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MINUTES of theMEETING of SILKSTONE PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday3 October2011at 6.45pm at Silkstone Sports Pavilion.
PRESENT
Chairman: Cllr R Leech
Councillors: R Brocklehurst,Mrs P Gallamore,P Handley,P Smith and R Stier.
In attendance: Ward Councillor Barnardand the Parish Clerk.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Since there were no members of the public present at the meeting the Chairman invited Councillors to ask questions of Ward Councillor Barnard.
Cllr Barnard advised that the dates of the Ward Panel meeting had been given to the Clerk. Although these meetings are not open to the public the Clerk will have sight of the agendas and minutes of the meetings. The South West Area Partnership meeting is open to the public but the public cannot participate in the meeting; the next meeting is to be held on 17 October 11. The old Area Forum proved successful in our area but other areas of the borough found the meeting format did not work. It was only our ward Councillors that objected to the removal of this means of community engagement.
Cllr Gallamore advised that the road works during the last week on Church Hill had been to repair a sewer leak.
Stocks Area Project - Cllr Handley reported on behalf of Jim Ritichie from the Roggins Local History Society that £325 had been approved from the brewery and £700 had been approved from the Community Support Fund of BMBC.Cllr Handley had met with Jim Ritchie and a lighting company representative to discuss options for a new street light. A quotation for a new street light is awaited.
11-088 APOLOGIES
RESOLVED to accept apologies from Cllrs D Liddell and Mrs M Liddell who are on holiday and Cllr J Charlesworth who is working.
11-089DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
RESOLVED to note Cllr Stier’s declaration of a prejudicial interest in the payment to the Parish Council’s handyman under agenda item 7 (this item was approved on mass with other payments).
11-090MINUTES
Silkstone Parish Council- RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 5 September11 as a true and accurate record.
Updates – Lampost 3 Ben bank Road is still constantly on – Clerk to advise Highways.
Silkstone Common Rec – drainage works first pipe complete and working on second stretch from Hall Royd Walk to Ben Bank Road. Work should be completed by early November 11. Payphone still connected although BT has issued credit for previous charges so account has been cancelled. Clerk to advise BT. MUGA - Youth services have advised that the order has been placed but no start date given as yet.
Silkstone Playing Fields Committee – RESOLVED to note the minutes of the Silkstone Playing Fields Committee meeting held on Monday 19 September 11.
Updates – A Rockin the Rec debrief has taken place. The Clerk will now reply to the resident from Silkstone Common who made a complaint about the noise levels. BMBC advised that the event met the requirements of their licence. Due to the size of the event which is held annually there is no requirement for a noise consultant or noise monitoring although the organisers seek advice from BMBC regarding the positioning of speakers etc.
Electrics – it was agreed at the meeting that if the event goes ahead next year all electrics will be fed through the garage area under conduit along the ground. Professional electricians were used this year. The organisers are investigating the cost of professional security for next year.
It was agreed that the Clerk will write to the organiser Andy Horsfield to discuss the wording of an agreement for future events to include a finish time set by the Parish Council.
PLANNING
11-91PLANNING APPLICATIONS FROM BARNSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL (BARNSLEY MBC)
RESOLVEDto note that no planning applications have been received since the last Parish Council meeting.
RESOLVED to note that planning permission has been granted for works to 6 Mayberry Drive - increased height of roof including a side dormer extension and erection of a rear conservatory and a side / rear attached garage to dwelling.
POLICY
11-092 GRANT APPLICATION
RESOLVED to request more detailed information from the Silkstone Church ringers such as a quotation for the proposed works and to reconsider the application at the next Parish Council meeting.
FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant be asked to write an article about the ancient bells for the next Parish Newsletter.
11-093 PARISH PLAN
RESOLVED to note that Rural Action Yorkshire (RAY) have a copy of the last Parish Plan and will provide an estimate of the cost to analyse the Parish Plan questionnaire based on a similar number of questions and response rate as the last Plan. Also, that Cllr Brocklehurst and the Clerk will meet to complete a grant application to awards for all once the estimate of costs has been completed.
FURTHER RESOLVED that Cllr Brocklehurst will write an article for the next Parish Newsletter encouraging residents to get involved. This will enable the first formal meeting of the Parish Plan working party to take place early in 2012.
FINANCE
11-094INVOICES FOR PAYMENT
RESOLVED to defer the signing of the amended 5 September 11 schedule to the next meeting as the schedule was not available.
RESOLVED to approve the invoices for payment schedule dated 3 October 2011. Payments listed below, full details available from the Clerk on request.
Payee / Net / Vat / Total / Chequenumber
BT / -38.95 / -7.79 / -46.74 / Credit
Parish Clerk / 67.09 / 0.90 / 67.99 / 300279
Roggins Local History Group / 300.00 / 0.00 / 300.00 / 300280
RAM Masonry / 391.00 / 78.20 / 469.20 / 300281 (HOLD)
Parish Clerk / 900.00 / 0.00 / 900.00 / DD
Parish Clerk / 116.18 / 0.00 / 116.18 / 300282
HMRC / 224.05 / 0.00 / 224.05 / 300283
SYPA / 211.81 / 0.00 / 211.81 / 300284
Profell Tree Surgeons / 350.00 / 0.00 / 350.00 / 300285
Barnsley Timber Merchants / 69.50 / 13.90 / 83.40 / 300286
Yorkshire Water / 159.02 / 0.00 / 159.02 / 300287
Mrs Dinsdale / 40.56 / 0.00 / 40.56 / 300288
Uz group All Saints Church / 150.00 / 0.00 / 150.00 / 300289
Rigby Taylor / 84.65 / 15.39 / 100.04 / 300290
SPIN Print Solutions / 526.00 / 0.00 / 526.00 / 300291
Viking Direct / 122.55 / 18.71 / 141.26 / 300292
Viking Direct / 19.77 / 3.95 / 23.72 / 300293
Handy man / 1155.75 / 0.00 / 1155.75 / 300294
SISIS / 2,560.00 / 512.00 / 3,072.00 / 300295
Grounds man / 655.00 / 0.00 / 655.00 / 300296
Parish Clerk / 26.30 / 0.00 / 26.30 / 300297
3 October 11 Schedule totals / 8,090.28 / 635.26 / 8,725.54
ENVIRONMENT
11-095 SILKSTONE COMMON RECREATION GROUND
Cllr Brocklehurst presented an idea from the youth of Silkstone Common for a skateboard park on Silkstone Common Recreation Ground. Cllr Brocklehurst had explained to the young people that the Recreation Ground is not owned by the Parish Council but is managed by BMBC on behalf of CiSWO. The young people are organising a petition to present to BMBC. Cllr Brocklehurst has explained to them that the proposal will hit a number of barriers including funding and suitable location (a significant area of the Recreation Ground suffers from flooding in the winter months).
RESOLVED that Cllr Brocklehurst will speak with Tom Markham the Youth Participation Worker for our area (who has progressed the MUGA in Silkstone) to discuss the proposal.
It was noted that BMBC are currently cutting their budgets significantly and it is unlikely that they will consider any new capital projects. The Neighbourhood Pride team has been cut by half. The new skate park at Penistone is costing BMBC £8,000 per year to clear litter.
RESOLVED that in principle the Parish Council will support any positive, proactive proposal to increase facilities in the villages for young people. However, the young people should be made aware of the severe budgetary cuts within BMBC which are likely to impact on their efforts to pursue this proposal.
11-096 SILKSTONE WAR MEMORIAL LAND
RESOLVED to note that the lease for land has now been signed by both parties and is awaited from the solicitor.
FURTHER RESOLVED that RAM Masonry who has carried out repair works to the memorial in the past have been asked to provide a replacement cost for the memorial for insurance purposes.
11-097 SILKSTONE RECREATION GROUND
Insurance Claim Silkstone Recreation Ground – Nothing further to report at present.
Scout Hut drainage – RESOLVED to place an order for jetting and CCTV survey of the 60m length of drain from the scout hut to the football banking which is frequently blocked. Parish Coucnil approve a spend of up to £250 for this work.
FURTHER RESOLVED to note that a quotation has been requested from John Whitmore Electrical contractor for 7No hand dryers and associated circuit work for the Pavilion. This would remove the need for paper towels in the pavilion and would therefore stop the drains becoming blocked.
Health & Safety – Nothing further to report.
11-098 CRIME FIGURES
RESOLVED to note the crime figures were not available for the meeting.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
11-099 LINK COUNCILLORS REPORTS
Cllr Smith – Attended meeting of Silkstone in Bloom. He asked how much it had cost the Parish Council for the handyman to water the containers during the summer. He also asked the Clerk to check with BMBC if they are providing hanging baskets next year, if so the Clerk will look at number and location to see if the usual number of baskets can be reduced. He also attended the Silkstone Charities meeting and agreed that an article should be placed in the next newsletter explaining that all applications for student grants should go to the Silkstone Charities and not the Parish Clerk as a few applications had been received by the Clerk.
Cllr Barnard was invited to speak by the Chairman. He advised that Parish Council’s can apply for grants from the Community Support Fund for hanging baskets. It was noted however that the Community Support Fund has reduced from £29,000 to £19,000 due to BMBC cuts.
Cllr Stier – had joined the Silkstone Common Good Companions on their trip to Bakewell.
11-100MEETINGS
Cllr Stier attended the Transport Meeting. He highlighted that the bus and train times in Silkstone Common are not compatable. With the passengers from the train missing the bus to Silkstone as it arrives at the same time as the train and does not wait for any train passengers. Cllr Barnard agreed to follow this up with SYPTE.Cllr Barnard was asked about Gritting this coming Winter. He advised that Major routes/bus routes are gritted first. Grit bins will be provided and grit stock in Barnsley is at maximum capacity. The Ward Councillors approved the purchase of 2 snow blowers for the area which should help speed up snow clearance. The possibility of snow wardens to manage locked grit bins was discussed but BMBC are yet to make a decision whether to trial this in our area.
The Clerk attended a number of meetings since the last Council meeting and read the following report :
7 Sept 11 / Meeting with Solicitor in Penistone to sign War Memorial Lease
Lease now signed by both parties. Copy of lease awaited from solicitor who is also to register the land with the land registry.
19 Sept 11 / Silkstone Playing Fields Committee Meeting
24 & 25 Sept 11 / YHRTP conference in Hull with Cllr Liddell
The Clerk and Cllr Liddell attended this conference with representatives from Parish and Town Councils in Yorkshire and East Riding. Training was predominantly aimed at Councillors. Workshops attended by the Clerk included Good Meetings, Good Decisions, Council finance (are members in control ?), Planning Cllr Liddell chaired one of the workshops and gave an overview of a number of workshops to the whole conference at close of conference. Plenary sessions included presentations on innovative working in our sector mostly involving bringing old buildings back into use as community buildings. Neighbourhood Planning which does not need to affect SPC since we have a VDS and PP. Obviously the Localism bill featured enactment Jan 12 though maybe brought forward to as early as Nov 11.
27 Sept 11 / Parish Liaison Meeting with BMBC at Westgate
Phil Coppard, Andrew Frosdick and Ian Turner from BMBC. Voluntary National Code of Conduct ? when Localism bill does away with compulsory code. BMBC will be keeping a standards committee which PC’s can utilise. AF – Legislative programme including devolving services, BMBC will keep a community asset register, Planning NP – presumption in favour of development. Moving away from brown field assumption so Greenfield may be at risk. Fragmented school structure emerging with new academies BMBC losing some control.
Communication with Highways issues discussed. S Gibbons retired – IT to advise new contact for PC’s.
Parish Council Charter to be updated. AD’s to be reminded of Charter and that PC is to spoken to!
Presentation from Gerry Green - BMBC budgets need to reduce spend by 20million over the next 3 years in addition to 20 million reduction last financial year. Job losses. Things like grass cutting will be reduced. Savings objectives 12/13 9 million, 13/14 5 million and 14/15 6.5 million. Anticipate more community reaction to reductions. Council tax will still increase with inflation at 2.5%. Use of term ‘minimum council’ used a lot. 23% of ward panel budgets taken already and NP team down to half what it was last year due to the loss of recruits from the future jobs initiative. Provide roads programme for forthcoming year – Martin Croft down for Dec 11.
29 Sept 11 / South West Area Delivery Panel presentation in Penistone with Cllrs Gallamore and Stier
Mostly repeat of items raised at Parish Clerks meeting on Tuesday but aimed more at Councillors. Promise to copy ward panel minutes to Clerks . Partner working, devolved services. BMBC major cut backs will be more evident this coming year. NP job cuts will affect snow clearance in winter. Promoting self reliance (residents clean up own frontage don’t expect Council to do it). Agree to distribute CSF schedule out to Clerks. ? Snow wardens to be responsible for grit bins.
30 Sept 11 / SLCC Branch meeting in Leeds
Promise of training session on neighbourhood planning, agreement of nominations for NEC and training officer posts.
11-101CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTE
RESOLVED to note the following correspondence
YLCA – Cllr Charlesworth attendance certificate for Councillor trainingCPRE/NALC – Booklet titled How to respond to planning applications. Agreed that further copies of this booklet be requested so that all Councillors can have a copy.
Boundary Commission for England – 2013 review of parliamentary constituencies in England. Proposals on website
War Memorials Trust – Letter confirming that the grant for the War Memorial improvement works has been paid.
Penistone Line Partnership – Newsletter and statement of Accounts
Silkstone Common Good Companions – invitations to the Chairman Cllr Liddell, Vice Chairman Cllr Leech and the Clerk to attend the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Good Companions on 7 December 11. The presentation to Terry Daniel as the First Honourary Freeman will take place at this celebration.
South West Area Partnership (Ward Panel) Meetings schedule for information
11-102DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED to note that the next meeting of Silkstone Parish Council will beon Monday
7 November2011 at 6.45pm at Silkstone Sports Pavilion.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.45pm.
Chairman’s Signature / DateSPC Minutes 3 October 11