Present: Cllr. A. Adams (Vice Chairman), Mrs. J. Pattison, Mr. D. Hall, Mrs W. Thompson, Mr. S. Green and Mrs. C. Leigh.
115.09 To elect a Chairman for 2009/2010
Resolved: That Cllr. Mrs. J. Pattison is elected Chairman for 2009/2010. Proposed Cllr. Thompson, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried.
The newly elected Chairman signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took the Chair. She thanked the previous Chairman, Cllr. Ian Lloyd, for his work and achievements during his five years in office.
116.09 To receive any apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Cllrs. Lloyd, Gunby and Simmonite. Reasons were provided and these were accepted.
117.09 To elect a Vice Chairman for 2009/2010
Resolved: That Cllr. Lloyd is elected Vice Chairman for 2009/2010. Proposed Cllr. Adams, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.
The signing of the Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the newly elected Vice Chairman was deferred until the next meeting.
118.09 To elect 4 representatives to the Allotments Committee
Resolved: That Cllrs. Pattison, Lloyd, Thompson and Leigh will serve as Parish Council representatives on the Allotments Committee for 2009/2010. Proposed Cllr. Adams, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried.
119.09 To elect 4 members to the Finance Committee
Resolved: That Cllrs. Pattison, Lloyd, Adams and Thompson will serve on the Finance Committee for 2009/2010. Proposed Cllr. Green, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried.
120.09 To elect two representative to the Village Hall Management Committee
Resolved: That Cllrs. Lloyd and Leigh will represent the Parish Council on the Village Hall Management Committee for 2009/2010. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried.
121.09 To elect 2 representatives to the South Rotherham Area Assembly
Resolved: That Cllrs. Lloyd and Simmonite will represent the Parish Council at the South Rotherham Area Assembly. Proposed Cllr. Green, seconded Cllr. Hall. Carried.
122.09 To elect a representative to the South Rotherham Rural Transport Group
Resolved: That Cllr. Simmonite will represent the Parish Council on the South Rotherham Rural Transport Group. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.
123.09 To elect 2 representatives to the Yorkshire Local Councils’ Association
Resolved: That Cllrs. Gunby and Leigh will represent the Parish Council at the Yorkshire Local Councils Associations. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried.
124.09 To elect 2 representatives to the Harthill Charities group
Resolved: That Cllrs. Hall and Thompson will represent the Parish Council on the Harthill Charities Group. Proposed Cllr. Adams, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried
125.09 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16th April 2009
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 16th April 2009 are accepted and approved as a true record. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried.
126.09 To identify any agenda items from which the press and public should be excluded due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed.
Resolved: That the press and public should be excluded from agenda item 35 due to the confidential nature of the business to be conducted. Proposed Cllr. Thompson, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried.
127.09 To declare any interests necessary for this meeting.
Cllr. Green declared his personal interest in agenda item 35.
128.09 To note any matters arising (For information only)
a) There has been no reply to date on the Council’s request to RMBC for information on the Sustainable Communities Act. The Clerk will continue to pursue this.
b) The Active Always programme is in its third (and first paid) week. The Clerk will monitor numbers participating to assess levels of interest.
c) RMBC has confirmed that the revised conditions of the Spens Field lease are acceptable and a new draft lease is being drawn up. This should be available by the next Parish Council meeting.
d) Take up of tickets for the Carnival Society’s promotion of “The Wind In The Willows” has been very poor and the production may be cancelled.
128.09 To consider planning applications
a) RB2009/0437 Two storey extension at Walseker Lane, Woodall for Mr. Smith
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
b) RB2009/0471 Extension at rear at Jacky’s Lane, Harthill for Mr. P. Cowley
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
c) RB2009/0497 Conversion of double garage into utility room, store and garage at Rectory Cottage, Harthill for Mr P. Shonfield.
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
129.09 To receive the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on Tuesday 5th May 2009
Resolved: That the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 5th May 2009 are accepted. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried.
130.09 To approve renewal of Parish Council Insurance for 2009/2010
Resolved: That approval is given to renewal of the Parish Council Insurance policy with Allianz at a premium of £1548.41. Proposed Cllr. Leigh, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried.
131.09 To approve updating of the Chairman’s Allowance for 2008/2009
Resolved: That the Chairman’s Allowance for 2008/2009 should remain at £102.50. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.
132.09 To approve the end of year accounts for 2008 - 2009
There is a discrepancy of £1.00 in the end of year bank reconciliation and the Clerk has so far been unable to identify the reason for this. This item is therefore deferred until the next meeting.
133.09 To verify bank reconciliation to 30 April 2009
Bank statements were checked and initialled by two Councillors.
134.09 To consider requests for financial assistance
a) A request has been received from the Peregrin Way Centre for a donation towards the cost of a dishwasher.
Resolved: That a payment of £175.00 is approved in respect of the request from the Peregrin Way Centre for a donation. Proposed Cllr. Leigh, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried.
b) A request has been received from Harthill and District Garden Association for sponsorship of the annual show.
Resolved: That a payment of £100.00 is approved in respect of Harthill and District Garden Association’s request for sponsorship of the annual show. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried.
Agenda item 22 was moved to the end of the meeting to allow for items approved at this meeting to be paid.
135.09 To note any correspondence
A letter of thanks was received from Harthill with Woodall in Bloom in respect of the Council’s recent donation.
136.09 To receive reports of April/May external meetings
a) A meeting and visit to local footpaths and bridleways was held on Tuesday 21 April. Richard Pett from RMBC led the visit. The purpose was to receive information on RMBC plans for rights of way in the Parish and to investigate the feasibility of a Woodall to Harthill public footpath.
b) The Rother Valley South Parishes meeting was held on Thursday 23rd of April. The Parish Council was not represented at the meeting.
c) Two commemoration ceremonies were held by the Chesterfield Canal Trust on Saturday 25th April at South Anston and Kiveton Park. Cllr. Simmonite attended both ceremonies on behalf of the Parish Council.
137.09 To receive information on external meetings arranged for May/June
a) A meeting has been arranged with representatives of RMBC Highways on Wednesday 13 May. The purpose is to discuss speeding on Thorpe Road and various road maintenance issues.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
Resolved: That the meeting is adjourned for comments and questions from the press and public. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried
Mr Carter raised several points in connection with the land sale at Winney Hill and stated that he strongly opposed the sale.
Mr Newby asked about the hedge at Woodall and about the lack of green bins in Woodall that had earlier been promised by RMBC. He also said that the quality of the notice boards in Harthill was poor and asked if the Council would consider this at a future meeting.
138.09 To consider matters relating to the Village Hall
The Clerk reported that the Village Hall Management Committee’s bid to Awards for All for funding to undertake a feasibility study into refurbishment had been unsuccessful. Awards for All recommends resubmitting the bid, but with the Parish Council as applicant. A funding bid to the Bridging the Gap fund is also likely. Proposals for action will be included on the next agenda.
139.09 To consider grounds maintenance matters
The cutting of the hedge at Woodall has not yet been undertaken. RMBC has been unable to further contact the owner or tenant so will now commence enforcement procedures. The Clerk will continue to monitor progress on this issue. Councillors felt that as it is now eight months since this problem was first raised and no action has been taken that a formal letter should be sent to RMBC.
Resolved: That a letter is sent to RMBC Streetpride seeking urgent action on this matter and stressing the serious road safety implications involved. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried
140.09 To approve plans for a Parish Council inspection of footpaths and bridleways
An inspection of Parish footpaths, bridleways and stiles was proposed by Cllr. Gunby and presented by Cllr. Leigh in her absence.
Resolved: That the first stage inspection shall be undertaken in June and will cover a route taking in Spens Field, Loscar, Firvale, Pebley and Woodall. The Clerk will circulate potential dates. Proposed Cllr Leigh, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried
141.09 To approve action on additional seating on “The Tom Wakefield Way”
Following an article in “The Hart” there have been four requests to site memorial benches around the pond area. The Clerk has arranged a site meeting with British Waterways to assess potential locations and discuss license and health & safety arrangements. The Clerk will report back to the next meeting.
Resolved: That the Council approves in principle the siting of four new benches on The Tom Wakefield Way subject to identification of suitable locations and agreement with British Waterways. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried
142.09 To approve proposals for a holiday play scheme in Harthill during summer 2008
An evaluation of the Mega-Active Easter play scheme was circulated prior to the meeting. This had been very positive and the Council discussed a proposal from RMBC to host a further play scheme for two weeks during the school summer holidays. This would be charged but subsidised by the Parish Council.
Resolved: That the proposal for a two week summer holiday play scheme is approved subject to costings being obtained from RMBC. Suggested weeks are w/c 20 July and w/c 10 August. Proposed Cllr. Leigh, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried
143.09 To consider proposals for an after school play scheme in Harthill
The Clerk has held an informal meeting with RMBC and the Leisure Centre to investigate a proposal to host an after school multi-sports play scheme at the Harthill Leisure Centre during school term time. The initial proposal, from Owen Swift of RMBC, is to trial the scheme on one evening per week for four weeks in June and July.
Resolved: That the Council supports a trial of an after school multi-sports play scheme in Harthill for four weeks in June and July. Proposed Cllr. Adams, seconded Cllr. Hall. Carried
144.09 To approve proposals for a Parish Council planning meeting
Resolved: That a Parish Council forward planning meeting is approved in principle and will be held in late May or early June at a date to be arranged. Proposed Cllr. Adams, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried
145.09 To receive an update on the Quality Parish Council sub group
It was agreed that this meeting would be deferred until 2 June at 6.30pm, prior to the Finance Committee meeting
146.09 To consider matters related to the new Woodall Lane play area
a) Feedback was given from the recent meeting with RMBC / Groundwork where agreement was reached on issues such as litter bins, signage and additional seating. RMBC has agreed to install additional seating while the Parish Council will arrange for the installation of additional bins/ Groundwork also undertook to undertake to water the grassed areas as a matter of urgency.
Resolved: That approval is given for the purchase of three additional litter bins. The Clerk will research options for purchase in the first instance. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried
b) The official launch of the new play area will take place on 12th June at 1pm. Invitations will be circulated when received.
c) A meeting of the Steering / User Group should take place prior to the official launch. The Clerk will circulate options for dates.
147.09 Individual Councillor Reports (For information only)
Cllr, Green reported that the parking signs had been removed at De Warren Place but the hedge had not yet been cut
Cllr. Hall said he had received a comment questioning the safety of children crossing Woodall Lane following the opening of the new play area.
148.09 To approve accounts for payment
Resolved: That the accounts for payment are accepted and approved for payment. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried.
Exclusion of the Press and Public
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.
149.09 To receive an update concerning matters relating to Parish Council land
a) The Clerk confirmed that 2 sales of plots of land at Winney Hill have been completed and a third completion is expected soon. There is a fourth potential purchaser who has so far taken no action.
b) The Council wish to conclude Winney Hill land sales as soon as possible and a deadline on outstanding sales was discussed.
Resolved: That a deadline of 30 June 2009 is set on a formal expression of interest from the remaining potential purchaser who should be advised in writing that acceptance of the undertaking to meet the Parish Council’s costs should be received by the Council’s solicitor before this date. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried
c) A request has been received from Mr. D. Hibbert for permission to erect a fence and a security shed on land recently purchased from the Parish Council. Plans were provided.
Resolved: That permission is granted to Mr, Hibbert to erect a fence and security shed in accordance with the plans provided. Proposed Cllr. Thompson, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried
The meeting closed at 9.07 pm
Signed
Chairman