SKELTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

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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.