DRAFT
SUBJECT TO FORMAL COUNCIL APPROVAL
Minutes of the Meeting of
Skelton Parish Council held on Tuesday 9th February 2010 at Skelton
Village Hal. The meeting commenced at 7.00 p.m.
09.117
Present :- Cllrs. Lumley (in the chair), Watt, Raper, Stead, Campbell and
Procter, the Clerk and four members of the public.
09.118
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. Hayton,
Crosbie and Mansell and PCSO Turner.
09.119
Cllr. Raper declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item
8.3. because she was a close relative of one of the creditors to whom payment
approval was being sought. Cllr. Raper left the room for this item.
09.120
It was resolved to approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council
held on 12th January 2010 as a true record.
09.121
Open Forum.
The Chairman read out the Ward
Report and the Neighbourhood Policing Unit’s crime statistics for Skelton for
January 2010. These would be circulated to all Councillors. The Chairman
reported on the YLCA branch meeting held on 4th February. There were
no matters discussed that caused any concerns to the Council.
A parishioner raised concerns regarding the irresponsible behaviour of
some dog owners who permitted their dogs to foul many areas of the village and
The Pasture in particular. A number of owners allowed their dogs to run free
causing considerable nuisance and distress to other users of The Pasture/Orchard
Field and the adjoining footpath. Unleashed dogs had also been observed causing
nuisance in the fenced off area of the children’s playground. It was agreed
the Clerk would contact City of York Council to clarify what powers the Council
and or CYC had to take action against offenders, to clarify the position
regarding a requirement that dogs should be kept on a lead within the village
boundary and to ask the service to visit The Pasture/Orchard Field to advise on
addressing the problem of irresponsible and nuisance dog ownership. The Clerk
reported that signs indicating that dogs within the play area should be kept on
a lead and were only permitted on the footpath would be displayed at the
playground. A parishioner expressed concerns at the amount of standing water in
some parts of the cemetery and the amount of litter spread around the cemetery
lay-by. The Chairman confirmed the issue of surface water would be considered
later in the meeting. A parishioner stated he was aware that the cemetery lay-by
was used as a convenient pull–off by motorists and that the litter arose from
this activity and that visitors to the cemetery were not responsible.
A representative of Skelton
Village Trust asked the Council to reconsider its refusal to allow the removal
of the fir tree in the Orchard View hedge as the tree was non native and in poor
condition. A parishioner expressed the view that the best solution to the
ongoing issue of the hedge between Orchard Field and The Village was to totally
remove the hedge. A parishioner recalled that a number of years earlier there
was a proposal to open out Orchard Field by removal of the hedge but that this
course of action was not pursued. The Chairman reported that he and the Clerk
had had a site meeting with an officer of The British Trust for Conservation
Volunteers and requested a quotation for the conservation and maintenance of the
wildlife friendly part of the playground. The Chairman reported he and the Clerk
had inspected the cemetery and had identified a number of one off maintenance
jobs that were required. It was agreed the Clerk obtain quotations for this work
and he be delegated to accept the best quotation after consultation with the
Chairman and Vice Chairman.
09.122
The contents of The Clerk’s monthly report were noted.
a. He verbally reported that CYC had since
removed the Youth Shelter but that associated debris and rubbish had been left
on site. It was resolved the Clerk request CYC’s Environmental Street Officer
arrange for the removal of the remaining debris and other large items which had
been illegally dumped on Brecks Lane.
b. It was resolved to ratify The Clerk’s
delegated action in engaging a contractor to cut back the hedges along Brecks
Lane with a tractor mounted cutter at a cost of £175.00 plus VAT.
09.123 Matters arising from the previous meeting of the Council.
1.
It was resolved that in order to manage the ever increasing numbers of
wild geese on Skelton Pond, the Council would oil all geese eggs located on
Council owned land in accordance with the conditions of the Council’s licence
issued by Natural England.
2.
The Chairman reported on a meeting he had had with a
representative of Skelton Village Trust regarding Orchard View hedge and on the
contents of a letter from SVT detailing the work they wished to carry out. It
was resolved that SVT be granted approval to carry out the work as detailed in
the letter. It was agreed that no approval be given for the removal of the fir
tree. It was resolved that the Clerk obtain quotes for the provision of a three
railed tanalised timber fence along Orchard View and separate quotes for the
provision of a pedestrian gate to go at the northern end of the fence.
3.
The Clerk reported that a
professional officer of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers had
inspected the Orchard Field/The Village hedge and it was suitable for layering.
It was resolved that given the possible
difficulty in obtain three quotes for this specialist work the Council’s
Standing orders be suspended and the Clerk be authorised to try to obtain at
least two quotes for layering and that he be delegated to order the work after
consultation with the Chairman and Vice-chairman.
09.124
Planning applications –It was
resolved no objection be raised to applications
720 – Skelton Manor – Tip back overhanging Sycamore and 721 – 19
Burtree Avenue – two storey side extension.
09.125 Financial Issues:-
1.
It was resolved to receive and approve the report on the Council’s
financial position at 31st January 2010
2.
The following receipts were noted: -
Rec Nos. 525-529
Cemetery Fees £1,030.00
Northern Gas Networks
Grant for play area £5,000.00
Barclays Bank Interest
Received £3.33
3.
The following invoices were
approved for payment : -
Zurich Insurance PLC Increased Premium
£84.18
Yorkshire Water
Cemetery Supply
£7.02
Moorlands Landscapes
Tree Maintenance
£250.00
09.126
New Items and correspondence.
1.
For Information.
a.
The Clerk notified the Council of a York Green Party Public Meeting re 20
m.p.h. speed limits in York on12 February 7.30 at Priory Street Centre.
2.
For decision:
a.
It was resolved the Clerk be delegated to engage a contractor to trace
the course of the newly identified land drain in the cemetery to establish
whether any defect in this drain is contributing to the problem of surface water
in the cemetery.
b.
It was resolved to renew the appointment of Mr. Bryan Metcalf as the
Council’s Internal Auditor for the financial year 2010/11.
09.127
Minor Matters delegated to the
Clerk and items for the next agenda.
The Clerk reported that insurance cover had
been increased to include public liability on the new playground equipment and
that he had requested a quote for ‘All Risks’ cover but this quote had not
yet been received.
09.128
The date of the next meeting of the Council was confirmed as Tuesday 9th
March 2010.
The
meeting closed at 9.06 p.m.
Minutes of meeting of
Skelton Parish Council held on Tuesday 12 January 2010 at Skelton Village Hall.
The meeting commenced at 7.00 p.m.
09.107
Present:- Cllrs. Lumley (in the chair), Raper, Crosbie, Stead and Hayton,
the Clerk and one member of the public.
09.108
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. Mansell and
Watt and PCSO Turner.
09.109
No members declared any personal or prejudicial interest the
in the business on this agenda.
09.110
It was resolved to approve and sign as a true record the
minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8th December 2009.
09.111
Open Forum.
The Chairman read a Police
Report from the NY Police website so far as it related to the Skelton, Rawcliffe
and Clifton-without Ward. No Ward Report had been received from City of York
Council. In response to a question from the public the Clerk reported that on
site work on phase two of the playground had been delayed due to the bad weather
and that work was now due to start as soon as conditions permitted.
It was resolved to ratify the action of the
Clerk in purchasing commemorative cards for presentation to the school children
who attended the playground opening.
09.112
It was agreed Cllrs. Lumley and Stead would liaise with Skelton Village Trust
regarding refurbishment of the hedgerow on Orchard View.
09.113
Planning applications –
It was agreed that no objection be raised to
application 718 - Works to Trees on Green and Orchard View but that the
following comment be made:- ‘The Council does not wish approval to be given
for the removal of the conifer mentioned unless its overall condition is such
that removal is necessary. The Council’s reason is that this conifer provides
a nesting habitat for species of birds (e.g. Goldcrest) which would be lost by
the conifers removal.
It was agreed no objection be made to application 719 – Ambulance
Service, Fairfields, Shipton Rd. Grasscrete Parking Area.
09.114
Financial Issues:
1.
It was resolved to receive and approve the report on the Council’s
financial position at 31st December 2009.
2.
The following receipts were noted: -
Receipts 522 -524 Cemetery Fees - £660.00
3.
It was resolved to approve for payment the following invoices :-
Campaign to Protect Rural England
Annual Subscription £29.00
Clerk Presentation
photographs £24.95
09.115
New Items and correspondence.
a.
It was resolved the Council agree to the placing of a memorial bench to
Gideon Kidd on the Pasture on a site approved by the Council.
b.
It was agreed no member would attend CYC ‘Cllrs. Behaving Badly’ on
13 Jan.
c.
Resolved Clerk to contact Cllr. Watt regarding his availability for a
meeting of the Internal Control Review Panel.
d.
Resolved to set the next Playground Project Group Meeting as Tuesday 26
January 7.30.p.m. at 17 Pasture Close.
e.
Resolved to suggest any day in week commencing 15th February
for presentation of grant by Northern Gas Networks.
f.
It was agreed to discuss wildlife management policy for Skelton Pond 2010
at the next meeting of the Council.
09.116
The date of the next meeting of the
Council was confirmed as Tuesday 9th February 2010.
The
meeting closed at 8.33 p.m.