TODWICK VILLAGE

Todwick Parish
Council Minutes

JRW/305

TODWICK PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in Todwick Church Hall at 7.00 p.m.
on Tuesday 26th June 2007

Present
Councillor Langford - Chairman
Councillor Palmer - Vice Chairman
Councillor Hill
Councillor Kettell
Councillor Mathieson
Councillor Pantry
Councillor White

J R Walker - Clerk

This was the first full meeting as Chairman for Councillor Langford and he took the opportunity, on behalf of all council members, to give a very special thank you to Councillor Clive Pantry who had stepped down as Chairman after heading the Council with dedication and skill for the last 12 years. His many achievements included guiding the Council through a significant number of issues and projects including acquiring external funding culminating in the opening of the new Village Hall. Councillor Langford was delighted that Clive was remaining on the Committee as a councillor where his guidance and advice would continue to be invaluable.

The Chairman also expressed the Council's thanks and gratitude to Mary Gregory, Les and Brenda Waller and Jack Cloke, who had similarly given unstinting service to the parish through their years of service on the Council.

A distinguished past Chairman, the acquisition of the children's playground from the Church had been almost entirely due to Mary. She had achieved much success in improving and maintaining the local public rights of way.

Without the efforts of Les Waller it would not have been possible to erect the bowling clubhouse or provide the bowling facility. He had managed the allotments for many years.

Councillor Langford welcomed the new members of Council and looked forward to working with all members to achieve improvements in Council services and to local life in general.

07/20 APOLOGIES
Councillor Wolf did not attend.

07/21 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - 21st May 2007
1. 07/16(1)
Palmer The proposal referred to future years only.
With the above amendment the minutes were signed as a correct record.

07/22 MATTERS ARISING
1. 07/07(3)
Palmer Lorries were still traveling along Kiveton Lane and through the village during the late evening. An RMBC Safety Officer had told him that there was no restriction on opening hours at local tips.

07/23 URGENT ITEMS FOR LATER CONSIDERATION
1. Playing Field
2. Children's Playground Fence
3. Parking on Kiveton Lane
4. Deposits of Mud, Dust, Soils etc on Kiveton Lane
5. Public Footpath near the Manor House
6. Bollards fronting the Village Hall
7. Parish Network Meeting
8. Additional Council Meeting

07/24 FORMATION OF COMMITTEES
Resolved to form committees:-

1. Allotments
Councillors Mathieson and White

2. Planning
All Councillors.

3. Village Hall
Councillors Palmer and White

4. Footpaths
Councillors Kettell and Mathieson

Resolved that Councillors Hill, Mathieson and White review the present arrangements for managing the Recreation Ground Charitable Trust.

07/25 CLERK'S REPORT
Clerk had

• undertaken all the duties placed on him at the last meeting.
• attended further meetings of the Village Hall Building Liaison Group and the opening ceremony of the new village hall on 23rd June.
• written to Mr. Birtles and the Post Office expressing concern over the recent temporary closure of the village post office facilities and seeking assurances about the future.
• arranged for the preparation of a Notice of Casual Vacancy which he would display from 29th June 2007. If by the 19th July no legal request to hold an election had been received by Rotherham Borough Council then the Parish Council would be able to co-opt a ninth member.
• written to the Church Hall Committee thanking them for use of that hall whilst the village hall improvement/refurbishment had taken place.
• complained to the Borough Council with regard to the length of time taken to respond to reports made by the Parish Council.

07/26 FINANCIAL OFFICER'S REPORT
Clerk

• Reported that the Internal Auditor had completed her checks for the end of financial year 2006/7. All was satisfactory. She would not accept payment for her work and as instructed he had arranged the delivery of a bouquet of flowers to her as a thank you for her work on behalf of the Council.
• Informed that the last date for public inspection of the accounts and audit documents was the 29th June. He would be returning the Annual Return and all other supporting information to the External Auditor on the 30th June.
• Explained that Existing Bank Balances shown in the minutes were those recorded on the latest monthly bank statement. Balances after Payments Made indicated the bank balances when all receipts and payments were taken into account after the date the statements were prepared.

The meeting was suspended at 7.54 p.m. to allow the Open Session to take place.

OPEN SESSION
1. Mr. Richard Hedley, Sandwith Road, requested the provision of an additional dog waste bin at the junction of The Pastures and Kiveton Lane. Members agreed that the most appropriate siting would be close to Storth Lane. The Clerk was instructed to seek the necessary permissions from the Borough Council and ask whether that Council would be prepared to fund the provision.
2. Mr. Paul Bradford, Rectory Gardens, asked that the Parish Council object to the planning application by the Church Hall Management Committee to extend the opening hours at the hall. Mr. Bradford was thanked for attending. Members would be making a decision later at the meeting. He was invited to remain to listen to the deliberations but he chose to leave the meeting. Members undertook to inform him of their decision.

Open Session Closed at 8.20 p.m.

07/27 CORRESPONDENCE
Copies of all correspondence received had been included with member's papers for the meeting. Members had also been provided with a plan of the parish, a copy of Standing Orders, The Good Councillors Guide, a list of contacts for all parish councils in the South Rotherham Area and The Revised Model Code of Conduct.

Time constraints did not allow detailed consideration of the correspondence.

The list of letters received was as follows:-

1. RMBC - Parish Network Meeting
2. RMBC - Model Code of Conduct
3. RMBC - Rother Valley South Parishes Meeting
4. Local Works - Sustainable Communities Bill
5. Kiveton Park Independent Advice Centre - Annual General Meeting
6. RMBC - Annual Review of the Joint Working Charter
7. RMBC - Rotherham in Bloom 2007
8. RMBC - Joint Working Group Vacancies
9. Standards Board for England - Guidance on the revised Model Code of Conduct
10. RMBC - Parish Councils Joint Working Group Minutes
11. Rotherham Community Transport Ltd. - Local Transport Services
12. Shuldham Calverley - Village Hall Reinstatement Value
13. RMBC - Planning Application RB2004/2206
14. Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire - Queen's award for Voluntary Service
15. RMBC - Waste Processing at Crowgate South Anston for Park Farming Ltd.
16. RMBC - Environmental Protection Act 1990/Cleaner Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005
17. RMBC - Licensing Act 2003 - Application for Todwick Village Hall
18. Birtles (House Builders) Ltd. - Todwick Post Office Premises
19. RMBC - Storage Container at Goosecarr Lane Recreation Ground
20. YRCC - Membership/Subscription Renewal
21. RMBC - Temporary Road Closure of B6463 Todwick Road
22. Post Office - Todwick Post Office
23. Rainbows - Girl Guiding
24. Todwick Neighbourhood Watch - Report
25. SYPTE - Shelter Request
26. Post Office - Todwick Post Office
27. YRCC - Requirements Under the Revised Code of Conduct
28. RMBC - All Parish Council Liaison Meeting

07/28 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

1. RB2007/0865
Conservatory to rear at 10 Church View for Mr. F Powell.
Resolved to offer no objection.

2. RB2007/0893
First floor side extension including balcony at 4 Grange Gardens for Mrs. A Griffiths.
Resolved to offer no objection.

3. RB2004/2206
Erection of 3 No. 95m high wind turbines and associated switch gear building at land at Loscar Farm, Packman Lane, Harthill for Cornwall Light and Power.
Resolved to object:

1. If implemented the proposal would be unsatisfactorily visually intrusive.
2. Noise emissions would be unacceptably high.
3. There would be an adverse effect on the natural environment.
4. Near by residents would suffer unacceptable effects on their everyday lives.

4. RB2007/0552
Approval to Variation of Condition to Process Waste at Crowgate, South Anston for Park Farms Ltd.
Clerk reported that the application had been approved subject to the conditions imposed and copied to members in advance of the meeting.

5. RB2007/0931
Listed building consent for the replacement of entrance porch at 32 Kiveton Lane for N Nathan-Thomas.
Resolved to offer no objection.

6. RB2007/1004
Variation of condition 2 (opening hours) imposed by RB2004/2279 to allow opening hours of 09.00hrs to 22.30hrs Sundays to Thursdays and 09.00hrs to 23.00hrs on Fridays and Saturdays at Todwick Church Hall for Todwick Church Hall Management Committee.
Resolved not to make any response to the Planning Authority since the Parish Council had financial and other interests in the village hall which it could be argued was in direct competition with the Church Hall.

07/29 COMMITTEES
There were no committee reports to receive.

07/30 INTERNAL AUDITOR
Clerk the Internal Auditor had completed auditing the Council's finances and other affairs to the end of financial year 2006/7. The Council had much appreciated the work undertaken by Mrs. Clark but he thought the time right to review the internal audit procedures.
Resolved to fully consider all aspects of internal audit at a separate meeting.

07/31 CLERK'S CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND JOB DESCRIPTION
Resolved to consider at a separate meeting and without the Clerk in attendance.

07/32 MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
Members considered the Model Code of Conduct issued under the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 (SI 2007 No. 1159).
Resolved to adopt the Standards Board's Model Code of Conduct for Parish and Town Councils 2007.

07/33 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Clerk the Group's membership had risen to 304. Council had previously agreed to contribute £1 to the Group's funds for every member enrolled.
Resolved to donate £304 to the Neighbourhood Watch Group.

07/34 VILLAGE MAINTENANCE
Palmer gave a précis of the duties carried out by the contractor since the last council meeting. Flooding had occurred at the junction of Goosecarr Lane and The Pastures. At one stage it appeared that water may enter nearby properties.
Resolved

1. That the Clerk ask RMBC whether there was anything practical that could be done to prevent recurrence.
2. That the Clerk ask RMBC to supply a number of sand bags for future use as necessary

07/35 NOTICE BOARD
Chairman/Kettell would now vigorously pursue provision.

07/36 RISK ASSESSMENTS
White gave an example of the preparation of a risk assessment for a specific activity. Similar assessments would be required for a wide range of activities.
Resolved to give fuller consideration at a future meeting.

07/37 URGENT ITEMS

1. Playing Field
Palmer had received a report that the occupier of 49 The Pastures was taking his dog onto the recreation field and allowing it to foul.
Clerk was instructed to write to the individual concerned.

2. Children's Playground Fence
Palmer asked when the fencing would be erected between the Church car park and the children's playground.
Pantry was aware that the relevant member of the Contractor's staff had been ill. This had delayed the provision but works were now anticipated during the following week.

3. Parking on Kiveton Lane
Kettell had received a report that vehicles were parking on Kiveton Lane north of the Junior and Infant School for much of the day. One resident was experiencing difficulty in accessing his property.

4. Deposits of Mud, Dust, Soils etc on Kiveton Lane
Chairman/Kettell had removed quantities of mud and other debris from Kiveton Lane which had fallen from lorries traveling to access the tips at Kiveton Park. The deposits were generally close to the speed humps. Lorries were not sheeted and often traveled in excess of the speed limit.
Hill had observed lorries with blue cabs and displaying the name Brocklebank.
Clerk reported that despite seeking reassurances from the Borough Council about response times no reply had been received to his letter to RMBC dated 30 May 2007.
Resolved that the Clerk write again to RMBC giving details of the problems being experienced and requesting an urgent response.

5. Public Footpath near the Manor House
Hill reported that the public footpath adjacent to the boundary of the Manor House was overgrown with weeds.
Mathieson had reported this to RMBC and anticipated clearance works being undertaken shortly.

6. Bollards fronting the Village Hall
Pantry had observed vehicles being driven between the bollards on the footway fronting the village hall. Further bollards were required to prevent this.
Clerk would ask RMBC to install additional bollards between each of the existing bollards.

7. Parish Network Meeting
Pantry would be attending the meeting at Rotherham Town Hall on Saturday 30th June.

8. Additional Council Meeting.
Resolved to hold an additional meeting to fully consider agenda items not covered on the night.
Chairman would advise the date and time.

The Meeting was suspended at 9.30p.m. to be re-convened at 7.00p.m. on Monday 9 July 2007.

Minutes of the re-convened June 2007 Council Meeting held in Todwick Church Hall
at 7.00 p.m. on Monday 9th July 2007

Present
Councillor Langford - Chairman
Councillor Palmer - Vice Chairman
Councillor Hill
Councillor Kettell
Councillor Mathieson
Councillor Pantry
Councillor White
Councillor Wolf

J R Walker - Clerk

07/38 APOLOGIES
There were no apologies.

07/39 URGENT ITEMS FOR LATER CONSIDERATION
1. External Audit

07/40 CORRESPONDENCE

1. RMBC - Parish Network Meeting

2. RMBC - Model Code of Conduct

3. RMBC - Rother Valley South Parishes Meeting

4. Local Works - Sustainable Communities Bill

5. Kiveton Park Independent Advice Centre - Annual General Meeting

6. RMBC - Annual Review of the Joint Working Charter

7. RMBC - Rotherham in Bloom 2007

8. RMBC - Joint Working Group Vacancies

9. Standards Board for England - Guidance on the revised Model Code of Conduct

10. RMBC - Parish Councils Joint Working Group Minutes

11. Rotherham Community Transport Ltd. - Local Transport Services

12. Shuldham Calverley - Village Hall Reinstatement Value

13. RMBC - Planning Application RB2004/2206

14. Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire - Queen's award for Voluntary Service

15. RMBC - Waste Processing at Crowgate South Anston for Park Farming Ltd.

16. RMBC - Environmental Protection Act 1990/Cleaner Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005

17. RMBC - Licensing Act 2003 - Application for Todwick Village Hall

18. Birtles (House Builders) Ltd. - Todwick Post Office Premises

19. RMBC - Storage Container at Goosecarr Lane Recreation Ground

20. YRCC - Membership/Subscription Renewal

21. RMBC - Temporary Road Closure of B6463 Todwick Road

22. Post Office - Todwick Post Office

23. Rainbows - Girl Guiding

24. Todwick Neighbourhood Watch - Report

25. SYPTE - Shelter Request

26. Post Office - Todwick Post Office

27. YRCC - Requirements Under the Revised Code of Conduct

28. RMBC - All Parish Council Liaison Meeting

29. YLCA - Training Conference

30. SYPTE/SY LTP Partnership - Supporting Environmental Improvement

31. Miss M Holroyd - Neighbourhood Watch

32. RMBC - Street Cleaning
Clerk the application had been unsuccessful

33. RMBC - Litter Bin
Clerk the application had been successful. Provision would be made during the current financial year

34. RMBC - Unauthorised Vehicle Movements/Tipping
Clerk Received on the 6 July this was a reply to his letter dated 30 May 2007. The response did not deal with the specific points raised and he had written again.

07/41 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
1. RB2007/1042
Two storey side extension at 19 Wastneys Road for Mr. S Boot
Resolved to offer no objection.

07/42 INTERNAL AUDITOR
Palmer had spoken with Mrs. Clark the Internal Auditor. She had expressed an interest in continuing her duties.

07/43 NOTICE BOARD
Clerk had obtained a copy of the Definitive Plan and statement for public rights of way in the parish which he handed to the Chairman. The plan appeared to show every thing required for display.
Chairman/Kettell would contact RMBC to enquire whether the same plan might be obtained but to increased scale.

07/44 URGENT ITEMS
1. Clerk reported on his discussions with the External Auditor concerning the Recreation Ground Trust. As requested by the Auditor he would be faxing a copy of the Conveyance of the recreation ground to the Parish Council as well as letters received from the charity Commission and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.

The Clerk left the meeting on the termination of Urgent Items

07/45 CLERK'S CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND JOB DESCRIPTION
The Clerk had circulated a breakdown of his working hours with the agenda and additional correspondence received since the last meeting. He had once again recommended the Council make provision in the budget to pay the gratuity due to on his retirement.
Resolved

1. That the Clerk's contracted hours be increased to 13.2/week as from June 2007.
2. That the Parish Council considers ways to reduce the workload placed on the Clerk.
3. To review the Clerk's Conditions of Employment and Job Description.

The July Council Meeting will be held in Todwick Village Hall at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 31st July 2007.