Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 4 December 2007 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllr G Turner (Chair), E Shaw (Vice Chair), C Barnfield, J A Barlow, J C Birdsall, J E Birdsall, R Brook, H Cole, M Mills, C Rimmer, T Sigsworth, A Stimson, A Tribe, K Waites, N Wilson
318 Open Session
Cllr Martyn Bolt raised questions about the Parish Council’s decision to report him to the Standards Board.
319 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence were submitted by Cllrs D Kaye, M Barlow, A Heaton, S Simpson and K Thursby. It was RESOLVED that the reasons for absence from the above councillors be accepted as valid.
320 Declarations of Councillors’ Interests
Cllr Sigsworth declared a personal interest in Item 10 Rescission Resolution.
321 Admission of the Public
It was RESOLVED that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 as amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972, members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting for Items 5.3 Minutes of the Staffing Sub Committee held on 23 November 2007 (because it contains information of a confidential nature); 7.10 Denby Parish Community Action Group Bulletin and 7.11 Complaint to Standards Board Press Release by Cllr Bolt on the grounds that the Parish Council may need to seek legal advice on these matters and that these items be taken at the end of the agenda after Item 20.
322 Minutes of Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the council meeting held on 6 November 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to two changes: a) Minute 279 should be amended to remove the words “during the middle of the day” in the penultimate sentence of the second paragraph; b) Minute No. 298 should be amended to include the following additional sentence at the end: “It was RESOLVED that a letter be issued to residents of Birdsedge, High Flatts and Denby outlining action taken by the Parish Council for their areas to be distributed together with Focus on the Dale”.
323 Minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 13 November 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Finance & General Purposes Committee.
324 Minutes of Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 27 November 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee.
325 Illegal Advertising Boards
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Geof Thorpe of Kirklees Council. It was RESOLVED that the Council accept Mr Thorpe’s suggested course of action and invite Ward Councillors to discuss the matter further at the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting on 29 January 2008.
326 Polling Station Review
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Susan Hutson, the Electoral Services Manager, confirming that Kirklees MC had accepted the recommendation of the Parish Council and that in future the Methodist Church in Emley would be used as a polling station instead of the Emley Band Room. It was RESOLVED that a letter of thanks be sent to Ms Hutson and that Cllr Shaw be thanked for his efforts in pursuing this issue.
327 Parking Problems, Commercial Road, Skelmanthorpe
Further to Minute No. 238, the Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees MC explaining it was not cost effective to implement a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce waiting restrictions in this area. It was RESOLVED that the correspondence be noted.
328 Liaison with Local Businesses
The Clerk reported that following the consultation exercise with local businesses, she had arranged a drop in session between 5-6.30pm on 25 January 2008 in the Council Chamber for those interested in joining a local business association. It was RESOLVED that arrangements be discussed at the January Council meeting.
329 Flooding
Further to minute No. 189, the Clerk submitted correspondence from Phil Woolas MP, Minister for the Environment outlining the agreement between the Government and the Association of British Insurers concerning insurance for properties in flood areas and referring to the Government’s review of the recent flooding which is being led by Sir Michael Pitt. It was RESOLVED that information about this review be put on the Parish Council’s website.
330 Budget 2008-2009
The Clerk reported that the Finance & General Purposes Committee would be meeting again on 22 January to finalise the budget. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
331 Denby Dale Station
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Rowena Chantler, the Community Partnership Officer of the South Pennines Rail Partnership. It was RESOLVED that Northern Rail be invited to attend a future meeting of the council to explain how the partnership works. It was further RESOLVED that the Clerk explore the possibility of applying for funds from the Lottery Fund Breathing Places Phase 3 fund.
332 Refuse Bins
Further to Minute No. 290, the Clerk reported that Kirklees MC had confirmed that staff would be asked to monitor the situation to ensure that bins are put back tidily at the point where they were presented by the householder. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
333 Dog Bag Distribution
The Clerk reported that she was still attempting to find further distribution outlets for dog bags. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
334 Cycle Lanes
The Clerk reported that the Countryside Officer had contacted Kirklees MC concerning the feasibility of establishing a new cycle trail. Kirklees’ view is that there are already a number of trails around the area and further information was sought concerning the type of trail the Parish Council is interested in. It was RESOLVED a) that Cllrs Sigsworth and J E Birdsall identify suitable sites and report back to the February meeting of the Parish Council.
335 Focus on the Dale
The Clerk circulated the latest edition of Focus on the Dale which had just been received from the printer. It was RESOLVED that Cllrs J C and J E Birdsall be thanked for their hard work in producing the newsletter, that the printer be thanked for the excellent quality of the print and that the distribution arrangements by councillors be agreed. The Clerk circulated a letter prepared for distribution to residents in High Flatts, Denby and Birdsedge. It was RESOLVED that the letter be approved for distribution.
336 Locality Management
The Clerk reported that a message had been received that Cllr Palfreeman would not be able to attend the meeting. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Palfreeman be invited to a future meeting to give a presentation on locality management.
337 Bus Services
The Clerk submitted correspondence from WYPTA and Stagecoach. Cllr Brook presented a report from the Working Party on Public Transport. A number of problems had been raised at various meetings with Ward Councillors and representatives of the bus companies. These concern complaints about reliability and overcrowding of the 80, 81 and 82 routes, particularly from Skelmanthorpe towards Huddersfield at peak times. Stagecoach had acknowledged the problems and was looking at solutions. Secondly, the working party was looking at how bus service schedules could be changed so they offer a better link to trains at Denby Dale station. Some residents in Skelmanthorpe were keeping detailed diaries of their experiences with the bus services. It was noted that the Christmas shopping bus to Barnsley was a success and that this should strengthen the case for retaining a service to Barnsley. Members of the working party had attended a meeting in Holmfirth organised by ‘bringbackthe935’ campaign which had put together an alternative timetable for a service from Holmfirth to Wakefield which the working party was planning to consider in detail. It was RESOLVED a) that the Council write to Stagecoach and WYPTA with proposals for a revised bus service to serve the Matherville estate and b) that the diary notes from the Skelmanthorpe residents be forwarded to both Stagecoach and WYPTA.
338 Rescission Resolution
The Clerk submitted a resolution to rescind the resolution carried under Minute No. 133 at the meeting of the Parish Council held on 3 July 2007, the text of which is as follows:
133 Application for Funding
The Clerk submitted an application for £16000 from the Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Centre towards the cost of developing the new youth and community centre in Skelmanthorpe which will offer sports and community facilities to residents across the parish. It was RESOLVED that a grant of £8,000 be awarded and that the issue be revisited at the end of the financial year and that the cheque be presented at a fundraising coffee morning which is due to be held in the council chamber on 15 September 2007.
It was RESOLVED that the resolution be carried and that the additional grant of £8000 be awarded to the Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Centre towards the cost of developing the new youth and community centre.
339 Vacancy in Skelmanthorpe Ward
The Clerk reported that the vacancy in Skelmanthorpe Ward that has arisen following Cllr Cole’s resignation would be advertised by Kirklees MC and that an election would be held if 10 or more electors from within the ward requested one.
340 Publicity Sub-Committee
It was RESOLVED that an ad-hoc meeting be arranged to discuss the feasibility of a publicity sub-committee and to draft terms of reference and that a date be discussed at the January council meeting.
341 Notice Boards
It was RESOLVED that the issue of notice boards be discussed in January and that meantime, councillors should let the Clerk have information about any notice boards in their wards.
342 Connect Magazine
It was RESOLVED that the Council take out an advertisement in Connect magazine at a cost of £35 for 11 issues.
343 Wakefield MDC Waste Development Plan
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk complete the consultation document and stress the council’s view that Kirklees residents should have the right to use Wakefield recycling facilities where they are closer than those in Kirklees. It was further RESOLVED that the Clerk contact Kirklees Council to find out why it is not possible to recycle yoghurt pots and some plastic food packaging.
344 YLCA South Pennine Branch
The Clerk submitted a written report from Cllr Shaw on the South Pennine Branch meeting of the YLCA held on 7 November. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
345 Yorkshire Rural Community Council Conference
It was RESOLVED that Cllr Turner and the Clerk attend the YRCC conference in Scarborough from 7-9 March 2008.
346 Finance Matters
a) Orders for Payment: It was RESOLVED that orders for payment on schedule No. 462 totalling £7172.26 be authorised.
b) Budget Report: The Clerk presented a budget report to 30 November 2007. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
347 YLCA Information
The Clerk submitted the following information from YLCA: YLCA Advice Note Nos. 020 (The Use of Parish Polls), 021 (Public Participation Sessions at Parish Council Meetings and Paragraph 12(2) of the Revised Model Code of Conduct); 023 (Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act); Assembly Digest October 2007; White Rose Update November 2007. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk prepare guidelines for the public participation session in line with the advice given in Advice Note No. 021 and that the remaining information be noted.
348 January Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the agenda of the January meeting include an update on Kirklees Council’s new waste collection system.
The Council resolved to exclude the public and press from the meeting at this point prior to consideration of the following items by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, i.e. the council may need to seek legal advice in relation to the first two matters and the third matter contains confidential information relating to the pay and conditions of the Clerk.
349 Complaint to Standards Board
The Clerk submitted the response of the Standards Board to the complaint about Cllr Bolt. It was RESOLVED that the Council take no further action, but invite Cllr Bolt to attend the January meeting of the Council to discuss the Parish Plan.
350 Denby Parish Community Action Group
The Clerk reported that the YRCC was in the process of investigating the Parish Council’s complaint. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
351 Minutes of the Staffing Sub Committee held on 23 November 2007
The Clerk submitted the minutes of the Staffing Sub Committee held on 23 November 2007 which were approved and accepted. It was RESOLVED to accept the recommendations concerning the Clerk’s hours, appraisal arrangements and purchase of new furniture.
352 Dates of next meetings
Plans Scrutiny Committee at 7.30pm on 18 December 2007
Council Meeting at 7pm on 8 January 2008
Finance & General Purposes Committee at 7.30 on 22 January 2008
Signed……………………………………….
CHAIR