MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE POPPLETON CENTRE, UPPER POPPLETON, AT 7.00PM ON MONDAY, 18 AUGUST 2025
PRESENT
Cllr. G R M Bates (Chairman); Cllrs. S P Barry, Z L Billings, J A Hook, C J Lamb and A G Walker. Also present were one member of the public and the Clerk, Mr B J W Mackman.
AGENDA
25/177 – TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST (NOT PREVIOUSLY DECLARED) ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS
None.
25/178 – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None.
25/179 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE GIVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
There were no apologies for absence.
25/180 – TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF REASONS GIVEN FOR ABSENCE
None.
25/181 – TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 21 JULY 2025
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 21 July 2025, having been circulated prior to the meeting, were approved and signed.
25/182 – TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM A CITY OF YORK COUNCILLOR
City Councillor Hook reported that: –
• Some of the local roads are to be closed overnight to enable repairs to be carried out.
• The funding for the duelling of the ring road has proved to be insufficient so the duelling has been cancelled but some of the roundabouts are to be structured.
25/183 – 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. 25/163a) – (March 2025)
Cllr. Billings said that the bridge would be removed in the next few days.
(b) Installation of signage on the new fence (Min. 25/163c) – (March 2025)
The Clerk reported that he had endeavoured to notify the police that the signs had been removed. He had been advised to report the matter through the North Yorkshire website. Cllr. Billings is to give the Clerk the details of how to do this. (Action Clerk)
(c) The location of the proposed donated seat (Min. 25/163d) – (September 2024)
The Clerk reported that Glasdon had acknowledged the seat order and would be delivering it in the near future. The Clerk will arrange for the seat to be installed. (Action Clerk)
(d) Putting reflectors on the wooden bollards between the Poppleton Centre drive and Ouse Moor Lane (Min. 25/168) – (July 2025)
The reflectors have yet to be installed. (Action Cllr. Harper)
25/184 –PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To note Local Authority Planning Decisions
It was noted that the Local Planning Authority had approved the following application –
• Ref: 25/01148/FUL – Two-storey side extension and single-storey rear/front extensions at 68 Allerton Drive, YO26 6NP.
25/185– FINANCE
Financial Report
The Clerk had circulated a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 18 August 2025. The report reflected the receipts and payments below.
The bank balances on 18 August were: –
Current Account £100.00
Business Money Manager Account £24,223.64
(a) To note accounts for payment (net of VAT);
34 BP Poppleton Under Fives 2025-26 grant £1,500.00
35 CHG HSBC Bank charges Jun/Jul £8.00
36 BP Poppleton Community Trust Room hire 21 July £28.00
37 BP Sleightholm Landscapes Grass cutting per contract £1,080.00
38 BP YLCA Cllr Walker training £27.40
39 BP Vermex Cartshed rat treatment £100.00
40 BP James Mackman Salary – August including back pay £766.81
41 BP HMRC Tax and Employer’s NI – August £273.04
42 BP James Mackman Expenses £9.00
(c) To receive a report on income received
Resident. Payment for new seat £442.55
(d) To agree to agree to release the £2,000.00 provided in the 2025-26 budget for work to St Everilda’s churchyard
This was agreed.
(e) To ratify the Clerk’s pay increase backdated to 1 April 2025
The increase in salary was confirmed.
25/186 – PARISH COUNCIL LAND – TO RECEIVE PROGRESS REPORTS AND MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS ON
(a) Grass cutting.
It was noted that the grass has again been cut per the contract.
It was noted that the sides of the back either side of Riversvale Drive had been trimmed back but not by the Parish Council’s contractor.
(b) The management of Warren Lea
Volunteers have continued to pick the Himalayan Balsam in the lea.
(c) The management of the Common Land
It was noted that the Richard Ryan seat close to the War Memorial had collapsed and been removed. The Clerk reported that he had been endeavouring to contact the person he had dealt with in 2009 to inform them that the seat had been removed. No decision on the future of the seat was taken as it was agreed to wait to see what action the donor would wish to take. (Action Clerk)
(d) Allerton Drive garden
No report.
(e) The Moat Fields
No report.
(f) The Cartsheds
The Clerk is to ask Mason Clark to inspect the cartshed and recommend what action, if any, needs to be taken to stabiles the cracks in the end wall. (Action Clerk)
(g) The Wildlife Area
It was noted that owing to this summer’s continuous drought the water level in the pond is very low.
(h) Biodiversity
No report.
25/187 – TO CONSIDER COUNCILLOR AND CLERK TRAINING
Cllr. Walker reported on the YLCA’s “Understanding the Planning System” webinar he attended on 5 August.
Details of YLCA courses are circulated to Councillors on a regular basis. It was agreed that none of the forthcoming courses were required.
25/188- TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO HIGHWAYS, FOOTPATHS & LAMPPOSTS
Including to discuss the proposed relocation of public footpath number one
The Cllrs. considered a proposal to divert Public Footpath No. 1. Several Cllrs. reported that they had walked along the footpath and had no objection to the proposed diverted route. It was resolved to accept the proposed route and the City Council is to be so informed. (Action Clerk)
25/189 – TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS IN CREATING ONE PARISH COUNCIL FOR POPPLETON
No news to report on this subject.
25/190- TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A TREE POLICY
The Clerk had sent the Councillors a copy of the Upper Poppleton Parish Council’s Tree Policy. Cllr. Walker said that the policy would need to be amended to cover the different conditions in Nether Poppleton. He agreed that he would speak to one of the UPPC Councillors about possible amendments. (Action Cllr. Walker)
25/191– TO RECEIVE VERBAL REPORTS ON/FROM
(a) Joint Biodiversity Working Group
Cllr. Walker reported that a group of nine volunteers had been clearing Himalayan Balsam along the riverbank and had discovered a tansy plant where none were known to exist.
(b) Poppleton Community Trust
No report.
(c) Trees Working Group
In Cllr. Harper’s absence there was no report.
(d) Village policing
Prior to the meeting the Clerk had forwarded the incidents reported to the police for July. The report was noted.
(e) YLCA York Branch
No report.
(f) Youth Club
No report.
(g) Any other meeting
None.
25/192– TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE CLERK
25/192/1 – It was noted that the correspondence received since the July meeting, as listed below, had already been circulated to the Councillors.
(a) CYC – Public footpath diversion email
(b) National Grid: Yorkshire GREEN – Community fund
(c) Open Spaces Society – July updates: Celebrating 160 years of the Open Spaces Society
(d) Poppleton Community Trust – Invitation to the new Studio Suite formal opening
(e) YLCA – Basic understanding of the planning system seminar
(f) YLCA – Law and Governance Monthly July 2025
(g) YLCA – White Rose Weekly Bulletins
25/192/2 – The Clerk referred to the following items of correspondence received since the July Parish Council meeting
(a) Enquiry about a memorial bench in the Millennium Green
(b) PKF Littlejohn – Query about petty cash
(c) Poppleton Under Fives – Thanks for the grant
(d) Request to put advertising posters on notice boards
25/193 – TO NOTE FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
Date of Meeting – Meeting – Venue/ Time – Councillors Attending
20 Aug Biodiversity Methodist Church Hall/ 7.00pm Bates, Billings, Walker
TBA Poppleton Youth Action Group TBA Lamb
18 Sep YLCA York Branch Dunnington Reading Rooms/ 7.00pm Barry, Harper
Poppleton Community Trust Executive Poppleton Centre/ 7.00pm Harper
25/194 – TO CONSIDER MINOR MATTERS
None.
25/195 – TO CONSIDER NEW ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
None.
25/196 – TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting be held at 7.00pm on Monday 15th September 2025.
There being no other business the meeting was formally closed at 8.15pm.
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/