Crofton Parish Council
Minutes
of the Annual General Meeting held on
Tuesday
17 September 2002 in The High School at 7.00 pm.
Present: Councillors: S Bennett, L Coates, T
Gomersall,
D
Crowcroft, J R Hewitt, A Ripley, G Scargill & J Voros
Residents: Mrs P Baines, Mrs R Salt,
Mrs P Walker,
Mr
M Stead, Mr W Cook, Mr M Wood,
Mr
Wood, Mr Hepworth, Mr Scott, Mr Jacques
&
Mr G Scofield.
West
Yorkshire Police: PC Whitworth
The
Clerk: J F Shillitoe
Apologies: Councillors: I Beckett, P Beckett & G P
Jackson
The chairman,
Cllr Ripley, presided over the meeting.
02/135 Mr M Stead
Mr Stead gave a short presentation illustrated with photographs on his
trip to Belerus in June to assist in the running of a summer camp facility for
underprivileged children.
He thanked the Parish Council for their contribution towards the cost of
the trip. One highlight of the trip was
providing a hard of hearing child with a hearing aid, this act was appreciated
so such that the child’s mother travelled six hours to thank the team
personally.
Cllr Ripley thanked Mr Stead for taking the time to attend the meeting.
02/136 Public Participation Session
1.
Yorkshire Electricity Sub
Station – High Street
It was reported that YE had not made any progress at the sub station
which was now extremely overgrown and littered with rubbish.
Mr Cook informed council that he was an employee of YE and would arrange
for the area to be cleared.
The chairman thanked Mr Cook.
2.
Yorkshire Water
It was reported that the
service road leading to the Yorkshire Water site off Shay Lane was becoming a
dumping site.
The clerk to report the matter to Yorkshire Water.
3.
Seat - Priory Ridge
In the absence of any
report from PC Hawcroft it was agreed that both council and safe scheme
officers continue to monitor the area surrounding the seat at Priory Ridge.
4.
Play Area.
Cllr Ripley informed the
meeting that all the schools in the centre of the village are to be canvassed
regarding possible siting of a play area within school grounds.
Once all replies
are received detailed proposals can be drawn up.
5.
Hedge – Pontefract Road.
Residents reported
that the hedge adjacent to the Priory Centre playing fields is in need of trimming.
The clerk to
report the matter.
6.
Stocks Lane
Concerns were raised over the siting of a skip at the bottom of Stocks
Lane, virtually rendering access to the church impossible. The rector has already written to the
residents concerned with no effect.
It was agreed to write to highways to ascertain if authority to site the
skip had been requested.
02/137 West Yorkshire Police
PC John Whitworth
in attendance, explained that his role tonight was originally one of support
for
PC Hawcroft, but
unfortunately Graham Hawcroft was on sick leave. PC Whitworth apologised in advance for not being fully prepared
but he could report the following.
The accident that
took place on Doncaster Road opposite its junction with Slack Lane, involved a
car and van. The driver of car is to be
prosecuted for dangerous driving.
Work at Crofton
Triangle, Shay Lane is currently on stop, due to a fall out between the site
owner and the haulage company. Police
Officers have spent considerable time ensuring that the haulage company operate
legally in the movement of materials from Shay Lane to Welbeck.
A lot of work has
been spent on solving problems with anti social behaviour in Hall Park Avenue,
as a result the area in now a lot quieter.
Youths continue to
cause a great deal of problems, not just on Fridays but on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays. Large amounts of alcohol
are been consumed at various sites throughout the village. Evidence that drug abuse continues to
flourish. Damage to schools (new fence
at the High School in vulnerable, PC Whitworth to speak to Headteacher) and off
road motorcycles are still causing problems.
PC Whitworth explained that these problems can not be eradicated over
night, but the police are aware and making in roads.
Pavement parking is still a problem; the Police will
visit schools to remind those concerned.
Smoke signal to be asked to run an article advising of the dangers
connected to pavement parking not only adjacent to schools but on estates,
where residents have space available in garages and on drives,.
Mr Cook explained
that within the last two weeks there had been six break-ins in and around the
Ashdene estate. The culprits are so
blasé that the have been seen to steal a hand bag from a parked car and then
sit on a garden wall nearby going through the contents.
The perpetrators
of these crimes are known to residents, who are considering taking the law into
their own hands and by doing so probably breaking the law.
PC Whitworth asked
that Mr Cook talk with him outside of the meeting where more detail can be
given. He assured Mr Cook that he would do all in his power to catch those
concerned and get them into court.
The priorities for
September/October 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 PC Whitworth for attending.
02/138 Declaration of Interests in Items on the Agenda
No verbal declarations
were made.
02/139 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.
02/140 Minutes
It was agreed that
the minutes of the meetings held on 16 July were a correct record and signed by
the Chairman.
02/141 Matters Arising
1. Youth
Services
The clerk reported
that he had spoken with Cllrs Beckett and Jenkins who agreed to attend the October
meeting to update the Parish Council as to the latest situation.
Cllrs are still
optimistic that new facilities will be provided but bureaucracy has delayed the
decision making process.
2. 20 MPH Zone
The clerk produced
the latest details of the traffic calming scheme.
Cllr Ripley
explained that he had discussed matters with highways; the scheme is not
totally in line with the Parishes requests, but not far away and should achieve
the desired effect of reducing traffic speeds to 20 mph.
3. 521
Doncaster Road
The clerk reported
that the verge adjacent to 521 Doncaster Road was not in the ownership of
Wakefield MDC.
It was agreed that
the clerk contact the land registry.
02/142 Community Facilities - Convenors Report
1. Parish
Centre
Cllr Scargill
reported that the toilet at the Parish Centre was in need of repair.
Cllr Bennett
advised that he identified a plumber and would endeavour to get him to carry
out the necessary repairs.
2.
Village Centre
Cllr Bennett
reported that the heating system had failed again, requiring a new purge pump.
Also there was
water finding its way into the ladies toilet, he had therefore arranged for the
roof to be inspected.
02/143 Allotments - Convenors Report
Cllr Voros reported that Mrs Brown’s allotments were being tidied. In the absence of a reply from John Feeney
he had let all three of the allotments.
The site visit to Pontefract Road site although poorly attended took
place. The site was in need of clearing
and making safe in the short term, an option for the longer term was to level
the area for sporting use.
The clerk to ask contractors for quotations to make the area safe.
02/144 Parish Cemetery - Convenors Report
Cllr Scargill
reported that the Garden of Remembrance had now being tidied and the euro bin
fastened to the garage wall.
The clerk to
arrange for the keys to be sent to cleaning services.
02/145 Special Services - Convenors Report
Discussed and
minuted under item 02/153
02/146 Moorhouse Opencast Liaison Committee
Cllr Gomersall
reported that sub group of the committee met on the 30th August to
consider those applications received for grant aid.
Unfortunately he
was not able to attend the meeting and therefore could not report on the decisions
taken.
General operations
at the site were running smoothly, there were still problems with ramblers
trying to walk across the site and a resident of Ryhill objecting to noise from
the site. Both matters are being
addressed by the operations manager .
02/147 Old Library Site
Nothing new to
report
02/148 Planning
All applications
received during the period were found to be acceptable.
02/149 Financial Matters
a.
Accounts
The following
accounts were submitted and approved for payment.
£
14 August 2002
Ms Reid 24.91
Mrs Hardwick 249.60
Mrs Hemingway 100.00 (Grant)
Wakefield MDC 221.67
Yorkshire Electricity 102.91
Mr Joyce 69.73 (Repairs)
17 September 2002
Miss Reid 48.00
Mrs Hardwick 249.60
Mr G Terry
150.00 (Repairs)
Mr P Taylor 192.00 (Audit Fee)
Yorkshire Water 111.76
Wakefield Hospice 100.00
Relate 50.00
Homestart 50.00
b.
Audit
The clerk reported that the accounts had been signed off by the internal
auditor and passed to the External Auditor.
Two area of concern raised by Paul Taylor were the lack of risk
assessments and standing orders.
The clerk informed council that he along with a local group of council
clerks with similar problems would be compiling the documents required over the
next few months.
02/150 Correspondence
Wakefield
MDC -
Minutes
- Libraries Newsletter
- Horizons, Environmental Action Forum
YLCA -
White Rose Update
-
Internal Audit
- Race relations
02/151 Parish Matters
1.
Turf Accountant – Slack Lane
Cllrs
reported that the disused “bookies” in Slack Lane was falling into disrepair.
The
clerk to contact the planning department, to ascertain if there is any action
that can be taken, to encourage the owners of the property to carry out the
necessary maintenance work.
2.
Speed Cameras – Doncaster Road
Comment
were passed on the fact that 40 sets of road traffic speed cameras are to be
installed around Wakefield, yet none are to be along Doncaster Road.
The
clerk to write to highways for an explanation as how Doncaster Road has been
missed.
02/152 Date of next Meeting
Tuesday
15th October 2002.
02/153 Matters Discussed in Private
1.
Amber Hemingway
Cllrs ratified the chairman’s decision to make a grant
of £100 towards the cost of Ambers trip the Germany as part of great Britain’s
gymnastic team.
2.
Crofton Cricket Club
The
clerk to obtain accounts from the cricket club.
3.
Wakefield and District Hospice
Council
agreed to make a donation of £100 towards hospice funds.
4.
Hemsworth Home Start
Council
agreed to make a donation of £50 towards Home Start funds.
5.
Relate
Council
agreed to make a donation of £50 towards relate funds.
Chairman 15th
October 2002