Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 5 February 2008 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllr G Turner (Chair), E Shaw (Vice Chair), M Barlow, J E Birdsall, R Brook, T Sigsworth, S Simpson, A Stimson, K Thursby, A Tribe, K Waites, N Wilson
409 Guidelines for Public Participation Sessions
The Clerk submitted draft guidelines for public participation sessions. Subject to some minor amendments, it was RESOLVED that the guidelines be approved and issued to members of the public who attend meetings.
410 Open Session
No members of the public raised any issues.
411 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence were submitted by Cllrs C Barnfield, J A Barlow, J C Birdsall, A Heaton, D Kaye and M Mills. It was RESOLVED that the reasons for absence from the above councillors be accepted as valid.
412 Declarations of Councillors’ Interests
Cllr K Thursby declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 22.3 Denby Dale Centre and Cllrs E Shaw and R Brook declared a personal interest in Item 22.3 Denby Dale Centre.
413 Admission of the Public
It was RESOLVED that there were no items requiring the exclusion of the press and public.
414 Guest Speaker from Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Huddersfield
Fatihul-Haq attended the meeting with two of his colleagues and spoke on the subject of “The Role of Islam in Secular Britain”. A number of questions were put by members. The speaker presented the Council with a book entitled “Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth” by Mirza Tahir Ahmad. It was RESOLVED that the Fatiul-Haq be thanked both for his interesting, thought-provoking talk and for the book.
415 Minutes of Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the council meeting held on 8 January 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
416 Minutes of Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 22 January 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee. The Clerk drew the council’s attention to the discussion which had taken place about the A-boards and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk find out what the position was with regard to insurance in the event of an accident involving an A-board.
417 Minutes of Finance and General Purposes Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held on 29 January 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee, subject to the removal of the words “with rent costs” in line 6 on page 2.
418 Co-option of Councillor
The Clerk reported that no applications had been received and it was RESOLVED that the matter be put on the agenda of the March meeting.
419 Denby Dale District Business Association
The Clerk reported that those local business representatives who had attended the drop in session on 25 January had agreed that it would be beneficial to establish a business association and that the Parish Council would host the first few meetings to get the organisation up and running. The first meeting will be held in the Council Chamber at 7pm on 20 February 2008 and all councillors were invited. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
420 Publicity Sub Committee
The Clerk submitted a report of the meeting held to determine whether or not to set up a Publicity Sub Committee. She reported that the meeting had agreed that a Sub Committee was not necessary but a number of issues were discussed and recommendations made:
a) Newsletter
There had been some discussion at council meetings about the distribution of the quarterly newsletter. It was understood that it is currently left in libraries and health centres, pinned to the internal notice board and it is accessible on the website. It was agreed that we need to broaden the distribution to include community associations and dental surgeries. There was also some discussion about whether the newsletter should be distributed to households. It was RESOLVED that members who were able to distribute newsletters to households in their areas should do so, that the Clerk seek to ensure that the newsletter is as widely distributed as possible and that copies of the newsletter be emailed to Councillors.
b) Use of Village Newsletters for Parish Council News
It was noted that Parish Council news is currently covered in the Emley Voices (through Cllr Shaw), the Birdsedge Village Voice (through Cllr Tribe) and Connect (through the monthly advert and any other articles councillors wish to submit). It was RESOLVED that members obtain information about their local village newsletters and endeavour to place articles concerning Parish Council activities.
c) Local Press
The Clerk reported out that she had been contacted by Mark Bradley, the editor of the Wakefield Express who wished to sound out the feasibility of the Express expanding its coverage of the Denby Dale area. The Clerk indicated that she was now sending press releases to the Wakefield Express as well as the Huddersfield Examiner and it was agreed that press releases should in future also be sent to the Barnsley Chronicle. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
421 Working Party on Public Transport
Cllr R Brook gave an up date from the Working Party on Public Transport. The amended timetable with minor improvements had been introduced but it was too early to establish its impact. Neil Holt of Metro was organising a meeting to review the service and Parish Councils would be invited. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to Metro restating the required improvements in the bus service identified by the Parish Council over previous months in advance of the meeting, namely, improvements in the Arriva service from Holmfirth to Wakefield, the reinstatement of a bus link to Barnsley and through the Matherville Estate; improving the Stagecoach services to Huddersfield; and offering better train links with trains at Denby Dale.
422 Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
The Clerk submitted various documents outlining the impact of the new Local Government Act. She also reported that she had contacted Mary Creagh MP to obtain further information about the status of Parish Council reviews under the new legislation. Mary Creagh had obtained information from an adviser to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which clarified the current situation. Parish Reviews were already provided for in the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. Any wholesale changes to existing parish councils would only be permitted by the Secretary of State if absolutely justified. For instance, any demand for the abolition of an existing parish would require evidence of clear and sustained support within the local community for such action over a period of two terms, i.e. 8 years. Any review conducted by the principal authority must consult with the Parish Council as well as local electors. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk explore with other Parish Councils the possibility of asking Kirklees Council to provide a training seminar on the new legislation.
423 Christmas Waste Collections, Skelmanthorpe
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees Council responding to the Parish Council’s concerns about the Christmas waste collections. Kirklees Council accepted there were problems with the tags and was now looking at alternatives. The Parish Council was asked to supply addresses of properties which had not had their bins emptied. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to Kirklees suggesting a) they supply all households with stickers to attach to bins, b) they put detailed information about the Christmas waste collections on the Council’s website.
424 Major Planning Application
The Clerk submitted details of Planning Application No. 2007/60/95126 – outline application for the erection of 30 dwellings at The Piggeries, Strike Lane, Skelmanthorpe. She explained that the application had been discussed at the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting on 22 January and that the Committee had recommended that the Council object. The application was a modified version of a similar application which had been refused last year because the site concerned was open provisional land, because the development would cause a huge increase in traffic in an area which already suffers from congestion and because it conflicts with other planning requirements. Moreover, the new application is for 30 dwellings compared with the original application for 24 dwellings. The Clerk advised that a number of letters of objection had been received from local residents. It was RESOLVED that the Council object to the application for the reasons outlined.
425 Department of Communities and Local Government Consultation
The Clerk submitted DCLG consultation document “Orders and Regulations Relating to the Conduct of Local Authority Members in England”. It was RESOLVED that the document be noted and no comments be made thereon.
426 Wakefield MDC Local Development Framework
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Wakefield MDC requesting comments on revised policy documents under the Local Development Framework. It was RESOLVED that the documents be discussed at the next Plans Scrutiny Committee.
427 Matters Raised by Members
a) Cllr Sigsworth requested that action be taken to reopen Frank Lane between Clayton West and Emley which had been closed since the floods in June 2007. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk raise the matter with Kirklees Council.
b) Cllr Brook pointed out that following the recent top dressing of the Wakefield Road through Denby Dale, the chippings which had been laid on the surface had now been washed to the side of the road and were piled up causing problems to passing traffic. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk report the matter to Kirklees Council.
428 Standards Committee
The Clerk reported that Cllr J C Birdsall had indicated that he wished to resign from the Standards Committee and that at short notice, Cllr Shaw, as Vice Chair, had attended the Standards Committee meeting on 30 January, as a substitute. Cllr Shaw presented a report of the meeting where the main item of business had been a discussion about the appointment of the independent members to the new local Standards Board. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Shaw be thanked for his report. The Clerk indicated that the Council needed to appoint a member to replace Cllr J C Birdsall. It was RESOLVED that this be an item on the agenda in March.
429 Website
The Clerk submitted statistical information about the use of the website. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
430 SLCC Training Day
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk attend the SLCC training day on 7 March.
431 Public Rights of Way Forum
The Clerk reported that it was necessary to elect a representative to the Public Rights of way Forum to replace Cllr J C Birdsall. It was RESOLVED that Cllr A Stimson be nominated as the Council’s representative to the Public Rights of Way Forum.
432 Denby Dale Parish Environment Trust
The Clerk reported that it was necessary to elect a representative to the Executive Committee of the Environment Trust following the resignation of Cllr Cole. It was RESOLVED that Cllr S E Simpson be nominated as the Council’s representative to the Executive Committee of the denby Dale Parish Environment Trust.
433 NALC Conference 20-22 May 2008
It was RESOLVED not to send a representative to the NALC conference.
434 Budget 2008-2009
It was RESOLVED that estimates of expenditure for the year 2008-2009 totalling £106,640 be authorised.
435 Precept 2008-2009
It was RESOLVED that the sum of £99,000 be precepted for the year 2008-2009.
436 Denby Dale Centre Grant
The Clerk drew the Council’s attention to Minute No. 392a) of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 22 January 2008 which recommended a grant be awarded to the Denby Dale Centre in the sum of £3250 towards rental costs. It was RESOLVED that the grant be awarded in principle, pending receipt of the required financial documentation in support of the grant.
437 Orders for Payment
It was RESOLVED that Orders for Payment No.466 totalling £2479.41 be approved.
438 Budget Report
The Clerk submitted a budget report to 31 January 2008. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
439 March Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the following items be discussed at the March Council meeting: cycle lanes, misuse of motorbikes on Broomfield Lane, Emley. It was also RESOLVED to invite a police representative to a future meeting.
440 Dates of next meetings
26 February – Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting starting at 7.30pm
4 March – Council Meeting starting at 7pm
11 March – Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting starting at 7.30pm
18 March – Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting starting at 7.30pm
Signed……………………………………….
CHAIR
