JRW/336

TODWICK PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in Todwick Village Hall at
7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 30th March 2010

Present

• Councillor Hill - Chairman
• Councillor Bennett
• Councillor Ferris
• Councillor Gregory
• Councillor Leah
• Councillor Palmer
• Councillor Pantry
• Councillor White
• Clerk - J R Walker

09/143 APOLOGIES

An apology had been received from Councillor Northall.

09/144 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - 23rd February 2009

There were no amendments.

The minutes were signed as a correct record.

09/145 MATTERS ARISING

1. 09/123

   White had revised the entry on the Charity Commission Web Site. He would pass on the Recreation Ground Internet file to Councillor Northall who would need it to make any future revisions to the website.

2. 09/84(6)

   Leah had offered a number of meeting dates to the Head of Youth Services but had received no reply.

3. 09/134(6)

   Palmer had spoken with Paul Green who was to submit a quotation shortly.

09/146 URGENT ITEMS FOR LATER CONSIDERATION

1. Doctor's Surgery
2. Subsidence at the Village Hall
3. Boundary Wall at the Village Hall
4. Liaison with School Governors
5. Parish Councillor Surgery

09/147 CLERK'S REPORT

Clerk had undertaken his routine duties and all the instructions given to him at the last meeting. He had applied for registration as the data controller with the Information Commissioner. A registration fee of £35.00 was now payable.

09/148 FINANCIAL OFFICER'S REPORT/BANK ACCOUNTS

	£
Monies received
1. Barclays Bank - Interest	3.40
Payments made since last meeting
	Nil
Payments to be made
1. Todwick Village Hall - Rents	28.50
2. H M Revenue & Customs - Tax/NI	207.70
3. J R Walker -Salary & Expenses	656.28
4. Hi-Tec Print - "Informer" Printing	106.00
5. Information Commissioner - Registration as Data Controller	35.00
6. Mr. Julian Marples - Village Maintenance	184.50
7. Yorkshire Containers Ltd - Steel Container at Recreation Ground	1128.00
8. RMBC - Pest Control at Allotments	235.00
9. Todwick Parish Bowling Club - Materials for Pavilion Repair	48.06
10. YLCA - Membership Renewal	378.00
Previously signed cheques not appearing on bank statements
	Nil

Bank statement balances including bank interest
Business Saver	Business Saver	Business Saver	Community
£4,399.49	£9,394.39	£10,002.30	£1.00
Bank balances after all payments completed
Business Saver	Business Saver	Business Saver	Community
£4,399.49	£6,422.35	£10,002.30	£1.00

09/149 CORRESPONDENCE

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

1. NSPCC

   Bennett would discuss the issues with her contacts at the J&I School.

2. Rural Action Yorkshire

3. YLCA - 2010/11 Membership

   Resolved to renew membership at a cost of £378

   Leah reported that the association would be holding its meeting in the village hall on the 17 June.

4. YLCA - Training and Development Programme

5. RMBC - VAT Charge for Play Pathfinder Play Area at Goosecarr Lane

6. RMBC - Planning Application RB2010/91 - Rear of 20 The Pastures

7. RMBC - Standards Committee

8. YLCA - Nomination Paper

9. SYPTE - Bus Service Changes/Easter Timetable

   Palmer reported that there were to be no changes affecting services through Todwick.

10. Barclays Bank - Level of Service/Complaint

11. Barclays Bank - Level of Service/Complaint

    Clerk had written a further letter of complaint.

12. RMBC - Planning Board Training

13. Zurich Insurance PLC - Revised Schedule and Credit Note

    Clerk Deletion of the cricket pavilion from the Schedule had reduced next year's premium by £106.04.

    Resolved to increase cover:-

    • Bowls Pavilion to £100,000
    • Wrought Iron gates to £3,000
    • Two Wayside Seats to £1,000
    • Public Liability to £5,000,000

14. Groundwork Dearne Valley - Rotherham Environment Forum

09/150 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

1. RB2010/0253

   Two storey side, single storey front and rear extension and enlargement of existing chimney at 20 The Meadows, for Mr P Hague.

   Resolved to offer no objection.

2. RB2010/0289

   Single storey side and rear extension at 19 Manor Way, for Mr D Wainwright, 15 Morton Gardens, Halfway, Sheffield.

   Resolved to offer no objection.

3. RB2010/0304

   Single storey front, side and rear extensions and alteration to roof height at 5 Osborne Road Todwick for Mr. Evison.

   Resolved to offer no objection.

09/151 COMMITTEES

Recreation

1. Gregory distributed plans detailing suggested improvements to the football pavilion as an interim measure to providing a completely new sports pavilion at some future date. The cheapest quotation received for the work was £2,500 including the provision of any kitchen cupboards.

   Resolved to instruct the improvements to the football pavilion at a total cost of £2,500.

2. Gregory informed that the trees had been cut back at the bowling green but that four windows had now been identified as being rotten in the pavilion. Replacement would cost some £985.

   Resolved to seek the results of a survey of the bowling pavilion and the adoption of a three year maintenance plan for the building.

3. Gregory informed that the newly provided play equipment was now in use.

   Bennett had observed two large gaps in the hedging fronting Goosecarr Lane caused by vandals which allowed ready access of young children directly onto the road.

   Chairman would obtain suitable planting.

   Resolved to instruct the Village Maintenance Contractor to undertake the necessary works to close the gap.

Allotments

Ferris had collected some allotment rents and would continue to collect them all. The Borough Council Pest Control Officer had attended three times and allotment holders were pleased with the service.

09/152 YOUTH ACTIVITIES

1. Leah drew member's attention to a recent article in the Dinnington Guardian Newspaper providing information on the installation of a temporary skate ramp by Anston Parish Council.

   Resolved that the Clerk seek relevant information on costings and the subsequence experiences of Anston Parish Council.

2. Bennett suggested that the Council should consider providing specific sports facilities and possibly establish a Youth Parish Council.

09/153 MEMBER'S ACTIVITY REPORTS

1. Palmer reported on the transportation meeting he had arranged in the village hall on the 15th March attended by Pam Horner from the SYPTE, Richard Symonds from the First Bus Group and some 25 parishioners.

2. White /Gregory had met with Caroline Eyles - Landscape Architect RMBC, Sean Easton - Main Contractor and Andy Wilkinson - Independent Playground Inspector and reviewed the works carried out at the recreation ground. The only item of real concern was that a ditch/depression had been carved into the ground as a feature with 3 large rocks in situ. This was approx. 600 mm deep. This would constitute a safety hazard to toddlers and despite previously emphasising that the area was subject to flooding and no ditches should be installed.

   At the time of inspection it was not filled with water and Andy Wilkinson had categorised this as "low risk". Had it been filled with water, he would have rated it "higher risk".

   Caroline Eyles was to take this up with her "client", Peter Cunningham the Manager of the contractor Messrs Greenspace and then comment on the request to have the ditch partially filled.

   A considerable number of jobs were outstanding but most of them would be completed over the next week including the "willow walk".

   A copy of the playground inspectors report had been requested and this would assist in a future risk assessment review.

3. White had observed that some missing gully grates in various roads had been replaced but not all.

   Clerk would ask RMBC to expedite replacement of the remainder.

4. Leah/White were to submit a grant application to part fund the purchase and erection of the three village signs but could not do so until a formal licence had been issued by the Borough Council.

   Clerk had submitted the necessary documentation and would pursue with RMBC.

5. Bennett/White reported on their visit to a number of banks and referred to their subsequent report recommending that the Council transfer its accounts to Lloyds.

   Resolved that the Clerk contact Lloyds bank with a view to finalising details and making the necessary arrangements to transfer funds.

6. Leah had researched the possibility of obtaining a grant of up to £3,000 though Rural Action Yorkshire towards the preparation of an up-to-date village plan.

   Pantry gave details of the procedures adopted for the preparation of the 2003/4 Plan.

   Resolved that Councillor Leah pursue quotes from three companies for the cost of up-dating the Plan so as to be able to complete a grant application to Rural Action Yorkshire by the end of June submission deadline date.

09/154 VILLAGE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT

Palmer gave details of the works completed by the Contractor over the last month. Following Councillor Gregory's request he would arrange for the Contractor to assist in the marking out of car parking bays at the recreation ground.

09/155 PREPARATION FOR ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

Pantry suggested the Council consider what measures it might take in future in the event of adverse weather.

Chairman considered that the provision of a salt store at the village hall for use by the Village Maintenance Contractor might be appropriate.

09/156 PARISH COUNCILS' NEWSLETTERS

Pantry had viewed the publications of various local parish councils and enquired as to whether members considered the existing format of "The Informer" to be satisfactory.

Resolved to continue to provide "The Informer" in its existing format and to thank Mrs. Pantry for preparing and editing the excellent newsletter.

09/157 URGENT ITEMS

1. Doctor's Surgery

   Ferris had received a further request that a surgery be provided in the village but would advise that all requests by the Parish Council had been refused.

2. Subsidence at the Village Hall

   White had observed a crack in the external face of the most recent extension to the hall. Unfortunately the maintenance period of the contract with the builder had now elapsed.

   Discussion took place on the role of the RMBC Planning Department and John Box the architect employed to design the building. A fault in the strata beneath the hall had been identified before the hall had been built. There was now a concern as to the adequacy of the foundations.

   Chairman would inspect the brickwork and advised that the insurer of the building be informed.

   Leah would contact the Rev. Bliss who had chaired the Building Committee and who may have additional information.

3. Boundary Wall at the Village Hall

   Palmer advised on the satisfactory completion of the walling to date. Only the pointing remained outstanding. It had been necessary to acquire additional copings at a cost of some £165.

4. Liaison with School Governors

   Bennett was aware that the Governors of the Junior and Infant School wished to have a more formal and continuous dialogue with the Parish Council. She intended applying to become a governor which might assist in this regard.

   Pantry explained that the Governors had in the more recent past chosen to break the historic link. He had represented the Parish Council on the Board of Governors for several years.

5. Parish Councillor Surgery

   Gregory had observed that the holding of surgeries by parish councillors had worked well elsewhere and enquired as to the suitability of operating a similar system in Todwick.

   Members were not generally supportive of the idea and considered that the "open session" was adequate to deal with specific problems or questions.

The Meeting Closed at 9.45 p.m.

The next monthly council meeting will be in Todwick Village Hall at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 27th April 2010.

The Annual Parish Assembly will be held at 7.30 p.m.