Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 2 February 2010 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllrs K Waites (Vice Chair), M Barlow, R Brook, V Buyer, C Rimmer, E Shaw, T Sigsworth, S Simpson, A Tribe, G Turner, S Wild, A Weston (after co-option)
In attendance: Hazel Chowcat (Clerk to the Council)
1481 Declaration of Councillors’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
1482 Open Session
No matters were raised by members of the public.
1483 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence from the meeting were submitted from Cllrs M Mills and N Wilson.
RESOLVED that reasons for absence submitted by all the above Councillors be accepted as valid.
1484 Chair’s Opening Remarks
Cllr Waites welcomed members to the meeting
1485 Admission of the Public
RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting while the Parish Council is discussing the application by Anthony Weston 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.
1486 Police Report
PCSO Sharon Mellor gave a report about crime in the area since November 2009. There had been 2 burglary dwellings (one in Denby Dale involving the theft from a freezer and one in Lower Cumberworth involving the theft of a laptop); and 3 thefts from cars. PCSO Mellor emphasised that the latter could be avoided by drivers keeping valuables out of sight and locking them in the boot. There had been £400 of damage committed around the skate park; complaints about erratic parking in Skelmanthorpe which parking enforcement officers will be monitoring. PCSO Mellor distributed information about Europhile locks.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1487 Ward Councillor’s Report
Cllr Dodds presented a verbal report to the meeting about Kirklees Council issues. He explained that the budget was being set and cuts were expected over the next three years, though the aim was to protect the most vulnerable people and frontline services. Following the recent weather, Kirklees was to review its seasonal maintenance programme. In Denby Dale, issues of concern to local residents continued to be related to highways and transport; inadequate provision of grit bins and the proliferation of potholes following the thaw. In relation to the Parkgate Trust, Sunnybutton had agreed to hand over the land at Park Gate for a community centre and sports facilities. In relation to broadband, following the feasibility study which had been jointly funded by the Parish Council and the Area Committee, Rutland Telecom is setting up a website for Denby Dale residents and businesses to register their interest in next generation broadband services. Finally, Cllr Dodds had organised a public meeting at Birdsedge to discuss the possible application for wind turbines and a campaign group to oppose the application had been set up under the name, BOLT. Cllr John Cook requested the opportunity to add to Cllr Dodd’s report and on the Chair’s agreement, referring to item 11 of the agenda, stated that the Council does not have the right to nominate representatives to the Area Committee.
RESOLVED that Cllr Dodds be thanked for his report and that the Clerk clarify the position of Parish Council representatives to the Area Committee.
1488 Co-option of New Member
Anthony Weston addressed the Council in connection with his application to be co-opted onto the Council. It was proposed and seconded and RESOLVED that Mr Weston be co-opted to the Council to represent the Skelmanthorpe Ward. Cllr Weston signed the declaration of acceptance of office and took his seat.
1489 Minutes of Council Meeting
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
1490 Minutes of Finance & General Purposes Committee
RESOLVED that subject to the removal of the word ‘Dale’ from line 8 of Minute No 1468 Red Telephone Boxes, the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee..
1491 Minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26 January 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
1492 Clerk’s Report
The Clerk submitted her written report.
RESOLVED that the Clerk’s report be approved and the following action taken on matters outstanding from previous minutes as arising from the report:
a) Min 1103 Carr Hill Road
The Clerk reported that no update had been received from Kirklees Council. It was felt that the grass verges which would need to be removed to allow for paving of a footpath were the property of the neighbouring householders and that this might prevent a footpath being constructed.
RESOLVED that the issue of ownership of the grass verges be clarified and an update be sought from Kirklees Council.
b) 1339 Emley Show
RESOLVED that the Emley Show planning group comprise Cllrs Sigsworth, Shaw, Waites and Rimmer and that a meeting be held at 6pm on 2 March 2010 to discuss draft proposals to be prepared by the Clerk.
c) 1384a) Traffic Calming on Chapel Hill, Clayton West
RESOLVED that the Clerk establish whether a speed count had been undertaken.
d) 1384b) East Hill Wood
RESOLVED that the Clerk liaise with Julie McDowell to ensure that the Area Committee and the Parish Council keep each other informed of progress.
e) 1445 Community Governance Review Recommendations
The Clerk submitted a draft response to the recommendations contained in the report of the Community Governance Review which had been drawn up at a meeting of the parish and town councils. She explained that the meeting was attended by representatives of Holme Valley, Kirkburton and Denby Dale parish councils, and that Mirfield and Meltham Town Councils had submitted apologies.
RESOLVED that the draft response be approved.
f) 1446 Chain of Office
The Clerk reported that only one quotation had been received for the new consort’s chain and that a second was awaited.
RESOLVED that the issue be discussed by the council when the second quotation has been received.
1493 Highways Issues in Emley
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Trevor Huntington of Emley expressing concern about the state of roads and footpaths around Emley.
RESOLVED that the Director of Highways or other nominee be invited to the next meeting of the Parish Council.
RESOLVED that the Ward Councillors be asked for their comments on the letter.
RESOLVED that the issue of speeding be included in the next Newsletter.
1494 New Lighting Columns
The Clerk submitted an email from Steven Bateman a local resident expressing concerns about the new street lighting in Denby Dale.
RESOLVED that Kirklees Council be asked to comment on the points raised and to confirm whether the columns are to remain grey.
1495 Denby Dale Area Committee
RESOLVED that it be proposed by Cllr Wild and seconded by Cllr Buyer and agreed that Cllr Shaw be nominated to represent the Parish Council on the Denby Dale Area Committee.
1496 Yorkshire Local Councils Associations
RESOLVED that it be proposed by Cllr Wild and seconded by Cllr Sigsworth and agreed that Cllr Buyer be nominated to represent the Parish Council on the YLCA South Pennine Branch.
1497 Denby Dale/Kirkburton LIG
Cllr Brook gave an update on activities in the LIG. The final funding had been approved by the Board and Yorkshire Forward for the Skelmanthorpe Youth & Community Association car park; a grant of £37,000 to Walkers are Welcome had been approved to promote walking and improve footpaths in the parish; the cycling study is complete and will be discussed soon; Shelley College has been awarded £5,000 for an eco-park. Finally, EPIP will be commissioning a report on viewpoints/beacons.
RESOLVED that Cllr Brook be thanked for his report and that the cycle path study be an item on the March agenda.
1498 Working Party on Public Transport
Cllr Waites reported that there was nothing to report.
1499 Heritage Working Party
Cllr Tribe reported that the Heritage Working Party had met twice and would be meeting again the following day. Stephen Gould from EPIP was attending meetings to provide expert advice on setting up t trusts.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1500 Broadband Steering Group
Cllr Brook pointed out that there was nothing to add to the report given by Cllr Dodds in his earlier report.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1501 Public Rights of Way
Cllr Stimpson was not at the meeting and so no report could be given of the meeting held on 28 January.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1502 Precept
RESOLVED that inline with Council policy, the precept be set at £105,029.
RESOLVED that the policy governing the formula for setting the precept be revisited at the next meeting.
1503 Orders for Payment
RESOLVED that Orders for Payment No. 508 totalling £2,962.763 be approved.
1504 March Council Meeting
RESOLVED that Andy Wickham be invited to give a progress report to the March council meeting, and in addition to those items identified elsewhere in these minutes, the Spring Newsletter be discussed.
1505 Dates of future meetings
23 February 2010 – Plans Scrutiny Committee starting at 7pm
2 March 2010 – Council Meeting starting at 7pm
Signed……………………………………… (CHAIR)
