Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 7 April 2009 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllrs E I Shaw (Chair), R Allen, M Barlow, J A Barlow, R Brook, G Horton, C Rimmer, T Sigsworth, S Simpson, A Stimson, A Tribe, G Turner, K Waites, S Wild, N Wilson
In Attendance: Hazel Chowcat (Clerk to the Council)
1072 Public Session
Members of the public attended the meeting to raise concerns about Kirklees Council’s proposals in the Local Development Framework. Two groups were represented, Skelmanthorpe Community Action Group and SOS and each nominated a speaker to express their opposition to the proposals for housing and other developments in Scissett and Skelmanthorpe. Roz Mears, the Treasurer of Birdsedge Village Hall thanked the council for the grants awarded for the refurbishment of the Village Hall and explained that due to unexpected dry rot in the wooden floors, the cost was greater than previously expected and there was a deficit of £10,000. She would be submitting an application for further funding.
1073 Police Report
PCSO Gary Charlton attended the meeting to present a report on behalf of the police. He detailed the offences which had been committed in the parish during the previous month (2 burglaries other and 2 damage to motor vehicles). He gave details of the newly adopted 10 point Policing Pledge and answered a number of questions from members relating to problems of double parking, the 999 service and parking in Emley. It was RESOLVED that PCSO Charlton be thanked for his report.
1074 Apologies for Absence
No apologies for absence were received.
1075 Declaration of Councillors’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
1076 Admission of the Public
It was RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded for item 11 since it contains sensitive information which may be prejudicial to the public interest since it deals with issues which involve allegations against members of the public which should not be heard in public.
1077 Minutes of Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
1078 Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 20090 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee
1079 Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 31 March 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chair of the Committee subject to the following amendment. Minute 1070 Local Development Framework to read as follows:
The clerk submitted the Parish Council’s submission to Kirklees Council concerning the Local Development Framework consultation. She explained that the document has been drawn up to incorporate the Council’s comments on the four options which had been agreed at the meeting held on 24 March 2009. Cllr Sigsworth left the meeting at this point because he disagreed with the proposed submission to the LDF. It was RESOLVED that the document as attached be approved for submission to Kirklees Council.
1080 Parking at Denby Dale Station
The Clerk submitted correspondence from the Kirklees Council responding to the Parish Council’s request for action to be taken to rectify the parking problems at Denby Dale Station. It was pointed out that possibilities for additional parking in the immediate vicinity of the station are constrained by the new Bromley Park development, the single-lane access by the bridge over the railway to land immediately north-west of the station, the lack of access generally to the steeply rising land west of the station and the terrain, viaduct and existing development south of the station. However, as part of the tram-train trial being pursued by the Department of Transport and Network Rail, the station area will be subject to re-modelling and firmer plans for this work will be ready by the summer. In the meantime, the Council will be looking further at the possibilities of increasing parking at the station. Members discussed the options available for parking and it was RESOLVED that Kirklees Council be asked to consider reusing the disused car park on the other side of the bridge and installing a traffic light to control traffic over the bridge.
1081 Station Road Cleansing Depot
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees Council confirming that the decision to close the depot was based on operational decisions. With the end disposal point now being in Huddersfield, it makes operational sense to base the refuse wagons in the new depot at Vince Street which has direct access to the waste plant. This removes the need to travel back to Skelmanthorpe at the end of the working day. Since most employees are either based in the area in which they work or are picked up en route, there is little or no increase in road journeys from the closure of the depot. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1082 Lighting outside Scout Hut, Clayton West
The Clerk reported that there was nothing to report on this matter and members noted that there no longer seemed to be a problem. It was RESOLVED that the matter be kept under observation.
1083 Dog Fouling Signs Clayton West
The Clerk reported that she had met with one of the Dog Wardens who explained that there were sufficient signs in the area concerning dog fouling but that signs alone did not encourage everyone to clear up after their dogs. The dog warden indicated that she would look at the possibility of arranging talks in local schools and perhaps organising a poster competition for display in public places around the parish. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1084 Closure of Chemist in Denby Dale
The Clerk reported that she had written again to the PCT but that to date there had been no response. It was RESOLVED that if no response is received, the Cooperative Society be asked to confirm what its intentions were in relation to the licence.
1085 Councillor Vacancies
The Clerk reported that since no request was received by the deadline for an election in Denby & Cumberworth and Clayton West Wards, it was necessary to agree to co-opt two new members to the council. It was RESOLVED that the vacancies be advertised on the Council notice board on the website and through posters to be distributed by members.
1086 Community Governance Review
a) Submission to Phase Two
The Clerk submitted a proposed submission to Phase Two of the Community Governance Review which had been drawn up by the sub-group. It was RESOLVED that the document be approved for submission to Kirklees Council.
b) Predetermination of Ward Councillors
The Clerk submitted a draft letter to the Kirklees Council Monitoring Officer concerning bias a predetermination of Ward Councillors in relation to the Community Governance Review. Concern had been expressed by some councillors that through their public statements about Denby Dale Parish Council in relation to the community governance review, at least two of the Ward Councillors should not participate in the vote to determine Kirklees Council’s decision about the outcome of the review. At a recent SLCC training day, the issue of bias and predetermination had been discussed as a training issue and presented by a Kirklees Council solicitor. The Clerk had discussed the matter with the latter and he had suggested that the Parish Council should write with its concerns to the Monitoring Officer of Kirklees Council. It was RESOLVED that the letter as drafted by the Clerk be submitted to Kirklees Council.
1087 Walkers are Welcome
Cllr Brook reported that he had discussed the Walkers are Welcome scheme with Andy Wickham, the Countryside Officer and the Environment Trust and both were keen to pursue the scheme. It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council register support for the scheme and formally endorse an application for Denby Dale Parish to become a Walkers are Welcome area. It was FURTHER RESOLVED that a list of interested organisations and individuals be drawn up and the Parish Council convene an initial meeting of a steering group to pursue the scheme within the parish area.
1088 Sustainable Communities Act
It was reported that Kirklees Council was currently looking at using existing groups instead of setting up a new local panel. It was RESOLVED that the Council write to Kirklees Council asking for action to be taken to promote the Sustainable Communities Act.
1089 Councillor Training
The Clerk submitted information about forthcoming councillor training provided by the YLCA. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Waites attend the training at South Kirkby on Thursday 30 April and Cllr Horton attend theh training at Holmfirth on 6 May.
1090 Broadband Steering Group
The Clerk submitted a report of a conference she had attended organised by the Community Broadband Network on next generation broadband. The central message from the conference was that the cost of funding broadband on a national scale would probably have to be met out of public funds as had other utilities such as gas, water, telephones, etc. Cllr Brook reported on a meeting he had attended at Kirklees Council and submitted the papers which had been circulated at athe meeting. It was RESOLVED that in view of the imporance of Broadband for the economy now and in the ftuture, the Parish Council write to the Department for Communities and Local Government to suggest that a planning condition be placed on all future large developments that fibre optic cables be laid as part of the infrastructure.
1091 Wood Street/Huddersfield Road Junction
Cllr Horton reported that he had attended a meeting with representatives of the Skelmanthorpe Community Action Group and Joe Malik of Kirklees Council Highways Department concerning the Wood Street/Huddersfield Road junction. Mr Malik would be seeking to resolve the problem at the junction by putting yellow lines infront of houses near the junction. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1092 Working Party on Public Transport
Members of the working party reported a number of developments: the timetables for bus services to and from Denby Dale did not reflect changes in the 82/83 bus service and do not highlight the availability of services before 0900 to residents of Upper Denby and Birdsedge. It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council write to Metro with suggested amendments to the timetables to reflect these matters. It was further reported that passenger numbers at Denby Dale Station had increased by 20% and it was expected that this was the result of the distribution of timetables by the Parish Council. Finally, it was reported that the Barnsley bus trial was likely to be extended and may take in Birdsedge, Upper Denby and Cumberworth. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1093 Denby Dale/Kirkburton LIG
Cllr Brook reported on developments in the LIG: the Stocksbridge Advice Centre was looking to run advice sessions throughout the EPIP area. Other possible initiatives included cycling routes, promoting local food and dry stone walling for the Upper Dearne Valley Woodlands Conservation Group. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1094 Parish Plan Update
Cllr Allen reported that the sub group had not yet met. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1095 SLCC Training Day
The Clerk submitted a written report of the SLCC Training Day held on 13 March 2009 and which had covered Bias and Predetermination in Councillors, the Power of Well Being and the Law of Allotments. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1096 West Yorkshire Rural Transport Conference
Cllr Waites gave a verbal report of the West Yorkshire Rural Transport Conference which had been held on 18 March 2009. He explained that the conference had been held as part of the winding up process of the project and had highlighted its achievements: access buses, rural bus services, cycle recycling. In relation to the future of the partnership, funding was being sought. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1097 Emley Moor ARLFC
The Clerk submitted an invitation to send two representatives to the official opening of the Emley Moor ARLFC changing rooms on 22 April. It was RESOLVED that Cllrs Shaw and Turner attend.
1098 Joint Kirklees/Parish and Town Councils Liaison Meeting
The Clerk reported that the liaison meeting had been postponed to 29 April and it was RESOLVED that Cllr Horton and the Clerk attend the meeting.
1099 YLCA Joint Annual Meeting
The Clerk submitted an invitation to attend the YLCA Joint Annual Meeting 2009 to be held on Saturday, 18 July 2009 at 2pm at Poppleton Community Centre, near York and to submit a resolution for debate at the meeting. It was RESOLVED that Cllrs Shaw and Horton attend the meeting and that the Council approve a resolution at the May meeting.
1100 Joint YLCA/ERNLLCA/YHRTP Conference
The clerk reported that this year’s joint YLCA/ERNLLCA/YHRTP Conference will be held from 20 October to 1 November 2009 in Scarborough. It was RESOLVED that the delegation to this conference be discussed at the May meeting.
1101 Parish Council Meetings
Cllr Tribe raised the possibility of holding parish council meetings in other parts of the parish. It was noted that there would be cost and other practical implications and it was RESOLVED that the matter be discussed at the May meeting.
1102 Privatisation of Royal Mail
Cllr Turner proposed that the Council should agree to oppose the part privatisation of Royal Mail. It was RESOLVED that the Council write to the government to express its opposition to the part privatisation of Royal Mail.
1103 Road Safety Carr Hill Lane
Cllr Tribe raised members’ attention to the current traffic problems on Carr Hill Lane in Upper Cumberworth. She pointed out that the road is currently used as a rat run, and with no pavements along the majority of the Lane, pedestrians are at risk of speeding traffic. It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council raise this matter with Kirklees Council.
1104 CCTV Cameras
Cllr Turner drew members’ attention to the decision to put CCTV cameras in Skelmanthorpe. He was concerned that the Parish Council had not been consulted in advance of the decision and it was RESOLVED that the Parish Council request further information about the background to the decision from the police.
1105 Grit Boxes in Emley
Cllr Shaw pointed out that during the recent bad weather, it was apparent that there were insufficient grit boxes in Emley to enable roads and pathways to be made safe. It was RESOLVED that Kirklees Council be asked to rectify the problem by provided grit boxes in the following locations: Tipping Lane, near the junction of Glebe Close; Wentworth Drive near the junction of Beaumont Street and the Crofts; at the junction Leys Lane and Chapel Lane; and Saville Street.
1106 Website
The Clerk reported that there had been 3143 unique visitors to the website in March 2009. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
1107 Orders for Payment
It was RESOLVED that Orders for Payment Nos. 490 totalling £813.58, 491 totalling £1,363.15 and 492 totalling £7,333.39 be approved.
1108 May Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the following items be included on the agenda of the April council meeting: Denby Dale Nursery (Cllr Allen), Croft Head Road (Cllr Horton).
1109 Dates of Next Meetings
28 April 2009 - Plans Scrutiny Committee starting at 7.30pm
5 May 2009 – Annual Parish Meeting starting at 7pm, followed by Annual Council Meeting and ordinary Council Meeting.
1110 Exclusion of the Press and Public
It was RESOLVED in terms of Schedule 12, Local Government Act 1972 the following items are likely to disclose sensitive information which may be prejudicial to the public interest since it deals with issues which involve allegations against members of the public which should not be heard in public and it is therefore RESOLVED that pursuant to the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the press and public be excluded.
1111 Denby Parish Community Action Group
It was RESOLVED that the Council approve the letter drafted by the Clerk to be sent to Awards for All.
Signed: ……………………………………………
Chair
