Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 6 January 2009 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllrs E I Shaw (Chair), R Allen, J A Barlow, M Barlow, R Brook, M Mills, C Rimmer, T Sigsworth, S Simpson, A Stimson, A Tribe, G Turner, K Waites, N Wilson
In Attendance: Hazel Chowcat (Clerk to the Council)
904 Public Session
No members of the public raised any issues.
905 Presentation of Cheque to Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Association
Cllr Shaw presented the grant cheque to Vanessa Marsden of the Skelmanthorpe Youth and Community Association. Ms Marsden thanked the Council on behalf of the Association.
906 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence from the meeting were submitted from Cllrs P Calpin and G Horton. It was RESOLVED that the reasons for absence submitted by these councillors be accepted as valid.
907 Declaration of Councillors’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
908 Admission of the Public
It was RESOLVED that there were no items requiring the exclusion of the press and public.
909 Chair’s Opening Remarks
Cllr Shaw welcomed members to the first meeting of the New Year and wished everyone a Happy New Year.
910 Minutes of Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
911 Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Committee.
912 Sustainable Communities Act
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees Council concerning the Sustainable Communities Act outlining the scope of the Act, including the fact that the intention of the Act is that local communities propose ideas that will promote and support sustainable communities. It was RESOLVED that Kirklees Council be asked to confirm whether it has actually signed up to the Act and to put the item on the agenda of the February meeting to enable members to discuss ideas for promoting and supporting sustainable communities.
913 Brighter Future for Schools
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Margaret Parker of Kirklees council giving further information about the Brighter Future for Schools programme. Members raised concerns about the future of Shelley College in the light of various rumours concerning the future of its 6th form. It was RESOLVED that the Council write to Mary Creagh MP and Ed Balls MP to seek clarification about the future of education in the area and that Margaret Parker be invited to address a future meeting of the Council to discuss the issue further.
914 Scissett Mount Care Home
The Clerk submitted a further reply from Mick Kendal of Kirklees Council to the Parish Council’s enquiry about the future of the care home. The letter stated that the Council may sell the property on the open market but there is also an opportunity for the Kirklees to include the site within a housing project similar to the current 'Excellent Homes for Life’ scheme. The letter confirmed that demolition was not considered a suitable option and neither would it be possible to rent the houses on the site as it would cost too much to bring them up to a suitable standard. It was RESOLVED that Mr Kendal be thanked for the information and that the Clerk obtain further information about the ‘Excellent Homes for Life’ scheme.
915 Allotments/Tree Planting
The Clerk reported on the following developments in connection with the proposal that the Parish Council consider running allotments:
1) She had received an email from Terry Rimmer giving further details of the parcel of land in Upper Cumberworth which might be suitable for an allotment.
2) She had been in touch with the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners to enquire about advice and training in allotment management. She had been advised that the first step was for the council to establish a need for allotments and then to look at possible sites. There was no formal training on offer, but the NSALG produced explanatory leaflets, offered legal advice and would be able to put the Clerk in touch with other Parish Councils with experience of running allotments who could provide advice.
3) In relation to the request to look at establishing a register of private gardens which might be made available for allotments, she reported that she had contacted YLCA who confirmed that Baildon Parish Council was exploring a similar idea. The Clerk indicated that she would be contacting the Parish Clerk to discuss the matter further.
It was RESOLVED that the matter be pursued further.
916 Provision of Large Display Boards
The Clerk reported that she and Cllr Wilson would be meeting with a Kirklees Council officer the following week. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
917 Shelley Woodhouse Lane
The Clerk reported that she had now received a reply from Glyn Dutton of Kirklees Council confirming that following a site visit, it was proposed to widen the path by carrying out grubbing/edging works and that the path will be added to the programme of weed killing when the vegetation starts to grow again. It was RESOLVED that the report be welcomed.
918 Skelmanthorpe Notice Board
The Clerk reported that she had ascertained that the notice board had been sited in the car park because that was considered the safest option, however, she had asked for it to be moved and it was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
919 Skelmanthorpe War Memorial
The Clerk reported that Kirklees Council had confirmed that it was in the process of obtaining a quote for an additional plaque to enable the missing names of Joseph Roys and James Edward Roys to be added. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
920 Station Road Cleansing Depot
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Steve Noble, Assistant Director Environment from Kirklees Council confirming that it is the intention of the Council to close the depot in or around March 2010. Members discussed the likely increase in road journeys of staff and refuse trucks and it was RESOLVED in the first instance to seek a clarification of the reasons behind the proposed closure.
921 Promotion of Countryside Project
The Clerk reported that she had raised with Neil Windett the possibility of decals being fixed onto the sides of the Countryside Officer’s lorry advertising the fact that the project is jointly sponsored by the Parish Council and Kirklees Council and that he had indicated that he would pursue the matter. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
922 Councillor Vacancies
The Clerk reported that since no request was received by the deadline for an election in Clayton West Ward and Emley Ward, it was necessary to agree to co-opt two new members to the council. It was RESOLVED that the vacancies be advertised on the Council notice board on the website and through posters to be distributed by members.
923 Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power, Codes of Conduct for Local Authority Members and Employees: A Consultation
The Clerk submitted the above document for consultation. It was RESOLVED that the Council agree with the proposals and advise the Government accordingly.
924 Consultation: Publication of Candidates’ Addresses at UK Parliamentary Elections
The Clerk submitted the above document for consultation. It was RESOLVED that the view of the Council be that the situation should remain as it is and the Government be advised accordingly.
925 Consultation: Lowering the Voting Age
The Clerk submitted the above document for consultation. It was RESOLVED that the view of the Council be that the voting age be lowered to 16 and the Government be advised accordingly.
926 Times of Meetings
The Clerk reported that a number of councillors had requested that the start times of the Plans Scrutiny Committee and the Finance & General Purposes Committee meetings be brought forward to 7pm in line with full council meetings. It was RESOLVED that each committee determine the start time of its meetings at the first meeting of the Civic Year.
927 Working Party on Public Transport
The Clerk submitted an update report from the Working Party. It was RESOLVED that the Working Party be thanked for the report and the report be noted.
928 Denby Dale/Kirkburton LIG
Cllr Brook reported that the next meeting of the LIG would be held later that week. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
929 Parish Plan Update
Cllr Allen reported that following consultation with the Clerk he had started preparing the update of the Parish Plan and a draft would be circulated before the next meeting. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
930 Denby Dale Area Committee Meeting
Cllr Waites gave a verbal report of the Area Committee meeting which had been held on 18 December. He reported that the plan for a MUGA in Clayton West had been withdrawn; the skate park had been discussed but the Parish Council’s objections had not been taken into account. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
931 Standards Committee Meeting
Cllr M Barlow gave a verbal report of the meeting of the Standards Committee which had discussed the consultation paper on the Code of Conduct. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
932 NALC Stepping Stones Conference
The Clerk submitted details of a NALC conference to be held in York on 21 February 2009. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Shaw attend the meeting on behalf of the Council.
933 NALC Green Matters Conference
The Clerk submitted details of a NALC conference to be held in Aylesbury on 27 March 2009. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Allen and the Clerk, attend the conference.
934 Lighting Outside Scout Hut, Clayton West
Cllr Sigsworth reported that due to bad lighting, over recent months, there had been three serious accidents outside the Scout Hut. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk ask the Highways Department for their views on solutions to the lighting problem.
935 Scissett Notice Board
Cllr Waites reported due to its age, the notice board in Scissett needs to be replaced and he has received a local quote to replace it. It was RESOLVED that the matter be discussed as part of the budget discussion at the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting the following week.
936 Dog Fouling in Emley
Cllr Shaw reported that there was a growing problem of dog fouling at the junction of Savile Avenue and Tipping Lane in Emley. It was RESOLVED in the first instance, that Cllr Shaw should through the local parish newsletter, ask local residents to ensure that they clear up after their dogs.
937 Pavements in Emley Village
Cllr Shaw reported that a number of pavements in Emley Village (Church Street, Beaumont Street, Fox Close and Grange Drive) were in a poor state of repair. It was RESOLVED that the Council representatives on the Area Committee raise the problem at the earliest opportunity and that the Clerk write to Highways Department.
938 Website
The Clerk reported that there had been 2973 unique visitors to the website in December 2008. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
939 Orders for Payment
It was RESOLVED that Orders for Payment No. 484 totalling £11,974.86 be approved,
940 February Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the following items be included on the agenda of the February council meeting: the newsletter, broadband.
941 Dates of Next Meetings
13 January 2009 – Finance & General Purposes Committee starting at 7.30pm
27 January 2009 – Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting starting at 7.30pm
3 February 2009 – Council Meeting starting at 7pm
Signed: ……………………………………………
Chair
