Meeting of the Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday, 6 February 2007 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe

Members Present:

Cllrs J C Birdsall (Chair), R G Allen, Mrs J E Birdsall, Mrs M Clarke, Mrs S A Dellapuppa, D W Kaye, R J Lockwood, E I Shaw, T D Sigsworth, G Turner, C Watson, A N Weatherby, Mrs V M Woodhead

461 Declaration of Councillors’ Interests

No interests were declared.

462 Suspension of Standing Orders

It was RESOLVED that standing orders be suspended in accordance with standing order no. 79 in order to allow members of the public to address the meeting.

463 Public Discussion Time

A member of the public raised the issue of the content of the draft Parish Plan in relation to Upper Denby. A second member of the public raised the issue of the part blocking of footpath No. 77.

464 Return to Standing Orders

It was RESOLVED that standing orders be returned to. Cllr Watson voted against the motion.

465 Apologies for Absence

Reasons for absence from the meeting were submitted from Cllrs Dr M Allen, Mrs. C Beal, Mrs G Hague, R J Lockwood, R S Mottram. It was RESOLVED that the reasons for absence submitted by the above Councillors be accepted as valid reasons.

466 Minutes

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2007 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

467 Public Meeting – Traffic Concerns

Further to Min. No. 363(1), the Clerk drew the attention of members to the public meeting concerning traffic to be held on Tuesday, 13 February, 2007 at 7.00 pm at St. Augustine’s Church, Scissett which will be attended by representatives of the West Yorkshire Police and Kirklees Highways Department. It was RESOLVED that the Chair of the Safeguarding Children Board be invited to the public meeting.

468 School Transport

Further to Min. No. 364, the Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees MC replying to queries raised by members. It was RESOLVED that

a) a copy of the Council’s reply be sent to Cllr Dodds with the request that he indicate whether he is satisfied with the reply

b) the Neighbourhood Policing Team be asked to allocate officers to patrol the buses carrying pupils to the middle schools and Shelley College

c) that all schools within the parish and those serving children in the parish be asked to provide copies of their school travel plans

d) that a copy of the letter to Kirklees MC be circulated to all councillors and forwarded to the Kirklees Association of Governors for their views.

469 Play Areas - Lower Cumberworth and Birdsedge

Further to Minute No. 369, it was reported that we had been notified on 1 February that the play area at Lower Cumberworth would be finished within the next few days and a photograph was circulated showing part of the completed work. It was RESOLVED that

a) costings be obtained for a sign to be erected on at the Bluehills Lane development signposting the play area in Lower Cumberworth and that the sign should indicate that the play area was funded jointly by Denby Dale Parish Council, the Area Committee and Kirklees MC

b) a letter of thanks be sent to John Fletcher of Kirklees MC

c) enquiries be made to establish whether publicity is available for parents giving information about children’s recreation facilities in the parish.

It was further reported that the equipment for Birdsedge had been ordered and delivery was expected within 8 weeks with installation expected to be complete by spring. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.

470 Provision of Bus Shelters – Skelmanthorpe and High Flatts

Further to Minute No. 374, the Clerk reported that Metro had indicated that our letter had been passed onto officers for investigation. Cllr Mrs Birdsall reported that the item was on the agenda of the Area Committee Planning meeting scheduled for the coming Thursday.

471 Scissett Mount Care Home

Cllr Turner expressed concern about the fact that the Scissett Mount Care Home continued to remain empty. It was RESOLVED that Kirklees MC be asked to report on its future plans for this building.

472 New Denby Dale Parish Accident Prevention Committee

The Assistant Clerk reported that the new committee had now been established from a merger of the Road Safety Committee and the Home and Leisure Safety Committee and that the first meeting will be held at a date to be decided.

473 Visit to Textile Heritage Unit, Skelmanthorpe

The Clerk submitted information about the Textile Museum at 6 Queen Street, Skelmanthorpe and confirmed that a visit of a party of up to 10 had been arranged for Tuesday, 17 April at 7pm. Councillors were asked to indicate if they wished to attend and to confirm their attendance with the Clerk by the next meeting.

474 Play Facilities Skelmanthorpe

Further to Minute No. 375, the Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees MC confirming that there are already public open spaces monies provided for a play facility on a new development off Station Road. Further there are S106 funds available to update the existing facility in the recreation ground off Commercial Road and finally a new play facility will be constructed on the housing development on Cumberworth Lane. It was RESOLVED that Kirklees MC be asked to confirm whether these sites would be developed with full play equipment or whether they would just be open spaces.

475 Timetable for Local Elections 2007

The Clerk submitted Kirklees Council’s draft timetable for the forthcoming local elections. It was RESOLVED that the information be noted.

476 Yorkshire Ambulance Service Community Responder Scheme

Further to Minute No. 325, the cheque for £954.66 was presented to the Yorkshire Ambulance Service on 19 January. To ensure the continuing operation of the scheme, the Chair proposed that the Finance and General Purposes Committee should consider the possibility of donating a fixed sum on an annual basis. It was

RESOLVED that the item be placed on the agenda of the next Finance and General Purposes Committee.

477 Traffic Management Scheme Huddersfield Road/Station Road, Skelmanthorpe

The Assistant Clerk reported on progress in connection with the above scheme. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.

478 Post Office Network Consultation

The Clerk submitted correspondence from Postwatch inviting comments from the Parish Council in connection with the ongoing consultation into the future of the local post office network. It was RESOLVED that members submit comments to the Clerk for collation and that a draft reply be considered at the next full council meeting.

479 Reports from Kirklees Council

The Assistant Clerk submitted reports from Kirklees Council on Leeds Bradford Airport, Recycling Plan for Kirklees, Skelmanthorpe Youth Club, Admission arrangements to maintained nursery classes, improvements to smaller town centres and villages (litter bins, roadside seats), introductory tenancies for council tenants. It was RESOLVED that the reports be noted.

480 Reports

The Clerk submitted the Local Councils Update for information. It was reported that Andy Wickham, Countryside Officer would be attending the June meeting to give a report to the new council. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.

481 Plans Scrutiny Committee

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2007 be signed by the Chair, Cllr Watson as a correct record.

482 Footpath No. 77

Further to Minute No. 457, the Council’s attention was drawn to the fact that Footpath No. 77 was partially blocked and it was RESOLVED that this issue be brought to the attention of Kirklees MC.

483 Parish Plan

Cllr Allen submitted the draft Parish Plan and confirmed that he would be presenting it at the following public meetings: 7 February, Upper Denby School, 8 February, Methodist Church School Room, Emley, 9 February Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe, 12 February, Darby & Joan Club, Clayton West, 14 February the Methodist Church, Denby Dale. Cllr Allen confirmed that the Parish Plan would be amended in light of any major changes proposed by members of the public at the forthcoming meetings. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.

484 Appointment of School Governors

The Clerk submitted requests for nominations to the governing bodies of Scissett CE (A) First School and Shelley College. It was RESOLVED that this issue be deferred until the first meeting of the new council after the May elections.

485 Government and Local Authority Documents

No documents were submitted.

486 Modernising Local Government

There was nothing to report from either the Area Committee or the Standards Committee.

487 Yorkshire Local Councils Association

The Clerk submitted information about a training series for those interested in chairing parish and town councils. Members expressed concern that the training was being offered in March, ahead of the May elections when sitting councillors would not be in a position to know whether or not they would continue to be councillors after the elections. It was RESOLVED that these points be made to the Yorkshire LCA. The Clerk also submitted the White Rose Update of January 2007 and it was RESOLVED that the document be noted.

488 Orders for Payment

It was RESOLVED that orders for payment on schedule No. 448 totalling £4388.23 be authorised.

489 Date of Next Meetings

§ Full Council at 7pm on 6 March 2007

§ Plans Scrutiny at 7.30pm on 27 February 2007

§ Public Meeting on Transport at 7pm on 13 February at St Augustine’s Church, Scissett

§ Environmental Trust at 7.30pm on 20 February 2007

490 Planning Applications

No major applications were submitted.

491 Possible Review of Parishes

The Clerk reported that Kirklees MC Cabinet had, at its meeting on 24 January, agreed that a review of Parish arrangements should be initiated once the outcome of the current Local Government Bill is known, which is likely to be during the latter part of 2007. This would cover the whole of the metropolitan area. It was RESOLVED that the proposed review be welcomed.

Signed……………………………………..

CHAIR

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