Minutes of a meeting of Strensall & Towthorpe Parish Council held on Tuesday 9th September 2008 in the Village Hall, Strensall

 

 

Agenda Item 1 – Attendance: Parish Councillors P. Jesse, R. Plant, P. Coverdale, J. Scott, Miss E. Blacklee, I. Cuthbertson, C. R. Chambers N. Smith and I. Smith   Also in attendance were two members of the Football Club.

 

Agenda Item 2 – Apologies for absence – Apologies for absence were received from Parish Councillors K. Marquis, J. Chapman and Mrs. J. Smith, and Ward Councillors Mrs. S. Wiseman and Mrs. M. Kirk.

 

Agenda Item  3 – To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 12th August 2008 –

The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 12th August 2008, having previously been circulated were considered.   Cllr J Smith had emailed the Clerk with a correction to the minutes as follows: Youth –

The police would be around but not visible.   They didn’t want the kids to be put off by them being around but they will be available quickly should the need arise”.   On the proposition of Cllr Coverdale, seconded by Cllr Plant, and with the above correction, it was unanimously agreed that the minutes be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true record of that meeting.

 

 

Agenda item 4 – Matters Arising from minutes of 12th August 2008 –

 

None

 

Cllr Jesse then introduced Stephen Field, Football Club Representative to the meeting and asked him to bring the Council up to date on the situation with the hire of Howard Road football pitch and the financial assistance they were looking for.   (Cllr Swales joined the meeting at this point).   Mr. Field said the Football Club had now received Charter Standard and had 130 youngsters on the books, with 8 football teams, and Durlston Drive was not big enough.   He explained the position so far which had resulted in the MOD requiring a hire charge of £1,400.00 for the year.   This was still under negotiation.   The football Club was currently hiring Howard Road at a cost of £176.00 per month.   The football Club had managed to pay the September to November account.   Cllr Plant said this Parish Council should do all we can to support this Club.   After some discussion and on the proposition of Cllr Coverdale, seconded by Cllr Plant it was agreed that the Parish Council would pay the following three months i.e. December to February without prejudice until the lease was reduced and agreed between the Football Club and MOD.   Mr. Field agreed to try and get the lease reduced and it was agreed to contact City of York Council do see if they could do anything to help.   This funding could be covered by the Parish Council but this proposition would have to be ratified at the next Parish Council Finance Committee Meeting.   Cllr Swales expressed his concerns regarding security at Durlston Drive and was concerned that the gates were still not being locked.   He said we had spent £12,500.00 on the new fence and still the gates were being left open.   Cllr Swales said he felt that the Parish Council should not give any more funding to the Sports Association until the security matters were all sorted out.  Mr. Field agreed to take these concerns to the next Sports Association Meeting.

 

General Admin -   Cllr Jesse asked whether Cllr Cuthbertson had managed to deliver his Parish Council papers to City of York Council in time.   Cllr Cuthbertson confirmed that this was the case and he agreed to forward copies to the Clerk.

 

Register of Interests – all papers had been delivered to City of York Council on time.

 

Format of Meetings – Cllr Jesse said it was proposed that he, Cllr Marquis and the Clerk should go to other similar size Councils to see how they run their meetings.   Cllr Plant said we should cut out the month by month reports.   If Councillors have anything that must be raised at a meeting this must be registered with the Clerk ONE week before that meeting.   These items should not be called reports but perhaps updates.   Councillors should be tasked with writing important matters which need to be discussed. 

Cllr Cuthbertson referred to another Parish Council which he was involved with and explained the format of their Agenda.   Cllr Jesse asked Cllr Cuthbertson if he and other Councillors/Clerk could attend one of their meetings some time.   Cllr Cuthbertson agreed to forward a copy of the Agenda for the other Council he was involved with to the Clerk.

 

Cllr Baxter then joined the meeting.

 

Agenda Item 5 – Police Report  The Police Report for August 2008 had been issued with the Agenda and there was nothing to add.   Cllr Jesse reported that he had not yet written to the new Inspector but it was the Council’s wish that Cllr Jesse write to the Inspector expressing the Parish Council and residents concerns.   Following a Ward Liaison Meeting recently it was understood that the Ward Committee were writing to the Police with similar concerns.   Cllr Coverdale said if residents were experiencing problems with the 0845 telephone number then this took concerns to a higher level.   Concerns were also expressed regarding the alcohol ban which was not working so well at this present time.   There was no Police Liaison report from Cllr J Smith

 

Agenda Item 6 – Planning – To receive and approve the reports of the Planning Committee held on  26th August and 9th September 2008

 

            26th August 2008 –

           

1.         Attendance: Parish Councillors R. Plant (Chairman), Miss. E. Blacklee, P. Jesse, C. Chambers, N. Smith and D. Baxter

 

2.         Apologies: Parish Councillors K. Marquis, J. Chapman

 

3.         Declarations of Interests: None

 

4.         Planning Applications:

 

            a)         08/01966/FUL – 6 Moray Close –

                        single storey pitched roof rear extension - no objections.   Neighbours must be consulted

 

            b)         08/01801/FUL – 4 Duncombe Dive –

Conservatory to rear - The Parish Council have no objections to this application but are surprised that City of York Council have not insisted on a site plan being attached to this application. It is realised that no planning permission is required for the summerhouse shown on the diagram. However it would have been helpful if it had been referred to in the actual planning application. We do not object to the proposal but we do point out that we do not consider the application to have been properly vetted.            Neighbours must be consulted.

 

           

5.         Decision Notices received from City of York Council:

            Ref:                             Location                                             CYC Dec.                  PC Rec:

            08/01338/FUL           80 Middlecroft Drive                        Approve                     n/o

            08/00047/FUL           16 Middlecroft Grove                       Approve                     n/o

            08/01027/FUL           Church Farm                                    Approve                     n/o

            08/01197/FUL           9 Riverside Walk                              Refuse                       n/o

            08/00158/FUL           28 West End                                     Refuse                       Object

 

            Applications Withdrawn:

 

            08/01211/CAC     Manor Farm Towthorpe          

            08/01658/FUL     1 Princess Road

 

            Appeals:

 

            APP/C2741/A/08/2073700/WF – Pottery Pond, Pottery Lane, Strensall

 

            The appeal has been dismissed insofar as it relates to the construction of a dwelling house and garage. The appeal is allowed insofar as it relates to the toilet block.           

                       

6.         Any other business:

            Planning updates as available:

           

                        The Firs - Cllr Jesse gave update on this matter

 

                        OS Field 2000/3000 – it was agreed to keep a close check on this matter

 

                        9th September 2008 –

 

1.         Attendance: Parish Councillors R. Plant (Chairman), P. Coverdale, P. Jesse, J. Scott, Miss E. Blacklee, R. Plant, I. Cuthbertson.

 

2.         Apologies; Apologies for absence were received from Parish Councillors K. Marquis and J. Chapman.

 

            3.         Declarations of Interests: None

 

            4.         Planning Applications:

 

a)         08/02018/FUL – 22 Highlands Avenue – Single storey flat roof rear extension following demolition of existing conservatory – no objections but neighbours must be consulted.

 

            b)         08/01997/FUL – 4 Pasture Close –          Conservatory to rear – no objections but neighbours must be consulted.

           

            5.         Decision Notices received from City of York Council:

                        Ref:                             Location                                 CYC Dec.                  PC Rec:

                        08/01765/FUL    14 Chatsworth Avenue             Approve                     n/o

                        08/01409/FUL    39 Middlecroft Drive                   Refuse                       n/o

 

                                   

            6.         Any other business:

                        Planning updates as available:

           

The Firs - Cllr Jesse reported that following legal advice the solicitor acting for the Parish Council had written to the owners of The Firs, (with a copy to City of York Council).   A response was required within 14 days (i.e. by 12th September 2008).

 

OS Field 2000/3000.   Cllr Plant reported that it had been brought to his attention that the owner of the fields 2000/3000, Mr. Nigel Pain, had apparently requested Network Rail to measure up the land because Mr. Pain wanted to create two passing places down the access road at the side of the railway.   Ward Cllr S. Wiseman had been requested to investigate this matter by a neighbour of the access road.   It appeared at that time that Network Rail was unaware that Mr. Pain had lost the three planning appeals relating to this site.   The Parish Council had therefore written to Network Rail enclosing copies of the Appeal decision so that they were fully aware of the situation and also informing them that there was an Enforcement Notice on Mr. Pain to clear the land by the 29th October 2008.  

 

 

 

Agenda Item 7 – Councillors Reports:

 

Highways – Cllr Marquis’s report having been issued with the Agenda was accepted.   Ward Cllr Kirk was dealing with the problem of flooding at Highlands Avenue.

 

Village Traffic Study – Cllr Blacklee agreed to write to City of York Council before the next meeting regarding traffic matters.

 

Street Lights – Cllr Marquis’s report having been issued with the Agenda was accepted

 

Play Equipment – Cllr Scott reported that Streetscape were investigating the goal area on Northfields on 10th September.   Any proposals which required funding would be put to the Finance Committee as would the matter of the swings at Kirklands.   The Clerk was to contact Bob Missin at City of York Council regarding the problem of badgers at the access to Northfields playing field from The Village.

Update - York Badger society has been contacted with limited information.

 

Environment Committee – Cllr Scott reported that information on vulnerable people in the village was still awaited for the Parish Emergency Plan.   A note was to be put in Outreach.

 

Open Spaces – No report available.   The matter of bonfires on the allotments had now been dealt with and a note sent to all allotment tenants.   Cllr Plant was to contact Angus Young at City of York Council regarding the seat at Northfields. Update – Angus Young has agreed to replace the seats at Northfields and on Ox Carr Lane.

 

Youth – nothing further to add to last months report. Hurst Hall was very busy at the moment.   Cllr I Smith was to work with the Youth venture involving the Youth Club at the school/Hurst Hall and York Youth Services.

 

Bus Shelters – Payment had been received from the MoD in respect of repairs to two stone bus shelters.

 

Cemetery – Cllr Coverdale reported that the drainage agreement was with the land owners at the moment.

 

York Pride – Cllr Jesse reported on a recent Ward Liaison Meeting which mainly discussed grant applications.   Tracey Dixon was to put in a grant application for work to the building at Durlston Drive.

Cllr Jesse had asked about compensation for the sale of the old school.   This was being checked by the Ward Committee but Cllr Kirk said no such agreement had been made.   However it was Cllr Jesse’s belief that agreement had been reached to make a payment to the Parish Council from the proceeds of the sale of the Old School.

 

With regard to The Sidings there was no Section 106 Agreement as this had been approved on Appeal and there was no financial benefit to the Parish, other than the provision of allotments.

 

Sports Association – Cllr Jesse reported that work had been carried out on the roof.   The Foss Internal Drainage Board will write to the Parish Council regarding the problem with the gates.

 

War Memorial – Cllr Plant reported that he still only had one tender for the work at the War Memorial and he would be seeking approval to go ahead with this project.

 

YLCA – Cllr Jesse was to attend the Annual Conference in Scarborough at the end of this month.   Cllr Jesse reported that there was a training course for new Councillors to be held at Poppleton on 23rd September.   It was agreed that Cllrs N Smith and C Chambers would attend.

 

Agenda Item 8 – Finance

 

 

General Account:                                         Code                          inc VAT                       Ex VAT

 

Expenditure:

S. Walker – salary                                        100                             £372.45                      £372.45

S. Walker – office accommodation           102                             £100.00                      £100.00

K. Marquis – open spaces                          306                                 £9.95                          £9.95

Deans Landscapes – grass cutting          303                             £310.21                      £264.00

River Foss Society - membership             204                               £15.00                        £15.00

 

Income:

            £570.00

 

Cemetery Account:

Expenditure:

 

Yorkshire Water:                                                                                                                  £8.07

 

Income:

 

            £70.00

 

On the proposition of Cllr Plant, seconded by Cllr Coverdale it was unanimously agreed that the above accounts be paid.

 

In the absence of Cllr Marquis, Cllr Jesse requested for approval of up to £100.00 expenditure to provide winter plants for the flower barrels.   On the proposition of Cllr Jesse, seconded by Cllr Plant, this request was approved.

 

Agenda Item 9 – Involvement with Robert Wilkinson School – nothing further to report.

 

 

Agenda Item 10 – Publicity – Website/Newsletter – A copy of the draft of the Newsletter to be sent out with the October Outreach was considered.   With a few minor amendments this was approved.  

Cllr Chambers said he was preparing a street plan at the moment.

Cllr N Smith had indicated that he thought it would be beneficial to prospective new Councillors for the Parish Council to produce an information booklet.   This was being considered.   Cllr N Smith agreed to be responsible for Quality Management along with Cllr Blacklee.

 

Agenda Item 11 – Chair/Clerk/Councillor Training – see item under YLCA. 

 

Agenda Item 12 – To consider correspondence received  - None

 

 

 

---o0o---

 

 

Date and time of next meeting – 14th October 2008

 

 

 

                                    Signed……………………………………………….

 

                                    Chairman

 

                                    Dated