Present: Cllrs. Mrs. J. Pattison (Chairman), Cllr. I. Lloyd (Vice-Chairman), Mrs C Leigh, Mr. S. Green, Mrs. W. Thompson, D. Hall and Mrs A. Adams
107.10 To receive any apologies for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs. Mrs B. Gunby and Mrs. E. Simmonite.
108.10 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9th March 2010
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 9th March 2010 are accepted and approved as a true record. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Thompson. Carried.
109.10 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 28 due to the confidential nature of the business to be conducted. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Lloyd. Carried.
110.10 To declare any interests necessary for this meeting
a) Cllr. Lloyd declared his personal interest in agenda item 22
111.10 To note any matters arising (For information only)
a) An update was given on correspondence with Andrew Lee of RMBC about timescales for Woodall signage, the speed sign for Winney Hill and the Woodall Lane street light upgrade.
b) Groundwork Dearne Valley is going to do some maintenance work on the pond path over the next month or so. RMBC are still waiting for permission from the Environment Agency to spray the path.
c) The drainage improvement work at the reservoir has made no further progress because British Waterways haven’t yet responded to RMBC’s request to carry out the work. If there is no further action this item will be on the May agenda.
d) The Glebe Avenue street sign is still missing and follow up attempts with RMBC have proved fruitless so far.
e) A letter has been sent to the Highways Agency seeking an update on the M1 road widening scheme but no reply has been received as yet.
f) A letter was sent to Mr Saint about the guttering at his Union St premises – again no reply as yet.
112.10 To consider planning applications
a) RB0318/2010 – Single storey extension at Walseker Lane
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
b) RB0329/2010 – Temporary (3 years) wind monitoring mast at Loscar for Cornwall Light & Power Ltd.
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
c) RB0331/2010 – Straw store at Oaklands Farm, Manor Road
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
d) RB0365/2010 – Two storey extension including garage at Woodall Lane
Resolved: That there are no objections to this application. Carried
113.10 To receive an update on non traditional housing issues
Feedback on the work undertaken so far on RMBC properties has been positive and no complaints have been received from tenants. The letter from RMBC outlining financial options for owner occupiers has still not been sent, nor has any information been issued regarding specification sharing. The Clerk will again follow this up.
114.10 To consider risk assessment matters
a) An appointment has not yet been made with the Leisure Centre to carry out the risk assessment. It is expected that this will be completed before the next meeting.
b) Loft ladders have now been installed at the Village Hall as required in the action plan.
115.10 To receive the RFO’s report.
a) At the end of the financial year 91% of planned expenditure has been spent and 239% of planned income received. The Council has therefore under spent by £3800 although much of this carries forward to £2010/11
b) The end of year accounts will be presented at the May meeting
c) The VAT reclaim for the period 1 October 2009 to 31 March 2010 totals £715.74. The claim will be submitted before the end of April.
d) The internal audit, to be undertaken by Voluntary Action Rotherham, has been arranged for the last week in May.
e) Allotment invoices have been sent out and the collection date for cash payments is Saturday 17th April.
116.10 To monitor the budget against income and expenditure
The management accounts for 2009/2010 were examined and no problems were identified.
117.10 To verify bank reconciliation to 31st March 2010
Bank statements were examined and checked and initialled by two councillors
118.10To consider requests for financial assistance
a) A request was received from Harthill Cricket Club for a donation towards their pavilion refurbishment. Supporting information was also supplied. .
Resolved: That a donation of £1550.00 was approved to Harthill Cricket Club as a contribution to the costs of the pavilion refurbishment. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Lloyd. Carried
119.10 To approve accounts for payment
Resolved: That the accounts for payment are accepted and approved for payment. Proposed Cllr. Hall, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried.
120.10 To consider Parish Council insurance matters for 2010/11
The Council has now received the insurance renewal notice from Aon who are the current insurers. We have also had an approach from another company that is offering insurance cover to Parish Councils. Cllr. Lloyd agreed to conduct a comparison before the next meeting when a decision needs to be made.
121.10 To note any correspondence
a) A letter of thanks was received from the Memories Society in respect of the recent Parish Council donation
b) A further request to install a commemorative bench on the reservoir path has been received from a resident. The Parish Council agreed to investigate the possibility of this.
122.10 To receive reports of March / April external meetings
a) Cllr. Lloyd attended the Area Assembly and reported on various crime related issues. Jackys Lane is now a priority area and will receive extra police patrols following further anti-social behaviour. Overall crime is down by 30% over the last 3 months in the Rother Valley South area. Action has been taken by the licensing authority against the Lord Conyers pub in Kiveton Park and this seems to have had positive results. A new anti-litter initiative – “Bin It To Win It” was also launched.
123.10 To receive information on external meetings arranged for April / May
a) The next RMBC planning training session is on 15 April at Bailey House
b) A Rural Action Yorkshire event is taking place at Dinnington Resource Centre on 20 April
c) The next PACT meeting is on 11 May at 6pm at Anston Parish Hall.
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
There were no comments or questions from members of the public
124.10 To consider matters relating to the Village Hall
a) A meeting was held with DTP on 12 April and a full survey was undertaken on the village hall refurbishment needs. A fully costed plan will now be produced.
b) Discussions have taken place with the Veolia Environmental Trust about eligibility for a funding application and this has been established. The Village Hall Management Committee (VHMC) will commence preparing a bid to the Trust in the near future.
c) Progress on charitable status has been maintained. It is likely that a limited company will be formed with charitable status, subject to ratification by the VHMC. Discussions with a solicitor have now also taken place about establishing a formal lease between the Parish Council and VHMC.
Resolved: That legal costs incurred in the establishment of the lease between the Parish Council and the VHMC, and the VHMC’s transfer to charitable status will be met by the Parish Council. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Leigh. Carried
125.10 To consider grounds maintenance matters
a) The road repairs on Woodall Lane / Winney Lane have still not been completed. The Clerk will contact RMBC to try and establish a timetable for this work to be completed.
b) Resolved: That approval is given to the planting a hedge in front of a resident’s fence at the Winney Hill recreation ground which has been subject to repeated damage by sledging. The Clerk will ascertain costs in the first instance. Proposed Cllr. Pattison, seconded Cllr. Adams. Carried
126.10 To consider matters relating to footpaths and bridleways
a) A report was given on the latest footpaths inspection walk / inspection. This has been sent to Claire McRoy at RMBC and a further meeting will be arranged for May.
b) Enforcement action by RMBC relating to footpaths at Norwood has commenced but may take several months.
c) A meeting with RMBC re a footpaths booklet for the Parish has been arranged for Friday 16th April at 1pm in the Village Hall.
127.10 To consider applications to the 2010/11 RMBC Delegated Budget
Four items were selected for application to the 2010/11 RMBC delegated budget
a) Improved street lighting at Jackys Lane
b) A street sign for Winney Lane which is not currently signed
c) Replacement of the Winney Hill / Doctor Lane street sign
d) A sign indicating De Warren Place (leading to Osborne Croft)
Applications need to be submitted by 18 June so other items may be considered.
128.10 To receive an update on RMBC action regarding the North Farm development
RMBC Environmental Health has recently conducted a site visit after receiving various complaints about tipping and rubbish burning at the site. The Parish Council has also raised health and safety concerns. As a result, enforcement action to tidy up the site is to be taken under S215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The fire service has also helped to remove gas cylinders from the site and Environmental Health has served an abatement notice on the site owner to prevent rubbish burning.
129.10 To receive an update on the Easter holiday play scheme in Harthill
The play scheme commenced on Monday 12th April and will run for one week. There are 35 children per day booked on it at present and from past experience more will turn up as the week goes on. A full report on the scheme will be provided by RMBC Sports Development.
130.10 To receive a progress report on the Active Always programme in Harthill
A Parish Council subsidy of £100 was approved for the last 10 weeks because numbers were still too low for the programme to be self sufficient. £50 of this has been used over the ten week period. Although the numbers have picked up slightly it was agreed that the remaining £50 of the approved subsidy can be used over a longer period.
131.10 To receive an update on the Spens Field lease
The lease has now been signed and is in effect from 1 April 2010. There are no outstanding issues.
132.10 To consider matters related to the Woodall Lane play area
a) Remedial works have now been completed on drainage problems at the play area. It is difficult to assess the success of the work as there has been insufficient rain to test it. The Council will monitor the position over the next few weeks.
b) A further meeting of the play sub-group was agreed at a date to be arranged.
c) Assurance has been received that RMBC will continue to carry out grounds maintenance at the play area on a regular and adequate basis.
133.10 To consider arrangements for the Spring 2010 issue of “The Hart”
Several articles were suggested and distribution arrangements agreed. Distribution will take place during the last week of April.
134.10 Individual Councillor Reports (For information only)
Cllr. Hall and Cllr. Leigh said that complaints had been received about lorries parking on Pryor Mede. The Clerk will take this up with RMBC Highways and put it on the next agenda if necessary.
Cllr. Green said that complaints had been received about parking too close to the roundabout and the resultant threat to road safety. The Clerk will raise this with PC Saul. Cllr Green also asked that Serlby Lane infrastructure in relation to planning is placed on the next agenda.
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.
135.10 To receive an update concerning matters relating to Parish Council land
Completion of the final sale has now taken place and funds have been received from the purchaser.
The meeting closed at 9.20 pm