Minutes of the Meeting of Denby Dale Parish Council held on Tuesday 2 September 2008 in the Civic Chamber, Council Offices, Skelmanthorpe
Members Present: Cllrs N Wilson (Vice Chair), R Allen, R Brook, T Sigsworth, A Stimson, S Simpson, A Tribe, G Turner
697 Public Session
No members of the public raised any issues.
698 Chair
In view of the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair, Cllr N Wilson took the chair.
699 Apologies for Absence
Reasons for absence from the meeting were submitted from Cllrs C Barnfield, J A Barlow, M Barlow, A Heaton, D Kaye, C Rimmer and K
Waites. It was RESOLVED that reasons for absence submitted by these Councillors be accepted as valid.
700 Declaration of Councillors’ Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
701 Admission of the Public
It was RESOLVED that there were no items requiring the exclusion of the press and public.
702 Agenda and Suspension of Standing Orders
It was RESOLVED to bring forward Item 18 to be heard immediately after Item 6, Visiting Speaker, Andy Wickham, Countryside Officer and in line with Standing Order No. 79, to suspend standing orders to enable Andy Wickham to address the meeting on the issue of the Cross Lane Skate Park.
703 Andy Wickham, Countryside Officer
Andy Wickham submitted a report on the work being carried out by the Countryside Project, including work with the 10 Villages Conservation Group, schools within the parish, the youth projects (Enviroyouth and Young Emley Active Sports Team), the footbridges over the Dearne project, the Environment Trust, the Leak Hall Crescent footpath project, the Great Crested Newts project and the village trails. It was RESOLVED that Andy be thanked for his work.
704 Cross Lane Skate Park
The Clerk explained that it had been reported that proposals were in hand to relocate the skate park to a different part of the recreation ground. Andy Wickham explained that he had, as Countryside Officer, been asked for the names and addresses of those who had been involved in creating the park. He explained that a full consultation exercise had been undertaken among local residents to ascertain whether the skate park would be acceptable and that young people had been involved in the design. He also indicated that he had regular contact with local police and was not aware of any complaints directly related to the skate park, though there were problems which had been around before the skate park was built with noise and anti-social behaviour in the nearby lay-by.
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to Kirklees Council to express the Parish Council’s opposition to the skate park being moved for the following reasons: That there is no evidence of noise or anti-social behaviour caused by the skate park, that any problems were associated with the lay-by; that there had been few, if any, complaints to the police about the skate park; that the relocation would involve huge costs with the concrete alone which is specially manufactured for skate parks costing £18,000 – it was felt that if Kirklees Council has the money to pay for this, then it would be much better spent on youth facilities required in other parts of the parish; that the new scheme would not be able to accommodate features of the existing scheme which were designed by local young people which would then destroy the sense of ownership of the young people involved and thus damage morale.
705 Return to Standing Orders
It was RESOLVED to return to standing orders.
706 Minutes of Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the council meeting held on 1 July 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
707 Minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 29 July 2008 be received and that the minutes of the Plans Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26 August be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair of the Plans Scrutiny Committee.
708 Double Yellow Lines
The Clerk reported that she had not yet received a reply to the Council’s proposal for double yellow lines to be installed on the south side of Huddersfield Road near Shelley College. It was RESOLVED that the matter be pursued.
709 Broadband
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Mary Creagh MP indicating that she had written on the Parish Council’s behalf to the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. She also reported that she had received further examples of poor broadband service from local residents.
It was RESOLVED that a flyer be circulated to the areas of the parish which are known to have an inadequate broadband service asking residents for their experiences both good and bad. It was FURTHER RESOLVED to invite a representative from BT to a future Council meeting to discuss the problems highlighted by the Parish Council.
710 Request for Safety Mirrors at Junction of Wood Street and Huddersfield Road in Skelmanthorpe
The Clerk reported that she and Cllr K Waites had met on site with an officer of Kirklees Council to discuss the Council’s proposals for dealing with the problem. Kirklees Council proposed extending the exit area from Wood Street and changing the road marking accordingly and contacting the owners of No. 36 to advise them of the proposed changes and to request that cars not be parked within a certain distance of the junction. It was RESOLVED that the proposals be accepted.
711 Childcare Allowance
The Clerk reported that she had written to the other four Town and Parish Councils in the area and to date had heard from three who were in favour of pursuing the issue, albeit recognising that under the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, dependents’ carers’ allowances are only specified for District Councils and was not extended to Parish and Town Councils. It was RESOLVED that the matter be pursued as previously agreed subject to the response from the fourth Council.
712 Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Philip Hume, Head of Kirklees Council’s Policy and Governance Service, from Cllr Robert Light, Leader of Kirklees Council and from Anne Dart of the Department of Communities and Local Government responding to the Parish Council’s letters concerning the public statements of two Kirklees District Councillors about Denby Dale Parish Council and the forthcoming Parish Review. It was RESOLVED that the correspondence be noted.
713 Schools Poster Competition
The Clerk reported that to date she had received one reply to her letter to schools about the poster competition and it was RESOLVED that a reminder be sent to the remaining schools so that a considered view might be obtained.
714 Youth Council
The Clerk reported that following advertising in Shelley College and the middle schools, she had received two nominations to the Youth Council. It was acknowledged that the nomination forms had been circulated just before the end of term and that she was arranging to visit Shelley College to address the pupils, accompanied by Cllrs Wilson and Barlow who were both governors of the College. The Clerk further reported that Kirklees Council had decided to set up a Youth Council and that there might be some confusion if both bodies were called youth councils, so that this issue would have to be addressed. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
715 Cold Calling Stickers
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Julie McDowell of Kirklees Council concerning the distribution of the cold calling stickers. It was RESOLVED that the correspondence be noted.
716 Parish Council Vacancies
The Clerk reported that since no request was received by the deadline for an election in Skelmanthorpe 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.
717 Locality Plan for Denby Dale & Kirkburton
The Clerk submitted notes for a suggested response to the Locality Plan from the sub group. It was RESOLVED to submit the suggested response to Kirklees Council.
718 Joint Meeting of Parish/Town Councils with Kirklees Council
The Clerk submitted the agenda for the next joint meeting of Parish and Town Councils and Kirklees Council to be held on 24 September 20087 at Mirfield Town Council offices and invited members to indicate if they wished to attend the meeting. Cllr Tribe indicated that she might be able to attend. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Tribe attend if she is able to and that in addition, members not present be canvassed to establish whether they would like to attend.
719 Community Governance Review
The Clerk submitted notes of the first meeting of the Community Governance Review Project Team which had discussed the timetable and the procedure for conducting the review. It was RESOLVED that a sub group be established to manage the Parish Council’s submission and that this group comprise about five members. It was RESOLVED that Cllrs T Sigsworth, N Wilson and G Turner be members of the sub group and that those members not present be canvassed to establish whether they would like to participate. In the interim, it was RESOLVED that Cllr Allen be a reserve. It was further RESOLVED that the first meeting be held on 16 September at 7pm.
720 Parish Plan Update
The Clerk circulated information from Cllr Allen concerning the areas of the Parish Plan which to be looked at in the forthcoming update of the Plan. It was RESOLVED that this be pursued by the Clerk together with Cllr Allen.
721 Working Party on Public Transport
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Metro confirming that Arriva would be introducing a 0630 service on the 435/436 bus route from Denby Dale via Skelmanthorpe to Wakefield on Mondays to Saturdays from 1 September and that the poorly used 0608 hrs service Denby Dale via Kitchenroyd to Wakefield bus will be withdrawn. However, it was not possible to concede the Parish Council’s request for the diversion of some 435/436 services to serve Chapel Hill in Clayton West on Saturdays, though the situation would be kept under review. It was RESOLVED that a reply be sent to Metro thanking them for their efforts in achieving the additional early morning bus but expressing the Parish Council’s disappointment that it was not possible to introduce a service via Chapel Hill and asking why it was not cost effective.
Cllr Brook reported that 1500 leaflets had been distributed to advertise the new Barnsley 95 service and that when amended 435/436 and Penistone Line timetables were received, they would be distributed. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
722 Clerk’s Training
The Clerk submitted details of the new CiLCA learning arrangements and it was RESOLVED that the Parish Council agree to sign the tripartite Learning Agreement between Yorkshire & Humber Regional Training Partnership, the Clerk and the Parish Council in relation to the Clerk’s achievement of the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA).
723 Traffic Signs at Park Lane, Birdsedge
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees Council concerning the introduction of road signage on Penistone Road. It was RESOLVED that the correspondence be noted.
724 Kirklees Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment
The Clerk submitted correspondence from Kirklees Council requesting information about potential sites for new housing. Members were not able to make any suggestions and it was RESOLVED that the correspondence be noted.
725 Green Initiative
Cllr Sigsworth made the following suggestions for the Green Initiative:
Encourage greater use of water butts; local introduction of the Fair Trade initiative; introduction of cycle paths/safe routes; development of roadside trees/hedges and bulbs; carry out a green audit of the parish council; consider lift sharing to meetings; look at the Council’s use of stationery, explore local initiatives to grow food; introduce more allotments; encourage farmshops/local suppliers of food; campaign for labelling to show origin of produce; encourage solar powered bus shelters and solar panels for domestic dwellings; look at transport in relation to the environment.
It was RESOLVED that these and any further proposals which may be made be considered in connection with the Council’s Business Plan (see next item).
726 Business Plan
The Clerk submitted a proposed outline for a Business Plan. It was RESOLVED that the subgroup set up to drive the Community Governance Review be charged with drafting the Business Plan.
727 Proposed Modification to Definitive Map Order
The Clerk submitted details of a proposal to modify Denby Dale Public Footpath 152 – Busker Lane to Denby Dale Public Footpath 47. It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council have no objections.
728 Yorkshire Local Councils Associations
The Clerk invited members to nominate a representative to the YLCA. It was RESOLVED that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
729 Denby Dale Area Committee
The Clerk reported that Cllr M Barlow had resigned as a representative to the Area Committee due to a conflict with other commitments and Cllr M Mills had resigned because of the decision to reschedule planning meetings to a time during the day when he was at work. It was RESOLVED that a letter be sent to Cllr Ward expressing the Council’s disappointment at the decision to change the time of the meeting since this expressly prevented people in work from involvement in the Area Committee. It was FURTHER RESOLVED that Cllr Allen take up one of the vacant positions and that the other vacancy be deferred to the October meeting.
730 YLCA Conference Scarborough
The Clerk reported that she was no longer able to attend the forthcoming conference in Scarborough due to family commitments. It was RESOLVED that if any councillor was able to attend instead, he or she should let the Clerk know.
731 NALC Roundtable Discussion
The Clerk submitted an invitation to the NALC Roundtable Discussion on the Balance of Power: Central and Local Government to be held in London on 5, 8 or 18 September. It was RESOLVED that in view of the short notice, it was impossible to send a delegate and that NALC be asked to consider giving better notice when organising future similar events.
732 Yorkshire Rural Community Council AGM 29 November 2008
The Clerk submitted information about the YRCC AGM. It was RESOLVED that this matter be deferred to the October meeting of the Council.
733 Conference on Employment Issues 18 November 2008
The Clerk submitted information about a conference on employment issues organised by the YLCA at South Kirkby. It was RESOLVED that this matter be deferred to the October meeting of the Council.
734 Incredible Edible Todmordon
Cllr Tribe drew members’ attention to the ‘Incredible Edible Todmordon’ initiative which involves encouraging the growth of local fruit and vegetables. It was RESOLVED that Cllr Tribe obtain further information.
735 Website
The Clerk reported that during the month of June the website had received 5515 unique visitors, in July, 4036 and in August 3770. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
736 Orders for Payment
It was RESOLVED that Orders for Payment No. 478 totalling £959.77 and No. 479 totalling £2272.65 be approved.
737 Budget Report
The Clerk submitted a budget report to 31 August 2008. It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.
738 October Council Meeting
It was RESOLVED that the following items be included on the agenda of the October Council meeting: Parish Plan update; Report on Councillor training by Cllr Tribe; Newsletters/publicity; the condition of Frank Lane; Guidelines to councillors on speaking to newspapers, etc.
739 Dates of next meetings
Plans Scrutiny Committee at 7.30pm on 30 September 2008
Council Meeting at 7pm on 7 October 2008
Signed………………………………………
CHAIR
