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      Crofton Parish Council

 

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 16th September 2008.                             

 

 

Present;          Councillors,             Chalkley (Chair), Brown, Duffy K, Hewitt, Jacques Makin, Ripley, Schofield, Towns and Voros

           

In attendance;                5 members of the public

                                                District Councillors Cummings and Lodge.

 

 

09/073             Receive report from West Yorkshire Police

PC Daley presented his report for the months of July and August.

Cllr Towns stated the registration number of a Blue Escort causing an obstruction on Slack Lane was Y505 XPC, it was also reported that a White van was now regularly parking on Slack Lane causing an obstruction on a morning. PC Daley whilst duly noting the comments, stated that patrolling this area on a morning did pose a problem due to the resourcing structure.

Cllr Cummings suggested the use of PCSO’s in issuing tickets to cars parking illegally on Slack Lane, this method of enforcement had proved successful in Ryhill.

Cllr Makin suggested utilising the NPT (Neighbourhood Policing Team) to help with the situation.

Cllr Brown had noted that cars were being parked further along Slack Lane. Although they were not in a restricted parking zone, as school finished, the children were to be seen dodging in between them in order to cross the road, she asked if PC Daley would give the matter some attention.

Cllr Hewitt was concerned that there was the lack of a physical presence by the Police and suggested it would be beneficial to have the NPT, at a designated time and place where residents could report any incidents.

Cllr Schofield asked PC Daley if he would arrange to patrol the cemetery, particularly on a Friday night, as beer parties were taking place regularly.

 

09/074             Wakefield MDC District Councillors Report

Cllr Cummings updated members on previously reported matters.

Cllr Hewitt asked if any further work would be done to the Hare Park Lane footpath.

Cllr Jacques had noted that the bin at the bus stop on High Street opposite the Post Office was missing, he asked for a replacement.

Cllr Schofield noted the drain cover at the junction of Slack Lane/High Street appeared to have sunk, he asked Cllr Cummings to report the matter, also of concern was the number of large holes on the approach road to the Church entrance.

Cllr Lodge informed members; she had been asked by a resident to enquire if surfacing of Shay Lane would be completed to Walton, she confirmed it would be completed.

She had also been asked about funding for Crofton Silver Band. Following enquiries to the community chest, more financial information was needed in order to progress the enquiry.

 

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09/075             Public Participation session

A resident in attendance commented on grass cuttings not being properly removed following cutting, another asked if the Parish Council would help in arranging to have trees adjoining his property cut back, it was agreed that this would be implemented once ownership had been established.

Whilst PC Daley was in attendance, a resident asked if he would give attention to the parking on Sandown Avenue which was experiencing the same problems of congestion as that on Slack Lane.

Another resident asked if the Parish Council could take action with regard to debris and a discarded settee to the rear of the Post Office on High Street, they were informed that this had been reported to the WMDC Neighbourhood Action team, Cllr Cummings expressed her concerns on whether action could be taken as it was a private road.

 

09/076             Apologies for absence          

District Councillor Isherwood.

Councillors; Bennett, Duffy S and Wrigg.

 

09/077             Declarations of Interest

No declarations received

 

09/078             Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 15th July 2008, were signed as a true record by the Chairman.

 

09/079             Discuss matters arising from previous minutes

With regard to; minute 07/057, Cllr Ripley informed members that having investigated the matter concerning the presence of adders, there was no evidence to suggest there were any but grass snakes had been identified.

The Clerk was asked to contact Metro concerning a replacement shelter for the one that had been demolished on High Street.

Although the traffic signal timings on Doncaster Road/Black Road, had been altered and continual monitoring would occur, it had been noted that at times the traffic signals on Black Road were at ‘green’ with no vehicles present whilst Doncaster Road was congested, the Clerk would report the matter.

The Clerk reported to members that the programme of works scheduled for Coppers Lake was continuing and that an update from Graham West was due.

Having informed members that he had consulted with WMDC and that the lease agreement indicated that the hedges at the Priory Centre were the responsibility of the Parish Council, it was stated that as the hedges had been previously been cut back by someone else and not by the PC, the Clerk should contest that it was the Parish Council’s responsibility.

Members agreed that as the Scout Hut belonged to the Parish Council they should arrange for an Electrical Inspection of the property, the Clerk was asked to make arrangements to enable this.

Further to the response received from Sharlston PC, the Clerk was asked to contact WMDC Highway Maintenance to seek an improvement to the footpath at Weeland Road/Pontefract Road.

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09/080             Community Facilities

Report Parish Centre

Cllr Duffy K informed members;

Slimming World would stayand use the Community Centre for the foreseeable future.

A meeting had been held by the VOX organisation.

An enquiry had been received from a resident wanting to use the centre for a meeting to discuss a village matter, following discussion, it was agreed that due to the nature of the meeting no hire charge would be applicable.

The fee payable by Crofton Carnival to hold Yorkshire Day activities at the centre was still outstanding, following discussion it was resolved by a vote of; 3 For, 5 Against, to enforce payment.

In view of the discussions concerning the above matters, it was agreed that a meeting would be beneficial to establish the responsibilities of the Working Party for the Parish Centre.

Report Village Association

Cllr Makin reported that prices had been raised because of the increasing cost of pitch rental.

Report Allotments

Cllr Hewitt reported that several letters had been issued to tenants to remind them of their responsibility to maintain their allotments.

Members were made aware of a report from WMDC Environment Dept; concerning noise nuisance from a dog on the allotments, however it was unsure which allotment holder was responsible.

Cllr Chalkley agreed to make further enquiries concerning the costs involved in improving the road at the Hare Park allotments.

Members were in agreement that Cllr Hewitt would discuss further with the Oak Street allotment holder, the application for livestock and buildings, the Clerk would contact them to confirm this and inform them of the building dimensions allowable.

Report Parish Cemetery

In relation to letters received from residents concerning trees in the cemetery, the Clerk informed members the procedure concerning a closed cemetery, this indicated that the Church or WMDC was responsible for the maintenance of trees in some sections of the Cemetery.

Since Tree Preservation Orders were in place for trees in other parts of the cemetery any work would be subject to planning permission. It was agreed that a meeting should take place to establish who was responsible for which trees throughout the whole area. 

Members were in agreement that a continual disregard of rules by Oxley-Smith would not be tolerated, further problems would result in them being removed as an approved contractor.

 

09/081             Discuss Traffic issues

Nothing to report.

 

09/082             Parish Leases

Nothing to report.

 

 

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09/083             Cleansing/Environment

Nothing to report.

 

09/084             Planning Notifications

Members having received all applications and decisions raised no objections.

 

09/085             Financial matters

The Clerk having informed members of invoices to be paid received no objections.

Members having received information from the Clerk concerning funding for the Safe Scheme account, asked the Clerk to respond to the request for a specific amount to be provided, by seeking confirmation that the required hours needed to fulfil the schedule, would be met. 

Following discussion members agreed that a further quote be sought before agreeing to the quote already received for new concrete plinths in the cemetery.

 

09/086             Correspondence received

Members noted the content of the information received, in particular note 3;  the Clerk was asked to respond to the letter received from Inspector Bailes by stating that the Parish Council felt it was not getting value for money from the Safe Scheme.

 

09/087             Parish matters

Cllr Duffy(K) (see minute 07/069), asked Cllr Jacques if the Pinders Charity had given further consideration to the request for the funding of planters, he stated that correspondence between the interested parties was still on-going. 

It was confirmed that Tuesday 02nd December would be the date agreed for the Christmas Lights to be switched on, it would be confirmed to Crofton Silver Band and WMDC.

 

09/088             Date of next meeting

Resolved; that the next meeting to be held on Tuesday, 21st October 2008 at 7pm in                               Crofton Parish Centre, High Street, Crofton.

 

09/089             Members of the public and press were to leave before agenda no.18

It was agreed

 

09/090             Matters to be discussed in private

There were none.

 

 

Signed                                                                                Date                                                           Chairman Crofton Parish Council