Treeton Parish Council

TREETON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL & MONTHLY MEETING

OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE READING ROOM

ON MONDAY 17th MAY 2021

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

Councillors:   A.S. Badger, O.R. Baum-Dixon, E.C. Levin,

 L.J. Pickford, D. Whysall.

In attendance: Mrs J. James Clerk to the Council

2021/63 Acceptance & Oath of Office

Declarations of Acceptance of Office were signed by T.W. Adair A.S. Badger,

O. R. Baum-Dixon, E.C. Levin, L.J. Pickford and D Whysall in the presence of J. James, Clerk to the Council.

2021/64 Declarations of Interest

The required format for the Declaration of Members’ Interests were previously provided to each Parish Councillor for completion, they were completed, signed and return to the Clerk at the meeting.

2021/65 Election of Chairman

Resolved:      That Councillor T.W. Adair is elected Chairman of the Parish Council for the following year

Proposed      Councillor Badger

Seconded     Councillor Whysall

2021/66 Election of Vice - Chairman

Resolved:      That Councillor E C. Levin is elected Vice- Chairman of the Parish

Council for the following year

Proposed      Councillor Whysall

Seconded     Councillor Pickford

2021/67 Rotherham MBC – Parish Liaison Committee

Resolved:      That Councillor T W. Adair represents the Parish Council on the

committee.

Proposed      Councillor Badger

Seconded     Councillor Levin

2021/68 YLCA Branch Representative

Resolved:      That Councillor T. W. Adair represents the Parish Council at the

branch

Proposed      Councillor Levin

Seconded     Councillor Whysall

2021/69 Community Centre & Playing Fields Memorial Committee 

Resolved:      That Councillors T.W. Adair & L.J. Pickford represent the Parish Council on the committee

Proposed      Councillor Levin

Seconded     Councillor Badger

2021/70 Apologies for Absence

All Parish Councillors were present at the meeting

2021/71 Public Question Time

There were no members of the public present

2021/72 Declaration of Interests

Councillor Dixon declared an interest in the standing item on allotments as he is on the waiting list and took no part in that discussion.

2021/73 Minutes of Previous Meeting

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held 26th April 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 Levin

Seconded:    Councillor Pickford

2021/74 Matters Arising

2020/59 c)    The Clerk reported that commemorative plaques and signage for the mine tub and mine wheel are now in place. 

2021/22        Additional grit bin on Station Road - The Clerk reported that she will raise with our Ward Councillor to see if they could bring any pressure to bear on RMBC for them to fill a Parish Council funded a grit bin on this site.

2021/75 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 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 - Town Centre news
6. RMBC - Opportunity to contribute to 2021/22 Ward priorities.
7. SYPTE - Changes to services.
8. YLCA - White Rose updates.
9. YLCA on behalf of RMBC - an invitation to stand as a nominee to RMBC's Local Councils Joint Working Group
10. Resident - regarding brambles on the old garage site – reported to RMBC as it was established ownership lies with them.
11. Alexander Stafford MP - Levelling up funding.
12. Residents - many complaints over the condition of Wood Lane as a result of site traffic and the lack of enforcement action by RMBC to ensure this is addressed - accelerated as a complaint against RMBC and referred to our MP for his support.
13. Resident - Business activity from residential property bottom of Mill Lane - contacted RMBC Planning Enforcement
14. Fowler Sandford on behalf of Duke of Norfolk - expression of interest in purchasing land at the bottom of Washfield Lane that is owned by the PC. To be an item at the June meeting.

LATES

15.  Barton Willmore - pre planning application consultation for a proposed hotel within the Waverely Commercial Area.
16. Resident - complaint over damaged headstone believed to be as a result of grounds maintenance - contacted contractor
17. Resident - complaint that recent tree works have not addressed branches that have overgrown into overhead cables at Treeton Crescent/Station Road - reported to RMBC
18. Resident - overgrown bank behind Bole Hill bus turning cycle - reported to RMBC

2021/76 Borough Councillors Report

Item not taken

2021/77 Co-option to 3 vacancies on the Parish Council

Agreed these would be advertised through the Newsletter

2021/78 Allotment Land rear of Mill Lane

The Clerk advised that the Parish Council have a long-expired leasehold interest from RMBC in the land which was followed in 2003 with an informal arrangement to maintain status quo. RMBC are now exploring formalising an arrangement.  

Resolved:    That the Parish Council do not wish to retain any interest in the land and

the Clerk be instructed to advise RMBC of their decision.

Proposed:    Councillor Whysall

Seconded:   Councillor Pickford

2021/79 Planning & Review of Progress on Projects through 2021

The Clerk reported that she has now requested the consent of RMBC to plant spring bulbs on grass verges and banks in their ownership and is awaiting their approval

The quote for planting and maintaining in the mine tub, half moon in front of it and in front of the mine head wheel was discussed.

Resolved:    That the Parish Team will plant up these areas and Parish Councillors will

seek assistance from residents for help watering and maintaining them.

Proposed:    Councillor Pickford

Seconded:   Councillor Levin

2021/80 Annual Review of Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, Financial Risk Assessment & Internal Controls, Approval for Continuing Payments

Resolved:    That the Standing Orders & Financial Regulations be adopted and that

the Financial Risk Assessment & Internal controls be noted and agreed

to be adequate and that approval be given for continuing payments to

meet contractual obligations.

Proposed:    Councillor Whysall

Seconded:   Councillor Badger

2021/81 Standing Items

1. Reading Room

Nothing to report, the Reading Room remains closed to the public.

2. Allotments/Garage sites

The Clerk reported that she has written to the plot holders as instructed at the

last meeting:

1. Garage Plot - agreed that the vacant plot should be advertised to rent via the newsletter with a concession to the resulting tenant conditional upon the site being returned to an acceptable condition.
2. Untidy Plot - the Clerk reported she had not received any response and would monitor the condition of the plot.
3. Uncontrolled hedge – after lengthy discussion:

Resolved:      That the tenants of plots either side of the overgrown conifer hedge be

advised that to comply with their tenancy agreements they need to bring the height of the hedge down to 2 metres and maintain it at or below that level and further that their tenancies will not be renewed at the end of September unless the necessary work is completed.

Proposed:     Councillor Whysall

Seconded:    Councillor Levin

3. Burial Ground

1. The Clerk reported she is continuing to try and contact families whose memorials require maintenance work to ensure their continued safety.

2. In response to Councillor Whysall’s concerns over the safety of narrow memorials she advised that all stonemason’s working in the burial ground must be members of the National Association of Memorial Masons who require adherence by their members to relevant British Standards which specify materials and methods of installation appropriate to the size of memorial. Councillor Whysall remained concerned.

3. The Clerk reported that the landscaping work and creation of additional cremated remains plots should be completed in the next week however that the contractors had damaged paving flags and that she was meeting with them to ensure they are reinstated.

4. Councillor Whysall raised his ongoing concerns about the Parish Council securing its interest and taking back the land in its ownership and assigned for an extension to the burial ground from the farmer who is presently encroaching.

Agreed the Clerk will write to the farmer advising that he can expect his encroachment to be required to cease by 2031 when the land will be then fenced, landscaped and used to extend the burial ground and that the Clerk explore formal registration with the Land Registry.

5. Request for permission to place a memorial bench.

Resolved:      That permission be granted for the bench and location as described subject to a condition that responsibility for maintenance sits with the family.

Proposed:     Councillor Pickford

Seconded:    Councillor Levin

4. Recreation Ground and Play areas

Nothing to report

5. Environment

1. The Clerk reported that she had been in contact with Jones Homes & RMBC to ensure the Parish Council were consulted when the mine head wheel, tubs and tracks were re-sited on Wood Lane.

6. Planning Applications

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

2021/82 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 the Youth Club is continuing with a range of outdoor activities for young people with smaller numbers to meet Covid restrictions.

4. Community Centre & Playing Fields Memorial Committee

Nothing to report

2021/83 Community Centre

The Chairman reported that classes from the college are running and are planned to do so to the end of the year, that the scouts have returned for outdoor activities and that the centre continues to develop its outdoor space.

2021/84 Chairman’s Review

The Chairman reported that he had arranged a visit from SY Police to speak and engage with the youth club about the dangers of drugs. He thanked Councillor Pickford for painting the mine wheel and gave high praise and thanks to the growing group of litter pickers now numbering 38 who along with a couple of Catcliffe Parish Councillors are making a real impact on litter. Agreed that the Parish Council will fund additional litter picking equipment to ensure sufficiency for all volunteers.

2021/85 Finance and General Purposes

1. 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.

Resolved:      To create an earmarked reserve for the Community Infrastructure

Levy income and to establish a working group to explore opportunities for this funding and the S106 funding that the Parish Council expects to receive in the next 4-5 years.  Councillor Levin took away a task to explore the cost of various options and that this should be an item on future agenda. 

Proposed:     Councillor Badger

Seconded:    Councillor Dixon

2. Signatories to the bank account

Resolved      that Retired Councillors Goy, Swift and Cooper be removed from the

list of authorised banking signatories and that Councillor Pickford be

added.

Proposed:     Councillor Levin

Seconded:    Councillor Whysall

3. Approval of accounts for payment

The following accounts were approved for payment.

Receipts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          £

Payments

Proposed:     Councillor Levin

Seconded:    Councillor Goy

Bank & Cash Book Reconciliation

30th April 2021

                                                                      £

Balances at bank:    Current account      25,042.54

                               Instant account        58,140.25

Cambridge Building Society                    80,000.00

Total                                                    128,559.94                                  

2021/86 Any Other Urgent Business

There was no further business

2021/87 Date of the Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Monday 28th June 2021 at 6.30pm.

The meeting closed at 8.15pm

Chairman:                                                                           Date: