Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 1 December 2009 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllrs N Wilson (Chair), R Brook, P Calpin, I Purkiss (after co-option), C Rimmer, E Shaw, A Stimson, A Tribe, K Waites
In attendance: Hazel Chowcat (Clerk to the Council)
1423 Declaration of Councillors’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
1424 Open Session
One member of the public raised a question about the role of parish councils. The Clerk provided basic information about the statutory basis of parish councils and suggested a number of websites which provide more detailed information. Another member of the public asked a question about the decision of Kirklees Council to abandon the requirement of the developer to construct a public footpath at East Hill Wood. The Clerk undertook to forward further information about this matter.
1425 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence from the meeting were submitted from Cllrs M Barlow, J A Barlow, V Buyer, M Mills, T Sigsworth, S Simpson, G Turner and S Wild.
RESOLVED that reasons for absence submitted by all the above Councillors be accepted as valid.
1426 Chair’s Opening Remarks
Cllr Wilson reported that Cllr Horton had submitted his resignation.
RESOLVED that Cllr Horton be thanked for his contribution to the work of the council over the past year.
Cllr Wilson also reported that the Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Association had secured sufficient funding to enable the work on the car park to be carried out and that the Centre would therefore soon be opened.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1427 Admission of the Public
RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting while the Parish Council is discussing the application by Ivan Purkiss to be considered for co-option onto the council in line with the Council’s procedures, on the grounds that the discussion would be of a confidential nature.
1428 Co-option of New Member
Ivan Purkiss addressed the Council in connection with his application to be co-opted onto the Council. It was proposed and seconded and RESOLVED that Mr Purkiss be co-opted to the Council to represent the Skelmanthorpe Ward. Cllr Purkiss signed the declaration of acceptance of office and took his seat.
1429 Police Report
The Clerk reported that Inspector Nicholas Harvey had sent his apologies but had advised that the current priority areas within the parish as identified by members of the public were Church Lane and Holmfield Road in Clayton West and Wakefield Road in Scissett.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1430 Denby Dale Parish Environment Trust
Steve Robinson attended the meeting to give an update on the work of the Environment Trust. He outlined the history of the Trust, its work over the years having produced detailed studies, such as the Landscape Character Assessment in 20002 and the hedgerow survey in 2004. Since 1997, the Trust had awarded £123,000 of grants and funded 66 local groups. The Trust is currently working on an action plan which will be posted to its website when it is ready.
RESOLVED that Mr Robinson be thanked for his report.
1431 Report from Ward Councillor
It was noted that no Ward Councillor was present to give a report.
1432 Minutes of Council Meeting
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
1433 Minutes of Finance & General Purposes Committee
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 November be confirmed as a correct record and in the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee, be signed by the Chair.
1434 Minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 24 November 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and in the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee, be signed by the Vice Chair.
1435 Clerk’s Report
The Clerk submitted her written report.
RESOLVED that the Clerk’s report be approved and the following action taken arising from the report:
a) Sustainable Communities Act
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Mary Creagh MP and Shahid Malik MP expressing their support for the EDM but pointing out that since they are both ministers, they are not able to sign the EDM and Mr Malik indicated that he would write to John Denham MP about the matter.
RESOLVED that the report be noted and the matter be kept open, pending a reply from Mr Denham.
b) Denby Dale Station
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Tony Plumbe of Kirklees Council giving an update on the issue of parking at Denby Dale Station. Kirklees Council has assessed car parking provision at every Kirklees station and is at the stage of estimating costs and investigating land ownership for those considered to be of priority. It is also in the process of commissioning consultancy work to further assess access and facilities at Penistone Line stations; this is likely to involve local consultation exercises.
RESOLVED that the report be noted and the matter be kept open.
c) Opinion Poll
RESOLVED that the next opinion poll focus on the issue of the use of K6 telephone boxes if the council decides to adopt them,
1436 Adoption of K6 Red Telephone Boxes
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees Council inviting the Parish Council to adopt up to 5 K6 red telephone boxes. Kirklees Council was undertaking to provide financial assistance to repair and maintain telephone boxes within conservation areas over a three year period up to a maximum of £1000 per kiosk. Members discussed possible uses of the boxes and possible pitfalls. It was considered that further information about potential uses was required.
RESOLVED that in principle, the Council would consider adopting the four boxes which are within conservation areas, but that the Clerk prepare some background information on possible uses of the telephone boxes and that a final decision be made in January.
1437 SCAG Connect Advertising
RESOLVED that the Council renew its advertising in the Connect magazine for 2010 at a cost of £38,
1438 West Yorkshire Policing Plan Survey
The Clerk submitted information about the West Yorkshire Policing Plan survey.
RESOLVED that if they so wish, Councillors should respond individually to the survey.
1439 Denby Dale/Kirkburton LIG
Cllr Brook gave an update on activities in the LIG. The bid from Birdsedge Village Hall had been approved, as had funding to digitise a) the collection of 500 colour photos recording farming in the Denby and Cumberworth area 30 years ago; and b) Stanley Sheead’s archives on the history of the Skelmanthorpe textile industry. The local group had also approved the bid from Skelmanthorpe Youth & Community Association for £25,000 towards a car-park (which will be available for general use) and the bid for £32,000 to improve footpaths and promote walking throughout our area. These had however not yet been approved by EPIP. The tourism audit was ongoing and input from Parish Councillors would be most welcome.
RESOLVED that Cllr Brook be thanked for his report and that the latest version of the tourism audit be circulated to members for their input.
1440 Working Party on Public Transport
a) 435 Bus Route
Cllr Brook reported that it was not possible to purchase return fare tickets on the 435 bus route.
RESOLVED the Clerk write to Arriva to ask for this matter to be rectified.
b) Penistone Line Aspirations 2009
The Clerk circulated a letter from the Huddersfield, Penistone and Sheffield Rail Users’ Association. Following the decision to abandon the national tram-trail trial, it was now necessary to develop a new vision for the Penistone Line and the letter attached a list of aspirations for the line which the Parish Council was asked to consider.
RESOLVED that the aspirations be supported in their entirety.
1441 YLCA Branch Meeting
Cllrs Horton and Shaw submitted a report of the meeting held on 11 November 2009. The meeting had been advised that councils can purchase special licences at a cost of £55 to purchase copies of maps from Ordnance Survey.
RESOLVED that the Clerk obtain further information about the possibility of purchasing an Ordnance Survey licence.
1442 Rural Action Yorkshire AGM
Cllr Shaw submitted a report of the meeting held on 21 November 2009.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1443 SLCC Training Course
The Clerk gave a report of the SLCC training course she had attended on 23 November 2009. She explained that as a result of the course, she would be preparing a policy on the retention and destruction of documents to be considered by a future meeting of the council.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1444 Skelmanthorpe Improvement Scheme
the clerk reported that she and Andy Wickham, the Countryside Officer, had met with Kirklees officers to look at potential areas for improvement in Skelmanthorpe. The scheme is currently subject to consultation with an exhibition in the library in Skelmanthorpe. Grants are available to local traders to improve their shop fronts.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1445 Joint Meeting of Parish/Town Councils and Kirklees Council
The Clerk submitted the minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2009.
RESOLVED that the minutes be received.
1446 Chain of Office
Cllr Waites raised the possibility of purchasing an additional chain of office and the Clerk invited the Council to discuss the requirements for the update of the chain of the consort.
RESOLVED a) no action be taken on the purchase of an additional chain; b) the Vice Chair wear the Chair’s medallion when representing the Parish Council as a substitute and c) that the Clerk obtain a quote for a new consort’s chain.
1447 Wind Turbines in Birdsedge
Cllr Tribe gave an update on the wind turbines in Birdsedge. An application had been approved some time ago for a wind monitoring mast and an application for wind turbines was anticipates. Cllr Dodds had called a public meeting in Birdsedge to discuss the matter and as a result of that meeting an action group had been formed.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1448 Textile Heritage Museum
Cllrs Tribe and Brook proposed that a Heritage Working Party be formed to coordinate action around the future of the Textile Heritage Museum, the historical archives held by Stanley Sheead and Leslie Robinson and the possibility of an oral history project being pursued.
RESOLVED a) that a Heritage Working Party be set up with the following members: Cllrs Brook, Shaw, Tribe and Waites; b) that the Clerk write to those members who were not present at the meeting to invite them to join the working party; c) that an initial meeting of the Working Party be held with councillor members and that thereafter other interested parties be invited to join.
1449 Budget 2010-2011
The Clerk submitted a draft budget for 2010-2011 and reported that the final budget would be considered by the Finance & General Purposes Committee.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1450 Orders for Payment
RESOLVED that Orders for Payment No. 505 totalling £3,420.50 be approved.
1451 January Council Meeting
RESOLVED that Andy Wickham be invited to give a progress report to the January council meeting, and that if he is not available, then a representative from the Penistone Line Partnership be invited to speak on the adopt a station scheme.
1452 Dates of future meetings
5 January 2010 – Council Meeting starting at 7pm
19 January 2010 – Finance & General Purposes Committee starting at 7pm
26 January 2010 – Plans Scrutiny Committee starting at 7pm
Signed……………………………………… (CHAIR)
