Treeton Parish Council

Treeton Parish Council - minutes of the Parish Council held in the Reading Room on Monday 26th July 2021

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

Councillors: A.S. Badger, O.R. Baum-Dixon, V. Beckett, E.C. Levin, W. Parker-Foers, L.J. Pickford,

In attendance: J. James Clerk to the Council.  

2021/109, Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Councillor J Travis.

2021/110, Public Question Time

7 members of the public were present. Further complaints were raised about the overgrown garage site, concerns were raised about antisocial behaviour, vermin as a consequence of waste and overflowing bins and support from the Parish Council was sought to address a parking plot issue.

2021/111, Declaration of Interests

Cllr Levin declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 2021/127.

2021/112, Minutes of Previous Meeting

Resolved:   

• To correct the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held 28th June 2021 to reflect the unlawful co-option of Rebecca Leigh to the casual vacancy created by the resignation of Dennis Whysall hold her application pending the outcome of the Notice of Casual Vacancy and accordingly remove Ms Leigh from the record.
• That item 2021/97 be proposed by Councillor Badger
• That item 2021/101b Ms Leigh’s contribution be discarded
• That item 2021/102b ii be seconded by Councillor Levin
• That item 2021/106a be proposed by Councillor Dixon
• That item 2021/106c be proposed by Councillor Levin 
• That with the above corrections the minutes are approved and signed by the Chairman.

Proposed: Councillor Badger.

Seconded: Councillor Pickford.

2021/113, Matters Arising

2021/22, additional grit bin on Station Road

The Clerk report that this was taken forward by Councillor Brookes and her response is awaited.

2021/53 & 2021/78, Land r/o Wood Lane and r/o Mill Lane

The clerk reported that she has now received a copy of the lease documents in respect of r/o Wood Lane and is in contact with RMBC to establish the Parish Council’s legal obligations in respect of the site as part of ceasing the lease agreement and is awaiting a response.

In respect of r/o Mill Lane she is still waiting for a response from RMBC either directly or via Councillor Brookes.

2021/99, Land at the bottom of Washfield Lane

RMBC have advised that there has been no contact made by Jones Homes to seek ‘in principle’ views and further that RMBC current policy is that there will be no further green belt development in the Borough.

The Clerk is awaiting a response from RMBC to confirm that there has not been any contact to RMBC at all to develop the site, it was agreed to prompt the Duke of Norfolk for a response.

2021/114 Clerk’s Report & Correspondence Received

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

1. RMBC - Updates on Covid-19 and related matters across the Borough.
2. RMBC - Planning applications and decisions across the Borough.
3. RMBC - Weekly traffic reports across the Borough.
4. RMBC - Licensing applications across the Borough.
5. RMBC - Decision notice on consultation to remove phone boxes.
6. RMBC - News from your Neighbourhood.
7. RMBC - Treeton Dyke Water Safety event Friday 23rd July 2.00-5.00pm.
8. RMBC - 2020/21 Ward Reports detailing Ward priorities and the projects that RMBC ward funding supported.
9. RMBC - Town Centre news.
10. RMBC - advising they will be levelling the ruts caused by 4x4 vehicles on the field r/o Mill Lane and installing boulders to try and prevent 4x4 access.
11. RMBC - Rotherham Round up.
12. RMBC - Briefing on plans for St Helen’s churchyard & burial ground, now postponed from 15th July and to be rearranged.
13. South Yorkshire Police & Crime Panel Annual Report.
14. SYPTE -  advising that the wearing of face coverings will remain a requirement inside transport interchanges.
15. Alexander Stafford MP – Latest news from Rother Valley, changes to Rother Valley Ward boundaries & his Street Surgeries. Opportunity taken up to meet and discuss priorities around his planned Treeton Street Surgery on 30th July at 3.30pm to which Ward Councillors have also been invited
16. YLCA – ballot for 3 representatives for RMBC Standards & Ethics Committee.
17. YLCA - Law & Governance bulletin.
18. YLCA - White Rose updates including report from 23 June Branch meeting.
19. Resident – burnt out vehicle rear of Mill Lane. Reported to the police & RMBC. The latter have now placed boulders to limit vehicle access.
20. Residents via Cllr Pickford – overgrown shrubs on High Hazel Road roundabouts – reported to RMBC.
21. Cllr Badger -Trees & Shrubs on Cannonthorpe Rise/Shorland Drive – reported to Jones Homes.
22. Resident via Cllr Parker-Foers - litter bins being removed on Worrall Avenue & Twentylands potentially in connection with Virgin Broadband work – contacted RMBC.
23. Resident – burst sewerage pipe Bole Hill ponds/Old Flatts Farm – passed to YWA & Environment Agency. The Chairman reported that this is an ongoing problem and that he too was making representations.
24. Cllr Parker-Foers - Overflowing skip by boat/ski club – contacted Boat club. Problem now resolved.
25. Cllr Pickford - overgrown hedge and farmers crop into the footpath along Wood Lane to Aughton - reported to RMBC.
26. RMBC Planning - various emails regarding the likelihood of residential development on farmland towards Treeton Dyke.
27. Alexander Stafford MP on behalf of constituents - concern over the potential housing development by Treeton Dyke. Responded with your views that this should not be allowed and information received from RMBC planning that consent is unlikely. Agreed to make representations to Mr Stafford at the forthcoming meeting
28. Several residents & Alexander Stafford MP regarding the state of Wood Lane (mud & dust) and the residential area close to the building site (dust) according to weather conditions. RMBC have now served a ‘Breach of Conditions’ notice on Jones Homes so hopefully this will address the matter.
29. Cllr Pickford – dog waste bin outside Jones Homes construction site requires lowering so it can be reached for use and emptying. Contacted Jones Homes and RMBC.
30. Councillor Parker- Foers – removal of barriers left following work by utility contractors and a request to address poor reinstatement of ground following the laying of cables.

LATES

Local business – concerns over the state of land by the side of Nicols shop. Agreed the Clerk to contact Environmental Health.

2021/115 Borough Councillors Report

Item not taken.

2021/116 Improving External Communication - Social Media Presence

Resolved:

That Cllr Dixon should progress his proposal for a Treeton Parish Council Facebook page in accordance with the amended Social Media Policy and that Councillors Dixon, Levin and Travis be the nominated authors with reference to the Clerk for policy/procedural guidance.

That the Social Media Policy as amended be adopted.

Proposed: Councillor Dixon.

Seconded: Councillor Levin.

2021/117 Planning & Review of Progress on Projects through 2021

1. General items

The Clerk reported that she is still awaiting the consent of RMBC to plant spring bulbs on grass verges and banks in their ownership and that the hanging baskets are now in place. Agreed to defer any decision to request a reduction in charges to reflect the delay be deferred to September

Agreed that Christmas trees on street lights are not an affordable option but that Councillor Beckett would explore sponsorship of a number of large Christmas trees dotted throughout the village

The forward planner was noted.

2. Proposals for CIL funding

Agreed that Councillors Adair, Beckett and Levin would meet with representative of RMBC to explore matched funded opportunities to improve Well Lane playpark

Councillor Levin requested that discussions on proposals for the Cowfield be postponed to September.

2021/118 Standing Items

1. Reading Room

Resolved: 

• To open the Reading Room on a Thursday morning 9.30-11.30 from 1st September for Councillor surgeries, Housing Champions and community drop in.

• Declined the request for use to collect and sort clothes for charity and use for band practice as both being unsuitable mindful of neighbours and other users.

Proposed: Councillor Badger

Seconded: Councillor Beckett

2. Allotments/Garage sites

i) Uncontrolled hedge

the Clerk reported that both tenants have started work cutting back the hedge and although they will have been delayed with the nesting season some work still remains. It was agreed that the Clerk write to the tenants requiring the work be completed by the end of December as a condition of tenancy renewal

i) Untidy plot

The Clerk reported that the tenant is working to both improve his plot, prune trees and ensure the welfare of his poultry. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to the tenant asking for continued improvement, care of poultry and with all trees pruned by the end of December as part of his tenancy renewal

ii) Beekeeping

Determined that beekeeping is not allowed on allotment plots.

3.   Burial Ground

1. Footpath

The Clerk reported that 10 of the 30 damaged flags have now been replaced, it was agreed that the invoice be held pending further reinstatement.  

2. Extension to Burial Ground

The Clerk reported that she is awaiting a response from solicitors.

4. Recreation Ground and Play areas

Nothing to report.

5. Environment

Blitz Day

It was confirmed that this would take place on 15th September. Agreed the sites to be addressed are weeds and overgrown hedges down Washfield Lane, on Church Lane, on Well Lane opposite Kings Terrace and Station Road opposite the War memorial and the roundabout on High Hazel Road if there is sufficient time as these would have greatest impact on the visual appearance of the village.

It was agreed to lobby Alexander Stafford at the meeting with him on the lack of RMBC work in the village on street cleaning, weeding and shrub management.

Cowfield

The Clerk reported that the poor quality of grass cutting had been addressed with RMBC.

Waste bins

Councillor Parker-Foers reported that she had undertaken an audit of waste bins against RMBC’s records. Agreed that Councillors Parker-Foers, Pickford and Badger would establish a working group to explore whether the bins are in the right places to minimise littering and where additional bins might be considered.

6. Planning Applications

The weekly lists of planning applications and planning decisions in the Borough were circulated by email to all Parish Councillors. In Treeton there is an application for use of land rear of Woodlands as a garden extension

Suspension of Standing Orders

Resolved: That Standing Orders limiting the length of a Parish Council meeting to 2 hours be suspended to allow business to be completed.

Proposed: Councillor Badger

Seconded: Councillor Pickford

2021/119, 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 currently paused for the summer but that he had been successful in obtaining funding to allow the Community Centre to run a holiday club through the summer holidays.

4. Community Centre & Playing Fields Memorial Committee

Nothing to report.

2021/120, Community Centre

The Chairman reported that the Community Centre continues to re-open and that whilst a number of activities are paused for the summer bookings are in place to recommence in September. Cubs, beavers and scouts have been paused due to positive Covid tests. Didikicks is proving popular and a Country & Western evening is planned.

2021/121, Chairman’s Review

The Chairman thanked Councillor Pickford and his watering team and remarked that the flower displays on the coal tubs and mine wheel were looking good as were the lamppost flower holsters which had been well received by residents.

He raised concerns over any additional housing development in the village considering that Treeton had grown in size quite enough and that the infrastructure was insufficient to support the current expansion on Wood Lane let alone anything further.

With Covid restrictions now removed he hoped that everyone would take extra care and stay safe as we continue to manage the pandemic,

2021/122, Finance and General Purposes

1. Bank Signatories

Resolved: that retired Councillor Whysall be removed and Councillor Parker-Foers be added as signatories to the bank account.

Proposed: Councillor Beckett

Seconded: Councillor Levin

2. 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.

3. Approval of accounts for payment

The following accounts were approved for payment.

Receipts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Payments

Proposed: Councillor Parker-Foers

Seconded: Councillor Pickford

Bank & Cash Book Reconciliation                                                             

Resolved: that the Clerk explore a third banking institution to ensure balances remain under the FSA guarantee limit.

Proposed: Councillor Dixon.

Seconded: Councillor Levin.

2021/123, Any Other Urgent Business

Agreed that Councillor Badger should explore bringing the Festival of Brass to Treeton.

2021/124, Date of the Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting was arranged for Monday 27th September 2021 at 6:30pm.

2021/125, Exclusion of the Press & Public

Resolved: To exclude the Press & Public on the grounds that the consideration of the following items may involve the likely disclosure of confidential information (s1 (2) Public Bodies (Admission of Meetings) Act 1960).

Proposed: Councillor Parker-Foers

Seconded: Councillor Beckett

2021/126, Property Records

The report of property in which the Parish Council has an interest was noted.

2021/127, Report of the Working Group on Staffing Resources to deliver Parish priorities

Resolved: that the recommendations in the report are agreed and that Councillors Parker-Foers and Pickford along with the Clerk take them forward.

Proposed: Councillor Dixon

Seconded: Councillor Beckett

The meeting closed at 9:30pm.