JRW/396

TODWICK PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in Todwick Village Hall at 7.00 p.m.
on Tuesday 16th December 2014

Present

• Councillor Hill – Chairman
• Councillor Carter
• Councillor Gregory
• Councillor Jeffrey
• Councillor Northall
• Councillor White
• J R Walker – Clerk & Financial Officer
• Borough Councillor Gordon Watson
• Members of the Public

Borough Councillor Gordon Watson explained:

The Borough Council was still considering the implications of the Jay Report. It had been resolved to seek further clarification of some aspects of the report and Professor Jay had been invited to travel to Rotherham to do so. However, on receipt of the charges she would make, including travelling expenses of £1500 for the day, it was decided not to pay for her to do so.

Consultation was taking place with the 1100 licensed taxi and private hire vehicle owners in the Borough in light of concerns expressed within the Jay Report and would shortly be making recommendations on the way forward.

No date had yet been given for the date of the reply to be given following the consultation process on the Local Development Plan.

The waste disposal facilities at Manvers were to be commissioned in March 2015 from which time only 1.5% of all waste would be taken to landfill. Plastics would either be recycled or used as a fuel to provide electricity to run the plant as would gas captured via the composting arrangements.

14/109 APOLOGIES

Apologies for non-attendance had been received from Councillors Ferris, Greer-Waring and Leah.

14/110 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Ordinary Meeting 25th November 2014

The following amendments were made and then the minutes signed as a correct record:

OPEN SESSION

Page 6 – Third line – The words “commence not accrue” were deleted.

Page 6 – Last Paragraph replaced by – “Mrs. Tame stated that she had appreciated help and support from the Parish Council in the past and had attended the meeting with The Todwick Action Group for guidance in dealing with the present dilemma.”

14/111 MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

14/112 DECLARATION OF MEMBER’S INTERESTS

1. Greer-Waring was Vice-chairman of the Village Hall Committee

2. Hill had a business connection with Hobson Nurseries

3. Carter had an interest in land recommended for development potential by RMBC and was about to purchase a property on Osborne Road.

4. Leah owned a property which could be directly affected by possible future housing development off Kiveton Lane.

The councillors would not take part in any debate or voting on matters where they had declared an interest.

14/113 URGENT ITEMS FOR LATER CONSIDERATION

1. Rock Salt

2. Shelter at the Bowling Club

3. Donated Painting

14/114 CLERK’S REPORT AND SALARY

Resolved that in accordance with the revised National Joint Council pay scale recommendations for 2014 – 2016, the Clerk would be paid a one-off payment of £100 in December 2104 and £14 in April 2015. His annual salary would be raised to £9,489.12/annum from 1 January 2015.

Clerk reported that the printer given to the Council by Councillor Jeffrey was compatible with the Council’s computer. He had purchased new printer cartridges and included the cost of these in his expenses for the month. He also explained the other reasons why his cheque for December was rather more than usual.

Resolved to thank Councillor Jeffrey for his generosity.

14/115 FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REPORT

Clerk reported:

	£
Monies received
1. Barclays Bank – Interest	6.42
Payments made since last meeting
1. Todwick Village Hall – Rent	18.00
2. Hayward’s Horticulture – Grounds Maintenance at Allotments	235.00
3. HMRC – December Tax/NI	324.87
4. GS Roofing Supplies Ltd. – Roofing Materials	2400.00
5. Todwick Primary School – Diligence Awards	105.00
Un-presented cheques
1. RMBC – Grounds Maintenance	43.68
2. Todwick Parish Bowling Club	949.34
3. G S Roofing Supplies – Roofing Materials	2400.00
4. Todwick Primary School – Diligence Prizes	105.00
5. Todwick Village Hall – Rent	18.00
6. Hayward’s Horticulture – Grounds Maintenance at Allotments	235.00
7. HMRC – December Tax/NI	324.87
Payments to be made
1. J R Walker – Dec. Salary and Expenses	720.23
2. RMBC – Nov. Grounds Maintenance	43.68
3. Todwick Parish Rec. Grd. – Nov. Grounds Maintenance	949.23
4. David Gregory – Pipe Bedding	19.98

Bank statement balances
Business Saver (Gratuity)	Business Saver (Cheque Feeder)	Business Saver (Sports Pavilion)	Community (Cheque)
£4,810.55	£9,417.02	£17,050.39	£1.00
Bank balances after all payments completed
Business Saver (Gratuity)	Business Saver (Cheque Feeder)	Business Saver (Sports Pavilion)	Community (Cheque)
£4,810.55	£3,608.11	£17,050.39	£1.00

14/116 CORRESPONDENCE

Written correspondence received and passed to Members:

1. RMBC – All Parish Council Liaison Meeting

Correspondence had also been received via E-mail and forwarded by the Clerk to Members on their receipt. The Clerk had replied where appropriate.

1. Voluntary Action Rotherham – Various Email Bulletins

2. RMBC – Various Planning Lists

3. Rural Action Yorkshire – Latest News

4. Councillor White – Bowling Club Shelter

5. Norman Anderson – Invoice for Use of Village Hall

6. Councillor White – Cheques for Pavilion Project

7. Councillor Hill – Sitwell Rotary Father Christmas

8. Councillor Greer-Waring – Another Slip on Mossy Pavements

9. SYPTE – Have Your Say! Consultation Response

10. Various Councillors – Land off Rayls Rise

11. Councillor Leah – Strategic Plan

12. Ray Sykes – Letter and Suggested Development for Birtles Homes Instead of LDF0730.

13. Chesterfield Canal trust – Please Help the Wilts & Berks Today

14. RMBC – Drinkaware Campaign to Help Tackle Underage Drinking

15. RMBC – YDV Fund for Young People

16. RMBC – Parish Network Meeting Agenda: 9th December at 6.00 p.m.

17. Ray Sykes – Further Development Proposal for Todwick.

18. RMBC – Area Assembly Meeting

19. Various Councillors – November Minutes

20. Various Councillors – Christmas Tree

21. YLCA – Revised National Joint Council Pay Scales 2014 – 2016

22. RMBC and Various Councillors – Clearance of Land and Associated Activities at Todwick

23. Councillor Greer-Waring – Protective Fencing Around Pavilion Works

24. RMBC – Register of Electors Publication Date

25. Councillor White – Bowling Club Shelter

26. SYPTE – South Yorkshire Christmas Public Transport Services – Press Release

27. Various Councillors – Sitwell Rotary Club Santa Village Tour

28. Mr. J Hewitt – Todwick Green Belt, LDF0545

29. Various Councillors – Councillor Greer-Waring Radio Interview

30. RMBC – Problems Following Completion of A57 improvement Scheme

31. Councillor Gregory – Recreation Ground

32. Norman Anderson – Crime and Anti Social Behaviour Figures

33. Councillor Ferris – BEC Receipt

34. Various Councillors – Rotherham Sitwell Rotary Club Father Christmas Float

35. Sheila Pantry – Santa Visiting Todwick on Wednesday 17 December 2014

36. Councillor White – Primary School Diligence Awards

37. Councillor White – Cheque for Roofing Materials

38. Councillors Gregory and Ferris – Mark Archer

39. Councillor Greer-Waring – Village Hall Fence and Parish Council Representation on Village Hall Management Committee

40. Various Councillors – Village Hall Fence

41. Mark Archer – Health Problems

42. Ray Sykes – Todwick Road Footpath

43. Ray Sykes – RMBC Local Plan – Destruction of Green Belt Land in Todwick.

44. YLCA – White Rose Update Newsletter December Edition

45. Councillor Greer-Waring – All Parish Council Liaison Meeting Letter

46. Councillor White – Cheques

47. Councillor Ferris – Complaints from Residents re Parking on Kiveton Lane

48. Councillor Leah – Expenditure on Pavilion Works an Submission to Sport England

49. Various Councillors – Allotment Competition

50. RMBC – Parish Councillor Confirmation

51. Councillor Ferris – Apologies for Non-attendance at Council Meeting

52. RMBC – Parking Problems

14/117 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

There were no new applications to consider.

14/118 COMMITTEES

Recreation

Gregory thanked Councillors Leah, Ferris and White for undertaking a variety of duties whilst he was out of the country.

Allotments

Ferris was not at the meeting due to illness but had informed the Clerk that Pest Control Officer had reported reduced activity of rodents but would return towards the end of January 2015.

14/119 PRECEPT 2015/16

Clerk had circulated details of receipts and payments to date and a comparison to the agreed budget prior to the meeting.

White together with Councillor Ferris had attended the Area Assembly Meeting on the 9th of December. A large number of parish councils were represented and there was a strong consensus that they should not be asked to carry the burden of a reduction in grants imposed on the Borough Council by H M Government. Discussion had also taken place on the community infrastructure levy to be introduced from October 2015.

Resolved to defer any discussions until the Budget Meeting on the 6th January.

14/120 STRATEGIC PLAN

White was aware that Councillor Leah was to arrange a meeting of interested parties in the New Year. The Parish Plan had highlighted the particular need to help older people during the winter.

Northall informed that the Church provided excellent pastoral care.

White had spoken with the Head-teacher at Wales High School to try to ascertain whether there was sufficient interest from Todwick pupils to form a Youth Parish Council. Although the new pavilion would have a room available for use by young people, he had also considered that once the pavilion project was completed the Council could consider obtaining grants to develop the north-west corner of the recreation ground for use by young people.

Northall had attended a parishes meeting where the local youth association, JADE, had given details of the facilities they provided in Dinnington and Kiveton Park.

The meeting was suspended at 7.55 p.m.

OPEN SESSION

John Laycock, John Hewitt, Carl Kato and Ian Newbold gave details and expressed their grave concerns about previous and very recent works undertaken on land off Osborne Road. The works included the felling of trees subject to a tree preservation order, demolition of a boundary wall, crossing the footway with vehicles without the necessary permissions being in place, tipping and spreading of waste and deposition of mud on the highway.

Chairman explained that the Parish Council would consider and comment on any planning application made for the site but would not pre-empt this happening and would not take sides in what were essentially civil matters.

John Laycock and John Hewitt requested a copy of a letter the Parish Council had received from Foys Solicitors and various potentially related e-mails all of which had been listed in the November Council Minutes.

Chairman would not agree to provide any of these until he had obtained further legal advice on behalf of the Council.

John Hewitt stated that in that case he would submit a formal request under the freedom of information legislation.

Open Session closed and the meeting was reconvened at 8.50 p.m.

14/121 MEMBER’S ACTIVITY REPORTS

White reported that the roof was now on the new pavilion. It was hoped to complete the gable ends before Christmas and any subsequent bad weather would not then interfere with progress, as the majority of the remaining works were to the inside. Councillor Leah had prepared the necessary documentation and sent off to Sport England the first request for the release of grant monies.

Gregory had attached some foam lagging to the Heras fencing around the pavilion to protect anyone who might come into contact with it.

White had taken the opportunity to lag the incoming mains water pipe.

14/122 VILLAGE MAINTENANCE

Gregory thanked Councillor Ferris for managing this in his absence. Unfortunately Mark Archer was ill but he hoped to be able to return to his duties in the New Year.

14/123 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS

Jeffrey had noted a road traffic accident on Kiveton Lane the previous Thursday evening. The road had been blocked off by police.

Clerk was instructed to ask for a meeting with RMBC in the New Year to discuss the parking and traffic problems in the village and on Kiveton Lane in particular.

Gregory had seen that the Speed sign at the A57 end of Kiveton Lane still had not been replaced.

Clerk would report this to RMBC again.

14/124 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Discussion took place on the crime and anti social behaviour figures for the last 3 months contained in a report by Norman Anderson:

Anti-social behaviour in September had been reported as one “noise” and one “vehicle nuisance”.

There had been no Anti-social behaviour reported in October.

The November report had consisted of one “nuisance” and one “nuisance neighbour”.

Overall it was good to see the figures so low.

The Police and the Neighbourhood watch Group were closely monitoring the person reported by the “neighbour nuisance”.

There had been six recorded crimes over the last 3 months. These consisted of two thefts on the A57 and one drug possession on Todwick Road. Two burglaries within the main part of the village and most seriously one of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent. More information on the latter was to be sought on the PCSO’s next visit.

14/125 LAND ADJACENT A57

Clerk had eventually received a reply from the Borough Council to his requests for information and reported:

The lengths of old road remained public highway and therefore it was not possible to gate them off as suggested. They were retained as public highway because the section next to the Red Lion gave access to fields, but was also a route to the drainage tanks contained in the landscaping areas, and pedestrians and cyclists coming from the nursery, the main road or the bus stop.

The stretch near Goosecarr Lane gave field access, but also access to utility companies, and to pedestrians and ridden horses using the crossing facilities.

A problem that had been identified since completion was the poor visibility offered to the advanced direction sign on Kiveton Lane on the approach to the new roundabout due to one of the trees that sits in the embankment. Arrangements were being made to have the tree removed.

14/126 JOHN PALMER MEMORIAL

Resolved to wait until all members were present before deciding on what action, if any, to take.

14/127 URGENT ITEMS

1. Rock Salt

   White had received an enquiry from The Stone and garden Company asking whether he Council wished to purchase any rock salt.

   Grit bins were place around the village and kept supplied by the Borough Council.

   Resolved not to buy rock salt.

2. Shelter at the Bowling Club

   White had received a request from the Bowling Club. It wished to erect a shelter for use if inclement weather occurred during matches. The Clerk had advised that this was unlikely to be considered permitted development and would require planning permission from the Borough Council.

   Resolved to offer no objection to the erection of a shelter and recommend that the Bowling Club submit a planning application to the Borough Council.

3. Donated Painting

   Northall had brought with her the picture of poppies so expertly painted and kindly donated by Betty Williamson. She would discuss a suitable position for it to be hung in the main hall of the village hall.

   Resolved that the Clerk offer the Council’s grateful thanks to Betty Williamson.

The Meeting Closed at 9.50 p.m.

A Budget Meeting will be held in Todwick Village Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday 6th January 2015.

The next Council Meeting will be in Todwick Village Hall at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 27th January 2015.