Wentworth Parish Council

On Monday 25^th JANUARY 2010 at 6.30pm

2414. Present

Councillor Mr D. Hunton (Chairman) Councillor Mr J. Jones (Deputy Chairman) Councillors Mr I. Lomas, Mr C. Woodcock , Mrs M.R. Dickerson, Ms L. Stevenson. Mr R. Clamp Mr W. Crawford RMBC Councillor Mr F. Hodgkiss Wentworth Estates Mr A Barber-Lomax A6135 ARG Mrs C. Shaw Parishioner Mr J. Morley SY Police Mr P. Gray (Until 7.50pm)

2415. Apologies For Absence

Councillor Mrs S. Hales RMBC Ms. L Reader

2416. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 21st December 2009 were accepted as a true record and were authorised to be signed by the Chairman

Proposed Councillor Crawford

Seconded Councillor Lomas

Matters Arising

2417. A response to the invitation to discuss traffic issues a the February meeting has been received from RMBC. Again the invitation has been declined and the offer of a working hours meeting made. Councillors asked that a letter expressing concern at the unwillingness to attend meetings be issued, copied to RMBC Chief Executive, John Healey MP and the three borough councillors. It was noted that the WNAA is not really a suitable forum to discuss traffic issues as the RMBC representative is from Street Pride, not highways.

2418. A response has been received from Wentworth Estate regarding the proposed new village car park signs, the response queried whether the signs are now necessary because of the statutory pay & display signs. Councillors agreed the signs should be replaced. Clerk to liaise with Wentworth Estate and source suitable signs.

2419. Wentworth Estates have responded to the matter of the tree in the car park to be felled, with a request for information regarding who planted the tree. The origin of the tree is unknown and Wentworth Estate is to look into the matter further. A copy of the order to fell s to be forwarded to Wentworth Estates.

2420. RMBC are considering a Rights of Way Partnership for the area and have asked for a parish council member. It was proposed Councillor Dickerson represent the parish council on the partnership.

Proposed Councillor Stevenson

Seconded Councillor Lomas

Agreed by unanimous vote.

2421. Age Concern have contacted the parish council regarding a new senior fitness initiative and possible funding. The letter was passed to the Parish Plan Group to evaluate the possibility of working with their existing senior initiatives.

2422. The RMBC Green Space Strategy has been evaluated by a couple of councillors, their comments were put to the meeting. It was agreed the comments would form the basis of the parish council response to the survey. Wentworth Estates thanked the councillors for liaising with them regarding the matter. The Estate response has been to request that areas incorrectly marked as public green spaces, such as Wentworth Park, rather than the footpath, be removed from the proposal. The Estate has also queried the policy of classing cemeteries as public green spaces. It was queried why the consultants used in the survey had not contacted the Estate or the parish council.

2423. A letter has been received from the Harley Village Partnership (HVP) who are concerned at the state of roads and pavements during the recent snowfall, areas off the main roads were in poor state for most of the two week period. It seems that RMBC had done little in the way of clearing or gritting and the HVP asked the parish council to consider working with RMBC to obtain bins and a supply of grit for future years. The matter was discussed, the parish Council is happy to work with RMBC on this matter, but will require suitable storage for the grit supply. Clerk to to liaise RMBC.

Police Matters.

2424. The police have recently held a letter drop in the area with advice about what to do about burglaries and prowlers. There have been 6 recorded crimes in the month, 3 burglaries, 1 attempted burglary and 2 thefts from vehicles.

2425. The police are to hold a meeting with RMBC to discuss the parking issues along Occupation Road. It was noted that the M92 bus service sometimes has problems along Occupation Road and that there is to be a new service provider.

2426. The street lights are out near the village car park, members asked that a further set of flood lights in the car park be considered. RMBC to be consulted.

2427. An article is to be included in the newsletter about reforming the Neighbour Hood watch group.

2428. A letter has been received from John Healey MP opposing the decision to close Wath police station, It was noted that the alternative station at Rotherham has extended service hours.

Traffic Issues.

2429. There has been little progress on the minor local road issues, RMBC state the improvements to Cortworth Lane are imminent. SY Police are to try and have a traffic team attend the area once the new speed limit is in force, Further complaints were raised about vehicles parking on pavements near the Bistro, the police are monitoring the situation, but none of the vehicles seen so far have been committing an offence. The police asked for other areas of concern where any future visits by the traffic team could be focused. Councillor Crawford to forward a list of potential sites.

A6135

2430. The A6135 ARG has invited the minister to attend a site meeting to discuss the safety issues along the A6135, but he is unable to attend. It is now believed that BMBC are to report to the minister, but are presently collecting data.

2431. A protest has been held by the tree and the tree has now been removed by BMBC and two speed camera warning notices have been positioned on lamp posts along the A6135.

2432. The A6315 ARG have received a visit from the road safety partnership, pens leaflets and stickers have been left for distribution. The group asked why a speed camera hasn't been sited there, the response from the Safety Partnership was that statistically only 17 cars per day will travel the road in excess of 70MPH.

2433. PCSO Gray asked if there were any forthcoming events, it was noted the Harley Gala will be held on the 11th July.

2434. Members also reported an increase in dog fouling incidents in he area. PC Gray to mention it to his colleagues.

PCSO Gray left the meeting at 7.50pm

Financial Matters

2435. Authorisation of cheques and Direct Debit payments for January

Proposed Councillor Lomas

Seconded Councillor Crawford

2436. A quote is to be obtained for repainting the Barrowfield properties.

Correspondence

2437. Correspondence dealt with during the meeting

Wentworth Estates Car park signs

Wentworth Estates Car park tree

Wentworth Estates Car Park permits

RMBC Traffic issues

RMBC Rights of way partnership (Copy Passed to Councillor Dickerson)

HVP Gritting

Age Concern Fit as a fiddle initiative (Copy passed to PPG)

RMBC Dog control review (Copy Passed to Councillor Dickerson)

J Healey MP Wath Police Station

2438. General Correspondence

SYPTE Service changes

RMBC Training session

NHS Conference

RMBC Borough Standards Committee

YLCA Subscription increase

YLCA White Rose Update

RMBC Footpath 23

RMBC Planning List

RMBC Planning List

RMBC Planning List

YLCA Country Air

Proactive Councilling

2439. The next phase of the personal safe initiative is to be discussed at the February meeting.

2440. Licence issues are still in the process of being resolved for the proposed film club.

2441. The school admission policy is still under review and has been discussed a the recent Governors' meeting.

Open Forum

2442. There is no satisfactory resolution to the issue of litter on Kirby Lane, the matter to be raised at the next WNAA meeting.

2443. The stile along footpath 50 has been replaced by a gate, which appears to have been locked.

2444. Footpaths 15-26 and 13 have stiles in need of repair. Wentworth Estates to investigate further.

2445. The bridle path entrance on Kirby Lane as a mud surface which is becoming dangerous. RMBC to be contacted regarding a suitable replacement surface.

2446. It was noted that the Wentworth footpath paving slabs have become uneven during the recent bad weather. RMBC are to inspect them in the near future.

2447. The bends warning sign on Hague Lane as still not been re -set after it became loose. Matter to be reported to RMBC

2448. The drains under the road at Hague Lane (sheep dip) appear to be blocked, matter to be reported to RMBC.

2449. The issue of flooding at Barrowfield Gate has not been satisfactorily resolved, could RMBC consider better drains at site.

2450. The Harley street light replacement scheme is nearing completion.

2451. Wentworth Estates are to host an event during June and have requested parking permits. Members agreed they should be issued.

Next Meeting

2452. The next meeting was confirmed as the 15th Febuary 2010 at 6.30pm at the Mechanic's Institute. Agenda to be distributed.

The Meeting closed at 8.32pm