliner

 

The clerk reported that Freightliner’s appeal would not be heard until September 2005.

 

 b. Other applications

                

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

 

04/185      Financial Matters

 

a. Accounts

 

                 The following accounts were submitted and approved for payment.

                                                                                         £

                 Mrs Dodson                                                  54.70

                 Mrs Hardwick                                             284.44                                                                                   

                 West Yorkshire Police                              2,000.00

                 WMDC                                                      305.00

                 Mr F Joyce                                                 361.78 (cemetery fence)

                 PWLB                                                     2,726.75

 

                 b. Quarterly Statement of Accounts  

 

The clerk presented and councillors approved an income and expenditure account for the period     1 July to 30 September 2004.

                

04/186      Casual Vacancy

 

                 The clerk reported that electoral services have advertised the vacancy and we await news of whether the position is to be filled by election or co-option.

 

04/187      Correspondence

 

                 Wakefield MDC                                   - Minutes

- Community Assembly, Agenda and Minutes

- Standards Committee Minutes

- Revision of UDP, Local Development Update

- Community Assembly minutes

                 YRCC                                                 - Annual Report

                                                                             - Agenda for Annual meeting

                 YLCA                                                  - Standards Board visit to Yorkshire

                 West Yorkshire trading Standards         - Firework Legislation Update

                 Slipper FC                                           - Letter of thanks

 

 

04/188      Parish Matters

 

1.      Scout Hut

 

                 Members expressed concern over the condition of the Scout Hut.

 

                 The clerk to contact David Stead.

 

2.      Priory Ridge

 

The clerk was asked to inform highways that a stretch of fence adjacent to Priory Ridge requires renewing.

 

3.      Nostell Priory Allotment Land

 

The clerk was asked to write to the estate asking if the area could be tidied.

 

04/189      Date of next Meeting

 

                 Tuesday 16th November 2004.

 

04/190      Matters Discussed in Private

 

                 None discussed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Chairman                                                                                                                      16th November 2004.