Present: Cllrs. Mrs. J. Pattison (Chairman), Mr. I Lloyd, Mrs C Leigh, Mrs. W. Thompson, Mr. D. Hall, Mrs A. Adams and Mrs E Simmonite.
237.10 To receive any apologies for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs. Mrs B. Gunby and Mr. S. Green.
238.10 To approve the minutes of the Meeting held on 13th July 2010
Resolved: That the minutes of the Meeting held on 13th July 2010 are accepted and approved as a true record. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried.
239.10 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 34 due to the confidential nature of the business to be conducted. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried.
240.10 To declare any interests necessary for this meeting
a) Cllr. Lloyd declared his personal interest in agenda item 20
b) Cllr. Leigh declared her personal interest in agenda item 20
c) Cllr. Adams declared her personal interest in agenda item 6
241.10 To note any matters arising (For information only)
a) The wind turbines at Loscar have now been erected. They should be operational by mid September.
b) RMBC Highways have proposed a trial of a new type of electronic speed reduction sign on Winney Hill. This is scheduled to take place within the next 3 months.
242.10 To consider planning applications
a) RB2010/0969 Demolition of existing dwelling house and erection of replacement dwelling house at land at Fir View, Fir Hill, Winney Hill, Harthill for Mr. and Mrs. Messerschmidt.
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
b) RB2010/0999 Erection of agricultural building at Loscar Farm, Packman Lane, Harthill for Mr. J. Wilks
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
c) The Council’s application to prune the cherry tree on Union St. has now been approved. The Clerk will inform Mr. Tune who is carrying out the work.
243.10 To receive the RFO’s report.
a) The Clerk reported that after four months of the financial year, 50.4% of planned income had been received and 43.4% of planned expenditure had been spent. There were no major concerns at this stage.
b) Written confirmation of successful completion of the external audit has not yet been received
244.10 To monitor the budget against income and expenditure
The accounts were examined and no problems were identified
245.10 To verify bank reconciliation to 31st July 2010
There was an unexplained discrepancy of £13.08 in the reconciliation. The Clerk will investigate this and re-present the July reconciliation to the September meeting.
246.10 To consider reinvestment of Cooperative Bank Guaranteed Investment Bonds
Resolved: That the existing bonds are reinvested on the same terms as at present i.e. for further periods of 3 months and 6 months respectively. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried
247.10 To approve renewal of the annual Leisure Centre insurance premium
Resolved: That the annual renewal of the Leisure Centre insurance policy is approved at a premium of £1043.43 via SM Commercial Insurance Ltd. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried
248.10 To receive an update on the 2009/10 external audit
No further written information has been received but BDO have confirmed by telephone that there are no issues with the audit
249.10 To consider requests for financial assistance
No requests were received this month
250.10 To approve accounts for payment
Resolved: That the accounts for payment are accepted and approved for payment.Proposed Cllr. Hall seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried.
251.10 To consider risk assessment matters
Cllr. Lloyd reported that there were a couple of minor items outstanding from the Village Hall risk assessment and these were being addressed. A chair mover also needed to be purchased. At the Leisure centre a grit bin needed to be purchased although the repair of the bowling green surround could only be determined once the future of the bowling green was resolved. Cllr. Lloyd will revise both risk assessments.
252.10 To consider allotment, garage and wayleave matters
a) No further advice has yet been received from YLCA about the wayleaves
b) There is a request for the Council to let the unused garage plot on Doctor Lane. The Clerk will investigate whether the space the plot occupies is still needed for access.
c) After taking local advice about the waste tip at Thorpe Road allotment site it was decided to use a lorry with a grab instead of a skip and to defer this until late autumn / winter. The price will be about the same as for a skip.
253.10 To note any correspondence
a) A letter of thanks was received from Harthill Carnival Society in respect of recent sponsorship.
b) A letter was received from the new RMBC valuation service. The Clerk was asked to contact the service to make enquiries into the valuation of the Leisure Centre for insurance purposes. The Village Hall is also in need of valuation for insurance purposes but this was deferred until the position on refurbishment became clearer.
254.10 To receive reports of July / August external meetings
a) A meeting was held with SYPTE on Wed 14th July to discuss public transport services that affect the Parish.
b) The August PACT meeting gave information on local crime figures, policing priority areas and details on the Community Payback scheme.
c) Minutes from the recent Rother Valley South Parishes meeting were placed in the circulation folder.
255.10 To receive information on external meetings arranged for August / September
The recently postponed meeting with Groundwork Creswell will be rearranged for late August.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
Resolved: That the meeting is adjourned for comments and questions from the press and public. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Lloyd. Carried
Mr. Newby asked questions about the street light, kissing gate and bench at Woodall which are still awaiting repair or installation. He also said that the undergrowth on the road from Woodall to Harthill had been cut back. He also asked about a problem with street lighting on Union Street. The Clerk agreed to investigate this and other outstanding issues.
256.10 To consider matters relating to the Village Hall
a) Further progress has been made towards limited company / charitable status. All necessary paperwork has been sent to the solicitor for onward transmission to The Charities Commission. It is still hoped that the new company will commence on 1 October.
b) The refurbishment work has now gone out to tender. Eight firms have been sent the tender documents which need to be returned by 16 September.
c) Work on the proposed lease between the Parish Council and Harthill Village Hall Ltd. has been delayed pending information being received from CISWO
d) A new sign, advertising the village hall is now on display at the hall.
257.10 To consider matters related to Woodall
a) A further quote has now been received to refurbish the public bench at Woodall.
Resolved: That Mr. J. Barlow is asked to undertake the refurbishment of the public bench at Woodall at a cost of £150. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried
b) The misplaced street light at Woodall has still not been moved. This was originally reported to RMBC but is the responsibility of YEDL. RMBC are pressing YEDL for the replacement to be done as quickly as possible
258.10 To consider grounds maintenance matters
a) The road repairs on Woodall Lane / Winney Lane have still not been completed. Further follow up has been undertaken with RMBC but no timetable for this work is yet known.
b) The Firvale to Pryor Mede path has been partially cleared but not completed. Responsibility between Streetpride and 2010 has not been firmly established. The Clerk will continue to investigate.
b) Streetpride repairs to the wall at Woodall Lane and to the Manor Road street sign have not yet been done
d) Clearance of undergrowth between Woodall and Harthill has been done and has made a significant improvement
259.10 To receive an update on CCTV usage in Harthill
This has now been installed on Union Street, opposite the Jackys Lane shops, but is apparently not working. The Clerk will investigate this with the Area Assembly and the Police
260.10 To receive an update on Parish footpaths and bridleways
a) The Clerk will investigate installation of the Woodall kissing gate with the RMBC Rights of Way team
b) Cllr. Lloyd will seek further information from Mrs. Webb about copy for the proposed Parish footpaths booklet.
261.10 To receive an update on action related to the North Farm development
The Clerk reported the current position following discussions with RMBC. The owner of the site has failed to comply with the notices served on him and RMBC are now proceeding towards prosecution. This should be within the next few months. RMBC would be happy to take evidence from the village about local impact of the derelict site and will contact the Parish Council when this is required.
262.10 To receive an update on the holiday play scheme in Harthill during summer 2010
The Clerk reported that the first week of the play scheme was very successful with over 40 participants every day. This is an improvement on last year. The second week is currently underway. An evaluation report will be received from RMBC in due course.
263.10 To receive an update on M1 noise pollution at Woodall
The Clerk reported discussions with Jenny Walker of RMBC about recent noise readings taken at Woodall which have shown a large increase on comparable readings taken 10 years ago. RMBC has an interest in the matter and will provide support to lobby the Highways Agency but stresses it has no powers of its own with regard to noise reduction measures. Jenny also pointed out that the RMBC noise readings won’t be usable as evidence as the Highways Agency will only take into account readings taken immediately before any work is done and then after it finishes and that the Agency is within its legal rights to disregard the substantial increase in noise that has already taken place.
Resolved: That a representative from The Highways Agency is asked to attend a meeting with the Parish Council in order to clarify the position regarding noise reduction measures at Woodall. Proposed Cllr. Simmonite, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried
264.10 To consider matters relating to Harthill Leisure Centre
Following a meeting with the Leisure Centre committee and subsequent discussions it was proposed to hold a couple of open days in September to try and form a new bowling club. This would include free coaching and the offer of a reduced price on next year’s season ticket for new members who join this year. The cost of coaching for both events will be £96.
Resolved: That approval is given to two open day events at Harthill Leisure Centre bowling green at a cost of £96.00. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Lloyd. Carried
A decision on the future of the green was deferred until the October meeting pending the outcome of these events.
265.10 To receive an update on the Woodall Lane to Pryor Mede public footpath
This work should have been completed by now by RMBC but has not been. The most recent plan was to subcontract the work to Groundwork Dearne Valley but no action has been taken so far. The wider area adjacent to the footpath is controlled by Rotherham 2010 and no clearance work has been done on this either. The Clerk will pursue both organisations to try and achieve a speedy solution.
266.10 To consider matters related to parking at the roundabout
This is an ongoing problem and attempts to raise the matter via the police have been unsuccessful. The police have now advised that the RMBC Road Safety Officer should be the first point of contact. The Clerk will pursue this to arrange a meeting and report back to the Council.
267.10 To consider matters related to access problems on Serlby Lane
This item is deferred pending Cllr. Green’s return from holiday.
268.10 To consider matters related to the Woodall Lane play area
Following receipt of the quotation from HAGS for the extension of the play area there was a discussion on whether to take this forward
Resolved: That the Parish Council will pursue an external funding bid to extend the Woodall Lane play area with the addition of fitness equipment. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried
269.10 To consider matters related to The Tom Wakefield Way
a) Mr. Ellam will be asked to undertake the work of maintaining the eight benches around the reservoir.
b) A revision of the licence issued by British Waterways has been requested to allow for the addition of one bench. No problems are anticipated and it is expected that the bench can be installed in September.
c) Spraying of the path with weedkiller is still held up because of a dispute between RMBC and The Environment Agency. It is hoped that this will be resolved shortly.
270.10 Individual Councillor Reports (For information only)
a) Cllr. Adams reported a surfacing problem at the bus turning circle on Firvale
b) Cllr. Leigh said that she had reported a defective streetlight on Dishwell Lane to Streetpride
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.
271.10 To consider employment matters
The Clerk told the Council of his intention to apply for the position of Clerk to Thorpe Salvin Parish Council. If successful he would wish to undertake this role in addition to his existing position. The Council had no objection to this.
The meeting closed at 9.37 pm