Present: Cllrs. I. Lloyd, (Chairman), Mrs. A. Adams (Vice-Chairman), Mrs. J. Pattison, Mrs. W. Thompson, Mrs. B. Gunby, Mr. S. Green, Mr D. Hall, Mrs. E. Simmonite and Mrs. C. Leigh.
058.08 To receive any apologies for absence
No apologies were received
059.08 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2008
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2008 are accepted and approved as a true record. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.
060.08 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.
No confidential items were identified.
061.08 To declare any interests necessary for this meeting.
No interests were declared.
062.08 To note any matters arising (For information only)
a) The RMBC Arboriculturist has reported that the trees on Festival Verge do not pose any threat to the adjacent property and that no further action needs to be taken.
b) Not able as yet to get accurate information on installation of dropped kerbs. This item will be on the agenda for the next meeting
c) The speed sign on Woodall Lane was reported as functioning properly but is clearly not. RMBC have been out to find out why and suspect that the battery is faulty. They have undertaken to solve the problem during the next 4 weeks.
063.08 To consider planning applications
RB2008/0331 Erection of a new control Kiosk at Woodall Lane, Woodall for Severn Trent Water.
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried.
064.08 To receive information on other planning matters:-
a) To receive an update on the Loscar Wind Farm planning application
RMBC are aiming for a planning board meeting on 27 March. They will advertise this to interested parties well in advance. Further information has also been issued regarding noise forecasts from the proposed wind turbines.
b) To receive an update on non-traditional housing in Harthill
A reply has been received from Chris Brown. Internal reorganisation at RMBC has led to this matter being delayed. Further information is awaited. This item will be placed on the next agenda.
c) Planning training
The next planning training seminars will be held on 20 March and 3rd April at 2pm at the Town Hall. Cllrs. Lloyd and Adams will attend on 20 March but no-one can attend on 3 April.
065.08 To receive the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on Tuesday 4th March
Resolved: That the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on Tuesday 4 March are accepted. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried.
066.08. To approve the review of Parish Council insurances (as recommended by the Finance Committee)
The Chairman and Clerk have reviewed the Parish Council insurance policies and initially reported to the Finance Committee. All mandatory insurances are in place in respect of the Parish Council, Village Hall and Leisure Centre. However the usefulness of elements of the main Parish Council policy relating to property damage are questionable in view of the true value of insured items and the effects of the excess on the policy. The Finance Committee have recommended that section 2 of the Allianz Cornhill Policy relating to property damage is therefore discontinued, excluding provision for power tools. The Clerk was asked to include the insurance of the Well Dressing Group’s tapestry on the agenda for the next meeting.
Resolved: That the Finance Committee’s recommendation to discontinue insurance under section 2 of the Parish Council policy is approved. Proposed Cllr. Simmonite, seconded Cllr. Gunby. Carried.
067.08 To receive an update on the Village Map project
(This item was brought forward on the agenda to allow information to be given prior to a decision being taken at item 11)
The proposed design was discussed and it was felt that the schoolroom should replace the school on the map. Cllr. Lloyd reported that carving could begin imminently so completion should be achieved by the end of March. Additional lettering means an increased cost of £112.50 over the allocated budget.
Resolved: That the schoolroom should replace the school on the map design. Proposed Cllr. Adams, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried.
Resolved: That the additional cost of £112.50 is approved. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.
068.08. To verify bank reconciliation to 29 February 2008
Bank statements were checked and verified and initialled by two Councillors.
069.08 To approve accounts for payment (see separate sheet)
Resolved: That the accounts for payment are accepted and approved for payment. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.
070.08 To consider requests for financial assistance
a) Request for a donation of £80 from Harthill with Woodall WI in respect of Carnival Prizes
Resolved: That the request for a donation of £80 from Harthill with Woodall WI is approved. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried
b) Request for a donation of £600 from the Three Shires Clog Society
Resolved: That the request for a donation of £600 from the Three Shires Clog Society is deferred pending receipt of accounts. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried
071.08 To note any correspondence
There is no correspondence this month that is not covered by other agenda items.
072.08 To receive risk assessment reports
Cllr. Lloyd will arrange for the Village Hall Management Committee to carry out a risk assessment of the Village Hall. The Clerk has a meeting with Nosober Latif and will enquire as to whether any generic templates are available. Cllr. Gunby volunteered to assist with the Village Hall Risk Assessment.
073.08 To receive the minutes of the Allotments Committee meeting held on 19 February 2008
Resolved: That the minutes of the Allotments Committee meeting held on 19th February are accepted. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried.
074.08. To consider Allotment and Garage matters
a) Mr. Malatratt has requested permission to extend his garage plot by 2 metres. The extension would be onto waste ground and would not impinge on other allotment or garage plots.
Resolved: That there is no objection to the extension of Mr. Malatratt’s garage plot subject to satisfactory plans being received . Proposed, Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr Green. Carried
b) A new tenant has taken on one of the plots at the Doctor Lane site previously thought unusable and will clear the plot at her own expense.
075.08 To receive reports of February/March external meetings
a) Cllr. Lloyd attended the Rother Valley Parishes meeting on 28 February. Topics covered were Risk Assessment and Licensing. The session on Risk Assessment was considered particularly helpful.
b) Cllr. Lloyd attended the All Parish Council Liaison meeting on 26 February. Karl Battersby gave an update on the Rotherham town centre redevelopment and there was confirmation of the approval of the YES Project at Rother Valley. Cllr. Lloyd also reported that Parish Councils can now issue Dog Control Orders. It was felt that this should be publicised in the forthcoming newsletter.
c) Cllr. Simmonite attended the recent meeting of the South Rotherham Rural Transport Group. The issue of the request for “kneeling” buses in Harthill will be placed on the next Parish Council agenda.
076.08 To receive information on external meetings arranged for March/April
There are no meetings not covered by other agenda items
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
Resolved: That the meeting is adjourned for comments and questions from the press and public. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd , seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried
Mr Newby asked if police reports could feature on the new website and if figures for April could be given to the meeting if PC Saul could not attend in person. He also asked if British Waterways could be approached about hedge maintenance on Woodall Lane and reported that the Woodall telephone box was again in need of repair.
077.08 To consider matters relating to improvements and services for Woodall
A meeting is being held on 13/3 with Nosober Latif of the Area Assembly to attempt to progress some of the outstanding Woodall items.
078.08. To receive an update on external funding applications
a) The application to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in respect of the Doctor Lane play area has been unsuccessful. Parish Council’s are no longer eligible for the funding stream applied for although we would be eligible to apply for a main grant of up to £10k. The issue of the Doctor Lane playing field will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting
b) A meeting is being held with Nick Barnes of RMBC later this month to discuss an RMBC supported bid to BIFFA in respect of the Woodall Lane play area
079.08 To receive an update on the proposed lease of Spens Field from RMBC
Cllr Lloyd and the Clerk attended a meeting with RMBC on 3 March and agreed that the Parish Council would take over responsibility for the maintenance of Spens Field and the car park in return for a 20 year lease at a rent of £50 per year. This matter is now proceeding on that basis and is expected to conclude by May. The Parish Council will need to engage legal opinion on the draft lease when presented.
080.08. To consider matters relating to the Leisure Centre hard court and Woodyard car park
The resurfacing of the Leisure Centre car park is pencilled in for mid to late April. The contractor will be asked to also quote for the resurfacing of the adjoining car park.
081.08 To consider a response to the Rotherham Tourist Plan
Councillors were asked to consider the plan and report back to this meeting. No comment in the plan was deemed necessary.
082.08 To approve the design of the Parish Council website
The web design has now been completed by RMBC and all documents are available in order to populate the site. The only outstanding item is training for the Clerk and Chairman and this has been delayed until w/c 17 March. The website should be live by the end of March.
083.08 To receive a report on the official opening of “The Tom Wakefield Way”
This was considered to have been a very successful day. The opening ceremony was excellently performed by the School Council and positive publicity had been achieved for the village. Cllr. Wakefield’s relatives had been appreciative of both the commemoration and the efforts made on the day.
Proposed signage for The Tom Wakefield Way will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
084.08 To receive an update on the proposed holiday play scheme in Harthill
This event is going ahead as planned and will be publicised in the forthcoming newsletter. The Clerk will check that the school taster sessions arranged by RMBC have taken place
085.08 To review the distribution list for “The Hart”
The proposed distribution list was discussed and agreed.
086.08 Individual Councillor Reports
Cllr. Simmonite asked if the broken fence could be removed from the Woodall Lane Play area
The meeting closed at 9.31 pm.
Signed
Chairman