Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 10 February 2009 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllrs E I Shaw (Chair), R Allen, J A Barlow, M Barlow, R Brook, P Calpin, G Horton, M Mills, T Sigsworth, A Stimson, A Tribe, G Turner, S Wild, N Wilson
In Attendance: Hazel Chowcat (Clerk to the Council)
962 Public Session
No members of the public raised any issues.
963 Guest Speaker – Community Governance Review
John Heneghan, Policy Team Manager of Kirklees Council addressed the council on the analysis of the responses received during the first phase of the Community Governance Review. He outlined the options listed for the Denby Dale Parish and indicated that the preferred option was that there should be no change. Members raised a number of issues and requested information about the cost of the whole exercise. Mr Heneghan indicated that the project had a budget of £7,000 but that only £2,500 had been committed, in addition to officer time. He also confirmed that the second phase was about to begin during which local residents would be asked their views on the range of options set out in the report of phase one. It was RESOLVED that Mr Heneghan be thanked for his report.
964 Co-option of New Member
Shelley Wild addressed the Council in connection with her application to be considered for co-option onto the Council. It was proposed and seconded and RESOLVED that Mrs Wild be co-opted to the Council to represent the Emley Ward. Cllr Wild thereupon signed the declaration of acceptance of office and took her seat.
965 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence from the meeting were submitted from Cllrs C Rimmer, S Simpson and K Waites. It was RESOLVED that the reasons for absence submitted by these councillors be accepted as valid. The Clerk alerted the council to the fact that Cllrs A Heaton and K Thursby had not attended a meeting for 6 months without submitting reasons for absence and as a result they both cease automatically to be members of the council in line with Section 85 of the 1972 Local Government Act and that she would writing to them to advise them of this. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
966 Declaration of Councillors’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
967 Admission of the Public
It was RESOLVED that there were no items requiring the exclusion of the press and public.
968 Minutes of Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
969 Finance & General Purposes Committee
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chair of the Committee.
970 Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Council.
971 Brighter Future for Schools
The Clerk reported that there was no progress to report. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
972 Scissett Mount Care Home
The Clerk submitted information about the ‘Excellent Homes for Life’ scheme. It was RESOLVED that the information be noted.
973 Allotments/Tree Planting
The Clerk reported that she had had a meeting with Andy Wickham, the Countryside Officer and Julian Faulkner, Social Forestry Officer of Kirklees Council to discuss the issue of allotments. Mr Faulkner explained that Kirklees Council ran allotments, including two sites within the parish in Skelmanthorpe and Clayton West, with a total budget of £20,000. However, in January this year, the cabinet agreed to a 3 year programme of allotment maintenance of £1m, though no money is provided within that budget for the development of new allotments. A discussion had taken place about the possibility of the Parish Council taking over the allotments in Skelmanthorpe and Clayton West and Mr Faulkner confirmed that Mirfield Town Council had done so a few years ago, though he did not know what the terms of the agreement were. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk make initial enquiries of Kirklees Council about the possibility of taking over existing allotments and undertake a feasibility study to determine whether it would be feasible for the Council to take on the existing allotments, and establish new allotments. The feasibility study should include a risk assessment, and an assessment of the cost in terms of Parish Council resources, both financial and in terms the Clerk’s time.
974 Provision of Large Display Boards
The Clerk reported that a meeting had been held with Kirklees Council to discuss the feasibility of providing large display boards in Denby Dale to permit local traders, particularly in Springfield Mill to advertise their businesses. The officer had promised to provide the Council with a quote, but this was still awaited. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted/
975 Skelmanthorpe Notice Board
The Clerk reported that there was no progress to report on this matter and it was RESOLVED that the matter be pursued.
976 Station Road Cleansing Depot
The Clerk reported that there was no progress to report on this matter and it was RESOLVED that the matter be pursued.
977 Promotion of Countryside Project
The Clerk reported that Neil Windett had indicated that he was exploring with marketing the possibility of decals being fixed onto the sides of the Countryside Officer’s lorry to advertise that the project is jointly sponsored by the Parish Council and Kirklees Council. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
978 Lighting outside Scout Hut, Clayton West
The Clerk reported that Kirklees Council would be making a site visit as soon as the snow has cleared. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
979 Scissett Notice Board
The Clerk reported that Cllr Waites had obtained two written quotes for the notice board replacement, one for £355 including VAT, one for £382 plus VAT. It was noted that the new budget contained an amount set aside for advertising and notice boards and subject to approval of the budget, it was RESOLVED that the Council proceed with the most cost effective quote in the new financial year.
980 Dog Fouling in Emley
Cllr Shaw reported that he would be writing an article in the local magazine, Emley Voice, alerting people to the need to clean up after their dogs. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
981 Pavements in Emley Village
The Clerk reported that Kirklees Council had visited the site and agreed that resurfacing work should be assessed, but since the next programme of streets had already been agreed, no works could take place until after April 2009. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
982 Community Governance Review
The Clerk submitted the Kirklees Council’s report of the first stage of its consultation in connection with the Community Governance Review. Members discussed the report and agreed that the fact that there had only been 31 submissions from a population of 15,000 was disappointing, though it was probably indicative of general satisfaction with the work of the council. Members discussed their response to the second phase. It was RESOLVED that
the Parish Council support option 1
the sub group meet to draft the submission
the final submission be put to the April council meeting for approval
information about the second phase consultation be put on the website together with the Parish Council’s submission to phase one.
983 Precept 2009-2010
The Clerk submitted details of the proposed precept for the next financial year which was based on the formula agreed at the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting of 13 January 2009 that the precept be increased annually in line with the January Consumer Price Index. Accordingly, it was RESOLVED that the sum of £102,069 be precepted for 2009-2010, representing an increase of 3.1% (the January 2009 CPI) over 2008-2009 which equals £18.00 per year for a Band D property.
984 Budget 2009-2010
It was RESOLVED that estimates of expenditure for the year 2009- 2010 totalling £121,810 be authorised.
985 Sustainable Communities Act
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees Council clarifying the deadline by which proposals have to be submitted. Members made a number of suggestions, but it was RESOLVED that members give more consideration to their suggestions and submit detailed proposals to the Clerk for circulation to be discussed at future meetings. It was also noted that the Sustainable Communities Act specifies that councils cannot make its suggestions to the Secretary of State without involving ‘local people.’ The way this is done is also specified: that councils must set up ‘panels of representatives of local people’ – which must include people from usually under-represented groups: ethnic minorities, young people, older people, tenants etc. It was RESOLVED that Kirklees Council be asked whether it has yet taken this step.
986 YLCA South Pennine Branch Business
The Clerk submitted correspondence from YLCA asking the Council to consider a proposition from Silsden Parish Council that the planning development control funciton for minor items such as conservatories, small extensions, etc. be delegated ot the parish council of the area. Members expressed concerns about the implications of the proposal, in particular about what would constitute the ‘control function’. Councillors are not trained planners and do not have the technical skills to determine whether applications meet building and other regulations. It was RESOLVED that Council support the proposition in principle but that these issues would need to be addressed and clarified before it could offer unequivocal support.
987 Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power – Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity – A Consultation
The Clerk submitted the consultation document from the Department for Local Government and Communities concerning local authority publicity. It was RESOLVED that the Council make no submission.
988 Newsletter
The Clerk submitted copies of newsletters from other Parish Councils and it was RESOLVED that in future, the newsletter should be double sided with colour photos or other pictures and that the Clerk investigate alternative methods of distribution and obtain competitive quotes for printing.
989 Working Party on Public Transport
Cllr Brook reported that new timetables have been published for the routes 80-84. While an extra morning bus has been introduced on the 82 route from Denby Dale via Skelmanthorpe to Huddersfield, the Council’s request for some off-peak buses to be routed via the Matherville estate has not yet received a response and one morning 82 bus to Huddersfield continues to run very late. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to the Huddersfield Bus Company headquarters in Leicester where decisions are taken. In addition, the council has learned that two early morning buses from Birdsedge and Upper Denby to Denby Dale continue to Huddersfield as service 82 and in response, the Council has asked the bus company to offer through tickets on these services. It was RESOLVED that the Council circulate a flyer around the areas concerned advising residents of this development. It was also reported that the Council had obtained up to date timetables which would be distributed to residents of Upper Denby with a flyer indicating that they were being distributed by the Parish Council. Finally, concern was expressed about the provision of car parking space at Denby Dale Station and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to Kirklees Highways Department to ask them to explore the possibilities for expanding car parking provision at the Station. It was RESOLVED that the Working Party be thanked for the report and the report be noted.
990 Denby Dale/Kirkburton LIG
Cllr Brook reported that at the last meeting of the LIG a number of ideas had been discussed: the development of a Penistone community radio scheme; the provision of an advice centre in Stocksbridge; renewable energy projects, a biomass project; a cycling initiative. These ideas have been sent to local groups for consultation. It was noted that it might be possible to get funding for allotments. Cllr Brook pointed out that Cllr Tribe was now a representative on the LIG from Birdsedge Village Hall and that it was necessary, therefore to elect a replacement for Cllr Tribe to represent the Parish Council. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Brook be thanked for his report and that the election of a new representative to the LIG be on the agenda of the March meeting.
991 Parish Plan Update
Cllr Allen reported that two issues arising from the original parish plan required further work: a) a community audit of community needs and b) speed limits in the area. In addition, he proposed that two new sections be added: one on sustainability and the second a senior citizens’ charter. It was agreed to set up a sub committee to further the parish plan and that this be an item on the March agenda.
992 Denby Dale Area Committee Meeting
Cllr Brook gave a verbal report of the Area Committee meeting which had been held on 23 January. There had been one item on the agenda – the request for further funding for the Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Association and it was agreed that £18,437 capital be granted to Association towards ground source heat pumps and under floor heating system. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
993 Joint Parish and Town Councils/Kirklees Council Meeting
The Clerk reported that the next joint meeting will be held on 24 March 2009 in Holme Valley. It was RESOLVED that Cllrs Tribe and Horton would attend the meeting in addition to the Clerk.
994 Dog Fouling Signs
The clerk submitted a letter from six-year old Ben Sigsworth complaining about the amount of dog excrement on the pavements in Clayton West. Ben wondered if he could make some signs to be erected in the village asking people to clean up after their dogs, and asked if the Parish Council could pay for the signs. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk ask Kirklees Council if it could look at encouraging children to design such signs, whether it would be possible for such signs to be displayed and whether the council could let us have some idea of costings.
995 Website
The Clerk reported that there had been 3182 unique visitors to the website in January 2009. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
996 Orders for Payment
It was RESOLVED that Orders for Payment Nos. 486 totalling £1,254.51 and 487 totalling £2,642.73 be approved.
997 Budget Outturn Report
The Clerk submitted budget outturn report to 31 January 2009. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
998 March Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the following item be included on the agenda of the February council meeting: broadband.
999 Dates of Next Meetings
24 February 2009 - Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting starting at 7.30pm
3 March 2009 – Council meeting starting at 7pm
Signed: ……………………………………………
Chair
