Treeton Parish Council

Treeton Parish Council

Minutes Of Meeting Held Virtually On Monday 22nd February 2021

Present:       Councillor: T.W. Adair (Chairman)

Councillors: A. Badger, G. Cooper, E. Levin, D. A. Goy, L.J. Pickford, D. Whysall.

In attendance: Mrs J. James Clerk to the Council

Borough Councillor B Walsh

2021/16 Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Councillor Swift due to personal issues.

Resolved: To accept Councillors Swift’s apologies

Proposed Councillor Whysall

Seconded Councillor Goy

2021/17 Public Question Time

Two members of the public attended.

Alexander Stafford MP who expressed his thanks for agreeing to his attendance and for the opportunity to work with local Parish Councils for the benefit of their communities. He encouraged the Parish Council to get in touch should they feel he can help address local issues.

A further member of the public who advised she had no questions to ask.

2021/18 Declaration of Interests

There were no declarations of interest.

2021/19 Minutes of Previous Meeting

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held 25th January 2021 were taken as read, copies having been circulated to all members of the Parish Council previously and with the agenda.

Resolved: That the minutes are approved and signed by the Chairman.

Proposed: Councillor Whysall

Seconded: Councillor Cooper

2021/20 Matters Arising

2020/59 c)Replacement memorial plaque to Pilot Officer Douglas Edwards. The Clerk reported that this is still with the designer who is struggling to secure his usual supplier due to the latter’s work pressures

2020/125 c)Trees in the burial ground. The Clerk reported that there are 4 trees that may benefit from further work at a quoted cost of £390.

Resolved: That the quote be accepted and the works carried out.

Proposed: Councillor Pickford

Seconded: Councillor Cooper

2020/9 d) Cowfield drainage. The Clerk reported she had sought advice and quotes from 4 land drain/landscaping contractors. Only 2 suppliers came to quote both suggested that land drains were required.  JJ Gardens, Barnsley £8760+vat  Ogden Excavations, Barnsley £5000+vat There was discussion about the extremely wet weather and whether the works carried out to address drainage problems a few years ago had just been overwhelmed by the exceptional amount or rain and snow in recent months.

Resolved: To monitor the state of the land in coming months and to consider an approach to Jones Homes for potential assistance should work be necessary in the future.

Proposed: Councillor Badger

Seconded: Councillor Whysall

2021/9 e) Mill Lane 4x4 off roading. The Clerk reported that RMBC have suggested a gate across the access road with either a key or coded padlock however resident’s views are that a gate may not be an effective solution. An approach has been made to Jones Homes to see if the boulders being excavated from their site could be an option. RMBC have been involved in that approach and have been asked to consider the boulders and other potential alternatives.

2021/14 Street Lighting on Worrall Avenue. The Clerk reported that RMBC had responded to advise that they had made a site visit and undertaken light level readings and that the lighting levels exceed current British Standards therefore they will not be making any additions or amendments to the lighting.

2021/21 Clerk’s Report & Correspondence Received

The Clerk’s report previously circulated was noted. It detailed the following:

1. RMBC - updates on Covid-19: Coronavirus and other related matters across the Borough.
2. RMBC weekly traffic reports.
3. RMBC Planning Applications and decisions across the Borough.
4. RMBC Licensing applications.
5. RMBC Details of Ward Boundary changes and process for May elections.
6. Rotherham Town Centre News
7. RMBC - News from your Neighbourhood
8. SYPTE - Snow disruption, free community transport to vaccination sites and impact of engineering works.
9. Sheffield City Region - Grants to small business to manage the impact of COVID
10. YLCA - White Rose updates.
11. YLCA White Rose updates.
12. Private individual - Freedom of Information request about COVID risk assessment and arrangements for public access to virtual meetings.
13. Jones Homes - Potential interest in sponsoring village improvement projects.
14. Residents – concerns over mud on Wood Lane as a result of heavy lorries leaving Jones Homes site. Concerns raised with site manager.
15. Resident – concerns about footpath access at the rear of the Jones Homes site down to the boat road. Concerns raised with site manager
16. Residents – involvement in discussions between Jones Homes and RMBC about the opportunity to locate some of the large boulders being excavated to block illegal off roading access in Hail Mary Woods and r/o Mill Lane
17. Resident – concerns over damage to small memorials during grounds maintenance works. Addressed by the Clerk.
18. Resident – issues about the land r/o Wood Lane: ownership, fly tipping, fencing and concerns over the Parish Council proposals for its use as wildflower meadow/community open space. Agreed that Councillors Goy and Badger would arrange to remove the fly tipped branches and cuttings for proper disposal in their garden waste bins.

Lates

Resident - regarding overgrown bushes, weeds and litter along Treeton Lane on the Flash side of the road requesting a joint approach from Treeton and Catcliffe Parish Councils to ask RMBC to address this matter.

Councillor Goy advised that there were safety issues from traffic in clearing the Flash side of the road and difficulties from thick overgrown bushes and brambles close to the lakeside. The Clerk reported that she had been in touch with the Clerk at Catcliffe and was advised that a ‘blitz day’ took place on Sunday 21st February on this site which hopefully has addressed the immediate problem.

Resident - suggesting a joint Catcliffe/Treeton Parish Councils litter pick on Treeton Lane beyond the Biffa fence. Councillor Goy advised that the depth of brambles and difficult access presented a challenge for litter picking.

It was agreed that the Clerk would make contact with the Clerk at Catcliffe advising that Councillors Goy and Pickford would offer support for a joint litter pick to the extent safe access makes this possible.

2021/22 Borough Councillors Report

Borough Councillor Walsh reported on the recent floods and that thankfully although river levels had been high, they had not burst their banks, Rotherham had however been well prepared.

He reported that the gritting teams had coped well with the recent snow and had ensured COVID testing and vaccination centres had remained open and accessible. In an update on COVID he advised that whilst rates were dropping nationally, they had reached a plateau in Rotherham due to the Kent variant being almost exclusively the cause of local infections.

He confirmed that local elections would be going ahead and that whilst further details are to follow reassured that RMBC had plans developed to ensure a COVID safe voting process.

He reported on the conditional planning consent for amended plans for the old Youth Enterprise Centre, whilst he acknowledged the disappointment some local people may feel at the approval considered that the changes did address some of the issues raised and it would bring a derelict site back into good use.

Councillors Goy and Whysall expressed their disappointment that parking concerns had not been effectively addressed particularly by contractors during construction and to ensure no ‘overflow’ parking into the elderly person’s centre. Councillor Walsh’s response was that he hoped contractors would show respect and be considerate and encouraged a good neighbour approach to resolving any difficulties.

Councillor Goy sought the further support of Councillor Walsh for a grit bin on the bends in Station Road, the response from RMBC was that as a bus route this road was priority 1 for gritting negating the need for a grit bin however that did not address the immediate issue of snow as it fell and of ice. Councillor Walsh agreed to make further representations to Officers of RMBC.

Councillor Goy asked if the overgrown shrubs and brambles on RMBC land at the rear of Nicol’s shop could be cleared, Councillor Walsh agreed to take the matter up.

2021/23 Planning & Review of Progress on Projects through 2021

Suggestions for projects and activities from the Parish Council and residents along with a planner for potential actions over the year to move them forward and further opportunities for community engagement were discussed.

The proposal for flower baskets on the lampposts and the roads to be included were discussed at length and the potential for sponsorship from Jones Homes

Resolved: That holster style baskets from Hobson’s be procured at a cost of £40 per holster and fitted 2 holsters per lamp post from the bottom of Mill Lane, along Station Road, Front Street, Wood Lane to the roundabout and down Well Lane to Bole Hill bus turning and along High Hazels Road to the Wood Lane roundabout, approximately 80 lampposts.

Proposed: Councillor Goy

Seconded: Councillor Pickford

The project for an outdoor gym was discussed with concerns over the substantial cost and potential for vandalism however that there had been significant interest in outdoor facilities particularly aimed at young people as this was felt to be where there is a ‘gap in opportunity’. Councillor Cooper gave his experiences on the outdoor gym at Aston which was well used and respected as a facility by residents. Borough Councillor Walsh suggested that post local elections this might be project that may attract partial funding from the Ward budget.

Resolved: To explore in outline further and to engage local residents in the planning and Ward Councillors post May elections for potential funding.

Proposed: Councillor Goy

Seconded: Councillor Pickford

The wildflower/public open space project at the rear of Wood Lane was discussed and the need to engage local residents meaningfully but within COVID restrictions but also to get this project moving forward as spring and the growing season arrives.

Agreed: To include an item in the Newsletter to seek views for a decision on the detail at the next Parish Council meeting and to aim to begin work shortly thereafter.

2021/24 Standing Items

1. Reading Room

The Clerk reported that the shed door has now been fitted and the Chairman is going to try and cut down the old front door as a replacement for the yard door

The Clerk reported that Churches Fire are scheduled to undertake the additional fire safety work on 23rd February.

2. Allotments

           Nothing to report.

3. Burial Ground

1. Councillor Whysall asked for the support of Alexander Stafford MP in securing a decision from the owner of adjacent farm land on whether he would sell a plot of land to extend the burial ground. Our MP kindly offered to assist and it was agreed that the Clerk would provide him with further details.
2. Gates – the Clerk reported that the new gates were fitted today.
3. Damaged seats in the burial ground – the Clerk reported that the remaining worn seat has now been repaired by the family.
4. The Clerk reported that as a result of routine maintenance checks a number of memorials had been found to be unstable.
5. She requested that the action agreed by email to arrange to contract for a safety check of all memorials, for a report on the findings and for any urgent action to make safe be confirmed and that the resulting proposal from Foers at a cost of £1280 + vat plus a variable small cost of making safe at the time of inspection be accepted

Resolved: a) To confirm the action taken to date by the Clerk and that she undertakes the necessary further actions to address health and safety issues arising from unstable memorials.

b) That the proposal from Foers be accepted.

c) That the Parish Council’s policy is to address memorials found to be unsafe on inspection is to lay them flat.

Proposed: Councillor Goy

Seconded: Councillor Levin

The draft Policy for the Management of Memorials was reviewed.

Resolved: With an amendment to read that the Parish Council will not undertake permanent repairs and to reflect the above policy to lay unsafe memorials flat that the policy be adopted with immediate effect.

Proposed: Councillor Goy

Seconded: Councillor Levin

Due to technical problems with the Chairman’s IT Councillor Whysall took over the chairmanship.

4. Recreation Ground and Play areas

The Chairman reported that he had seen the insurance renewal for the Cricket Club and that there were a number of issues that the club secretary was in the process of resolving.

5. Environment

Nothing to report.

6. Planning Applications

The weekly lists of planning applications and planning decisions in the Borough were circulated by email to all Parish Councillors.

The plans to convert the former Treeton Youth Enterprise Centre into 14 residential apartments have as previously reported been approved with conditions attached.

An application for a domestic extension at 12 Carlton Way has also been approved.

There is an application for a domestic extension at 44 Admiral Biggs Drive.

2021/25 Report from Representatives on External Bodies

1. RMBC/Parish Council’s Liaison Committee

Nothing to report.

2. YLCA Branch Representatives

Nothing to report.

3. Treeton Youth Club

The Chairman reported that there is no change from the position reported in February that as part of the current lockdown the youth club remains paused, the Community centre is however ready and COVID safe to welcome them back when restrictions allow.

4. Community Centre & Playing Fields Memorial Committee

Nothing to report

2021/26 Community Centre

The Chairman reported that due to COVID restrictions the Community Centre remains closed which is disappointing for the various clubs and groups who are eager to return. Active bodies and minds packs continue to be available to support well-being..

2021/12 Chairman’s Review

The Chairman reported on his concerns over drug gas canister litter which he had reported to the Police, parking on grass verges causing significant damage to verges during wet weather and speeding vehicles, he advised that speed camera checks were planned for coming weeks.

He was pleased to see the very good progress with COVID vaccinations although acknowledged we do have someway to go to ‘manage the virus in our normal lives’ and gave thanks to local litter pickers.

Borough Councillor Walsh left the meeting.

2021/28 Finance and General Purposes

2. Budget Monitoring and Approval of Accounts for Payment

The agreed precept of £56,000 gives a Band D Parish Council tax of £64.24 for 2021/22, an increase of 1p over the 2020/21 tax of £64.23 due to a small reduction in the Council tax base which is 871.69. On the basis of this precept a detailed budget for 2021/22 was present by the Clerk.

Resolved:      That subject to the figures identified for spend on projects being agreed individually by the Parish Council as they progress that the budget be accepted

                          Proposed:     Councillor Badger

Seconded:    Councillor Levin

3. Budget Monitoring & Approval of Accounts for Payment

The Clerk outlined the accounts to date, presented a monitoring statement of expenditure against budget and an up-to-date financial statement of the Parish Council’s affairs. These were noted.

The following accounts were approved for payment.

Proposed:  Councillor Goy

Seconded: Councillor Whysall

Bank & Cash Book Reconciliation

31st January 2021

                                                                      £

Balances at bank:    Current account      16,051.80

                               Instant account        58,131.39

Cambridge Building Society                    60,000.00

Total                                                    136,467.70

2021/29 Any Other Urgent Business

1. Lighting rear of bungalows on Treetown Crescent - Councilor Whysall raised long standing concerns over the lack of effective lighting, the Chairman updated him on the various conversations he’d had to date and agreed to put the relevant RMBC Officer in direct contact with Councilor Whysall.
2. Disposal of equipment - The Parish Council own a chain saw which cannot be used without operators attending a certified training course and with subsequent regular refresher training and given the equipment has not been used in recent years sought agreement for its safe disposal.

Resolved:      To offer the equipment without charge to RMBC

Proposed      Councillor Goy

Seconded     Councillor Cooper

2021/30 Date of the Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Monday 29th March 2021

The meeting closed at 8.45pm

Chairman:

Date: