Minutes Of The Meeting Of The Parish Council Held In The Lounge Of The Village Hall On Tuesday 14th July 2009 At 7.00pm

Present: Cllrs. Mrs. J. Pattison (Chairman), Mr I Lloyd (Vice-Chairman), Mrs. A. Adams, Mr. S. Green, Mr. D. Hall, Mrs W. Thompson, Mrs. B. Gunby, Mrs. C. Leigh and Mrs. E. Simmonite.

 

 

No apologies were received.

 

Resolved: That the minutes of the Meeting held on 9^th June 2009 are accepted and approved as a true record. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.

 

 

Resolved: That the press and public should be excluded from agenda item 33 due to the confidential nature of the business to be conducted. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried.

 

 

No interests were declared.

 

 

a) A response has been received from YLCA in respect of the Sustainable Communities Act. Their comments did not suggest that the provisions of the Act were worth pursuing at this stage, particularly as the principal authority (RMBC) had not signed up to it.

 

b) The Active Always programme has completed its 10 week run and will now continue on a permanent basis, organised and managed by RMBC which will also meet any funding shortfalls. This was welcomed by the Council.

 

c) Mr. Curley has now been contacted and has agreed to repair the Woodall village sign. This should take place within the next couple of weeks.

 

d) The sundial at the Garbet memorial has now been repaired.

 

e) Works have now been approved for the upgrade of non-traditional housing in Harthill but there are likely to be delays because of a bat survey.

 

 

 

 

Cllr. Saul attended the meeting with PC Tina Jones and gave the crime figures for June. He gave a report on measures taken to combat anti-social behaviour on Jackys Lane and Spens Field. The area is now subject to regular patrols, particularly on a weekend, and there has been significant confiscation of alcohol from under-age drinkers. PC Saul also reported that police speed checks had been carried out and several tickets and summonses were issued, mainly to Harthill residents. Similar exercises will be undertaken periodically at these and other sites.

 

 

Resolved: That the meeting is adjourned for comments and questions from the press and public. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Lloyd. Carried

Several residents attended the meeting and expressed serious concern about the situation on Jackys Lane. While it was considered that the police were doing a good job, residents asked that other measures were considered such as closure of the public footpath and an alcohol exclusion zone on Spens Field.

The Clerk reported that he had consulted RMBC Rights of Way about possible action and closure of a public footpath, even on a temporary basis, was deemed unlikely. He agreed to undertake some initial research into an alcohol ban and report back to the Council.

Mr. Leigh noted that a public footpath across Mr. Skepper’s field near the ponds had been reinstated. He asked that a letter of thanks is sent to Mr. Skepper with regard to the new path. He also asked that the Parish Council commit to upholding public rights of way.

Mr Newby raised points on hedge cutting, streetlight provision, pedestrian access from Woodall and hanging baskets

 

 

 

No new planning applications were considered.

 

Resolved: That the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 7^th July 2009 are accepted. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Gunby. Carried.

An error has been discovered in the 2007/8 accounts and an adjustment has been made to the 2008/9 accounts to rectify this.

 

Resolved: That the amendment to the Parish Council end of year accounts for 2008/09 is approved and adopted by the Council. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried

Resolved:   That the Annual Return 2008/2009 Statement of Accounts are approved and adopted by the Parish Council. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Simmonite. Carried.

Resolved: That the Annual Return 2008/2009 Statement of Assurance is approved and adopted by the Parish Council. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd, seconded Cllr. Gunby. Carried.

Resolved: That the 2008/2009 Statement of Significant Variances for the Annual Audit is approved and adopted by the Parish Council.   Proposed Cllr. Leigh, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.

 

 

There have been no requests for financial assistance this month

There are no further payments in need of authorisation following the Finance Committee meeting.

a) A letter has been received from RMBC offering a sandbag service as part of its flood defence activity.

 

Resolved: That 12 sandbags are ordered from RMBC. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried.

b) A letter of thanks has been received from the Carnival Society in respect of sponsorship of the Shire Horse Show at this year’s Carnival.

 

a) Cllr. Lloyd attended the PACT meeting and confirmed that Jackys Lane is a police priority area for the current month. Illegal parking at Kiveton Park will be one of the priorities for July. Overall the meeting was positive and one that the Council should attend where possible. 

 

b) Cllr Simmonite attended the recent meeting of the South Rotherham Rural Transport Group. She reported that Veolia and First have won contracts to provide Harthill / Woodall related services.

 

c) Cllrs. Hall and Thompson attended the recent meeting of the Harthill Charities Group

 

 

 

a) The next All Parish Liaison Meeting will be held on 16^th July. No-one is able to attend.

b) The Parish Network meeting has been deferred until 23^rd September

 

c) The Rother Valley South Parishes Meeting will be held in Harthill on Tuesday 21 July. Cllr. Pattison will chair the meeting and the Clerk will also attend

d) There is an LDF drop in session at Dinnington on Tuesday 21^st July. A representative will attend.

e) A meeting will be held with Lucy Curtis from Voluntary Action Rotherham on Wed 22^nd July about Community Enterprise support.

 

a) The Clerk reported that further repairs have been undertaken on a radiator by Brookhouse Gas Services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Clerk reported that an initial response has been received from RMBC following the involvement of Kevin Barron MP. In the first instance some enforcement will be instigated by RMBC to clean up the site. Further details are awaited.

The holiday play scheme will run from 20-24 July and 10-14 August, 28 people have pre registered which is on a par with last year’s scheme. An evaluation report will be issued by RMBC Sports Development at the end of the schemes.

The after school play scheme trial period was poorly attended because of an alternative after school programme run in the village on the same evening. The Clerk will consult RMBC Sports Development about the possibility of an alternative evening for the weekly sessions and Councillors will consider proposals to trial the scheme again in September at the next meeting.

The draft lease has still not been received from RMBC, staff shortages in the legal department being cited as main reason. This item is deferred until the next meeting.

 

 

A proposal to resurface the Woodyard car park was discussed. This was supported in principle subject to cost and consultations with RMBC.

 

Resolved: That advice is taken from RMBC/RiDO in relation to the resurfacing of the Woodyard car park and three quotations to undertake the work are sought. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Lloyd. Carried

The Clerk reported that an initial discussion with the relevant landowner had not been successful and therefore the original proposal to site a footpath behind the hedge was not feasible. The idea of a part path on the road side of the hedgerows was suggested as an alternative.

 

Resolved: That RMBC Highways are initially consulted to assess the feasibility of a part path between Harthill and Woodall. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried

The latest advice from RMBC is that a green bin service is planned for Woodall following the awarding of new contracts for waste removal. No timescale can be given at this stage. The Clerk will follow this up on a monthly basis

Resolved: That the large public noticeboard on Union Street is replaced and the two other noticeboards in the same area are refurbished, subject to prior consultation with Mr. Barber who is undertaking the work. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd, seconded Cllr. Gunby. Carried

 

 

a) All new benches have been purchased by donors and are awaiting collection by the Parish Council. Mr Ellam will do some preparatory work prior to fitting. The Clerk will consult British Waterways over the licence issue. It is expected that the benches can be installed early to mid August.

b) Resolved: To commission a sign for “The Tom Wakefield Way.” This will be investigated with Mr Curley and some sample designs are sought in the first instance. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried

c) Resolved: That concern is expressed to British Waterways regarding continuing drainage and flooding problems on the non-surfaced section of the pond path and their views sought. Proposed Cllr. Leigh, seconded Cllr. Gunby. Carried.

 

a) Sites for the new litter bins have been agreed with RMBC who have also agreed to remove the broken trees.

 

b) A further site meeting is required to take forward continuing concerns over drainage, additional seating, sand loss and the maze. The Clerk will arrange this as soon as possible.

c) The Play Steering Group will meet again on Tuesday 28^th July.

Cllr. Green reported that the wall on the path adjacent to the church is cracked and swollen.

Cllr. Leigh reported that gutters and gullies require maintenance. This will be on the next agenda.  

Cllr. Simmonite asked if the Doctor Lane goalposts had been repaired. Cllr. Lloyd said that Mr. Ellam the village handyman had undertaken the repair.

 

Resolved: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. Carried.

 

a) The last resident offered land for sale at Winney Hill ha now indicated his willingness to buy and has lodged funds with his solicitor to meet Parish Council costs.

 

b) Cheques in respect of previous sales have been received and will be banked this week.

 

 

The meeting closed at 9.50 pm