Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on
Members Present: Cllr G Turner (Chair), E Shaw (Vice Chair), J A Barlow, M Barlow, J
361 Open Session
A member of the public raised questions about the Parish Council’s newsletter “Focus on the Dale”.
362 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence were submitted by Cllrs D Kaye, C Barnfield, J C Birdsall, A Heaton, K Thursby and
363 Declarations of Councillors’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
364 Admission of the Public
It was RESOLVED that there were no items requiring the exclusion of the press and public.
365 East Peak Innovation Partnership DPE Leader Task Group
Cllr Trevor Bagshaw of Sheffield City Council attended the meeting to give a verbal update on the application for RDPE funding which the Parish Council has agreed to join. He explained that the total amount of money available was £1.2m over four years, or £300,000 per year, to be spread over five or six partnerships. It was anticipated that the funds would be available in the middle of the year and the group has 4 to 6 months to work up business plans. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Bagshaw be thanked for his presentation and that the Clerk attend the Task Group meeting to be held the next day in Deepcar.
366 Minutes of Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the council meeting held on
367 Minutes of Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18 December 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee.
368
Further to Minute No. 279, the Clerk submitted correspondence from the Yellow Bus Commission welcoming the Council’s interest in the work of the Commission and inviting the Council to submit any evidence of issues facing home to school transport in the area which may be used to inform the Commission’s report. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to the Commission with information about school transport problems as previously discussed by the Council.
369 Skelmanthorpe Ward Vacancy
The Clerk reported that the electoral services officer had confirmed that there were no requests for an election. As a result, the Parish Council would have to co-opt a member to represent the Skelmanthorpe Ward and the Council was now invited to agree the procedure to be adopted for co-option. The Clerk explained that there was no laid down procedure, but that the options open to the Council were either
a) To advertise the post and ask interested candidates to submit a letter indicating why they wish to be considered for the post; then invite them to attend the next meeting when each candidate would be given an agreed allotted time to speak, or
b) Rely on local knowledge, word of mouth or personal recommendation. Individual councillors may approach individuals they think may be interested. They would be invited to attend the next council meeting to address the meeting for an agreed allotted time.
It was RESOLVED that the co-option procedure be a mixture of both options, that the vacancy for suitably qualified candidates be advertised through a press release to the local press, on the council’s website, through posters to be displayed on the council’s notice board and by members across the parish, and by word of mouth. Candidates would be invited to attend the February meeting of the council and the procedure at the meeting would be as follows:
§ Candidates must be nominated, i.e. proposed and seconded by a serving councillor before any vote is taken
§ The successful candidate must receive an absolute majority vote of those present and voting. Voting to be by a show of hands.
370 Correspondence with Cllr Bolt and Press Reports
The Clerk submitted a dossier of correspondence with Cllr Bolt, with copies of associated press coverage. The Clerk reported that in view of Cllr Bolt’s reference in the article to a review of the parish council structure in Kirklees being long overdue, she had written to the YLCA and Mary Creagh MP to obtain further information about the procedures governing reviews by District Councils of Parish Councils as contained in the new Local Government Act 2007. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
371 Liaison with Local Businesses
Cllrs Jane Birdsall, Richard Brook, Margaret Barlow, Tony Barlow and Eddie Shaw indicated that they would be attending the drop in session and other Councillors would attend if available. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Shaw, as Vice Chair, should make some opening remarks and the Clerk agreed to contact Cllr Wilson to ask him to make a contribution.
372 Revised Waste Collection Scheme
Further to minute Nos. 343 and 348, the Clerk submitted correspondence from Dave McMahon, Environmental Projects Manager of Kirklees Council giving an update on the new waste collection scheme and responding to the Council’s enquiry about the recycling of plastics. Mr McMahon explained that the new collections have settled down quickly and are working well. It was RESOLVED that Mr McMahon be thanked for his detailed reply, but that his attention should be drawn to difficulties experienced with waste collections over the Christmas period, namely that the promised Christmas collection did not take place in Skelmanthorpe and that the tags giving details of Christmas collections which had been loosely attached to waste bins had been blown away by the wind and therefore residents were not adequately informed about collection times.
In response to the question about the recycling of plastics, Mr McMahon explained that only plastics made of HDPE or PET are recyclable. Other packaging, such as margarine tubs, is often made of polystyrene or other plastics which are not recyclable. In addition, packaging, such as plastic trays, may be either recyclable HDPE or non-recyclable forms of plastic and it is too expensive manually to pick out the non-recyclable items. For this reason, until an economically viable mechanical method is developed for separating out the recyclable from the non-recyclable plastics, the Council has to ensure that recyclers only recycle bottles.
In view of the apparent impossibility of recycling yoghurt pots and other similar plastics, it was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to Mary Creagh MP and Kirklees Council to ask them to put pressure on food manufacturers to reduce the use of these materials in their packaging.
373 Guidelines for Public Participation Sessions
The Clerk submitted draft guidelines for public participation sessions. Members agreed that the guidelines should make a reference to personal or offensive remarks being unacceptable and that speakers should be encouraged to address their comments to the corporate business of the council not to individual members. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk revise the guidelines to incorporate the suggested changes and email the new draft to members in advance of the February Council meeting. It was FURTHER RESOLVED that the guidelines be the first item on the agenda of the February meeting before the public session.
374 Planning Appeal
The Clerk submitted a planning appeal by Mr and Mrs Blackburn against the refusal by the council of an application for the conversion of one dwelling into two at 1 Springfield Terrace, Emley Moor. Since the Council had objected to the original application, no further action was necessary. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
375 Publicity Sub Committee
It was RESOLVED that a meeting be held to discuss the possibility of setting up a publicity sub committee, that Cllrs Richard Brook, Alison Tribe and Graham Turner attend and that the Clerk circulate dates for the meeting.
376 Notice Boards
Members submitted information about notice boards in their areas and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk seek to display notices in notice boards in Lower Denby, Birdsedge Village Hall and the Old Post Office, Upper Cumberworth, Skelmanthorpe, Scissett, Emley (the clinic, the church and the old folk’s flats) and Cumberworth First School, in addition to the two already used in High Flatts and Upper Denby,
377 Working Party on Public Transport
With reference to Minute No. 337, the Clerk submitted correspondence from Stagecoach enclosing the revised timetables due to be implemented from 26 January and confirming the plans announced at the Kirkburton Parish Council Meeting to introduce 6 new buses onto routes 80-82. The Clerk also submitted correspondence from WYPTA acknowledging receipt of the passengers’ diaries and confirming that a meeting with interested parties would be arranged early in the year to review progress.
The Clerk reported further, that she had phoned Rupert Cox the Commercial Director of Stagecoach to ask for a progress report on a number of issues. She reported that there were no immediate plans to introduce a new timetable to the Matherville Estate, though this was not ruled out. If any changes were made, they would be unlikely to be made until the summer. In relation to the service on the
378 Representation
a) In the absence of volunteers to represent the council on the Pubic Rights of Way Forum, it was RESOLVED that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
b) The Clerk submitted an invitation from the Yorkshire & Humber Market Towns Network to a Richmond Study Visit on 29 January. It was RESOLVED that the invitation be noted since no member was able to attend.
379 Finance Matters
a) Orders for Payment: It was RESOLVED that orders for payment on schedule No. 464 totalling £9930.28 be authorised.
b) Budget Report: The Clerk presented a budget report to
380 Local Government Act 2007
The Clerk submitted information from the YLCA about the new Local Government Act 2007, as well as two papers from Kirklees Council: one about the application of the new legislation in relation to Standards Committee and the second which was to be discussed later that week by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee concerning the significant points of the Act and proposed action to implement the key components. It was RESOLVED that the latter document be discussed at the February meeting.
381 Traffic Survey Birdsedge
The Clerk presented a report on the traffic survey conducted in October in Birdsedge. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to both Kirklees MC and Birdsedge Residents’ Association secretary Christine Wilson supporting the request for a reduction to a 30mph speed limit on the A629 through Birdsedge.
382 February Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the issue of the state of
383 Dates of next meetings
§ Finance & General Purposes Committee at 7.30 on
§ Plans Scrutiny Committee at
§ Council Meeting at
Signed……………………………………….
CHAIR
