Present: Cllrs: E Fairclough (Chair), K Shaw, P Lee, S Birkby, T
Saunders, C Pearson, S Leith, C Wagstaff, and J Carlon.
In attendance: Cllr F Heptinstall and Cllr M Cummings WMDC (Ward Councillors), PC
Steele, 7 members of the public and the Clerk to the Council.
141.
To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from Cllrs A
Manifield (Ward Councillor)
142.
To receive declarations of interest.
None.
143.
To approve the minutes of the Parish Council
meetings held on 2nd February 2021.
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd
February 2021 without amendment as a true record of the meeting.
144.
To be notified of matters accomplished or arisen
since the last meeting not included elsewhere on the agenda.
The Clerk noted 5 of the 10 additional
columns added to the summer/winter displays have been filled. A post will be
added shortly to advertise the remaining columns but if members know of any new
sponsors, to ask them to contact the Clerk.
The Chair announced item 6 would be moved up the agenda
in advance of item 5 to allow PC Steele to present his report and leave the
meeting early due to personal commitments.
145.
To receive a report on the
Pc Steele noted the traffic
gun was currently being calibrated but that traffic patrols will resume once
this process was completed.
Patrols were being
made in the park after reports that some youths were causing trouble. A member
noted youths were often congregating at the park on Sunday afternoon. Patrols have also been completed on The Grove
with no issued identified. Due to
community intelligence, patrols are focusing on damage to/theft from motor
vehicles and drug use. Two individuals have
been charged with attempted burglary of a motor vehicle in a nearby village.
Resolved
to note the report.
146.
Public
forum session – To permit members of the public to make representations, answer
questions, and give evidence in respect of any item of business included in the
agenda.
None presented as
wishing to make any comment.
147.
To receive reports from WMDC Ward 5 Councillors.
Cllr F Heptinstall
confirmed the ward councillors are happy to support the refurbishment of the tennis
club in principle but would need costings/drawings prior to proceeding. The
same would apply for officer support from WMDC and conversations are being had
as to what that support would look like.
A member of the
public asked permission to speak on dog waste bags on Greenside due to an
increase in dog waste bags litters at the side of the road. The Chair refers
the comment to Ward Councillors. Cllr Heptinstall comments that littering is a
nationwide issue but WMDC will shortly be launching a campaign to encourage
members to take litter home. A review of the bins in the area will also be
undertaken.
Previously covert cameras
used to catch littering offences have been discovered and, in some cases,
vandalised.
Cllr Cummings
reported:
·
If the Chair can identify areas where ‘Pick up or Pay up’ markings could
be painted, the Ward Councillors would be happy to organise these being
installed.
·
She has had no response regarding the work at the Nine-arches;
·
Surplus soil to reinstate the churned-up grass on the roadside of the
Nature reserve is too wet to place but will be laid as soon as permissible.
·
An update on Brook Farm was issued via the Clerk with ancillary matters
due to be addressed in the next few months and to diarise for May 2021 for a
further update.
·
Ward councillors assisted securing Friends of Nature Colliery Park with larger
bins.
·
On the replacement planters, the Clerk clarified the Parish Council was
looking to secure permission from WMDC for citing the proposed fourth new
planter on Oakenshaw Lane. Cllr Cummings as for a plan to be sent with the proposed
location so she can speak with the relevant person at WMDC.
A member noted the
funds promised from WMDC for ‘Community benefit’ following the sale of Brook
Farm was offered without any qualifying conditions, however it appears this is
no longer the case. Cllr Cummings noted this could be picked up with WMDC at a
follow up meeting after May 2021 once an update is received.
Resolved
to note
the report.
148.
Finance & Governance
1. To approve accounts to be paid, already paid under delegated powers and
income received February 2021.
The Clerk submitted details (copy attached
to minutes) of accounts paid totalling £7,754.70 for February 2021, and income received of £1,867.57.
The account balances at the end of February
2021 are:
Current a/c: £1,757.38
Barclays Business Res a/c: £29,631.39
HSBC deposit a/c: £50,915.87
Total £82,304.64
Resolved: to
approve the financial statements and payments.
The Chair noted members had forgotten
to raise the collapsing wall at Bull bridge on Walton Lane with the Ward Councillors.
The Clerk will notify the Ward Councillors via email of the issue.
2.
To consider the insurance premium and long-term agreement contract.
Resolved to
renew insurance contract at a cost of £1,807.94 premium.
3.
To approve the Asset Register and
valuations for 2021/2022.
The Clerk requested from
the Chair to defer the item until consideration of the benches under item 13.2
and 13.3 as this will impact on final figures. The Chair agreed.
4. To consider the contribution to the SAFE scheme for 2021/22.
The Clerk confirmed
last year the Parish Council pledged £6,000 and it was anticipated £1,850 surplus
to carry over to next year. The Council
budgeted £6,000 for the next financial year.
Resolved
to pledge
£6,000 to SAFE Scheme for 21/22 incorporating any surplus carried over.
5. To consider the Risk Management Review Plan.
The Clerk confirmed
all items were up-to date except for consideration of short-term investments
due to uncertainty of the pandemic and its impact on Council funds. As the precept will be paid in April in full,
it would now be appropriate for Council to consider investing some funds on a short-term
basis. It was agreed to add this to next month’s agenda for review.
Resolved
to
approve the Risk Management Plan for 2021 and itemise review of short-term investments
at the April Parish Council meeting.
6. To consider and approve cost for the YLCA Remote Conference.
The Clerk note last year’s
YLCA Annual Conference was cancelled. This year YLCA are holding a two-day
virtual conference on 21st and 22nd April 2021 for
delegates at a cost of £40 per delegate. One or two members indicated an
interest.
Resolved to approve the cost of one delegate to attend with
a view to sharing any slides obtained to all members. Delegate to attend to be agreed between the interested
members and the Clerk.
149.
To consider correspondence received.
The Clerk summarised the correspondence received
this month and listed the invitations including the hall being booked as a
polling station for the forthcoming elections in May 2021.
Resolved
to note correspondence received.
150.
Planning Working Party.
1. To
consider planning applications validated and decided February 2021.
There
have been 5 applications validated and 5 application decided since the last
meeting.
Resolved to note the validated and decided applications.
151.
Village Hall and Coronation Cottage Working Party
The Chair wished to
record a special thanks to Cllr Wagstaff who attended with a lifter to assist
the electrician installing the LED lights outside the hall.
1.
To consider
dates for reopening of the village hall.
Subject
to Government guidance, it appears the Village Hall can reopen from 12th
April, for certain permitted activities, subject to government restrictions of
the day and risk assessments being updated. Additional permitted activities
could resume from 17th May 2021, again subject to government restrictions.
Resolved
to commit to reopening the
hall from 12th April onwards subject to restrictions for permitted
activities.
2.
To
consider receive report on the Village Hall risk assessment and consider any recommendations.
The
Clerk noted the working party members met on 23rd February 2021 to undertake
the annual risk assessment, with the reported recommendations.
Resolved
i.
For Clerk
to obtain quotes for the Committee Room and Entrance to be repainted and fire-resistant
plastic covering be added to nearside entrance wall.
ii.
Authorise
clerk to dispose of the piano via social media to residents free of charge.
iii.
Offer
playgroup one free session to hold sale to dispose of unwanted toys/items to
tidy reduce stock in play cupboard;
iv.
Authorise cost
of repairs by an electrician to be made to disabled toilet emergency alarm.
v.
Commission
an annual inspection of roof and gutter clean.
vi.
Roof of kitchen
to be cleared of moss.
vii.
Authorise
cost of grinding down elm stump up to £300 plus VAT.
3.
To consider
quote for recommended remedial work on Hall’s drains following drainage survey.
Resolved to defer to next month’s meeting.
4.
To consider
quote for boarding Hall cellar ceiling with fire-resistant material.
The Clerk noted in
line with the Council’s Financial Regulations, efforts were made to obtain
three quotes, but due to the bespoke nature of the work, this was not possible. Accordingly, it was advised the Parish
Council to suspend Financial regulations.
Following the fire
risk assessment completed in November 2021, it was recommended the ceiling was
boarded using fire resistant material.
The recommendation was to use 60-minute fire resistant material unless
there was a fire detection system in place whereby a lesser resistant material
could be used.
A discussion ensued as
to whether a 30-minute or 60-minute material should be used despite having a
smoke detector, a call point and a fire extinguisher. It was noted the gas pipes were visible and
not clear how and whether these should be boarded underneath.
Resolved to board with a 60-minute fire-resistant
material by the cheapest contractor following advise from a gas engineer regarding
access to the gas pipes.
5. To consider quote for a new fire-resistant
cellar door.
Resolved
to purchase a new 30-minute
fire resistant door in replacement of the cellar door at a cost of £450 plus
VAT.
6.
To receive
an update on Tennis Club meetings with WMDC and potential contractors.
Cllr
Saunders reported meetings with contractors had suggested there were two
avenues the Council could pursue if it were minded installing a sporting
facility, being a recreational or a more specialist facility.
A
member asked if the estimated cost of £250,000 to resurface, fence and mark the
site coincides with quotes given to the tennis association years ago to
refurbish as tennis courts. It would appear they were comparable. A member
questioned the reasoning of spending as a substantial sum on a sporting
facility given the existence of a hardstanding basketball pitch on the recreation
ground and the uncertainty of the new sporting facility to be relocated ay
Brook Farm. It was suggested further
work could be deferred to the autumn once further developments were known.
Resolved
to note the report.
152.
Recreation
Ground & Playgrounds Working Party
1.
To receive
ROSPA report and Recreation Playground risk assessment together with any
recommendations.
Following
a risk assessment completed on 19th February 2021, a summary of the recommendations
are:
· maintenance work to be carried out by the Grounds attendant such as cutting back hedges and tiding low lying tree branches.
· removal of a buddleia bush and levelling off the ground near the hedges backing onto Tennis Club by WMDC,
· flagging under one of the benches (bench 21) looking out onto the football pitch.
· Fixing the private access gate from the back of a resident’s gate onto the recreation ground.
· returfing near and around the picnic benches.
· acquiring two new picnic benches for the area near School Lane houses.
The Clerk reported signage for safety measures to minimise coronavirus transmission has been repeatedly removed the following day and so these rules have been posted on Facebook page.
The ROSPA playground inspection has been completed with no issues identified the height of the roundabout requires monitoring but following advice from WMDC has been classed as minor/low risk issue which the playgrounds team would continue to monitor.
The Clerk conveyed a quote for £575 to remove and reflag under bench 21. This was considered excessive and would be revisited.
Resolved to note and approve all
the recommendations save for reflagging under bench 21 looking out onto the
football pitch.
153.
Environmental
Improvements Working Party
1.
To consider
purchase of summer seedlings and compost for various locations.
Resolved to purchase seedlings and compost
up to a cost of £120 plus VAT.
154.
To consider replacement of bench no 9 on The Grove
with newly refurbished bench.
The Chair reported the
relevant bench has a memorial plaque with relatives no longer living in the
village. The individual named in the plaque was fatally injured in the village.
Resolved to replace bench 9 with a newly refurbished
bench at a cost of £360 with the exiting plaque remounted on the newly
installed bench.
155.
To
consider cost of refurbishing bench removed from war memorial and Millennium
entrance benches.
The Clerk reported the 8ft wooden bench removed from the war memorial would cost £530 to be refurbished and installed, because of specialist carpentry and metal work. The Clerk reported a new quality bench of the same size would cost more than £1,000. Some members felt refurbishing the bench would represent an opportunity whilst others felt it would be more cost-effective to scrap the bench.
Resolved to approve the cost of refurbishing the bench at a cost of £430 plus £100 for installation. New location to be deferred to next month’s meeting.
156.
To consider the Annual Parish Meeting and arrangements/format.
The Clerk
reported the Annual Meeting had been set to take place on 20th May
2021, however, pending new legislation virtual meetings may not be permissible following
6th May 2021, however public meetings may also not be permissible or
advisable until 21st June 2021.
Resolved
to not proceed
with an Annual meeting of the parish in 2021.
157.
To consider request by Working for Walton to store waste collected from
litter-picks until collection arranged.
Resolved to approve the request to store waste
from litter-picks at the hall subject to:
(i)
Waste
being deposited using WMDC white bin bags.
(ii) Waste stored on a set date by W4W
with a collection date of the following day.
Deferred item 8.3
158.
To approve the Asset Register and valuations for 2021/2022.
The Clerk circulated an Asset
Register and valuations for 21/22. The Clerk
confirmed the figures had been prepared with the assumption the benches would
be acquired and disposed at the associated costs, however since circulating,
the Clerk would like to include the cost of the fans and water boiler to the
contents figure within the Annual Return valuations. This would result in a slightly higher
contents figure of £500 against the valuation given for insurance
purposes. A member noted given an excess
would be applicable this would be acceptable.
Resolved to approve the Asset Listing and valuations for 2020/21
with the amendments listed above.
159.
To receive matters reported directly to the
Clerk.
None.
Meeting closed at 9.25pm.