Minutes 11 March 2024 – Poppleton Parish Council

UPPER POPPLETON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE POPPLETON CENTRE, MAIN STREET, UPPER POPPLETON AT 7.00 PM ON MONDAY 11 MARCH 2024

PRESENT:
Councillor Neil Lawrence (Chairman)
Councillor Alan Catterick
Councillor Bill Hall
Councillor Anne Hook
Councillor David Johnson
Councillor Richard Robson
One member of the public
Mr James Mackman (Clerk)

24.043 – TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST (NOT PREVIOUSLY DECLARED) ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS
None.

24.044 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE GIVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Clerk, Scruton and Tomlinson.

24.045- TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF REASONS GIVEN FOR ABSENCE
Councillors Clark, Scruton and Tomlinson’s reasons for absence was approved.

24.046 – TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 12 FEBRUARY 2024
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 February, having been circulated and read, were accepted and signed.

24.047 – TO RECEIVE THE CITY OF YORK COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – FOR INFORMATION ONLY
City Councillor Anne Hook reported that the Rural England Prosperity Fund is offering capital grants for community buildings in our Ward.

24.048 – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Councillor Jones, a Nether Poppleton Parish Councillor, briefed Councillors about the proposed improvement, by Yorkshire Water, to the sewage pumping station by the beck in Nether Poppleton. The development will help reduce the incidents of sewage being spilled into the river in extreme rainy conditions. It will necessitate the provision of a holding tank in the farmer’s field, drainage over Parish Council-owned land and the removal of five trees. She was at pains to explain that the project did NOT indicate that any houses would be built in the area.

24.049 – PLANNING APPLICATIONS
(a) The Councillors considered the planning applications received since the February Parish Council meeting as listed below: –
Details of Planning Application – Comments
Ref: 24/00159/FUL – Installation of electrically operated gate with adjoining post and rail fence to front, new brick walls to form bin store, installation of CCTV cameras on site, new internal opening to stable building with timber panel door and landscaping amendments (retrospective) at Model Farm Barn, The Green, YO26 6DP.
The Parish Council objects to the planning application as it requires the front wall to be rebuilt as per the original plans.

Ref: 24/00160/LBC – External alterations including installation of electrically operated gate with adjoining post and rail fence to front, new brick walls to form bin store, installation of CCTV cameras on site, new internal opening to stable building with timber panel door and landscaping amendments (retrospective) at Model Farm Barn, The Green, YO26 6DP.
The Parish Council objects to the planning application as it requires the front wall to be rebuilt as per the original plans.

Ref: 24/00243/TCA – Re-pollard Beech tree (up to 2m crown reduction) – tree in a conservation area at 2 Beech Grove, YO26 6DS.
No objection

Ref: 24/00245/FUL – Insertion of 2no. windows to ground floor at York House, Hodgson Lane, YO26 6EA.
In the absence of a Heritage Statement the Parish Council objects to the planning application.

Ref: 24/00338/TCA – Fell 3no. trees and re-pollard 1no. Willow in rear garden – trees in a conservation area at Lyndhurst, Hodgson Lane, YO26 6DY.
The Parish Council objects to the planning application as no justification has been given for the felling of the trees.

(b) To note Local Authority Planning Decisions
It was noted that the Local Planning Authority had approved the following applications: –
• Ref: 23/00626/FULM – Installation of a solar farm and associated infrastructure, including control station, DNO substation, access tracks, inverters and other auxiliary infrastructure at Agricultural Land To The North And South Of Low Moor Lane Hessay.
• Ref: 23/01479/FUL – Erection of detached tennis clubhouse, 2no. padel courts with associated lighting and 2no. pétanque rinks with associated parking and access, and siting of 1no. storage container unit at Poppleton Community Centre, Main Street, YO26 6JT.
• Ref: 23/02169/FUL – Variation-of-condition 25 (BREEAM requirement) of 22/02605/FUL — Change of use of 3no. existing agricultural buildings to use classes B2, B8 and E(g) to include; lighting, amendments to external materials and fenestration and additional hard standing to create new service yards, parking and access. Extension of Cropton Road to provide access to development from Northminster Business Park at land and buildings lying to the northwest of Moor Lane and forming part of Oakwood Farm, Northfield Lane.
• Ref: 23/02248/FUL – Two-storey side and rear extension and single-storey rear extension at 11 Beech Grove. YO26 6DS.

24.050 – FINANCE
(a) To receive a financial statement
The Clerk had emailed Councillors a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 11 March 2024. The report reflected the receipts and payments below.
The bank balances on 11 March were: –
Current Account £100.00
Business Money Manager Account £49,286.68

(b) To note accounts for payment (net of VAT);
113 BP One Planet York Annual subscription £10.00
114 DD EDF Energy Guild hut electricity – Dec/Jan £10.38
115 BP Poppleton Community Trust Room hire 12th February £28.00
116 CHG HSBC Bank charges – Jan/Feb £8.00
117 BP Scottish Water Allotment water £9.34
118 BP James Mackman Salary – March £627.86
119 BP HMRC Income tax – March £160.48
120 BP James Mackman Expenses £33.00

24.051 – TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO THE VILLAGE GREENS, ALLOTMENTS AND GUILD HUT
(a) Trees including considering the quotations for the work recommended in the tree survey
Two quotations for the recommended work were considered. It was resolved to award the contract to Lewis Tree Surgeons. (Action Clerk)

(b) Events
A request from The Hope Centre, York, to use the Green on 30 March was approved. (Action Clerk)

ii. A request by on behalf of Yorkshire Air Ambulance for a clothes bank in the Lord Collingwood car park

It was resolved that no clothes bank should be installed in the car park by the Lord Collingwood. (Action Clerk)

iii. Replacing the pump at the corner of Lime Garth
The Clerk reported having received one quotation for replacing the pump and was seeing a second tradesman next week. He also reported having written to the York Civic Trust to ask if it would be willing to give a grant of 50% towards the cost of the work.

iv. Biodiversity and how the Parish Council should be involved
It was agreed to defer discussion on this subject until Councillor Scruton was present.

(d) Allotments
No news on this subject.

(e) Guild Hut
No news on this subject.

(f) Updating the Use of the Green Form
It was agreed that the Use of the Green forward should include the requirement for users to notify those living around the Green of the approved forthcoming event. (Action Councillor Lawrence)

24.052 – TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO HIGHWAYS, FOOTPATHS, LAMPPOSTS & SIGNS
(a) To consider reports on vandalism
No reports.

(b) Relocation of the Dikelands Lane notice board on the Library railings
The Clerk reported that the notice board has now been moved to the Guild hut and that he has arranged meetings with two tradesmen who will be asked to quote for installing the notice board. (Action Clerk)

24.053 – TO CONSIDER COUNCILLOR AND CLERK TRAINING
Details of YLCA courses are circulated to Councillors on a regular basis. It was agreed that none of the forthcoming courses were required.
The Chairman made the point that it would be beneficial if those Councillors who had not yet received training on planning would do so.

24.054 – TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS IN CREATING ONE PARISH COUNCIL FOR POPPLETON
The Chairman reported that there was no further news on this subject. Action by the City Council is still awaited.

24.055 – TO DISCUSS ISSUES AROUND THE MANPOWER AND ORGANIZATION OF THE VILLAGE SPORTS DAY AND TO APPOINT A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE POPPLETON CHILDREN’S SPORTS DAY COMMITTEE
It was agreed to appoint Councillor Robson as the Parish Council’s representative on the Children’s Sports Day Committee.

It was agreed that the Parish Council’s insurers be asked what implications there may be if the Parish Council were to cover the Sports Day Committee’s insurance. (Action Clerk)

24.056 – TO RECEIVE COMMITTEES’ REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS
(a) Listed Buildings Working Group
No news on this subject.

(b) Poppleton Community Trust
Councillor Hall reported on the Trust Executive Committee meeting held on 4 March.

(d) YLCA York Branch
No news on this subject.

(e) Youth Club
No report.

(f) Any other meeting
None.

24.057– TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON VILLAGE POLICING
Prior to the meeting the Clerk had given each Councillor a schedule of incidents in the Rural West York Ward, which included Upper Poppleton, reported to the police in February 2024. The schedule was noted.

24.058 – TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON PROGRESS ON THE FOLLOWING:
(a) Drawing up of a tree policy for the Greens (Min. 24.036a)
No news on this subject.

(b) The easement for vehicular access to Lyndhurst, Hodgson Lane (Min. 24.036b)
No news on this subject.

(d) Flooding in the White Horse car park (Min. 24.036e)
No news on this subject.

(e) Removing the vegetation obscuring the signs on the approach to the A59/A1237 roundabout (Min. 24.036h)
It was agreed that the vegetation obscuring the signs had been removed.

(f) Changing the Parish Councils domain name to .gov.uk. (Min. 24.036i)
The Clerk reported on his recent attendance of a Zoom seminar on the subject of a .gov.uk suffix. It was agreed to take no further action until the subject of one Parish Council for Poppleton has been determined.

24.059 – TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
24.059.1 – It was noted that the correspondence received since the February meeting, as listed below, had already been circulated to the Councillors.
(a) Open Spaces Society – OSS ezine – February 2024
(b) PhD student – Community views on flood risk management questionnaire
(c) Recycling solutions – Request for a clothes bank in the Lord Collingwood car park
(d) YLCA – NALC Chief Executive’s Bulletins
(e) YLCA – White Rose Bulletin and Training Bulletins
(f) YLCA – Training programme April to September

24.059.2 – The Clerk referred to the following items of correspondence received since the February Parish Council meeting
(a) CYC – Details of double taxation claim
(b) CYC – Guild hut rates schedule
(c) CYC – Response to query about Green pipe
(d) TCV – Posters for notice boards

24.060 – TO NOTE FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
Date of Meeting – Meeting – Venue/ Time – Councillors Attending
21 Mar Poppleton Children’s Sports Day Poppleton Centre/ 8.00pm Robson
18 Apr Poppleton Community Trust Executive Poppleton Centre/ 8.00pm Hall
6 Jun YLCA York Branch AGM Dunnington Reading Rooms/ 7.00pm Catterick, Tomlinson

24.061 – TO CONSIDER MINOR MATTERS
None.

24.062 – TO CONSIDER NEW ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
Future plans for Chantry Green.

The request from Councillor Tomlinson to include a discussion on ‘the need for a complaints/compliments procedure’ on the April meeting agenda was rejected by Councillors.

24.063 – TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting be held at 7.00pm on Monday 8th April 2024. Prior to the Parish Council meeting there will be a public meeting starting at 6.00pm when Prof Mike Holmes from the Haxby Group will attend to respond to questions raised by the Parish Councillors and members of the public.

24.064 – CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS
To resolve whether to exclude press/public on the grounds that the matter affects individual staff members/legal/procedural/finance issues.

24.065 – PRIVATE SESSION
The private session was agreed in order to discuss correspondence sent to a Parish Councillor by members of the public. The session was held in private because the correspondence was of a personal nature.
After full and thorough discussion by Councillors, the Chairman was given a unanimous vote of confidence. The matter was deemed closed.

There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.19pm.

CHAIRMAN …………………………….. DATE……………………….…

James Mackman, Clerk 39 Calder Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York, YO26 6RG
Tel: 01904 399277 – email: upperpoppletonclerk@poppleton-pc.org.uk

The Parish Council’s website can be found at https://poppleton-pc.org.uk/