May 09 mins

EAST KESWICK PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MAY 19 2009

POLICE AND RESIDENTS FORUM PC Sue Broadwell attended on behalf of the Police. There had been no recorded crimes within the last month. It was important for councils to list their 3 priorities for each month. Council agreed that for this month these should be parking and obstruction of pavements; vandalism in various parts of the village, particularly the play area and behind the village hall; and speeding . PC Broadwell warned that there was a wave of thefts of Yorkshire paving slabs in nearby villages.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Pinkney declared a personal interest in items 6 & 11 M.A. Cllr Anning declared a personal interest in item 6 and a personal and prejudicial interest in item 2 Finance.

PRESENT Cllrs Priestley, Thornton, Pinkney, Anning, Pentith, Batty and Ogden.

APOLOGIES None. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN It was proposed Cllr Thornton, seconded Cllr Pinkney, and agreed unanimously that Cllr Priestley should continue as Chairman. Cllr Priestley agreed to serve for a further year. ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN It was proposed Cllr Pinkney, seconded Cllr Ogden, and agreed unanimously that Cllr Thornton should be Vice-Chairman. Cllr Thornton suggested that she might not continue as a Cllr for the full year but agreed to serve as Vice-Chairman pro tem. COUNCILLOR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR 2009-10 The following were agreed:-· Planning – Cllrs Priestley, Thornton, Ogden, with co-option of Gordon Nutter. · Finance – Cllrs Priestley, Thornton and Pinkney.· VHC representative – Cllr Pentith.· Harewood & Wetherby Town & Parish Council Forum Representative and Village Newsletter Reporter – Cllr Anning.· Footpaths and Boundaries -Cllr Pinkney.· IT – Cllr Batty.· Parish Plan – Cllr Thornton . MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON APRIL 25 2009 AND OF PARISH ASSEMBLY. These were approved. There was some discussion about ways of attracting more people to parish assemblies and it was agreed to discuss this again in November/December. MATTERS ARISING1. Village Clock – It was agreed to ask Smiths of Derby for an estimate for repair. 2. Chains on War Memorial These had been dealt with and it was generally agreed that they were a great improvement. 3. Parish Plan. There was nothing to report. 4. State of Overhanging Vegetation on Ginnel from Main Street to Church Drive. There was nothing to report. 5.2009 Village Gala. Cllr Thornton was very disappointed at the general lack of response but said that lots of activities had been arranged. There had been a lot of effort put in by a small committee but not the overwhelming support that had been a feature of past village public events. The Chairman thanked Cllr. Thornton for her hard work and that of her committee and hoped the village would give support for the gala which was for the Village benefit.6.Boundary between lands owned by Church and by Parish Council adjacent to Tennis Courts. Cllr Pinkney had visited Hartlaws that morning and reported that they favoured an informal agreement and approved of the draft prepared by Council. There was some discussion as to who should be asked to sign on behalf of the Church. 7. Parish Paths Partnership Agreement. The Chairman raised 2 concerns about this – adequate insurance cover from the Parish Council and the training requirement. The agreement sent out by Rosie Watts did not appear to be appropriate for East Keswick’s purpose. It was agreed that Cllr Pinkney would write back to this effect, emphasising that the Council wanted to have the work done for them by volunteers or by their own contractors, but paid for by LCC. Cllr Pinkney also gave a report on the state of all the paths in the village which had recently been walked by the Footpath Group. 8. Quotation for re-painting of railings on bridge over beck. Mr Hobson had quoted £180 .It was resolved to accept this quotation for re-painting of the railings. 9. Metro sign in City Square. This had been dealt with.10 Refund of VAT on grant from Green Leeds for swings Green Leeds had thanked the Council for its honesty and had agreed that the VAT, now re-claimed by the Council, should be paid back. 11. Agreement with Wildlife Trust. The Chairman hopes to finalise this agreement with David Smith, Chairman of the Wildlife Trust during the coming week. It was considered that the grant should be increased from £300 to £400. 12. Parking of cars on footpaths. This had been referred to the Police. Cllr Ogden considered that there was less of a problem on Lumby Lane. 13. Condition of Playground – Re-seeding under new swings. Mark Hullah had been asked to do this. Cllr Anning offered to take the inspection book. 14. Hedge at corner of Allerton Drive. The Clerk had been informed that this could take a considerable time as there would have to be speed checks. It was agreed to write to the owner asking him to cut back his hedge. 15. Report on Spring Conference of Parish & Town Council Forum on Wednesday 13^th May. This had been attended by Cllrs Thornton, Anning, Pentith and the Clerk. The Clerk had attended the seminar on the Power of Well Being. If the Council at some future date wished to become eligible to use this new power the first pre-requisite was for the Clerk to be fully qualified. The Clerk was prepared to undertake the extra work under the new section 7 of the Clerk’s portfolio in order to satisfy these new requirements. She asked , and received, permission from the Council to pay the small cost involved (to be shared with Bardsey Parish Council).The Clerk agreed to keep the PC updated about the dissertation .Numbers attending the Conference had been lower that in the previous year, with many councils sending no representatives. 16. Compensation for Village Post Office in connection with recent road closure. Cllr Batty had learnt that the Post Office had not made the claim to which they were entitled. Cllr Thornton agreed to ask the shop and Post Office whether help in filling in the appropriate forms would be welcome. PLANNING

1.New applications:-

(a) No. 09/01720 – Out. App. to erect 3 houses to site of equestrian centre .

This application was identical to the earlier one but the applicant was claiming that it was not a new development, simply a replacement for dilapidated buildings, and that LCC policy re the Green Belt should be challenged. He claimed that there was a wide divergence across the country as to how this was applied.

It was agreed to ask Cllr Ann Castle’s advice about passing this information on to all or some of the Ward Cllrs .

It was resolved to object to the application on the same grounds as previously.

N.B. Appeal lodged re previous app on this site – APP/N4720/A/09/21305/NWF – Comments required by June 11.

(b) No. 0901411 – One det. 4 Bed House with Det .Garage & One 4 Bed House with Integral Garage & One Det. 5 Bed House with Integral Garage – Devonwood, Wharfe Rein.

It was resolved to make no objection to this application and to approve the draft letter to be forwarded to the Planners.

2.APPROVALS BY LCC:-

(a) App. 09/01154 – Cooper – 22 the Paddock – Chimney to side.

(b) App. 09/01163/FU – Ballman – 26 Church Drive – Ext.

3. Enforcement Action relating to Two Hoots Farm .The Council had received details of the appeal by Mr Cobbold against the siting of the mobile home at the farm. They had also been informed that the Enforcement Section had no objection to the increasing size of the “mound” which was being used on site, but that it should be grass covered.

It was agreed that Cllr Thornton take a photo of the mound to be sent to LCC.

FINANCE

1.Bills for payment:- ( None of which include VAT)

(a) Minster Metalwork – Painting and Refitting Chains at War Memorial £80 (Retro)

(b) East Keswick VH – Rent of Hall 63.00

(d) Green Leeds – Repayment of VAT on grant for swings 506.06

(e) Cllr Pinkney –Printing Expenses 3.40

(f) Cllr Thornton – Car Parking Expense for Spring Conference 8.90

(g) Rigton Print – Printing for Gala 90.20

(h) Alison Waterfield – Reimbursement Gala Expenses 21.00

It was resolved to pay all the bills listed above.

2. East Keswick VH Youth Room Project and dispute concerning £500 grant .A meeting had taken place between Cllrs Priestley and Thornton for the PC and Will Lifford and Peter Anning for the VHC. Letters had also been exchanged between the 2 Chairmen. Both parties had agreed that the PC owed the VHC £114. The Council has received a letter from LCC accepting the invoice from the Parish Council for the purchase of the Youth Room carpet for which the Well Being Grant had originally been given.

It was resolved to accept this decision and to reimburse the VHC £114. The Clerk was asked to draw and forward a cheque.

3. Requirements of Internal Auditor for approval of PC accounts. The Clerk had been informed by Graham Plant of a number of requirements before he felt able to sign the accounts, which she reported to Cllrs. The Chairman went through the Accounts on a paragraph by paragraph basis, obtaining approval to each of the paragraphs from the councillors.

It was resolved :-

· To make changes to the budget for 2009-10 , whereby the total amount of the receipts was reduced by approx. £500.

· To write to Cornhill Insurance immediately as the new swings should be included in the list of assets held by the PC at 31.3.09 and should be insured.

· To sign the Annual Statement of Governance ,agreeing that the Council satisfies all its requirements.

· To sign the Statement of Accounts prepared by the Clerk and approved by the Internal Auditor.

· To amend the Running Statement for 31.3.09 to show the payments of £114 and £902 to the VHC by the PC, and to obtain written proof of acceptance by the Chairmen of both committees.

The Annual Report has to be filed by the 30^th June 2009

CORRESPONDENCE 1. Letter from Mr & Mrs Veale with renewed request to purchase a section of Frank Shire’s Quarry Field. The Council again agreed to turn down this request. 2. Suggestion for purchase of laptop computer for use of Parish Clerk. Cllr Batty suggested that as the VHC had now received a grant for WI FI in the Hall it was a suitable time to purchase a laptop computer for the use of the Parish Clerk which could be used in the Hall in addition to her home. The Clerk and other Cllrs were not in favour of making this purchase at the present time but would keep the matter under review. 3. E mail from LCC re PC preference for Elected Mayor and Cabinet for LCC or Leader and Cabinet. Cllrs voted by 4 to 2 in favour of retaining the present system of a Leader and Cabinet. NEW BUSINESS1. Annual Report. Cllr Batty agreed to produce this. 2. Dates for Parish Walks. The Chairman reported that he had fixed the following:-· Monday June 22 – Short Walk – starting at 7.30pm outside Illingworth’s Shop, School Lane, and lasting one and a half hours approx. · Monday July 6 – Longer Walk – starting at 7pm outside St Mary Magdalene Church, Moor Lane , and taking just over two hours approx. 3. Suggestion for Rounders Club on Sportsfield. Cllr Thornton had received a request from a young person in the village for a Rounders Club. Cllrs favoured the idea and suggested that she discussed becoming a member of the Sports Association before requesting a grant from the Council.4. Overhanging hedge near Bus Stop to Wetherby on Whitegate It was agreed to write to the owners asking them to cut back the hedge which was narrowing the pavement at this point. MINOR MATTERS FOR DELEGATION TO CLERK/NEXT AGENDA1. Condition of Road Surface – Whitegate It was agreed to ask Highways for full re-surfacing as Cllrs did not consider patching up the potholes to be sufficient. 2. Hedge and Fence on Keswick Lane adjacent to Main Street .The householder had asked through Cllr Batty for Council permission to remove the remaining broken pieces of the original fencing installed by Wimpeys and to allow the hedge to serve as the boundary. Council had no objection to this. 3. Need to unblock drains throughout length of Main Street, Whitegate and Crabtree Lane. It had been noted that there had again been flooding at the corner of Crabtree Lane after the recent heavy rain and it was agreed that Highways should be asked to unblock this drain and all those in this entire stretch of road. 4. Caravan in Village Hall Car Park Cllrs had noticed that there had been a caravan parked at the corner of the car park for 2 or 3 months. They agreed to refer the matter to the VHC. Signed: Date:EKPC May Minutes. (2)

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