Present: Cllrs. Mrs. J. Pattison (Chairman), Cllr. I. Lloyd (Vice-Chairman), Mrs. A. Adams, Mrs C Leigh, Mr. S. Green, Mrs. W. Thompson, D. Hall and Mrs. B. Gunby
035.10 To receive any apologies for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr. Mrs E. Simmonite.
036.10 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12th January 2010
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 12th January 2010 are accepted and approved as a true record. Proposed Cllr. Adams, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried.
037.10 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 items 19 and 33 due to the confidential nature of the business to be conducted. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd, seconded Cllr. Green. Carried.
038.10 To declare any interests necessary for this meeting
a) Cllr. Lloyd declared his personal interest in agenda item 19
039.10 To note any matters arising (For information only)
a) The removal of the Dowcarr Lane telephone box has been deferred until further notice by BT
b) The Clerk will once again contact Harthill House Group about the overgrown conifers that are covering a streetlight.
c) The Glebe Avenue street sign remains unrepaired after three months and several reports to Streetpride. The Clerk will urgently pursue the matter.
d) The Winney Hill phone box that was repaired as recently as December has been vandalised once again. The Clerk will report it to BT.
040.10 To consider planning applications
a) RB2010/0060.
Resolved: That an objection is sent to RMBC in respect of this application on the grounds that it contravenes existing policy and guidance on development in conservation areas. Carried.
b) RB2010/0089
Resolved: That an objection is sent to RMBC in respect of this application on the grounds that it is materially detrimental to the character of the conservation area, is out of keeping with properties in the immediate vicinity, represents an overdevelopment of the site and does not address problems related to access. Carried.
c) There has been no further information regarding the Council’s request for a site meeting in respect of application RB2009 on Serlby Lane. The planning board meeting to consider this application appears to have been deferred once again
Public Comments and Questions was brought forward to this point as there were a number of members of the public in attendance
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 Shimwell and others raised several points of objection in respect of the planning applications discussed. The Clerk will liaise with Mr Shimwell on these points and include them in the Parish Council’s letter of objection if appropriate
.
041.10 To receive an update on non-traditional housing issues
a) Cllr. Hall reported that work is starting on council properties on Pryor Mede this week
b) The letter from RMBC advising owner occupiers about sources of financial help has still not been sent. An RMBC draft briefing note suggests that no financial help (i.e. via The Anchor Trust) is currently available
c) A further briefing will be given by borough Cllr. Thomas Fenoughty at a meeting with the Parish Council on 11th February.
042.10 To consider risk assessment matters
a) The annual risk assessment has been completed on the Village Hall and a report with action points compiled.
Resolved: That the report is accepted and all action points are to be completed before the April 2010 Parish Council meeting. Proposed Cllr. Gunby, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried.
b) The risk assessment on the Leisure Centre is scheduled for later in February.
043.10 To receive the RFO’s report
a) After 10 months of the financial year 178.5% of anticipated income has been received and 81.4% of anticipated expenditure has been spent. The Council is still on course to balance its budget this year.
b) The Parish Council’s Asset Register, Financial Risk Assessment and internal audit arrangements will be reviewed at the next Finance Committee meeting and presented to the Parish Council for approval.
044.10 To monitor the budget against income and expenditure
The management accounts were examined and no areas of concern identified.
045.10 To verify bank reconciliation to 31st January 2010
Bank statements were examined and checked and initialled by two councillors
046.10 To approve renewal of membership of Yorkshire Local Councils Associations (YLCA)
This item is deferred until the subscription rate for 2010 is not yet known.
047.10 To consider requests for financial assistance
A request for funding from Harthill with Woodall in Bloom was deferred pending presentation of accounts.
048.10 To approve accounts for payment
Resolved: That the accounts for payment are accepted and approved for payment. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried.
049.10 To consider reinvestment of the guaranteed investment bond6
Resolved: That the guaranteed investment bond number x is reinvested, with interest, for a period of six months. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.
Resolved: That the guaranteed investment bond number x is reinvested, with interest, for a period of 3 months subject to available finances at the time of renewal.Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Adams . Carried.
050.10 To note any correspondence
a) A letter has been received from Age Concern requesting a meeting with the Parish Council about an exercise programme for over 60s. The Council are happy to meet with Age Concern and the Clerk will arrange a meeting.
b) A letter has been received from the Carnival Society requesting permission to use Spens Field for Harthill Carnival in July 2010.
Resolved: That approval is given to the request from the Carnival Society for use of Spens Field for the 2010 Carnival. Proposed Cllr. Lloyd, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried
051.10 To receive reports of December/January external meetings
Area Assembly and Rural Transport Group meetings were held but not attended.
052.10 To receive information on external meetings arranged for January/February
a) The next Rother Valley South Parishes meeting will take place in February but details have not yet been received.
b) Details of the latest round of RMBC Planning training sessions were circulated to Councillors.
053.10 To consider grounds maintenance matters
There are several outstanding items of work scheduled to be completed by RMBC before the end of the financial year. The Clerk will follow these up and report to the next meeting where further action will be considered.
054.10 To consider matters relating to footpaths and bridleways
a) A letter has been received from Rotherham Borough Council Rights of Way about a partnership scheme to maintain public footpaths and seeking Parish Council involvement. There was some interest in this and Cllr. Lloyd agreed to make enquiries in the first instance and report to the next meeting.
b) A further meeting and inspection walk with Clare McRoy from RMBC Rights of Way will be held on 11th February when problems discovered at Norwood will be investigated.
Resolved: That a letter is sent to the land owner / tenant at Norwood advising him of problems with public footpaths at Norwood and seeking a meeting with the Parish Council to discuss the issue and potential solutions. Proposed Cllr. Gunby, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried
c) The third phase of the Parish Council footpath inspection walks will take place in late March. Cllr. Gunby will arrange this.
d) The Clerk will make enquiries in the first instance about the production of an up to date footpaths booklet and report to the next meeting.
055.10 To receive an update on Power of Wellbeing training
The Clerk reported that it had not proved possible to arrange this training during April as a minimum of eight Councillors needed to attend. Further attempts will be held to arrange the training with YLCA for either late March or May.
056.10 To receive an update relating to public transport in Harthill with Woodall
A letter has been received from Pam Horner from SYPTE following the Harthill public meeting held in January. Representations have been made to service providers about the issues discussed. In particular the service to Kiveton and the evening service to Rotherham were raised. Further information on possible service improvements is expected in April.
057.10 To receive an update on drainage issues at Harthill Reservoir
This work was originally scheduled to take place within the current financial year but has been delayed because of further negotiations between RMBC and British Waterways.
058.10 To receive an update on plans to install additional grit bins
This has now been agreed in principle with RMBC but the draft Service Level agreement has not yet arrived. The Clerk will circulate the SLA to Councillors as soon as it is received.
059.10 To consider Rotherham 2010 Proposals regarding security measures at Carver Close
A consultation meeting has been held by Rotherham 2010 about proposals to erect a security fence between Carver Close and the reservoir. Several Parish Councillors attended the meeting where a large majority of residents were in favour of the fence. It is likely that this will now go ahead but there will not now be a gate in the fence as previously envisaged. It is not known if planning consent will be required.
060.10 To consider an outline proposal for a pharmacy in Harthill
An outline proposal for a pharmacy in Harthill has been received for comment. A request for a meeting with Kiveton Park surgery has also been received. It was felt that the meeting should precede any comment by the Council about the application.
Resolved: That a meeting is held with Kiveton Park surgery as soon as possible to discuss the proposed pharmacy. Proposed Cllr. Thompson, seconded Cllr. Pattison. Carried.
061.10 To consider a response to the 2010 RMBC Dog Control Review
Proposals from RMBC were broadly supported by the Parish Council. Cllr. Pattison will formally respond. It was also agreed that a further article about dog fouling will be placed in the next issue of The Hart.
062.10 To consider proposals for an Easter holiday play scheme in Harthill
Resolved: That support for an Easter Holiday play scheme is approved. The scheme will run during the second holiday week and a charge of £2 per day will be sought. Proposed Cllr. Leigh, seconded Cllr. Gunby. Carried.
063.10 To receive an update on the draft Spens Field lease
It had been expected that the lease would have been signed in advance of this meeting but there have been further delays pending negotiations between Ilett & Clark on behalf of the Parish Council, and RMBC. It has also been recommended to the Council by solicitors that Chancel insurance is taken out when the lease is signed.
Resolved: That the purchase of Chancel Insurance is approved at a cost of £265 in respect of the Spens Field lease. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Lloyd. Carried
064.10 To receive an update on plans to resurface the Woodyard car park
This was scheduled to commence this week after weather delays. Once commenced, the work should be completed within one week.
065.10 To consider matters related to the Woodall Lane play area
a) Works to improve drainage at the site have been deferred due to adverse weather but are expected to commence shortly.
b) A decision on a further meeting of the Play Steering Group was deferred until the next meeting.
066.10 Individual Councillor Reports (For information only)
Cllr. Adams reported that a pothole on Winney Hill had been repaired by Streetpride
Cllr. Leigh raised a question over the promotion of the bowling green.
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.
067.10 To consider matters relating to the Village Hall
a) Meetings with potential deliverers of the feasibility study were held in January and quotations were provided and considered at the meeting.
Resolved: That the successful tender for the Village Hall feasibility study is from The Design Team Partnership (DTP) at a cost of £3200.00. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Gunby. Carried
A meeting will be held with DTP in the next few weeks to take the matter forward.
b) The Village Hall budget for 2010 was presented to the Council.
Resolved: That the Village Hall budget for 2010 is accepted. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried.
c) Exterior repairs to the Village Hall have been weather affected but are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 10th February
068.10 To receive an update concerning matters relating to Parish Council land
Ilett & Clark have advised that the sale of land at Winney Hill should be completed by 14th February 2010.
The meeting closed at 9.45 pm