ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DENBY DALE PARISH COUNCIL 2004 - 2005
CHAIR’S OVERVIEW
Organisation
We are now halfway through the four-year cycle and have now achieved Quality Status, which may give the Council extra devolved powers and will give us more influence over the delivery of services within Kirklees. We are also negotiating a new Charter with Kirklees M.C., while striving to maintain our independence.
The Area Committee has become more prominent over the last year, which has caused some concern within the Parish Council. A way forward must be found to work with the Area Committee for the good of the people of Denby Dale. There are opportunities for joint funding and more communication and a strong lead from the Parish Council.
Communication
The Parish Plan is being written, with public meetings being held in most villages as a means of deciding the contents of the Plan. It is hoped that the Plan will be published at the end of 2005 / beginning of 2006 and may be used to influence the Local Development Framework (LDF).
Our attendance at Emley Show in 2004 was a good public relations exercise, which I hope will continue in 2005.
Contentious Items
Roads continue to be a major concern, especially speeding in Emley, Skelmanthorpe and Birdsedge, the increase in the volume of traffic in the area and their general condition. There is a need to review all the speed limits in the Parish and to improve enforcement. Upper Cumberworth has benefited from a crossing and a well marked speed limit, and Denby Dale has a long awaited crossing, but there is a lot to do in the coming months.
Transport is an ongoing problem, especially from the outlying villages. There have been losses, the 484 and the Emley link, but the cross-border bus is still serving Upper Denby from Penistone. Evening transport is an especial problem, but as yet the actual demand is unknown.
The fear of crime is of concern, but the crime figures for Denby Dale Parish would indicate that this is a safe area to live. The Police have recently changed to community policing with 1 Sergeant, 2 Constables and 2 Police Community Support Officers working out of Kirkburton. The Police have also agreed to attend a public meeting organised by the Parish Council in April, to give a short presentation and to answer questions.
The possible siting of two wind turbines at Pool Hill, Denby Dale, has raised a lot of opposition, which was evident at the public meeting held in September, organised by the Parish Council. As yet no planning application has been received. Kirklees M.C. has said they will hold another public meeting when / if the application has been submitted.
The allotments at Cumberworth Road have been sold, and planning permission has been granted for housing development after a long battle. New allotments, with improved facilities, will be developed near the Windmill, using funds promised by the developer.
Youth
Youth Facilities are progressing, with Sunnybank, Denby Dale now in use, thanks to money from the Parish Council and the Denby Dale Pie Fund. Improvements at Emley, with a Parish Council grant of £7,500 are well advanced. The facilities at Skelmanthorpe, with another grant from the Parish Council of £7,500 are progressing. Youth facilities at Clayton West are under discussion with local residents. Since the opening of the Sunnybank youth area there has been a reduction in vandalism around the Denby Dale Nursery School. The Parish Council as also set aside £7,500 for next year’s youth facilities provision.
The Future
With Quality Status, we should have more influence on the services provided by Kirklees Metropolitan Council. We do need to raise our profile within the community and find other worthwhile causes within the Parish to develop.
Clr. Robert G. Allen
Chair 2004/2005
SUMMARY OF COUNCIL MEETINGS – APRIL 2004 TO APRIL 2005
April, 2004
At the April Council Meeting, officers from Kirklees Metropolitan Council gave a presentation on wind farms and explained how planning applications would be considered in the light of recent Government guidelines on how much wind power each region should be looking at producing. Kirklees officers were also in attendance to explain how the District Council was looking at introducing ‘front line service points’. Skelmanthorpe Council Offices has been picked as a pilot scheme which will mean the combination of Library and Cash Office services – thus enabling the public to access both services over longer opening hours. Other matters discussed included concerns about parking in King Street, Skelmanthorpe, speeding traffic in Emley, provision of road markings at Park Gate, Skelmanthorpe and at Shelley High School and litter on the A636.
May, 2004
The Council held its Annual Parish Meeting on the 18th May. Reports were received from the Chair of the Council, School Governors and representatives of the Road Safety Committee, the Home and Leisure Safety Committee, the Environment Trust, the Denby Dale Community Association and the Clayton West Millennium Green Trust.
The Annual Council Meeting was also held in May. Clr. Robert Allen was elected as Chair of the Council and Clr. Tony Barlow was elected as Vice-Chair. Members were appointed to the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Plans Scrutiny Committee. Representatives to other organisations were also appointed, as was the Responsible Financial Officer. It was agreed that subscriptions be paid to the Yorkshire Local Councils’ Association, the Society of Local Council Clerks, the Yorkshire Rural Community Council, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Open Spaces Society and the Penistone Line Partnership. The accounts for the year 2003/2004 were accepted. Other matters under discussion included the youth initiative at Sunnybank, Denby Dale, where it was reported that play equipment would be ordered and installed on site, the acceptance of the Annual Report and the appointment of a School Governor to Nortonthorpe Hall School. It was also reported that a grant had been received from the Countryside Agency in respect of the production of a Parish Plan.
A Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting was also held in May and matters for discussion included the upgrading of footpath 111 at Thorpes Crescent, Skelmanthorpe to a bridleway. Observations were made on a number of planning applications.
June, 2004
At its Council meeting in June, John Laycock, the Community Liaison Officer gave a presentation on the work of the Community Liaison team. Members of the public attended the meeting and expressed their concern about the possible introduction of a wind farm in Denby Dale. A report of the Public Inquiry relating to Bridleway modification orders at Pilling Lane/Langley Lane, Scissett/Clayton West was given to the meeting. Other matters under discussion included concerns about drainage in Elm Street, Skelmanthorpe, the possible removal of B.T. phone boxes and parking on Commercial Road, Skelmanthorpe. The Hepworth site visit was arranged for 6th September, 2004 and it was agreed to meet with the District Ward Councillors and the Area Committee Co-ordinator to discuss issues relating to that Committee.
The Finance and General Purposes Committee held its meeting on the 22nd June and elected their Chair and Vice Chair for the Civic Year. Grant applications were considered and a total of £3,000 was awarded to local organisations. It was agreed that a further supply of ‘poop scoops’ be purchased for distribution around the community.
The Plans Scrutiny Committee met on the 29th June and appointed their Chair and Vice Chair for the Civic Year. Planning applications were considered and observations forwarded to Kirklees Planning Services.
July, 2004
Members of the Environment Trust attended the meeting to give a presentation on the Landscape Character Assessment. Members of the public expressed concern about the possible siting of wind farms in the locality and about the speed and volume of traffic through Emley. The
Council agreed to facilitate a public meeting in order that the issue of wind farms in general could be discussed in the public arena. Kirklees were requested to hold a site visit in Emley to discuss concerns about the speed of the traffic through the village. Other matters under discussion included the meeting of criteria for the achievement of quality parish council status; lack of pavements at Ponker Lane between Skelmanthorpe and Lower Cumberworth; the completion of the Annual Return for Audit purposes.
August, 2004
The Plans Scrutiny Committee met to consider planning applications. Other matters under discussion included concerns about the flyposting of business notices on Wakefield Road between Durkar and the Kirklees boundary and notification of the site visit to Hepworth Quarries in September.
September, 2004
The newly elected Denby Dale Ward Councillors attended the Parish Council meeting this month. The Council was informed that money was available for spending on pavement improvements in the Denby Dale Parish and various suggestions were put forward as to which areas would benefit the most from this initiative. Council was reminded that the Parish Council facilitated public meeting on wind farms would take place on 21st September, 2004 at St. Augustine’s Church in Scissett. Observations were made on the West Yorkshire Police Consultation Strategy. A petition was received from young people in Skelmanthorpe who wished to see improvements at the skateboard ramp at Cross Lane. Councillors agreed that this site be put forward as another area that could benefit from the parish youth facilities initiative. Other matters under discussion included the green bin collection, speeding along Dene Road and Westfield Avenue in Skelmanthorpe and matters relating to achieving Quality status. Various reports were discussed relating to the Model Code of Conduct for Employees and the Future of Local Government.
The public meeting regarding Wind Farms was held on the 21st September. The meeting went very well and different points of view were put forward and discussed.
October, 2004
At the meeting in October, the Council agreed that the Police be invited to a public meeting facilitated by the Council. Concerns were expressed about the dis-establishment of the school crossing in Denby Dale. Council was informed that a trial collection of glass was to be undertaken in the Skelmanthorpe area by Kirklees M.C. The Youth Facilities Provision initiative is also progressing well. Other matters under discussion included speeding traffic along Manorstead, Meadow View and Thorpes Crescent in Skelmanthorpe and the provision of parking restrictions along Wakefield Road, Scissett.
November, 2004
At its meeting in November it was agreed that members visit the Recycling facility at Kirklees M.C. It was agreed that Kirklees M.C. be informed of the Parish Council’s concerns regarding possible flooding and water quality conditions at the development site in Station Road, Skelmanthorpe and that Huddersfield University be contacted regarding quality of the soil at the site. Other matters discussed included waiting restrictions at Station Road, Skelmanthorpe, Quality Parish Council status and the formulation of a draft charter with Kirklees Council. The Council also appointed Clr. Barlow as Chair Elect for 2005/2006.
The Finance and General Purposes Committee met in November and made recommendations in respect of the estimates of expenditure and the precept for the year 2005/2006.
The Plans Scrutiny Committee also met and considered planning applications. Other matters under discussion included concerns about the diverted footpath at Lower Busker Farm and the footpath leading to Scissett Middle School.
December, 2004
At the meeting in December, the Council agreed the estimates of expenditure, and set the precept, for 2005/2006. Highway representatives from Kirklees M.C. were asked to attend a site visit at Station Road, Skelmanthorpe in order that road safety issues in the vicinity of the Station Road / Huddersfield Road junction, could be addressed, as well as discussing the problems encountered at the new roundabout. The Council also agreed to support Emley residents in their fight for a speed limit of 40mph from Jagger Lane to the village boundary. Other matters under discussion included the proposed closure of Bretton Hall College and the progress of the Quality Status initiative.
January, 2005
At Its meeting, the Council agreed to support residents and users of Bedale Drive and Bedale Avenue in Skelmanthorpe in their campaign to have these roads gritted in bad weather. The Council was informed that a decision had been made to close Bretton Hall College. It was also noted that in respect of the dis-establishment of the School Crossing Patrol on Wakefield Road, Denby Dale, Kirklees M.C. had agreed to carry out further surveys in January and September, 2005. Other items discussed included a progress report on the Quality Status initiative and consideration of planning notifications.
February, 2005
The meeting in February saw the co-option of Clr. Jane Birdsall, who has filled the vacancy on the Skelmanthorpe Ward. Members reported on their visit to the Vine Street Recycling Facility and on the site visit at Station Road, Skelmanthorpe. In the latter case, Kirklees M.C. have agreed to extend restrictions on Station Road to include the entrance to The Foldings and also between 2 and 10 Huddersfield Road, Skelmanthorpe. Markings at the roundabout will be altered to make the approach more user friendly. It was reported that the Police had agreed to attend a public meeting on 27th April, 2005 at which members of the public can put forward their concerns about police related issues. Public meetings relating to the formulation of the Parish Plan would also be held, over the coming months, in villages across the district. Quality Status and related issues were also discussed.
March, 2005
At the meeting in March it was agreed that the public meeting with the Police would take place on Wednesday, 27th April, 2005 at St. Augustines Church, Scissett. Public meetings had been held in the district to further the progress of the Parish Plan. A number of issues had been raised at these meetings including concerns about road safety through Birdsedge and the lack of post box facilities in Birdsedge. Other matters discussed included road maintenance problems in Emley and update reports on the Quality Council initiative.
The Finance and General Purposes Committee met in March and discussed allocation of grant aid for the year 2005/2006. Grants were made to two youth based projects – the provision of an all weather multi-court facility in Emley and renovations and extensions of the Skelmanthorpe Skate Park.
April, 2005
At the meeting in April, the Council were informed that they had been successful in achieving Quality status. Inspector Barnett of the Neighbourhood Policing Team addressed the meeting and explained how this new initiative would work. Matters for discussion at the public meeting with the Police were formulated. It was agreed to write to Kirklees M.C. expressing concern about the future plans for Scissett Mount Care Home and the Assistant Director of Community Care Services was invited to attend the June meeting of the Council. Other matters under discussion included the agreement by the Post Office to erect a post box near the Village Hall in Birdsedge. The Plans Scrutiny Committee heard a presentation from Clr. Shaw regarding Rural Transport. This identified different schemes in operation throughout the country. Planning applications were also considered.
DENBY DALE PARISH COUNCIL
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS 2004/2005
· The Parish Council in the year 2004/2005 precepted the sum of £79,000
· As a co-funding partner, the Parish Council’s contribution to the Denby Dale Parish Countryside Management Project was £24,000.
· £3,000 was distributed in grant aid to organisations within the Parish. £2,500 was allocated to the Environment Trust for the environmental small grant scheme.
· £15,000 was distributed in grant aid to youth initiatives in Emley and Skelmanthorpe, the former being the provision of an all weather multi-court and the latter extending and renovating the skate park.
· The Parish Council also supported, by grant aid, the Primary and Middle Schools within the Parish and the Road and Home and Leisure Safety Committees.
· Donations were also made to the Royal British Legion.
Unaudited Balance Sheet
1.4.2004 Balance b/f 41,209.47
Income 92,690.03
133,899.50
Expenditure 91,873.92
42,025.58
less earmarked reserves 17,048.37
31.3.2005 Balance c/f 24,977.21