MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE POPPLETON CENTRE, UPPER POPPLETON, AT 7.30PM ON MONDAY, 19 MAY 2025
PRESENT
Cllr. G R M Bates (Chairman); Cllrs. S P Barry, Z L Billings J A Hook, R A Harper, C J Lamb and A G Walker. Also present were two member of the public and the Clerk, Mr B J W Mackman.
ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA
25/112 – TO ELECT A CHAIRMAN FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
Cllr. Bates was proposed and elected Chairman for the ensuing year.
25/113 – TO RECEIVE THE CHAIRMAN’S DECLARATION OF OFFICE
Cllr. Bates signed his Declaration of Office.
25/114 – CO-OPTION AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNCILLOR
It was noted with regret that Edie Jones had resigned as a Parish Councillor. The Parish Councillors extended their grateful thanks to Edie Jones for her dedicated service over the past 15 years that she had been a member of the Parish Council.
The Clerk reported that, following the legal procedure, the City Council had given their consent for the Parish Council to co-opt a new member to replace Edie Jones.
Zoe Billings was co-opted on to the Parish Council. She was welcomed by the Chairman and gave a few words by way of introduction. The Clerk confirmed that he had given Cllr. Billings an induction course and that Cllr. Billings had signed her Declaration of Office.
25/115 – ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS
OFFICE – COUNCILLORS
Vice-Chairman Walker
Biodiversity Working Group – Bates, Billings, Walker
Millennium Green Representative – Barry
Neighbourhood Plan Group – Bates
One Parish Council for Poppleton Working Party – Barry, Hook
Poppleton Children’s Sports Day – Hook
Poppleton Community Trust Observer – Harper
Poppleton Moat Fields Management Group Representative – Walker
Poppleton Youth Action Group Representative – Lamb
Trees Working Group – Billings, Harper, Lamb. Walker
Wildlife Trust Representative – Walker
Yorkshire Local Councils Associations Representatives (2) – Barry, Harper
AGENDA
25/116 – TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST (NOT PREVIOUSLY DECLARED) ON ANY MATTERS OF BUSINESS
None.
25/117 – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
One of the residents present gave useful advice regarding planning application 25/00815/FUL.
25/118 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE GIVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
All Councillors being present there were no apologies.
25/119 – TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF REASONS GIVEN FOR ABSENCE
None to consider.
25/120 – TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL PLANNING MEETING HELD ON 16 APRIL 2025
The minutes of the Parish Council Planning meeting held on 16 April 2025, having been circulated prior to the meeting, were approved and signed.
25/121 – TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 16 APRIL 2025
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 16 April 2025, having been circulated prior to the meeting, were approved and signed.
25/122 – TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM A CITY OF YORK COUNCILLOR
City Councillor Hook reported that residents and businesses in the City centre are not happy with the steep increase in parking charges especially in Micklegate and Bishopthorpe Road.
25/123 – 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. 25/099a) – March 2025
The Clerk was given the details of a contractor who is to be asked to quote for removing the wooden bridge. (Action Clerk)
(b) The closure of the National Savings Account (Min. 27/099b) – (March 2025)
The Clerk reported that the National Savings Account has been closed and the balance transferred to the HSB Money Manager account.
(c) Trimming of hedges overgrowing pavements (Min. 25/099c) – March 2025
The Clerk reported that the City Council had written to say they would contact the occupiers of the houses in question and request that they cut back the hedges. This would be followed up by a site visit and further action taken if necessary
25/124 – TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PLANNING APPLICATIONS
GENERIC NOTES ON NPPC RESPONSES
A We support the application
B We have no objections
C We do not object but wish to make comments or seek safeguards
D We object on planning grounds
(a) To consider the following Planning Applications
Details of Planning Applications – Comments
Ref: 25/00698/FUL – First floor side extension and pitched roof to porch at 20 Nursery Road, YO26 6NN.
The Parish Council decision was B
Ref: 25/00811/FUL – Variation of Condition 2 of permitted application 24/02319/FUL to alter external materials at 28 Church Lane, YO26 6LB.
The Parish Council decision was B
Ref: 25/00815/FUL – Erection of 1no. dwelling to rear at The Lord Nelson, 9 Main Street, YO26 6HS.
The decision was D. The Parish Council objects as it cannot make an objective decision on the application without an understanding of the elevational height of the application in the context of the adjacent property bearing in mind that the ground level of the site is much higher than the street level.
Ref: 25/00855/FUL – Single-storey front and rear extensions, detached annexe to rear at 69 Millfield Lane, YO26 6NB.
The decision was D. The Parish Council objects for the following reasons: –
A window in the planned extension will overlook 67 Millfield Lane
The “detached annexe” is back land development and is a separate dwelling, not an annexe.
(b) To note Local Authority Planning Decisions
• Ref: 25/00434/TPO – Crown lift 2no. Ash trees to approximately 5 metres – protected by Tree Preservation Order no. 14/1996 at 4 Fox Garth, YO26 6LP.
• Ref: 25/00571/FUL – Single-storey rear extension at 16 Midway Avenue, YO26 6NT.
25/125– FINANCE
(a) Financial Report
The Clerk had circulated a detailed report showing the actual income and expenditure for the year for the period to 19 May 2025. The report reflected the receipts and payments below. The bank balances on 19 May were: –
Current Account £100.00
Business Money Manager Account £39,795.70
(b) To note accounts for payment (net of VAT);
5 BP YLCA Annual subscription £655.00
6 CHG HSBC Bank charges Mar/Apr £8.00
7 BP Community Heartbeat Defibrillator battery £222.50
8 BP Poppleton Community Trust Room hire 16 April £28.00
9 BP Mark Bowlby Groundworks Riverbank fence £580.00
10 BP Parrot Signs Ltd Riverbank signs £116.24
11 BP Parrot Signs Ltd Riverbank signs brackets £30.00
12 BP James Mackman Salary – May £653.21
13 BP HMRC Tax and Employer’s NI – May £223.11
14 BP James Mackman Expenses £11.83
(c) To receive a report on income received
City of York Council First half year’s precept £18,500.00
National Savings Bank interest £54.63
(d) To agree the Annual Governance Statement on the Annual Return
The Councillors, having previously been given a copy of the Annual Governance Statement of the Annual Return, agreed that all the questions could be answered with a “yes”. The Chairman and Clerk signed the form.
(e) To agree the Statement of Accounts on the Annual Return
Prior to the meeting the Clerk had given all Councillors a copy of the Annual Return and the paperwork supporting the entries. The Councillors agreed to accept the Annual Return and the Chairman and the Clerk signed the form.
(f) To agree to release the £1,250.00 provided in the 2025-26 budget for the Millennium Green Trust
This was agreed.
(g) To agree to release the £5,000.00 provided in the 2025-26 budget for the Poppleton Community Trust
This was agreed.
(h) To renew the Parish Council’s insurance with Zurich (year three of a three-year deal)
This was agreed. (Action Clerk)
25/126 – 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
Cllr. Walker reported that the Himalayan Balsam is being cleared.
(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
It was noted that the fence had been erected.
iii. Installation of signage to make the public aware of bank erosion
The signs have been ordered and will be installed as soon as they have been received. (Action Clerk)
(d) Allerton Drive garden
It was noted that the grass has been cut.
(e) The Moat Fields
No report.
(f) The Cartsheds
The Clerk is to check the gizmos on the side of the cartshed. (Action Clerk)
(g) The Wildlife Area
No report.
(h) Biodiversity
No report.
25/127 – 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.
25/128- TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATING TO HIGHWAYS, FOOTPATHS & LAMPPOSTS
The location of the proposed donated seat (Min. 25/044a) – (September 2024)
The Clerk reported that he had now received a quotation for installing the seat and has been trying to contact the doner of the seat. (Action Clerk)
25/129- TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS IN CREATING ONE PARISH COUNCIL FOR POPPLETON
No news on this subject.
25/130 – TO CONSIDER RESPONDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL’S CLEAN AIR ACT SMOKE CONTROL AREA CONSULTATION
It was agreed that the City Council be advised that the Parish Council considers the imposition of a smoke-controlled area is unnecessary with the village being in a rural environment. (Action Clerk)
25/131– TO RECEIVE VERBAL REPORTS ON/FROM
(a) Joint Biodiversity Working Group
Cllr. Walker reported that a working party had picked Himalayan Balsam on the riverbank in Nether Poppleton to encourage the growth of the tansy plants.
(b) Listed Buildings Working Group
Cllr Harper said that he thought that this group had run its course and that there was no input expected from the Parish Council. It was agreed to disband the group.
(c) Poppleton Community Trust
No report.
(d) Trees Working Group
No report.
(e) VE Day celebration Group
Cllr. Barry reported that the event had gone well and gave the Parish Council’s thanks to Les Vaughan for arranging all the musical events and Richard Robson for the time and effort he had given to organising the event.
(f) Village policing
Prior to the meeting the Clerk had forwarded the incidents reported to the police for April. The report was noted.
(g) YLCA York Branch
No report.
(h) Youth Club
Cllr. Hook reported that there is still a good attendance at Club meetings.
(i) Any other meeting
None.
25/132– TO NOTE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE CLERK
25/132/1 – It was noted that the correspondence received since the April meeting, as listed below, had already been circulated to the Councillors.
(a) CYC – Smoke Control Area Consultation
(b) Environment Agency – Response re fallen tree in the river
(c) Open Spaces Society-eZine – April 2025
(d) Residents – email complaints about fencing the lido
(e) YLCA – Councillors’ discussion forum 21 May
(f) YLCA – Note of York Branch AGM 7 June
(g) YLCA – White Rose Weekly Bulletins
25/132/2 – The Clerk referred to the following items of correspondence received since the April Parish Council meeting
(a) Resident – request for no overnight camping signs in a paddock (lido) request
(b) The Pensions Regulator – Re-enrolment duties tool
25/133 – TO NOTE FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
Date of Meeting – Meeting – Venue/ Time – Councillors Attending
27 May Poppleton Youth Action Group 15 Bankside Close/ 8.00pm Lamb
5 Jun YLCA York Branch Dunnington Reading rooms/ 7.00pm Barry, Harper
12 Jun Biodiversity Group TBA/ 7.00pm Bates, Billings, Walker
TBA Poppleton Community Trust Executive Poppleton Centre/ 7.00pm Harper
25/134 – TO CONSIDER MINOR MATTERS
The Parish Councillors thanked Cllr. Barry for his service on his retirement as Chairman after six years in the post.
25/135 – TO CONSIDER NEW ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
None.
25/136 – TO AGREE THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting be held at 7.00pm on Monday 16th June 2025.
There being no other business the meeting was formally closed at 9.31pm.
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/