DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE PORTAKABIN AT THE POPPLETON CENTRE, UPPER POPPLETON, AT 7.15PM ON MONDAY, 16 APRIL 2025
PRESENT
Cllr. S P Barry (Chairman), Cllrs. G R M Bates, J A Hook, E M Jones and A G Walker. Also present was the Clerk, Mr B J W Mackman.
AGENDA
25/093 – TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST (NOT PREVIOUSLY DECLARED) ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS
None.
25/094 – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None.
25/095 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE GIVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. R A Harper.
25/096 – TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF REASONS GIVEN FOR ABSENCE
Cllr. Harper’s apologies were accepted.
25/097 – TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 17 MARCH 2025
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17 March 2025, having been circulated prior to the meeting, were approved and signed.
25/098 – TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM A CITY OF YORK COUNCILLOR
City Councillor Hook said that she had nothing to report.
25/099 – TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON PROGRESS ON THE FOLLOWING:
(a) The removal of the broken wooden bridge over the beck in front of Mill Wray (Min. 25/74(c)iv) – March 2025
It was noted that the wooden bridge is still there. In the absence of Cllr. Lamb there was no report. (Action Cllr. Lamb)
(b) The closure of the National Savings Account (Min. 27/072d) – (March 2025)
The Clerk reported that he had received the account closure form from National Savings and was making arrangements for it to be signed. (Action Clerk)
(c) Trimming of hedges overgrowing pavements (Min. 25/081) – March 2025
The Clerk reported having been given details of the City Council Department to which hedge reports should be directed. (Action Clerk)
25/100– FINANCE
(a) Financial Report
The Clerk had circulated a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 16 April 2025. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances on 16 April were: –
Current Account £100.00
Business Money Manager Account £8,061.35
National Savings Investment Account £15,824.13
(b) To note accounts for payment (net of VAT);
105 BP Upper Poppleton PC Centrepiece articles contribution £122.50
106 BP Poppleton Community Trust Room hire 18 November 2024 £28.00
107 BP Poppleton Community Trust Room hire 20 January £28.00
108 BP Poppleton Community Trust Room hire 17 February £28.00
109 DD IONOS Website hosting -Mar/Apr £25.62
110 CHG HSBC Bank charges Feb/Mar £10.00
111 BP YLCA Expenses £26.30
112 BP Poppleton Community Trust Room hire 17 March £28.00
1 BP Lewis Tree Surgery Moat Fields tree work £2,105.00
2 BP Lewis Tree Surgery Moat Fields tree work £2,105.00
.3 BP James Mackman Salary – April £653.21
4 BP HMRC Tax and Employer’s NI – April £223.11
(c) To receive a report on income received
Cartshed tenants First half year’s rents £160.00
Moat Fields Management Group Tree work contra £4,210.00
City of York Council 2024-25 Double taxation grant £4,776.20
Upper Poppleton PC Neighbourhood Plan website contribution £106.47
(d) To agree to subscribe to the YLCA for 2025-26 – £655.00
This was agreed. (Action Clerk)
(e) To agree to purchase a replacement battery for the defibrillator
It was noted that the expiry date on the existing battery is 20 May 2025. It was agreed that a new battery be ordered. (Action Clerk)
25/101 – PARISH COUNCIL LAND – TO RECEIVE PROGRESS REPORTS AND MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS ON
(a) Grass cutting.
No news on this subject.
(b) The management of Warren Lea
It was reported that the Biodiversity Group has agreed that the area should not be strimmed and that a working party would pick the Himalayan Balsam. The Clerk is to tell the contractor not to strim the area. (Action Clerk)
(c) The management of the Common Land including
i. The rectification of the damage to the riverbank next to Saxe Dane Lodge
This agenda item was included in error.
ii. Fencing the riverbank to prevent persons from causing damage
The Clerk gave details of two quotations for the construction of a wire fence. The Councillors chose the cheaper. The Clerk is to make arrangement for the constructing of the fence. (Action Clerk)
iii. Installation of signage to make the public aware of bank erosion
Arrangements are to be made for the provision of the signs which advise the public that there is no fishing on Parish Council land in the hope that there will be no future need for access to the riverbank. (Action Clerk)
(d) Allerton Drive garden
No report.
(e) The Moat Fields
It was reported that the planned work to the trees on the boundary of the Moat Fields and the Millennium Green has been completed.
(f) The Cartsheds
No report.
(g) The Wildlife Area
No report.
(h) Biodiversity
Cllr. Walker explained that the biodiversity Duty document had been completed by the Biodiversity sub-group and formally adopted by Upper Poppleton Parish Council on 14 April 2025.
Cllr. Barry moved that the document be adopted by Nether Poppleton Parish Council and this was unanimously supported by councillors.
25/102 – 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.
25/103- TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO HIGHWAYS, FOOTPATHS & LAMPPOSTS
The location of the proposed donated seat (Min. 25/044a) – (September 2024)
Three Cllrs. having requested that this subject be discussed again it was agreed that a bench identical to the Glasdon bench already on site should be installed in the area in front of the butchers in Allerton Drive. The Clerk is to contact the proposed donator of the bench to ascertain if they would be happy to sponsor this. (Action Clerk)
25/104- TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS IN CREATING ONE PARISH COUNCIL FOR POPPLETON
The Chairman reported that there had been no notable progress on this subject.
25/105 – TO AGREE TO TERMINATE THE PLAN4POPPLETON WEBSITE
It was reported that the Plan4Poppleton website had been needed so that the link to the Poppleton Neighbourhood Plan could be maintained. The agreement had been that the website would remain until such time as the York Local Plan was adopted. Now that the Local Plan has been adopted there is no need to continue the Plan4Poppleton website. It was resolved that the agreement should be terminated.
25/106– TO RECEIVE VERBAL REPORTS ON/FROM
(a) Joint Biodiversity Working Group
See the minute in 25/101h above.
(b) Poppleton Community Trust
Cllr. Bates reported on the Executive Committee meeting held on 20 March.
(c) Trees Working Group
No report.
(d) VE Day celebration Group
Cllr. Bates gave an update on the arrangements being made for the VE-Day celebrations.
(e) Village policing
The Clerk reported that he had now received a list of incidents to the police in January, February and March and would be sending it to Councillors.
(Action Clerk)
(f) YLCA York Branch
No report.
(g) Youth Club
Councillor Hook reported that the Youth Club is in need of more adult volunteer supervisors in order to keep the youth/adult ratio legal.
(h) Any other meeting
None.
25/107– TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE CLERK
25/107/1 – It was noted that the correspondence received since the March meeting, as listed below, had already been circulated to the Councillors.
(a) Open Spaces Society-eZine – March 2025
(b) Resident complaint about parking in Long Ridge Lane
(c) YLCA – Councillor discussion forum 10 April
(d) YLCA – Law and Governance Bulletin Early April 2025
(e) YLCA – YLCA White Rose Weekly Bulletins
25/107/2 – The Clerk referred to the following items of correspondence received since the March Parish Council meeting
(a) CYC – Introduction of new Community Officer for Rural West York Ward
(b) CYC – Query on who built the bus shelter
(c) Resident – Complaint about advertising boards on the Allerton Drive bollards
(d) Resident – report of theft at the Post Office
(e) The Pensions Regulator – Legal duties for re-enrolment
(f) Zurich Municipal – Insurance papers for 2025-26
25/108 – TO NOTE FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
Date of Meeting – Meeting Venue/ Time Councillors Attending
15 May Poppleton Community Trust Executive Poppleton Centre/ 7.00pm Bates
5 Jun YLCA York Branch Dunnington Reading rooms/ 7.00pm Jones & Harper
25/109 – TO CONSIDER MINOR MATTERS
None
25/110 – TO CONSIDER NEW ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
None.
25/111 – TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting would commence at 7.45pm on Monday 19th May. It will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting and the Parish Council’s Planning Meeting.
There being no other business the meeting was formally closed at 8.21pm.
Chairman………………….…… Date…………………………..
James Mackman, Clerk 39 Calder Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York, YO26 6RG
Tel: 01904 399277 – email: netherpoppletonclerk@poppleton-pc.org.uk
The Parish Council’s website can be found at https://poppleton-pc.org.uk/