Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 1 April 2008 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllr G Turner (Chair), E Shaw (Vice Chair), J C Barnfield, A Barlow, M Barlow, J C Birdsall, J E Birdsall,, R Brook, C Rimmer, T Sigsworth, A Stimson, A Tribe, K Waites, N Wilson
500 Agenda
It was RESOLVED to change the order of the agenda to enable Inspector Harvey to speak first.
501 Open Session
No matters were raised by members of the public.
502 Police Report
Inspector Nicholas Harvey, head of the local Neighbourhood Police Team addressed the meeting. He explained that the aim of the new NPT was to have local officers dealing with local problems. He explain that because of the low crime rates in the area, there were currently only two officers allocated, but that this should increase to 4 in the next few months together with some additional Police Community Support Officers. Nevertheless, the number of crimes committed in Denby Dale and Kirkburton is low, and there were 138 fewer victims of crime this year compared with the previous year. In addition, the area had seen a 30% reduction in crime over the past three years. There were currently three main policy issues in the area: anti-social behaviour; parking/HGVs and road traffic accidents; and the need to engage more with members of the community.
Inspector Harvey then addressed two issues which the Parish Council had raised with him previously. Firstly, in response to the problems of car parking outside Shelley College, he explained there were no parking restrictions on the road outside the college, but it was illegal for vehicles to be parked in a way which caused an obstruction, i.e. on pavements requiring people to walk in the road to get past a parked car. This could be addressed by the police and the Kirklees Council enforcement officers. It was his intention to deal with the problem by working with Shelley College, and by talking to staff and students about the need for more responsible parking. In response to a question, he explained that there were currently no plans to introduce residents’ only parking, but this was a matter for Kirklees Council. Secondly, he addressed the problem of off road bikes on Frank Lane. The police were working with the Kirklees Council anti-social behaviour unit to deal with this problem and some bikes have already been confiscated due to anti-social behaviour or lack of insurance. In response to questions, he explained the new Capture House crime reduction scheme and urged people not to leave valuables in parked cars. It was RESOLVED that Inspector Harvey be thanked for his report.
503 Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs A Heaton, D Kaye, M Mills, S Simpson and K Thursby. It was RESOLVED that the reasons for absence from the above councillors be accepted as valid.
504 Declarations of Councillors’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
505 Admission of the Public
It was RESOLVED that agenda item 19 be heard in private session.
506 Minutes of Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the council meeting held on 4 March 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
507 Minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Meeting held on 11 March 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee.
508 Minutes of Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18 March 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee.
509 Co-option of Councillor
The Clerk reported that neither of the two individuals who had been proposed at the previous meeting were able to proceed It was RESOLVED that the report be noted and that the item be deferred to the next meeting.
510 Clayton West War Memorial
The Clerk reported that she had now received confirmation from Kirklees Council that the walls around the memorial had been repaired before Remembrance Day last year and that it was not considered appropriate to replace the toppings with stone since it was anticipated that they would be stolen again. Kirklees Council further confirmed that they would consider improving the area with some shrubs. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
511 Recycling of Plastic Packaging
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Joan Ruddock MP, Undersecretary for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Waste which had been forwarded by Mary Creagh MP concerning the recycling of non PET plastic packaging. The letter outlined the government’s recycling targets and indicated that t here were no regulations currently in place specifically obliging retailers to take back or take back and recycle packaging sold in their stores, though this is not ruled out for the future. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
512 Closure of Frank Lane due to Flooding
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees Council explaining that the council had hoped to have undertaken some interim repairs before the end of the financial year, but due to the volume of work with their contractors this had slipped. It is now hoped that the works will be undertaken within the next 8 weeks. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
513 Wakefield Road, Denby Dale
The Clerk reported that Kirklees Council had confirmed that the work to rectify the problem caused by chippings on Wakefield Road in Denby Dale was logged for remedial work. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
514 Crigglestone Railway Station
The Clerk reported that Crigglestone Parish Council had indicated that it would be interested in meeting with representatives from Denby Dale Parish Council to discuss the most appropriate course of action for pursuing the reopening of Crigglestone Railway Station. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk liaise with Crigglestone Parish Council to set up the meeting and that Cllrs R Brook, E Shaw and K Waites attend the meeting on behalf of the council.
515 Councillor Surgeries
Following discussion, it was RESOLVED that the Clerk put a notice on the website to remind people that if they have any issues they wish to raise with their ward councillors, they can contact them direct or through the Clerk.
516 Working Party on Public Transport
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Stagecoach confirming that it is in discussion with Arriva regarding the potential sale of its Huddersfield operation and correspondence from Arriva confirming the same information confirming that if the sale goes ahead, they well send a representative to address a Parish Council meeting.
Members of the working party gave an update. It was acknowledged that matters were on hold until the decision is taken about the future of Stagecoach Huddersfield operations but members’ attention was drawn to the documents circulated at the meeting, which gave information about the decision by Northern Trains to increase Sunday trains on the Penistone line with effect from May and the decision to introduce a trial in 2010 of innovative ‘tram-trains’ in Yorkshire. Members’ attention was also drawn to the Sunday Dial-a-Ride service from High Hoyland to Barnsley. It was RESOLVED that the reports be noted and that the Working Party contact the organisers of the Dial-a-Ride service to obtain further information with a view to such a service being offered within the parish.
517 Joint Parish/Town Councils Meeting with Kirklees Council
It was RESOLVED that the following items be put on the agenda of the joint meeting to be held on 7 May at Meltham Town Council: a) The referral by Parish/Town Councils of planning applications to Kirklees Planning Committee; b) Training for members of Parish/Town Councils planning committees c) Training on the impact of the 2007 Local Government Act on Parish and Town Councils. It was FURTHER RESOLVED that Cllrs J A Barlow and J C Birdsall attend the meeting together with the Clerk on behalf of the Parish Council.
518 RDPE Funding Application
In the absence of Cllr Thursby, there was no update available. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
519 Birdsedge First School
The Clerk submitted correspondence from the Headteacher of Birdsedge First School which had been sent to the Chair, Cllr Turner. The letter detailed problems experienced by the school in relation to admissions. It was noted that the school had also written to Cllr Dodds and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to the school to express the Parish Council’s support and anticipation that Cllr Dodds was best placed to assist the school and request an update on future developments.
520 Focus on the Dale
The Clerk submitted correspondence from John Meredith, a local resident from Clayton West expressing concern about the article by Cllr J A Barlow in the latest edition of Focus on the Dale about the Royal Garden Party. Members agreed that the article had been intended to be light-hearted and had been enjoyed as such by local residents. It was also pointed out by Cllr J A Barlow that the costs of the day had been borne privately and no claim had been made on the Parish Council, that leaving the event early to catch a pre-booked train did not contravene the protocol governing the garden party and that there had indeed been a shortage of refreshments. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to Mr Meredith clarifying these points.
521 YLCA South Pennine Branch Meeting
Cllr E Shaw submitted a report on the meeting held on 12 March 2008. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
522 Area Committee Meeting 6 March 2008
Cllr M Barlow gave a report on the Area Committee meeting. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
523 West Yorkshire Rural Transport Partnership
The Clerk submitted the minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2008 and Cllr K Waites gave a verbal report. It was RESOLVED that the minutes and the report be noted.
524 Planter for Pavement near Grove Pub
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk progress this matter.
525 Inclusion of Local Information on Website
Cllr J E Birdsall proposed that the website should in future include information about local shops and eating places. It was RESOLVED that this proposal be agreed.
526 Land to the rear of Skelmanthorpe Co-operative Premises
On behalf of the Denby Dale Parish Accident Prevention Committee, Cllr J E Birdsall raised the issue of the land to the rear of Skelmanthorpe Coop. The area concerned is unmade and it was pointed out that if it was tidied up and resurfaced, it should be possible to provide more car parking spaces. Some members pointed out that previous attempts to do something with the land concerned had been hindered by the fact that the ownership of the land was unknown. It was RESOLVED that Kirklees Council be asked to confirm the ownership issue and to consider the Council’s proposal.
527 Refuge opposite Windmill Crescent
On behalf of the Denby Dale Parish Accident Prevention Committee, Cllr J E Birdsall proposed that a central refuge be installed opposite the entrance to Windmill Crescent on Commercial Road, Skelmanthorpe to assist pedestrians to cross the road safely and to assist motorists to turn into Highbridge Lane from Commercial Road. It was RESOLVED that the proposal be put to Kirklees Council.
528 Clayton West and Emley MUGAs
Cllr R Brook requested background information on the history of the Council’s financial support for Multiuse Games Areas in Clayton West and Emley. It was pointed out that Andy Wickham, the Countryside Officer had spent some considerable time trying to organise the Clayton West MUGA and that the Emley MUGA had raised some funding, but was still applying for further funding to complete the project. It was RESOLVED that detailed background information be submitted to the Council at the next meeting in May.
529 Broadband Coverage in the Parish
Cllr R Brook raised the issue of broadband coverage within the parish. He pointed out that the experience of broadband users, particularly, those served by the old High Flatts telephone exchange (i.e. Birdsedge, High Flatts and Upper and Lower Cumberworth), was of a poor service, with difficulties logging on at certain times of day and problems of the service dropping out once logged on. Members from Skelmanthorpe reported similar difficulties. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk contact BT to point out the problems currently being experienced with the broadband service and requesting remedial action.
530 Recycling Site, Leys Lane, Emley
Cllr E I Shaw raised the issue of the recycling site in Emley. He was concerned to find out whether in view of the kerbside recycling scheme, the bottle bank was still used. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk ask Kirklees Council to confirm whether the bottle bank is still used and therefore viable.
531 Website
The Clerk reported that in the month of March, there had been 4,379 visitors to the website. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
532 Finance Matters
It was RESOLVED to approve Orders for Payment No. 470 totalling £30,664.57.
533 Report of Staffing Sub Committee
The Chair reported that he had received a letter from Kenneth Haigh tendering his resignation as volunteer. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted and that members be asked to make a contribution to a gift to be presented to Mr Haigh following the Annual Council Meeting on 6 May.
534 May Council Meeting
No items were proposed for discussion at the May Council Meeting.
535 Dates of next meetings
29 April – Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting starting at 7.30pm
6 May – Annual Council Meeting and Annual Parish Meeting at 7pm
Signed: ………………………………….
(Chair)
