JRW/410

TODWICK PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in Todwick Church Hall
at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 15th December 2015

Present

Councillor Carter
Councillor Gregory – Chairman
Councillor Newbold
Councillor White
J R Walker – Clerk & Financial Officer
John Hewitt

15/110 APOLOGIES

An apology had been received from Councillors Ferris, Greer-Waring, Hill, and Jeffrey.

15/111 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Ordinary Meeting 24th November 2015

There were no amendments and the minutes were signed as a true record.

15/112 MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising.

15/113 DECLARATION OF MEMBER’S INTERESTS

Carter has an interest in land recommended for development potential by RMBC and also owns a property on Rayls Rise.

Greer-Waring is Vice-chairman of the Village Hall Management Committee.

15/114 URGENT ITEMS FOR LATER CONSIDERATION

Sitwell Rotary Club
Budget Meeting
Mini Bus

15/115 CLERK’S REPORT

Clerk had undertaken all the duties placed on him at the last meeting. Monthly pension contributions had begun with the first payment covering November and December.

15/116 FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REPORT

Monies received
	£
1. Barclays Bank – Interest	2.55
Payments made since last meeting
1. Aviva – Clerk’s Pension Nov/Dec	31.64
Un-presented cheques
1. Mrs. H Greer-Waring – Car Parking	4.00
Payments to be made
1. J R Walker – Salary/Expenses	598.98
2. Mark Archer – Village Maintenance	142.83
3. Todwick Village Hall – Rent	12.00
4. Todwick Parish Recreation Ground – Grounds Maintenance	963.48
5. RMBC – Grounds Maintenance	44.33
6. HMRC – December Tax/NI	331.74
7. Hi-Tec Print – Informer Printing	95.00
8. David Gregory – Brushes	9.25
9. Sitwell Rotary Club – Donation	100.00
10. Zurich Municipal – Fun-day Insurance	53.00

Bank statement balances
Business Saver Account (Cheque Feeder)	Community Account (Cheque)
£21,521.65	£1.00
Bank balances after all payments completed
Business Saver Account (Cheque Feeder)	Community Account (Cheque)
£19,167.04	£1.00

15/117 CORRESPONDENCE

No written correspondence had been received.

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

Various Councillors – Meeting Minutes
Voluntary Action Rotherham – Various Email Bulletins
Rural Action Yorkshire – Various Email Bulletins
RMBC – Various Weekly Planning Lists
RMBC – Area Assembly meeting
RMBC (Various) – Parish Councillor Confirmation
YLCA – White Rose Update
Councillor Carter – Totals from Funday
Councillor Greer-Waring – Informer
Various Councillors – Fencing at The Pastures
Various Councillors – Strategic Plan
Councillor Greer-Waring – Consultation on the Draft Rotherham Transport Strategy
YLCA – Public Contracts Regulations 2015 Procurement
RMBC – New Funding Opportunities
RMBC – Highway Issues
Marie Dabell – Mini Bus
YLCA – Applications to the Smaller Authorities Transparency Fund: Councils with an Annual Turnover not exceeding £25,000
Councillor Gregory – Latest Planning
Councillor Hill – Christmas Concert
Councillor Gregory – Newsagent Forecourt
RMBC and Various Councillors – Todwick Ramble No 1
Councillor Gregory – Planings and Rubbish Removed from the Old A57
Kevin Barron MP – Surgery Dates and Times
Voluntary Action Rotherham – Food for People in Crisis at Christmas/New Year
Dalton Parish Council – Pension Providers
Neil Oliver and RMBC – Rectory Gardens Parking and Driving on the Footway
Norman Anderson – Neighbourhood Watch
RMBC – Weather Warning: High Winds
Councillors White, Gregory and RMBC – Illegal Parking on Worksop Road
Various Councillors and RMBC – Planning Application RB2015/1421
Councillor Hill – Declaration of Acceptance of Office Book
RMBC – Letter from Sir Derek Myers: Council Tax Grant for Parish and Town Councils
YLCA – Tour De Yorkshire 2016
Councillor Ferris – Village Maintenance Report from Mark Archer
Councillor Ferris – Apology for Non Attendance at Meeting
Councillor Ferris – Allotment Report
Zurich Insurance – Insurance for Fun Day

Gregory drew members attention to the information received from the RMBC Commissioner. It would not be appropriate for the Parish council to take on some of the RMBC responsibilities but consideration would form part of the discussions to be held at the budget meeting to be held in the New Year.

15/118 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

RB2015/1421

Increase in roof height to form two storey dwelling house including single storey side and rear extensions for Mrs. M Brassington, 20 Manor Way, Todwick

Resolved to object:

The proposed development was of such size and height to be out of proportion in relation to neighbouring properties.

The proposal would have a significantly negative environmental impact because the roof water and flow off hardened surfaces would exacerbate the surface water problems already existing in this area and increase the chances of flooding to properties.

The proposed development would add to local traffic problems.
RB2015/1525

Conservatory to rear of 11 Manor Way for Castle Building Services.

Resolved to offer no objection
RB2015/1527

Application to remove condition 01 (Allow conversion of garage to residential use) imposed by RB1992/0119 (Extension to form double garage kitchen and utility room with bedroom and bathroom over) for Mr. A Perkins 1 Grange Gardens

Resolved to offer no objection
RB2015/1542

Single storey rear extension at 1 Staniforth Crescent for Mr B Longden.

Resolved to offer no objection
Gregory was aware that problems persisted in relation to the Heras fencing erected at The Pastures. This would have been erected for some six months in early January when he would be making further enquiries/representation to Bronwen Knight at RMBC.

15/119 COMMITTEES

Allotments

Ferris was not in attendance but had sent a report to Members.

The RMBC Pest Control Officer had visited the allotments that day. Rodent activity was low and his next visit would be in February 2016.

All plots were in use.

There was only one name on the waiting list. He would advertise this point in the next edition of the “Informer” to try and attract more names onto the waiting list.

Village Hall Management

Gregory reported that the tree and Christmas lights around the Village Hall were now on.

Recreation

Gregory had been notified that RMBC would now be charging for the marking out of pitches by adding a levy to the monthly grounds maintenance invoice. He had held a preliminary meeting with RMBC concerning future charges. With the exception of Bramley and Wickersley Parish Councils all other local parish councils also had their grounds maintenance carried out by RMBC. He was trying to identify alternative suppliers but this was proving very difficult.

Newbold asked whether the user organisations would be charged additional rent to cover the RMBC increases.

Gregory advised that rents would be reviewed in April as usual.

15/120 CO-OPTION OF FURTHER MEMBER

Gregory advised that John Gray would not be submitting an application to join the Council until parking issues had been resolved on Rectory Gardens. The vacancy would continue to be advertised.

15/121 STRATEGIC PLAN

Gregory advised that four areas had previously been identified for future effort:

Growth of Village including Local Development Plan
Village Safety including the 20 mph village-wide speed limit
Vulnerable Adults including a good neighbour scheme and the Grey Matter initiative
Budget Restrictions to be considered in the New Year

He suggested three further areas:

Transport
CCTV at the Sports Pavilion
Council Web Site

Consideration should also be given as to how to treat the unused area at the north-west corner of the recreation ground

15/122 MEMBER’S ACTIVITY REPORTS

Gregory had attended the Area Assembly Meeting and found it to be better than the previous one. Sharon Hulley of the South Yorkshire Police had given details of the revised arrangements for policing the area. Based at Maltby, she was the only full-time officer supported by three PSCOs. Paul Dimelo, the previous PSCO, had been re-deployed. She handed out leaflets giving the ways of contacting the Police including on Facebook and Twitter. A meeting was to be held on the 25 January between the Crime Commissioner and the area Commander and this would be reported on at the January Area Assembly meeting.

He had been informed about Lifewise, a joint initiative involving lead agencies such as South Yorkshire Police, Fire and Rescue among others. Andy Foster had specific responsibility for protection of the elderly and gave a presentation about various scams aimed at such vulnerable people. The organisation also provided training for anyone requiring a disability scooter. He had passed Andy Foster’s contact details to Councillor Ferris. It was hoped that a visit to the Likewise facility may be organised but Mr. Foster would also visit organisations if that was preferred.

Ewan Cummins had been recruited to the Children’s Services at RMBC for the immediate area and he was now concentrating on the early intervention with problem families.

Sharon had advised that a Dinnington Man had been arrested following the recent burglaries in Todwick.
Gregory had met with Vicky Camber, Peter Beevers and Barry Northall in connection with next summer’s Church Garden Fete. It was now intended to leave the tents erected on the Sunday and to hold a “picnic in the park”. Barry was to organise the entertainment and it was hoped that with the permission of the Parochial Church Council the event could become a village and not just a Church occasion. The Parish council was invited to join in.
White had erected the Christmas tree and lights outside the village hall together with Councillor Ferris.
White had attended the award ceremony at Wales High School together with Councillor Carter. The Parish Council’s award had been presented to Zak Davis for his work with the air cadets.
White had been monitoring young Luke Robin’s community activities in his pursuit of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Initially work has concentrated on litter-picking with disgraceful amounts of litter being collected at the top end of Goosecarr Lane. In the coming weeks Luke would be involved in other activities, including a project to clean and catalogue grave stones in the Church yard.

Gregory suggested an appropriate article be placed in the “Worksop Guardian” newspaper.
Ferris was not in attendance but had report that he had been attending “Grey Matter in Todwick”. At the last meeting there had been a carol service which was well received and very enjoyable.

The meeting was suspended at 7.45 p.m.

OPEN SESSION

John Hewitt had experience of the Lifewise initiative at Hellaby which had included a free lunch for those attending a course and advice on how to deal with “cold-callers” on the telephone or in person.
John Hewitt evidenced the receipt of grant monies available at the discretion of the local RMBC Ward Councillors which may be appropriate for initiatives in the village.

Gregory advised that this had been used recently for the disposal of waste from the recent clearance work at the Church yard.
John Hewitt was aware that Luke Robins was a good musician and may be prepared to give a short recital at a “Grey Matters” meeting.

Open session closed at 8.05 p.m.

15/123 VILLAGE MAINTENANCE

Ferris was not in attendance but had sent on a report given by the maintenance contractor Mark Archer.

The following litter picking rounds had been carried out:

Recreation ground – Five rounds
The Pastures – Five rounds
Church View – Three rounds
Goosecarr Lane – One round
Kiveton Lane – One round

The litter rounds seemed to be getting lighter as the cold weather set in. Fewer children were hanging round on the recreation ground etc. Hardly any beer cans and such like had been found for the past few weeks although Macdonald’s cartons were always found on Goosecarr Lane and Kiveton Lane. Vehicle drivers/passengers were obviously just driving through and throwing them out the window. If he saw any pizza boxes on the Pastures from Cypress Garden he always picked them up and put them in the public bins when walking past.

The war memorial was looking very nice and festive. Apart from pulling the odd weed up and sweeping leaves away there’s was not much happening there at the moment. He still watered flowers when necessary but not as much as in the summer.

He hadn’t been back on the fenced area on The Pastures since last month and he didn’t think there was much else to be done apart from planting some new flowers. If Members thought of anything else that needed attention he would be happy to attend to it.

He wished all members a very Merry Christmas and Happy New year.

15/124 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS

Gregory gave information in connection with the parking problems being experienced on Rectory Gardens and the response by RMBC and a solicitor acting on behalf of one of the residents. RMBC was not going to provide bollards to prevent parking on the hardened surface adjacent to the carriageway.

15/125 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

A report had been received from Norman Anderson.

The Police had withdrawn the facility of letting Neighbourhood Watch have crime and antisocial behaviour figures for the whole Borough and not just Todwick.

Norman had complained to the NHW Area Chairperson and asked for her comments. If necessary he would accelerate this to formal complaint level as this was considered to be penny pinching at its worst.

Norman would keep the Parish Council informed as things developed.

15/126 URGENT ITEMS

Sitwell Rotary Club

Gregory advised that the Club would be travelling around the village with Santa’s sledge on the 18th December.

Resolved to donate £100 to the group as in 2014.
Budget Meeting

Resolved to hold the meeting at 7.00 p.m. on the 6th January 2016.

Gregory would advise on location. The meeting room at the sports pavilion was an option.
Mini Bus

White had given further thought to the suggestion that the Parish Council fund a weekly mini-bus service to Dinnington. Now being aware of the existing arrangement funded by the SYPTE he was satisfied that this was adequate.

The Meeting Closed at 8.30 p.m.

The next Council Meeting will be in Todwick Village Hall at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 26th January 2016.

Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting held in Todwick Church Hall at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 15th December 2015