Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 3 November 2009 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllrs R Brook, C Rimmer, E Shaw, T Sigsworth, S Simpson, A Stimson, G Turner
In attendance: Hazel Chowcat (Clerk to the Council)
1373 Chair
The Clerk reported that both the Chair and the Vice-Chair had sent their apologies.
RESOLVED that Cllr Turner chair the meeting.
1374 Open Session
No members of the public raised any matters.
1375 Police Report
No Police representatives were present.
1376 Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Association
Vanessa Marsden attended the meeting to update the Council on progress in renovating the Centre and to provide background information to support the Association’s request for funds towards the work of the car park. She advised that it was the intention to resurface the car park with a gravel surface to enable surface water to drain away.
RESOLVED that Ms Marsden be thanked for her report and that Standing Orders be suspended to enable Item 20.1 to be brought forward on the agenda.
1377 Application for Community Grant Aid by Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Association
The Clerk submitted details of the request by the SYCA for £4,450 towards the cost of surfacing the car park. Funds had been secured by the Association from other organisations, including EPIP which required match funding.
RESOLVED that the Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Association be awarded a grant of £4,450 towards the cost of completing the works on the car park.
1378 Standing Orders
RESOLVED that the meeting return to Standing Orders.
1379 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence from the meeting were submitted from Cllrs M Barlow, J A Barlow, V Buyer, G Horton, M Mills, A Tribe, K Waites, S Wild and N Wilson.
RESOLVED that the reasons for absence submitted by the above councillors be accepted as valid.
1380 Declaration of Councillors’ Interests
Cllr Sigsworth declared a personal interest in item 20.2 Skelmanthorpe Youth & Community Association.
1381 Chair’s Opening Remarks
Cllr Turner drew members’ attention to a fundraising coffee morning being held in support of the Upper and Lower Cumberworth Christmas Tree appeal on 7 November.
1382 Minutes of Council Meeting
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
1383 Minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 27 October 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee.
1384 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) Traffic Calming on Chapel Hill, Clayton West
Members noted the letter from the Ward Councillors that they had raised the matter with Highway officers who had agreed to look at the possibility of conducting a speed count.
RESOLVED that the issue be monitored.
b) East Hill Wood Section 106 Agreement
RESOLVED that Kirklees Council be asked to ensure that a new S106 agreement be concluded with the proviso that the money be spent within the parish area and not elsewhere in Kirklees.
c) Community Award Scheme
RESOLVED that the Clerk investigate the terms of community award schemes run by other councils with a view to consideration being given to running a scheme within the parish.
1385 Denby Dale Area Committee Action Plan
Members discussed the action plan. It was felt that the plan should be expanded to include a) references to the opportunities offered through EPIP funding; 2) more emphasis should be placed on environmental issues with reference to the Denby Dale Environment Trust and the Countryside Project.
RESOLVED that the views of the council be submitted to Kirklees Council.
1386 Standard Committee
RESOLVED that in Cllr Barlow’s absence, the matter could not be discussed.
1387 Remembrance Day Arrangements for Emley and Clayton West
RESOLVED that Cllr Shaw or Cllr Wild lay the wreath in Emley and Cllr Simpson lay the wreath in Clayton West.
1388 Hanging Baskets and Floral Displays
The hanging baskets and other floral displays were discussed. The Clerk reported that though the baskets had been attractive, they had had to be taken down early and the company which had provided them still owed the Council approximately £200.
RESOLVED that the Council revert to using either Bradley Nurseries or another supplier in 2010 and that Kirklees Council be asked to supply a flower tower or equivalent in Emley. It was also agreed to put an item on the website inviting tenders for the hanging baskets.
1389 Gambling Act 2005: Consultation of Revised Statement of Gambling Policy
The Clerk submitted information about Kirklees Council’s revised statement of gambling policy
RESOLVED that the consultation be noted and no response be submitted.
1390 Denby Dale/Kirkburton LIG
Cllr Brook reported that at the recent LIG meeting, funding applications were being considered; that a further advice session might be funded; that a tourism audit of the Denby Dale area was being conducted and members were asked to check the document which the Clerk had forwarded for accuracy. He also reported that Townsweb was due to submit a quote for the digitizing of local archives the following week. In addition, he, Cllr Mills and the Clerk had met with Professor Paul Ward and Dr Rob Ellis of the History Department at Huddersfield University to discuss the possibility of their involvement in an oral history project. The possibility of using an undergraduate or a postgraduate had been discussed, and a further meeting will be held later. In addition, Cllr Brook reported on progress in finding a location for Stanley Sheaard’s archives. Various options were under consideration.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1391 10:10 Campaign
Members discussed various ideas for pursuing the 10:10 campaign.
RESOLVED a) that a paragraph about the campaign be put on the website; b) that Kirklees Council which has also signed up to the campaign be invited to consider how the energy use of the Council Offices could be reduced; c) that the Clerk aim to reduce the amount of copying of documents.
1392 Parish Plan Sub Group
Cllrs Shaw and Brook had met to discuss the options for updating the parish plan.
RESOLVED that the Clerk contact Rural Action Yorkshire to establish what the current position is in relation to parish plans and report back to a future meeting.
1393 Working Party on Public Transport
Cllr Brook referred to the latest position with the Barnsley buses which was contained in the Clerk’s Report. He confirmed that the tram/train trial had been abandoned reinforcing the need now to go back to pressing for improvements in the rail service. He referred to the Rail Users’ Association Action Plan which he would pass to the Clerk for circulation to the Committee. The issue of parking at Denby Dale Station was referred to.
RESOLVED that the Clerk chase up the results of the review into parking at Denby Dale Station.
1394 Denby Dale Area Committee
Cllr Brook gave a report of the Area Committee meeting held on 22 October. Issues discussed included the possible broadband feasibility study; gritting, the Denby Dale village improvement scheme which had involved a variety of projects aimed to improve the appearance of the village; and the forthcoming Skelmanthorpe village improvement scheme
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1395 West Yorkshire Rural Access to Opportunities
Cllr Shaw gave a report of the above drop in event held on 29 October 2009.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1396 YLCA/ERNLLCA/YHRTP Training Conference
The Clerk and Cllr Turner both submitted written reports of the above conference held that weekend from 30 October to 1 November.
RESOLVED that the reports be noted.
1397 Broadband Feasibility Study
The Clerk submitted a request from the Denby Dale Area Committee for a contribution towards the cost of the broadband feasibility study which was anticipated to cost either £2000 or £3000 depending on the area covered.
RESOLVED that the Parish Council pay 50% of the costs of the feasibility study up to a maximum of £1500.
1398 Budget Outturn
The Clerk submitted the budget outturn to 31 October 2009.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1399 Orders for Payments
RESOLVED that Orders for Payment No. 503 totalling £2,850.44 be approved.
1400 December Council Meeting
No items were proposed for the December council meeting.
1401 Ward Councillor Report
RESOLVED that 10 minutes be set aside on the agenda of future council meetings to enable a ward councillor to present a 5 minute report and take questions for 5 minutes.
1402 Dates of future meetings
17 November 2009 – Finance & General Purposes Committee starting at 7pm
24 November 2009 – Plans Scrutiny Committee starting at 7pm
1 December 2009 – Council Meeting starting at 7pm.
Signed……………………………………… (CHAIR)
