JRW/330

TODWICK PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in Todwick Village Hall
at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 28th July 2009.

Present

• Councillor Hill - Chairman
• Councillor Gregory
• Councillor Leah
• Councillor Mathieson
• Councillor Northall
• Councillor Palmer
• Councillor Pantry
• Councillor White
• Clerk - J R Walker

09/33 APOLOGIES

There were no apologies.

09/34 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - 30th June 2009

09/27 - One year and not eleven years.

The above amendment was agreed and the minutes signed as a correct record.

09/35 MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

09/36 URGENT ITEMS FOR LATER CONSIDERATION

1. Hanging Baskets
2. Allotment and Garden Prize Giving
3. Storth Lane
4. Area Assembly Meeting Venue
5. Council Vacancy.

09/37 CLERK'S REPORT

Clerk had undertaken his routine duties and all the instructions given to him at the last meeting.

09/38 FINANCIAL OFFICER'S REPORT

	£
Monies received
1. Barclays Bank - Interest	1.49
Payments made since last meeting
1. Mrs. D. Brookman - Best Kept Allotment 1st Prize	50.00
2. Mrs. R. Beckett - Best Kept Allotment 2nd Prize	30.00
3. Mr. J. Tompkin - Best Kept Allotment 3rd Prize	20.00
4. Mr. H. Beat - Best Kept Garden 1st Prize	50.00
5. Mr. G. Truman - Best Kept Garden 2nd Prize	30.00
6. Mrs. B. Waller - Best Kept Garden 3rd Prize	20.00
Payments to be made
1. J. R. Walker - Salary & Expenses	700.68
2. Todwick Village Hall - Rents	36.00
3. R .Oxley & Son - Elec. Supply at Cricket Pavilion	491.00
4. Greenscene - Plants and Hanging Baskets	1918.20
5. Mr. Julian Marples - Village Maintenance	159.69
6. Mr. K. Mathieson - Printing of Certificates	10.55
7. Zurich Management Services - LCAS Membership Renewal	109.25
8. H M Customs & Excise - Tax/NI	203.67
Previously signed cheques not appearing on bank statements
1. Mr. K. Mathieson	5.98
2. Mr. P. Kettell	24.99
3. Todwick Village Hall	13.50
4. Todwick J&I School	105.00
5. Mr. B. White	25.00

Bank statement balances including bank interest
Business Premium	Business Premium	Instant Access Saver	Community
£4,397.97	£24,118.76	£5,000	£1.00
Bank balances after all payments completed
Business Premium	Business Premium	Instant Access Saver	Community
£4,397.97	£23,261.13	£5,000	£1.00

09/39 CORRESPONDENCE

A copy of each item of correspondence had been circulated with the papers in advance of the meeting.

1. RMBC - Rescheduled Parish Network Meeting

2. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority - Monthly Briefing Note

3. RMBC - Borough Standards Committee

4. Barclays Bank - Repayment of charges/New Account

   Clerk had written again to seek a reply to that part of his previous letter asking for an explanation of why the Instant Access Account had been opened without any instruction to do so. The refund of bank charges had not yet been received and no reply had been received to his letter.

5. RMBC - Sustainability Appraisal of the Rotherham Town Centre Public Realm Strategy

6. RMBC - Localised Flooding Incidents

   Resolved not to accept the offer of sandbags but rather to ascertain what measures were being taken to prevent further flooding at the junction of Goosecarr Lane and The Pastures.

7. RMBC - All Parish Liaison Meeting

   Pantry informed that the RMBC Grounds Maintenance and Street Cleansing Services were to be amalgamated as from January 2010.

   Resolved to ask what services might be expected in Todwick Parish from that date.

8. RMBC - Skate Park Request

   Clerk the letter contained a petition from 26 individuals. It did not say whether any or all of the petitioners lived in Todwick and there were no contact names or details given.

   White although not opposed to the proposal in principle made the Council aware that a similar development at Harthill involving installation of a cycling facility had caused dismay to some residents since it had attracted several people from outside the Parish and there had been some vandalism attributed to them.

   Pantry suggested that a meeting be arranged with the petitioners.

9. RMBC - Footpath Problems - Doorstep Walk No. 17/The Stan Rouse Trail

   White expressed concern that works at the location of the stile at Millfields had not been completed as promised.

   Clerk would liaise further with RMBC.

10. Mencap - Request for Donation to Funds

    Resolved not to offer a donation in accordance with the policy of only supporting local organisations.

11. Finance, Funding and Social Enterprise Drop-in.

The meeting was suspended at 7.45 p.m.

Jenny Harrison was in attendance from Groundwork Dearne Valley. She passed around revised versions of the drawing and updated members on the proposed play facilities at the Goosecarr Lane Recreation Ground. The revisions had been made following the recent flooding problems and consultation with school children and local residents. She commented on member's suggestions and undertook to forward a further drawing when further revisions had been incorporated.

Members thanked Ms. Harrison and she left the meeting.

The meeting was reconvened at 8.50 p.m.

09/40 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

There were no planning applications to report.

09/41 COMMITTEES

Allotments

Mathieson reported that letters had been sent to five plot holders who had failed to adequately cultivate their plots. Of these three had responded positively, one had broken his foot and been given additional time to undertake the necessary improvements and the fifth was to cultivate half of the plot only with the remaining half being offered to someone from the waiting list.

Vandals had forced entry into allotment huts on the 12th and 20th July. In the first instance a spade had been stolen and in the second a gas stove and kettle.

Recreation Charity

Mathieson presented a copy of the audited accounts for the previous 18 months.

The electric supply to the cricket pavilion had been disconnected but the cable left in the ground in case it was required at some future date.

Yorkshire Electricity was to enhance the earth supply at no cost to the Charity or the Parish Council.

A meeting of the Charity had been held on the 2nd July with user groups at which arrangements had been agreed for the period of overlap between cricket and football seasons.

The football pavilion had been tidied and the kitchen reorganised to improve facilities for the Cricket Club.

The Junior Football Club would be running four teams only for the coming season with three other teams using the facility at Crowgate, South Anston.

He was to meet with Ian Helliwell from RMBC to measure and identify whether there was sufficient land available to provide a small football pitch of some 80 m x 25 m either on the land formally occupied by the cricket pavilion or adjacent to the football pavilion.

A metal bench had been stolen from the play area but this had now been recovered.

Recreation Committee

Chairman reported that the asbestos survey had been completed. There were no issues with the cricket pavilion and this could be demolished without incorporating any special measures. The cheapest quotation for undertaking the work had been received from Ron Hull Ltd.

Resolved that the cricket pavilion and outside toilet be demolished by Messrs Ron Hull Ltd.

Chairman would let the Clerk have the requisite information.

Resolved to repair the metal storage container presently sited next to the cricket pavilion and subsequently site this next to the football pavilion.

09/42 MEMBER'S ACTIVITY REPORTS

1. Pantry had attended the Parish Council Liaison Meeting at Rotherham Town Hall and the Parishes Meeting the previous week. There was nothing that required discussion at the Council Meeting.
2. White had met with Stephen Lister, Caroline Hutchinson and Andrew Burton from RMBC to discuss flooding at the junction of Goosecarr Lane and The Pastures.

09/43 VILLAGE LOGO

Resolved to adopt the latest shield submitted by the Historical Society and consider at what locations and in what way this might now be displayed.

White would inform Philip Robins the Chairman of the Historical Society and thank all those who had been involved in the design.

09/44 VILLAGE MAINTENANCE

Palmer reported on the Contractor's activities during the last month. In addition to litter picking and other routine matters these had included painting anti-vandal paint on the youth shelter and re-bedding the bollard fronting the shops at The Pastures.

Pantry expressed his thanks for the work undertaken by Mr. Marples in connection with the previous weekend's village events.

09/45 KIVETON LANE PLANTATION

Chairman reported on his discussions with the Big Lottery Fund who had extended the deadline for completing the works to Christmas. The grant would have to be re-paid if this was not achieved.

09/46 EMERGENCY PLAN

Leah would inform the Clerk of any necessary revisions to enable the Clerk to revise the plan and pass to RMBC.

09/47 CRICKET CLUB CONTAINER

There were no further comments to make.

09/48 URGENT ITEMS

1. Hanging Baskets

   Chairman expressed his concern as to the deterioration in the condition of the plants which were now almost dead.

   Palmer would speak with the suppliers and see what could be done to rectify the problem.

2. Allotment and Garden Prize Giving

   Chairman had presented the prizes for the best kept allotments and gardens and expressed his thanks to Sheila Pantry who had worked so hard in organising all the recent village events.

3. Storth Lane

   Mathieson had received a report of unacceptable walking conditions on the public footpath from Storth Lane towards Wales.

   Clerk would report to RMBC.

4. Area Assembly Meeting Venue

   Pantry asked whether it would be possible to hold meetings in the village hall on the occasions when Todwick had to act as host.

   White/Leah advised that the Village Hall Committee would be delighted to provide the venue but unfortunately the dates previously requested had clashed with regular bookings. Alternative dates and times had been suggested and it was hoped that something could be arranged.

5. Council Vacancy

   Clerk reported that the Notice of a Casual Vacancy had been displayed as necessary.

   Resolved not to advertise the vacancy more extensively but to accept applications for consideration

The Meeting Closed at 9.55 p.m.