The meeting was held
virtually using ZOOM software. All
members could be seen and heard using
the audio and video functions.
Present: Cllrs: E Fairclough (Chair), K Shaw, S Birkby, T Saunders,
J Carlon, P Lee, S Leith, C Pearson and C Wagstaff.
In attendance: Ward Councillor M Cummings, the Clerk
to the Council and one member of the public.
46.
To receive apologies and approve reasons for absence.
Apologies were received from Cllr A
Manifield and Cllr F Heptinstall (WMDC Ward Councillors). Cllr Wagstaff will be joining the meeting
late.
Resolved to note the reasons
for absence.
The Chair wished to acknowledge the
resignation of two Parish Councillors, former Councillors Eric Prince and Helen
Massey. Eric Prince joined the Parish
Council approximately 15 years ago. He was a great support to the Parish
Council involved with the refurbishment of the village hall projects and the
installation of the new playground equipment on School Lane. Helen Massey joined
the Parish Council in 2008 and bought her professional qualifications and
expertise to assist with the Waterton Green development, steered the Walton
Neighbourhood Plan to its conclusion and undertook risk assessments on behalf of
the Tennis Club and oversaw the maintenance of the Parish Council Facebook
page. The Parish Council owe both
Councillors a great debt of gratitude and wished them well. The Chair’s sentiments were echoed by all
Parish Councillors.
47.
To receive declarations of interest.
None.
48.
To approve the minutes of the council meeting held
on 1st September 2020.
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 1st
September without amendment as a true and
correct record of the meeting.
49.
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.
Cllr C Wagstaff joins the meeting.
50.
To receive a report on the SAFE scheme and police matters.
The Clerk confirmed a report had not been
received for August and September 2020.
The Clerk updated members on the PACT meeting held on 15th
September whereby Cllr Cummings and one
member of the public attended alongside the Clerk. Fly-tipping and speeding on
various lanes/road were highlighted as an issue for the Police to focus on.
Resolved to note the absence of the SAFE scheme reports for August and September
and to chase this up with NPT.
51.
To receive a report from WMDC Ward 5 Councillors.
Cllr M Cummings reported the following:
·
Once
costings for the replacement of the three roadside planters on Shay Lane that
are in disrepair, the Ward Councillors will look at how they can support the
funding of replacement planters.
·
New
correspondence from a concerned resident regarding the tyres dumped at The Golf
Club were noted and it is understood this has been reported to the Environment
Agency. As the fly-tipping is on private
land, it was noted that nothing further could be done by WMDC.
·
The
drains on Greenside have been flushed out. A further request will be submitted
in November for the drains on The Balk to be flushed out once all the leaves have
fallen.
Cllr Carlon thanked Cllr Cummings
for clearing the drains on Oakenshaw Lane.
It appears a few were missed near the bridge and near the colliery car
park. It was also requested if Highways
would review the speed limit on Oakenshaw Lane.
The current speed is set at Nation Speed Limit up to the Doncaster Road
junction which is believed to be excessive for this road.
The Clerk also raised a request for
double yellow lines to be conveyed by a resident on Shay Lane concerned parking
by school parents/guardians near the zebra crossing was restricting visibility
and causing dangerous manoeuvres from oncoming traffic coming from the bus
shelter side. Cllr Cummings confirmed
Enforcement Officers will also pay attention to this area.
Resolved to note the reports.
52.
To ratify decisions, as scheduled made to date by the Clerk under her delegated
authority.
The Clerk submitted a schedule of decisions
made under her delegated authority from 26th August to 29th
September 2020 to be ratified by the Parish Council.
The Clerk submitted details (copy attached
to minutes) of accounts paid totalling £2,354.80 for September 2020, and income
received of £19,390.86, which includes second instalment of the precept.
The account balances at the end of September
2020 are:
Current a/c: £1,067.23
Barclays Business Res a/c: £37,630.57
HSBC deposit a/c: £50,913.74
Total £89,611.54
Resolved to
(i)
Approve
the financial statements and payments.
(ii)
To
ratify the decisions taken by the Clerk/RFO under her delegated authority to 29th
September 2020 and to publish the list of decisions on the Parish Council
website.
53.
To receive a budget monitor up to 31st August 2020.
The Clerk
circulated figures showing figures as of 31st August 2020. It was noted the COVID grant of £10,000 would
go towards recovering loss of hiring revenue with a shortfall of £3,000 for the
financial year projected. Members requested
for a breakdown of the budgeted spend within each category and forecasted
spending to year end in advance of next budget
review to consider which projects, if any, can be delayed to next financial year
or if in fact they can be delivered.
Resolved to note the report and to review remaining budgeted spend
at November meeting.
54.
To consider correspondence received.
The Clerk summarised the correspondence
received over September 2020 including an email regarding fly-tipping at the Golf
Club already discussed and consultation from MP Jon Trickett on a proposal by
Barnsley Council to reopen the Midland railway line between Barnsley and
Wakefield. The proposal would include a
new station at Walton. Members debated
the positives and negatives noting a new station would allow better access to
transport within the village whilst car parking issues, noise and increased footfall
would cause congestion. A concern was noted that this could be linked with HS2.
A motion was presented to support the proposal but that the Parish Council
reserves its position pending discussions on where a station was cited and
consideration of parking issues.
Resolved
(i)
To respond to the consultation via MP Jon Trickett that the Parish
Council would support the proposal in principle submit to further consideration
of the issues highlighted.
(ii)
To note all other correspondence.
55.
To consider planning applications validated and
decided in September 2020.
There
have been 5 applications validated and 2 application decided since the last
meeting.
Resolved:
(i)
To submit a comment on planning application 20/01759/FUL FOR 79 The Balk
that the Parish Council observed paragraph 1.09.3 of the Wakefield
Residential Design Guide stipulates "there is therefore a general
presumption against extensions at the front of a property",
whilst paragraph 1.09.04 states "Single storey front extensions are
more likely to be acceptable where:
·
the
street does not follow a strong regular pattern;
·
the
house is well set back from the street;
·
the
proposal is sympathetic to the original house.
The Parish Council believes the
proposals would be out of kilter from surrounding properties given the
proposed garage would extend beyond the building line. It would
be unfortunate if a precedent was set in this regard.
(ii)
To
comment on application 20/01865/CPL that the Parish Council considered this
application and given the nature and the potential disturbance to neighbours,
the application should be dealt with via a full planning application consulting
the surrounding properties.
(iii)
to note all the other validated and
decided applications.
56.
To receive an update on the Waterton Green allotments on the Grove.
A meeting was due to held with the developers and WMDC to discuss the
presence of the soakaways and attenuation tank on the relevant area ringfenced
for the allotments for management by the Parish Council. Cllrs Lee and Carlon will attend a virtual
meeting alongside the Clerk to present the Parish Council’s concerns.
Resolved to
note the report and consider matter when there is an update.
57.
To receive a report on the reopening of the Village Hall and updated risk
assessment.
The Clerk reported PAT was completed at the hall with no issues identified.
The Clerk circulated a summary on the new ‘rule of six’ legislation and
how this had impacted the Parish Council’s 3 returning hirers who are exempt. A
fourth group with U3A will reduce to two bubbles of 6. Their fees will be in
line with those currently paid by U3A. Government and ACRE guidance is continuously monitored
to ensure COVID safe protocols are maintained.
It was also noted guidelines now require Track and Trace to be mandatory,
with a QR code displayed at the entrance to facilitate this. The Clerk noted and members who entered the
hall will need to log their visit using the NHS app or via the Clerk, who is also
using the app along with the caretaker.
Resolved to
note the report and approve the updated risk assessment.
58.
To consider recommendations from the Tennis Club working party on uses for
the former Tennis Club.
The Clerk reported the Pavilion toilets was prepared and ready for use
by the Football Club in line with COVID guidelines. A risk assessment has been
prepared and pre-opening inspection carried out by the Tennis Club working
party members. The Clerk awaits their risk assessment on social distancing and
track and trace before they are allowed access.
The Clerk also reported working party members met on 16th
September 2020 and logged all 26 responses received regarding the suggestions
for different uses. These were reduced to
23 with three excluded on the basis they were not substantive proposals. The group categorised the responses into 1) child orientated, 2) sporting,
3)garden/community space and 4) commercial/market space. Within the sporting category, the 7 following
sub-categories were identified:
·
Outdoor
gym
·
Tennis
courts
·
MUGA
·
Astroturf
·
Bowling
green
·
Petanque/Boules
·
Skate
park
The working party recommended reducing the proposals to 10 for the
purposes of obtaining a feasibility report, being the above identified 7 different
sporting activities, a child-based facility, garden/community facility and commercial
market space.
A suggestion was presented to further split the garden category from the
community space and to avoid duplication of any activities to be included at
the anticipated Brook Farm sporting facility. It was noted brook Farm would be
a private members club and any sporting facility on School lane could be ‘pay
per play’ basis. Another member noted there was a gap in facilities for teenagers.
A motion was submitted to strike off a child orientated facility as this
was rely on exclusive use by a specified group and to strike off a
market/commercial space for same reason, which was accepted without opposition. A motion was submitted for the Working Party
to draft a specification to commission a feasibility report on two/three specific
uses for the purposes of obtaining a quote.
Resolved
(i)
To
remove childcare/orientated facility and market/commercial space from the list
of viable suggestions;
(ii)
To
refer to the Working party members to prepare a draft specification with reduced
number of proposals for the purposes of obtaining a quote to commission a
feasibility study;
(iii)
To
seek, via YLCA, feedback from any
other local councils if they have relevant experience.
59.
To consider additional costs to display plaques on lampposts Christmas
trees.
The Clerk reported a lack of clarity as to whether the Christmas trees will
be displayed this year due to a problem with licensing permissions from AMEY/WMDC
and the supplier. It is understood if
the Christmas trees display are to proceed, new differing plaques, would be
required to comply with regulations and weight restrictions as this is a new
initiative. New plaques would cost approximately
£250. It is disappointing as the Parish
Council was led to believe that plaques would be displayed at not cost to the
Parish council when the Christmas trees were accepted as an option in May 2020,
however members felt they needed to maintain expectations with sponsors. It was
hoped the plaques would be reusable in subsequent years if the initiative were
on-going.
Resolved to
pay for new plaques up to a sum of £250 to be used with Christmas trees.
60.
To consider appointing a new
member to the Website Working Party and to review the terms of reference to include
a review of its contents including the Accessibility Statement.
The Clerk
reported the deadline for being compliant with the Website Accessibility
regulation was 23rd September 2020. Cllr Saunders has greatly helped in making
the necessary changes. A dialogue in
ongoing with the website host to undertake
the changes outside of the Parish Council’s control. Given the resignation of a
previous councillor, Cllr Leith has expressed an interest to join the Website
working group. The Clerk recommends the groups terms of reference be reviewed
and the Accessibility statement to ensure it is up to date.
Resolved
to appoint
Cllr Leith to Website Working Party and for members and the Clerk to review the
terms of reference and Website Accessibility Statement.
61.
To
receive an update on Facebook page and considering expanding to nominated
members to support the Clerk in the management of the Parish
Council Facebook page.
The Clerk reported
she had taken on the administration role for the Parish Council’s Facebook page and approved two
members to undertake training with YLCA to assist with on-going maintenance.
Resolved to
give administration rights to Cllrs Saunders and Leith to support the Clerk in
the management of the Parish Council Facebook page.
62.
To consider
the working group be tasked to support the Clerk in drafting a Social
Media Policy for adoption by the Parish Council.
The Clerk requested clarity as to what messages it wishes to convey via its Facebook page via a Social Media Policy. It was recommended a policy be drafted in consultation with working party.
Resolved for Website Working party members to support the Clerk in drafting a Social media policy for adoption.
63.
To
plan for filling casual vacancies and consider any necessary changes to the Co-option
Standing Orders.
The
Clerk reported sufficient requests were submitted by electors for a by-election
and accordingly the Parish Council was not able to fulfil the vacancies via
co-option. Given elections have been
postponed by legislation to no earlier than 6 May 2021, the Council cannot proceed
to fill the vacancies and the itemised agenda item must be withdrawn. A sum of £3,000 to £5,000 will need to be
included in the budget for 2021/22 towards the cost of the election.
A member suggested a letter of thanks be
issued to the former Councillors for their service.
Resolved to send a formal letter of thanks to former Councillors,
Eric Prince and Helen Massey.
64.
To
plan and take any necessary steps for Remembrance Sunday including donation to
Royal British Legion towards a wreath.
The Clerk noted due to rule of 6 legislation, The National Association
of Civic Officers (via YLCA) has advised local councils to consider alternative
ways to commemorate the event including a live stream. The Clerk had ordered a wreath to lay and
noted last year’s donation cheque was lost in the post. It was recommended this year’s donation was
doubled to account for this. The Chair
would speak to the Reverend at St Helens to their plans.
Resolved:
(i)
To
communicate with St Pauls Church and Walton Methodist on whether a reduced
service, with less than 6 participants including a trumpeter to play the Last
Post if available, could be held at the War memorial to lay a wreath that can
be live -streamed.
(ii)
To
display large poppies at the Village Hall entrance railings
(iii)
To
display ‘Walton Remembers’ banners.
Meeting closed at 9.40pm.