Todwick Parish Council Minutes
JRW/395
TODWICK PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held in Todwick Village Hall
on Tuesday 25th November 2014
Borough Councillor Watson was present. He had no matters specifically concerning Todwick to report but informed that the Borough Council was presently focusing on the Jay Report, the Corporate Governance Report and the Ofsted Report.
The meeting commenced at 7.10 p.m.
Present
- Councillor Hill – Chairman
- Councillor Carter – Until 9.15 p.m.
- Councillor Ferris
- Councillor Greer-Waring
- Councillor Jeffrey
- Councillor Leah
- Councillor White
- J R Walker – Clerk & Financial Officer
- Members of the Public
14/90 APOLOGIES
An apology for non attendance had been received from Councillors Gregory and Northall.
14/91 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Ordinary Meeting 28th October 2014
There were no amendments and the minutes were signed as a true record.
14/92 MATTERS ARISING
14/85 (1)
Ferris reported that the works to the CCTV had been completed at the village hall including the fitting of a single power supply to cover all cameras.
14/85 (13)
White had handed over the award cheque and discussed the possibility of forming a Parish Youth Council with the Head-teacher at Wales High School.
14/93 DECLARATION OF MEMBER’S INTERESTS
Greer-Waring was Vice-chairman of the Village Hall Committee
Hill had a business connection with Hobson Nurseries
Carter had an interest in land recommended for development potential by RMBC.
Leah owned a property which could be directly affected by possible future housing development
The councillors would not take part in any debate or voting on matters where they had declared an interest.
14/94 URGENT ITEMS FOR LATER CONSIDERATION
Communications
Painting
Children’s Playground Deeds
At 7.20 p.m. and under Council Standing Order 61 the public were temporarily excluded by means of the following resolution:
“That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the press be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw”
The reason for the exclusion was given as “This Council will not debate or become involved in any way with any discussions regarding the land adjoining Rayls Road and Osborne Road whilst it is in any way likely to involve a civil issue and which is not the responsibility of Todwick Parish Council”.
Members agreed with the Chairman and that the Parish Council should not involve itself in this civil matter.
At 7.38 p.m. Members of the Public were allowed back into the Meeting.
14/95 CLERK’S REPORT
Clerk had undertaken all the duties placed on him at the last meeting and had sent out six “Welcome to the Village” letters.
14/96 FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REPORT
Clerk reported:
£ |
|
Monies received |
|
---|---|
1. British Gas – Feed-in Tariff |
574.29 |
Payments made since last meeting |
|
1. Travis Perkins – Pavilion Building Materials |
612.00 |
2. Hi-Tec Print – Informer Printing |
99.00 |
3. Todwick Village Hall – Rent |
21.00 |
4. Stephen Hill – Padlock and Keys |
40.00 |
5. RMBC – Building Regulations Fee |
480.00 |
6. Hi-Tec Print – Informer Printing |
80.00 |
Un-presented cheques |
|
1. Travis Perkins – Pavilion Building Materials |
612.00 |
2. Mrs. E Northall – Wreath |
18.00 |
3. Wales High School – Award |
100.00 |
4. RMBC – Building Regulations Fee |
480.00 |
5. Hi-Tec Print – Informer Printing |
80.00 |
Payments to be made |
|
1. RMBC – October Grounds Maintenance |
43.68 |
2. Todwick Parish Rec. Grd. – October Grounds Maintenance |
949.24 |
3. J R Walker – Nov. Salary and Expenses |
552.49 |
4. HMRC – November Tax/NI |
309.60 |
5. Mark Archer – Village Maintenance Works |
41.20 |
Bank statement balances |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Business Saver (Gratuity) |
Business Saver (Cheque Feeder) |
Business Saver (Sports Pavilion) |
Community (Cheque) |
£4,809.95 |
£18,158.63 |
£17,047.88 |
£575.29 |
Bank balances after all payments completed |
|||
Business Saver (Gratuity) |
Business Saver (Cheque Feeder) |
Business Saver (Sports Pavilion) |
Community (Cheque) |
£4,809.95 |
£15,400.88 |
£17,047.88 |
£1.00 |
14/97 CORRESPONDENCE
Written correspondence received and passed to Members:
Magna Science Adventure Centre – World War 1 Centenary Night
Foys Solicitors – Land to the East of Rayls Rise
RMBC – Sandbag Requirements
RMBC – Parish Network Meeting
Mrs. Turner – A Thank You Note for co-coordinating the installation of the bench which she had donated to the village in memory of her late partner, Mr. Topham.
Correspondence had also been received via E-mail and forwarded by the Clerk to Members on their receipt. The Clerk had replied where appropriate.
Voluntary Action Rotherham – Various Email Bulletins
RMBC – Various Planning Lists
Rural Action Yorkshire – Latest News
Graham Capper – Problems with Rotherham Borough Council
RMBC – Decision Notice – RB2014/1267
Alan Turner – Trial Bus Service
Chesterfield Canal Trust – E Newsletter Number 71
Norman Anderson – Village Hall Invoice
Councillors Greer-Waring and Carter – People in Crisis Appeal
Neil Hawksworth – The Rotherham Plan
Various Councillors – Remembrance in Todwick
Councillor Hill – Padlock
Various Councillors – Meeting Minutes
RMBC – Local Development Plan
RMBC – Rotherham Council Website
Councillor Greer-Waring – Local Plan Flyer
Councillor Greer-Waring – Local Plan Consultation
Councillor Carter – Mr. Capper E-mails
RMBC – South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner By-Election Notices of Results
YLCA – Reclaiming VAT
Councillor White – Cheque
RMBC – Speed Sign
Councillor Leah – Updated Emergency Plan
Sheila Pantry – Queries on October Council Minutes
YLCA – Housing Your Community Event: 28 Nov 14 Yorkshire
Councillors Northall and Leah – Recreation Ground Bills
RMBC – Winter Weather 2014/15 – Highways
Councillors Greer-Waring and Ferris – Food for People in Crisis – Christmas Appeal
Various Councillors – Parish Network Meeting
Various Councillors – Scrub Land at Osborne Road
Various Councillors – Local Development Plan and Letter of Objection
RMBC – 2015/2016 Proposed Highway Maintenance Works Programme
RMBC – Poster re Squirrel Concert – Nov 2014
Various Councillors – Worksop Guardian Article on the Local Development Plan
Councillor White – Purchase of Building Materials
SYPTE and Councillor Greer-Waring – Bus Services
RMBC and Councillor Ferris – Land at the End of Osborne Drive
RMBC – Budget Consultation
Various Councillors – Informer 105
Mr. G Capper – Sites and Policies Consultation
Councillor Northall – Gully on Goosecarr Lane and Dumped Rubbish
Councillors Greer-Waring and White – Falls Outside 2 Guildway
YLCA – Employment Training Event
Councillor Hill – Cheque
Councillors Carter and Greer-Waring – Christmas Tree
RMBC – Falls Outside 2 Guildway/Removal of Moss
RMBC – Makers Market
Worksop Guardian Newspaper – New Homes Planned for Todwick
Councillor Greer-Waring – Budget Meeting
Councillor Northall – Donation of Painting by Betty Wilkinson to Commemorate the Unveiling of the War Memorial
John Laycock and Various Councillors – Field at the Back of Rayls Rise
Councillor Greer-Waring – Todwick : Dinnington Bus Services
RMBC – Rotherham Community Infrastructure Levy : Draft Charging Schedule
Marie Dabell – Bus Issues
Mr. Ray Sykes – Habitat Destruction of Green Belt Land in Todwick.
Councillor Northall – Grounds Maintenance
Michael Crowther – Todwick Parish Council : Minutes of Tuesday 28 October
Councillor Hill – Standing Orders
SYPTE – Energy/Cost Saving Initiative – Installation of Timer Switches on Bus Shelters
Councillor Ferris – Mark Archer
RMBC – Charity Masquerade Ball for the Hallam FM Children at Christmas Appeal
RMBC – Drink-aware Campaign to Help Tackle Underage Drinking
RMBC – YDV Fund for Young People
14/98 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
RB2014/1451
Demolition of existing rear extension and erection of single storey rear extension and detached garage to front at 33 Kiveton Lane for Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Resolved to offer no objection.
14/99 COMMITTEES
Allotments
Ferris reported that:
The Pest Control Officer had visited and found significant rodent activity at the allotments and in the area generally. He would visit again on the 12th December. There would be no additional charge even though it would be additional to the contracted number.
Some maintenance had been undertaken by the contractor and he would discuss the further work required.
Councillor Jeffrey had informed him that the willow at the recreation ground had been reduced in height and this would make it more difficult to form the tunnel.
Village Hall
Greer-Waring reported that:
Some lead flashing had been disturbed at the gable end of the hall roof but a search of the CCTV footage had so far not revealed any signs of vandalism.
The Christmas Fayre was to be held on the coming Saturday
14/100 PRECEPT 2015/16
Resolved to hold a budget meeting on Tuesday 6th January.
14/101 STRATEGIC PLAN
Leah presented documents scoping what could be incorporated into the strategic plan along with a risk register template for discussion.
Greer-Waring spoke about Neighbourhood Planning and suggested this would be particularly relevant for the village and would dovetail in with the strategic plan; she would research further and present information at the January TPC meeting.
The meeting was suspended at 8.00 p.m.
OPEN SESSION
Mr. Laycock represented the Todwick Action Group – Field Ref. LDF 0504. He thanked the Parish Council for replying to his recent e-mail but the group he represented was seeking support in objecting to the works undertaken off Osborne Road/ Osborne Drive/Rayls Rise. Of particular concern were:
- Assistance in stopping the access into the field via the hammerhead roads in Osborne Road and Osborne Drive
- Help in influencing the RBC Planning Department to reject approaches to build on the land
- Help in cleaning the mud and debris from the road and footpaths
- Assistance in refusing approaches by the landowner to drop the kerb and move the street lights in the hammerheads
- Assistance in ensuring that the field is returned to level, the rubbish is cleared and trees planted
- Commence not accrue
Assistance in getting the boundary wall rebuilt on Osborne Drive
Chairman referred to the Council’s email reply to Mr. Laycock. The matters of concern could not be resolved by the Parish Council. They should either be directed to the Borough Council or other appropriate agencies or were civil matters. Since legal action may well commence the Parish Council had resolved not to involve itself in this matter. There were two sides to this and Parish Council must not and would not get involved or take sides.
Mr. Shepherd was concerned about the destruction of the wildlife habitat and dumping of rubbish on the land.
Mr. Crowther asked why the Council, had been prepared to seek removal of bricks from The Pastures left by a builder was it not now prepared to intervene in this matter. He had read the October Council Minutes. He did not support them being approved as a true record of the meeting since no mention had been made of the notice Mr Newbold had presented and which had been posted around the village by the owner of the land in question.
Mr Hewitt agreed that the minutes were not wholly accurate. He strongly objected to having initially being prevented from attending this meeting by the Chairman.
Chairman apologised for this earlier misunderstanding.
Mr Hewitt considered that the Council had a duty to support the village and members should be concerned about what had happened on this land and be prepared to take action against the landowner.
Chairman reiterated his previous comments in that whilst all members took their duties extremely seriously and voluntarily undertook an enormous amount of work on behalf of the village it would not be appropriate for the Council to take sides in what were predominantly civil matters.
Greer-Waring referred to the Council’s objections to the Local Development plan many of which applied to all future sizeable developments in the Parish.
Mrs. Tame considered the landowner’s behaviour to be manipulative in that his intention was to create such a disgraceful condition of the site that that it would encourage the Borough Council to grant planning permission to any proposal for housing development.
Mr. Clarke asked whether the Parish Councillors had visited the site.
Members confirmed that they all had.
Mrs. Tame asked why the Council would not support the local residents when it had on other matters in the past.
Mr. Sykes asked whether the Council had been notified of the archaeological dig undertaken on the site by Arc Heritage.
Chairman informed that no such notification had been received.
Ferris informed that he had sent emails to RMBC when he became aware of issues occurring on the land at the end of Osborne Rd and Osborne Drive, after having received a phone call from Mr D Clark. He had received a reply from RMBC Planning which he had passed on to the other members of the Parish Council and Mr. L Shepherd.
Mr. Cato asked whether the landowner had permission to take down the wall in order to access the site.
Chairman advised that this was a civil matter and not one for the Parish Council.
Mr. Crowther asked why the council would take no action in this case when it had objected to any proposed development south of the existing village extents.
Chairman stated that this was a different situation because that proposal would effectively link the village with Kiveton Park. This was not only not supported by the Parish Council it would also contravene the Borough Council’s guidelines. The Parish Council had provided comments as part of the consultation process on sites 730 and 830, the site in question (504) was not part of the proposals in the local plan so was not commented on. Similarly, other sites in the village which were not included in this version of the Local Plan were not commented upon.
Open Session closed and the meeting was reconvened at 9.07 p.m.
14/102 MEMBER’S ACTIVITY REPORTS
Ferris had been discussing the generation of a number of circular footpath walks around the village. He had spoken with Jim Tompkin who had kindly agreed to negotiate assistance in obtaining leaflets from the Borough Council.
Greer-Waring advised that the collection box for People in Crisis had been placed in the Tea Rooms at The Pastures.
Greer-Waring had prepared a schedule for publication dates of future “Informers” and would email this to Members.
Greer-Waring had had a further exchange of emails with the SYPTE and asked various questions about bus services in the village.
Greer-Waring and Jeffrey would be attending the award ceremony at Wales High School on the coming Friday.
White reported on progress with the sports pavilion works. Roofing works would commence shortly. The new roof would have a 40° pitch as this was the optimum angle for solar panels and would help deter vandalism.
Leah reported that expenditure to date was £23,892.55, of which £2,425.07 was VAT and would be reclaimed.
14/103 VILLAGE MAINTENANCE
Ferris reported that Mark Archer had worked 5 hours in the month and would be paid accordingly.
Greer-Waring had noted rubbish around the seats fronting the carpet shop that needed removing
Jeffrey informed that young people who congregated in the Church car park frequently left rubbish and this needed removing on a regular basis.
White reported rubbish being dumped on Pocket Handkerchief Lane.
Chairman had noted this and some had been removed only recently.
Ferris had asked the Borough Council to provide suitable waterproof clothing for Mark Archer.
14/104 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS
The Borough Council had replied to the Clerk’s further recent enquiry and reported that the highways capital programme for 2015/16 was going to be about 40% less than in 2014/15. It was likely that quite a few projects would have to be deferred including some safety related schemes. However, colleagues in public health had indicated that they were willing to put some money into the introduction of 20 mph schemes. As a result, transportation officers had put together a list of schemes that they might want to consider paying for, including one covering Todwick. The various relevant officers were due to meet sometime in the next two weeks and would inform as to whether the Todwick scheme might be included. There was also a possibility that the scheme could be paid for out of next year’s capital programme as the costs were relatively low in view of the main roads through the village already being traffic calmed. The main costs were in changing the signs and in processing the traffic regulation order to reduce the speed limit.
14/105 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
No report had been received from Norman Anderson recently and there were no matters to discuss.
14/106 LAND ADJACENT A57
No response had been received to the TPC letter to RMBC and clerk would follow this up.
14/107 JOHN PALMER MEMORIAL
Resolved to wait until all members were present before deciding on an appropriate memorial.
14/108 URGENT ITEMS
Communications
Greer-Waring had discussed the availability of appropriate internet domain addresses for use by the parish council.
Resolved
That quotations be sought for acquisition of an appropriate internet domain address for use by the Parish Council.
Painting
Greer-Waring referred to an email received from Councillor Northall. Betty Wilkinson, a Todwick artist had handed a painting of poppies to Councillor Northall. She wished to donate it to the Parish Council and for it to be hung in the Village Hall to commemorate the unveiling of the War Memorial.
Resolved
To gratefully accept the painting and to its being hung in the main hall of the village hall.
To asked Councillor Northall to thank Miss/Mrs Wilkinson for her generous gift.
Children’s Playground Deeds
Chairman reported that although the children’s playground site had been satisfactorily registered with the Land Registry it had so far not been possible to recover the pre-registration documents. He had a legal advisor working on this and would advise when any progress was made.
The Meeting Closed at 10.03 p.m.
The next Council Meeting will be in Todwick Village Hall at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 16th December 2014.